Holistic Pets

So, you want to stop your pet from chewing, especially puppies. Animals are great but that gnawing is driving you crazy. So what can you do to stop it?

 

The first instinct you might have is to chase the pet away from what they’re chewing on, yell, or grab the item out of their mouth. This might work at that moment but for sure they go right back at it when you turn your back.

 

The reality of the situation is the seriousness of the damage which can cost you a ton of money to repair or fix and the fact it drains you of your sanity. You quickly forget the fact of how cute and adorable they are and why you have them in your home to begin with.

 

You should first determine if the pet is sick or not. Small puppies can have a condition called Pica. Technically speaking this is a term used to describe the craving and ingestion of nonfood items. If the vet let’s you know they are ok, then it’s time to move on with more civilized approaches.

 

Put yourself in your pet’s surroundings. By understanding what they see, smell and hear you’ll realize that using their nose, eyes mouth and ears are nothing more than naturally exploring their “turf”. When it’s “in their reach” they feel it’s fair game and chewing is something to do. Puppies especially find this appealing. When they do it, it is of the utmost importance to give them a stern “NO” while taking away the object.

 

It might really sound simple, but if you keep at it, your pet will ultimately get the idea. A pup is nothing more than a new born baby that needs to be taught. That stern voice and the accompanying “NO” will immediately stop them in their tracks. Afterwards, get the item away from the pet without playing cat and mouse or tug of war. This only adds to the confusion for the animal and they’ll think it’s another game. This will only make matters worse.

 

Also it’s important to exercise caution. If the animal feels that threatened by your actions and becomes aggressive it may also be time for some free professional training. A free 6 day training course and video might just do the trick. This is especially true with a young adopted pet. You never know how they were treated and may be the root cause for their behavior.

 

If you can’t change the habits of your pet using these steps, it’s time to roll out the next plan. Being unresponsive isn’t a sign to give in but that a stronger deterrent may be necessary. This is where chewing repellents may be necessary. They are harmless to the pets and are nothing more than an annoyance to the animal. Ultimately the smell or taste of the product will be a keen reminder to stay away. It becomes associated with something bad or uncomfortable for the pet. Nothing more than a bad taste like burned food let’s say or a bad smell like a skunk we have to deal with.

 

As you train your pet to stop them from chewing on items, you need to replace those temptations with more appropriate items. Get them chew toys. They come in all shapes sizes and flavors and there’s never a shortage of what they might like.

 

Time may pass and you notice that your pet goes beyond the infant stages of chewing. You’re thinking, hey they’re older now so why aren’t they stopping? Like us they have a lot of common reasons. How about the fact that pets get stressed or they don’t have much to do and get bored. They could get lonely if you’re out all day or the simple fact is they may just like it.

 

Try not to leave them alone and unattended if at all possible. They’re just like a little kid and need to be looked after. May sure you do all the things we talked about, don’t leave items around and make them fair play. Make sure they have plenty of their favorite toys available. Also, don’t keep them in places where there’s lots of stuff to get their mouth on. Maybe a cordoned off area with gates limiting there access to non-essential items. If you get them to exercise more than a walk to go to the bathroom, they are less likely to get bored and use that as a reason to chew.

 

Occupying your dog’s time with things to do will keep them out of mischief. We get bored too but can find things to fill our time. Fortunately stores have plenty of solutions available to keep them going for hours.

 

Remember, there is no one right or wrong answer. You need to spend time to determine what remedy is right for your pet. The most important thing for you is consistency and patience. Pets are great. Don’t let the little things stop you from enjoying their company. You’ll be glad you did and so will they!

 

Thanks For Reading!

 

 

Dog grooming is an essential part of your pet’s health care that can prevent problems from developing.  Bathing and brushing to maintain a healthy skin and coat, ear and dental care, and toenail clipping are all essential parts of keeping your dog healthy. And the proper tools will enable you to perform this routine efficiently and without possible injury to your best friend

You will need a shampoo that is specially formulated for your breed of dog.  No, your favorite shampoo is not an option, even if it does make Fido smell more appealing.  This can be too drying for a dog’s skin.  It is worth the time and money to sample a few to find the one best for your pet, just like choosing the right dog food for its digestion and nutrition needs. A dog’s coat will benefit from a conditioner to keep it shiny and healthy.  After bathing, a dog should not just shake itself dry.

Your pouch needs its own highly absorbent towel and even a blow dryer to dry off quickly.  Food supplements containing vitamin B are a good addition to dog food.  Some owners like to put a small dab of olive oil on their hands and rub them over the dog’s coat prior to brushing thoroughly to keep the skin soft and add luster to the coat. You will also need a soft brush for grooming and shining the coat and a stiff wire brush for removing twigs, leaves, gnarls and, heaven forbid, ticks.  Special clippers for shaving areas of fur that are matted or likely to get that way are an essential and every dog needs a dedicated scissors.

Flea control is best done with a specific formula prescribed by your veterinarian.  Never forget this essential dog grooming aid.  Keeping your dog flea and tick free is the most important aspect of grooming for the dog and its human family.

You also need cotton swabs to clean your dog’s ears.  Pull gently any hair that may grow inside to the outside of the ear and cut away any matted fur.  You can clean the outside of the under ear with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab if necessary.  

Other essential dog grooming tools will aid you in cutting his toenail every 2 or 3 weeks.  Get a good set of very sharp, guillotine style clippers and do this regularly so that only a small amount of toenail is removed per session. This will keep your pet from developing split nails or overly long nails that could interfere with his walking and running.

If you have these basic tools of dog grooming and follow a steady routine of grooming, you have the best chance of maintaining a healthy dog and avoiding costly health problems.  In addition to proper nutrition, and good spaces to rest and exercise, proper grooming with the right tools is the surest way to a happy pooch.

During the entire time I was reading “A Child Called It’ , I couldn’t help but draw correlations between David Pelzer’s mother (Catherine Roerva Christen Pelzer) and Borderline Personality Disorder. After I was finished reading the book, I started my search to see what mental illness Catherine had suffered. All I have managed to find was that she was mentally ill and an alcoholic. No details have emerged of what type of mental illness she suffered. So, with the facts about Catherine from “A Child Called It” and professional resources about BPD, I will pose case that Catherine suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Dave Pelzer paints the picture of a seemingly normal childhood until his mother’s behavior changed radically. He describes his mother as a “wicked witch” on (pg 30), which hit the nail on the head. She exhibits the behavior of the prototypical BPD Witch. “The darkness within the borderline Witch is annihilating rage. Her inner experience is the conviction of being evil, and her behavior evokes submission… She is filled with self-hatred and may single out one child as the target of her rage. The Witch’s message to her child is: Life is war” (pg 38) Lawson.

WOW. Catherine was most certainly filled with rage. Every page of that book, Catherine was filled with rage that she took out on her son day in and day out. Her inner experience is the conviction of being evil, where she even speaks of it on (pg 41) of Pelzer’s book, “Now it’s time I showed you what hell is like!” Throughout all of her abuse, her behavior was to evoke submission from David. She was constantly beating him down mentally, emotionally, and physically. He says that his soul was consumed in a black void from the intense abuse by his mother (pg 132). She certainly was filled with self hatred as indicated by her alcoholism, not taking care of herself (“Her once beautiful, shiny hair is now frazzled clumps. As usual, she wears no makeup. She is overweight, and she knows it. In all, this has become Mother’s typcial look” pg 5), and being so filled with annihilating rage. And, the fact that the BPD Witch singles out one child as a target of her rage is so revealing because Catherine singled out David. For years he was the only child abused. When David was put into foster care, the younger brother was then singled out as the target of her rage.

David was without a doubt the “no-good child”; however, remarkably he didn’t turn-out to be what Lawson identified as the lost child (pg 171). His mother, Catherine, called him a “bad boy”, and an entire chapter is devoted to the “bad boy” David.

Catherine had David look in the mirror and recite, “I’m a bad boy” repeatedly (pg 31). Even though he was successful with school, his mother told him he was a “bad boy” and held him back in the 1st grade (pg 36). David was left out of Christmas due to Santa only bringing “good boys and girls” toys (pg 38). His mother accuses David of making her life a “living hell” (pg 41) and talks to the other siblings saying how she didn’t have to worry about them becoming like David, “a bad boy” (pg 43). Even when David was awarded the honor of naming the school newspaper, Catherine says, “There is nothing you can do to impress me! Do you understand me? You are a nobody! An IT! You are nonexistent! You are a bastard child! I hate you and I wish you were dead. Dead! Do you hear me? Dead!” (pg 140).

As mentioned above, the BPD Witch’s message to her child is that life is war. David recieved that message pretty early into the story as he states on (pg 43), “For the first time, I had won! Standing alone in that damp, dark garage, I knew, for the first time, that I could survive. I decided that I would use any tactic I could think of to defeat Mother or to delay her from her grizzly obsession.” Catherine put David in the middle of an all out war with her, even making him sit in the prisoner of war position (pg 50, 84, 111, 114, 123) by sitting on his hands with his head thrust backward. Lawson states (pg 125), “The Witch’s children feel like prisoners of a secret war.”

In Lawson (pg 137), rejection triggers the desperate fear of sinking into the cold, dark abyss of abandonment, a fate the BPD Witch feels worse than death. Catherine was an alcoholic who had been drinking from the age of 13. Brought up in the Mormon community of Salt Lake City, she would hide in the outhouse during Prohibition to wince down bootleg whiskey. Her parents were divorced, which made them outcasts in that religious community, and Catherine was frequently locked in a closet, denied food, and told how despicable she was. Catherine primarily appears as a Witch, which a BPD who primarily appear as a Witch is filled with self-hatred as a result of surviving a childhood that required complete submission to a hostile or sadistic caregiver (pg 131) Lawson.

The BPD Witch is sadistically controlling and punitive with her children where they fear their survival. The Witch’s children are forced to submit to her control and may be victims of sadistic emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Lawson explains, “Therapists hear horrifying stores of child abuse that never make the headlines… Some children may not survive simply because they are too young to get away” (pg 122). David Pelzer is VERY fortunate that he survived his horrifying ordeal with his mother.

Throughout the book, David speaks of being able to survive his mother’s abuse. He made a promise to himself when the discipline drastically turned to punishment out of control, “I knew, for the first time, that I could survive. I decided that I would use any tactic I could think of to defeat Mother… I knew if I wanted to live, I would have to think ahead… I could never give in to her. That day I vowed to myself that I would never, ever again give that bitch the satisfaction of hearing me beg her to stop beating me” (pg 43). He later refers back to that promise when he was stabbed by his mother, “I wanted to lie down and quit, but the promise I made years ago kept me going. I wanted to show The Bitch that she could beat me only if I died, and I was determined not to give in, even to death” (pg 91). He was a survivor from the start through his determination of thought. References of survival also include:

He also talks about that “water was my only means of survival” (pg 104) as his mother starved him for ten consecutive days. Later, when his mother used chlorine gas while locking him in the bathroom, David relates that “to survive her new game, I had to use my head” (pg 108). He started to lose his instinct for survival when his mother had him sit in POW style on a 1 inch diameter of rocks, stating “all my efforts for mere survival seemed futile. My attempts to stay one step ahead of Mother were useless. A black shadow was always over me” (pg 111).

Because the Witch emerges when the mother and child are alone, no witnesses can verify the child’s experience (pg 125) Lawson. Catherine typically abused David when no one else was around, making sure to cover up the abuse if and when family members returned to the house. David says on pg 42, “I knew Mother never acted his bizarre when anyone else was in the house.”

When Ron came home, Catherine ceased to attempt to burn David further on the stove (pg 42). When Catherine tried to have David eat the dirty diapers, the abuse stopped when Ron, Stan, and David’s father returned to the vacation cabin (pg 57). David always noted that he appreciated when his father was home, calling him his protector, as the abuse was not as prevalent. (pg 101). When he would come home from school and his brothers weren’t home, David knew that his mother’s “game” would be full force. After Ron and Stan went go to bed, Catherine ordered David upstairs to feed him ammonia (pg 73). David even devotes an entire chapter to “When Father is Away”, starting the chapter with, “When he was home, Mother only did about half the things that she did when he was gone” (pg 101).

The BPD Witch can be cruel to the target of her rage; however other children may not perceive her as a Witch if they do not possess qualities that trigger her rage. With the information contained in Pelzer’s book, Catherine did not treat the older two or younger baby abusively. They were immune to her physical abuse. Being cruel, the BPD Witch may make a statement such as “I’m going to make your life a living Hell” or “I’m going to kill you” (pg 137) states Lawson. Catherine said both of these statements to David: (pg 41) “Now it’s time I showed you what hell is like!” and (pg 85) “If you don’t finish on time, I’m going to kill you.” David continues by saying that she said that same statement over and over for almost a week (pg 86).

The need for power and control over others is important to the BPD Witch as well as the need to elicit a response of fear and shock. Catherine certainly illustrated how she needed each of these. She exerted power over David, reducing him to a “slave” (pg 50, 84, 126), an “it” (pg 140), and “the boy” (pg 50). She controlled every part of his life down to what he ate (or rather, what he didn’t eat). He was controlled through having to “work” constantly around the house with only being allowed to attend school. Her pathological “needs” resulted in David viewing his home as a “madhouse” (pg 104) and “hell house ” (pg 137), as well as his existance as a “morbid life” (pg 116). He felt as if his soul was consumed in a “black void” (pg 132).

She used fear and shock throughout her abuse. He was relegated to the basement on a cot, not knowing when he would be fed, allowed to see sunlight, or beat (ten rounders (pg 111), whipped with dog chains (pg 116), broom handle blows to the backs of legs (pg 117)). He was often intense with fear: shaking, unable to concentrate, heart skipping beats, and startled. He was put though tremendous shocking situations such as being fed ammonia, subjected to chlorine gas, submerged under cold water for long lengths of time, burned on a gas stove, arm dislocated, stabbed in the abdomen, smashed into the counters breaking his teeth, forced to eat dirty diapers & rancid food, and so much more.

Children who resist the control face worse punishment. David did not resist her control. He knew the rules & punishments to his mother’s “game”: (1) if he took too long to do his chores, his mother would withhold food (2) if he looked at one of his siblings without permission, he was slapped (3) if he was caught taking food, he was subjected to hideous punishment (pg 83).

David did not resist control. He would do everything in his power to get his work done under her strict time restraints. He says (pg 50) during the time when he had to stand until summoned to perform chores, “It was made very clear that getting caught sitting or lying down in the basement would bring dire consequences. I had become my Mother’s slave.” Without putting up a fight, he took his “punishments”: remaining in the chlorine gas filled bathroom, submerged under cold water & then forced to sit outside on rocks 1 inch in diameter (Bathtub and Backyard Treatment pg 114), and skating in icy cold weather without appropriate clothing (pg 120). Additionally, he would sit for extraordinary lengths of time on the bottom step standing and in POW position as she instructed. Once when he decided to not “take anybody’s crap anymore” (pg 142), the results were a stomping from his brothers and Mother, a special batch of chlorine gas in the bathroom, and a choking.

Destroying valued objects and being intentionally withholding, the BPD Witch may intentionally withhold what their children need. David’s mother withheld food from David, severely starving him. He only had his brother’s left-overs from breakfast on occasion, a P&J sandwich with a few carrot sticks for lunch, and rarely any dinner. Due to the obsession to find food, David resorted to taking other kid’s lunches, (pg 48), food from the grocery store (pg 59), frozen cafeteria food (pg 63), begging for food (pg 69), and frozen from from his basement (pg 79). He also would eat scraps from his garbage can after his family ate (pg 62) until his mother started to add ammonia to the waste or planting rotten food so that he would get sick (pg 63). She also would tease the starving boy by putting food in front of him then taking it away (Two Minute Game pg 105 -107). When she found out about his eating of frozen cafeteria food, she forced him to vomit it up by forcing her finger down his throat, scooping the vomit out of the toilet, and then eating the vomit later that evening (pg 66 – 68).

Along with withholding food, Catherine also intentionally withheld proper hygiene and clothes for David. Kids made fun of him for how he smelled calling him David Pelzer-Smellzer, and teachers not used to his smell wave their hands in front of their face. He was consistently in tattered and worn clothes, even if new clothes existed in the home for him.

David says, “Because my Mother had me wear the same clothes week after week, by October my clothes had become weathered, torn, and smelly” (pg 47). He continues further in the chapter, “In September, I returned to school with last year’s clothes” (pg 57). He indicates that his mother had newer clothes for him but withheld them: “One Sunday during the last month of summer … Mom let me put on new clothes that I had received last Christmas” (pg 123). By the time he was rescued, “My long sleeve shirt has more holes than Swiss cheese. It’s the same shirt I’ve worn for about two years. Mother has me wear it every day as her way to humiliate me. My pants are just as bad, and my shoes have holes in the toes. I can wiggle my big toe out of one of them” (pg 6).

The BPD Witch organizes a “campaign of denigration”, enlisting others as allies against the target of her rage. “She may seek out friends, family members (including siblings and children), and co-workers of her victim in whom to confide fabricated stories designed to discredit her enemy” (pg 141) says Lawson. David’s mother, Catherine, denigrated David by turning family against David including his father and other siblings. She also had the school turned against him, pegging him as a thief and “bad boy”. She told neighbors negative things about David, further denigrating him. Many believe the allegations because of the intensity of emotion. When the ability to enlist allies disrupts and divides groups, such as neighbors and the school system, that could actually help him.

The Witch does not recognize boundaries and exploit the child’s trust by denying right to privacy and humiliating & degrading the child.

Catherine stripped off David’s clothes having him stand naked, where he “shook from a combination of fear and embarrassment” (pg 40). For months, David was forced to sleep under the breakfast table next to a cat litter box with newspapers as his covers (pg 68). After his mother made David drink dish-washing soap, David needed to use the bathroom and begged his mother to use the bathroom, and she refused. David “stood downstairs, afraid to move, as clumps of the watery matter fell through my underwear and down my pant legs, onto the floor. I felt so degraded; I cried like a baby. I had no self respect of any kind… I felt lower than a dog” (pg 77). While lying naked in the tub submerged as his mother instructed, his brothers would come into the bathroom, glare at him, shake their heads, and turn away (pg 113). After all the humiliation he endured, he talks about how he ate like a homeless dog, grunted to communicate, didn’t care if he was made fun of, and nothing was below him (pg 132). At one point, his morale became so low that he hoped to be killed (pg 141).

The BPD Witch seeks and marries a “Fisherman”, someone she can dominate and control, which is EXACTLY who Catherine married. Stephen Pelzer was completely dominated and controlled by Catherine. He was a subservient partner who relinquished his will at her command (pg 179), as Lawson describes the Fisherman. Further, this type of husband has little or no self-esteem and see himself as a loser. He also fails to protect his children from abuse. All of these characteristics fit Stephen who does not step in to stop the abuse (pg 50, 58):

When David was first deprived of food, Stephen gives David scraps of food and tries to get Catherine to change her mind about feeding David. Catherine and Stephen begin to fight, and as the arguments between them became more frequent, the Stephen began to change– he is not around for David. When David was forced to eat his own vomited hot dog, his father “stood like a statue”and watched him eat something “a dog wouldn’t touch” after unsuccessfully “trying to talk Mother out of her demand” (pg 66 -67) David’s father stood by as David’s mother refused to let David use the bathroom but instead had to use a five-gallon bucket to relieve his diarrhea (pg 77). David’s father started to help David with the dishes. Catherine stopped this, as well as she said that Stephen gave David too much attention. After that, David notes that his father “gave up” (pg 101 -102). When David was stabbed by his mother, David’s father didn’t even look at David when David reported the incident.

David said, “I knew that Mother controlled him like she controlled everything that happened in her house… All my respect for my Father was gone” (pg 90 – 91). Stephen gave up on David without a fight and started not even staying at home on his days off. One day he told David that he was sorry (pg 103) and eventually left the family all together (pg151), leaving David at the hands of his terribly abusive mother, Catherine. David said that he was fully aware of his father’s lack of courage to rescue him, and he hated him for it (pg 134).

Marsha Linehan, in her book Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of the Borderline Patient, describes the normalcy that BPD’s present to others. When people around the BPD mother hear her complaining about her child, the assumption is that the child is troubled rather than the mother. Further in social settings, the BPD mother may be engaging, gracious, and endearing.

David talks about how when his mother was a den mother for the Cub Scouts, the kids commented how they wished their mother was like Catherine (pg 39). She snowed the school administration by showing up with her infant son in her arms and agreeing to cooperate with the school regarding David (pg 53). Additionally, he notes that in the presence of neighbors, his mother “played the role of the loving, caring parent– just as she had when she was a Cub Scout den mother” (pg 122). Catherine also painted a different picture of their home life when David’s Grandmother came for the holidays (pg 126).

Lawson points out that “children have faith in their parents and believe in their greater wisdom. No child wants to believe that his mother is capable of brutality” (pg 273).

After stabbing David, he accepted his mother’s increased compassion towards him. He hoped that she was trying to make up to him and hoping that he was back into the “family fold” (pg 94). Later that night, when he goes to bed with the large laceration, he goes so far to say “I felt safe knowing she was nearby to watch over me” (pg 95). Before a visit from Social Services, Catherine manipulates David into thinking that his ordeal was over and that she will “try to be a good mother” (pg 123). He even starts calling her “Mom” at this point. Near the end of the book, David is called an “It” by his mother, and he reveals, “I gave all that I could to accomplish anything possible for her recognition. But again, I failed. Mother’s words were no longer coming from the booze; they were coming from her heart” (pg 141).

So, even through the devastating and intense abuse, David still held onto the hope that his mother loved him and that she would return to being a nurturing and caring parent.

Through and through, I believe that Catherine suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder. She illustrates the maternal functioning of a Borderline Mother, including:

Confusing her child Not apologizing for or remember inappropriate behavior Expects to be taken care of Punishes or discourages independence Envies, ignores, or demeans her children’s accomplishments Destroys, denigrates, or undermines self-esteem Expects children to respond to her needs Frightens and upsets children Disciplines inconsistently or punitively Feels left out, jealous, or resentful if child is loved by someone else Uses threats or abandonment (or actual abandonment) to punish the child Does not believe in her children’s basic goodness Does not trust her children

Catherine fully qualifies for each of these points. Further and more specifically, as the Witch BPD mother, she sent the following messages to David:

I could kill you You will be sorry You won’t get away with this You deserve to suffer I’d be better off without you You’ll never escape my control It’s my right as your parent to control you I’m going to make you pay

The Witch’s child is raised in a hopeless situation– and David made it out with his resolve, smart thinking, and strong will. The Witch’s words can be vile, her heart cold as stone– thankfully David survived the vile words and the heartless mother to become a highly successful man and an inspiration for all.

Writing with paws may be unique, but just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it can’t happen. My dog Bugsy (He actually prefers to be called Bugsy Wonderdog) approached me about writing an article or two for me. He has always had wonderful perspective on most things so when he suggested he pen a few words on one of my passions, healthy natural dog food I gave in. After all, who better to comment on dog food than a dog? So please leave your skepticism at the door and enjoy a short rant from a Wonderdog.

You humans have always had a hard time grasping the concept of Healthy Natural Dog Food. What’s with that. You are finally trying to eat well yourself as is evidenced by the proliferation of Whole Foods, Fresh Markets and assorted other nouveau supermarkets dedicated to providing natural foods for humans so why not for us dogs? I don’t believe there is anyone more qualified to judge what does and what should go into that dog bowl them me, your humble Wonderdog. After all, I am the one who has to eat it.

How would you like to sit down for every breakfast, lunch and dinner for the rest of your life and be served a bowl of dry processed cereal? Why do it to your dog then? There’s nothing wrong with a bowl of Cheerios now and again, according to the label they are fortified and contain tons of vitamins and minerals but you wouldn’t want to live on them. Variety is the spice of life. I will bet that it wasn’t a dog eating a diet of exclusively processed commercial foods that came up with that line.

While we’re talking about it, what’s with the double standard? Have you ever wondered why they even have something called “Pet Grade”? I’ll tell you why, it’s because it’s all of the garbage that is deemed not fit for human consumption. Healthy Natural Dog Food is a complete oxymoron with respect to most commercial grade pet foods. Now I know that a dog, even your dog, isn’t human. Thank goodness for that, you people have enough problems but that doesn’t mean we should be deprived of vital nutrients because you can’t see through the marketing propaganda of the commercial pet food companies. Oh, their commercials are wonderful showing happy dogs with great coats and lots of energy. Those dogs are actors. They are probably eating Filet Mignon and traveling first class. They are the Brangelina’s of the canine world. How about making your dog feel like a movie star, or at the very least a Wonderdog. Whether you buy it in a store or you have to cook it yourself please feed your dogs Healthy Natural Dog Food.

Bugsy Wonderdog

Certainly spoken like someone who has never had to cook dog food for himself but overall I think he makes some great points. The innocuous little label “pet grade” in many cases might just as well say, “poison”. One of my favorite rules to live by when feeding my dogs is that if I wouldn’t eat it myself, I won’t feed it to my dog. You might want to listen closely here, it’s not everyday you get info right from the Wonderdog’s mouth. He is an actor, a model, a spokesdog and even an author but most importantly he’s a dog and as such has earned the title of “man’s best friend”. Let’s pay back some of that friendship by feeding Bugsy and all of our canine friends what they really need.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, health comes from the inside out!

Cystitis is essentially a bladder syndrome that causes inflammation of the bladder. There are four types of cystitis that are the source of untold pain and suffering for human beings. While this disease also takes place in animals and, therefore, there is also one type of cystitis that occurs in cats.

The first one of the group of four is Interstitial Cystitis. This one occurs when due to inflow of germs in the bladder which results in inflammation of the bladder and also irritation.

The second one is known as Honeymoon cystitis while the third one is known as Emphysematous Cystitis. The fourth one is known as Radiation Cystitis. Feline Cystitis is the form of the disease that takes place in cats. Although a through illustration about each and every one of this form is not possible however attention can be certainly given to a few of them.

Hence, Emphysematous Cystitis occurs due to gas fermenting bacterial and fungal pathogens. A pathogen is a biological agent that causes sickness to its carrier. Another form of Cystitis known as Hemorrhagic Cystitis takes place due to the occurrence of Hematuria along with pain and irrigative symptoms in the bladder. The term Hematuria is a medical term used to denote the flow of blood into the urine.

However, no matter how murky the night is, the sun is bound to rise. Hence, this disease also has a wonderful solution in the form of the medicine D-mannose. This medicine is essentially a natural Glyco Nutrient sugar which has been able to serve as an effective and a natural remedy for the disease Cystitis.

D-mannose is being sold on many websites but there is only one website that is able to provide the maximum level of reliability and also genuine products. This website is also called d-mannose and provides the medicine in many different types of offers. The segregation of these offers is done normally on the basis of the number of the medicine bottles.

Hence, the world today has this website as its aid for the cure of diseases like cystitis and URI. The speciality of this cure lies in the approach for cure being quite a different one than the normal medicines.

There are a lot of ailments which can give dogs health problems. There is nothing worse than when a beloved pooch is suffering, and most of the time they could be suffering in silence!

Do not let this happen to your dog! In this article i will cover 5 of the most common sicknesses that your dog could suffer from. Here goes:

1) Urinary Track Infections
If you find your dog struggling to pee then that could mean he or she has a urinary infection and should be treated right away before it get any worse!

2) Skin Infections
Does your dog scratch itself excessively? If so then that could mean your dogs got a skin infection of some type, if your dog has a skin infection or irritable skin then there are natural remedies that can cure or help relieve your dogs symptoms.

3) Blocked Anal Glands
If your dog rubs his or her bottom across the floor then it could mean he or she has blocked anal glands or some sort of infection. The best thing to do is to make sure your dog does not have any dried on poo clinging to the fur around your dogs rectum, making sure your dog is clean and also cut any long hair from around its bottom will help.

4) Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is actually three different viruses! It is also highly contagious and can spread to other dogs when they are in close contact. There are natural remedies you can use to help cure mild cases of kennel cough.

5) Heartworm
Heartworm is a very serious condition, they can be given heartworm from mosquito bites or even other biting insects! Your dog could die if not prevented or treated straight away!

Those are 5 common sicknesses that your dog could at some point in his or her life suffer from. As long as you make sure your dog is in tip top health then it is less likely too suffer from common ailments, so the best thing you can do for your dog is to learn how you can use natural healing remedies that will ward of most illnesses that your dog could suffer from.

To find out more about Dogs Health Problems and what natural healing remedies you can use to help relieve or sometimes help cure your dogs common ailment then go and Grab a Free Course! at  http://www.natural-pet-remedies.info

Children are particularly susceptible to infection, and therefore are most at risk from catching it if it’s spreading through your area and from dying of it once they do catch it.

It’s significant that the first known victim of the current A/H5N1 strain of bird flu, back in May 1997 in Hong Kong was a three year old boy.

Despite receiving great medical treatment from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, he died of multiple organ failure in 12 days, because they could not keep him breathing.

Children have immune systems that are relatively undeveloped, just as their hearts, brains and other parts of their bodies are not fully developed. Because they’re children, not adults. In technical terms, they have “naive” immune systems.

Also, children tend to spread the infections in their bodies to each other simply through playing. Younger children especially have little sense of social distance and propriety. They hit, wrestle, hug, crawl over and drool on each other.

This is why it’s so well-known that if one child in a day care center or classroom is ill, all the other children, their teacher and their parents and siblings will also catch the same “bug.”

Many of the known victims of bird flu have been children. It’s quite likely that this is not only due to their lack of immune protection.

Children who live in rural villages where chickens wander freely are more likely to play with these chickens than adults, who’re too busy working. Also, the ground is littered with chicken droppings full of viruses, and children play on this ground.

It’s striking and sad that one of the bird flu deaths in Turkey was of a little girl whose relatives described her as very loving — even toward chickens, whom she liked to kiss.

I sometimes worry about my local park, which has a small pond with many ducks. I walk around and just ignore the ducks. But many small children love to approach and try to pet the ducks.

Therefore, my first advice is — once bird flu reaches your country, don’t let your children play with either domesticated chickens or turkeys, or wild birds of any kind.

Also, stay out of zoos, especially the petting zoos where children have direct contact with animals.

Once bird flu reaches your area, keep your pets in your house or yard. We know that bird flu can infect cats and we suspect it can infect dogs. If you think your pet has been infected, get rid of it before it can infect your child.

If your child becomes sick, Tamiflu has been approved for the use of children over 1. However, it may not be available, and nobody really knows how much Tamiflu is needed to stop a bird flu infection in adults, let alone in children. Plus, in Japan Tamiflu is associated with causing neurological disorders, including committing suicide, in 12 teenagers.

Do not give your children regular aspirin or other pain relievers, because this could cause Reyes Syndrome, a rare but little known fatal inflammation of the brain.

Clean your children well after they’ve been playing. You must especially make sure they wash their hands. It should even be more often than the traditional after using the bathroom and before meals.

That’s because the most common way for both cold and flu viruses to spread is by getting on people’s hands, and then people rub their eyes and mouths with their hands. Children do this even more than do adults.

Once bird flu reaches the contagious pandemic stage, keep your children away from day care centers, schools and even other children in the neighborhood. You just don’t know who could have the virus.

I know they won’t like that, but the fewer people they come into contact with, the more likely they are to avoid the disease. They can relearn their social skills after the pandemic’s over.

So it’s also a good idea to plan to keep your children busy at home during the pandemic. They can play outside in their own yard, but should not leave it unless they’re with you.

Have them bring their school books so they keep up with their studies. Have plenty of games and toys on hand — including many nonelectrical toys and games. You can’t depend on having electricity available, so include board games as well as computer games. You should save extra batteries for your radio and flash lights.

When you store food, concentrate on protein, vegetables and fruit. The sugar snacks that children love will reduce the strength of their immune systems.

They can take the same vitamins and minerals as adults, but of course in reduced amounts.

Still, if you are caring for a child sick with bird flu with Vitamin C, it’ll be difficult to give them too much. Vitamin C is used up in fighting the infection, and bird flu is a powerful enemy that will require a lot of Vitamin C. Give them as much as you can get them to swallow.

Ordinary flu shots protect kids only against the 3 strains of ordinary flu authorities believe will be most common during that particular flu season. This includes the inhaled Flu Mist. No vaccine is yet available against bird flu, and it will take 6 months before there is one against a contagious form of bird flu. And by that time, the virus will have mutated some more.

If children must go out where other people will meet, it’s a good idea to buy them a child-sized Nanomask. Ordinary surgical masks or even the N95 masks will not be effective.

And of course, consult with your children’s doctor, especially if your child has any chronic medical conditions.

What does it take to live to 100yrs and more and be healthy as well. Did you know that the top 10 human diseases were cured in animals in 1957 using only natural nutrition and it works on people too! Skeptical as I was because of the condtioning all my life that the local doctor had all the answers to the cures, that it must be impossible that veterinary medicine could more advanced about the cures to serious diseases. Impossible! Until I was forced to try it.
Will Rogers said “If you want a good doctor, get a veterinarian. Why! Animals can’t tell him whats wrong, he’s just got to know what’s wrong. Dr Joel Wallach, Veterinarian/Naturopthic doctor (nobel prize nominee) was involved in comparative medical research for 30 years and came to the conclusion that commercial animals got a better deal when it comes to health care with no harmful side-effects. The Veterinary profession has raised the art and science of preventive medicine to its highest level by eliminating cancer, arthritis, liver disease, asthma, learning disabilities, birth defects, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, dental diseases from laboratory animals, pet and farm animals. A lot of non-sense you say! Well we are human animals made from the same earthly elements and so why wouldn’t it work on humans. Because of small profit margins, animal farmers demand nutrition systems that prevent disease. No birth defects of any kind and healthy livestock. Farmers demand 100 healthy calves from 100 healthy breeding cow’s that they are feeding and expect calves to reach market or reproductive age with little or no vet fee’s. THIS BEATS WHAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT AS HUMANS. Just go to any zoo on a beautiful sunny day and ask the first 100 women that walk by if they have had any complicated pregnancies, children that were delivered by cesarian or children with birth defects and the results of your survey will be astounding!
Animal farmers are unwilling to pay for ceasarians or pay for symptomatic therapies because they are working on a tight budget and the government does not have MEDICARE for animals. Preventative Medicine veterinary style, is inexpensive and extremely effective in preventing the chronic diseases in animals that, if present, would make animal husbandry impossible. In America, the economic system of capitalism was allowed to take its course and the money was in finding a cheap and practical system of health care for animals, the result was preventative natural nutrition programmes.ie 90 daily essential nutrients, components which are made up of, 60 plant derived colloidal minerals,12 amino acids,3 essential fatty acids,16 vitamins which add up to the 90 essential nutrients. In other words, what are the things you need to consume every day so you can live till 100yrs and be healthy. Absurd. Really! Most of these things you can buy in your local gym or sports nutrition shop but they don’t know how to use them and the quality is not the same and its incomplete. Originally this nutrition pack was used in swine to get an extra 3 birthing years out the sows. Pigs suffer from arthritis and this regime prevented the arthritis. and the discovery was that it got rid of 400 other diseases. This natural nutrition pack was discovered in 1957 for the animal kingdom by veterinary researchers and it reverses 400 ailments in humans with no side-effects if there is no previous serious irreversible damage from toxic pharmaceuticals( liver,kidney,intestines) and substance abuse. Despite this damage, a lot of supposed abuses and genetic birth defects are managed better by these natural 90 nutrients. The pack was upgraded for human use.You can live to 75yrs. The regime is for 3 months minimum. The longer you take it, the more reversal of the ailments.
In contrast to the animal health systems, our human health care systems are heavily supported by the government, clinical care as well as research, via legislation, eg medicare. It is unfortunate that the mindset in human medicine is in treating the symptoms (and not the root cause), with patented synthetic pharmaceuticals that have harmful side-effects. Doctors, Pharma people, have a nice cartel thats protected by Gov’t laws. Just google the doctors prescription medicine that he’s given you and search the side-effects. Really scary findings. If it was any other industry, they’d be prosecuted for selling this stuff. Google search the individual components of the 90 essential nutrients. Marjority of pharmceuticals are patented and it is a sickness for profit industry. Medicine credo should be first “Do no harm”. This has produced a health care system that if union members learned that management and union stewards had reached such an agreement, they would wryly call it a sweetheart deal and call for instant workers strike.
Medical  scientists clone sheep,map gene nomes,swap chromosomes and genes in mammals and plants, grow a human liver inside a pig,etc, frankenstein stuff, men on the moon.But can’t cure the top 10 diseases without transplant/surgery and nasty toxic drugs. Seems odd, and Why not, you say, when Vets can do it.
The orthodox medical system is an artifical system that depends on our governments via the corrupt Codex Alimenarius Commitee in the background, globally, masquerading as protectors against those alternative health nuts to survive. If it were left to the people , they will always choose a less formidable and less complex,efficient, health care system. Under the protective and loving wing of the government, orthodox medicine has flourished as a house of cards. They will badmouth alternative medicine because it is better and it is a threat to their hip pocket. You cannot patent the 90 essential nutrients and monopolise it . They would like to ban them then legally then monopolise them. If the people were aware of the deaths as a result of polypharmacy, they would be like me, and not have anything to do with synthetic toxic pharmaceuticals.
It is of interest that the 10,000 year old system of Tradtional Chinese Medicine only paid the doctor when you were healed and stopped paying him when you became ill- this ancient system combined with the veterinary natural medicine mindset would be an ideal medical system.
I am a 54yr old that use to suffer when I was 48yrs of age from Arthritis, Asthma,High blood pressure, Hemorhoids, a flu like condtion for 3 years(4 types of anti-biotics didn’t help) constant diahorea. Low back pain, Hands would go numb 3 times a night in bed if my wrists were bent in my sleep, Heat stress headache-could’nt stay out in the sun for long,and could not work physically for long as I would get this headache and sweat profusely. In this condition, I could not bend down to pick something up off the floor without pain/pressure in my head. Had to take a nap to sleep it off or take a pain killer which I never felt good about. Never liked those warning labels on medicine bottles. I had silvery white hair which I absolutely hated. Couldn’t remember peoples’ names the next day. Bad memory. Had bad B.O. Had terible bad breath, arms weren’t long enough for reading,
Loosing my career and house was at stake and out of sheer desperation and my wife buying my first pack on my credit card which I could not afford, I tried what Dr Wallach advocated despite my disbelief and to my surprize I was slowly restored with almost complete health in 3-4 months. I could do things again that I could do when I was about 30yrs of age. What an eye opener this was. Good night sleep every night again, no numb wrists and hands,could work hard physically like a man again, self esteem suffered from this, No more reading glasses, no joint pain,hair going dark again,no heat stress, no severely cracked heels, could walk up stairs again, could squat and get up again by myself. The only side-efffects was the detoxification that went on. Bowel movements were disgusting and flatulence. Flatulence abated after a few months. Colon cleanse and what they called repair pains. It was all worth the restored health. Why hadn’t this come thru the normal medical chanels.
My wife suffered from low blood pressure all her life, lower bad back pain, hemorhoids, dizziness, irratable bowel syndrome, carpal tunnel, cancer of the cervix 3 times in 10 years, liver or age spots, gall bladder ready for removal, hysterectomy was on the cards, and she double dosed on the chelated selenium part especially, and she too saw all her ailments disappear gradualy one by one in about 3-4 months. Still remember her saying too me,gleefully “this stuff really works”. The side-effect was those repair pains,which gradually went away, and after taking the 90 essential nutrients for about 3 weeks, she broke out in red spots from her head to her toes for about 2.5 weeks. She was told this was a fatty liver cleansing itself out and to perservere and it too gradually diasppeared and she too enjoyed restored health. The discomfort of the detoxification was worth the result. I know many people with the same testimony of restored health. Told this story to numberless people and am amazed at the disbelief. They get this glazed far away look in their eyes as I speak to them about this natural animal medicine. They just don’t believe this crazy story. Some fella’s start howling like a dog or start scratching themselves for flee’s like a dog in derison.. Then I remember how skeptical I too was once! People seem to think the local doctor is some sort of a all knowing medical demi-god. If the doctors all lived healthily to 100 years of age, then I’d listen to every word they’d say. Do some research and find out the average age of a doctor when they pass away into the hereafter. The result you will find is very interesting.
I have only touched the tip of the iceberg about Dr Joel Wallach’s veterinary medicine and there is much more to said about this subject. The causes of these 400 diseases is surprising. What is on the disease list is surprising also. Our low mineral hydroponic farming and depleted farm soils are major causes of sicknesses. Yes they fertilize, but not comprehensively. The medical profession doesn’t seem to have clue about this. Dr Joel Wallach is also usually ridiculed by alopathic medico’s and called a lot of names that you can’t say in mixed company but I know who’s telling the truth. Its dificult to not sound like a crachpot. I thank him for persistence in getting the message to the plebisites, as the established medical profession will not tell you a thing about this life saving information. In fact anybody that promotes alternative medicine is not allowed to make claims or say the word “cure”, “heal”, even though it is exactly what it does. It’s absolutely criminal and fraudulent to suppress legitimate medical information to the people because of vested business interests. Someone has to standup and say something  when the establishment is wrong about too much.  Regards Peter Sen nesp50@yahoo.com.au Aug 2008

To keep your cat healthy a majority of time, all you really need to do is give him good shelter, food, and plenty of water. Like other living things however, cats can get sick from time to time no matter what you do.  

As a cat owner, you’ll want to ensure that you feed your cat only the best. Premium cat food is the ideal for cats, as the food is designed to keep your pet happy and healthy. You’ll also need to pay attention to his behavior, so you’ll know when he’s sick and when to take him to the vet. Most of the more common ailments and sicknesses are minor, although there are some cases where a vet can be the determining factor between life and death for your cat.

Your cat’s behavior will be one of the most critical factors when you are trying to determine whether or not he is under the weather. Acting sluggish, laying around all the time, lack of energy and not eating are all signs that you need to take him to the vet immediately. His coat is also a good thing to watch as well. If you notice his coat dull and patchy or notice him shedding abnormally, you should contact your vet as soon as you possibly can.

Diarrhea and vomiting are sometimes common, even with basic sickness. On the other hand, if your cat seems to be doing either one of the two for more than a day, you should contact your veterinarian. Coughing is common as well, simply because coughing will cats dislodge hairballs. If your cat seems to be coughing for another reason, you should have him checked out as soon as possible.

To ensure that your cat isn’t subjected to various diseases, you should always make sure that he stays up do date with his vaccinations. There are several diseases out there that require vaccinations, including rabies and feline distemper. Feline distemper is one of most devastating diseases a cat can get, yet it is also one of the easiest to prevent as well. The disease strikes cats very fast, and leaves you as an own very little time to seek treatment.

Feline leukemia is another disease that is very deadly, yet can be prevented early on with the proper vaccinations. Although the disease isn’t possible for humans to contract, it can be spread quickly among cats. There are vaccinations that can treat the disease these days, although you’ll still want to be careful and not expose other cats around a cat you know has feline leukemia.

Another problem, which is very common with cats that stay outdoors, is worms. Cats that have worms will normally have a lackluster coat and little to no appetite.  There are several different types of worms, including ringworm and hookworm. Worms can come from fleas, lice, or even the organs of dead rodents that cats consume. Normally, the cat will digest the eggs which will later mature and attach themselves to the walls of the intestines. If you feed your cat garlic frequently during feedings, it can help to protect him against worms.

If you take care of your cat, chances are you’ll keep him healthy for years to come. You should always make sure he has quality food, and doesn’t miss any of his scheduled checkups with the vet. If he gets the proper vaccinations when he is required to get them, he should be safe against numerous pests and diseases. Taking the proper steps with your cat now will prevent anything from happening in the future.

Are you aware of the wide range of common household items and products that can be hazardous to your dog’s health? Although it is not all-inclusive, this article is intended to help you recognize some of the common hazards found in the home.

Cleaning Products

Household cleaning products should be safely stored and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Product labels usually include warning statements such as “keep children and pets away from the area until it is completely dry”. Cleaning products containing chlorine bleach can cause chemical burns when skin contact is made. If swallowed the effects can be deadly. Stomach pain, vomiting, excessive drooling and vomiting are typical symptoms when these products are ingested.

To eliminate accidents with household cleaning products it is important to keep them in the original packaging if the packaging can be securely re-sealed. Containers that cannot be re-sealed should be discarded after transferring the contents to a properly labeled container that can be securely closed.

Insecticides and Herbicides

Keep flea and tick control products, intended for external use only, well out of your dog’s reach to avoid over exposure or ingestion. These products contain poisonous chemicals that can be very harmful to your pet if applied improperly.

Mouse and rat poisons must be kept well sealed and in a secure location out of your dog’s reach. These compounds, if swallowed, can cause serious organ injury and may be lethal.

Gardening chemicals (herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides, etc.) must also be used safely in order to ensure your dog’s health. When applied to lawns, keep all pets away from the treated area until it is considered safe according to the manufacturers directions. Lawn and garden chemicals that stick to your dog’s paws may cause severe skin reactions. If the dog later licks his paws the chemicals may be ingested.

Human Foods Dogs Should Avoid

The following foods can be hazardous for dogs. No matter how much he begs for a “treat”, these foods should never be given to your dog:

Chocolate, Yeast Dough, Chewing Gum, Persimmons, Grapes/Raisins, Alcohol, Onions, Coffee & Grounds, Tea, Potato Peelings,  Nutmeg, Mushrooms, Garlic, Avocados, Nuts, Salt, Raw Eggs or Fish, Most Bones, Baking Soda/Powder, and Sugar Free Foods Containing Xylitol.

Keep household garbage in securely closed trash cans. For some reason dogs seem to find garbage in plastic trash bags absolutely irresistible and they can easily rip them open in search of “goodies”. However, rotting food can be harboring nasty bacteria and molds that could cause your dog to suffer from food poisoning.

Health & Beauty Products

Unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so, never give your dog medications that are used to treat humans. To avoid accidental poisoning, keep all medicine in tightly closed, secured containers well away from your pooch. Particularly hazardous over-the-counter medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, antihistamines, cold medicines, vitamins, diet pills, and topical creams/ointments.

Health and beauty products found in most bathrooms, such as toothpaste, nail care products, skin lotions, and even some scented soaps can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting. Also, since dogs seem to love to drink from toilet bowls, keep those lids closed. Harsh chemicals used in toilet bowl cleaners may be hazardous for your dog.

Toxic Plants

Some plants typically found in homes and in the yard can be hazardous to a dog’s health. A few of the common plants that may be dangerous include:

Schefflera, Lilies, Tulip and Narcissus Bulbs, Oleander, Azalea, Hydrangea, Hibiscus, Cyclamen, Yew, Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Pothos, Rhododendron, English Ivy, Sago Palm, and Chrysanthemum

The ASPCA provides a very useful data base of plants, both toxic and non-toxic, on their website. As it is searchable, it is easy to use and will help to identify plants in your home than can be dangerous. The data base can be found at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

Miscellaneous Household Hazards

–  Ethylene glycol antifreeze and coolants can be fatal, even is very small quantities. Although less toxic, propylene glycol antifreeze can still be dangerous.

–  Paints and Solvents

–  Small objects that fall on the floor can be easily swallowed by a curious dog.  Such items as coins, small toys, jewelry, screws, nails, buttons, batteries, etc. may result in internal injuries and may require surgery to remove them.

–  Mothballs can be toxic to dogs particularly those containing naphthalene. They can result in blood cell damage, swelling of brain tissue, seizures, coma, and even death.  

–  Strings, ribbons, and similar items can damage your dog’s intestines and could be fatal if not surgically removed.

–  Tobacco Products

–  Electrical cords should be covered and blocked to prevent access. Chewing on a live wire could prove deadly.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG IS POISONED

Do Not Delay!  Speedy action is critical for the treatment of accidental poisoning. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-425-4435. Be ready to state your dog’s age, weight, breed, and any symptoms observed. Have the product container or a sample of the plant with you so that the poison can be properly identified and an appropriate treatment can be prescribed.