Pet tip: Fat Cats

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Is your indoor cat overweight?  Use catnip to encourage them to exercise.  A small amount of dried catnip will make your cat more interested in playing games and exercising.  You can grow catnip yourself (and make yourself some catnip tea!)

Simple Recipes: Dry, chapped skin

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Is your skin feeling dry and chapped?  A simple single ingredient recipe can help heal and sooth your skin.  While your skin is damp, massage the skin with a small amount of avocado oil, found in grocery stores or on Amazon.com.  This oil is soothing and will help your skin retain moisture.

Pet tip: Itching

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Is your furry friend itchy due to fleas or allergies?  Consider adding flaxseed oil to his diet.  Depending on the size of your pet, add between 1 tsp (cats and small dogs) to 1 TBSP (large dogs) of cold-pressed flaxseed oil to your pet's normal food.  The oil has a nutty flavor that most pets enjoy.  The oil helps reduce inflammation and will ease your pet's itching.

Simple Recipes: Odor Busters

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It does not take a long hike to bring out body odor in most folks.  Make an herbal deodorant that works all over the body, including the armpits and your feet!  In a spray bottle, add 1 oz of witch hazel, 1 oz of sage tea (1 tsp sage simmered for 10 minutes in 1 cup of boiling water, and then cooled), and 15 drops of lemon or tea tree essential oil.  Shake to mix together and spray any where you need it.  Allow to dry before putting on clothing.  If you would like a cooling spray, consider adding peppermint essential oil instead of the lemon or tea tree.  It will help cool you down on those hot days!

Pet tip- Hairballs

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Is your cat having a problem with hairballs?  Add 1/2 tsp of plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) to your cat's food once every day.  The pumpkin is fiber rich and has a pleasant taste most cats enjoy.

Simple Recipes: Fade scars and fade age spots with Comfrey

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Fade small scars and age spots by massaging them with comfrey-infused oil.  This easy to make recipe calls for 1 cup dried comfrey leaves and 2 cups olive oil.  Simmer these two ingredients over a double broiler for 1 hour.  Remove from heat and cool completely.  Strain the herbs from the oil and store in a dark, glass container for up to a year.  Massage into skin as needed.

Pet Tips- Bad Breath

Shadow

Does your favorite furry friend have bad breath?  Feeding Fido a few sprigs of parsley will temporarily refresh your friend's breath.  Looking for something to cure the problem?  Make a tincture out of thyme by steeping 2 tsp dried thyme in 1 cup of boiling water.  Once cool, add to your pet's drinking water.  Thyme disinfects the mouth and gums.

Simple Recipes: Witch Hazel

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Looking for any easy way to zap acne?  Dab witch hazel on your acne-prone areas twice daily.  Witch Hazel will remove extra oil and helps get rid of acne-causing bacteria found on the skin.

Pet Tips- Tummy Soother

Shadow, left and Bear, right

Does your furry friend(s) seem to get an upset stomach from riding in the car?  Try giving him a cup of chamomile tea before the ride.  Use 1 cup of boiling water and soak a chamomile tea bag at least ten minutes.  Allow to cool, and pour into your pet's water bowl before your trip.  It calms his tummy and helps him sleep on the route.