Natural Pet Health

What are some of the most common heart and circulation conditions in pets?

* Heart Murmur
* High cholesterol
* High blood pressure
* Thickening of the heart muscle
* Heart Failure
* Irregular pulse
* Anemia

What symptoms should we look out for

* Tiring more easily than normal
* Low pitched deep cough
* Labored breathing
* Coughing during the night or after exercise
* Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen
* Bluish look to the tongue and gums
* Excessive weight loss

What is the conventional treatment?

Conventional treatment usually involves medication including diuretics which are used to control the sodium and water retention that accompanies Heart Failure; vasodilators which are used to lower blood pressure and digoxin and related drugs which help the heart beat more efficiently

What are the alternatives?

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I’m afraid of heard the same story too many times. “My rabbit has Diarrhea and won’t eat.” “My rabbit died all of a sudden. What happened?” Often the rabbit in question is too young to be away from it’s mother.

Let’s look at the early life of a rabbit to understand what is going on. A rabbit is conceived and born just 31 days later. It is born blind, deaf, and hairless. In warm weather, the baby rabbit will stay in the nest for just two weeks; three weeks in cold weather. Then it will nurse for a few more weeks.

Although some breeders remove the mother when the babies are 5 weeks old, I prefer to see them nurse until at least 7 weeks. If left together, a mother rabbit will often nurse the babies for much longer.

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There are many websites on the Internet that provide access to Dog Treat recipes. Many of these recipes are excellent resources for providing your dogs with healthy treats that are affordable and nutritious. As with any information that you find on the Internet, however, you should do quite a bit of your own research before using any of the Dog Treat recipes.

This research should include ensuring that each of the ingredients is not harmful to your dog. This is necessary because many ingredients that we would not consider harmful could cause irreversible health problems and even fatalities in dogs.

Raisins are one example of an ingredient that should be avoided in Dog Treat recipes. Both grapes and raisins have been known to cause renal failure in dogs. Although one or two grapes may not be cause for concern, these products should be avoided in dog treat recipes and you should seek veterinary intervention if your dog ingests either grapes or raisins.

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Choosing the appropriate Toys will make your small dog’s play time richer, while lessening his chance of accidental injury. Safe Toys for your small dog can be purchased from pet supply stores or even made from household items, but it’s good to keep these few main safety concerns in mind.

Size Matters With Small Dog Toys

In general, small dog toys should never be small enough to fit entirely in your dog’s mouth, or be capable of being broken into smaller pieces that can stick in his throat. A dog toy that’s too small can easily bounce back in your dog’s mouth and obstruct his windpipe, meaning he could suffocate to death if you aren’t in the immediate area to intervene! Sadly, this has happened to more than one dog. For that reason, small smooth balls just aren’t the best choice for most dogs.

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By making your own dog bones you are providing your pet with wholesome food and are assured that you are not feeding them animal byproducts of unknown origin. Keep your eyes out for dog bone cookie cutters; they are frequently sold in kitchen supply stores.

* 2 cups whole wheat flour
* 1/3 cup corn meal
* 1/2 cup soy flour
* 1/2 cup ground seeds
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon linseed oil (available in health food stores)
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
* 2 eggs
* 1/4 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix to blend. Add the liquid ingredients. Stir, adding more milk if necessary to make a ball that can be kneaded and rolled out on a cutting board. Roll out dough, and cut out dog bone shapes using a cookie cutter or knife.

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What causes FurBalls?

Cats are avid groomers and seem to spend hours preening and licking themselves. Unfortunately this usually means that they end up swallowing a lot of loose fur which accumulates in their stomach to form matted lumps called FurBalls.

These are usually either vomited out or emitted with their feces. Problems arise however if the cat’s Digestive System is weak or if their nutrition is inadequate as the FurBalls may remain inside the cat and act as a cork causing a number of problems including Constipation, recurrent Vomiting and a build up of toxins.

What is FurBall Dr.?

PetAlive FurBall Dr. has been specifically formulated for cats who suffer from furball problems and contains a combination of selected Herbs and homeopathic ingredients to help with Digestion and elimination, thereby preventing the distressing problems associated with furballs.

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You can make a bug repellent pillow for a cat or dog by adding equals amounts of Lavender flowers, Cedarwood chips and Pennyroyal herb (NOT THE OIL), to the stuffing of a pillow or small homemade pet mattress.

If you are substituting Essential Oils for the dried Herbs, us ONLY 5 drops TOTAL to pillow or mattress and again AVOID PENNYROYAL OIL. I know that Pennyroyal oil is used in many animals recipes but I feel that it is too strong to be used directly on an animal.

Also AVOID using Citrus Oils. While they are an ingredient in many flea repellents, they are used highly diluted. I once witnessed a small kitten go into convulsions after an unsuspecting owner applied Orange oil to its fur.

I would not use pure Essential Oils on young kittens and dogs. I tend to use Homeopathy with my cats and seldom have the need to use Essential Oils on them.

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Most one-dog owners at one time or another will ponder the thought of getting a second dog. There are many reasons for doing so. Company for the number one dog is the most common answer, while many would agree two is twice as fun.

Are you ready?
You are the proud parent of one very wonderful dog. In fact, so happy you are ready to extend the family! Before heading out on your search for number two there are a few questions you need to ask first.

Is your dog bored?
Boredom in dogs is a common problem for obtaining a second mate. Our canine friends are pack animals. Just like humans, they need company, socialising, mental and physical stimulation and all the care and treatment required to keep them happy and healthy.

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Read more about The Dog Whisperer: Beginning and Intermediate Dog Training

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The television series “Lassie” made Lassie the beloved symbol for Collies in America. Your new Collie puppy won’t measure up to the wonder dog, but you’ll most likely find him a wonderful family dog.

The Family Protector

The Collie was originally bred to herd sheep, and still has a strong protective instinct, which makes them an excellent choice for a family dog. The American Kennel Club classifies the Collie as part of the Herding Group. These dogs weigh 55 to 80 pounds and stand 22 to 26 inches tall.

The Collie is strong and graceful and has lots of endurance. This dog’s almond shaped eyes seem to sparkle with intelligence, whether they are brown or blue in color. The Collie’s ears — 3/4 erect with 1/4 folded — make its appearance both alert and appealing. The Coat can be either rough or smooth. The rough Coat is longer and fuller than the smooth Coat. This breed can come in sable and white, tricolor (black, white and tan), or blue merle (tortoise shell) colors.

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