March | 2017 | Realm of Vibes

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The information within this blog post is not to be taken as medical advice. If your dog has medical issues, please bring them to the veterinarian.

When we rescued Bailey in December 2014, she had Giardia. She had just finished a round of antibiotics, but her stool was still loose and had a very distinct, unpleasant smell. We kept bringing her to the vet; she would go on a round of antibiotics and within a month, she would get Giardia again. We made changes; we would pick up her waste as soon as she went to the bathroom (instead of doing clean-up days a few times a week) and made sure there was no standing water anywhere in our backyard, but low and behold, Giardia would return, rearing its ugly head. I researched a more holistic way to treating Giardia, and wanted to incorporate products into her diet that would help her have optimal joint and dental health, along with a shiny, soft coat. Below are the top five products I use for Bailey and my foster dogs daily:

Kochi Free

This is an herbal product used to boost the immune system, rid microscopic parasites, helps rid the body of free radicals, kills viruses, bacteria, and fungus. Kochi Free can be used to treat Giardia, Coccidian, and Campylobacter. It doesn’t get rid of round, hook, or tape worm. You administer Kochi Free via dropper. I must be honest, I don’t think Bailey likes the taste. She goes straight for the water bowl after I administer Kochi Free. In conjunction with the probiotics below, Kochi Free has helped her remain Giardia free!

FortiFlora Probiotics

One of my friends recommended Purina Fortiflora probiotics for Bailey’s reoccurring parasites and GI issues. The probiotics come in little sachets that I rip open and sprinkle on top of kibble or wet food. I have been giving Bailey probiotics for over a year and a half. The added microorganisms have made a huge difference with her GI health.

Zesty Paws Pure Salmon Oil Dog & Cat Supplement

I only use Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats. It is made in the USA from all natural Alaskan salmon. This product provides Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to add shine and softness to Bailey’s coat, and to aide her joint function, immune system and heart health. You pump the oil into kibble or wet food and mix with a spoon. How much you pump into the food varies by weight – directions are on bottle. I have been using this for a few months, and I notice that Bailey sheds less and her coat is much softer. The foster dogs usually come to me malnourished, and the Zesty Paws Salmon Oil helps add good fat to their diet. Zesty Paws Salmon Oil is cost effective for me since I do pump this on to my cat’s dry food as well.

Glucosamine Chondroitin

Bailey is a high-energy dog. Our veterinarian cleared us to run up to ten miles. She can jump four foot fences, and gives my younger foster dogs a run for their money when playing in the backyard. I know that one day she will not be as spry, so I want to do my best to protect her joint health. I have tried numerous glucosamine chondroitin products, but Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Soft Chews is the product I wholeheartedly recommend. Yes, it is more expensive than other products, but it works the best. I didn’t notice much of a difference from other products, where when she is on the Dasuquin, she seems to move faster and with greater ease.

Tropiclean Fresh Breath Plaque Remover Pet Water Additive

A big complaint from most dog owners is bad breath and tartar or decay. Professional dental cleanings are super expensive. Besides brushing Bailey’s teeth and giving her dental chews, I use a water additive to fight plaque and freshen her breath. In the morning, when I re-fill her bowl with fresh water, I add a few drops of water additive to keep her teeth clean and breath fresh. The Tropiclean Pet Water Additive is cost effective, and I can use this in my cat’s water, too.

Final Thoughts

I always tell people, Bailey is a long term investment. I want her to be happy and healthy. The five products above aren’t time consuming and have made a significant difference in her overall health.

What do you use to keep your dog healthy?

Namaste.

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* This post contains affiliate links.

At the end of March, my husband is trading his police officer uniform for a suit and tie. When we first told me about his wardrobe change, I started crunching numbers in my head. How much are new suits? Since when do you need 4 new suits?! What is dry cleaning going to cost? I asked the salesman the best way to clean suits. He informed me that suits should be cleaned like jeans. Wear them a few times, and then get them dry cleaned. Now I must tell you that my husband is the kind of guy that showers 3 times a day and wears several different outfits. (I know he is reading this shaking his head but let me review: he wears an outfit to work, changes into his uniform, then gym clothes, then comes home, showers, and wears pajamas.) He hates smelling like anything besides soap and/or cologne. When I noticed the Clothing Refresher products, I jumped at the opportunity write a product review. Between having 5 suits a week that need to smell like they were freshly laundered for my husband to wear them, and four animals that make the house smell like dirt, Clothing Refresher has come to my rescue.

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Clothing Refresher comes in three different sizes and scents:

10 ml = $2 USD
2 fluid ounces = $8 USD
4 fluid ounces = $13 USD

Original Scent
Lavender
Bouquet

You can also purchase a combo package of all three scents.

I absolutely love the Bouquet scent. It is the perfect scent for spring, and has a light floral touch. The Bouquet scent is perfect to spray the living and dining room area before company arrives. My husband was partial to the Original Scent. He thought it smelled clean and fresh. The Lavender was perfect for spraying linens – our bed, couch, blankets, and throw pillows. I love a calming scent before bedtime.

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The lowdown:

Clothing Refresher is made with a unique blend of essential oils
Made in the USA, 100% Vegan & Natural
Contains no phthalates, parabens, dyes, phosphates or sulfates
Provides antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties
Can be used on clothing, linens, on furniture, as a room spray, or as aromatherapy

I must admit, I was a little nervous spraying Clothing Refresher on my husband’s brand new suit. I didn’t want it to stain. I followed the directions and sprayed the Original Scent Clothing Refresher on the bottom of his dress pants (I always test on an inconspicuous area) from a 6-inch distance. As police officers say when leaving a scene, “all clear!” It didn’t leave a stain, and the smell is there, but faint. I continued to spraying the entire suit. My husband has officially claimed the Original Scent bottle. That’s fine with me, as I am super thrilled we won’t have to spend a fortune on dry cleaning! Happy husband, happy life!

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Each Clothing Refresher spray neutralizes odors instead of masking them. For instance, when my foster dogs are crated, I am washing their blankets/towels almost every other day. My fosters love to play with my dog in the backyard – you know, roll in the mulch beds and dig two-foot-deep holes. Sometimes, all I have time for is to give them quick rinse in the shower, or wiping their paws with wet paper towels, causing me to clean their bedding frequently. (Obviously, if there is noticeable dirt, I throw it in the wash – but if it just smells, I use Clothing Refresher). I like using the Lavender Clothing Refresher spray on their blankets/towels, which completely removes the “dirty dog” scent. I thoroughly sprayed Granger’s crate blanket with the Lavender scent. I was unsure that such a light fragrance was going to completely remove the smell. Low and behold, the blanket was clean with a faint lavender smell. I put the blanket back in the crate and Granger instantly went to investigate. Lavender is known to be very calming and soothing, good for my fosters that are shelter shocked and scared.

I recommend Clothing Refresher. The scents are on the light side, but I rather use something natural with a faint smell (or give a few more sprays) than something artificial and that has toxins. Besides, my husband doesn’t want to smell like lavender or flowers. A big selling point for me was that Clothing Refresher didn’t stain my husband’s expensive suits, and made them ready to wear for the next day. Each bottle is travel-friendly (especially the sample size), so my husband puts the Original Scent spray into his gym bag while I stick the Lavender spray in my handbag. I give myself a quick mist at work, and am left feeling invigorated, calm, and clean. The best attribute is that a $13 for a large bottle will save me hundreds in dry cleaning.

Thank you, Clothing Refresher!

Clothing Refresher wants to offer all Realm of Vibes readers 15% off all orders valid through 5/31/17 using promocode FRESHVIBE. Shop here.

Be sure to visit Clothing Refresher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Disclosure: I received Clothing Refresher sprays in return for a featured post on Realm of Vibes and social media platforms. All opinions and views within are authentic. Have you considered featuring your business or service on Realm of Vibes? Please visit my Collaborate page or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com to get started.