I think of holistic as “wholistic”—supporting and treating the whole pet and the whole problem—not just treating symptoms of conditions like allergies or digestive upset. When pet owners adopt excellent nutrition and minimize potentially harmful environmental chemicals, pets are more likely to reach their optimal “whole health” level.

The quality of ingredients a pet eats and the quality of its environment are the foundations of excellent health and well-being. Following are my top 10 tips to help pet owners adopt a healthy holistic lifestyle today!

1. Choose a natural pet food to minimize your pet’s exposure to artificial dyes, preservatives and other potentially negative synthetic ingredients. The right food can help eliminate problems with allergies, intestinal problems, obesity, diabetes and other food-related diseases.

2. Consider high quality natural pet supplements. While most high quality natural foods are complete and well-balanced for your pet’s needs, daily supplements are still recommended. Some pets have picky or poor appetites or other pets in the household may challenge them for food—resulting in your pet not receiving adequate nutrients every single day. Supplements act as a daily insurance policy that your pet is getting everything he requires. Even if a pet is eating a high quality diet in adequate amounts, the additional nutrients coming from supplements may benefit many age-related conditions. For example, supplemental fatty acids can improve skin suppleness and minimize itchiness and shedding. Vitamin B may help counter fatigue and improve appetite and vitamin C can enhance immune function.

3. Adopt healthy treating habits. Treats are often filled with artificial ingredients and loaded with calories. Choose baked or freeze-dried natural treats that are low in calories and highly nutritious. Some natural treats provide additional ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamins and/or fatty acids that may be beneficial in a number of conditions (skin and hair coat problems, arthritis, kidney disease, etc.). It is important that owners don't "over-treat" which can lead to problems with obesity.

4. Avoid obesity and its potential health complications. Obesity contributes to many expensive and devastating medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart and lung disease, high blood pressure and even cancer. Pets maintaining an ideal body weight live 15% longer and with less disease than obese pets. Don’t overfeed and give healthy treats only in moderation.

5. Get moving with exercise and massage. In people, physical activity has been proven to aid in weight loss, lessen heart disease, lower cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of diabetes, control anxiety, and decrease the risk of certain cancers—our pets likely get many of these same benefits. So get your pet moving—take a walk or a run. Swim, play fetch or climb the stairs. Do it together so you both get the benefit! Massage can play an important role in maintaining excellent health or helping pets recover from injury. In general, massage induces a sense of calm and often helps decrease stress and therapeutic massage may help decrease pain associated with arthritis or other chronic conditions.

6. Begin a routine at-home tooth brushing routine. By the age of 3, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have gum disease. Infections that start here can spread with troublesome consequences to important organs like the heart and kidneys. Start when your pet is young and will adapt to regular tooth brushing. Use only pet-approved toothpaste as fluoride in human toothpaste may be toxic to pets. Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

7. Adopt routine health maintenance checks. Every week or two, check your pet’s ears and eyes for any sign of a problem or a change. Run your hands over and under their body to check for lumps, bumps or painful areas. If you detect anything unusual schedule a checkup with your veterinarian.

8. Routine veterinary health examinations. Once annually for youngsters and twice yearly for those into their senior years (>7 years old). Pets age quicker than humans and their diseases tend to progress more rapidly. By catching health issues during a routine health recheck by your veterinarian, health problems can be identified at an early stage when treatment is often most effective and less expensive.

9. Use only natural grooming products to minimize your pet’s exposure to synthetic or harsh chemicals. Use grooming products with natural botanicals oils and extracts that do not strip your pet’s skin and coat of vital oils and leaves no harsh chemical residue. Learn how to properly clean your pet’s ears and eyes as part of weekly maintenance.

10. Attempt to live “chemical-free”. Keep your home free of harsh chemicals. Chemicals are everywhere and several studies have proven that common industrial chemicals are showing up in American pets. A few tips to minimize your pet’s exposure to potentially harmful substances:
    
    

    1. If your pet has an accident, choose a natural enzymatic cleaner that leaves no harsh chemical residue.
    2. Consider a HEPA-filter system to remove chemical-laden debris from the air.
    3. Avoid stain-proofing furniture, carpets and car upholstery
    4. Minimize the use of lawn or garden chemicals and pesticides
    5. Avoid drinking water contaminants by using a water filtering system
    6. Make your home and yard poison-proof—lock chemicals and antifreeze in high cabinets where they will be unreachable

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