Sentry Page Protection
Healing Crisis
The body has an innate desire for health, and maintaining homeostasis, or normal balance of the body. Health is not merely the absence of disease. It has good balance physically, emotionally, and mentally. Disease results when the body is not able to adapt to physical, emotional, and mental stressors. Stress can come from an inappropriate diet, lack of exercise, environmental toxins, and more.
When you start introducing the nutrients the body is meant to have to thrive, a healing crisis or a detoxification process will occur. The reason it is called a healing crisis is because the body can display the illness-like symptoms that we are trying to alleviate. Remember; symptoms aren't the disease, but the body attempting to heal itself. When a healing crisis happens, it is that all the body systems are now working to eliminate toxins that have built up, utilize nutrients, and set up the stage for tissue healing. In many conditions, the body has taken in a toxic load that is larger than they can handle. Once the body has nutrients to purge these toxins from the body, symptoms such as lethargy, joint pain, stiffness, ear discharge, eye discharge, rash, flaky skin, hair loss, bad breath, digestive upset, discolored or loose stools can occur. These symptoms, which can be frustrating, are temporary, and many times are similar or even more intense to the symptoms the dog or cat is suffering from in the first place which led you to switch to a raw diet.
This is a normal healing process and necessary to regain health. It is important that you understand what the healing process is, as to not hinder it through the use of drugs or medications.
Many times this process is misunderstood, and the food is blamed. Many times the new foods are withdrawn, and drugs are administered. By doing this, the long term goal can never be achieved, and the system is further weakened, which creates a vicious cycle of symptoms in which the body is attempting to heal itself, which can lead to an incurable chronic disease.
It is normal to see changes in stool or a small amount of vomiting during the healing process. This is due to the body replenishing the beneficial bacteria in the gut. It can take a time to replenish, especially if the dog or cat has been on a processed diet all of their lives. However, once replenished, have a healthy microbiome can be extremely helpful in maintaining health.
Look at the healing crisis as a positive sign that healing is occurring. However, instead of the body manifesting disease, this is an elimination process, in which a cleansing, detoxing, and purifying process is underway. Remember not to panic and that this process is necessary for the long-term goal to regain health.
There are ways to help keep this healing process more controlled.
• Slow down the transition to new proteins. Stick to one protein until the stools have normalized. It is advised to stick to one protein for the first month, then slowly introduce more. If you try and new protein, and it is causing an exacerbation of symptoms, go back to the first protein and try to introduce the new one in slower or smaller amounts.
• If you have a major healing crisis in a senior dog or cat with a chronic disease or compromised digestive system, you can very lightly cook the meats and organs (not bone), going less and less, until completely raw over 1-2 weeks time.
• Fasting 24hrs between means will allow the digestive system to rest and allow for deeper healing to occur. You may give a tablespoon of raw local or manuka honey straight or in the drinking water during the fast, but no solid foods for at least 24hrs.* *Puppies and kittens under 1 year should NOT fast.
• Supplement probiotics and enzymes. If a dog or can has been on a processed diet for years, these will be greatly depleted, as processed foods do not contain any live enzymes or nutrients. Probiotics will help replenish the gut microbiome and enhance the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Enzymes are used in all biochemical processes in the body. They also allow the body to digest and absorb food. They are responsible for building, detoxifying, and healing the body. If you are going to begin a raw diet, but your dog is still going to be on kibble a few days before you can change, you can "prep" their system with probiotics and enzymes while they are still in their processed foods.
*Make sure the probiotic is NOT a diary source. Soil-based probiotics are ideal; dairy free is next best.
• Make sure your dog has fresh, filtered water available.
• Milk thistle is a herb that can help give the liver a boost to eliminate toxins. Herbsmith carries a 100% pure ground milk thistle.
• If hot spots are getting worse, coconut oil (organic, cold pressed) can be applied lightly to these areas as needed throughout the day. Some people choose to mix in skin healing essential oil such as lavender* or sandalwood*; or an essential oil that is anti-inflammatory such as Copaiba*. (Disclaimer: We only use and recommend Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils. You can have adverse effects on others such as oils sold at health food stores). Manuka honey** is another option to apply to hot spots, the higher the "bioactive number" (shown as a +5, +18, +20, etc. on the jar), the higher the therapeutic benefits.
If your dog or cat is experiencing some GI upset, therapeutic grade essential oils, such as di-gize* or peppermint*, can be applied 1-2 drops topically on the midback or tummy area to help offer comfort. For cats, start very minimal and you can also start with diluting it with a carrier oil such as jojoba, coconut, almond oil, etc. For dogs, applying "neat" without a carrier oil is fine.
• Animal chiropractic care can ensure that your dog or cat's nervous system and thus immune system is functioning at its full potential to help them get through the healing process. You can find a directory here.
• The worst thing you can do when experiencing a healing crisis is to stop the new diet, as a vicious cycle will start and it will be even more difficult a second time around.
The links above by no means are saying you must use that brand/product. It is only to simplify things for you, so that if you don't want to spend the time searching out high-quality products, you don't have to. The links are to brands/products that I use with my dogs and recommend to my patients. Feel free to search out these products from other high-quality manufacturers.
*Make sure only to use therapeutic grade essential oils, aromatic grade sold at health food stores will cause further irritation and toxins to the body, and can make things worse. I only use Young Living in my clinic as they are pure, unadulterated, distilled differently according to each plant, grown organically, and extensively monitored from seed to seal.
**Regarding "bioactive numbers" on manuka honey: UMF is the original and trademarked rating. MGO is a newer rating system that does not directly correlate to UMF but is accurate. OMA is Wedderspoon's rating system for determining activity within raw honey.
When you start introducing the nutrients the body is meant to have to thrive, a healing crisis or a detoxification process will occur. The reason it is called a healing crisis is because the body can display the illness-like symptoms that we are trying to alleviate. Remember; symptoms aren't the disease, but the body attempting to heal itself. When a healing crisis happens, it is that all the body systems are now working to eliminate toxins that have built up, utilize nutrients, and set up the stage for tissue healing. In many conditions, the body has taken in a toxic load that is larger than they can handle. Once the body has nutrients to purge these toxins from the body, symptoms such as lethargy, joint pain, stiffness, ear discharge, eye discharge, rash, flaky skin, hair loss, bad breath, digestive upset, discolored or loose stools can occur. These symptoms, which can be frustrating, are temporary, and many times are similar or even more intense to the symptoms the dog or cat is suffering from in the first place which led you to switch to a raw diet.
This is a normal healing process and necessary to regain health. It is important that you understand what the healing process is, as to not hinder it through the use of drugs or medications.
Many times this process is misunderstood, and the food is blamed. Many times the new foods are withdrawn, and drugs are administered. By doing this, the long term goal can never be achieved, and the system is further weakened, which creates a vicious cycle of symptoms in which the body is attempting to heal itself, which can lead to an incurable chronic disease.
It is normal to see changes in stool or a small amount of vomiting during the healing process. This is due to the body replenishing the beneficial bacteria in the gut. It can take a time to replenish, especially if the dog or cat has been on a processed diet all of their lives. However, once replenished, have a healthy microbiome can be extremely helpful in maintaining health.
Look at the healing crisis as a positive sign that healing is occurring. However, instead of the body manifesting disease, this is an elimination process, in which a cleansing, detoxing, and purifying process is underway. Remember not to panic and that this process is necessary for the long-term goal to regain health.
There are ways to help keep this healing process more controlled.
• Slow down the transition to new proteins. Stick to one protein until the stools have normalized. It is advised to stick to one protein for the first month, then slowly introduce more. If you try and new protein, and it is causing an exacerbation of symptoms, go back to the first protein and try to introduce the new one in slower or smaller amounts.
• If you have a major healing crisis in a senior dog or cat with a chronic disease or compromised digestive system, you can very lightly cook the meats and organs (not bone), going less and less, until completely raw over 1-2 weeks time.
• Fasting 24hrs between means will allow the digestive system to rest and allow for deeper healing to occur. You may give a tablespoon of raw local or manuka honey straight or in the drinking water during the fast, but no solid foods for at least 24hrs.* *Puppies and kittens under 1 year should NOT fast.
• Supplement probiotics and enzymes. If a dog or can has been on a processed diet for years, these will be greatly depleted, as processed foods do not contain any live enzymes or nutrients. Probiotics will help replenish the gut microbiome and enhance the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Enzymes are used in all biochemical processes in the body. They also allow the body to digest and absorb food. They are responsible for building, detoxifying, and healing the body. If you are going to begin a raw diet, but your dog is still going to be on kibble a few days before you can change, you can "prep" their system with probiotics and enzymes while they are still in their processed foods.
*Make sure the probiotic is NOT a diary source. Soil-based probiotics are ideal; dairy free is next best.
• Make sure your dog has fresh, filtered water available.
• Milk thistle is a herb that can help give the liver a boost to eliminate toxins. Herbsmith carries a 100% pure ground milk thistle.
• If hot spots are getting worse, coconut oil (organic, cold pressed) can be applied lightly to these areas as needed throughout the day. Some people choose to mix in skin healing essential oil such as lavender* or sandalwood*; or an essential oil that is anti-inflammatory such as Copaiba*. (Disclaimer: We only use and recommend Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils. You can have adverse effects on others such as oils sold at health food stores). Manuka honey** is another option to apply to hot spots, the higher the "bioactive number" (shown as a +5, +18, +20, etc. on the jar), the higher the therapeutic benefits.
If your dog or cat is experiencing some GI upset, therapeutic grade essential oils, such as di-gize* or peppermint*, can be applied 1-2 drops topically on the midback or tummy area to help offer comfort. For cats, start very minimal and you can also start with diluting it with a carrier oil such as jojoba, coconut, almond oil, etc. For dogs, applying "neat" without a carrier oil is fine.
• Animal chiropractic care can ensure that your dog or cat's nervous system and thus immune system is functioning at its full potential to help them get through the healing process. You can find a directory here.
• The worst thing you can do when experiencing a healing crisis is to stop the new diet, as a vicious cycle will start and it will be even more difficult a second time around.
The links above by no means are saying you must use that brand/product. It is only to simplify things for you, so that if you don't want to spend the time searching out high-quality products, you don't have to. The links are to brands/products that I use with my dogs and recommend to my patients. Feel free to search out these products from other high-quality manufacturers.
*Make sure only to use therapeutic grade essential oils, aromatic grade sold at health food stores will cause further irritation and toxins to the body, and can make things worse. I only use Young Living in my clinic as they are pure, unadulterated, distilled differently according to each plant, grown organically, and extensively monitored from seed to seal.
**Regarding "bioactive numbers" on manuka honey: UMF is the original and trademarked rating. MGO is a newer rating system that does not directly correlate to UMF but is accurate. OMA is Wedderspoon's rating system for determining activity within raw honey.
© Roaring For Raw, nothing in this course may be reproduced in any form.