HYDROTHERAPY – THE HEALING POWER OF SALT WATER
Salt Water – The Most Natural Healing
In memories of all immobile dogs that were not given a second chance
What is Epsom Salt?
Epsom salt, named for a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England, is not actually salt but a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. Long known as a natural remedy for a number of ailments, Epsom salt has numerous health benefits as well as many beauty, household, and gardening-related uses.
Studies have shown that magnesium and sulfate are both readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt baths an easy and ideal way to enjoy the associated health benefits. Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function, and helping to prevent artery hardening. Sulfates help improve the absorption of nutrients, flush toxins, and help ease migraine headaches.
The Epsom salts for dogs can be helpful for dogs suffering from allergies, for treating open wounds, relieving skin discomfort and relieving aches in muscles. The only thing you should watch over is your dog not to drink water with Epsom salt, because it can disrupt its digestive system. Before you start using a bath with Epsom salts for dogs, you should know the benefits.
References
Patty Khuly, MBA, DVM
Sunset Animal Clinic
Nicholas Dodman, DVM
Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Ihor Basko, DVM
Worldwide Holistic Veterinary Care, Acupuncture, Diet Therapy
Karen Becker, DVM, CCRP
Diplomate of the American Veterinary Medical Association
AN ALTERNATE APPROACH TO PET’S HEALTH
Magnesium (Mg) is essential for a wide range of bodily functions, therefore optimum performance. It is a critical component of cells, bones and tissues and almost every physiological process you can imagine. Magnesium is crucial for nerve transmission, muscular function and the regulation of blood sugars and hormones. Dogs require essential vitamins and minerals just like humans do. One of these key nutrients is magnesium, involved with energy production at the cellular level. Every time your pet moves a muscle, experiences a heartbeat, or has a thought, magnesium is needed to facilitate that transfer of energy. Also involved are three other minerals: sodium, potassium, and calcium, all dependent to some degree on the action of magnesium. These minerals are necessary for proper heart function, muscle movement and nervous system signaling. Sometimes, whether due to malnutrition, diabetes, or kidney damage, an insufficient amount of magnesium is present for use in the body, leading the other three minerals to drop.
EPSOM SALT AND DOG
THE TRANSDERMAL APPROACH
Epsom salts are used in our pool as they provide many health benefits. Dissolved salts are easily absorbed through our skin making it the best way to boost our magnesium levels aside from food intake. Transdermal intake of magnesium is a good way because it is less affected by activity in your gut, such as stomach acids and digestive enzymes. When the liver and stomach are bypassed, more of the magnesium goes directly into the bloodstream.
What is Transdermal Absorption
Transdermal means the application of a medicine or drug through the skin. In the simplest terms, a drug is placed on top of the skin, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Transdermal medications have many advantages, chief among them ease of application. Medications that can be absorbed through the skin bypass the need for pills or liquids, which can be a challenge to administer to some pets. In addition, because they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream, and avoid initially passing through the intestinal and liver, transdermal application may be more effective or work faster than some oral medications, allowing better treatments.
- Soothing relief from arthritic pain
- Reducing stiffness, soreness, and tightness of joints
- Reducing discomfort from muscle aches, pains and tenderness
- Soothing painful bruises, sprains and strain
- Improving body energy levels to accelerate the rate of natural body healing
- Deep cleansing of the skin