Pet Food Warning

The FDA is investigating the company NUTRO which makes pet food - Max Cat, Natural Choice and Ultra are some of their brands. Pet owners have complained of their pets getting seriously ill and having to be euthanized after eating this food and some actually dying after ingesting NUTRO foods.

Symptoms include vomiting bile, abdominal pain, and kidney issues. It has not been recalled but be forewarned - do not buy this brand until we know more. The link below will give you more detailed information about this situation.

http://blogs.catster.com/the-cats-meow-a-cat-and-kitten-blog/fda-confirms-probe-of-nutro-pet-food-deaths/2009/04/21/

Go Green - For Your Pet's Sake

Happy Earth Day - this is a great day to explain how sensitive our pets are to the toxins in our environment and what to do to help them.

If your dog or cat is an indoor pet, according to EPA studies, they are exposed to 100 to 200 times the pollution than being outdoors. Clean your vents, filters and ducts often or you and they could be breathing asbestos, pollen, pesticides, tobacco, dust mites, bacteria, mold and other unhealthy agents.

If you are building or remodeling a home, look for materials that say "toxin free". Carpets, paints, and pressed wood products can be particularly problematic. Indoor pollutants are twice as toxic to pets than to people.

Pet proof you home by putting away medications, cleaning products and rat and mouse traps and baits. Even chocolate, especially the baking type, can be toxic if enough is ingested. Use natural substitutes for these products whenever possible.

In your yard, ant poisons and insecticides can be fatal to your pet. Go organic for your garden needs and it will be good for you and your pet.

Even more dangerous is antifreeze - a half a teaspoon per pound for a dog can be a toxic dose, even less for a cat. Buy the non-toxic brands to prevent accidents like this.

Dozens of household cleaning agents such as toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, detergents can cause severe harm to your cat or dog. They can destroy tissue by acid or alkaline burns, by dissolving tissue membranes, by being absorbed into the bloodstream, or by causing general illness. Look for chemical free products from brands like Seventh Generation, Earth Rite, and Harmony or make your own using baking soda, lemon juice and other inexpensive safe substitutes.

Keep batteries, lead based paints, fishing lures and other items containing lead away from pets. They can ingest them and become very ill. Even dogs swallowing pennies can develop illness from zinc poisoning.

Some products made for pets like flea control, rawhide chew toys, cat litter contain toxic chemicals. Buy natural pet products whenever possible and follow the directions for any flea product.

Lastly even our tap water can contain hazardous chemicals harmful to us and our pets. Buy a filter if your water may have chemicals in it. Use ceramic or stainless steel food and water bowls instead of plastic which can leech chemicals.

Our pets are the sentinels of our environment. Because they are smaller than humans, they can be harmed faster than us from chemicals and pollutants. The soaring cancer rate in pets attests to the harm we are doing to them and our beautiful planet. As the bumper sticker says - we only have one planet - let's not ruin it!

Using Healing Energy for Your Pet

I am a Reiki Master/Teacher who uses my abilities to help my animal companions as well as friends and family. We all have the ability to heal at an unconscious level whether we realize this or not.

I will teach you a simple way to help your pet heal using a technique from Dr. Monica Diedrich's book What Your Animals Tell Me. Dr. Diedrich is a minister with a doctorate in metaphysics. She has been a veterinary assistant and now is a pet communicator full time. She discovered her ability to communicate with animals when she was a child.

Do not use this to replace veterinary care but to enhance your dog or cat's natural ability to heal his or herself.

Turning on the Healing Energy
Sit quietly in front of your animal friend and close your eyes. Breathe in deeply three times visualizing that you are inhaling the pure healing light from the Universe though your nostrils. As you breathe, the energy accumulates in your lungs and then is transferred to your stomach. The Chinese call this spot tan t'ien, located about three inches below your naval and 2 1/2 inches inward. This is the center of your aura, the balancing area of your internal energy, your grounding point.

Continue with a slow rhythmic breathing and position your hands palms facing up fingers pointing outward. Continue breathing until you feel a tingling sensation in your fingertips or heat in the palm of your hands. Turn your palms facing down and lightly touch the affected area sending healing energy into your pet. There is no need for massage, or caress - just hands on. Feel this healing warmth radiate through your body into your pet's body. You are the channel for this energy. It is not coming from you but through you. This energy is always there - you are just harnessing it and transferring it to where it is most needed.

While you are doing this also visualize the light going through your pet's body restoring whatever part is ill to health. Visualize the light surrounding the organ that is in need of healing. You can also imagine a battalion of tiny spirits working with you to repair your pet's health - going over sutures to make the incision heal faster, pressing light filled sponges on the wound to heal better - use your imagination to see this all happening. Do whatever feels comfortable for you.

Maintain these images for at least 10 to 15 minutes or as long as you can. Once you can't visualize any longer, thank the spirits, the light and release them for the next time. Thank the Universe, God or whatever you believe in and add that you are doing this for the Highest Good of All.

I find that by doing this we give ourselves something to do rather than just sit around feeling helpless while our pet is ill. Often I see the pain subside or they will fall asleep and wake up more comfortable.

If you interested in learning more about healing energy check out Diedrich's book. If you want to know more about Reiki natural healing, I would suggest you read Essential Reiki by Diane Stein. I would be happy to teach and attune you to Reiki Level 1 - please contact me for more information.

Weekly Home Checks for Cancer

Our pets can get cancer just like people. Veterinarians suggest that we make a habit of going over our companion animals every week looking for lumps, bumps, sores that don't heal or anything unusual, especially if it pops up suddenly.

Not everything we find is cancer but the sooner we get it checked out the better for our pet. Other things we might notice are lethargy, low energy or loss in appetite. If your pet exhibits any of the ten signs below, it is a good idea to visit your vet as soon as possible.

1) Abnormal swellings, bumps or growths

2) Sores that do not heal

3) Offensive mouth odor

4) Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating

5) Bleeding or discharge from any body opening

6) Weight loss or loss of appetite

7) Coughing

8) Chronic vomiting or diarrhea

9) Persistent lameness, stiffness or difficulty exercising

10) Difficulty eating or swallowing

Dog Napping is Rising

According to the American Kennel Club dog theft is increasing.

The value of pet's in people's lives has been increasing in recent years. Because of this, thieves are stealing dogs to resell, collect ransom or breed the dogs and resell the puppies. Here are some tips to protect your dog:

Never leave your dog alone in your yard or car even if the yard is fenced or the car door is locked. And don't tie them outside a store.

Be aware of your surroundings at dog related businesses - grooming salons, veterinary clinics, doggie day care or pet friendly hotels. Thieves may be lurking nearby to scope things out.

Protect your dog with a microchip ID.

The AKC has an Companion Animals Recovery service. To enroll visit www.akccar.org.