Gingivitis is an extremely painful condition of the gums that can result in tooth decay and tooth loss. Animals can get it as well as people and their options are limited. This is a natural approach to oral wellness for your pet.
Gingivitis in Pets, Is Brushing Their Teeth the Only Solution?
Ever try to brush your cat's teeth? For some cats this is akin to pulling their whiskers out one at a time--slowly. Some pets will actually run and hide at the mere sight of a tooth brush, yet pet “professionals” are telling us now that brushing our pet's teeth on a regular basis is the only way to avoid gingivitis. Of course they also suggest beginning this ritual while the pet is still a young pup or kitten in order to get it acclimated before it gets set in its ways.
For those of us whose pets are beyond the pup and kitten stage, should we dare to try to wrench open their mouths and risk losing a finger or two in the tooth brushing process? Could it be possible that there is another, easier solution? Apparently, there is, although it does require a bit of preparation (at least in the case of cats) in order to use. I call this concoction , “the Amazing A's”.
A combination of three herbs named, Andrographis, Astragalus, and Atractylodes (Alba) all work together to help your pet's teeth and gums remain healthy and strong. You see, out in the wild, animals can eat these herbs among others and as a result, they have a much less likely chance of getting Gingivitis in the first place. Your house pets on the other hand, seldom see these types of herbs growing in nature, so they don't have the natural protection that wild animals are used to.
Here are the specifications as to the amount of herbal remedy per animal size:
Up to 10 lbs….1 capsule daily
11 to 30 lbs…. 2 capsules daily
31 to 50 lbs…..3 capsules daily
51 to 100 lbs…2 capsules twice daily
Over 100 lbs…3 capsules twice daily
Generally speaking, cats do not like to take medicine of any kind, including pills, eyedroppers and the like. The “Amazing A's”, when encapsulated, are the perfect size to feed to a large dog in his food, but a cat is usually fussier about food than dogs are. While a dog may just snorkel up everything in his bowl without even bothering to taste it first, a cat will sniff first and if he smells something awry, he will go no further. Therefore, in the case of cats, it is easier to take the gelatin capsules apart, sprinkle the herbal contents into a small, medicine bottle with a dropper top, and then squirt the concoction into his mouth.
The capsules should be stored in a cool, dry place, and the liquefied remedy should be refrigerated for freshness. When I use it on my cat I like to place the contents of at least three capsules in the bottle and then squirt it into the cat's mouth at least twice. I do this because there is no way that cat is going to be able to swallow that huge capsule, and there is no way he will be willing to eat it mixed with his food. Two squirts is roughly the equivalent of one capsule.
If your cat is less fussy than mine, but is prone to painful gingivitis, you may be able to get away with mixing a capsule into your cat's moist food, or simply drop the entire gelatin capsule into the food and let it slowly melt. The cat will then eat it along with his food. When your cat is a fussy eater, however, this is not a welcome addition to his diet. He would rather starve altogether than eat something with medicine in it, even if it is all natural.
There are other options that your vet will readily recommend…you can buy expensive and harmful steroid treatments that will shorten your pet's life, and become less and less useful with the passage of time as the cat's body becomes used to it, or you can have the vet pull the animal's back teeth, thereby reducing the chances of infection in those areas. Neither of these options sounds like a good idea to me. After all, I wouldn't want my teeth pulled if I could possibly avoid it. Your pet doesn't understand what is happening and cannot make these decisions.
The logical, merciful, and natural option is to use what God has created to keep teeth and gums healthy without painful treatments, or unhealthy drugs. The “Amazing A's” really work, and can be found on the internet and more than likely, at any reputable pet food store. When you look for dog and cat vitamins keep an eye out for the three A's that I mentioned previously. Here they are again….Andrographis, Astragalus, and Atractylodes. (Alba) Remember, a healthy pet is a happy pet, and a happy, healthy pet will make you happy as well.
