Cats and Dogs Naturally

Lost Pets

2009-10-06T11:35:00.001-07:00

Even with our best intentions, sometimes our cat or dog will escape and get lost.

A new way to find lost pets has come to my attention. Another cat blogger has lost her two cats and she posted them on Find Toto. This is similar to the Amber Alert for lost children.

Besides using this web site - make sure you contact all the vets in your area, the local shelters, and animal control. Post fliers with the pet's name, a photo, your phone number and reward if you can afford it. Put these in every place you can.
You want to get the word out to as many people in your area who may see your lost pet.

For more info on the web site check out Find Toto.

Feline Wellness Magazine

2009-08-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Animal Wellness Magazine has come out with a cats only version called Feline Wellness. I really enjoyed reading it and found the articles well written as usual and very appropriate for me because I live with a group of rescued cats.

The magazine has 10- 12 feature articles ranging from flea control to explaining homeopathy, health issues and more. The regular columns consist of book reviews, health questions and answers and Cat Chat- trends and news about cats and ending with the Tail End - an amusing reader submitted article as the last one in the magazine.

I found the ads to be helpful - listing companies providing food, litter, toys and health products. I would highly recommend Feline Wellness magazine if you only have cats. The Animal Wellness focuses mostly on dogs now or on articles relating to both cats and dogs. A great pair of magazines and resources for healthy natural American made products for your pet.

Check Feline Wellness out online

Little Lotus Hearts

2009-07-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

I found a wonderful web site for animals and their humans at http://littlelotushearts.com/home.html - set up from a Buddhist perspective about caring for all being on this planet. Find out what you can do to help animals, create a tribute to your animal companion or just learn more about Buddhist views. Check it out.

Urgent - Nutro Cat Foods Recall!

2009-05-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

Some Nutro pet foods have been voluntarily recalled due to contamination. The brands recalled are Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care and Nutro Max - both dry foods for cats. None of the dry or canned dog food are affected nor the canned cat food. This Press release was issued by Nutro:

Today, Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® COMPLETE CARE® Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO® MAX® Cat Dry Foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. The cat food is being voluntarily recalled in the United States and ten additional countries. This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier.

Two mineral premixes were affected. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium. Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements to NUTRO® dry cat food.

This issue was identified during an audit of our documentation from the supplier. An extensive review confirmed that only these two premixes were affected. This recall does not affect any NUTRO® dog food products, wet dog or cat food, or dog and cat treats.

Go to the following web sites to check out which ones were recalled and why.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/nutro05_09.html

http://www.nutroproducts.com/

Book Review: The Holistic Cat by Jennifer A. Coscia

2009-05-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

This newly published book is a very personal account of life in the author's rescue group and how her background as a nutritionist has helped the cats that live with her.

Coscia is an internationally recognized nutritional consultant specializing in disease prevention. She has combined her background and her love of animals to form TARAA - The Animal Rescue and Adoption Agency, Inc. - a nonprofit, no kill organization for the betterment of animal welfare. Partnering with Petco, Coscia has rescued and placed hundreds of cats into loving homes.

In this book Corscia presents a complimentary approach to health care by combining conventional veterinary medicine and alternative methods to focus on disease prevention, using first hand knowledge and experience from her shelter cats.

She covers a variety of topics and illustrates each with personal experiences involving her cats with photos as well. Some topics included in her list are holistic nutrition, vaccinations, caring for feral colonies and using TNR, the dangers in the house and outdoors for cats, bringing in new pets and moving or traveling with cats. She also gives nutritional treatment suggestions for many feline illnesses - URI's, eye issues, kidney, heart and intestinal problems and allergies.

Her book is full of useful suggestions and honest opinions based on her experiences. I particularly like how she presents the vaccination dilemma, explaining very simply the way vaccines work and how they can adversely affect cats. Even if you are not a big holistic medicine follower, her her honestly written stories and anecdotes about life with her rescued cats are heartwarming and informative as well. She has dedicated her life to rescuing homeless cats and caring for them if they cannot be placed in other homes. I find her extremely admirable and enjoyed her book very much.

Rescue Ink

2009-05-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a great bunch of tough guys in the NYC area who formed a rescue group that is just as tough on animal abusers! Check out their web page and keep posted on what they are doing. They even have a TNR feral cat program!

Right now they are trying to raise money to send Sailor, a very abused dog, to a sanctuary where he can live out the rest of his life. he has too many issues to be placed in a home.

Great work guys!!!!

Go here to see what they do ot go over to the sidebar and click on their website. http://www.rescueink.org/

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

In honor of all the mothers out there who care for two-legged, four-legged, feathered and finned creatures! And for the animal mothers who often struggle against all odds to care for their babies. Mom's rule!!!!

World's Best Cat Litter

2009-05-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

I did an earlier post on the dangers of chemicals in cat litter and suggested using natural substances instead. This brand is my all time favorite. I discovered it many years ago and have been using it since.

The reason being that once I began bringing in in new cats and kittens to the household, I saw that sometimes they ate the litter or got a lot on their paws and would clean it off. I worried about what was in it that they were ingesting. I researched all cat litters and was horrified to learn about the chemicals in them.

Sodium bentonite is the clumping agent in scoopable litters. It acts like expandable cement when digested when cats lick themselves. It causes problems that can lead to death. Silica, a form of quartz, is believed to be a carcinogen when inhaled. Silica is what causes the dust when litter is stirred.

Looking for something more natural, I found World's Best Cat Litter at a healthy pet store and began to carry it in my gift/book store.

WBCL is made from whole kernel corn with no harmful chemicals, perfumes or additives. Their scientists found out that highly absorbent proteins and fibers found naturally in corn bind cat urine and odor molecules in the litter.

Why do we love this litter?

Great odor control - no more smelly boxes.
Compact clumping - easy to scoop.
Silica dust free - no dangers or messy dust.
100% natural - safe for cats and kittens
Long lasting freshness - use less than other litters.
Flushable, biodegradable and septic safe - safe for our planet.
And most importantly, my cats love it.

Try a bag of this litter and you will see for yourself. Petsmart carries it as well as many health food stores, grocery stores and other pet stores. For more info go to www.worldsbestcatlitter.com.

Cat Proverb

2009-04-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

A cat has nine lives.
For three he plays,
for three he strays,
and for the last three he stays.

-----English Proverb

Pet Food Warning

2009-04-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

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.

The Nose Knows or Does It?

2009-03-27T13:28:00.001-07:00

People think dogs and cats should normally have wet noses and if they are dry then there is a problems. Not so.

That is actually an old wives tale. Pets with high temperatures can have cold, wet noses. Conversely, warm noses don't mean that there is a temperature. The nose isn't a very reliable measure of wellness.

The only way to check your pet's temperature is the old fashioned way - using a rectal thermometer.

Taking Your Pet's Temperature

2009-03-27T12:36:00.001-07:00

This is probably the least fun thing you will have to do for your pet but following these tips will make the process easier.

If you get all your supplies ready before you get your pet, you can make taking his temperature go much more smoothly. You will need a rectal thermometer, petroleum jelly, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls and someone who is willing to help hold your pet still while you work.

Gather all of these items in one place. Shake down the thermometer if you are using an older one. If you have a newer digital one, make sure it is turned on and set at the low setting. Lightly coat it with petroleum jelly. Soak a cotton ball in alcohol and set it aside. Now you are ready for your pet.

Have your helper hold your pet steady and lift his tail. With the older thermometer, gently twirl the thermometer into the rectum about 1 to 3 inches. For larger animals you may have to go in further to get a reading. The newer ones you only need to get the tip inside the rectum. Hold it in place for 2 minutes or for however long your thermometer directions say. Some of the newer ones can take a readying in seconds. Pull it out when the time is up, wipe it clean and take a reading.

Normal temperature for dogs and cat is between 100.5 and 102.5 F. If your pet is a degree or more over the normal range, he may have a fever and you should call the vet. Use the alcohol soaked cotton ball to clean the thermometer.

St. John's Wort

2009-03-27T12:22:00.001-07:00

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herbal tranquilizer and antidepressant. The active components include hypericin and hyperforin. This herb raises levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine which helps maintain normal mood and emotional stability.

In dogs and cats this herb is used for depression, separation and certain forms of aggression. Some supplements combine this herb with other sedating herbs like Valerian, passion flower and others. I have given this to my cat with seizures to help calm her. St John's Wort may also be helpful as an antibacterial and antiviral agent.

Dose 1/8 to 1/4 of the human dose recommended on the label.

Probiotics

2009-03-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Probiotics are very helpful for pets. They are various healthy beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum, Streptococcus thermophilus that normally live in the intestines and promote normal bowel health.

I give my pets probiotics whenever there is possibility of upsetting the normal intestinal flora - surgery, while taking antibiotics or chemotherapy and if suffering from illness or stress. Probiotics can supply nutrients, aid in digestion, reduce pathogenic bacteria and yeasts and allow for better conversion of food into nutrients.

Probiotics improve the health of the gastrointestinal system in pets as well as in people. They produce chemicals that decrease the amount of harmful bacteria. They decrease toxins produced by this bacteria. They block adhesion of harmful bacteria to the intestinal cells and compete for nutrients needed for growth by pathogenic organisms. Overall probiotics stimulate the immune systems of the intestines.

Since probiotics are live organisms it is important that you buy quality products. They come in dosages of several million to several billion live organisms. Some pet brands add strains that are acid and bile resistant to give them with food. This makes them more apt to get digested and into the intestines rather than be destroyed in the stomach via digestive juices.

I suggest to give cats and dogs 1/8 to 1/4 of the human dose of supplements. Larger animals should take more.

Pet First Aid Kit

2009-03-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Emergencies can happen without warming. Do you have the materials in one place to give first aid to your pet? Here is a simple list of what to include:

* Your Vet's phone number
* The phone number to the closest emergency 24-hour clinic
* A first aid manual for pets
* Muzzles the correct size for your pets
* Antibacterial soap
* Antibiotic ointment
* Bandaging materials - 2-inch stretchable and non stretchable gauze rolls and gauze pads in a variety of sizes
* Blunt tipped scissors
* Cotton balls
* Disposable rubber gloves
* Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
* Masking tape
* Needle-nose pliers
* Petroleum jelly
* Plastic needles syringe or turkey baster
* Rectal thermometer
* Saline solution
* Tweezers

Book Review: 50 Games to Play with Your Cat by Jackie Strachan

2009-03-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

All of us cat lovers know this simple fact. Cats will play with the package/box/wrapper and leave the toy alone! How many of our cats love the rings from milk bottles, cardboard boxes and crinkled paper better than the expensive toys we buy for them?

This book explains how you can make toys for cats out of simple materials we have around the house. The Box of Balls for example is just a box with holes cut out and reinforced to let the cats play with the balls inside but not pull them out. Not rocket science but most of us would not normally think to make this. Instead we go to the store and buy "Bizzy Kitty" based on the same idea.

The book is divided up into categories of play activities and lounging accommodations. They give ideas for ball games, catnip toys, hide and seek games,kitty condos you can make and stalking games to play with our cats.

The book's suggestions relate well to our tough economy. Anyone with a new cat can make toys for him/her without spending a lot of money. Just buying food and litter can be more than enough to spend plus vet bills.

Check this book out. I found mine at a thrift shop for less than a dollar. You might too! Keep a look out for it.

Colostrum to Boost Immune System

2009-03-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

Colostrum, called mother's gold , is a thick yellow substance that is produced toward the end of a female's pregnancy, emitted by her mammary glands during the first 24 to 48 hours after giving birth. For humans the first few breast feedings produce the newborn with colostrum, one of the main reasons breastfeeding is encouraged.

This colostrum delivers some very important substances to all newborns.
Immune factors to facilitate the development of a strong immune system.
Growth factors, essential in creation and maintenance of bone, muscle, nerves and cartilage.
Antibodies (immunoglobulins) that protect from invading organisms, minimize the severity of an illness and stimulate the infant's own immune system.

Colostrum is not new as a treatment. It was used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic physicians in India. In our country doctors in the 1950's used it to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The colostrum on the market is bovine colostrum. The molecular structure of the immune and growth factors of bovine colostrum is actually very similar to those found in humans, so cows are universal donors for colostrum. Plus bovine colustrum is actually superior than human colostrum in having more factors, is better absorbed and being able to control the environment in making colostrum.

Colostrum is used for boosting the immune system, countering the effects of aging,and mproving the mechanisms of digestion. It is used in treating allergies, asthma, arthritis, IBS, colitis, leaky gut syndrome, skin problems (making a paste to apply topically) and infections.

People and pets can benefit from colostrum since it not species specific. I give my cats with FIV, IBS and other immune issues colostrum in their food. There is very little if any real milk in it so it does not cause allergic reactions and does not interfere with other medications.

Buy only colostrum from New Zealand cows as they are raised on pesticide free grain and grass and not given any hormones or antibiotics during their life time. One company I suggest is Symbiotics for New Zealand colostrum. You can find this in any health food store or online.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-16T12:52:00.001-07:00

Chica posed for this "stuff on my cat" photo! Not willingly though!

National Poison Prevention Week

2009-03-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

This third week of March marks National Poison Prevention Week. Listed below are several articles on poison, toxic plants, Pet Poison Hot line and other related articles.

It is up to you to make sure your pets and children are safe from any toxic substance in and around your home. This is a great opportunity to make sure all toxic substances are put away in a safe place.

For more info on poison prevention check out http://www.poisonprevention.org.

Kitten Healed - Heartwarming Story!

2009-03-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

This article is from Best Friends Pet Sanctuary website. It is nice to hear of a pet story with a happy and maybe miraculous ending!

January 27, 2009 : 9:17 AM ET

Not many cats can give vets the kind of jaw-dropping double-take that C.C. pulled off. But then, C.C. is no ordinary girl. When C.C. was found as a stray kitten, she was injured badly. She couldn’t use her back legs, she had a fractured pelvis, and she was incontinent.
C.C. had been living as a feral kitten and learned to be afraid of people. Still, the folks who found her knew she needed help. They wouldn’t take no for an answer! She came to Best Friends for emergency care.

At Best Friends, she received all the medical help she needed. (Along with some TLC she didn’t think she needed!) It was obvious from the beginning that she would require long-term special care. A shelter specializing in incontinent cats heard about C.C. and offered to take her once she was healthy enough to travel. Until then, C.C. had a cozy bed and all the comforts she wanted right at Best Friends.

It’s amazing, though, what a determined kitten can do. That TLC worked wonders, even though C.C. resisted affection at first. Not only did she start trusting people, she began to feel better … lots better. In fact, as her body grew and matured, it seemed to miraculously fix itself. She lost the limp and started using the litter box more often than could be considered accidental.

The vets and caregivers wondered if she was regaining continence. Nerve damage hardly ever reverses, but all signs pointed to a complete recovery for C.C. So, they monitored her closely during a trial period without expressing her bladder. Call it luck, call it a miracle, but C.C. passed with ease! After many days of observation, she was pronounced cured. The only thing left from her injuries now is a slightly crooked tail, but even that looks somehow exotic on C.C.

The shelter that had offered to take her bowed out once they learned she was no longer incontinent. After all, they need the space for harder-to-place cats. So C.C. decided to call Best Friends her home for now. But, with all the tricks she has up her sleeve, it won't be long before she woos a family of her own. Welcome, C.C. What a way to turn those medical books upside down!

Story by David Dickson
Photo by Molly Wald

Formerly Feral -- Tabitha and Lily

2009-03-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

Tabitha is one of Lily's litters. She is a beautiful tabby, very loving and affectionate. Her mom Lily, the white kitty, had 3 litters before I could catch her..very smart little cat! Even with the Have-a-heart trap Lily would pull the food bowl towards one side and use her paw to eat from the cage, not going inside.

I finally won her confidence and she and her last litter walked into our enclosed porch themselves. Now all of the cats are spayed and have a forever home with us.