The Gruzensky Family Pack Product Review

Natural Relief for Dog Allergies with Natural Paws

Dog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws

My dog, Shasta, has Cushing’s disease if you’ve been a reader then you know. If you’re new to us, WELCOME, and you can check out our previous post-Shasta’s Diagnosis is to read about his diagnosis. What we haven’t talked about are his allergies. The excess of cortisol, prior his diagnosis of Cushing’s, probably masked the allergies. However, since starting treatment and moving to a new area (I jokingly call our new area Central Allergy California as I and many residents have them as well) his scratching and chewing on his paws has really increased. There will be several posts over the next few months discussing many of Shasta’s health-related issues. For now, I’ll do a quick overview of allergies.

The process for dogs and humans with allergies is, again (see How to Tell if Your Child or Dog Has Diabetes), very similar. A symptom occurs when the immune system starts to see certain everyday substances as dangerous and then tries to get rid of the substance. The process activates the immune system. I promise more in a later post.

This post contains my affiliate link(s). If you purchase a product via these link(s) & use my discount code, I will receive a commission.

Common symptoms of allergies:

Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin

Increased scratching

Itchy, runny eyes

Itchy back or base of tail (though Pets Web MD says this is most commonly a flea allergy)

Itchy ears and ear infections

Sneezing

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Snoring from an inflamed throat

Paw chewing/swollen paws

Constant itching

Dog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws-Shasta's Flaky SkinI try my best to find natural pet products for Shasta. He is not able to eat a raw food diet since he is a pet therapy dog, but more on nutrition and supplements in later posts.

Before he was treated, Shasta had an excess amount of Cortisol (similar to steroid hormones). Steroid hormones are often used to treat allergies through their ability to decrease the immune system’s response. Therefore, his allergy symptoms were inadvertently treated. Treatment for Cushing’s disease aims to decrease the excess of cortisol releasing his immune system to again react to environmental allergies. He also has itchy paws as a result of food and environmental allergies. Since he spends several hours, a few days a week alone with access to a dog door, we are unable to wipe his paws after each outdoor excursion. We met Elyse over a year ago and she shared Tender Paws. We are so grateful she provided a piece of our puzzle.[bctt tweet=”Natural Paws has provided an invaluable piece to our Dog Allergy puzzle.

” username=”denisegruzensk”]

Dog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws-Shasta's Dry-Cracked Paws

Elyse Horvath, the owner of Natural Paws, has developed a whole line of organic products to help with a variety of dog health issues. She was searching for a natural solution to help their Cocker Spaniel Sweet Pea’s constant itching and couldn’t find what she wanted. So she did what most of us wish we had the guts and imagination to do, she created it.

Elyse requested help formulating Natural Paws Products so it would be of the highest quality and backed by research.   She consulted a peptide chemist with a background in Zoology, Anthropology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Chemistry. Sounds like a lot of school! Elyse personally determines whether or not the product will be a lotion, essential oil or pure tea and does the safety research. This also includes consulting a veterinary team. The ingredients for all of the products are impressive. For example, Tender Paws includes: “Distilled water, Essential oil blend (safflower, avocado, flax seed, vitamin E, tea tree, lavender), Leaf & Flower extracts (aloe, neem, pau d’arco, nettle, amica, chamomile, calendula, comfrey), Wheat protein, Grapefruit seed extract, Potassium sorbate” Source: NaturalPaws.net

Read the list again, do you see what is missing? I’ll give you the answer: No steroids or chemicals.

At first, I had trouble using it. Shasta dDog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws-Shasta after Natural Pawsidn’t and still doesn’t, like the spraying aspect. Elyse helped provide a workaround, now I spray some into my palm and then rub it onto his paws and skin (yep, though focused on paws, it can be used on hot spots besides the paws).   I love how it smells so I certainly do not mind. Tender Paws helps decrease how much he chews on his paws and scratches his skin. It is important to note if they do still chew and/or lick it is fine since Natural Paws only uses organic plant ingredients that not harmful to digest. I love the story Elyse tells from a Holistic Veterinary conference she attended.  The attendees were the 1st time she had customers tasting her samples. I laugh, but it also very effectively demonstrates the product’s safety.

Dog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws-Shasta's Skin Before & After Natural Paws

Dog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws-Shasta's Paws Before and After

Does your dog have itchy ears?

Floppy ears, wet weather, and constant scratching can be the source of ear yeast infections. Yeast infections potentially lead to ear infections requiring antibiotic treatment.

Signs of a yeast infection include

         Scratching of the ear or area around the ear

         Brown, yellow or bloody discharge

         Odor in the ear

         Redness

         Swelling

         Crusts or scabs on the inside of the outer ear

         Hair loss around the ear

         Rubbing of the ear and surrounding area on the floor or furniture

         Head shaking or head tilt

         Loss of balance

         Unusual eye movements

         Walking in circles

         Hearing loss

Natural Paws EARoma ThEARapy

Photo Courtesy of My Life with Dogs PDX

EARoma theEARapy gives an extra, but worth it, step to our ear cleaning. As noted before, Shasta is at higher risk for infections. I’m all in for anything to prevent needing to use antibiotics, especially when natural.

My usual routine is to clean his ears whenever he has been wet and as needed:

1. Clean with a doggy safe Q-tip.

2. Lightly mist with EARoma thEARapy.

In between times, if your dog has frequent infections, you can lightly mist as much as weekly and/or as needed. Another way to help avoid ear infections is regular weekly cleaning and professional grooming.   Again, and actually, like all Natural Paws products, it smells terrific and is a spray.   If you have ever had to put a liquid down a dog’s ears you will immediately see the value in the spray.


The Natural Paws line includes:

Natural Paws Product Flier

Not all scratching, itching and yeast infection symptoms are related to allergies/yeast and also may be a sign of a bigger health problem so please be sure to consult your vet.

Dog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws-Natural Paws Winter Care Pack

Win a Natural Paws Winter Care Pack

Purchase Natural Paws and enter to win a Natural Paws Winter Care pack below

HELPFUL LINKS (where we dug up our information & you can get more)

Allergies in Dogs –Pets Web MD

Ear Infections in Dogs: Symptoms and Treatment-Pets Web MD

 

 

 

 

Dog Allergies Answer #1-Natural Paws-Ditch the Itch wins a 2016 Award

 

 

UPDATE:  Look what just happened for Natural Paws!!  Well Deserved!

 

We are excited to be participating in the 1st annual Holidays, Hounds and Hot Buys Giveaway and Gift Guide hosted by 6 elite pet bloggers. This year we have over $1,000 in prize packages to giveaway. A rundown of the themed prizes and participating brands were featured on #BlackFriday as well as the #houndsandholidays complete Gift Guide. Click on each blogger’s logo below to be taken directly to their gift guide and Rafflecopter entry form.  Be sure to save each of the participating bloggers to your favorites so you can visit each of us daily increasing your odds to win.

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The information we’ve shared in this blog post is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. These are our experiences and things that helped us while under veterinary care. It should not replace professional veterinary advice. If your dog/pet has a health issue please seek veterinary care.  

Denise’s Dog Dish & Shasta’s Yorkie Yap/ denisegruzensky.com received  Tender Paws and EARoma ThEARapy for an honest review. We did not receive monetary compensation to review/promote this product. We only accept products that we use ourselves, believe our readers and ourselves will benefit from learning more about & feel you will enjoy. Natural Paws is not responsible for the content of this post.

Happy Holidays,

Smiles, Barks and Wagging Tails,

Denise & ~Shasta

We have joined the Holidays, Hounds and Hot Buys Blog Hop