Learn the symptoms of low magnesium and how supplements and diet can help.
What is magnesium? Magnesium is a mineral element that falls into the category of alkaline earth metals. In its rock-like form, it appears gray and shiny. The mineral is expelled when a star explodes in outer space but is also found inside living organisms. It is required for hundreds of vital body functions and biochemical reactions. Symptoms of Low Magnesium Balanced minerals are vital to your pet's body function. Magnesium deficiencies, for example, have been linked to heart disease. Many diets lack a sufficient amount of magnesium, leading to discomfort and severities such as:
Treating Constipation and Urine Crystals Magnesium supplements can even help reverse pet constipation and urinary disorders. Cats are especially prone to intestinal difficulties from furballs. Additionally, a magnesium sufficient diet can help manage struvite urine crystals in cats. While magnesium's external calming affects are obvious, the mineral can help relax the body internally as well, helping digestion and urinary processes move along. Natural Supplements Low magnesium levels or deficiencies can be treated with a number of topical treatments as well as some oral options. When given by mouth, magnesium can act as a laxative, so it is wise to ask a veterinarian for the best recommendation for your pet. Some product treatments include:
Magnesium-Rich Foods You can also increase your pet's daily magnesium intake by feeding these magnesium-rich foods:
In animals, most magnesium is stored in bones, with a large amount also stored in organs and muscles. Meat trimmings can therefore be selected to have higher concentrations of magnesium. This is one reason why many brands of processed kibble, which contains meat by-products, are not always a sufficient form of pet nutrition. Here also is an example of the benefits of a raw diet. Note that some human foods high in magnesium are not good for your pet, such as:
How Much Magnesium Does Your Pet Need? Dogs have a daily recommended value of 150 mg of magnesium and cats should get 25 mg daily. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." -Ben Franklin
Preventive medical care for your pet consists of many things: Semi-Annual Physical Examinations Vaccine Titers Behavioral Evaluations Routine Fecals Proper nutrition Routine Grooming Vaccinations Blood Screens Here at Ancients Arts Holistic Veterinary Services we highly encourage owners to consider adding in holistic veterinary medicine when creating a plan for your pet's preventive care. Holistic Exams Holistic veterinary medicine considers all aspects of your pet. Dr. Rewers will evaluate your pet's: Medical history Nutrition Physical exam Household dynamics Genetic Tendencies Stress levels Environment Behavior Elimination All these factors will be carefully considered when Dr. Rewers creates a personalized holistic treatment plan. Services We Provide
Enhancing a Preventive Treatment Plan Our goal here at Ancient Arts Holistic Veterinary Services is to empower the pet guardians to be an integral part of the wellness plan. Dr. Rewers will provide herbal, nutrition and acupressure/massage recommendations that will enhance your pet's health. Nutrition Dr. Rewers' nutrition recommendations are based on the cumulative information gained from the physical examination, the traditional Chinese examination, your pet's past history and digestive health. Food suggestions will be made to help reduce health issues such as inflammation or behavioral challenges and to help get your pet on the most natural and balanced food. Herbs and other supplements are often recommended to augment nutrition and health. Acupressure/Massage Dr. Rewers will demonstrate acupressure and massage points that will help to improve your pet's health. A chart will be ready to go home with the Holistic Treatment Plan so that you may help to improve your pet's health at home in between veterinary visits. Reminders
Fight the pet obesity epidemic by following these guidelines.
Carrying extra pounds puts undo stress on the body’s joints, digestive, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Even a few pounds of extra weight can tremendously increase the incidence of painful hip dysplasia and arthritis. In addition, extra fat can actually act as another organ, increasing inflammation, affecting healthy hormone levels, and contributing to lethargy of cognitive brain function and body energy. The following tips can be applied to help pets lose weight. Keep in mind that it is always essential to check with your veterinarian, who has personally examined your pet, before implementing any of these ideas. This is not a replacement for a visit to your vet, just some helpful tips. Dogs and cats should have a visible waistline that tucks up behind the broader chest. You should easily be able to feel and count the ribs with gentle to moderate pressure when petting them. If you cannot feel and count ribs, or feel a waist, they are bigger than they should be. However, a highly visible rib cage without touch is too thin. Pets with hip dysplasia should ideally be just towards the "under weight" side, rather than ideal. The Culprits It can often be difficult to recognize where there are blind spots in over-feeding our pets. Here are the most common:
Measuring Proportions Measure the food you give to your pet. Often the package recommendations over estimate how much you should be feeding. Also, pets need to be fed based on their ideal weight, not their obese weight. For example, if the bag of food recommends 1½ cups daily for a 30 pound dog, but your dog’s ideal weight is actually 22 pounds, do not feed to maintain 30 pounds. Also, remember that the total daily recommendation is often best split into two daily meals—not doubled into two meals daily.
Exercise Many pets are not getting as much exercise as they should. This means they need less calories—anything in excess of what they can utilize immediately will turn into fat. Increasing exercise, active playtime & massage can help pets to move more and lose weight. Many herbal remedies can also be useful. Have your pet checked for hormone disorders and joint stiffness that may be affecting their desire to move around more. Tall scratching posts, window perches, and interactive toys are helpful for cats to keep them engaged. During less active times, feed less. During heavy hiking, pregnancy, lactation, or if fighting an infection or cancer, more calories are needed. Do NOT over feed puppies, especially middle to large breed dogs, as this increases their chance of hip dysplasia and other degenerative joint problems. Reminders
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