Is Pomegranate good for dogs?

I received an email from one of my readers asking if there were benefits to feeding her dog pomegrante juice.

Since then, I've been reading some interesting information about the positive effects of pomegranate juice for humans. Do a quick http://www.google.com/ search and you will see a great deal of information about the exciting benefits.  It really is wonderful.  However, after speaking with my holistic vet and a few other holistic minded professionals, we aren't convinced that pomegranate is good for your dog.

According to the Natural Standard, The Authority on Integrative Medicine at http://www.naturalstandard.com/ , pomegranate is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants and "some early evidence suggests that it may have preventative effects" against certain cancers.  It is important to note that although the information is promising, the findings are preliminary.

The ASPCA's believes that pomegranate is not seriously harmful to dogs but may cause gastrointestinal issues.  see link http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/acai-berry-and-pomegranate.html

There are some antioxidant supplements for dogs out there such as NingXia Red Juice which contain pomegranate juice but it is mixed with other berries as well.

If you are considering adding pomegranate juice to your dogs diet, please do your research and ask your holistic veterinarian.

Please be a well informed dog guardian.  Your dog's health depends on it.

If you have any information or have had any experience with pomegranate juice for dogs, please let me know.  I'm always interested in your comments.

Alfalfa: The helpful Little Rascal!

Alfalfa when it's literally translated means "the father of all foods".  To be quite honest, when I was a kid I really thought it was just the name of a Little Rascal.  Truth be told, I wasn't all that "holistic" growing up so Alfalfa remained a mystery to me until my 20 somethings, well ok...30 somethings...

This green food is reported to contain all of the vitamins, minerals and trace elements known to be needed for humans and animals.

Chinese herbalists use Alfalfa to treat fluid retention, swelling and kidney stones.  It's great for urinary tract infections and has great detoxyifying properties. 

It has a high Vitamin K content and is good for helping with bleeding disorders that can result from long-term use of antibiotics.

As with any supplement I blog about, dispense with caution.  Vitamin K has been linked to cases of  Heinz-body anemia if it is taken in large quantities.


I feed Alfalfa sprouts to my dog, but intermittently. 

You can grow your own Alfalfa sprouts at home.  Here's a link of instructions:
http://www.backyardnature.net/simple/alf-spr.htm

"C" the differences!

As you all already know, your dogs are emotional sponges.  You all should know by now that I am a firm believer that your dog feeds off your energy, whether negative or positive.  If you're in a great mood, chances are your dog is happy and bouncing around right beside you.  If you're in a bad mood or agitated, your dog may be exhibiting some calming signals, pacing, scratching or just plain avoiding you.  Pretty much any situation that causes you stress can trigger the same response in your dog.  But did you know that stress can weaken the immune system?  Makes sense doesn't it? 

You can help calm your dog by using the Vitamin B supplements I blogged about earlier but you still need to protect his immune system.  Using Vitamin C can help.  Dogs do make some vitamin C in their bodies, but they require a greater amount during stressful times.  Since your dog's ability to produce vitamin C is slower than ours, it's up to us to help them out because they can burn it up as quickly as we do. 

There has been some controversy about the benefits of Vitamin C and if you're on the fence, I encourage you to do more reading. 

Again, not every dog is the same and you need to find what works for your dog.  An alternative to straight Vitamin C is Ester C which many pet guardians love to use as it is gentler on the dog's stomach.  I've linked an article here for your reference. http://www.yourdoghealth.com/dog_ester-c.htm

As always, ask your holistic vet about Vitamin C for your dog and proper dosage.  Be informed and aware before adding supplements to your dog's diet.

The connection between the Outer and Inner Health of your Dog.

The outer health of your dog relfects his inner health.  An oily coat, dandruff or even a greasy tail is an outward sign that your dog is trying to rid itself of toxins.  Giving your dog a bath just isn't going to get to the root of the problem. 

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ of the body?  It also serves many functions.  It guards your dog from the heat, cold, injuries and regulates their body temperature.  The skin is the first defense against infection and is important in sensory perception and gives your pet a lot of information about his surroundings. 

A little oil is normal, but too much oil which can manifest itself as an oily coat and greasy tail can be signs that your dog has a waste disposal problem which can be related to his liver or kidney.

If your dog sheds excessively or has dandruff, it could indicate disorder or imbalance in the body.  Your dog's skin needs to be well nourished to stay healthy.  They may need additional essential fatty acids.  Without them, dandruff, dry skin and itching occur.

Vitamin B supplements are a great source of good skin nutrition because it stimulates elimination and helps the body dispose of waste through the proper channels.

Again, remember than when your dog is not well, he becomes stressed and even anxious and the behavioural issues come into play.  Once you start taking care of your dog holistically (mind, body and spirit) you will begin to see the dramatic changes and the stress and anxiety becoming less of an issue.

Give your dog some Kelp Help

Kelp is considered a sea vegetable. Kelp is actually algae which makes them different from other food sources such as plants and animals. They have exotic names like Nori, Hijiki, Kombu, Wakame, Arame also known as Seaweed and Kelp.

Kelp can help your dog.  Kelp will provide iodine to the body and help the functioning of he thyroid gland, which influences overall health, metabolism, skin and coat.  It can also help with pigmentation.  It contains protein, is rich in iodine, calcium, mangesium, iron, copper, phosphorus and potassium as well as vitamins A, B, E and D.

Because kelp contains so many of the critical components for dog nutrition it promotes good health and long life in many ways including: better digestion, control and relief of skin and coat disorders, relief and prevention of allergic reactions, healing from injuries, higher resistance to infection, cell rejuvenation, detoxifying, and joint repair.


There are many reasons for using kelp as a dog supplement, some of which are maintaining a healthy thyroid gland, healthy joints, and healthy coat and skin.

So please consider adding kelp to your dog's diet and give your dog some kelp help.