Don't Let Old Age Affect Your Pet's Mobility

Many pets start slowing down with age, and may show signs of difficulty getting up and down. The effects can come on gradually and it is sometimes difficult to recognize until the problem becomes very obvious.  Both dogs and cats can have mobility issues with aging and some symptoms are common in both: difficulty getting up and down, stiffness, reluctance to play, difficulty climbing stairs, and limping are a few common signs. A pet owner might conclude "it's just old age" but by being proactive, you can change your cat or dog's life and bring them much needed pain relief and vitality in their senior years.

The first step is to get a diagnoses for your cat or dog's discomfort. Take your pet to the veterinarian and rule out conditions such as a torn ligament or cancer. Once you understand that it is advanced age, arthritis and/or normal wear and tear affecting your pet's mobility, you can take action and help your pet feel better. 

Many veterinarians will prescribe NSAID medications (example: Rimadyl, Deramaxx) and pain relievers such as Tramadol for pets that have arthritis. While these medications are helpful for short-term use, they do have side effects when used long-term and can be harmful to the liver and kidneys. Moreover, these medications should be used sparingly or if possible only on an occasional basis.  You can reduce your pet's reliance on these medications by using natural supplements to reduce pain and inflammation and also holistic treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, laser and acuscope.  These treatments, combined with supplements can give your pet much needed relief.

Natural Supplements for Reducing Inflammation and Pain in Cats and Dogs

Many pet owners rely on prescription medications as a way of life without realizing there are natural alternatives that should be tried first and/or in conjunction with their use. Natural supplements (such as curcumin, fish oil, glucosamine and collagen) can reduce and sometimes eliminate the need to use pain and anti-inflammatory medications. It is important to find the right combination of pet supplements for arthritis.  The best arthritis supplements for dogs and cats differ depending upon your pet's size and the nature of the condition. 

Amazing Omegas A research-backed, powerful source of omega-3 nutrients (essential fatty acids) that can help reduce joint swelling and inflammation, which can be causing pain for your pet. Absolutely the best fish oil available. 

K9 CurcuMagic - a scientifically proven powerful antioxidant and a natural anti-inflammatory for pets. Helps to relieve pain and improves flexibility and mobility. 

Arthrosoothe - Promotes joint, tissue and cartilage repair, and also reduces inflammation and increases mobility. It is especially helpful for pets with hip or elbow dysplasia, arthritis or young active dogs as a preventative measure. 

Ultraflex- A gentle formula that is easy to administer and clinically tested to reduce joint stiffness and support the rebuilding of cartilage and joint connective tissue.  Very helpful for collapsed trachea and torn ligaments .  Best joint support remedy for small pets.  

Special SAMe -recommended by veterinarians for arthritis and joint pain treatment because it promotes cellular growth repair and helps to protect the cartilage in the joints.  Scientifically proven to help arthritis.  Powerful antioxidant that gives pets energy and detoxifies the liver.  Essential for pets using NSAIDs and steroids as it supports the liver and these medications can negatively impact the liver.

Holistic Treatments For Pets That Relieve Pain and Improve Mobility

Acupuncture, chiropractic, laser, physical therapy, acuscope are all treatment modalities that can reduce your pet's pain and improve mobility.  Adequan injections can also be helpful. Before resorting to daily use of pain medications, please contact your veterinarian or look on this directory www.ahvma.org to find a holistic veterinary practitioner in your area.

Senior Labrador Keeps Moving With The Help Of Ask Ariel Supplements

"Bailey and I have been a customer of Ask Ariel's for several years now and honestly I cannot say enough about their products and the loving kindness we have been treated with. I recommend Ask Ariel to every pet owner I speak with. Ask Ariel products are not just for pets with health issues but also healthy vibrant pets. Our pets can always benefit from preventative care. Thank You Susan and Staff for all you do to help keep our angels healthy."     Laurie

Supplements that have helped Bailey: Amazing Omegas, Arthritis & Joint Support Kit, Special SAMe

Holistic Supplements Help Senior Cat With Arthritis And IBD

“Our lil boy is doing amazing with his supplements from you (UltraFlex, Power Probiotics, Soothing Digestive) and his diet changes to grain free/gluten free since Mar 2016. Jaspurr is now 17 yrs and 9 months old.  He still runs around and plays with his two brothers Bailey (he’s 7.5 yrs old) and Tinker (he’s 2.7 yrs old).  I switched them to the same foods and just Power Probiotics and they are just great.”

Jaspurr’s History:

“March 2016 I took him (Jaspurr) in for an ultrasound and they noticed spots on spleen, lymph nodes and small bowel and said it might be cancer, but I wouldn’t accept that.  I started doing all kinds of research online about IBD and realized he probably had this since a kitten.  He was a healthy happy boy up until about 6 months prior to ultrasound and was now losing weight.  He was eating regular foods that had gluten and grains and he was having more issues with bowel movements and vomiting… "

Jaspurr Now:

Jaspurr now maintains a 10.5 lb weight and eats 3 small meals a day with his UltraFlex, Power Probiotics, Soothing Digestive and Miralax.  I started using the Ultraflex as Jaspurr seemed like he had arthritis as he had some difficulty and hesitation coming down stairs.  My notebook of records and food diary is about 2” thick as I write everything down.  When you love your cats as much as I do, like your kids (we don’t have any) you do everything to keep them happy and healthy…”

Joyce and Bob C. (Jaspurr, Bailey and Tinker)

American Bull Dane Feels Better With Supplements For Acid Reflux and Digestive Issues

Lucy suffered with digestive issues and acid reflux before finding the right diet and using Ask Ariel's natural supplements now she and her fur Mama are happy!

"I am a proud fur mama to Lucy, our 4 year old American Bull Dane furbaby. We use the Ask Ariel K9 Digestive Enzymes and LypoZyme for her. We feed her a commercial raw diet. We get titer tests and don’t over vaccinate. We don’t use any toxic monthly poisons for heartworm or fleas/ticks. She drinks only filtered water (Zero Water filtered). She’s a lazy bones couch potato but we still walk her everyday (unless it’s low 10 degrees, then we play games indoors). We have been so blessed to have such a well behaved, funny fur baby in our lives. We pray we have many many more years with her! "
Sherri D.- Painesville, OH 

How Do I Find A Holistic Veterinarian And What Can A Holistic Vet Do For My Pet?

Pictured above is Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian, Arch Beach Veterinary Clinic, Laguna Beach, CA. What is a holistic veterinarian? A holistic veterinarian utilizes conventional diagnostic tools such as a physical examination and laboratory tests but also incorporates natural and alternative treatments (e.g acupuncture, supplements, chiropractic) into their veterinary practice.

Many pet owners have heard about holistic veterinary care but are not sure about how it could help their pet. Holistic treatments are not just the latest fad in caring for a pet. It is a science-based approach used in conjunction with conventional veterinary treatments. There is no doubt that feeding a pet real nutrition, giving them vitamins and antioxidants along with plenty of exercise can be life changing. Holistic care gives you more options to keep your pet happy and healthy by addressing your pet's health as a WHOLE looking at diet, lifestyle, nutritional supplements and using alternative modalities such as acupuncture and chiropractic. These treatments are incorporated into your pet's treatment regimen by your holistic veterinarian along with conventional veterinary care.

To find a holistic vet in your area, the American Holistic Veterinary Association ahvma.org has a helpful vet directory.

Natural Remedies Help Pomeranian With Collapsed Trachea

“This is Buster, adopted from my local shelter 6 years ago. He has a collapsing trachea, so I’ve been giving him Ultra FlexCollagen, Soothing Digestive Relief, Gastro-ULC and Power Probiotic for about the last 6 months. He has had great relief from his symptoms and the vet said his breathing sounds better than it did 6 months ago! His intermittent diarrhea is no longer a problem either. I’ve started giving the Probiotic and Digestive Relief to my other dog who tends to have digestion problems. I’m very pleased with how well these products are supporting Buster’s health”  Marti S- Cheyenne, WY

Does your dog have collapsed trachea? To learn more about how holistic treatments and natural remedies can help with the symptoms of collapsed trachea such as coughing and difficulty breathing, please click here

Silver Immune Remedy Is Helpful for Cats With Herpes Outbreak and Sore Throat

Marten
courtesy of @PeculiarPanther

"Mom gave me this Silver Immune Support spray when my meow was weird. I didn’t even notice it because it has no taste, and my meow was back to normal in a few days. Mom also gives this to Marshmellow when she’s having a herpes outbreak, and it seems to help a lot. It’s pretty great stuff!"

Marten (and Mom Erin)

MEET THE GERMINATOR!

Silver Immune Support Formula is an all-natural, easy to use, natural home remedy to help your pet recover from a bacterial infection or viral flareup. Key benefits of this natural supplement that is so helpful for cats with sore throats, viruses such as feline herpes and FIV:

Broad spectrum antimicrobial (especially anti-bacterial) Anti-inflammatory effect due to reducing the viral, bacteria or fungal infection Non-toxic Immune system support Can be used along with antibiotics Very well tolerated by even tiny pets Does not kill off friendly bacteria (as antibiotics do) Disrupts viral replication

Silver Immune works well with QuentaSAN and NotaSAN drops and can be purchased by itself or in our Immune Support Kit packaged at a discount price.

How To Reduce Tartar on Your Pet's Teeth

Does your pet quickly build up tartar on his teeth?  While brushing and regular dental visits are essential, there is a lot you can do to reduce tartar build-up on your dog or cat's teeth. Tartar is the accumulation of plaque that has remained on and between the teeth. While age, health, breed and hygiene are factors, diet and poor digestion play a central role in your pet's tartar control and dental health. 

If the plaque is not removed, it may start to combine with the saliva and begin to mineralize, into tartar, in just 3-5 days. If left untreated the tartar can cause the gums to become inflamed and red, pockets may form between the gums and the teeth and it can allow bacteria to grow, which could lead to tooth loss, bone loss and widespread infection. 

The accumulation of tartar is a warning sign.  If your pet seems fine but is accumulating a lot of tartar quickly, there may be underlying digestive symptoms that need to be addressed.

It is important to treat and control tartar accumulation for three very important reasons:

• to maintain the health of teeth and gums
• to guard against infection spreading to other parts of the body
• rapid buildup or problem teeth are often a sign of poor digestion


A common myth that simply giving pets hard, crunchy food to prevent dental problems has not proved true in veterinary research. It is the quality of ingredients and your pet’s ability to digest them that will reduce tartar and tooth decay. Saliva is a core part of tartar accumulation and acidic saliva (due to digestive upset and acid stomach) can result in acid erosion of the teeth. When you improve your pet’s diet and digestion, their teeth and gums will improve too. Be sure to ask about anesthesia free dental cleanings in your area and if possible brush your pet’s teeth.

Feeding fresh, easily digestible pet food ingredients will promote healthy teeth and gums.   Ensuring your pet is digesting food properly is key.  Signs of poor digestion include gas, bad breath, hunching over after meals, loose stool, licking or smacking of the lips, vomiting and eating excessive amounts of grass. 

Natural supplements that help to improve your pet's digestion can also reduce the tartar on your pet's teeth.  Since the mouth is the beginning of the digestive process, these supplements help to maintain a healthy digestive process.  Good digestion results in saliva with the proper pH which can greatly impact your pet's teeth and gums. 

Power Probiotic - The best probiotic for pets!  Backed by scientific research, this powerful, multi-strain formula promotes the growth of  good, friendly bacteria which boosts your pet's immune system.  Pure and natural, Power Probiotic does not contain any fillers.  Supports a healthy mouth, digestive system and immune system.

Gastro ULC   When pets have acid reflux it can stomach acids to back up into the esophagus and mouth.  This can lead to erosion of the teeth and other periodontal problems.  Pets with acid reflux tend to have bad breath as well. Gastro ULC  relieves acid stomach pain and repairs inflamed tissues. 

K9 Digestive Enzymes- This powerful digestive enzyme is more complex than typical pet enzymes because it contains 2 ingredients essential (Ox bile extract and HCL) for the digestion of fats and protein..  When food is poorly digested, it creates gas and pain and this product seems to really make a difference.  K9 Digestive Enzymes is very helpful for reducing tartar related to poor digestion.

Colostrum for Pets-  Colostrum has been shown in research studies to enhance digestion and improve the immune system.  Colostrum is very helpful for pets with bad breath, gingivitis and stomatitis.  Ask Ariel Colostrum For Pets contains tegricel colostrum which is backed by scientific research and proven to be more effective than general colostrum products.  Note: Colostrum is derived from dairy and should not be used by pets with a known dairy allergy.

Lypozyme -(cats and small dogs) a gentle, tasteless, easy to use enzyme formula that helps pets digest protein and fats.  The small amount of powder in the capsule (which can be easily opened and mixed into food) makes this product especially easy to administer to small pets and finicky eaters.

"Our senior husky Legend was starting to get a lot of tartar on his teeth.  Even though we would go for regular anesthesia-free cleanings and fed him a raw food diet, he still had tartar accumulation.  We noticed that sometimes at night Legend would be panting a little and realized he might have some indigestion.  We added K9 Digestive Enzymes and Gastro ULC to his food and on the next checkup, he had a lot less tartar and his tummy noises went away.  After awhile he seemed fine so we discontinued the supplements.  When we went for a teeth cleaning, we were told his tartar accumulation had gotten really bad!  Since then we have always used K9 Digestive Enzymes and Gastro ULC at both breakfast and dinner and his teeth have really improved"  Davis Family, CA.