5 Fall Ayurvedic Tips for Dogs

It is important to take care of your dog according to seasons. This article will give you the exact Ayurvedic tips to care of your dog for the Fall season. 

Autumn is considered as the Vata season - it is dry, cool, clear and windy and sometimes can also feel dull and boring. Just like we need to take care of our bodies according to seasons, so it is the same with our pets.  

In Ayurveda, it is considered an important concept to do everything according to seasons and in fact, all our festivals, traditions and cuisine in India are followed according to the seasons. No kidding about that! 

Each of our festivals has a story behind it and each and every festival is rooted deeply in the bounty of the season - what fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, spices, etc. are to be used and when and thus each festival celebrates the arrival of these crops and bids goodbye to the previous season's crops. 

And this is India - deeply rooted in Ayurveda and its gift of health to the entire population. 

But it doesn't have to exclude our pets - here I am going to give you 5 tips that you can incorporate right away for your dog even if you are super busy and have a very hectic schedule. 

Ayurvedic Tips for Fall Season for Dogs -

1. Apply Sesame Oil to Dog's Body & Paws - 

You can massage your dog's body with some warming oils like sesame oil and even mix in a few drops of ginger oil which is also warming. Just gently massaging the dog's body and the paws will help nourish the cells and the tissues and help restore the healthy warmth in your dog's body before the cold winter arrives. You can also add few drops of castor oil if your dog is a senior dog and suffers from aches and pains. 

Massage your dog's paws as that tends to calm the nervous system and also nourishes the paws from all that walking during the day. Massaging the dog's paws has the similar effect as when we massage our feet - it touches on all the nerves of the body that are connected to our feet and therefore produces calm and relaxation. So, take some warm sesame oil and massage the paws daily at bedtime. 

Also, the shift from the warm and humid weather to the dry, cool Vata season can cause a lot of load for your dog's joints. So, gently massage your dog's joints daily with some arm sesame oil and that will help prevent joint related aches and pains as well as stiffness. 

2. Incorporate warming Spices in Your Dog's Menu -

This is the perfect time to add warming spices like ginger,  black pepper and a pinch of clove and cumin to your dog's menu as these spices help with circulation, help produce healthy body heat and promote good digestion - especially important in dry Vata season. 

3. Incorporate Healthy Fats in Your Dog's Diet - 

This is the time of the year  when you MUST incorporate and increase the amount of healthy fats in your dog's diet. Healthy fats help nourish the digestive tract, prevent dryness-related constipation, prevent the dryness inside the body and keep the dog's skin and coat well nourished on the outside, help lubricate joints and promote feelings of wellbeing in the Vata season.  

So, make sure to add a good amount of EVOO, coconut oil, hemp oil and even some delicious plant-based or coconut butter as it does not contain saturated fats and the added cancer-causing hormones unlike the dairy butter. 

I regularly give my dogs coconut butter - it is their treat and they love it! In their food, I always add olive oil, coconut oil and some hemp oil (yes, all three!). My dogs have healthy  eights and super shiny, nice, soft coats. 

So, yes - please add a good amount of healthy fats to your dog's diet especially during this time of the year and until the end of the winter months. 

4. Incorporate Seasonal Vegetables in Your Dog's Diet -

Seasonal vegetables are 'seasonal' because they are naturally what all our bodies need...in different seasons of the year so it only makes sense to give your dog these seasonal vegetables to enhance health and vitality. 

During the cool, dry,  windy Vata season of the Fall, you definitely want to start serving your dog some  well cooked, delicious root vegetables like beets, turnips, radishes, carrots, squash and parsnips, pumpkin or pumpkin puree, sweet potatoes, green beans, cabbage, celery hearty vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts and leafy greens like cilantro, kale, lettuce, spinach and  swiss chard. 

ALL of these vegetables are high in fiber, rich in nutrients, antioxidants and Nature's best vitamins and minerals! So, pamper your pooch daily with a good amount of these vegetables. Just make sure they are cooked very well so your dog can digest them easily and the fiber as well as the nutrients can be easily absorbed by your dog's body. 

5. Fall Fruits for Your Dog -

Let your dog enjoy some delicious Fall fruits like apples, pears, blueberries, bananas (I give bananas all year long!) and cranberries. These are not only delicious but safe, healthy treats that your dog will love and greatly benefit from. 

Start with small amounts of vegetables and fruits at first to let your dog's tummy adjust and then you can increase them gradually! 

It's time to get cooking for your pup! 🎃🥕🥦🍎