Pets Care

If you have dogs and they travel with you in the car you may want to try this carpet fresh.

1 Cup baking soda with 40 drops of essential oils.

Choose from Lemon, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Tea Tree, Litsea Cubea, Cedarwood and Patchouli. Mix together and sprinkle over carpet let sit overnight , then vacuum.

The essential oils will deoderize and help repel fleas.

This Daily Aromatherapy Tip is brought to you by http://www.AromaThyme.com/

Are you planning a trip? Are you taking your ferret along? Before you do, there are certain things that you must know. Traveling with a ferret is different than traveling with a cat or a dog.

First, if you are taking a car trip, your ferret will enjoy going, but he will have pent up energy that he needs to burn. Make sure that you bring along a harness and leash, and that you plan frequent stops for your ferret to ‘stretch his legs.’

Make sure that you bring along a small traveling cage (you won’t want him loose in the car), food, water, and a small litter box as well.

If you are traveling by air, note that not all airlines will transport a ferret, and your pet ferret may not be welcomed in all countries. In fact, even in the United States, there are laws against the possession of ferrets in some cities – even if you are just visiting. Make sure that you call the game and fish department of your destination city to be sure that your ferret is welcome.

Next, call the airline. Make sure that your ferret can travel on that airline, and inquire about anything that you may need to do to get your pet accepted for transport. If you are going to another country, make sure that you are aware of the laws regarding ferrets, and the laws regarding the admittance of any pet into the country.

As of this writing, pets are allowed in the cargo area of Luxair, Northwest Airlines, and Air Canada. They are allowed in the cabin on Delta Airlines. Ferrets are not welcome on Ryanair, Southwest Airlines, or US Airways.

Regarding import laws, your ferret will not be allowed to enter Australia or Japan. A ferret may be brought into Canada, as long as it is originating from the United States. Otherwise, a Permit to Import is required from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Ferrets are also allowed in Europe.

In the United States, ferrets are not allowed in Hawaii or California. Pets are not allowed in the cities of Washington D.C or New York City either. There are many other smaller cities that have ordinances against ferrets, and again, you should call ahead to find out what the law is before you travel with your ferret.

If you cannot bring your ferret along, you can contact your veterinarian about finding a kennel for your ferret while you are gone. Note, however, that any separation from you will upset your ferret, making him feel abandoned.

Take him with you if it is possible and if not, put him in his cage, and ask a trusted friend to come by daily to check on him – or ask them to stay at your house and ferret-sit. At least in this way, the ferret will remain in familiar surroundings, which is a great deal less stressful to him.

When traveling with your ferret, make sure that you inquire about the size of the carrier needed (for airlines), and carry your ferrets vaccination records with you, as well as medical records for any conditions that he might have, in case he needs emergency care.

While you may think that the hardest part of designing an aquarium is over the moment you have picked out the best looking and most practical tank; that was only just the beginning. From here on out, every little decision you make in regards to what types of flora and fauna you put in your tank will have an effect the lifecycle of the fish, plants and everything else in this miniaturized ecosystem.

From the plants to the coral to the size and density of the fish to what rocks and sand you use to how many invertebrates you accent your tank with – everything will affect everything else. For this reason, picking out the best plants for your tropical aquarium is of the utmost importance and should certainly not be taken lightly.

Since tropical aquariums are all salt water, you can start narrowing down your search for the perfect plants by eliminating all plants that are fresh water only. A great way to search for plants for a beginner aquarium lover is to narrow down the amount of plants little by little until there are just ten or twenty different options to choose from.

Another great way to shrink down the number of plants you can choose from is by look. There is no sense in choosing a plant with a look that you do not necessarily approve of, so be sure to cross a few plants off of your list that may not be what you are looking for. In the hunt for the perfect floral options, also look for plants that will be able to provide your tank with something special. Maybe a plant will be efficient at taking up carbon dioxide and can take some of the strain off of your gas exchanging pumps.

Alternatively, maybe another plant will be effective at fighting off algae growth and may also provide a secondary source of food for one or two species of your tropical fish. As you can see, there are certainly a variety of factors to consider when looking for a perfect plant for your tropical aquarium.

Perhaps the best way to find great information on aquatic plants of all sorts is the “Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants.” This book is heralded as a gold mine of information for people who are building their own aquariums. From fresh water to salt water plants, everything is covered and contains quick facts and photographs of each and every species of plant which you can buy for your tank.

Recommended by professional fish tank owners and first time builders alike – this book is a must read if you are at all interested in adding plants to your home aquarium. Along with the A to Z listing of plants, there is even a handy guide to help amateurs pick out the best and most hardy plants for the first time fish tank owner.

At less than twenty dollars for this amazing source of information, this book is necessary for anyone who has ever thought about adding plants to their tropical aquarium.

Just as you have a first aid kit in your home, and hopefully in your car, to help deal with minor emergencies that may occur with you and your family, you should also consider the unexpected needs of your guinea pig and either buy or create a guinea pig first aid kit, which commercially are called Cavy Kits.

A proper cavy kit will contain numerous items designed to help you and your guinea pig through emergencies. Guinea pigs actually can hurt themselves fairly easy, but it usually is minor, and with proper care, should heal quickly.

Your cavy first aid kit should contain a bottle of sterile eye wash. This is useful for removing debris from the eyes, and you will find that you use this more often than you may think. This is one item that is often overlooked when putting together a first aid kit. Benebac is also overlooked, but highly useful, in case your guinea pig ever has problems with digestion.

Because guinea pigs really depend on vitamin C for survival, you should keep sample packs of substances that are suitable for guinea pigs, which contain vitamin C. One such product is Oxbow, which has 50mg of vitamin C. Oxbow also offers sample packs for critical care, which can be hand fed to your guinea pig.

Electrolyte mix is also something that you should consider, in case your guinea pig becomes dehydrated. You may think that you take excellent care of your guinea pig, and that such things are not needed in a first aid kit, but you will have them, should the need for them ever arise.

A common guinea pig injury occurs when you clip his nails too close to the quick. This can quickly lead to infections, and it needs to be treated right away with an antiseptic. This isn’t easy to apply on guinea pigs, but if you use a Styptic Pencil, you will find that this does the trick nicely. You should also have a good supply of sterile gauze pads to cover any wounds. Include Telfa pads as well. Other good selections include iodine pads and sterile wipes.

Because this is a first aid kit for an animal, and not for humans, you should include vet wrap in your first aid kit. This is excellent for protecting wounds on animals. If you aren’t sure where to find vet wraps, look at your local pet store, or ask your veterinarian to order some for you.

Go to your local pharmacy, and purchase several syringes of different sizes. These make administering oral medications easier, in most cases, and can even be used to get water into your guinea pig if he becomes too ill to drink on his own.

Other items that you should include in your first aid kit include rubber gloves (not latex), cotton swabs, and contact information for your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may even be able to supply you with some basic first aid instructions that you can keep in your kit. As you use items in your first aid kit, make sure that you replace them as soon as possible.

The most important part about taking care of fish is cleaning the aquarium. If a person does not regularly clean the aquarium, the fish will get sick due to the amount of algae and bacteria that will build up in the water. Cleaning out the tank every other week will ensure the safety of the fish inside and will keep them healthy for a long time.

Never remove all the water from a tank. Turn off the filtration system and begin to siphon water from the bottom of the tank. Since most algae growth takes place on the sides and on the bottom of the tank, using a siphon system found at the pet store will remove algae but not the rocks or harm the fish.

Getting rid of algae involves scrapping the sides of the tank with a scrapper or razor blade. Do not use any harsh chemicals as they can harm the fish. This could take a while to scrap all the algae off the tank. Once this has been completed, remove the rest of the water until there is only half a tank of water left.

The next step is to clean the filtration system. Wipe the insides of all the parts and remove dead plants and algae from the catches in the filter. This will help when refilling the water to prevent debris from getting back into the tank. Thoroughly cleaning every part of the filter and tank will greatly improve the quality of the water. Refill the tank and turn on the filtration system again. The tank should be clean for another two weeks.

Depending on how old the tank is and how old the filtration system is, cleaning times for the tank will vary. In older tanks, cleaning less will preserve good bacteria that are used to eliminate waste and kill germs in the water. This type of build-up will only occur in older tanks. This is why it is recommended that the water in the tank only be removed by half when cleaning. This will help preserve the good bacteria in the tank.

Cleaning the fish tank when recommended is an activity that a fish owner should get into the habit of doing. When tank is clean, fish are happy. To keep a fish alive longer, it makes sense to clean the tank.

When a fish owner places live plants in the tank, these plants will eventually lose leaves which will start to decay either on the tank floor or in the filtration system. Blockage caused by too much decaying plants could cause the filtration system to malfunction. By cleaning it out every two weeks, the filtration system should always work.

Having fish is more of a responsibility that people realize. Cleaning the tank, providing good food, and plants to hide behind can be costly and also take up a person’s time. But for fish owners, this is a small price to pay for fish that will be around for a long time.

This month’s newsletter is chock full of great info!!

Read all of these here: http://www.naturalhealtharchive.com/

In This Issue:

* The Top 3 ::Herbs:: for ::Cholesterol:: Management
* ::Yoga:: for Mind and Body Improvements
* ::Herbal Medicine:: for Children
* Using ::Essential Oils:: with Children
* Is Taking Prescription Medication for ::Anxiety:: the Best Option?
* Natural Treatment for ::Anxiety::
* ::Stress:: Management Tip – Progressive Relaxation
* Natural Beauty Recipe & Beauty Tips Collection
* Herbal Preparation Methods
* Overview of ::Carrier Oils::
* ::Herbs:: for Your Dog
* Introducing a Kitten to Your Older Cat
* The Many Uses of ::Eucalyptus:: Oil
* Special Bath Recipes
* Herbal Tea Collection
* Natural Care of ::Burns:: and Scalds
* Free Colds & Flu Ebook
* Free Pet Health Ebook

Read all of these here: http://www.naturalhealtharchive.com/

Don’t forget – you can subscribe to this monthly newsletter here:

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention estimates that over the last decade, the number of overall bite injuries increased by 33%, and children are three times more likely to suffer an animal-inflicted injury than adults.

In addition, the attack is usually not the animal’s “fault”, but rather a dog or cat is provoked by a child’s naturally erratic, unpredictable behavior.

There are several tips that can help lessen the chance of biting:

1. Consider waiting to bring a pet into the household. Since most bites occur with very young children, it is often suggested to hold off until a child reaches approximately 4 years of age.
2. Evaluate pet and breed selection. By nature, some breeds display more aggressive tendencies. Never bring home a pet on impulse, and research behavior and suitability before adopting or buying a pet.
3. Monitor interactions between children and pets. Never leave an infant or small child alone with a pet, and be wary of potentially dangerous situations.
4. Socializing a pet immediately is very important. As soon as the pet enters the home, begin slowly by introducing him or her to encounters with your child. By gradually increasing exposure to different situations, it will learn to recognize and distinguish between “threatening” situations versus normal encounters.
5. Teach a child basic “rules” , such as to never disturb a pet that is sleeping, eating, or caring for its babies.
6. Consider professional or at-home training. Especially with dogs, learning basic commands can build lasting obedience behaviors and establish trust.
7. Practice holistic health. Maintaining optimal wellness minimizes erratic behavior. Just as in humans, how a pet feels directly correlates with its conduct.
8. Spay or neuter the pet.
9. Take the time to be a considerate, responsible pet owner. Studies show that animals left alone are a greater risk of developing behavior problems.
10. Regularly evaluate behavior. Stay alert to signs of illness, discomfort, or aggressiveness.

Monitoring pet behavior to avoid biting triggers

While a furry friend may usually make a great companion, they can sometimes act out of character with aggressive behavior—leading to nips, bites, and potentially even attacks. Often the underlying signs of aggression go unnoticed, but sometimes there are indicators… in any case, dog and cat bites are a serious problem.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 800,000 dog bite victims require medical attention in the United States annually, while countless more go unreported and/or untreated. Cat bites are not as frequently reported, but an estimated 700,000 people a year are thought to be bitten. However, almost half of all cat bites become infected… making both dog and cat bites worthy causes of concern!

Although Mother Nature may inexplicably interfere with a pet’s behavior at times, there are luckily many precautions to take that can minimize the risk of biting.

Unknowingly (or perhaps just unwisely) some owners actually encourage aggression in their dogs, or allow signs of aggressive behavior to go unchecked. Self-monitoring of a pet is one of the biggest steps toward bite prevention.

Biting Behaviors in Dogs

As biting is a part of basic aggressive dog behavior (arising from an innate attribute of dogs to dominate a pack), it is necessary to determine whether this behavior has been initiated as a result of an interaction with the dog, or whether it is just an inherent trait that must be controlled using training methods.

In many cases, dog biting arises out of fear or when a dog finds himself in an inescapable situation. If this behavior is not corrected in its early stages, dog aggression may reach unmanageable proportions.

Young puppies are prone to biting, but this should not be ignored as playful behavior, as any biting can develop into aggression. Young puppies may also feel compelled to bite due to teething. Their mouths need stimulation, which is provided by biting. In such cases, provide chew sticks and bones for the puppy to chew on.

Properly socializing puppies is also important, allowing the dog to familiarize itself with normal interaction situations– thus lessening the chance of feeling uncomfortable or scared.

Other common causes of dog biting include sickness or physical discomfort. Healthy dogs do not normally bite humans, but the potential still exists. If a dog is prone to biting humans or neighboring animals, the best course of action is to first get him checked for any underlying disease.

Older dogs do tend to have more physical discomfort associated with normal aging, which can lead to “snappy” behavior. Consulting a veterinarian is the right way to rule out medical conditions that are causing discomfort.

Cats That Bite

Unlike dog aggression, feline aggression for the most part is a playful activity. Cats seldom indulge in aggression without provocation, but they are likely to react aggressively if provoked too much.

Unlike dogs, a fearful cat is more likely to try the escape route and hide behind a sofa than bite, but biting is still a possible result of fright. Therefore, caution should still be exercised when a cat is exposed to a new environment or there are guests present in the home.

Physical distress is another factor that can provoke a cat to bite (whether related to the normal aging process or illness), so consult a veterinarian if it is suspected that the aggression is linked to discomfort.

Cats are actually very predictable animals, and seldom do anything without a reason. Cats that bite or indulge in excessive scratching often develop the habit due to human negligence.

Playful biting and scratching are integral parts of cat behavior, so an effort must be made on the part of the owner to establish boundaries. When a cat is not taught that human hands are not toys, they are bound to bite or scratch whenever they feel like playing.

Remember, it all boils down to giving a pet the attention it needs and deserves. By doing so, it will be easier to detect anomalies in behavior—thus leading to the ability to address aggression problems before they become an issue in the household.

Related Products for behavior from PetAlive

* Aggression Formula
* Grief and Pining Formula
* Gumz-n-Teeth (Dogs in pain may bite)
* PupTeeth
* Muscle and Joint Support
* Performance Plus
* PetCalm
* Problem Pet Solution

Related Products for bites not requiring immediate medical attention:

For animals:

* Wound Dr.
* PetHeal
* Clenzor

For people:

* Pure-Clenz Solution
* RealHeal Massage Oil
* RealHeal Plus

The main problem with feline liver disease is that by the time it starts manifesting specific liver related symptoms, almost two thirds of it has already been affected. This is partly because the liver has a huge reserve capacity and continues to function even after a majority of its cells have been destroyed or weakened and partly because the liver cells have an enormous capacity to regenerate and get back to work. Another possible reason for late detection is the inherent similarity of symptoms of liver disease in dogs and cats with other mild conditions.

The liver is a critical organ that performs numerous and wide range of functions including digestion, metabolism and production of chemical compounds, elimination of wastes and toxins and regulation of immunity functions. Toxins consumed by pets reach the liver almost immediately since there is a direct supply of blood from the gut to the liver. The involvement of the liver in multiple functions also presupposes secondary liver disease in cats and dogs caused by primary conditions like diabetes. Most of the malignant cancers often metastasize to the liver as well.

Symptoms of feline liver disease are very similar to liver disease in dogs. They are subtle and vague and are normally difficult to distinguish from symptoms of other common diseases. For example, loss of appetite may relate to digestive disorders due to factors others than a liver disorder. Some of the common symptoms that cat owners should be on the look out include:

* Lethargy.
* Weight loss.
* Occasional fever.
* Increased thirst.
* Vomiting.
* Fluid retention within the abdomen, resulting in a distended stomach and pot bellied appearance.
* Abdominal pain on lifting the cat from the stomach.

Once the liver disease advances it manifests as a typical symptom – jaundice. The gums, teeth and the skin appear yellowish. The membranes under the eye turn yellow. Excess salivation is another manifestation of a liver problem.

Severe liver dysfunction can lead the cat to behave abnormally. Cat owners should be observant about any behavioral changes in their pets since it can lead to an early detection and therefore, a better prognosis. Cats are vulnerable to some liver diseases that can be caused due to certain drugs that otherwise do not cause liver disease in other pets. Treating your cat with drugs should essentially be under the supervision of a specialist. While consulting a veterinarian, it will be a good idea to inform the drugs that you have administered or toxins that may have been accessible for accidental ingestion.

As mentioned earlier, many malignant tumors spread to liver. There is also the possibility of a primary liver cancer occurring that originates from the liver itself. Liver cancer has a very poor prognosis and palliative treatment is the only option available. Chemotherapy and radiation that have serious side effects are effective only in increasing the survival time and that too with a poor quality of life.

Liver disease is difficult to treat. Treatments of secondary diseases are often targeted at the cause. Liver specific therapies that are available provide very limited cure. The best course of action is to be aware of liver friendly diet that contains the right balance of high quality proteins, vitamins and mineral meant specifically for cats.

If your cat has been diagnosed for diabetes, one of the major items that should be on your agenda during discussions with the veterinarian is that of home care. Make sure that you discuss monitoring diet and blood sugar levels at home along with how to store, handle and administer insulin. Another thing that you should understand are the various symptoms of diabetes in cats especially signs of hypoglycemia, low blood sugar.

Diabetes in cats can be managed for long periods with dietary management and oral medication without resorting to insulin. It is however, recommended that insulin be used first to control the sugar levels before an assessment is made about whether the condition can be managed only with home care and dietary modifications.

One of the primary modalities of monitoring a diabetic cat involves the aid of a blood glucose meter. Invest in a good quality device and learn how to use it. Some cats may prove to be too difficult to manage while trying to obtain a blood sample but perseverance always pays. You also need to know from the veterinarian about the normal range of blood sugar levels and the levels that require veterinarian intervention.

A blood glucose curve is a diagram of blood glucose levels during the day. You can learn to read the variations of the levels and understand whether it is being caused by an overdose or an under-dose of insulin. Levels of glucose in urine too can be monitored but these are not too reliable. However, monitoring urine sugar levels is better than not monitoring at all in cases where drawing blood from the cat is not possible.

While your cat is on insulin you should schedule and plan the mealtimes of your cat. Again, this depends upon the type of insulin the veterinarian has prescribed. Certain brands of insulin have prominent peak action times and the mealtimes have to be adjusted accordingly. If your cat is used to eat small quantities throughout the day, it is better to use slow-acting insulin rather than disturb the animal’s schedule. The end goal is to try to keep blood sugar levels in a comfortable range by timing insulin injection and diet intake.

Care has to be taken that the blood sugar level does not shoot up from low levels too fast. If the dose of insulin is to be increased by, say 0.5 units, then you must adhere to it rather than thinking that such a minor variation is not going to make any difference. Rapid increases can make the cat resistant to insulin.

Make sure that you are feeding a diet meant for diabetic cats. The diet should be low on carbohydrates and high on proteins. If at all carbohydrates are needed they should be the ones that have a low glycemic index.

If you are not monitoring blood sugar at home and also want to save on laboratory tests, it is advisable to keep a regular check on whether the cat is drinking, urinating and eating normally or not. If yes, then the insulin dosage should not be increased. However, this is fraught with dangers. If the blood sugar level crosses the ‘renal threshold’ diabetes in cats can lead to organ failure.