Did you know that extra virgin olive oil is also beneficial for our four-legged friends? Indeed, its fatty acids and vitamins greatly benefit the health of our pets. How many of you who have a cat or dog or both have faced common cases of constipation, hair loss, skin diseases…? And have you wondered what to do and which remedy to use to treat your pet. Well, the solution is right in your home: extra virgin olive oil.
Extra virgin olive oil is rich in plant-based fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Including it in our pets’ diet contributes to the proper development of their nervous system in the case of puppies; and thanks to its antioxidant power, it helps in the aging process if they are already adults. The monounsaturated fatty acids present in extra virgin olive oil keep their hearts healthy, helping them live longer; preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and excessive weight gain. There are also positive effects on boosting immune defenses and on the function of joints and muscles. Olive oil not only keeps our dogs and cats healthy, but also helps them feel good. Let’s see how together.
Our four-legged friends, like us humans, can also suffer from constipation. It is a defecation disorder that consists of difficulty expelling feces, emptying all or part of the intestine. In dogs and cats, constipation can occur due to lack of fiber in the diet, dehydration, insufficient physical activity, or involuntary ingestion of toxic or non- tolerated substances. In fact, our four-legged friends have the habit of constantly licking themselves, thereby ingesting an enormous amount of hair that forms balls that obstruct the colon, thus causing difficulty in defecating. This can generate various complications in the animal such as: whimpering, bloating, inflammation, loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, and depression. These are only the most common and easily resolved causes. Our pets could recover very quickly thanks to the intake of extra virgin olive oil. To improve their intestinal transit, simply add extra virgin olive oil to their food for a few days. Obviously, one must not exceed, otherwise there is a risk of encountering other conditions such as diarrhea, digestive problems, and weight gain. The dose to administer varies depending on the size of the animal. For dogs of:
For cats, the dose can vary from ½ to 1 tablespoon per day.
In both cases, the treatment can be carried out for a few days; if no improvement is observed, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian.
Hair loss in dogs and cats depends on various factors such as: climate, seasons, the environment in which they live, or their general health. They also naturally undergo seasonal shedding, usually between summer and autumn, replacing old and damaged hair with new hair. Sometimes the loss can be very excessive, and one can act on various fronts to limit it, such as diet. Obviously, hair loss in our dogs and cats cannot be cured, being a natural phenomenon, but it can be reduced by providing them with a meat-based diet. Highly recommended because it is more digestible and contains nutrients that are easier to absorb. The diet can also be supplemented with extra virgin olive oil, as its fatty acids help soothe inflamed skin, reducing dandruff and improving the overall structure of the coat. It also ensures greater shine and silkiness of the coat. Extra virgin olive oil is also an excellent dermal regenerator and can therefore be applied to the skin of our pets to treat dry and scaly areas or to relieve cracked paw pads.
Ear infections are another common problem for our four-legged friends. They cause severe itching that forces them to scratch constantly, further aggravating the situation. So, how can all this be prevented? Simple, the solution is once again our beloved olive oil. It all comes down to properly and periodically cleaning our pets’ ears with olive oil. To clean their ears with olive oil, simply use a plastic dropper or syringe, cotton balls, a towel, and a bowl of warm water. The olive oil must be warmed to the same body temperature as the animal by placing the olive oil container in a bowl of warm water. Then fill the dropper or syringe with some olive oil, adding one to two drops into the opening of your pet’s ear canal. Finally, massage the ear area with circular movements to ensure the liquid penetrates the ear canal. These movements must be repeated at least five times for each ear. At the end, allow the dog or cat to shake its head for about 5 minutes, then clean the outer part of the ear using cotton balls or a clean towel.
In conclusion, it has been shown that extra virgin olive oil is also a valuable ally for the care of our four-legged friends. The important thing is not to exceed the doses and ensure occasional presence in their diet.
Technician and expert in extra virgin olive oils, registered in the National Register, Campania section. Master oil miller with diploma, obtained from International Extravirgin Agency.
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