6 minute read
PETS
ELIMINATING YOUR PET’S PAIN— NATURALLY
Holistic therapies for your furry companion BY ELIZABETH KANE
Imagine: He’s sleeping better, feeling stronger and acting calmer. She’s less anxious, more playful and a heck of a lot happier.
COULD IT BE … THE CBD?
Your pet means everything to you and your family. She’s the heartbeat of your home. So, if you’re watching her struggle with high stress levels, allergies, anxiety or other ailments, chances are you’ll stop at nothing to eliminate her pain.
Fully healing your pet’s pain may require more than a conventional solution; you may want to consider an alternative therapy. Here are some natural remedies local experts recommend for healing your furry friend.
ANALYZE YOUR PET’S DIET
Although animals face some common issues, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to evey pet’s problem. “We look at the animal in front of us,” says JP Phinney, co-owner of Unleashed, a pet store with locations in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Wilmington and Southport. Phinney says some pet owners worry that their animal has food allergies when troublesome symptoms like constant itching and scratching behaviors arise. However, the real reason might be something trickier. “The ‘itchy scratchies’ are almost always due to a food sensitivity. Not necessarily a food sensitivity to an ingredient … but really to an intolerance to an inappropriate ratio of ingredients in their food,” Phinney says.
Although the protein, fat and fiber content numbers may look right on your pet’s food ingredient label, the nutrient ratio could be off. “Where they get that protein and where they get that fat makes a big difference,” Phinney says. If a pet gets a good amount of their protein from the fiber or the stach in their food, it will “cause a general inflammatoy response in that animal … almost always,” Phinney says. One solution to try? “A slow, measured change in food or supplements can usually remedy these issues.”
TRY PET CBD OIL (REALLY!)
To reduce or possibly eliminate your pet’s pain, consider exploring another avenue in alternative health that may seem, well … very alternative to you.
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“Aches, pains and inflammation; anxiety; and allegies—those are sort of the three big buckets that we see our customers using the pet CBD oil for,” says Matt Weschler, an organic chemist and founder of Peak City CBD in Apex. Pet owners come to his company seeking a more natural and less pharmaceutical-heavy solution to alleviate their pet’s discomfort, he says.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is found in plants like cannabis and hemp. For reference, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD are compounds present in the highest concentration in these plants. But, unlike THC, CBD is non-psychoactive, so CBD oil users won’t feel the “high” associated with cannabis. They will feel other health benefits, howeve .
Weschler extracts the hemp, purifies the CBD and makes various products—some of which are for pets—in his Holly Springs lab. He says he has created a CBD with “a nice organic bacon flavo,” as well as a natural CBD that “has no flavor at all.
If you’re curious about holistic remedies but worried about how they may affect your pet, Phinney and Weschler recommend incorporating alternative therapies slowly and focusing on quality. “When it comes to diet, there’s no drawback. You are simply trying a more speciesappropriate diet for your animal and branching away from big commercial pet food,” Phinney says.
Weschler feels confident about the quality of the CBD he sells because he works closely with a trusted local colleague who runs an organic hemp farm. “Don’t look for the cheapest stuff because, in this industry, you do get what you pay for,” he says. He recommends trying CBD oil first befoe considering other alternative remedies for pets, such as massage therapy or acupuncture. “It’s one of the easiest things you can do,” he says.
While “there’s usually not much of a downside,” Weschler says drowsiness is the most common side effect pets experience from the CBD oil. And while he can’t guarantee that pet CBD oil will work for every animal, it won’t do any harm as long as you “start low and slow. You’re not going to be giving them a lot of CBD anyway.”
So, if those standard visits to the vet don’t seem to be solving your pet’s problems, consider an alternative treatment. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
A DOG LOVER'S DREAM BY MANDY HOWARD
Picture this. You’ve had a long day. Deadlines, high-maintenance clients and two Zooms that could have definitel been replaced with emails. A friend texts, asking if you want to meet for a drink, and you do—desperately! But your poor pandemic pup has been patiently waiting all day to get some real exercise. Your phone dings, your dog stares …
But what if you didn’t have to choose?
West Street Dog, opening this July in downtown Raleigh, is part dog park, part bar, part pet boarding and part doggy day care. Bringing this concept to life on flourishingWest Street are co-owners Laura Muntel and Tom Rhoads, founders of Suite Paws Pet Resort & Spa; Jess and Ben Eberdt, owners of Go Dog; and Grey Littlewood. Muntel says visitors will experience the same high level of care and expertise they have come to expect from Suite Paws Pet Resort & Spa. “Just add a bar and a dog park,” she says. The dog park is an indoor, turf, off-leash doggy happy place for friendly, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered dogs that become “members.” Utilizing the most up-to-date technology, Muntel says an app-based membership will help keep track of the dogs, and allow their owners a convenient and relaxing experience. Muntel, who has been in the Raleigh dog business for more than a decade, believes Oak City dog owners are ready for this concept. “People love their dogs. They want to hang out with them and bring their dogs with them anywhere they can,” she says. “I do, too. I’m one of those people.” Patrons can let their dogs play in the off-leash area, or keep their leashed dogs with them in the full-service bar. Treats, water bowls and other special touches will be found throughout the facility. “Every single choice we made, we made with the dogs in mind,” Muntel says. Learn more about West Street Dog at weststreetdog.com.
More of a cat person?
Raleigh has something for you, too. Purr Cup Cafe on Prospect Avenue invites cat lovers to come in, grab a cup of coffee and spend time with feline friends. While you can’t bring your own cat to Purr Cup Café, you might be able to take one home. The cat lounge is populated by “adorable adoptable” cats from SAFE Haven for Cats. Come for a cup of joe, leave with a furr-ever friend! Learn more at purrcupcafe.com.
