Natural Pets

How Much Does Your Pet Need You?

2012-02-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

We all try to devote as much time to our pets as possible, unfortunately with our busy life styles that isn't always possible. We make sure they get their regular exercise to keep them healthy but I think that we forget sometimes that each pet is unique and has their very own specific needs.

There are a variety of ways that you can include your pet in your life that offers them great comfort. For example if you are out of the home all day, then just providing an opportunity for them to lay at your feet while you are watching television can be of great comfort to them. Our animals enjoy socialization and we tend to forget that they can become lonely as well.

Learning to read your pets body language will give you some good guidelines as to what your pet is lacking by way of socialization. Of course there is a limit, and just like kids some pets will push to the point of wanting undivided attention. You will soon catch on to this though.

Then there are times where our pets can become fearful and will want to be in closer contact with us than normal. It could be something simple as a storm coming or, they may not be well. In the case of some older dogs they can sense that their life may be drawing to an end and just need some comfort.

By really getting to know your pet you will soon be able to recognize what their emotional needs are as well as their physical ones.

For some more great info. and pet resources be sure to visit. pet.whatshotx.com

Looking After Your Pet When Money Is Tight

2012-02-05T05:36:00.000-08:00

With the economy being as tight as it is there just isn't any extra money left over and if the family pet takes sick what in the world do you do? We all know what those hefty vet bills can be like. When it comes to our kids they can tell us when they are not feeling well and we can make a judgement call as to whether they need to go to the doctor. With our pets its a different story.

Some pets don't display any symptoms but when they do then its serious. With others the slightest little thing and they can appear like they are on death's door. When it comes to our health we tend to read and learn more about it. With the pets we don't know who or what to believe and if we try something we have no idea if its working or not as they can't tell us. Our only guide is if they are getting better.
It has come to the point though because of finances we just don't have a choice anymore but to try and implement a lot more home care for our pets. But where do you start.

I personally found a great starting point and in fact all I need with this great resource that was provided by a Vet, who realized that maybe home care was a lot more beneficial than conventional medicine anyway. It has a wealth of information on at home health care for your pet,and you are going to find it will save you a ton of money.

When you look back to the good old days there just was not the money or even resources for pet health care yet many of them were a lot healthier than what our pets are today. It makes you wonder if we have been killing them with love by making sure they are getting all the new medicines that are part of conventional medicine. Hmmm.just a thought. Whats your opinion?

For some other really great information and resources for your pets visit

pet.whatshotx.com

Stop the Sneezes with The Hypoallergenic Dogs Well Almost

2011-09-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Well there is nothing worse then all of a sudden finding out that you are allergic to the family dog who has been around for years and who still happens to be in perfect health, so it doesn't look like he's going anywhere soon. That is of course if you can get control of those allergies of yours that you are sure have all of a sudden developed because of a allergy to your pooch.

Now if you happen to not be a dog owner yet but are really yearning to be one be careful about the information you rely on when choosing a dog that is going to cause you less problems with your allergies. It has to be remembered that you sensitivity could be coming from pets dander or even the saliva and yes urine. So purchasing a short haired breed may not be the solution. Trying to determine which of these is the culprit will be no easy task. So the only one that can reduce a possible risk is going with the short haired breeds because as far as I know you won't have any choices in dogs that don't produce saliva or urine. There are some long haired breeds as well that are reported as causing few allergic reactions.

Bedlington Terrier

Bichon Frise

Chinese Crested

Irish Water Spaniel

Kerry Blue Terrier

Maltese

Poodles
(Toy, Min, Std)

Portuguese Water Dog

Schnauzers
(Min, Std, Giant)

Soft Coated
Wheaten Terrier

Xoloitzcuintli

The symptoms of potential allergies to pets vary from the obvious eyes running, sneezing, runny nose to the more irritating rashes, fatigue and breathing difficulties. Some individuals are simply allergic to every breed while the more fortunate are only allergic to some types such as the long haired breeds.

If you really don't want to do without a dog then after considering the low allergy types you may also want to consider merely keeping your allergies under control with medication. However, if you are going to do this then make sure that you are using Natural medication to assist you. You don't want to be living on chemical based anti allergy medications for all the years that you are trying to enjoy your dog.

What is the Difference Between Dog-Dog Aggression and Dog Human Aggression?

2011-09-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

The title basically names the two types of aggression. For dog-dog aggression this is where you pooch simply is not comfortable around other dogs. In this case your dog will begin to display a identifiable type of behavior around other dogs. Some of the signs may be first looked at as just being playful, but that may not be the case at all. The show of signs may vary. Your dog may have no problems when he sees other dogs playing in an open field. However if one of these dogs happens to come close to them, or you then you may see a change in temperament. Some dogs will only show dog-dog aggression when they are on a leash as they feel confined.

When it comes to simply being playful with other dogs this is natural for the well balanced dog particularly the pups. With careful observation though you can determine if your playful canine may have a tendency to become aggressive as they age. If you find your dog loves to nip and jump and wrestle with other dogs for example this is a normal behavior however if you find they don't seem to know when to stop or that their playmate has had enough then be extra diligent for watching for signs of aggression developing as they mature.

With dog-people aggression you are certainly going to be able to identify the signs if your dog lunges at a person or goes to bite them. There may be more subtle signs as well though that you must be in tune with. Also note that you dogs aggression towards people may not be all people. So if you are observing your dog around females for example and they behave fine that doesn't mean that the dog has no aggressive nature. That very same dog could be fine with teenagers but be aggressive towards toddlers.

Some of the more subtle signs you may observe will be the dog stiffens up when around people. He may growl at various levels, He may curl his lip or actually expose his teeth. The hackles may raise these are all potential signs of aggressiveness and this list is not exhaustive either. Even just something as simple as the dog attempting to keep eye contact or the individual in their sights could be a warning sign.

Get More Info. on PetAlive Aggression Formula for Stressed and Aggressive Pets

What's In Your Couch That Could Be Not So Good For Your Pets?

2011-08-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

We all know how dogs especially have such a keen sense of smell. They pick up scents long before we do. Now if they could talk and tell us what it is they are smelling then it might give us a better insight to if they are being exposed to hidden dangers.
Take for example some of the components that carpets are made of. Now we have all experienced the fumes of the newly laid carpet. Recently we have discovered that these may not be so good for us. Not too much of a shock however as we can relate this with the odor.
Now think about some sofas and furniture that was made prior to 2004 and treated with fire retardants. We may vaguely recall a slight odor when we first brought this furniture home, but nothing that we can really remember. Well guess what, here it is 2011 and your pet is still ingesting that chemical. Studies have shown that dogs who sleep on furniture treated with this chemical are showing levels of it in their system higher than what is found in humans. Don't think that you as a human are exempt from this either.
The consequences of this are still unknown. Who wants to wait to find out? Do yourself a favor and keep your pets off your furniture. They really don't need to be there anyway. You will be a much kinder pet owner if you invest in a all natural material bed for your best friend.

Animals Have Weight Issues Too!

2011-08-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Any pet owner will automatically classify their pet as a family member. We are all concerned about our family's health, and if our pet is a family member then of course we are concerned about their well being as well. Often an area that is forgot about though is their weight. Many times we are deceived as to what the weight of our pet really is especially if they have a lot of fur. We simply don't realize that they are getting fat.
Its important to first know what is a normal and healthy weight for your particular pet. Then you have a guideline to follow. If possible weigh your pet. You can easily do this by getting on the scales and weighing yourself, then picking up your pet and seeing what the increased weight is.
If you discover that your pet is overweight then take a close look at his diet. Are you feeding the wrong foods, or feeding too much? At one time it wasn't unusual for a dog for example to just live off table scraps. These animals appeared to be perfectly healthy and of a good weight. There are a few things that we may be forgetting about here though. First the majority of these animals were housed outdoors where they burned their excess fat, and many of them were working animals. In addition to this table food was much healthier back then. This really is a positive sign that what we eat today is far different and far less healthier than it was in the good old days.
Take the time to find out what the ingredients are in the food that you are feeding your dog. Don't be surprised if you discover there is a lot of fatty fillers in it. It may give you enough insight to change your pets food to a healthier brand, now that you are more knowledgeable in this area.

Free The Chickens and Still Enjoy Your Eggs

2011-08-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

We all enjoy a nice fresh egg. Years ago people would say there is nothing like a farm fresh egg! Well those are words now that its very hard to take pride in saying. This is because most eggs come from factory farms where laying chickens are stuffed into battery cages where they can't sit, turn or flutter their wings. Out of their frustration and misery they attack their cage mates and many of them are pecked to the point of death and suffer repeated pain and misery. Then to keep the risk of infection down they are pumped full of antibiotics …so guess what might be in that last egg you ate!
Now that doesn't mean you have to give up the enjoyment of eating eggs. What it does mean though is that you can make a difference in how they are produced. You have a voice and these chickens don't except to squawk out in misery. If enough people will join together to make it known to all these fast food places that serve up this wonderful egg on a bun breakfasts that they aren't going to buy products that have been produced in misery then you will soon see a change in where they get their eggs from.
So lets get the word out! All too often we are all guilty of saying oh this is terrible and something ought to be done about it, then putting it out of our minds because we all hate to deal with things that make us feel miserable. But think of it this way…if you saw your child stuffing a chicken into a cage would you stand by and watch it? If we are going to teach our children compassion then we have got to express it ourselves.
Here are some actions you can take that will take a mere few moments of your time. But if enough of us do it then we can change this one horrifying circumstance around.

Watch this video so you will truly know what the misery these chickens are facing and how in the end it could all backfire on the health and safety of those who eat these eggs.

2. Put a stop to fast food chains using mass produced eggs that create pain and misery Visit WSPA's Million Egg Challenge site

3. Educate yourself that there are alternatives then fight for these Cage Free Eggs are Possible

This is the link for cage free eggs
http://twitter.com/#!/choosecagefree

Join us at socialnetworkmarketstop.ning.com and join our environmental group where we can start to do our part to put an end to at least some of the misery for those who cannot speak for themselves.Also check out www.pet2pets.com where you will find a lot of information about these factory farms.

What Do Our Pets Breathe?

2011-08-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

We as pet owners care a great deal about the health and happiness of our pets. Most of us make sure they are well fed, exercised and played with. What we might be forgetting about though is the quality of air they are breathing. Just because we don't seem to be having any difficulties with the air doesn't mean they don't.
The first thing we need to remember is that we don't live on their level. They are close to the ground the majority of the time and you can be sure that the quality of air there is less than perfect. Of course they are animals and they will adjust, after all what about the wild animals? They survive don't they?
Well actually if a wild animal is having difficultly breathing their natural instincts will lead them to higher ground where the air is fresher. But…where is the higher group for our in house pets? If they get up on the couch or bed they are sure to be scolded.
We need to pay attention to the quality of air they are living in. There are several ways that we can do this.

Be very careful with the cleaning and household products you are using. Most of the residue from these products will settle on the ground where your pets spend their time.

Be as concerned about the quality of air that they are being subjected to when there are smog alerts.

Be your own guide. If you are finding it difficult to breath because of poor air quality then you can be sure that your pets are too.

Invest in an inexpensive air quality control tester and periodically test the air quality at the level that your pet is subjected to.

Become proactive in making the air that we all breathe safer. You can begin by joining one of the environmental groups at www.socialnetworkmarketstop.ning.com

Also educate yourself about pollution and you will be amazed that you will soon find yourself feeling healthier, and you will save money.

Remember our pets can't talk for themselves, we have to be tuned into what is best for them.

My Experience With a Online Vet

2011-07-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Living in the country is wonderful for both my family and my pets. My twelve year old spaniel is definitely not a city girl. When it comes to her health however, we don't have the luxury of shopping around for veterinarians as the city pet owners do. We have access to a few good vets however their specialty is really farm animals. Many times if they are not able to make a diagnosis for the dogs and cats it means a trip to the city which can be very expensive.

My senior spaniel does not class the vet as one of her favorite people. This dog is extremely difficult to handle, and a trip to the vet means 3 people holding her to get a muzzle on her, then at least 2 people holding her down while the vet examines her.

Recently on a weekend we had no access to a vet and the dog developed extremely bloody mucus filled stools. There had been some other subtle symptoms going on as well previous to this that I had been monitoring. I was absolutely horrified and knowing the dog is twelve was leading me to think the worst.

Our of desperation I ended up dealing with a online vet. At first I thought the only information I was going to get was to ….get her to the vet immediately. Yes, I did get that advice but I also got a lot more to go with it. The vet online and myself emailed back and forth several times as he asked for more details, and then when I needed further explanation of his instructions. He gave me his opinion of what might be going wrong with the dog, some suggestions for medication that I could get at the pharmacy and the type of diet I could feed her.

This particular online vet service immediately helped to calm my fear. My old girl is very sick and not likely to live much longer, but this online vet service made her a little more comfortable and me as well, when I had no other resources.

David Letterman: Silly Dog Trick.

2010-12-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

I came across this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZMvUaYMtjE I remember seeing it several years back and it made me laugh then.

Animals have this ability to make you feel happy! They have a wonderful energy about them. We teach a dog tricks to amuse us. However it is a very good training for the animal and helps the dog use his own intelligence. It is the best way of forming a bond between yourself and the animal concerned.

Watch and enjoy,again and again!

Pointer Puppy Theo.

2010-11-30T14:45:00.000-08:00

Here is Theo! He is my new puppy. He is a pointer. I have 5 pointers now, i find this breed to be loyal, loving, easily satisfied and intelligent. They can be a little stubborn!
I am feeding as natural as I can. The breeder, who is a very experienced individual, has sent me away with a diet sheet. He is particularly fond of tripe, mixed with a little terrier mix. He likes his scrambled eggs and goats milk.
The breeder assures me that in the long run this will pay off as none of hers have to visit the vet for upset Tums or other illnesses. As he gets older I shall be adding finely chopped vegetables to his diet. I shall investigate a few supplements and keep you posted on what I discover.
I will vaccinate at 10 weeks as I don't think his immune system is ready yet, he is just 8 weeks old at the moment.
I intend to socialise him at an early age, and get him along to a good puppy training class. He is also going to be a show dog, so he will be attending puppy classes here as well. I think the secret will be little but often, not allowing him to get overwhelmed or bored!

Prevention or Cure?

2010-11-29T10:46:00.000-08:00

Dogs have to face whatever the weather has in store for them or the terrain that they are exposed to when going outdoors.

There are foot protectors for canines available on the market for those that want the added protection for their dogs.

In fact they come in a variety of sizes and colors so your dog can make a most remarkable fashion statement.

We forget to realize as pet owners that are dog's feet are exposed to all kinds of harsh conditions.

Let’s not forget that much of the ground our dogs walk on contains a multitude of hazards such as glass and sharp rocks. The harsh sand and salt that they are exposed to during the winter months is no fun to animals either.

Inspection of your dogs feet on a regular basis is very important. If you leave it untill they start limping then it means problems are already there and you may have a hard time rectifying this especially with the long haired pooches.

Some dog owners don't realize how long nails can cause injury to the dogs foot. In long haired dogs quite often long nails go unnoticed and can cause pad injury, split or break and become very painful.

Any sign of infection is going to demand your prompt attention in treating it quickly.

Dry pads on the dog can often lead to infection because they crack easily. Prevention is the best medicine but there are many good treatments for this that are available on the market.

All natural products for dogs are the best choice as they are chemical free which is something your canine friend does not need more exposure to.

Just a few simple steps such as these outlined with provide your pet with proper foot care that will keep him happy and healthy and able to enjoy the outdoor life.

All Creatures Great And Small!

2010-11-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

This blog is dedicated to animal lovers. It is intended to become a source of tips and information that we can all benefit from. Everyone is welcome, as are all your beautiful pets.
I am passionate about dogs, and I know that there are representatives of cats and mice and birds and snakes and so on!
As the name would suggest, I am a big believer in natural alternatives to food, medicine and products for our beloved pets. I am also open however to saving money, and this will be the main stay of the blog. My theory being that prevention is better than cure!
This blog will run in conjunction with my site which is found at http://www.shadesgang.com/