Just like humans, it is quite common for our pets to suffer from a fever when they are feeling a bit under the weather. There are many factors that could contribute to your pet’s sudden onset of fever. Perhaps they have caught a little flu bug, eaten something that didn’t agree with them, endured some type of trauma or been exposed to an infection of some sort.

There are a few signs that might indicate to you that your pet could be suffering from a higher than normal temperature. The animal may be acting somewhat cranky, may avoid eating or drinking, might appear lethargic or perhaps might even be found hiding in a quiet area. However the only definite way to determine if your pet has a fever is to take its temperature.

You will need to take the animals temperature rectally, and it is for this reason that you should use a digital thermometer rather than a glass, mercury one. (You don’t want to take a chance the that thermometer will break and injure the pet.) Use some petroleum jelly to lubricate the thermometer and while lifting the pet’s tail, carefully and gently insert it about half way into the rectum. Wait until the digital thermometer beeps and then remove it. The normal temperature of a cat or dog ranges between 101° F and 102.5° F, therefore anything above 103° F should be considered abnormal.

A great homeopathic remedy for a fever in your pet is to use a treatment of Aconite.

Almost universal in very old dogs is some degree of a disease called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. This disease is the equivalent of Alzheimer's disease in people. It begins with a dog that just seems less interested in what is going on in the family. It does not greet family members when they return from work like it used to. It seems to sleep more than usual and is not as eager to go on walks. It may revert to old bad behaviors such as anxiety when left alone. I may begin soiling in the house and walking about restlessly at night. It may bark at inanimate objects such as rocks or get confused when it is in corners, new environments or needs to open the door. The dog may vocalize or wander aimlessly. They often retain a good appetite. A bit more than half of dogs over 10 years of age show some of these signs.

There are other diseases that can mimic Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, so make sure that your veterinarian has ruled them out. Some of these are kidney failure, chronic liver disease, low blood sugar, sluggish thyroid function, arthritis, heart problems, deafness and poor vision.

Conventional treatment of this disease is a drug called Selegiline, or Anipryl.

A much better choice, with no side effects, would be all natural PetAliveTM Performance Plus with herbs known to improve physical and mental performance. Performance Plus is highly recommended for mature older dogs to prevent and treat memory loss, plus protects your dog against cancers, heart disease, and many different conditions associated with aging.

Thyroid Problems
The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which have a number of functions in the body and are particularly critical in maintaining and regulating your dog's metabolic rate. Older dogs often have sluggish thyroid glands. These thyroid glands no longer produce adequate amounts of a hormone called thyroxine. Any change in the functioning of this gland can have varied effects on your dog's health.

Although hypothyroidism (decreased functioning of the thyroid) is not a life-threatening condition, it can certainly decrease your dog's quality of life.

When not enough thyroid hormones are produced several things happen. The animals tend to gain weight without any change in their diet, and the amount of fat in their blood streams increase. Dogs become constipated, their heart rate slows, body temperature declines, they are fatigued and lethargic, and hair ceases to regrow normally. Some dogs will have muscle weakness.

Conventional veterinarians prescribe synthetic thyroid hormones. One of the main problems with synthetic thyroid hormones is that they may result in too much thyroid hormones in your dog's body, because it is difficult to determine exactly how much of the synthetic hormones is needed. When your dog has too much thyroid hormones, they become hyperthyroid, which also must be treated.

PetAlive Thyro-Pet improves your dog's thyroid functioning and increases the production of thyroid hormones naturally as well as address all the major symptoms associated with hypothyroidism. All Natural Thyro-Pet contains no added synthetic thyroid hormones and there is therefore no risk of inducing hyperthyroidism in your dog.

Cider vinegar is a repellent to some insects. Powdered garlic, and goldenseal, mixed in olive oil, are applied to areas of skin infested with Demodex mange. Also for Demodex, copious quantities of vegetable oil rubbed into the skin are said to starve Demodex mites of oxygen. Because ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are most active at night, treat infested ears just before your bedtime. Dilute nine drops of yellow dock tincture, in 15 ml water and instil in affected ears every three days for six weeks. Olive oil instilled alternate days for six weeks is also recommended. Six weeks are necessary because mite eggs hatch over this period.
For fleas, use a fine-toothed, metal flea comb. Place captured fleas in ammonia-laced water. Natural pyrethrin powder, especially from chrysanthemums grown in Kenya, is an effective natural insecticide. In India it is mixed with Acorus calamus and also used for ticks and lice. Flea control depends upon preventing or reducing reinfestations. Washing and vacuuming the environment reduces adult, larval, and egg stages of fleas. Always incinerate used vacuum-cleaner bags. Some herbalists advocate leaving eucalyptus leaves under furniture and rugs or rubbing fennel foliage into your dog's coat. Nematodes are bugs that eat fleas: these are commercially available and are introduced into the yard or garden.
Corn starch, mixed with just enough boiled water to make a paste, may reduce itching when applied to irritated areas. Goldenseal and Calendula cream may also be useful. Echinacea, goldenseal, or pau d'arco internally, may strengthen the immune system. Infusion of German chamomile flower is said to be soothing and cooling to irritated skin. Other herbs, such as burdock root, curled dock root, licorice root, and southernwood herb may reduce itchiness.

1 cup warm distilled or spring water ¼ teaspoon sea salt (or table salt) 1 teaspoon calendula solution or tincture

Place water in a small bowl. Mix in salt and calendula. Soak a washcloth in the solution and hold it against the wound for 2 minutes.
Treat two or three times a day. Once a scab forms, stop treatment. Give 2,500 to 10,000 I.U. vitamin A (depending on your pet's size) once a day for three days and give 100 to 500 I.U. vitamin E (depending on your pet's size) once a day for five days.

Aloe Vera is a useful, naturally occurring antiseptic derived from the succulent Aloe Vera. It can be safely applied to a pet to help the healing of minor cuts or abrasions. Any thing major, particularly a burn or severe laceration, should be examined by a vet.

Scalding water 1 black or green teabag

Dip the teabag briefly in scalding water. Remove the tea from the water and let it cool to a comfortable temperature. Press it gently against the hot spot for a few minutes while holding and petting your animal. If your pet will allow it, tie the teabag in place with a strip of cloth and leave it on the hot spot for up to 1 hour. If it fails to improve, take your pet to the veterinarian.

Ant bites and bee stings are more acidic in nature. For these you want to neutralize the effect of the venom with a paste of baking soda and very cold water.

Meat tenderizers contain enzymes that when applied as a paste also draw out the venom and swelling

Clean the ears with vinegar. If your pet’s ears are filled with brownish-pink wax, there is a good chance that allergies have caused a yeast infection. To clear up yeast infections, clean the ears thoroughly.
Veterinarians often recommend using white vinegar (also called acetic acid), because it removes dirt and debris and helps restore a healthy chemical balance in the ears. Diluted vinegar works well. When using vinegar, pour a small amount into the ear canal, massage the area, then gently wipe the inside of the ear with a cotton ball. Do this once a day until the ear is better.
Stop infections with pau d’arco. The herb pau d’arco, which comes from the inner bark of a South American tree, is a natural antibiotic that quickly kills fungi and bacteria. At the first sign of infection, mix equal parts pau d’arco tincture and mineral oil and put several drops in your pet’s ears. Give the drops two or three times a day for several days.

Reduce inflammation with Vitamin C. The adrenal glands produce a natural steroid that can help reduce inflammation when ears get infected. Giving pets Vitamin C can help the adrenal glands work more efficiently. Pets weighing under 15 pounds can take between 100 and 250 milligrams of Vitamin C a day. Cats and dogs 15 to 50 pounds can take 250 to 500 milligrams a day, and larger dogs can take 500 milligrams two or three times a day. Vitamin C can cause diarrhea, so you may have to cut back the dose until you find an amount that your pet will tolerate.

Eliminate toxins with a healthy, all-natural diet. Giving your pet a healthy, homemade diet or high-quality commercial food that doesn’t contain corn, additives or preservatives can greatly reduce the amount of wax that the ears produce while also helping to boost the immune system.

Air out the ears. Increasing air circulation inside the ears can control the growth of bacteria, yeast and fungi. Trim or pluck hair inside the ears periodically to allow more air to get inside.

Strengthen the digestive tract. Supplements such as bromelain and quercetin (with bromelain) can help prevent an allergic response in the gastrointestinal tract, making food allergies less of a problem.

Stop ear mites with oil. When an infection is caused by ear mites, putting a few drops of almond oil or olive oil in each ear will smother the mites and may allow the infection to heal. You usually need to continue the oil treatments for three to four weeks, putting three to seven drops of oil into the ear canals each day. To help the treatment work more efficiently, clean wax and other debris from the ears before using oil.

Try an over-the-counter remedy. One of the best ways to stop ear mites is with over-the-counter products containing pyrethrins. Made from chrysanthemums, pyrethrins are natural insecticides that are very safe to use. Just follow the instructions on the label.

When to call the vet
Ear infections can look and smell awful, but they usually affect only the outer part of the ear and aren’t too serious. If you’re unable to get to the source of the problem (especially if your pet is still scratching a lot), you will want to see your veterinarian to find out what is causing the problem.
Vigorous scratching can break blood vessels in the earflap, causing the entire ear to swell like a balloon. This condition is called hematoma and must be drained by a veterinarian to prevent permanent damage.
Other symptoms to watch out for include head tilting, clumsiness, walking in circles or drooping eyes. These

If your dog has itchy skin, the beginnings of a hot spot, incessantly washes its feet, has smelly ears, or is picky about his food, the application of ACV may change things around. For poor appetite, use it in the food - 1 tablespoon, two times a day for a 50 lb. dog. For itchy skin or beginning hot spots, put ACV into a spray bottle, part the hair and spray on. Any skin eruption will dry up in 24 hours and will save you having to shave the dog. If the skin is already broken, dilute ACV with an equal amount of water and spray on.

As our beloved canine friend begins to age, it is likely that at some point a certain degree of arthritis will set in and begin to slow our pet down a bit. Arthritis affects the animal by causing inflammation and pain in the joints. Although all breeds and sizes of dogs are susceptible, it is the large and giant breeds who are most prone to the problem. The added weight due to their size puts additional pressure on the joints and results in more wear and tear. You may notice, as your pet gets older, that it is increasingly difficult for him or her to get up after sleeping, and might move more slowly or stiffly when walking.

There are a number of things that you can do at home for your pet to slow down the progression of the disease and help your dog to stay healthy and as pain free as possible.

The first solution is to incorporate substantial doses of powdered Vitamin C into the dog’s daily meal. Vitamin C will help keep tissue healthy and protect against further joint deterioration. (Use a sodium ascorbate or another form of buffered vitamin C, as plain ascorbic acid may cause an upset stomach.)

Here is a daily dosage guide for adult dogs…
Small dogs 500mg – 1,000mg
Medium – Large dogs 1,000mg – 2,000mg
Giant dogs 2,000mg – 4,000mg

Start with the lowest recommended dosage and gradually increase it once or twice per year. If the dog is producing loose stools the dosage may be a bit high so cut back slightly and increase it gradually over time.

You can also try using Rhus Toxicodendron, which is a very effective homeopathic remedy and will help to manage pain and aching.

Lastly, you might try incorporating Home-Cooked Meals for your pet, as this will provide them with high-quality and chemical free food. Just be sure to avoid using any vegetables that are considered part of the “nightshade” family, such as tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant. These types of vegetables tend to aggravate an arthritic condition.