Tag Archives: general care

Assisting Companion Animals With Loss

Posted on by

0

sad

This gallery contains 1 photo.

When animals live together with humans and other pets, natural bonds form to develop a close family unit. The human/animal family functions as a pack and settles into a routine. Many times this routine facilitates a positive environment and creates … Continue reading →

Hospice Care for Companion Animals

Posted on by

1

joints

This gallery contains 1 photo.

When a loved one is ill, in pain, and needs consistent medical care, many times hospice care is the answer for allowing that person to live out the rest of their life comfortably. This option is also available for pets … Continue reading →

The Importance of Building a Pet Library

Posted on by

0

[photo credit]

*This article was also published on My Pet Savings in 2011

If your family includes a furry friend, it is important to stay on top of their needs. This includes feeding, watching for signs and symptoms of possible health issues, and illness prevention. When you bring your pet into your home, or if you have a pet and don’t yet have any books on their care, it is time to start building a small reference library in order to stay on top of their needs.

If you are wondering where to start, make a list of concerns you may have over the lifetime of your pet. For example, if you have a breed that is prone to cancer, like a Golden Retriever or Boxer, a book on cancer prevention and treatment, such as The Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer by Shawn Messonnier, DVM, and Russell L. Blaylock, M.D., will be a handy addition to your bookshelf. If you love bettas, having a general guide like Betta: Your Happy Healthy Pet by John H. Tullock is a book to consider.

In addition to specific needs, having a whole health guide is essential. Do the research and look around at a variety of books. Read book reviews before buying to make sure you are getting a well-written guide, and consider your approach to pet wellness. If you are a proponent of holistic remedies, make sure your general health book fits that guideline. If you are looking for a strict veterinarian’s point of view, choose a book that is written by a veterinarian, and do research on the author before making a final decision. Browsing the local library is a great way to research several books before purchasing one.

Consider adding a cookbook and a first aid guide to your animal library as well. Cooking for your pet, even if it is only a few times per week or just treats, can cut serious costs compared to buying expensive pre-packaged treats that sometimes aren’t even healthy. A first aid guide will help you in an emergency when you can’t get to the vet in a timely manner, and might even safe your pet’s life in the long run.

Recommended reading:

Hound Health Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy, and Active by Betsy Brevitz

The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care by Anitra Frazier and Norma Eckroate

The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat by Martin Goldstein, DVM

The First Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats by Amy D. Shojai

Animal Centric Podcasts

Posted on by

0

[photo credit]

Are you an avid listener of podcasts, or maybe just looking for something new? Podcasts are a great way to learn about something new. Check out these animal-centric podcasts available for free download on iTunes!

Pet Life Radio: The Pet Doctor- This weekly discussion is hosted by Dr. Bernadette Cruz, who is a veterinarian in Laguna Hills, California. Dr. Cruz has been featured nationally on the Discovery Channel and A&E. Episodes range from 30-40 minutes in length, and often feature experts in the veterinary field. Recent episodes include “Aquariumania” and “The Secret Sex Life of Dogs and Cats”. Pet Life Radio also has numerous other podcasts available about all things pets!

Animal Wise Radio: Animal Wise Radio is available twenty-four hours a day, live streaming from the website, and available for download from iTunes. This popular podcast features a weekly conversation with No Kill Nation activist, Nathan Winograd.

Victoria Stillwell Positively Podcast: This podcast only has fifteen episodes, but it looks like it is being updated regularly again after a year off. Victoria Stillwell is a well-known dog trainer and star of “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet. In the podcast, Stillwell discusses several dog-related topics, includes quizzes, YouTube clips, and addresses questions from listeners.

Dogs in Danger Radio Hour- Although the Dogs in Danger Radio Hour is now off the air, a year’s worth of podcasts are available through iTunes. Hosts Alex Aliksanyan and Brenda Bush explore topics like vaccinations, leash laws, and breed specific legislation.

Do you have a favorite podcast about animals? Share it in the comments!

Assessing Your Pet’s Quality of Life

Posted on by

0

How do we know when it’s “time”? This question is one that most pet parents have been faced with already, or will someday down the line. Most habits are bound to change with time and age, and it is important to take note of these behaviors. Discovering trends in your pet’s daily routine are one way to gauge whether or not there is a problem, especially at the end of life. Some details to include are:

  • Play time: how a dog chases a ball or wrestles with siblings or humans
  • Enthusiasm for walks
  • Visibility- is the pet retreating to a private place more often?
  • Greeting people
  • Ability to get outside before an accident in the house
  • Tail wagging
  • Vocalization trends (especially in cats- if they are louder than usual, something might be wrong)
  • Grooming habits (more or less may signify a problem)
  • Activity levels
  • Changes in food consumption (not eating or drinking is a problem)

One thing that might help determine when it’s time to let go is when your pet can’t do a certain activity anymore. An example of this would be if your pet always walked to the same spot in the yard to urinate, but reached a point where he couldn’t walk that far anymore. If there are several activities your pet can no longer do, it might be time to say goodbye.

If your pet is unhappy, you will sense it and observe it by looking for new behaviors that imply the end might be near. Nobody can make the decision to end a faithful friend’s life except for you. While it isn’t an easy decision, keeping in mind what is best for your pet should be at the top of your list when it comes to determining their quality of life.

Caring for Turtles

Posted on by

0

[photo credits: Lauren Taylor photography]

It’s hard not to love baby turtles, but like taking care of any pet, turtles have their own unique needs. When adopting a turtle to add to your family, there are many steps that need to be taken to ensure the turtle lives a long and healthy life. While they aren’t complicated to care for, turtles have some necessities.

One of the most basic needs a turtle has is the environment in which they will live. Petturtle.com states:

Making sure a turtle has enough room to live in, making sure it has enough light, shade, and moisture, clean water, and a basking lamp are just a few of the steps you need to undertake to keep your pet turtles healthy.

In an ideal situation, a turtle will live in a tank that is at least 40 gallons in size, with both water and land sides to spend time in. A place for it to bask under a sun lamp is a must. The temperature should be around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Tap water should be avoided, or filtered if used for the tank. Ideally, natural filtered spring water will be used to fill it. Don’t forget to keep the tank clean and replace the water as often as necessary to provide a healthy environment for the turtle. Turtle tanks should also include a spot for hiding, in case they get tired of being out in the open all the time and need a place to chill out.

Be sure to do research on feeding. While it depends on what kind of turtle you have, most turtles eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, with some proteins like crickets and slugs. The Turtle Puddle has an excellent article that is detailed in what turtles should eat, and what they need. It is especially important to note what they should not eat:

Reptiles do not utilize milk products at any stage of their lives, and lack the enzymes to break down lactose. So do not feed cheese, yogurt, or other dairy products to your turtles.
Canned and other processed foods often are very high in salt and other preservatives. The effects of these things are not fully known, but they would not be part of a natural diet. It would be prudent to limit their use.
Avoid candy, chocolates, breads, and any other refined sugars and flours, or other highly processed food-like products.

Turtles can make wonderful companions when cared for properly, and have long life spans. Because this, think of turtles as a serious commitment! Red-eared sliders can live up to seventy years! This is just one of the reasons the turtle makes such an excellent small pet.