An overweight pet can have health risks including, severe respiratory, cardiac, metabolic and orthopedic dysfunction. Obesity can shorten their life span. This extra weight puts a strain on their heart, body and their health in general.
Is your pet overweight? There are two simple tests that show obesity:
1. Run your hands across the chest of your dog or cat. You should always be able to feel their ribs but not see them. There should never be a layer of fat over the ribs. 2. Look at your standing dog or cat from a bird's eye view. They should have what looks like a waist that tucks in right in front of the hips.
Here are some tips to get your pet back into shape: 1. Control portions. Look at everything you are feeding your pet - pet food, treats, human food, scraps and reduce that amount. (Don't starve them!) 2. Control quality. Don't feed your pet human junk food like pizza, chips or sweets such as baked goods, ice cream or cookies. Home-prepared meals using fresh ingredients are acceptable. Wholesome items such as brown rice, fresh lean meats and vegetables are recommended. Watch for the high grain content in most commercial food. 3. Increase exercise. Get into the habit of walking your dog every day. Getting outdoors is good for a pet's emotional health, too. With dogs, you can also play fetch, play hide and seek, set up obstacle courses for them or take them swimming. Cats can stay active indoors or out by playing with toys or being walked outside on a leash.
All pet food companies make diet or weight control foods, but be careful they contain alot of fillers. They usually contain grains, not meat and vegetables. Homemade meals tend to be lower in calories and healthier than prepared pet foods. Portion control and increased activity are the main issues in reducing or managing an animal's weight.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Our Day At The Fair and A New Fish
Yesterday, we went to the Orange County fair. My granddaughter had 2 things she wanted, a big stuffed pink bear and a new goldfish. Well, she got what she wanted. Her Dad was very lucky at one of those water shooting games and won her a big stuffed hot pink bear. She named it Berry.
Next, we were off to the goldfish game. They make these games next to impossible to win. You have to throw a ping pong ball into a small bowl. They scattered a few bowls on the table. Most goldfish games have many bowls placed close together, but not this one. Fortunately, you can pay 10 tickets and are guaranteed a fish. My granddaughter threw her 10 ping pong balls and was very disappointed not to get one in a bowl. She was very excited to learn that we could get a fish anyway. She picked out a plastic aquarium with a bright pink lid. She is going to name him Max. She decided that the first Max didn't live long enough to really have the name of Max. As we walked around the fair, with Max in tow, water kept splashing out of his little aquarium. I was hoping that he would have enough water to survive until we got home.
Well, Max survived his day at the fair, the car ride home and his first night in his new bowl. I wonder how many other fish won at the carnival survived such an ordeal. I'm surprised that PETA hasn't stepped up to protect goldfish from being exploited at carnival games!
Next, we were off to the goldfish game. They make these games next to impossible to win. You have to throw a ping pong ball into a small bowl. They scattered a few bowls on the table. Most goldfish games have many bowls placed close together, but not this one. Fortunately, you can pay 10 tickets and are guaranteed a fish. My granddaughter threw her 10 ping pong balls and was very disappointed not to get one in a bowl. She was very excited to learn that we could get a fish anyway. She picked out a plastic aquarium with a bright pink lid. She is going to name him Max. She decided that the first Max didn't live long enough to really have the name of Max. As we walked around the fair, with Max in tow, water kept splashing out of his little aquarium. I was hoping that he would have enough water to survive until we got home.
Well, Max survived his day at the fair, the car ride home and his first night in his new bowl. I wonder how many other fish won at the carnival survived such an ordeal. I'm surprised that PETA hasn't stepped up to protect goldfish from being exploited at carnival games!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Helpful Hint If an Animal Won't Eat
If you have a cat or dog that refuses to eat because of illness, recovering from surgery or they are old, try an all-meat baby food. If it is too thick, mix with a little water. For a dog, mix the baby food with some cooked white rice. I have used this many times and it works every time.
Do not make this a steady diet but feed them this until they are ready to accept their usual diet.
Do not make this a steady diet but feed them this until they are ready to accept their usual diet.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Farewell Max
Well, my granddaughter's fish Max died today. He lived, with us, 5 days. She had some tears, she had taken good care of him. She fed him on schedule each day making sure not to give him too much. She sat next to his bowl and talked to him each day. I'm sure she will want to bury him next to Dorothy.
Tomorrow we are going to the Orange County Fair. That is where she won the original Dorothy 7 years ago. She wants to win another fish to replace Dorothy and Max. If she wins a fish, I sure hope it lives longer than 5 days. We had good luck with both Dorothys, one lived 3 years (due to no fault of her own) and the next lived 4 years. I'll keep you posted.
Tomorrow we are going to the Orange County Fair. That is where she won the original Dorothy 7 years ago. She wants to win another fish to replace Dorothy and Max. If she wins a fish, I sure hope it lives longer than 5 days. We had good luck with both Dorothys, one lived 3 years (due to no fault of her own) and the next lived 4 years. I'll keep you posted.
Let A Sleeping Dog Lie!
Whoever came up with the saying, "Let a sleeping dog lie", had my dog Buddy in mind. Buddy is my 4 year old Border Collie. When my granddaughter wanted a black and white dog and we found Buddy, I did not know about these high energy dogs. He wakes up every morning full of energy and joy in the new day. The first thing he does is jump half-way on my bed. His front legs are on the bed and his hind legs still on the floor. He is a big dog. Border Collies range from 26 - 75 pounds, Buddy weighs 85 pounds! He starts his morning with an all over body massage, which he loves. Then runs outside with a ball in his mouth, ready to play. I throw the ball for about 20 minutes and then we take our walk around the back of the house, back and forth, back and forth. You see I can't take him on the street anymore, because he hates other dogs and wants to attack them. He bolted once toward a dog and the leash wrapped around my finger and broke it, so we take our walks and play in the back yard.
Buddy thinks all day is play time. We play first thing in the morning and then everyday at 3:00pm in the afternoon. He can be sound asleep, but wake up and come tell me it is 3:00! (He also knows when it is 6:00pm, dinner time. Dogs have an amazing internal time clock.) He loves to chase bubbles, that I blow, and we play volleyball with balloons. When he is finished playing he loves to pop them. He love to chase the crows and squirrels in the backyard. His favorite toys are a beat up soccer ball and his "baby". His baby is a stuffed dog that I bought to keep him from getting my granddaughter's stuffed animals. We play after dinner and before bed. He is ready to play anytime his awake.
Well, as the saying goes, let a sleeping dog lie, because Buddy can be fast asleep and if he get awakened, he is ready to play.
Buddy thinks all day is play time. We play first thing in the morning and then everyday at 3:00pm in the afternoon. He can be sound asleep, but wake up and come tell me it is 3:00! (He also knows when it is 6:00pm, dinner time. Dogs have an amazing internal time clock.) He loves to chase bubbles, that I blow, and we play volleyball with balloons. When he is finished playing he loves to pop them. He love to chase the crows and squirrels in the backyard. His favorite toys are a beat up soccer ball and his "baby". His baby is a stuffed dog that I bought to keep him from getting my granddaughter's stuffed animals. We play after dinner and before bed. He is ready to play anytime his awake.
Well, as the saying goes, let a sleeping dog lie, because Buddy can be fast asleep and if he get awakened, he is ready to play.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Vegas - An Overmedicated Dog!
Vegas was my daughter's dog. He was named Vegas because he was born in Las Vegas. He was given to my daughter by a friend. He was so tiny, he must have been taken from his mother much too soon. My daughter came to live with me when Vegas was a year old. He would get into everything! I put up a gate to keep him in the kitchen when he couldn't be supervised and he would knock it down. I would come home and find his "mass of destruction" throughout the house. I finally had to install a gate that screwed into the wall to keep him confined. It took many years, but evenually he stopped getting into everything, and I was able to take the gate down. He still had times of getting into things that he shouldn't have. There was the bag of Hershey kisses, his poop was very "festive" for a few days and the time he got into Jake's Rimadyl and had to have his stomach pumped! For a small dog, it was amazing how big his reach was when it came to food (table and counter).
Cocker Spaniels are known for ear infections, and Vegas was no exception. Once or twice a year Vegas would get an ear infection and he also had "skin problems". The vet said he had "allergies". The protocol was steriods, antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, ear drops and ear washes. The cost was always $300.00 or more. He would clear up for a few months and then the same symptoms would start again. This cycle went on for years. (The problem was the poor quality food, filled with grains, that he was allergic to! Vets don't seem to know this.)
When Vegas was eleven years old, he was taken to the vet for his usual "spring allergy symptoms". His ears and skin were a mess. This time the vet detected a mass in his abdomen. The vet took x-rays and then 2 needle biopsies. The results were non-cancer, but inconclusive. The vet had no idea what the growth was, but it was massive. He didn't know if Vegas would survive the surgery or if the mass was even operable. Vegas did not act sick, he was playful, into things as usual, and had a great appetite.
I already had my degree in nutrition and had known about Dr. Pitcairn's book. I bought it, and not to my surprise, dogs and cats are no different than humans. You feed them good quality food, avoid environment toxins and they will be healthy. Proper nutrition can change health and even reverse disease in humans and animals. I learned that vets treat the symptoms with medicines and the problem is not resolved, it just gets worse. (Human problems are treated the same way.)
I did not give Vegas any of the medications prescribed this time and started him on a natural raw diet. I treated his skin with natural remedies like aloe vera and Vitamin E oil. I flushed his ears with organic apple cider vinegar, diluted (1/2 cup water to 1 tsp. vinegar). The vinegar kills bacteria and fungus. In a couple of months his skin was clear and he never had another ear infection.
Vegas lived for a full year after the mass was found. It did not get any bigger and he never had any symptoms. He seemed to be in great health , he had alot of energy and loved his new diet.
One evening he was walking down the hall and collapsed and died. It was very sudden and we were all in shock. The vet said his heart just stopped. I believe, through my studies, that the cause of his mass and his heart stopping, was a result of years of poor quality food and massive doses of medications, especially steriods. These drugs stay in the body and result is long term health problems. I was able to see through Vegas, how a change of diet can have dramatic results in the improvement of health.
Cocker Spaniels are known for ear infections, and Vegas was no exception. Once or twice a year Vegas would get an ear infection and he also had "skin problems". The vet said he had "allergies". The protocol was steriods, antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, ear drops and ear washes. The cost was always $300.00 or more. He would clear up for a few months and then the same symptoms would start again. This cycle went on for years. (The problem was the poor quality food, filled with grains, that he was allergic to! Vets don't seem to know this.)
When Vegas was eleven years old, he was taken to the vet for his usual "spring allergy symptoms". His ears and skin were a mess. This time the vet detected a mass in his abdomen. The vet took x-rays and then 2 needle biopsies. The results were non-cancer, but inconclusive. The vet had no idea what the growth was, but it was massive. He didn't know if Vegas would survive the surgery or if the mass was even operable. Vegas did not act sick, he was playful, into things as usual, and had a great appetite.
I already had my degree in nutrition and had known about Dr. Pitcairn's book. I bought it, and not to my surprise, dogs and cats are no different than humans. You feed them good quality food, avoid environment toxins and they will be healthy. Proper nutrition can change health and even reverse disease in humans and animals. I learned that vets treat the symptoms with medicines and the problem is not resolved, it just gets worse. (Human problems are treated the same way.)
I did not give Vegas any of the medications prescribed this time and started him on a natural raw diet. I treated his skin with natural remedies like aloe vera and Vitamin E oil. I flushed his ears with organic apple cider vinegar, diluted (1/2 cup water to 1 tsp. vinegar). The vinegar kills bacteria and fungus. In a couple of months his skin was clear and he never had another ear infection.
Vegas lived for a full year after the mass was found. It did not get any bigger and he never had any symptoms. He seemed to be in great health , he had alot of energy and loved his new diet.
One evening he was walking down the hall and collapsed and died. It was very sudden and we were all in shock. The vet said his heart just stopped. I believe, through my studies, that the cause of his mass and his heart stopping, was a result of years of poor quality food and massive doses of medications, especially steriods. These drugs stay in the body and result is long term health problems. I was able to see through Vegas, how a change of diet can have dramatic results in the improvement of health.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Problem With Fleas? - There Are Natural Solutions!
We are in the middle of summer and alot of our pets have a flea problem. They say if you see one flea on your pet, there are a hundred more in the home. It takes consistant and persistent work to keep them away.
The first and most important thing is to feed your pet the best food available. Animals in poorest health attract the most fleas. Our pets health is weakened by poor food. Also, excessive use of vaccines, antibiotics and cortisone-like drugs has created severe allergy problems so that many pets cannot tolerate fleas at all. The overuse of flea products that contain poisons further weaken their immune systems.
The second important thing to do is to seam clean your carpets, that will kill flea eggs. The next is to bathe your pets with a natural shampoo, that will kill the fleas on the animal. Thoroughly vacuum and clean floors and furniture at least once a week to pick up flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. Dispose of the vacuum bag in the trash. Wash your pets bedding in hot water once a week. Use a flea comb to trap and kill fleas that are on your pet. Mow and water your lawn regularly (short grass allows sunlight to penetrate and warm the soil, which kills larvae. Watering drowns the developing fleas). Encourage ants! (They love to eat flea eggs and larvae). Besides, pesticides and insecticides are harmful to everyone, especially children and pets.
Feed your pet garlic and brewer's yeast. Both exude odors or tastes that discourage fleas. Use 1/4 minced clove garlic for each 10 pounds of weight. Add to their dinner. Garlic is good for general health and longevity. Add a tablespoon of brewer's yeast (half a tablespoon for small dogs and for cats). Every day or two, also sprinkle brewer's yeast on your pet's coat, working it in with your hands. Be sure to do this outside, since the fleas will jump off.
There are herbal powders and even herbal flea collars. These are not poisons and are non-toxic. The fleas do not like the smell and leave the pets alone.
Try a natural skin tonic. Thinly slice a whole lemon, including the peel. Add it to 1 pint of near-boiling water and let it seep overnight. The next day, sponge the solution onto the animal's skin and let it dry. You can use this daily for severe skin problems involving fleas. It is a source of natural flea-killing substances such as d-limonene and other healing ingredients found in the whole lemon.
Earth Animal's Herbal Internal Powder - This powder has all natural ingredients: garlic, alfalfa, wormwood, yellowdock and pennyroyal. Sprinkle on pets food. It repels fleas without hurting your pet. Earth Animal also has herbal flea collars and more. Go to http://www.earthanimal.com/
You can also call Fleabusters. They use Borax Powder in your carpet. It is guaranteed for 1 year.
The first and most important thing is to feed your pet the best food available. Animals in poorest health attract the most fleas. Our pets health is weakened by poor food. Also, excessive use of vaccines, antibiotics and cortisone-like drugs has created severe allergy problems so that many pets cannot tolerate fleas at all. The overuse of flea products that contain poisons further weaken their immune systems.
The second important thing to do is to seam clean your carpets, that will kill flea eggs. The next is to bathe your pets with a natural shampoo, that will kill the fleas on the animal. Thoroughly vacuum and clean floors and furniture at least once a week to pick up flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. Dispose of the vacuum bag in the trash. Wash your pets bedding in hot water once a week. Use a flea comb to trap and kill fleas that are on your pet. Mow and water your lawn regularly (short grass allows sunlight to penetrate and warm the soil, which kills larvae. Watering drowns the developing fleas). Encourage ants! (They love to eat flea eggs and larvae). Besides, pesticides and insecticides are harmful to everyone, especially children and pets.
Feed your pet garlic and brewer's yeast. Both exude odors or tastes that discourage fleas. Use 1/4 minced clove garlic for each 10 pounds of weight. Add to their dinner. Garlic is good for general health and longevity. Add a tablespoon of brewer's yeast (half a tablespoon for small dogs and for cats). Every day or two, also sprinkle brewer's yeast on your pet's coat, working it in with your hands. Be sure to do this outside, since the fleas will jump off.
There are herbal powders and even herbal flea collars. These are not poisons and are non-toxic. The fleas do not like the smell and leave the pets alone.
Try a natural skin tonic. Thinly slice a whole lemon, including the peel. Add it to 1 pint of near-boiling water and let it seep overnight. The next day, sponge the solution onto the animal's skin and let it dry. You can use this daily for severe skin problems involving fleas. It is a source of natural flea-killing substances such as d-limonene and other healing ingredients found in the whole lemon.
Earth Animal's Herbal Internal Powder - This powder has all natural ingredients: garlic, alfalfa, wormwood, yellowdock and pennyroyal. Sprinkle on pets food. It repels fleas without hurting your pet. Earth Animal also has herbal flea collars and more. Go to http://www.earthanimal.com/
You can also call Fleabusters. They use Borax Powder in your carpet. It is guaranteed for 1 year.
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