Holistic Wellness
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Coconut Oil, a Natural Flea Remedy
It is just the unfortunate reality of a dog owner that at one time or another you’re going to have to combat the outbreak of a flea infestation. The good news is there are a number of effective ways for you to treat your pet for fleas and without reaching for the medicated shampoo. We’re sure you’re already familiar with coconut oil, but it is a little known fact that coconut oil is also an active treatment for fleas? We didn’t think so. How Does Coconut Oil Fight Off Fleas? Yes, coconut oil may be great for cooking but is it what you should be using to help your dog in their…
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The Essential Oil Element: Lavender
Lavender, The Best Essential Oil for Beginners In my first Essential Oil Element series on Bridle & Bone, I am focusing on lavender. Widely considered to be the most popular of all essential oils, it is often a person’s first foray into aromatherapy. The use of lavender has been documented for over 2500 years. The fragrant smell, mild effect, incredible medicinal benefits mean lavender is popular among many species and for many uses. As a result, lavender is one of the best essential oils for beginners. If you are interested in working with aromatherapy, this is a great place to start. What is Lavender? While lavender is the…
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Natural Pain Relief Products for Dogs
Many of us are increasingly turning to natural approaches for pet health. In our practice we see many animals as a result of pain from arthritis or cancer and as such clients are often searching for natural pain relief for their dogs. Pain may come from a variety of places, but can be relieved by increasing circulation and reducing inflammation rather than prescribing chemical compounds. Relief may be topical, oral, or a combination of both. Some remedies are over the counter and others must be prescribed by a veterinarian. You will see below that turmeric, cannabis, and frankincense appear in a few places. *This post contains affiliate links.…
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Misconceptions of Equine Sports Massage
It’s no secret that owning a horse is expensive. The question I pose is this? What is the most basic of care your horse should receive to be it’s healthiest? Do you consider massage therapy a part of your animal’s regular wellness plan? We all know that many horse owners would eat Ramen noodles so their horse can have medical treatments due to injury. Our animals often come first, as they should since they depend on us for their very survival. We have a responsibility when we adopt, train, or buy an animal to act in their best interests. In the UK, physiotherapy, and massage is widely used by…
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5 Steps to Prevent Cancer in Dogs
As dog-parents, the word cancer is perhaps, one which we dread the most. We love our fur babies and want them to have a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, the risk of cancer in dogs has increased rapidly over the passage of time. Just recently my friend’s dog got diagnosed with cancer and, I kept wondering what can be the reason. After…
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Keeping Your Horse Calm Naturally During Stall Rest
Stall rest is not something equestrians ever want for their horse. Horses do best, physically and emotionally, when constantly moving. So the prospect of weeks or even months in a 12×12 stall is enough to cause us stress as well. The trick is keeping our horse calm during stall rest. Complications of Stall Rest While stall rest due to injury is sometimes a necessity, it is usually because the positives outweigh the negatives. What are some complications that can occur due to stall rest? 1.Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) can occur from prolonged exposure to environmental particulates dispersed from feed, bedding, or footing. This can cause inflammation and…
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Top Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Horse
Nothing is more important than nutrition. The vitamins and minerals our horses receive provide a foundation for their health and soundness. We are all searching for the best grain, the best supplements. But what about common foods that pose a health risk to our horses? Common Foods to Avoid with Horses Toxins There are many foods that may not be ingested by horses due to the chemicals they contain and the serious problems that result. Avocado. This fruit is extremely toxic to horses even in small doses. According to EquiNews:“Persin, a substance derived from fatty acids contained in avocados, is believed to be the toxin responsible for health problems in horses…
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The Essential Oil Element
“The Essential Oil Element” is a new series on Bridle & Bone. There is a lot of interest globally regarding the use of natural therapies for all manner of species- human, horse, and dog alike. But there are still a lot of questions about the safe use of aromatherapy. Good. The more questions you ask the more you know. As a result of this thirst for knowledge, and to help our clients, I will periodically feature a single essential oil on the blog. What it is, what the benefits are, and how it may be used on our animals. But first, an overview of aromatherapy. What is Aromatherapy?…
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5 Things You Could Do Now To Improve Your Senior Dog’s Life
The potential benefits of being a dog owner are possibly endless. Every study on health benefits of owning a dog usually tends to point toward improved heart health. In fact, it is apparent that just having a dog by your side as a pet can potentially help lower heart rate as well as blood pressure. A particular Chinese study found that individuals who own dogs get better sleep and get sick less often. Again, with dogs at your disposal, you are more likely to take part in an exercise, and this can also have a positive impact on your overall health. Many dog owners are usually involved in a daily…
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Fowl Dog for Life is En Pointe!
Autumn is finally here and instead of heading to the barn I was very excited to visit The French Market in Rumson, New Jersey to meet fellow equestrian and small business owner, Melissa Woodson of Fowl Dog. We sat at a small bistro table sipping our coffee and tea and had a lovely conversation. I had intended an interview, but we have a lot in common and talked about so many things. Apparently my interview technique stinks when we start talking animals because I get excited! Melissa is the proud owner of Fowl Dog, which she started in 2015 to fulfill a personal need. She has very active dogs…
