Everywhere I look these days I see the word “wellness.” There are wellness centers, wellness spas; products’ advertising that they lead to wellness… the list seems to go on forever. Wellness is definitely the favorite buzz word and everyone seems to be using it, but what does the word wellness mean? Most people equate wellness to health, and I would agree with that to some extent. Being healthy and being well certainly appear to go together. But let’s look a little deeper. Let’s say that I’m leaving my doctor’s office with my laboratory results, and everything shows that I’m in great shape. My weight is acceptable, my heart rate is good, my blood pressure is under control, in other words, I’ve received a “clean bill of health.” Things are good, right? But what if my marriage is not going so good at the moment, or I just lost my job and I’m about to lose my house, or my father is seriously ill in the hospital.

Essential oils – or EO’s - are considered a “complimentary” therapy in holistic health. Plant extracts have been used for thousands of years and for various issues both mental and physical. Some of the earliest known recordings of the use of plant materials are from the Egyptians who made an ancient remedy named Kyphi which was a blend of 16 different aromatic oils which was then used on the body. Its antiseptic qualities included purifying the air which was important in preventing the spread of disease. The myrrh and frankincense given to Jesus by the wise men were healing oils to be used on wounds and for respiratory problems. The Roman Empire, responsible for the spread of learning, trained doctors and teachers about herbalism and then spread that knowledge to Greek, Egyptian, and Arabic cultures. Historical journals note that plants were used in Europe during the Middle Ages and with the Crusades came a wider use of plants which had been brought back from the Holy Land and Arabia. Evidence shows that in Europe lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme were widely used. Herbalism and the use of essential oils declined when the educational and industrial revolutions brought forth synthetic medicines. Today, people are interested more and more in getting back to basics and using the plants we have access to in many healing ways.

Lots of people have a 1st Aid kit for the family, but how many of you have one for your animals? Even if you are bundling up Scout for a ride to the vet, these are ideas that can help calm you and the animal down while you are waiting for vet care. In addition to the typical bandages, vet wrap, scissors, and iodine, consider adding the following items:

• Whistle - can come in mighty handy when your voice isn't loud enough in a time of panic or crisis to call attention to yourself. Hang it in the barn or put one in your kit. Teach the family to use it ONLY in an emergency. I have one hanging on a nail in the feed room, in the center aisle of the barn, and in my case that I grab and run out to the pasture with.

Natural, or holistic health care includes many modalities, or branches of healing. One of those modalities is homeopathy. Homeopathic medicine is based upon the laws of similars - the medicine that creates a set of symptoms that most closely matches the symptoms of illness is the one that can stimulate a cure. Another way of saying this is "like cures like". So, if your pet is scratching from a reaction to poison ivy, I may give him a preparation that includes poison ivy, but in an extremely diluted amount.

Sounds crazy, but it's been working for hundreds of years, most notably since 1775 when a German physician and chemist, Samuel Hahnemann became disillusioned with medicine and started experimenting on himself.

I am not a veterinarian: these tips are from the standpoint of nutrition only. Please use common sense when evaluating these tips for your pets.

Dear Dr. Schuster, I recently read about a "raw" diet for pets. What does this mean and will it be good for my two-year old female German shepherd? Signed, Butch

Dear Butch, there are many good sources of information regarding raw food diets. Veterinarian Richard Pitcairn’s book “Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats” makes it easy to understand, with guidelines, charts, etc. Basically, the food should be raw, fresh, and as much as possible, grown or raised organically.

Wellness Ranch is a holistic barn facility located in beautiful Washington County near Brenham, between Austin and Houston.  This unique center is owned and operated by Cassie Schuster, a nationally board certified traditional naturopath, an established Doctor of Natural Health, a Master Herbalist, guest speaker, writer, and advocate for natural health care for animals.

Wellness Ranch offers a wholesome, non-toxic, chemical-free environment for horses that are experiencing a poor healing response from injury or are in chronic stress from injury, terminal illness, or unknown disease.

The average horse needs at least 10 gallons of plain, clean water per day. This requirement increases in summer and/or hot, humid weather and with the type of work you are doing with your horse.

Do you know your horses' average intake? It's worth paying attention to and being able to respond quickly. Do the skin pinch test and if your animal is not recovering within 10 - 15 minutes call your vet immediately. You also want to be aware of fecal output: a decrease can be a sign of oncoming colic and/or dehydration. Seeing large pieces of hay stems or undigested grain can indicate dental issues and the potential for impaction colic.

What are some signs of electrolyte loss? Fatigue, skin tenting (folds in the skin in places where it should be smooth), sunken eyes, dry mucous membranes, poor capillary refill, nervousness, muscle stiffness, tremors, increased heart rate, little or no urination, collapse (call your vet ASAP). Here is a recipe I have used after heavy exercise, on hot days, or anytime I suspect my horses have lost excess electrolytes. I also like to be proactive and add electrolytes to the water sources for my older horses on a daily basis as they struggle a bit more than their younger counterparts during our hot, Texas days.

1. Every day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in this country while only 10,000 people are born.

2. It's simple math - there just aren’t enough homes for all of these animals.

3. Every year 10-12 million animals are euthanized in shelters for lack of available homes.

4. On average, 64% of all animals taken into shelters nationwide have to be euthanized for this reason. 

5. At least 50% of the overpopulation problem is non-neutered males. Females can’t do it alone.

Our pets - we pamper them, dote on them, cook for them, eat with them, sleep with them, write songs about them, dress them up…we absolutely love our pets. The bond between humans and animals is unmistakable: we feel it, trust it; we’re nurtured by it, comforted by it, we seek it out and tell others all about it. Animals are “good medicine” and less fattening than chocolate chip cookies but no less wonderful. And they love us – unconditionally!  It’s no wonder then, that there are large numbers of people who want to make sure that their furry companion has the best health care as possible to insure a quality of life and long-lasting life.

     Health care for animals includes many aspects. The first aspect is quality food and access to clean, fresh water. Many animals do not tolerate grains very well. Think about it – could you eat oatmeal or corn flakes for every meal, every single day of your life? Not only is it boring, but you would be missing out on essential nutrients for health. This goes for our pets too. Look for pet foods that do not list grains as the first, second, or third ingredient on the list. Foods that include meat are a better choice and will provide a higher level of nutrition. For animals that have skin and coat problems, your veterinarian should rule out any problems your pet may have. Then you can check out pet foods that are wheat, corn, and/or soy-free.