Welcome to our Health Recommendations!
At this point in time, the products on this page apply mostly to our dogs, but we do plan to add more detail on our recommendations for cattle and hogs!
supplements
NuVet Labs Products
This is our only ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE on this page (and also the only product that doesn’t link you to Amazon). EVERY dog that lives here absolutely received a tablet (or 1/2 tablet for Cockapoo puppies) EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. No exceptions! We researched many, many vitamins to help make sure our dogs were getting all they needed and NONE of them meet the standards of NuVet…..in fact all the others we reviewed are (in our opinion) a waste of money.
NuVet provides holistic, natural supplements to help with general health, filling immune gaps, and specific formulas for hip and joint health. All of their products are made with high quality, human grade components, in the USA, in a FDA registered human pharmaceutical facility, and are cold pressed to maintain the nutrients available from their impressive list of ingredients.
When you visit the NuVet link below, there are two products we recommend.
1. NuVet Plus K9 Wafers
2. NuJoint Plus OR NuJoint DS
If you want our opinions and what we use, check out this page.
One more thing, be sure you are not confused by any similarly named products! This is NOT the same as NutriVet! One look at the ingredients should tip you off, but also know that NuVet is not available anywhere but through the company’s website with a referral code from a pet professional (ours is 52720). If you find it available anywhere else, it isn't NuVet!
Raw, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is good for about a billion things in people and in dogs.....and cows......and pigs.....you get the picture! We add it to our dogs water at a rate of approximately 1 T per 50 lbs and it changes the taste of their skin and sweat to deter mosquitos, fleas, and ticks! And----as opposed to flea, tick, and heartworm medications that are poisoning your dog-----ACV gives the added benefit of helping with everything from arthritis and joint health to digestion to bladder issues to tooth and nail health, and more! And, because of its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, it's also a great treatment for minor cuts and skin issues! ACV is a must in our book-----but be sure it is RAW, UNFILTERED, and has the "mother" :)
parasite prevention & treatment
Wormer (Fenbendazole)
Deworming your dogs is very important! We do it 4 times here before they leave, but it is crucial that this continue every two weeks until they are 12 weeks old, then monthly until at least 6 months old, and then usually 2-4 times a year after that, or as prescribed by your vet. If you do not continue with your pup's deworming, frankly, they WILL get worms. All they have to do is come in contact with another dog's (or almost any animal's) poop, drink out of a puddle, touch contaminated soil, etc. Worms just are something that puppies get!
Unfortunately, every time you go to the vet's for pup to be wormed, your pup is exposed to a whole host of other things, and you are charged! We recommend worming you dog at home any time you don’t have a vet visit for another purpose. It is absolutely just as effective, it is safe, it is cheap, and it is easy! We recommend fenbendazole, which is referred to as Panacur in dogs. One of it's other names is Safeguard.....and it is generally much cheaper under the name Safeguard. I know, I know.....the link I supplied has a picture of a goat! Yes. It is the same thing in a different potency. Search within the reviews----at the time of posting, there are 152 reviews for dogs, and 36 for puppies. We use the dosage chart listed here: http://www.dreamydoodles.com/fenbendazole/
For more about deworming your dog, please visit our health page on this topic!
Cedarcide “Original”
This is our absolute go-to for pest prevention. We do not use or recommend the TOXIC flea or tick medication or medicated collars as the ingredients are harmful to your dog AND to your human family! Cedarcide is the only topical protection we use and recommend. It is all natural, has excellent reviews, and we have amazing results for insects at all stages of life. It is recommended for protection from biting insects including fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, mites, and ants. At our farm, you will find a small spray bottle by every door, in every building, in every vehicle, and even in the diaper bag! We use it for our animals and our people----babies, children, puppies, pregnant mamas, etc.
Do be aware that their “Original” is safe for puppies under 20 lbs, but for dogs over 20 lbs, their “Tickshield” formula is stronger for larger bodies :)
My link is for the 32 ounce size (I believe) but is available for purchase in larger sizes and can be split at home into small bottles like the ones I list further down the page! A bottle does last a long time, but it is great to have lots of small bottles so it is available wherever you need it!
Cedarcide Granules
This is a whole yard (or dog area of the yard!) treatment for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects. The link is to the company’s website, as it is significantly cheaper there than Amazon, and buying in larger quantities is an option on the website as well to cut costs even further. The granules come in 8 pound bags, which covers 3500 square feet per bag, is activated with water, and repels creepy-crawlies for up to 8 weeks!
Conventionally used bug sprays for your yard are absolutely toxic (and many are carcinogenic!) to your dog! And your pet’s level of exposure is generally far more than human exposure——all four of their bare feet, rolling, playing, rubbing their faces, and sleeping on chemically treated yards are definitely something to think about and weigh your options on prior to bringing home your puppy!
Yard Spreader
If you choose to use Cedarcide granules, you will do your most efficient job spreading if you use a spreader similar to this! This helps so much in getting an even cover on your yard versus trying to spread by hand :)
Diatomaceous Earth
We use Diatomaceous Earth all over the place around here! Not only is excellent for you pet's hair, skin, nails, and many internal systems when added to food, but it can also be used to kill fleas at all life stages in their coat, bedding, carpet, etc. We have good luck, when given internally, helping to cut down on flies as the DE in the animal's feces prevents many fly eggs laid there from hatching. It is a mechanical kill and bugs cannot build a resistance to it-----and it has no harmful side effects to your home or family! Just be sure that you buy food grade, and don't breathe it in directly as any sort of dust in your lungs is an irritant. This is also what we use to worm and kill lice in pigs and cattle. It is also wonderful for bugs on your plants and in the garden!
VACCINEs
Vaccines Explained by Dr. Coger
Vaccines are a hot topic and a confusing issue as every vet and every breeder recommends something a bit different. We are very conservative on vaccines, and recommend schedules as given by wholistic vets like Dr. Jean Dodds and Dr. Laurie Coger. If you are not informed about vaccines and the damage they can cause to your pets and family, this book is a great place to start.
We do have a health page on vaccines that shares a little more info about our personal vaccine plans, and what you can expect us to suggest for your puppy.
Anti-Vaccinosis
We have always liked the idea and promising research behind the use of homeopathic Thuja alongside vaccination——but it was always a bit of a process to order seperate things, prepare, and administer. So, you can imagine how excited we were when we found that Adored Beast Apothecary was selling an Anti-Vaccinosis spray containing Thuja AND Silicea. It is SO easy to use, and helps to combat any vaccine side effects WITHOUT compromising any effectiveness of the vaccine received.
Although we still recommend a delayed, selective schedule…..this is a great help to have when your dog does get his or her vaccines!
Please also be sure your dog is on NuVet Plus (scroll back up the page!) as the antioxidant properties also help with free-radicals during this time.
The link is to the DNM Market, and the page has extensive directions on how and when to use :)
https://market.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/products/anti-vaccinosis