DETOX: FOR DOGS & US
I’m not a militant wellness freak – not that there’s much wrong with that. I get it. I’m just a little more moderate in my approach to health and well-being. I still want daily living to be fun. I don’t want to count calories, throw away every piece of plastic in the house, replace every towel with 100% organic cotton, cook every meal from scratch with ingredients only from farmers’ markets and so on. I want to eat out. I want to have an occasional ice cream cone. I might also want some salted popcorn with my Netflix, though I find non-GMO popcorn easily. I want an occasional margarita with my Mexican food or a Laphroaig whisky in winter while listening to good tunes.
BUT I DO want to take precautions with the air we breathe, the water we drink, the products we clean with or put on our bodies and the furniture we lay on – especially because our dog is a senior. Dogs are more fragile and susceptible than we are to chemical overload. Studies are showing toxic chemicals like POCs in dogs’ blood beyond what’s found in ours – and we’ve got them, too, sadly. So in that spirit, I write this article.
If you want to smoke pot (where it’s legal – ha), eat some frozen dinners, meet friends at the bar Friday nights, and get your dog a Puppuccino, I’m not going to be the wellness police wagging my finger or my dog’s paw. You do you. Here are some tips for being you with well-being in mind, including your dog’s well-being.
Some chemicals cause cancer. Some cause DNA damage. Some are called forever chemicals and it’s too late to remove them – they shouldn’t even be on the market. Some biotech companies are working on breaking them down as I understand it. Gasoline byproducts, forever chemicals, other chemicals and pharmaceuticals are in our water and found in our urine or blood. Same with our dogs. The US has hundreds of chemicals on the market – maybe thousands – that the EU has banned. Something to think about. A CDC study found glyphosate (the toxic weedkiller linked to cancer) in 80% of US urine samples https://apple.news/AL-g3KG0gT6m_MZ0dBnkWTQ. But did they take it off the market? No. So, it’s up to you to protect your family. I’m going to share many tips – some here today.
Pesticides, herbicides and insecticides are some classes of chemicals to worry about, and glyphosate fits in there. They’re toxic by design. They are created to kill insects, plants and fungi that are considered “pests.” But they seem to also be killing us, our dogs and pollinators like honeybees. These risks have been confirmed by independent scientists and physicians around the world, in addition to U.S. and international government agencies. The potential health problems connected to pesticides include brain and nervous system toxicity, cancer and hormone disruption. Good times.
First off, get to know The Environmental Working Group and their website. Every year they release a list of the safest and most dangerous crops: The Clean 15 and The Dirty Dozen. It doesn’t include grains, so bear in mind wheat, barley, oats and beans are also problematic and best purchased as organic. The lists can help you decide which items you always buy organic if your budget has you picking and choosing. It can also help you decide which recipes to use or buy for your dog’s food. EWG also has a wealth of information on your water. Plug in your zip code and see what contaminants are in your water. Then you can best choose a water filter.
So, filter your and your dog’s water. I like Hydroviv as one option. It customizes the filter it sends you based on a report of your local water.
Buy organic and non-GMO produce. GMOs contain many toxins that can damage your dog’s body. Also know there’s something called BT Toxin that’s considered organic, but equally dangerous.
Toxins lead to headaches, ADD, brain fog, fatigue, sleep issues, irritability, anxiety, weight gain, skin issues, neurological problems, chronic diseases like cancer and more. There’s a link between Parkinson’s and environmental toxins, for example. Some people have better detox pathways than others…genetically. We detox with our organs, via proper elimination - urine, sweat, poop. There are six organs of elimination- lungs, lymphatics, colon, kidneys, liver, and skin. Same with our dogs. But our organs weren’t built to withstand the mad science going on with industrialization, so they need some extra help. Luckily, there are things we can do to help.
When doing a detox, get the junk out of the cells but also out of the bloodstream. Increase water intake. Be careful with extreme juice cleanses. Some need B vitamins for energy and amino acids during a cleanse. Start with gentle cleansing through diet upgrades and good veggies like cruciferous veggies. And hydrate well since that helps elimination. Molecular hydrogen tablets in water bring down oxidative stress. Detox with things that bind. Support the organs via organotherapy like feeding organ meats like kidney and liver since they’re doing the hard work of filtering the gunk out. Glutathione helps us detox, but it has to bind to the toxin. Milk thistle helps. Sweating through sauna and exercise helps. Animal proteins that contain sulfur-rich amino acids are said to be good for detox – turkey and eggs, for instance. Fulvic and humic acid is now often suggested for both people and dogs to gently bind to heavy metals & other enviro toxins to remove them without binding to other nutrients or interfering with meds or other supplements, but check with your vet/doctor. They can also remove glyphosate with the detox they offer plus they add minerals that most of us need since soils have become so depleted. Bentonite clay can also be good, but again, have your vet/doctor monitor to make sure you’re not depleting other nutrients. Just have a vet/dr overseeing any detox or protocols since you can also wind up losing minerals you or your dog needs.
The worse your diet and water, the worse you’ll feel during any major detox. If you’re eating organic and living clean but not truly filtering your water, you can still have sub-optimal health. You can test your blood, urine and even hair for heavy metal toxicity and nutrient deficiencies– same for your dog.
Air filtration is also key for detox. Different people react differently to mold, which is often invisible, by the way. It’s not just black mold to worry about. People can have brain fog, fatigue or anxiety. Studies have linked it to dementia, too. Yikes. I like my Air Doctor filter. It’s got a HEPA filter plus a carbon/gas trap/VOC filter. It filters out mold, pollen, smoke, bacteria, viruses, pet dander, ozone, gases, odors, and VOCs like formaldehyde. A company called IQ Air even makes a car air filter.
One of my favorite integrative veterinarians is Dr Marlene Siegel. She’s actually launching detox spas for pets and people. Hopefully, they’ll open all around the world. Wouldn’t it be great to have a spa day with your dog? They have water therapy, isotonic salt booths, ozone, full spectrum infrared light therapy and more.
A short list of steps to take to clean up your home, your body and your dog’s body and environment:
· Whole foods – organic as much as possible, even biodynamic
· Avoid plastic food storage due to the BPA chemical
· Filter water
· Filter air
· Use clean, green cleaning & beauty products - you can check their status through Think Dirty
· Avoid chemicals wherever you can: household cleaners, body products, lawn care, drugs.
· Organic grooming products for your pup like 4 Legger
· Buy organic furniture and bedding as much as possible to avoid chemicals off-gassing into the air you and your dog breathe
· Use metal, glass or ceramic dog bowls and clean them regularly
· Simple white vinegar and water with a few drops of essential oils cleans floors well
· Reduce the dirty electricity/artificial EMFs in your home from WIFI, blue tooth and the like – invest in EMF blockers
· Reduce stress and negative thoughts that cause problems when trying to fight illness
· Exercise to get your lymphatic system working
· Prioritize sleep
In short, invest in wellness or pay later with illness. It may not seem very rock and roll – and I used to work with some rock stars – but just do it for your doggo. Reach out if you need some guidance on where to start or what products to use for yourself or your dog. And if you forget, it may mean you have brain fog from all the toxins and really need to detox!