Your dog's wellness is all about balance. Spot's body has to maintain symmetry to sustain health. The term for this inherent balancing act is homeostasis. When homeostasis, or systemic equilibrium, is not sustained, your dog's body becomes dirty, and vulnerable to disease. In Stretch Your Dog Healthy, I refer to this as "dirty dog syndrome". Luckily, billions of cells are created in Spot's body everyday. This allows us some influence over this symmetry and balance. By making the best hound health choices, given each individual situation, we ensure cellular repair versus breakdown. We can keep "dirty dog syndrome" at bay and be sure of one clean canine, inside and out.

A "dirty dog" is susceptible to disease and health issues. This is because the body functions most efficiently if it is clean. When toxins start to build up in your dog, it hinders the natural, necessary functioning of every body system, thus weakening your pup's immune system. Toxin build-up can come from questionable food additives (sugar, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, low-grade ingredients); chemical exposure (yard fertilizers, household cleaners, heartworm/flea/tick preventatives and shampoos; excess vaccination); lack of movement (stretching, exercise, massage); and impure drinking water.

At a glance, some simple steps to avoid "dirty dog syndrome": stretching and massage (facilitates toxin flushing); exercise (provides movement thereby stimulating repair/healing); a wholesome natural diet (organic when possible); clean, filtered water (enhances blood cleanliness); vitamin and nutrient supplementation (enhances cellular repair); limit chemical exposure (natural shampoos, natural flea/tick preventives, keep prescription use to a minimum); good hygiene (don't forget the teeth!). Adopt a preventative and you will be well on your way to a healthier hound!

View more information on Stretch Your Dog Healthy