About Laura Murphy Expertise Do you have a question about nutrition, including which food is best for your pet and which should be avoided? If you’re researching homecooked or raw diets, this is the place. I can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about raw feeding. Do you want to know whether or not you need to supplement your pet’s diet and, if so, which supplements are for you? I can help you with just about any question regarding canine and feline nutrition and feeding. Although I believe in the benefits of raw feeding, I respect anyone trying to do the best thing for their pets and will answer questions on any type of pet food.
I can address many areas of holistic pet care, including illness, homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies, and flower essences. We can talk about everything from vaccinating (and when not to), to skin problems, to cancer. Please note that I am not a veterinarian and any health-related information is from my personal experience and research, but I can be a good resource.
I can also answer your questions about pet rescue, including when to use them and what kind of pet is right for you. And I love controversial subjects like puppy mills and animal experimentation. If I don’t know the answer to your question immediately, I’ll research it for you.
Basically, if you’re got a pet question – fire away. Chances are, I’ll have something you can use.
Laura Murphy
Experience An animal lover and owner all my life, I spent years as a foster parent for a national rescue group and as a volunteer at my local Humane League. Many years ago, I began researching and using natural health care methods to treat both my pets and my family. I have worked with holistic vets to develop and provide custom homeopathic and Bach Flower Essence blends for their clients. In 2002, I started Pets By Nature to give pet owners who are seeking a healthier and more natural way to feed and care for their pets a reliable source of education, support, guidance, and products. Relying on honesty, integrity, and openness with respect to natural health care for companion animals, I am able to provide quality products, services, and information with the intent of helping interested pet owners learn about and practice a more natural method of pet nutrition and health care.
Education/Credentials I am a college graduate and full time Business Systems Analyst. I have written many articles for publication on my web site and throughout the local pet community. I have been a vendor at local dog shows and do public speaking on the topics of pet nutrition and holistic health care.
Past/Present Clients My clients range from new pet owners to 4th generation raw feeding breeders. I enjoy a wonderful professional relationship with several veterinary practices who refer my diets, supplements, and homeopathics to many of their clients. I ship supplements and flower essences all over the world, and provide a quality frozen raw food to the Central Pennsylvania area. Virtually all of my marketing is word-of-mouth referrals from my current clients and I consider them all my extended family.
Question I have a 10 year old dachsaund/ chihuahua mix that has recently developed unbearable bad breath. She is eating the same food she always has eaten-- Science Diet. I have tried breath treats, paste... all kinds of things. I have brushed her teeth with baking soda and mouthwash. She doesn't have access to anything in the backyard except her own feces, which I have caught her toting around just once (though I don't think she was eating it). Her whole life she has always had a little bit of the normal dog breath, but this is really bad now... And it's only been developed within the last two months or so...
Do you have any suggestions to fix this problems? Maybe add fresh parsley to her food? Or some other sort of natural additive that won't be harsh to her old stomach?
Answer Hi Colleen,
I get this question a lot. First and foremost, you should have her checked by a vet. Most 10-year old dogs will have significant tooth decay and/or gum disease and this is probably what's causing her bad breath. Unfortunately, fixing it will mean anesthesia and probably extractions as well as antibiotics. It's not fun, nor is it inexpensive. There are a couple of things you can do to minimize the problem and prevent it from happening again.
I believe that bad breath is diet-related. I certainly believe that dental problems for the most part are also diet related and that if a dog gets a natural diet, his teeth are clean and healthy.
One thing you can do is upgrade him to a better diet. I know that vets tell people all the time how great science diet is, but it's really no better than the cheapest grocery store food. The ingredients in science diet are the same cheap grains and fillers that you get at the grocery store. Upgrading to a premium dog food will improve not only his breath, but his overall health and you will notice a marked decrease in stools since most of what he's eating right now comes out the other end.
I am a raw feeder and believe that a natural, raw diet is the best thing we can do for our pets. A raw diet consists primarily of raw meat and bones with the occasional veggies and other treats. I don't feed grains at all, and that's what most dry dog foods (including science diet) are made up of. Not everyone is willing or able to provide a raw diet, however, and my second choice is a home-cooked diet. If that, too, is not feasible, for you, these are my top commercial food picks:
Dry Dog Food - Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, C&P's Organix, Solid Gold Barking at the Moon formula, and Wellness CORE formula.
Canned Dog Food - Canidae, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, Innova EVO, Nature's Variety Instinct formula, and Wellness.
All of these foods have a minimum of fillers (some have none) and use much more natural protein and nutrient sources than what you've been buying. Changing him to one of these would be the first step. My dog was only 3 years old when I switched him to raw food and his teeth and gums cleared up on their own and became a beautiful white. I never had to brush them again. The best cure for teeth and gums is a healthy immune system and the best way to get that is healthy food.
You can also add digestive enzymes and probiotics to his diet. These come in pill or powder form and will greatly improve his digestion and overall health. A good digestive enzyme compound for dogs is Prozyme. For probiotics, you can buy lactobacillus acidophilus tablets at any pharmacy or grocery store. They are very inexpensive.
You're on the right track with parsley. It's a good deodorizer for breath. Other good green foods are alfalfa, barley grass, wheat grass, kelp, spirulina, and chlorella. These are all good choices for bad breath. I usually add alfalfa powder to meals for bad breath. These green foods also provide tons of protein and minerals and will improve his skin, coat, and overall health. It's like taking a multi-vitamin.
If the problem is plaque and tartar, you can try a product from www.petzlife.com that will get rid of plaque and tartar. You spray it in his mouth 3x a day and within a few weeks, you should notice a marked lessening of ugly tartar. It also clears up the breath in a matter of days, but I would caution you to have the vet check as well. You definitely don't want to fix the bad breath only to leave a serious underlying problem.
