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”

  3. Your blog is fun and I’ll bet your book will be also. I too have a recently self-published book, “Mysterious Builder of Seattle Landmarks, Searching for my Father. “I always thought writing a book would be enough—publishers would then take over. But I’ve learned that writing a book is just the beginning! Anyway, it’s fun to keep learning new things.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. many thanks for all the good thoughts, Paula – I thought that too – perhaps it’s better to not to know in advance, otherwise no one would ever write books …

      Like

  4. The combination of cats, dogs, and tomatoes caught my attention – a resident hound or more is essential for gardens, especially if you live in the woods.
    In addition tomato juice is an excellent “deodorant” should a dog have a close encounter of the worst kind with a skunk – applied liberally and allowed to set for a few minutes prior to hosing off….. works on people as well.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Thanks! We are looking after our daughters cat while she moves house.he is in good shape and lively but he does have a bit of dandruff when brushed. I will keep up the brushing and try the fish oil.

    Liked by 1 person

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