VitaHound » Dog Nutrients

Peppermint Oil

Staff — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:39:24 +0000

Peppermint is a cross between watermint and spearmint and is native to Europe. Historically, the herb has been known for its medicinal uses. Hence it is often termed as the world’s oldest medicine.
Unlike many other herbs and essential oils, numerous health benefits of peppermint and peppermint oil have been studied and proved by the scientific community. As a result, peppermint oil is also sold in the form of capsules and tablets.
Peppermint oil is also used as a flavoring agent. You will find very few people who will not find peppermint suitable to their palate.
Peppermint oil contains numerous minerals and nutrients including manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, potassium, and copper. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Rosmary

Staff — Mon, 30 May 2011 22:19:34 +0000

Two of the most important ingredients in rosemary, which are thought to be largely responsible for many of these therapeutic actions, are caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid – both are potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.1

These two natural acids are effective at reducing inflammation which may contribute to asthma, liver disease and heart disease.2

Rosemary is proving an important defence against cancer
The antioxidants contained in rosemary help to protect your body’s cells from damage by free radicals. They include monoterpenes, phenolic diterpenes and flavonoids, which are renowned for their ability to slow down the production of free radicals.3, 4

It is also a rich source of vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), another potent antioxidant, which contributes to its free radical fighting powers further still.5

DNA is your genetic blueprint, and it is particularly prone to injury from free radicals. Left unchecked, this damage can eventually lead to cells proliferating out of control, which greatly increases the risk of cancer.

Scientists from the department of Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences, in the Slovak Republic, have found that rosemary extract can significantly help to protect DNA against free radical damage.

Thyme Oil

Staff — Mon, 30 May 2011 19:52:16 +0000

The main component of Thyme oil is Thymol, a powerful antiseptic which considered to be quite toxic if used improperly. It is common knowledge among bio chemist that the essential oil of Thyme is one of the most potently antiseptic essential oils known. Thymol has been extensively documented for its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal action. According to Jean Valnet, M.D., Thyme oil kills the anthrax bacillus, the typhoid bacillus, meningococcus, and the agent responsible for tuberculosis and is active against salmonella and staphylococcus bacteria. In addition, this component has been studied for its effects on gingivitis and plaque-caused organisms in the mouth (it is used in Listerine for its antiseptic actions)

The carminative properties of Thyme make it an effective treatment for stomach upsets. It may also increase the propensity of white blood cells, perhaps increasing the power of the immune system. Also, by possibly helping to eliminate excess uric acid from the body, conditions like gout, sciatica, arthritis, and rheumatism can be more easily combated. Thyme essential oil may valuable as a local application to neuralgic & rheumatic aches and pains. Thyme oil can be a stimulant for the digestive system, helping to eliminate worms, reduce gastric infections, and ease dyspepsia. Thyme is also good for headaches caused from gastric complaints. Thyme Oil may be good for the scalp, helping to treat dandruff and hair loss. Dermatitis, wounds, boils and carbuncles may also be diminished with this essential oil.

Activated Charcoal

bigdog — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 01:52:27 +0000

Activated Charcoal Food grade charcoal is a steam activated charcoal made from coconut shell. It has been processed to meet purification standards required for medical use. It can be mixed with water and taken internally for poisoning, indigestion, and diarrhea, or applied externally in poultices, compresses and baths, for the treatment of infections, pain, and as a general detoxifier.

Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal or activated coal is a form of carbon that has been processed to make it extremely porous and thus to have a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.

Dental infections, toothaches, gum disease and dental abscesses are common oral occurrences. USP activated charcoal has been effectively used by many people to relieve the pain associated with dental infections and to promote healing

Therapeutic Action: Activated Charcoal Powder works by ADSORPTION, which is an Electrical Action, rather than Absorption, which is a Mechanical Action. Activated Charcoal Powder ADSORBS MOST Organic and Inorganic Chemicals, that do NOT belong in the Body, but it does NOT ADSORB Nutrients!

Activated charcoal (AC) is derived from a variety of sources. Activated carbon purified specially for pharmaceutical use is enormously beneficial for treating various health conditions subject too dogs. Its enormous adsorptive power makes it the ideal agent for binding toxins from gastro-intestinal tract (poisoning and diarrhea) and from the blood, eliminating them from a dog’s body.
AC is an effective for dog oral care including dental infections, toothaches, gum disease and dental abscesses that are common canine oral occurrences. AC has been effectively used by many owners to relieve the pain associated with dental infections and to promote healing.

Neem Oil

Staff — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:45:08 +0000

Neem Oil is derived from neem trees or Azadirachta
indica, it is in the Meliaceae family, a family of dicots mostly represented by trees and shrubs. All parts of the plant including the fruits, seeds, oil (extracted from the seeds), leaves, roots, and bark contain active compounds that have physiological benefits. Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds. As with other vegetable oils neem is high in naturally occurring triglycerides and triterpenoids such as azadirachtin. The oil is hydrophobic and must be formulated with surfactants allowing it to emulsify in water. Neem oil also contains steroids (campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol). Due to its anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammation properties neem is highly effective at treating the inflammation and infection the results from gingivitis an periodontitis.

Grape Seed Extract (GSE)

Staff — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:05:48 +0000

Grape Seed Extract (GSE) are derived from whole grape seeds typically red that contain high concentrations of the substance oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC). OPCs are chemically known as flavonoids or polyphenols and are present many fruits and vegetables. Other notable nutrients contained in GSE is vitamin E and linoleic acid. GSE’s exhibit strong antibacterial and antioxidant activity.

Chicken by-product meal

Staff — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:33:24 +0000

Chicken by-product meal is a high-protein commodity whose demand is primarily derived from pet food industry. It is IMPORTANT to understand Chicken by-product meal is very different from chicken meal, chicken meal is a form of chicken product similar to the human grade form of chicken. Chicken by-product meal is made from grinding clean, rendered parts of chicken carcasses and can contain bones, offal and undeveloped eggs, necks, feet, and intestine, feathers that are unavoidable in the processing of the chicken parts also may be present. The standards are extremely lax the quality and composition can change from one batch to another. Chicken by-product meal and poultry by-product meal are a similar product, as the name implies chicken is a poultry by product whose source is limited to chickens, both are major components of pet food while chick meal is only found in the highest grades of dog food.

D Vitamin D

Staff — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:12:44 +0000

Vitamin D is necessary for calcium and phosphorus absorption and metabolism. It promotes normal bone calcification and is responsible for bone and joint formation.
Requirements for dogs are influenced by dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus. Feeding superior quality dog foods assures the level of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D
Excessive Vitamin D can result in rickets, depressed growth, soft tissue problems with the heart muscle, stomach wall, lung and blood vessel.

Lycopene

Staff — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:45:56 +0000

Lycopene is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids, which are natural compounds that create the colors of fruits and vegetables. For example, beta carotene is the orange pigment in carrots while lycopene give tomatoes their deep red color. As with essential amino acids, they are not produced by the human body. Lycopene is considered the most powerful antioxidant in the carotenoid family and, with vitamins C and E, protect the body from the free radicals that degrade many organs during the aging process called reactive oxygen species (ROS). The scientific term for the common tomato is lycopersicon lycopersicum, which mean “wolf peach and is the source for the nutrients name lycopene.

Potassium Citrate

Staff — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:04:12 +0000

Postassium Citrate is a potassium chelate which occurs naturally in foods, along with phosphorus and calcium, it is the most abundant mineral in a dogs body. That’s unlike potassium salts, which must be added in dog supplements. Raisins contain the highest levels of potassium citrate, raisin’s toxicity to dogs eliminates the food as a dietary source for the nutrient, a good food choice has the next highest concentration, potatoes. Potassium citrate is a nutrient that increases citrate levels in a dog’s urine, attracting calcium away from oxalates. Dog health pertaining to kidney and bladder stones can be addressed by using this nutrient in a dog supplement. When calcium binds to citrate, the resulting calcium citrate tends to remain dissolved instead of precipitating out as a mineral deposit.