Dog & Cat Nervousness - Natural Treatments

The 4th of July is around the corner. Many dogs and cats can't take the sound of fireworks. The sound is both threatening and frightening. I have a neighbor who refused, long after 4th of July was over, to stop setting off firecrackers at night. My dog became terrified to go outside to relieve herself. She tried to hold it all night rather than go out in the dark and hear fireworks. She was terrified. Finally, I went over to my neighbor and told him what happened and also that people who work can't sleep. I asked him to follow the law and only set off fireworks on 4th of July during appointed times. He finally agreed. However, it took nearly a year for my dog to go outside at nighttime again. If you have neighbors that refuse to stop, call the police department as ask them to make a call. They may be more effective.

Car rides can also be traumatic. Some dogs are very nervous weather it's a short trip to the store or a long journey. My Basset Hound barks continuously but eventually settles down. I think he may fear being abandoned. He has taken car rides in his life where he was given to a new owner. Now he has a forever home and loves where he is at. I try to take him to the store, for rides, to the park. Someday he may trust that he will always go home with me; to his forever home.

Even at home on 4th of July and New Years dogs are very nervous. I have learned to help my pets by doing the following:

• Play relaxing music. I prefer classical music. It works best for for my dogs and cats.
• Play the TV a little louder to drown out the sound of the fireworks. Try not to watch a program where there may be gunshots as that is as frightening to your pets.
• Close windows if you can to cut down on the noise.
• Staying home with them to help calm them if possible. Hold them, speak in a calming voice to them.
• Try using Comfort Zone which is clinically proven to help control stress related behaviors like travelling, vet visits, loud noises (thunderstorms & fireworks), hyperactivity, etc. You plug it into your wall and it releases dog appeasing pheromones that have a calming effect. To read about and purchase this product go to EverythingNaturalPetFood.com on the Wellness Care page and click on Behavior Problems. You will find several calming products along with Comfort Zone.
• Another product recommended for dogs & cats anxiety problems is Animals' Apawthecary Tranquility Blend. Active Ingredients are all natural, organic & herbal: Valerian root, Skullcap herb extract, Passion flower (ethically wild crafted) and Oat flowers. To read about and purchase this product go to EverythingNaturalPetFood.com on the Wellness Care page and click on Herbal Treatments.

Take time and look through the large assortment of natural, organic, holistic products for pets with various nervous or anxiety conditions. Everything you need is here. However, if your pets condition may be physiological, then don't hesitate to take them to the vet for a professional diagnosis. There is always the possibility there may be a more serious condition which may need veterinary treatments. However , for all your source of home pet wellness care products go to EverythingNatualPetFood.com for the largest selection of natural, organic, holistic, herbal, homeopathic products.

Summer Tips for Pets

Gardening is a summer passion for many pet owners. Poisons in gardening products can make your pet seriously ill and at worse cause death. Cocoa Mulch is one such product. It has been out for years. It smells like chocolate and some dogs will eat it. It causes seizures and death. The harmful ingredient is "Theo bromine" and comes from cocoa bean shells. Check the labels of your garden mulch for this ingredient and don't use it if your pets will wander around the yard where you mulch.

Other products to be aware of are slug poison, rat poison, ant poison, weed poison, insect poison and other toxic garden items. If you spray it, keep pets away for a while to be safe. A friend of mine bought slug poison. She asked the clerk at the store if it would be harmful to her dogs. The lady, who must have wanted the sale badly, said, "No, of course not, it's safe." My friends dog ate the slug poison and almost died. Fortunately, she was rushed to the vets and saved. Read labels and if it doesn't say safe for pets, assume it isn't safe. If you search the internet, you can find recipes for natural pet insecticides and fertilizers that are not harmful to pets or wild life. That is a much better solution than poison.

Check out plants before you purchase them. Different plants may be toxic to your dog, cat, horse, etc. If you think your pet may have eaten a poisonous plant or toxic poison, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 1-888-426-4435, Massachusetts SPCA 1-877--226-4355, ww.smspca.org, PROSTAR International Poison Control Center 1-888-232-8870. Check you area now, before a tragedy hits, and see if there is an Animal Poison Control Center near your home. Post these phone numbers with your families other emergency numbers.

If you know your pet swallowed something poisonous, you need to get to a vet. First you want to make sure they have thrown up. They may have already done this. Do not make the pet vomit if he is in a stupor, unconscious, convulsing, or having very heavy breathing.

To induce vomit, give dogs a 3% mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide to water. One teaspoon for each 10 pounds the dog weighs. They can receive this up to three times, 15 to 20 minuets apart and walk the dog between doses.

Syrup of Ipecac can be used but is not as effective as Hydrogen Peroxide for dogs. Call the poison control and your vet and get them to the vets office as soon as possible.

Heat stroke is a big risk in the summer heat. Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh water at all times. Don't leave them locked in a hot car. Cars left in the sun can be 20 to 30 degrees hotter inside the car, especially if the windows are rolled up. Don't take pets to the store and leave them in the parking lot. If the temperature is high, leave them home and keep them safe. Make sure pets have shelter and shade when outside to protect them from hot direct sunlight.

Heat stroke is a real risk and can cause death. Dog don't have pores to sweat and cool off like people do. They cool off by panting and a tiny bit through their paws. Heat is harder for them to handle than it is for their human owners. Call your vet right away if you pet has been exposed to high heat.

Signs of heat stroke are:

• heavy breathing and panting
• tongue and mucus membranes are bright red
• a lot of thick saliva
• vomiting
• unsteady
• passes bloody diarrhea
• as the dog goes into shock the mucus membranes turn gray
• collapsing pet will go into seizures and death takes place

This is a serious emergency. Treatment you can give is take measures to cool the pet off. Put into an air conditioned area. Place in cool tap water (not ice water) for a few minuets. If you have a room fan, put the wet pet in front of the fan. Cool packs can be used on the groin. Keep the paws wiped with cool water. If you have a rectal thermometer, take the temperature every few minuets until the temperature is 103 degrees or lower. Then the pet is safe. Dry them off and keep them out of heat for 24 hours while they recover from their experience. It is advisable to take them to a vet right away as there are other complications from heat stroke that a vet should check.

Advice on these topics and more are found the the "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" and can be purchased at EverythingNaturalPetFood.com in the pet education book section. Everyone should have a book like this on hand for dogs, cats, or horses because you never know what emergency you may have to deal with in the future.

Weight loss is a good thing to help your pets with so they can be healthier and enjoy the summer. I recommend you feed them a natural, human grade, organic, holistic dog or cat food that is high in protein and low in fat. One that is developed for overweight pets. EVO makes an excellent natural high protein dog food. Here are the details:

Ingredients:

Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Herring Oil, Natural Flavors, Egg, Tomatoes, Apples, Carrots,Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins/Minerals, Dried Chicory Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract

Guaranteed Analysis %:
Protein 52
Fat 15.5
Moisture 10
Fiber 2.5

Extra Information:Calories 1643 Kcal/lb Calories 3615 Kcal/Kg Calories 440 KCals/Cup

EVO also makes canned and dry cat foods that are as equally impressive as far as natural human grade ingredients. Try some and see the difference at EverythingNaturalPetFood.com.

Treatment of Dog & Cat Ear Infections

There are several types of ear problems with dogs that need veterinary care and follow up care and treatment by you the owner. There are ear mites, which are common in cats as well as dogs. Your vet can easily diagnose ear mites and start the treatments. Treatments are usually successful if you diligently follow the vets treatment directions.

Minor ear problems and irritations to the ear tissues can also be successfully treated. It is the chronic ear infections that are painful to the pet and frustrating to the pet owner that need some extra diligence. I have a Basset Hound with very long ears (seen above). Long eared dogs, like my Goober, can have reoccurring ear infections. If your dog has this problem, you know when they start scratching their ears repeatedly, it's time to get them to the vet.

These problems can also be caused by flea allergy, food allergy, or bacteria. Of course if you have fleas, you need to start on flea treatments right away for the pet as well as for your home. Food allergy can be caused by some of the toxic substances in some dog foods. It is important for you to change to a natural, human grade, organic, or holistic dog or cat food.

Some of these natural pet foods are made specifically for allergies. There are several excellent choices at http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/NaturalDogFoods.html including Natural Planet Organics dog food. Goober loves it and hasn't had any ear problems since eating this food.

Vets usually give you a prescription medication for ear infections to be applied inside the ear. You then need to rub the base of the ear to work the medication down into the ear canal. You will usually be advised to use an ear wash on a regular basis after healing takes place to keep the debris cleaned out and reduce the chance of further infections.

Go to http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/PetWellnessCare.html

and click on "Ear" and you will find several excellent ear washes and other ear care products. I particularly like the Ear Cleanser with Aloe Vera. It cleans, dries, deodorizes, acidifies the tissues. Another good product is "Sulfodene Ear Cleaner Antiseptic for Dogs & Cats" which also helps to reduce the chance of further infection. Never use alcohol or harsh cleansers which are not only painful but irritate the already injured tissue.

Ear wash is applied by squirting a bit down the ears and rubbing the base of the ears. Then let your dog shake it out. Take a "Bio-Groom Ear Care Pad"and clean all visible debris from the ear and skin folds in the ear. This should be done twice a week to keep ears clean and ear odor down. Never poke a cotton swab stick down the ear or you could puncture the eardrum. Very serious. In fact, ask your vet to make sure your dogs eardrums are not punctured before using ear dryer. It could cause more serious problems if it gets in the inner ear and is never used on pets with punctured eardrums.

An excellent product for cats is "Lambert Kay Ear-Rite Miticide for Cats & Kittens" which kills ear mites and contains natural Aloe Vera to sooth and help heal.

There are other conditions of the ear. If you see any unusual signs of ear problems get to the vet. It's better safe than sorry! I also like to look up information to educate myself and keep some dog and cat manuals on health care. Some good ones for your pet care education are:

• Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
• Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
• The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat
• Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats : Your A-Z Guide to Over 200 Conditions, Herbs, Vitamins, and Supplements
• Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
• Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs
• Complete Holistic Dog Book: Home Health Care for Our Canine Companions
• Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs
• The Veterinarians' Guide to Your Dog's Symptoms
• What's Wrong with My Dog?
• Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats

You can find all these and many more wonderful educational pet care books at http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/PetEducationBooks.html and click on the "Pet Wellness Care" on the right side of the page. There are many pages of excellent books for you to browse through. As with all pet health care, you need to know where there is a good pet, have some good book resources to refer to, and have the proper first aide products available.

Also, if you have an emergency preparedness kit for your family, don't forget to include everything your pets will need also. Take the ear medications and other items to keep the ears in good condition if you are forced to leave your home or even be confined to your home.

Everything Natural for Cats

Oh the marvelous creature called cat. So loving, so mysterious, and the best companion you could ever ask for. They definitely are in charge of the house including keeping the dogs in line. They stay with you when you're sick, they know when something is wrong. They rejoice at the new addition called "baby" in the family and show a loving protective nature. The keep the mice at bay along with any moths hanging around the lights. What would we do if we ever had to watch TV without our lap cats? I don't know. The playful antics of kittens keep us entertained for hours. They are so very special to us and they deserve very special care. Today is dedicated to some special products for the deserved care of our beloved cats.

Book review: "Real Food for Cats" by Patti Delmonte has 50 vet-approved recipes to please cats. If you want to cook special food for your cats, this is it. Everything is natural, human grade, safe and delicious. You might ask kitty to share a bite with you; it's really tasty! Here are some of the recipes:

• Tabby Tuna Popsicles
• Meow-Va-Lous Mackerel Munchies
• Mmmmm Meaty Cookies
• Trout Treats
• You Gotta Have Sole
• Tuna Cakes
• Sardines & Rice
• Fabulous Fish Tacos
• Meowshi Sushi
• Beef Stroganoff
• Shish Kebab
• Cordon Bleu

And for kitties with very special diet needs there is:

• Allergy Diet
• Soft, Bland Diet
• Reducing Diet
• Feline Kidney Diet
• Restricted Mineral Diet

This book has helpful information for urinary stoppages, feeding guide for cats on a restricted mineral diet, feeding guide for cats on a kidney supportive diet, information on impaired liver and kidney function, special obesity information, delicate intestine information, and special information on allergies.

The author has six cats and an award winning artist, Anne Davis, created the adorable cat sketches in the book. This is a must have for cat owners and is available at http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/PetEducationBooks.html on the second page. Do you need a gift for a cat owner friend? This is it.

Kitty Foods: Kitty deserves natural, human grade, organic, holistic cat food; both canned and dry. This is important because many commercial grade pet foods still include very unhealthy ingredients that over time can cause sickness or even worse. Many pet food companies have taken a stand and created totally natural pet food that you can rely on for excellent nutrition. These kitty foods are available at: http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/Natural_Cat_Food.html . You will find an excellent variety to choose from. If your kitty has special needs, the foods are here to accommodate those needs. Here are a few to start with:

• Newman's Own Organics Advanced Active or Senior Formula
• Wellness Complete Health - for moderate activey
• Wellness Healthy Weight Formula - for overweight or sedentary lifestyles
• Halo Spot's Stew Wholesome Turkey Sensitive Formula - easy to digest
• Halo Spot's Stew Wild Salmon Indoor Formula - indoor cats
• Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula with Roasted Venison & Smoked Salmon - easy to digest
• Back to Basics Chicken Dry Cat Food - Feline Urological Syndrome support
• Artemis Holistic Chicken Canned Cat Food - supports natural healing process
• California Naturals - no known allergens in the food ingredients
• Feline Caviar Chicken with Pink Salmon Cat Dry Food - good for nursing cats and prevents struvite urinary crystals
• AvoDerm Natural Chicken & Herring Meal Formula Indoor with Hairball Care - for the needs of your indoor cat with hairball formula

Natural Cat Wellness Care: Having products available when you need them for the right conditions is a must to any cat owner. You can find everything you need at http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/PetWellnessCare.html. Products are categorized by condition, body part, or category so it is easy for you to find what you need. For instance, click hairballs and you will be taken to a page with 20 products for hairball treatment. Or look under Product category to find holistic, herbal, flower essences, or homeopathic natural remedies. Does your cat have kidney problems? Click "Kidney" and find four natural products to assist in your cats treatments.

Remember, none of these products are meant to replace good veterinarian care. If your cat is sick see a vet. That is important.

Cat Health Insurance: Does your cat need cat health insurance? Absolutely yes! There are so many emergencies in life and it only takes one that can cost big dollars and risk your cat's life. For a few dollars a month, you can purchase health insurance that helps to cover much of the expense and give the necessary veterinary care. I have know so many people that couldn't afford those emergencies and sadly put their pet to sleep instead. Wouldn't you prefer to have the resources to restore your cat to health? Look at the health insurance on http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/PetWellnessCare.html . It really is affordable.

Cat Rx Prescriptions: Does your cat have reoccurring or ongoing conditions that require prescription medications? If so, you can order your prescriptions and have them sent to your home when you need them. Click http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/SalesCoupons.html , then click "National Pet Pharmacy 10% off entire order code PERNPP30" and you'll receive 10% off your order.

Everything Natural Pet Food is dedicated to bring you the best natural, human grade, organic, holistic cat food and other products for the supreme care of our special felines. We are blessed with them in our lives and caring for them is a pleasure and expression of our love. Enjoy your cats and may they live a very long, healthy, and happy life.