SusansPetCare.com: Loving our Pets Naturally

Stray Cat Flea Remedy

By Susan on February 24, 2008

One evening last November, I was outside rounding up all of our “children” to put them inside safe & sound for the night. There was one cat that I couldn’t find so I started calling her name. I heard a faint meow & shined the flashlight in that direction. Coming up the driveway I saw our dog with a cat walking beside of her. Doing a double take, I saw that it wasn’t one of our cats!

Our dog had brought home a stray kitten. This kitten was very friendly & looked in need of help. She had raw spots all over her head. Upon close examination I saw that she had fleas. I knew two things. 1: I had to get rid of the fleas and 2: I had to keep her from scratching her head until the sores healed.

I dusted her with Diatomaceous Earth for the fleas. Now how was I going to keep her from scratching? If I had an Elizabethan collar that would work. But alas, I’m 15 miles to the nearest vet or pet supply store. So like any self-respecting home-insteader I made my own!

Here’s how you can make you own Elizabethan Collar:

Take a paper plate (Chinette works pretty good) and cut a hole just big enough to slip over the cats head. This will last a day or two. I just made up a few ahead of time & keep replacing them as needed. I also recycled some of those large mailing envelopes like the USPS & FedX use. Any paperboard like cereal boxes will work. Just cut them to the size of a paper plate & cut the hole in the middle.

This size worked well for my kitten. You may have to adjust the dimensions so that the animal can eat & drink water. For larger animals you’ll need to use your imagination. Try an ice cream bucket for instance.

Do it yourself pet care

Sometimes you just have to take pet care to a simpler level. Oh, and by the way, the cat I was looking for that night? I found her already comfortably snoozing on our bed.

Posted in Cats, Fleas, Natural Pet Care, Our Pets, Tips | Tagged Cats, diatomaceous earth, Elizabethan collar, Flea Remedy, fleas, pet care, recyled, stray kitten | 1 Response

Pappy’s Story

By Susan on March 13, 2008

When I first saw Pappy he was running down the middle of busy Highway 16 in Denver, NC. It was 1997, I was on my way to check on some dogs that I was sitting for. I quickly pulled the Luv truck into the nearest parking lot, got out and called him. He came right to me and looked glad to see me. I’m sure he was frightened with all the cars whizzing by him and was happy someone got him out of the road. He had on a collar with no tags. Attached to the collar was a short length of rope. He appeared to be an older dog, a Golden Retriever I think (he was a little on the small side). He also had some skin problems. Otherwise he looked healthy.I opened the truck door and he hopped right in. He rode with me while I made my rounds and I think he enjoyed it. He was having one fine adventurous day. Escaping from where ever it was he came from and then out for a joy ride with a new friend.I still had the grooming shop at that time, so I took him back there with me. The shop was only about 1/2 mile from where I found him. I thought it would be easy to find his owner. Au contrair, Mon Frair. I went to all the neighbors. No one seemed to know where he came from. In the meantime, I gave him a bath, some food and water, and settled him in at the shop for the night.

The next morning I arrived at the shop to find him gone! He had broken out one of the bottom windows of the 12 pane front door. Now, that’s a small window to squeeze through! I finally found him at the back of the building relieving himself. He happily followed me back inside where I fed him some breakfast and called the man to come fix my door.

That night Pappy went home with me. He was introduced to the dogs, Eddy and Alley. He got along very well with the cats. Pappy soon settled into his new home. I named him Pappy. I thought it was an appropriate name for him. I have memories of my Dad calling my grandfather, Pappy.

We didn’t know how old Pappy was but he looked to be at least 10 years old. When he walked, it looked like his tail end was trying to catch up with his head or like he was fish-tailing. He did have a spring in his step though. After a few years went by it just amazed me that he was still with us. He developed some incontinence but he was still active. He was also deaf.

One day in 2001 I came home to find him unable to stand. He also had a swelling on his side, I knew it was time. I called the vet and took him in. It was Kidney failure. Charley rushed over and we said goodbye to our old friend. We stroked his head as Dr. Kim gave him the injection. We took him home and laid him to rest in the backyard.

I think of Pappy often. I have no idea how old he was. I’m guessing 14 or 15 years. He was a good dog. Dr. Kim and the staff at Maiden Animal Hospital gave us a stone in remembrance. It simply says

PAPPY
1987-2001

Posted in Dogs, Our Pets, Pet Tails | Tagged golden retriever, grooming shop, pappy | 2 Responses

Just Thoughts: Life with cats and dogs.

By Charley on March 14, 2008

For many of us our Pets are our children, tending to their needs before our own. The saddest reality with being a parent to a pet, chances are you will out live your child. Susan and I have been very fortunate to share the lives of many cats and dogs over the twenty years of our marriage, and beyond, there were even a few squirrels thrown in to spice up the mix, but that’s another story.

It never gets any easier losing a pet; after over a dozen burials, we feel the same loss as we had for the first one. Attached to the particular personality we come to expect certain reactions or displays of affection. We miss seeing the tail wags that begin at the tip of the tail and come out their nose as their body becomes one huge wiggle. We miss these things as much as anyone misses peculiar indulgences about a loved one now gone.

It has always been, and still is a joy coming up with names, being nontraditional type folks makes this even more fun, and challenging. Sometimes the particular animals’ appearance or personality will play a factor in choosing a name.

Pearl for example; Susan has a saying when one of the dogs is looking sad or bored, “Poor Pitiful Pearl”. Then it occurred to me, I have heard this for twenty years and nearly forty dogs and cats have passed through our gates, and we had never named one Pearl. Pearls personality fit the saying too which made it an easy choice. However, this isn’t a story about Pearl, even if she thinks it is, she thinks it’s always about her.

Then there is Sprocket, what kind of mind would name their cat Sprocket? Have you met my wife, Susan? I guess that is why we have endured 21 years together, we got like minds. Sprocket is the most recent laid to rest, she was the smallest of our brood of eight, but she walked the tallest. She was one bad cat and nobody (the other cats or dogs) messed with her. When she did get into a fight she usually won. However, she loved people and would lie in your lap for hours and lick your hands completely clean.

Nearly all our dogs and cats have been someone else’s rejects or problems. Abandoned by the side of the road, or set free from the burlap sack that was to be a coffin in a cruel water burial. Some dropped off in front of our house because; I guess we have a reputation, of never turning our four legged brothers and sisters away, this is true.

For a few years, we tried being a foster home for cats and dogs, the objective was to bring them in and locate for them a suitable home. At one time, we had over thirty dogs and cats and this is when we realized that the only suitable home we were finding was our own. We no longer foster, however, if a dog or cat makes it onto the RiverRest they usually have a home for life.

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Our Pets, Pet Tails | Tagged Abandoned, burials, cats and dogs, losing a pet, tail wags | Leave a response

Have You Ever Seen a Green Dog?

By Susan on March 22, 2008

So, you have made changes to your personal lifestyle to make our Mother Earth a cleaner place to live. But what about your pets Eco-Paw Print? They share this planet with us. You should make sound choices to help our furry friends “Go Green”.

Here are a few suggestions to get started.

Use alternative forms of kitty litter made from recycled materials. Newspaper, pine shavings and commercial litter made from wheat are all good alternatives. (See my post Cat Litter Alternatives)
Use biodegradable poopbags for your dogs daily walks.
Feed a natural food made from sources raised without growth hormones or antibiotics. Look for foods that contain no animal byproducts or rendered meats. Feeding a balanced raw diet that includes meat and bones is a very good option. I actually do a combination of raw meaty bones and Flint River Ranch kibble.
Find grooming products that are eco-friendly, made without phosphates, sulfates and other harmful unhealthy chemicals.
Use all natural cleaning products that are free of toxic materials. Good choices might include: castile soap, vinegar and/or Grapefruit Seed Extract.
Buy eco-friendly pet toys made from organic or recycled materials.
Seek out natural holistic alternatives to treating your pet if he gets sick. Find a veterinarian that practices alternative medicine.

Having a pet is a lifelong commitment.

It’s up to you to make your pets’ lifestyle naturally healthy.

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Health, Natural Pet Care | Tagged Alternatives, cat litter, eco friendly, green, kitty litter, Natural | Leave a response

Truly, My Best Friend

By Susan on May 11, 2008

Mandy

In the summer of 1976 I was 17 years old. I was about to enter my Senior year of High School. It was in the beginning of big changes and decisions. One day I was at Park Road Shopping Center thumbing through records in Ernie’s Record Store. I then wandered up the sidewalk & into the pet shop. Being naturally drawn to animals I would often cruise through the pet shops though I never bought anything. Toward the back of the store I found 2 puppies in a cage. They weren’t any particular breed, maybe a shepard mix. The store owner started up a conversation about the puppies and before I knew it I was handing her $2.50 and walking out the door with one of the pups in my arms. It took me a while to find the right name for her. I think it was at least a week before I named her. One night I was laying in bed listening to the TV show my parents were watching. A new guy by the name of Barry Manilow was singing a song called Mandy. And yes, I liked it. So my new pup became Mandy.Immediately we started bonding. I could tell that she was an intelligent dog. This was the first time I actually trained a dog so we learned together. I must say she made it easy. She learned quickly and we became fast friends and constant companions. She would go everywhere with me.

When she was small she would ride in the car under my legs and then in the backseat when she got too big for the floorboard. She would wait in the car patiently for me even with the windows rolled down. There weren’t many places I couldn’t take her. When I had to leave her at home she would wait patiently with no separation anxiety. She was such a good dog.

I remember a fun time when a friend and I took a spur of the moment trip to Myrtle Beach. We had no room reservations, but it was in the winter so we were sure we could find a room. We just hoped they’d let us take the dogs in with us. Well, we did find an ocean front room and the clerk let us slip the dogs in. It was great walking the beach with Mandy & watching her have fun in the waves.

I graduated high school and had no desire to jump into college so I took a job at the airport and registered for a few classes at the community college. After about a year of working I was ready to think about college. I decided to go to a Technical College in Western North Carolina and study Fish and Wildlife Management. The only available place to live was a one room apartment across from the college. It was obvious that Mandy couldn’t live with me there. So, for a year, Mandy lived at home and I’d go home on weekends.

Finally, in the second year, I found an old farm house to share with a roommate. Mandy came to live there too. The landlord didn’t want the dogs in the house so Mandy would sleep on the front porch under my bedroom window. She never ran off. There was a big field behind the house where we’d take our walks.

One day I made the mistake of taking her for a walk to my school a few miles away. The next day I told her to stay as usual (she always stayed in the yard). I got in the car and drove to school. It was warm so I left the windows down while I attended class. I came out to the car to go home and found Mandy sitting in the backseat waiting for me. Because of our walk She had figured out where I went every morning. She did this several times. One time she found me while I was sitting in class. My instructor was nice enough to let her stay under my desk until class was over. After that I had to start leaving her in the dog pen when I left and couldn’t take her with me.

This is the paragraph were I was going to tell you how I lost Mandy. But I can’t. Even today, 28 years later, it’s hard. She was my best friend. I still miss her. She touched my soul.

Posted in Dogs, Our Pets, Pet Tails | Tagged dog, pet, pet shops, shepard mix | Leave a response

Aunt Josephine and Snookie

By Susan on May 12, 2008

I just had to share this. Aunt Josephine, actually my great aunt, was the youngest of 4 sisters. I loved it when they all got together. They seemed to have such a rich history, immigrating to the USA, Poppyseed Bread, Halupki and they way they spoke to us kids in slavak when we got in the way or into trouble. Carrie (born in Checkloslovakia), Helen (my Grandmother and 1st born in the U.S.), Anna (who had so much faith) and Josephine. She was always ready with a laugh and seemed to enjoy life so much.

*She Opened Her Heart to Pets (One in Particular)*By Adam Bernstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 11, 2008;
Josephine Bensack Czapp, 89, who died of kidney failure April 6, grew up on a farm in Manassas and raised many kinds of pets, including horses and goats. In recent years, she became so close to her parakeet, Snookie, that she wanted to spend eternity with him.Her request was to be buried with Snookie. If the bird went first, she
wanted him stored in the freezer until she died. She appreciated the
family comeback that if Snookie outlived her, a relative would buy a
large freezer in which to keep her.Snookie died in September after having served as Czapp’s winged
companion for about 10 years.

Czapp had formed a strong attachment to Snookie, often refusing to do

anything without him perched on her finger. They ran errands together
and visited her relatives. They exchanged confidences and traded pecks.
Czapp did not like to leave her feathered friend alone.

She asked him, “Who’s grandma’s baby?”

The family joked that they would have her committed if he replied.

Snookie had entered her life in 1993, after the death of her husband,
Michael J. Czapp. The couple had been married 56 years. The Czapps grew
up near each other in Manassas, and they began dating after meeting at a
dance. She spent much of her life as a homemaker; Michael worked as a
carpenter.

Although Josephine Czapp had a passion for polka, pets were the love of
her life. Her menagerie included horses, goats, dogs and a lizard. She
had raised parakeets when she was younger, but Snookie, a handsome male
with white, blue and gray feathers, captivated her like no other.

“After her husband died, she was on her own, and we bought her a
parakeet cage for Christmas,” said Cheryl Czapp, Josephine’s
daughter-in-law. “She balked at that, but somewhere along the line my
sister-in-law took her to the store and they bought a parakeet.”

Snookie.

For a time, he competed for Czapp’s affections with Pickle, a parakeet
that had belonged to a grandson. But Snookie became the enduring favorite.

The family placed a sign in her bedroom that said, “This place is for
the birds.”

It was “very traumatic” the day he died in September, Cheryl Czapp said.

Josephine Czapp called her son Robert about midday. Alas, he couldn’t
leave work for several more hours. When he did, Robert Czapp found his
mother with the bird still cupped in her hands. He had to pry it away
from her.

After Snookie’s death, Josephine Czapp was inconsolable. Crippled with
arthritis, she prayed nightly that she might die soon, Cheryl Czapp
said. She was no longer the spry lady who, into her late 50s, would camp
out with her grandsons in the wilderness or in the tree house behind her
brick rambler in Manassas.

Cheryl Czapp alerted family and friends to her mother-in-law’s death by
an e-mail. Shunning a sappy tone, the subject line read: “It’s time to
defrost Snookie.”

Celi Clark, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin-based National Funeral
Directors Association, said she knew of no state or federal regulations
about animals being buried with owners.

Such arrangements, Clark said, are usually made at the discretion of the
cemetery owner.

She said the issue “doesn’t come up a lot,” and that trinkets, letters
and other non-organic possessions are more commonly buried with people.
When someone wants to be interred with an animal, pet remains are
usually cremated and placed in an urn inside the coffin, she said.

Josephine Czapp was buried April 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the
church started by her parents with other Slovak farmer immigrants near
Manassas.

Snookie, reposing in a tin box, was placed by her side. Cheryl Czapp
wrote in an e-mail, “We put his small coffin under her rosaried hands
for their mutual final resting place.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/10/AR2008051002362.html

Posted in Pet Tails | Tagged feathered friend, Parakeet, pet bird, pet burial | Leave a response

Strays Prayer

By Fetch on June 11, 2008

Stray’s Prayer

Dear God, please send me somebody who’ll care!
I’m tired of running, I’m sick with despair.
My body is aching, it’s so racked with pain,
and dear God I pray, as I run in the rain.
That someone will love me and give me a home,
a warm cozy bed and a big juicy bone.

: Pearl the Stray Dog

My last owner tied me all day in the yard
Sometimes with no water, and god that was hard.
So I chewed my leash, and God I ran away.
To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.
But now God, I’m tired and hungry and cold,
and I’m so afraid that I’ll never grow old.

They’ve chased me with sticks and hit me with stones,
while I run the streets just looking for bones!
I’m not really bad, God, please help if you can,
or I have become just a “Victim of Man!”
I’m wormy dear God and I’m ridden with fleas,
and all that I want is an Owner to please!

Helix & Squeegee - Stray Cats

If you find one for me God, I’ll try to be good,
and I won’t chew their shoes, and I’ll do as I should.
I’ll love them, protect them and try to obey….
when they tell me to sit, to lie down or to stay!
I don’t think I’ll make it too long on my own,
cause I’m getting so weak and I’m so all alone.

Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry,
cause I’m so afraid God, that I’m gonna die.
And I’ve got so much love and devotion to give,
that I should be given a new chance to Live!
So dear God, please answer my prayer,
and send me someone who will REALLY care..

That is, Dear God, if YOU’RE REALLY there!

Author Unknown

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Pet Tails | Tagged Cats, dog, fleas, pet, stray cats, Stray's Prayer | 2 Responses

Home Cooked Food is the Best Dog Food

By Fetch on March 25, 2009

Article courtesy of PetAlive
It is a mad jungle out there when it comes to selling dog food. Seeing the number of brands, the different types of sales pitches adopted by marketers and the fancy names with tongue twisting ingredients printed on labels, it appears the focus is on attracting buyers and grabbing a share of the whopping $ 11 billion pie..In addition, each manufacturer launches numerous types of pet food under one brand. There are moist, semi moist and dry dog foods. Their use of terminology, like ‘premium’, ‘super-premium’, and ‘gourmet’ are mere nomenclatures since they hardly mean any thing. Even though the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regulates what must be printed on the labels. The warnings are all mentioned in small print and therefore do not serve to warn the consumers adequately.

Apart from checking the nutritional adequacy and information about the manufacturer, you should focus on the ingredient list. Ethoxyquin is one of the most common preservatives used in dog food. This is used to prevent fats from turning rancid. There is verifiable evidence that there is a connection between Ethoxyquin and the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX and the elevation in liver related enzymes that can ultimately cause liver disease in dogs.

Some times dog owners indulge in over-feeding their dogs under the mistaken belief that the dog is hungry. Even a so called ‘light diet’ can lead to obesity in dogs if the calorie intake is more than recommended. Obesity can directly cause liver and heart conditions, diabetes, arthritis, skin disorders and cancer exposing the dog to a higher risk.
For Liver Health and Longevity
Diet plays an important role in liver health. It is one of the major reasons behind many diseases in cats too, including the feline liver disease. Instead of waiting for symptoms of liver disease in dogs or cats to surface, it is highly recommended that you be proactive and feed your dog with a healthy and nutritional diet to maintain health.

A huge majority of commercial foods contain toxins that destroy the immune system and gradually kill your dog as you feed him. Dogs are basically meat eaters. Meat based dog food may appear to be the best to provide the required proportions of proteins and other substances needed by the animal. Manufacturers, however, use synthetic additives and preservatives to increase shelf life, which can be detrimental to the health of your dog.

It is not only the type of food but also the quantity that makes a difference. The age, weight and breed of your pet are key aspects that determine the amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats that the dog requires every day. The level of activity is another factor for arriving at the calorie intake. Your veterinarian is the best person to suggest where and how to source this information.

As much as possible feed your dog home cooked food, raw meat and a natural diet that is free from toxins. The purpose of a natural diet is to boost the immune system and help the liver to regenerate its cells so that it can function to its fullest capacity. A toxin free diet is the key to longevity and liver health.

Article courtesy of PetAlive

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Health, Natural Pet Care, Nutrition | Tagged dog food, liver disease in dogs, Natural, obesity in dogs, PetAlive | Leave a response

Non-toxic Flea Remedies

By Susan on June 27, 2009

Oh no! Fido has a flea! Quick, pour some poison on him and kill it!

Most of us are guilty of this, including myself. But I have come to realize that when I use an insecticide on my pet I’m not just killing the flea. I’m doing harm to my pet, myself, my family, my neighbor and my mother earth.

What can you do then to keep your pet flea free? Well, if you’re willing to put a little effort into it there are many natural non-toxic flea remedies. Here they are, in no particular order of effectiveness.

The Vacuum Cleaner – use it often making sure you empty it after each use. Wash Pet Bedding and throw rugs on a weekly basis.

DE – Diatomaceous Earth – is the fossilized remains of diatoms (tiny fossilized water plants). It absorbs lipids from the outer layer of insects’ exoskeletons, making them to dehydrate. When buying diatomaceous earth make sure it is food grade DE.

How to use:

It is recommended that you wear a mask when applying DE as it can irritate the mucus membranes in your nose & mouth.~
Sprinkle it on your pet, pet beds, along baseboards and outside areas where your pet frequents. DE can also be used in the litter box.
DE can also be used for livestock. We use it in our chicken house and the areas where they like to take their dust baths.
It can be used in the garden but I urge you not use it there because it also kills beneficial insects.

Brewer’s Yeast and Garlic – The Brewer’s Yeast is good for your pets skin, enabling him to have less allergic reactions to flea bites. The Garlic makes your pet less appealing to fleas. Comes in powder or tablet form.

Cedar Oil – Place 3 drops of American Cedar Oil on a small piece of brown paper grocery bag. Place one in each corner of the room. Will repel most insects. Smells pretty good too.

Olive Oil – Soak you pet in olive oil (any cooking oil should work) and leave it on. Be careful to keep it out of their eyes and inside of the ears. It will smother fleas, mites and lice. It will not harm your pet to lick it off. In fact it will be good for their coat and skin.

Neem Oil – Mix a few drops of neem oil in your pet’s shampoo.

You can also make an after bath rinse.

Mix in a gallon jug:
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
add a few drops of Neem Oil
fill jug the rest of the way with water

Rinse your pet with this mixture. Leave in, do not rinse out. You can use this after shampooing or just by itself.

There are products made with neem like shampoos, sprays, Neem for Cats , Neem for Dogs

Herbs and *Essential Oils - These herbs, botanicals and essential oils are known for their insect repellent qualities:

Eucalyptus
Pennyroyal
Lavender
Citronella
Lemongrass
Cedar

*Essential oils should not be used on Cats

Boost your pets resistance to fleas. Have you ever noticed how some pets have itchy reactions to flea bites and some have none at all? Giving your pet’s immune system an extra boost with supplements may help.

Brewers Yeast and Garlic
Flax Seed Oil
Bone Meal
Kelp Powder
Nutritional Yeast
Lecithin

Adding Raw Meaty Bones, raw eggs and yogurt to you pet’s diet will greatly improve his overall health.

Get more info on PetAlive BeFree Flea Shampoo – helps deter fleas, flies and mosquitoes for dogs

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Fleas, Natural Pet Care | Tagged diatomaceous earth, fleas, neem oil | 1 Response

Tips on Finding a Missing Pet

By Susan on June 28, 2009

lost-dog-flyer To help in the location of your pet he/she should be wearing a collar with an ID tag that has your address and phone#.

Search your house and yard.
Canvas the neighborhood and ask neighbors if they have seen your pet. Show them a photo of him/her. Leave them a phone number where they can reach you.
Go back and search your house and yard again!
Call your veterinarian, groomer, humane society, local animal control and other pet related businesses in your area and tell them your pet is missing. They can post a “lost” ad on their bulletin board. Also, if someone finds your pet with no identification they may call those same places seeking the owner.
Post ads in newspapers and online forums. There are websites especially for finding missing pets. Try your local Craigslist. Do a Google search to find other local listings. Check these venues for “found” ads also. Someone may be looking for you!
Post “lost” fliers in the neighborhood and at local businesses.
Keep a watchful eye and ear on the neighborhood. If you hear dogs barking, go check it out. They’re barking at something. Maybe your dog?
Expand your search area.
Check out leads as soon as you can. Four legs can move quickly!

Hopefully, these steps will help you find your furry friend. When you do find him don’t forget to thank your pets’ rescuer. Offer to reimburse them for any expense they may have in caring for him. If they refuse, make a donation in their name to a local humane society or rescue group.

OK, now we know how to recover a lost pet. What if you are the “finder”?

Tips on Locating a Found Pets’ Owner

Check the animal for an ID Tag and call the owner. That was simple!
But what if there is no ID Tag, just a Rabies Tag? Did you know that the number on that tag will tell you which vet gave the Rabies shot? All you have to do is call the county animal shelter listed on the tag and give them the number on the tag. They should be able to tell you what vet office issued that tag. Then all you need to do is call that vet office, describe the animal and hopefully they will be able to help you identify the owner. They may already have been alerted that the pet is missing.
If these methods haven’t reunited your new friend with it’s owner then you’ll have to take other steps. Now, these tips may look familiar.
Canvas the neighborhood and ask neighbors if they know who the pet belongs to. Show them a photo of him/her. Leave them a phone number where they can reach you.
Call your veterinarian, groomer, humane society,local animal control and other pet related businesses in your area and describe the pet. They can post a “found” ad on their bulletin board. Again, they may already have been alerted that the pet is missing.
Post ads in newspapers and online forums. There are websites especially for finding missing pets. Try your local Craigslist. Do a Google search to find other local listings. Check these venues for “lost” ads also.
Post “found” fliers in the neighborhood and at local businesses.
Expand your search area.

For your efforts you will be rewarded with the great feeling of reuniting someone with their lost friend. Good Deed!

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Tips | Tagged cat, dog, missing pets, pets | 2 Responses

Ear Mites – Homeopathy for Cats

By Fetch on July 6, 2009

Homeopathy for Cats – Ear Mites
Article Courtesy of PetAlive
Pet ears infections pose a perennial problem, equally for owners and the specialists who are called upon to treat them. The fact that your pets have been domesticated and made to change their natural habitat is one of the major causes behind their vulnerability to attacks from infectious bacteria and parasites like ear mites.

The limitations of conventional medications, including side effects that lead to more problems than they are supposed to cure, has been instrumental in giving a boost to alternative therapies. These holistic therapies take a holistic view of disease. The relatively less popularity of alternative therapies like homeopathy stems from the fact that they are slow in treating an ailment. At the same time, the established fact that homeopathy attempts to remove the root cause of a disease and not just the symptoms, is not properly advertised.

Homeopathy is a treatment that treats the disease on the basis of how a disease manifests itself in an individual. It treats symptoms as the body’s own attempt to cure. Rather than trying to provide a temporary relief, it focuses on the condition causing an ailment. Having proved its mettle in treating human conditions, it is now being extensively used for treat pet ailments also.

Cat and dog ear mites remain one of the most common underlying conditions behind ear infections in pets. As in dogs, cat ear mites live in the ears of a cat and cause irritation and incite the cat to scratch its ears. If not handled in its early stages, mite infestation can further lead to:

* Increased production of wax in the ears.
* A black and dry discharge from the ears.
* A foul smell.
* Secondary infections.
* Aural hematomas – a localized swelling of a blood vessel.

Homeopathy offers natural remedies for treating ear mite infestation and does not have any side effects. The remedy aims at improving the autoimmune system of the cat. A strong immune system helps in combating any future infections.

Homeopathy suggests different remedies for ear infections depending upon the type of symptoms and behavior of the pet. For example Sulphur is advised for cats that prefer cool places. Psorium is indicated where cats love warmth. For intense itchy ears and sore ears, Rhus Tox is the most recommended remedy. For cats that show signs of a thick, sticky and foul smelling discharge, Graphites is the preferred remedy.

Being holistic in nature, homoeopathy lays more stress on prevention. Bi-monthly cleaning of ears is highly recommended and homeopathy has remedies for this aspect of managing ear infections also. A combination of Calendula Officinalis, Verbascum Thapsus, Pulsatilla Causticum, Conium Maculatum, and Kali Muriaticum is highly effective in eliminating ear mites and cleaning the ears. Unlike allopathic therapies, homeopathy does not restrict the use of home remedies for dog ear mites as both homeopathy and home remedies are based on natural products.

Article Courtesy of PetAlive

References:
www.leerburg.com/976.htm
www.moggies.co.uk/html/alt_parasites.html

Posted in Cats, Health, Natural Pet Care | Tagged cat, dog, ear infections, ear mites, homeopathy, natural remedies, PetAlive | Leave a response

Voice of the Voiceless by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

By Fetch on July 10, 2009

VOICE OF THE VOICELESS

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So many gods, so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.

I am the voice of the voiceless;
Through me the dumb shall speak,
Till the deaf world’s ear be made to hear
The wrongs of the wordless weak.

From street, from cage and from kennel,
From stable and zoo, the wail
Of my tortured kin proclaim the sin
Of the mighty against the frail.

Oh shame on the mothers of mortals,
Who have not stooped to teach
Of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes,
The sorrow that has no speech.

The same force formed the sparrow
That fashioned man the king;
The God of the whole gave a spark of soul
To furred and feathered thing.

And I am my brother’s keeper
And I will fight his fight,
And speak the word for beast and bird,
Till the world shall set things right.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Pet Tails, Poems | Tagged cat, dog, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, pet, Voice of the Voiceless | Leave a response

No Poo for Your Pet!

By Susan on July 11, 2009

Ha! It’s not what you think!

About a year ago, I stopped shampooing my hair. Now, I don’t mean that I stopped washing my hair, I just stopped using shampoo. I now use baking soda, water and apple cider vinegar. I also switched our dogs to the same no-poo method of bathing them.

There are many advantages to the No Poo method.

You save money. There’s no expensive pet shampoo or conditioner to buy.
You probably already have baking soda and apple cider vinegar in your cubbard.
No Poo is a safe, non toxic way to keep your pet clean.
While you do want to rinse out the baking soda, it’s no big deal if you don’t get it all out. If left to dry on your pet, shampoo can cause dry skin.

This is what I do. We have large dogs so I use gallon jugs ( I reuse the apple cider vinegar jugs once they’re empty). If you have a small dog or a cat you can probably use half gallon or smaller.

Prepare a gallon jug with about 1/4 cup of baking soda. Fill with warm water. No one likes a cold bath.
Prepare another gallon jug with 1/4 cup (ACV) apple cider vinegar, then fill with warm water. Sometimes I add 1-2 drops of essential oil like lavender or tea tree. Or, I may add some Neem for Cats, or Neem for Dogs to soothe the skin and repel fleas.
Before wetting your dog with water, sprinkle on some baking soda and massage it in to the skin. Rinse well with water.
Take the jug with the baking soda/water and pour it on. Saturate all areas. Again, rinse well with water.
Rinse with the ACV mixture, saturating well but avoid getting in the eyes. This step may cause stinging if your pet has any sores on his skin. Do not use on open wounds.

If my dog has had excessive itching I will use Witch Hazel instead of ACV. Witch Hazel can be used full strength between baths also to relieve itching.

That’s all there is to it. You now have a clean dog. You didn’t pour any chemicals into the environment. You saved money. Your dogs feels good. You feel good.

The No Poo Movement

The “No Poo” Hair Care:6 Months Later

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Fleas, Grooming, Natural Pet Care, Tips | Tagged apple cider vinegar, baking soda, Cats, Dogs, dry skin, fleas, neem, pet, pet shampoo | 3 Responses

Is Neem Oil Safe to Use on Cats?

By Susan on July 15, 2009

I see this question pop up often. Knowing the risks of using synthetic flea treatments, many cat owners are looking for more natural, non toxic remedies. Cats are always licking and grooming themselves. Whatever goes on their fur is likely to be ingested by the cat during their grooming regimen.

I have found Neem Oil to be an effective alternative. Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. It acts as an insect growth regulator and a repellent. It has been used in India and Asia on humans and animals for centuries.

Neem Oil is not an essential oil. I think that is where the confusion starts about using these oils on cats.

I asked Vicki Parsons, owner of Neem Tree Farms, about the safety of Neem use on cats and the confusion between Neem Oil and essential oils.

”Essential oils can be dangerous for cats but Neem is an expelled oil, much like olive oil, so it can be used straight on mammals. Tea tree, for instance, is an essential oil made through a distillation process – totally different from an expelled or pressed oil.

Neem for Cats is made with a chemical fragrance that is approved for use on cats, recognizing that the average person is not going to like the smell of straight neem but that EOs can be dangerous.”

Before buying a Neem product you should read the ingredients. If it contains essential oils I would not suggest you use it on your cat. Instead, you could just buy 100% Neem Oil and mix it into the shampoo you usually use. If you and your cat would like something more pleasant smelling try Neem for Cats. You could also make a dip or spray out of either product. They can also be used undiluted but do not cover the entire cat with it. Just use a few drops on the back between the shoulder blades.

You can also use Neem Leaf. It can be made into a tea to be used as a dip or spray.

For more info on Neem and other natural products, check out these links:

Natural Products for Insect Pest Management

What is a Neem Tree?

Posted in Cats, Fleas, Natural Pet Care | Tagged cat, Cats, flea, natural remedies, neem oil | 1 Response

Pet Photo of the Week

By Fetch on July 22, 2009

Orange the Cat in the Carrot Patch

Carrots are Orange, just like me! But being a cat I don’t like to eat carrots. I just like to hide in them.

Posted in Cats, Humor, Our Pets, Pet Tails | Tagged cat, pet, pet photo of the week | Leave a response

When You Leave Home, Your Pet Doesn’t Have To

By Fetch on July 24, 2009

Going on a Trip? What about your dog?

When the time comes to leave your dog in the care of someone else, there are many options for dog owners to choose from. Some dog owners arrange to bring their dog to their veterinarian who will not only board the dog but during that time take care of all the routine vacations and grooming needs. Other dog owners prefer a boarding place where the dog has his own kennel and is taken on walks. Other boarding places have indoor facilities where the dog exercises all the time. There are also a lot of pet sitters who will take your dog into their home. Other sitting services will send someone to take your dog for walks and give the dog food and water. All these services will charge varies fees. Many of these services demand that your dog has all his shots, especially Bordetella to prevent kennel cough. Some lucky dog owners can also rely on friends and relatives to take of their pooch for a while. But those who do not have the financial resources to board the dog or do not have friends or relative close by should explore the internet, because help could be right in your neighbor.

Whatever arrangement you choose, of course, depends on you. What is important, however, is to leave critical information with the dogs care giver.

Make sure you spend a little time thinking about the things that make your dog (and you!) most comfortable when you are apart. Discuss these needs and wishes with the dog care provider beforehand. Most dog care providers ask the dog owner to fill out a questionair. However, in case you find someone who does not do this professionally, a list with facts about you and your pet should be provided. Here is a suggested checklist of information you might want to prepare for yourself and for the dog care provider. It’s not meant to be complete list – the more information about your dog you can give, the better!

Give a copy to your care giver. Ask if they have any questions
Take a copy of this list with you on your trip so you have the contact information of the care taker.
On the day of your trip or time away, review the list and gather everything the care provider will need for your dog.

You should call the caregiver immediately if your plans change like to return early or late!

Information you need to have:

Telephone number of owner, veterinarian and caregiver

Eating Habits (Measuring cups, pails, bowls, food, treats)

Toilet Habits (leave enough refuse bags)

Grooming needs (grooming utensils)

Exercise and play routines (leashes, toys)

Medications (pills, directions, dosing tools)

Fears the dog might have(i.e. fire works, sirens)

Copy of shot records

Other things the care provider must know about the dog

The right planning and the right caregiver can make this time enjoyable for you and your dog. Of course there is nothing better than coming home to a happy and healthy dog!

Betty started her online community http://www.PetWatchClub.com in 2006. On her website pets and their owners connect with thousands of other members in their local area and beyond. If you’d like a check list as outlined in this article go to: http://www.petwatchclub.com/Checklists/PetWatchClub-general-checklist.pdf

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

Permalink: http://www.submityourarticle.com/a.php?a=61678

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Tips | Tagged cat, dog, dogs care, pet, pet sitters | Leave a response

Tips for Keeping Your Pet Safe this Halloween

By Susan on October 26, 2009

Use these tips to make Halloween less stressful for your pet.

Give candy to your Pet? BAD Human!

Never give chocolate, gums, mints, candies or baked goods to your pet. Instruct children not to share their treats with the family pet.
Chocolate is toxic to pets. If consumed it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, nervousness, increased heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures and death. If you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate consult your veterinarian. Really… it’s not good for your or your kids either.

Trick-or-Treat

Think how your pet might react to strange people in costume coming to your door. Even a friendly pet may get nervous and may become aggressive.
It’s best to keep them in a quiet part of the house away from the excitement. Keep them inside to avoid Halloween pranksters that can be cruel to animals. This is especially important if you have a black cat. Report any acts of cruelty to the nearest police, animal control or shelter.

Keep decorations out of reach of pets.

Pet Costumes

Well, if you must. They may look cute but use common sense when choosing a costume for your pet. Never leave them unsupervised. They could chew & swallow part of the costume. If frightened they may run away. The costume could hamper their movements or get caught on something.

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Tips | Tagged black cat, chocolate, Halloween, pet costumes | Leave a response

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