INDOOR CHEMICALS AND NATURAL SOLUTIONS

Excerpt from the book "Whole Health for Happy Dogs"
by Kim Bloomer and Jill Elliot, DVM

A study done in 1989 by the state of Massachusetts discovered that 50% of all illness is due to the poor air quality in the home. This is due in large part to the fact that we like the convenience of using the popular "quick" household cleaners. We've traded wholesome, natural cleaners that might take more time to use for extremely toxic substances all in the name of convenience and ease. Another contributing factor is that our homes have become much “tighter” through the use of extra thick insulation, thermal windows, and doors, in efforts to keep us warm while lowering heating costs.

We use so many chemicals in our homes that most of us aren't even aware that we are helping a toxic environment thrive within our own homes. Over the last 30 years we've introduced more and more toxins in the form of cleaners and personal products. Some of the worst carcinogens are hair spray, air fresheners, window cleaners, nail polish remover, laundry soap, furniture polish, floor care products, liquid dish soap, certain brand toothpastes, hair coloring, bleach, and household disinfectants. These substances are not only harming us but our pets as well.

Most dogs lie on floors that have been cleaned with highly toxic floor cleaners, carpets that have been sprinkled with toxic powders to remove odors, and bedding that has been washed in toxic chemical laundry soaps. While we may wear gloves to clean our homes, the chemicals from these products linger in the air we breathe.

These toxins accumulate in our dogs’ bodies (and ours!), eventually causing a state of disease. Diseases and illness can range and vary from allergies, respiratory problems, auto-immune disorders, liver and kidney disorders and even cancer.

All of these chemical products will affect our dogs faster than us because they are usually closer to the source (on the floor) and have a heightened sense of smell. We may already be treating some of these symptoms thinking that we are allergic to something else such as plants, flowers, or weeds. Our immune systems and those of our dogs are trying to repel these toxins, masking them as the symptoms of allergies, respiratory infections, nausea and so on.

Mold

Another contributor to poor air quality in our homes is mold. Mold is also on the rise because of the way we’ve made our homes “tighter,” as described earlier. While mold is in every home, toxic black mold is the dangerous form that can kill. Dogs will get symptoms of sinus and respiratory problems that are often treated with allergy medicines or even antibiotics. However, mold is not histamine-driven, so antihistamines won't work, and according to Dr. George Graham of The Mold Lab (http://www.themoldlab.com), mold is also resistant to antibiotics. So, once again, the over-medication of dogs becomes a problem. It is also important to know that bleach does nothing more than turn mold white, so it does nothing to help a mold problem. In fact, by attempting to rectify the situation with bleach, you are adding more noxious, dangerous chemical fumes to the air in your home.

Natural Alternatives to Environmental Toxins

You might not do it overnight, but the best place to begin is by eliminating your chemical cleaning and personal products, and replacing them with natural, organic products. They might be more expensive in some instances, but the long-term savings come with reduced veterinarian and medical costs for you and your pets. However a very good and very inexpensive product you can clean your floors and windows with is white vinegar and warm water. White vinegar can also double as an inexpensive ear cleaning solution for your dog's ears too!

Do some research and look for natural wholesome products to clean your home with, do laundry with, and for you and your dog's personal grooming. Unfortunately because "natural" is a popular term these days, and is largely unregulated on labels, many products really aren't natural and include many of the same harmful chemicals as regular products. Due diligence in your research is imperative. There are far too many companies and products to list in one chapter, but we do provide some suggestions in the Resource section of this book.

Other indoor pollutants that can be easily replaced are air fresheners or carpet powders. If you are already diffusing essential oils in your home after reading Chapters 8 and 9, great! If not, this is a wonderful reason to do it. In fact, many of the oils can be used as a mixture with water or baking soda to do household cleaning. One example is to take a small box of baking soda, make a hole in the baking soda inside the box (like you do when you are going to plant a plant) and add in 20-30 drops of lemon essential oil. Let it absorb into the baking soda and then mix it up and use it as a scouring cleaner in place of your regular chlorine type scouring cleanser. In place of a standard canister air freshener, get your favorite essential oil, mix a few drops with an amber or blue spray bottle (to keep the integrity of the oils intact as light can destroy them) of purified water and use that as your air freshener.

The essential oils can clean the air in your home even better than an air filter and also detoxify you and your dog!

To remove mold spores from the air in your home Dr. Graham recommends using a solution of grapefruit seed extract or Tea Tree oil (melaleucca essential oil) periodically to prevent mold growth. http://www.themoldlab.com

This article is reprinted as a courtesy and with
permission from the co-author Kim Bloomer and
can not be used without prior consent from
the authors and/or publisher..

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Jill Elliot, DVM, began her career as a conventional veterinarian. She graduated Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. She practiced as a conventional veterinarian since 1995. In 1998 she pursued postgraduate training in Classical Homeopathy. She completed the initial and advanced courses for veterinarians offered by Richard Pitcairn, DVM, Ph.D. She continued her homeopathic studies January through May, 2000, at the Orion School of Homeopathy in London, England. In addition, she is continuing to study homeopathy at the Teleosis School of Homeopathy, with Joel Kreisberg, DC, in New York City monthly. Kim Bloomer, is a natural pet care educator, host of the online radio show Animal Talk Naturally, proficient blogger on natural pet health online, pet news editor for a print magazine in Montana, writes for The Chihuhua Connection magazine and co-author of the book Whole Health for Happy Dogs. She has and continues to do extensive research into natural health care for dogs and cats. Kim is currently enrolled in the Clayton College of Natural Health studying for a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition/Doctor of Naturopathy. Visit Kim's most informative site: www.aspenbloompetcare.com