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Dog Appetite Natural Cures
Too little appetite: Your animal comes to the food bowl, sniffs, and walks away. The owner is frustrated and cannot inspire healthful eating habits. This may be nothing but the dog initiating a cleansing break or can be the beginning of kidney, liver or pancreas problems.
In Chinese medicine, too little appetite is considered a vital energy or Qj disorder and can be addressed by strengthening the stomach and pancreas.
Acupressure: A point located on the middle line of the belly, halfway between the belly button (which looks like a slight skin discoloration or circular depression) and the breastbone can stimulate appetite. Apply light finger pressure here, or massage in a circular direction for 1 minute before mealtime.
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Herbs : Wood betony stimulates the digestion and decreases nausea. Mix 9 drops of the tincture to 1 ounce distilled or spring water, using ½-1 teaspoon twice daily
Homeopathy: Nux vomica at the 6th potency given once daily for up to 3 days stimulates the appetite- especially for cats and dogs who have pushy personalities or irritability if they don’t get their way.
Sulphur, at the 6th or 12th potency, given as a single dose, applies to the cat or dog who will come to the bowl appearing hungry, and then sniff or look at the food and walk away. These animals will tend to be thirsty for long drinks. The cats who respond to sulphur are usually very vocal and may wake you up at 5:00 A.M. for food, just to snub it and walk away from the bowl.
Too big of an appetite:
Your animals are crazy for food and will literally eat anything that is not nailed down, including furniture, sweaters, dirt, rocks, or cat litter. I believe they are eating to get rid of the burning in their stomach.
This might be a symptom of a thyroid, heart, or stomach ulcer disorder and should be checked by your veterinarian. You might change the diet or add herbs or homeopathy.
- Diet: The most important thing is to change the diet by adding cooling or moistening foods a la Chinese food therapy. Mashed kidney beans or peas, tofu, millet, barley, buckwheat, celery, and string beans curb inflammation. Minimizing red meat-, chicken-, or shrimp-based commercial pet food is advisable, substituting cod, sole, or other light fish as the protein source.
- Herbs: Calendula flower tea using 1 teaspoon dried herb to 1 cup boiled water helps cool stomach inflammation. Steep for 15 minutes and strain, using ½ teaspoon to 2 tablespoons tea 15 minutes before a meal, and then between meals if the animal seems to be burping or looking uncomfortable.
- Homeopathy: Hydrastis canadensis mother tincture, mixed at 9 drops to 1 ounce distilled water, ad using ½-1 teaspoon before meals, helps the animal who eats everything, then vomits it back up. The animal may drool thick saliva frequently and be sensitive to your touching it abdomen. They may also groom their bellies excessively to assuage the discomfort.
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