Brushing, Fish Oil, Turmeric, Digestive Enzymes for Young and Geriatric Cats and Dogs by da-AL

Posted on by da-AL
Striped cat with great fur
Cats are better sleek than scrawny.

What do dogs have to do with cats?

It all began with a brush, some fish oil, and some turmeric. For good measure, some digestive enzymes too.

About a month ago, I cat-sat a 15ish-year-old cat for a week. She was bony, flaky skinned, clumpy-furred, and lethargic. It as just as well that her ‘usual people’ didn’t tell me they expected her to die of old age while they were away.

Kitty ate, drank, and partook of her litter box normally. After a couple days of checking in on her twice daily, her snow drifts of dandruff, her languor, and her scrawniness nagged at me.

Day three, I took action. With each morning and evening visit, I began three things:

  1. Vigorous brushing with a slicker brush, the kind with the bent wires.
  2. A capsule of fish oil squirted into her mouth twice a day too.
  3. A capsule of turmeric sprinkled over her kibble.

Each day, she looked significantly better; livelier, not nearly as angular, and her dandruff had dwindled to snowflakes. Now that her ‘regular people’ continue the protocol, she’s prettier than ever!

Beautiful face of my black Labrador mix dog
Wise and gray make sweet and black all the lovelier.

The following week, I took one of my dogs for a rabies vaccination. After the vet administered the shot, he started slicker brushing my dog. He said, “All dogs and cats need a thorough brushing daily.”

“Doesn’t it hurt short-hairs and geriatrics?”

He answered, “Once they get used to it, they love it. It helps their skin and circulation.”

What a difference! With each brushing, my dogs shed less hair and skin flakes. Today, their coats practically glow with shine and good health.

Digestive enzymes came into play when my dogs’ halitosis and flatulence were becoming chronic. After meals, one of them would pace and pant for hours, her stomach gurgling. When I saw digestive enzymes on sale at the pet store, I decided to try dosing them with my own. Each meal, I split a tablet between the dogs. Now their breath smells much better and they settle quickly after meals!

Like with anything I give my dogs, I started small when testing the try fish oil, turmeric, and digestive enzymes. Then I looked for loose stools, which would indicate that I should cut back. Cats and dogs alike took to vigorous brushing right away, the proof in how they try to elbow each other out of the way once I get started.

Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails blog/podcast speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, reading — and of my still-unreleased novels. “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat,” are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find love and happiness with or without a partner. HappinessBetweenTails.com • ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

49 thoughts on “Brushing, Fish Oil, Turmeric, Digestive Enzymes for Young and Geriatric Cats and Dogs by da-AL”

    1. any good one – the kind that’s been filtered for things like mercury & that has the good fats in it. I use mostly human things for my dogs as I believe they’re better quality

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Do you have any tips how a dog and a cat can co-habit. I feed a lot of cats in my vicinity and it’s the monsoon season here. I wanted to get the cats to sleep on the balcony, but my doggie (8.5years) does not like it. She has killed kittens too in the past. Any idea what I can do ?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. so sorry – those are difficult problems. Here in Los Angeles, my pets stay mostly indoors, so it is easier to control & train them. I would probably do something like keep the dog inside when cat food is put out. also, there are many videos & books on dog training.

      wishing you the best of luck – you are so kindhearted! – please keep us posted if you come across any tips

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Any tips to improve dogs’ immune system? My dog is sick lately and we are taking him to vet visits. Now he is better but does not have his appetite back…:( He needs all he can get to become strong again…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So sorry, dear Liu Min. I’m not a vet, so am very careful to preface all I write with the fact that these are what I’ve done …

      If anything, my overall advice for any health conditions: Outside of super simple things, first I go to doctor (or vet) for diagnosis. Then (assuming instantaneous action isn’t required) I do some research (online as well as discussing with people I know who might have personal experience) regarding medications, etc. that they might prescribe. Then I carefully try to see what works…

      Hmmm — on second thought, I will prescribe: regardless of species (humans included), it never hurts to eat healthy, get daily exercise and cuddles 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks soooo much for your advice! Our dog is a yellow Lab and caught a flu from other dogs last week. Now we have been seeing a vet nearby and he seems to be on his way to recover now. But his appetite is not completely back yet…he appears no interest in his own food but always longs for our meal, and I have to feed him always in a playful way by which he eats a very small portion of the food he used to eat…exhausting for us…just pray his full appetite comes back soon!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Sometimes animals know what’s best for them. What kind of dog is he? If he is small, I would think it’s easier to worry about him getting even smaller. My doggies are 50-60 lbs, so not so worrysome if their appetites are off for a couple of days.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. My dog is a lab, a bit overweight, now 37 kilo grams lost two kilograms during the past a few days. People keep saying he is fat, so I guess no need to worry too much on his appetite problem for now.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. how old is your dog? mine are lab mixes. overweight is an important matter at any age – as they grow older, it is especially hard on their joints, etc

              one of my dogs was quite picky about her food, but then a doctor told me that she seemed to be a few pounds overweight. when I cut back her food just a tiny bit, it made all the difference in the world with her appetite as well as her digestion. plus now she’s lovelier than ever 🙂

              with anything, best to go slowly & keep a watchful eye

              Liked by 1 person

              1. Our dog is almost three. Yes we need to work on his weight control. Maybe it’s time to do that now since he suddenly developed this habit of longing for our food but not eating his own. Thanks for your advice. 🙂

                Liked by 1 person

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