What is a Healing Crisis (or Healing Episode) in Dogs and Cats Related to Toxin Elimination?

A healing episode is a natural possible effect of cleansing your dog and cat of toxins. It is similar to when you have a cold and use a decongestant or other medications to help evict a bacteria, virus of fungi out of your body. It's normal to experience runny eyes and nose as your body cleanses the "invaders."

Similarly, when you introduce a detoxifying product into your dog or cat's diet, they may experience symptoms referred to as a healing crisis or a healing episode. Rest assured it is a normal, purifying response in the animal body. 

When your pet begins to experience a healing process, it is the result of several positive factors, including increased blood flow, proper metabolic rate, lymphatic cleansing and toxin elimination of the digestive and excretory systems. It is referred to as a healing crisis first because it is normally a visible response in the form of runny eyes or nose, but your pet could also be lethargic, sleep more and even have aching joints or loose stools..

This may seem not seem like progress, but it's evidential that toxins are being removed from tissue, cells and organs and are being prepped to move into the blood stream and out of the body. First your pet must get rid of unhealthy intruders before experiencing balanced wellness; sort of like an "out with the old, in with the new" improved wellness process.

The time and intensity in which a healing episode may last is dependent on your pet's immune health, diet, filtered water vs not, environment, daily toxin loads, age and genetics. Your pet may have no symptoms or mild to severe symptoms. If your pet is quite sick prior to detoxifying, the symptoms could be more noticeable. However, detoxification occurs differently in each animal and in the end, they should ultimately enjoy improved health.

Classic symptoms of detoxification may include soft stools, diarrhea, shedding, hair loss, flaky skin and rare, but occasional vomiting. It doesn't sound good, but just like humans, when you have a toxin, it has to reach the surface in some fashion. It is the same for your pets. 

Some animals may experience a few or all of the symptoms as their body heals from the inside out. The symptoms should not last more than 2 weeks, provided your pet is relatively healthy. 

Pets with a history of health problems or complications or serious illness may experience longer episodes of detoxification. If these symptoms last longer than a few weeks or become alarming, see your vet immediately. Concurrently, you can also use a natural herb which settles the digestive and excretory systems if your pet experiences severe detoxification symptoms. (Natura Petz Yummy Tummy)

As your pet enters into deeper phases of detoxification, you may want to reduce detoxifying supplements by 1/2 for one week due to microbial "die off' which is being eliminated in the blood. Microbial die off is any type of toxin that is removed from tissue or cell walls and sloughed off into the blood stream.

By reducing the supplement levels, you allow your pet to get used to the deeper phase of detoxification and elimination slowly and more comfortably. You also enable your pet to re-establish native gut flora, or balance in the gut, if it has been interrupted.

A typical detoxification process should last 30 days. Your pet will probably drink more water (please provide fresh, filtered water daily) and more frequent bathroom breaks. You should consider adding a pet friendly Probiotic to help balance native gut health and exercise is recommended because it stimulates the lymphatic system and metabolism, which further encourages toxic elimination into the blood and out of the body. 

Please keep in mind that the end result of detoxification is a healthy, vibrant dog and cat which is no longer burdened by toxins. Our pets struggle to deal with toxins found in food, water, vaccines, medications, environment, genetics and more. 

Your pet will very likely have an improved immune system, which is critical in disease prevention, should have reduced allergy and infection susceptibility, should have more energy, improved skin, coat, eyes and even bone health and should generally feel better. Detoxification may even promote longevity in your pet. Detoxification is recommended once annually; more often if your pet uses steroids, antibiotics, flea and tick regimens and other chemical or synthetic interventions. 

Consult your holistic veterinarian before administering natural detoxification products to determine if your dog or cat has underlying conditions. If during the detoxification process you observe any symptoms that concern you, stop the herbal regimen and contact your holistic veterinarian. 

After detoxification if complete, it is suggested that you introduce a reparative herbal into your pet’s health regimen that balances immunity and settles digestions, such as I Feel Good! for optimal results. 

In detoxifying regimens related to chronic diseases such as Lyme, you may want to discontinue detoxifying supplements for up to a week if your pet experiences a healing crisis, because microbial die-off related to Lyme disease will likely be much greater and less comfortable. After a few days or a week, resume at half dosage for one week. As your pet’s body adjusts to the regimen, you may increase up to the recommended dosage. 

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