From Wikipedia: “Well into the 20th century, coal miners brought canaries into coal mines as an “early warning signal” for deadly, toxic gases. The birds, being more sensitive, would become sick before the miners, who would then have a chance to escape or put on protective respirators.”

Is it any wonder that with the “pre green” proliferation of chemical laden cleaning and laundry products, building supplies, and monthly flea poison treatments, that our pets are developing cancer at such an alarming rate? In addition to protecting one’s animal from constant exposure to a myriad of possible household carcinogens, our having to negotiate the constant recalls and dangers of an unregulated, processed pet food industry can be an overwhelming and depressing nightmare. But there’s also a deeper issue: when it comes to these everyday toxins that we have become so unconscious about or accepting of, have our cherished, innocent pets become our modern day canaries?

“There are MANY things we can do to prevent our beloved companion animals from ever getting cancer,” says the author of the recently published, THE HEALING ART OF PET PARENTHOOD.
When her 8-year old dog, aka: her adopted daughter, Buttons, was diagnosed with deadly carcinoma and given 6 weeks to live, Nadine M. Rosin launched a massive personal research campaign into the world of holistic medicine. She soon came to learn that “holistic” didn’t mean symptom treating with natural remedies or herbs in lieu of pharmaceutical drugs. Instead, it meant clearing her home environment of all possible toxins, cleansing Buttons’ entire system physically and emotionally, and then giving her the proper nutritional support so that Buttons’ body could do what an unburdened body does best: heal itself.
Buttons went on to thrive for another 11 years. Exactly 1 week before her 19th birthday, she died peacefully of old age in her mom’s loving arms.

THE HEALING ART OF PET PARENTHOOD is an engaging narrative and an easy, interesting way to glean all kinds of valuable information on ways you can help prevent your own 4-legged family members (and maybe even the 2-legged ones) from ever having to deal with this awful disease. This is not dry text, but rather, it reads like a good novel that you will find hard to put down. Rosin’s writing has been called “brave” as she not only reveals herself and her life with radical and refreshing honesty, but as she goes on to describe what many pet parents are hesitant to reveal- her profound, maternal love for one furry beast… her “heart dog.”
“When their time does come to pass on, it is okay to grieve deeply. For pet parents it is NEVER a matter of, “It’s just a dog (cat/etc.),”" Rosin says. In fact, Rosin holds this book as her personal mission- that of removing the words “it’s just a dog(cat/etc.)” from the lips of non pet parents everywhere. So you’re not just going to want to buy a copy for yourself, but one for every person you know who doesn’t understand how much you love your pet.

I invite you to journey with Nadine M. Rosin into the emotional healing and self-awareness she develops over 19 years through the unconditional love of her dog, Buttons. Learn how to give YOUR OWN beloved animal the best life possible by joining them as they explore the world of holistic pet care to successfully treat canine cancer. Experience how Nadine copes with grief and loss, and ultimately discovers a continued spiritual connection with Buttons after death. THE HEALING ART OF PET PARENTHOOD is her story. It is only one version of a story shared by millions of pet parents.

AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY- AT ALL ONLINE BOOK RETAILERS
More information at http://www.TheHealingArtOfPetParenthood.com

• Make sure your pet enclosures are secure and big enough. A pet likes nothing more than free space to move around and being closed up too tightly can be unhealthy. Also, you wouldn’t want a pet that needs to be closed up exploiting a weakness in the enclosure!

• If it’s storming outside, don’t forget to bring your pets inside. Some pets may not understand weather the same way that humans do, so it can be quite a scare for them.

• Make sure your pets are tagged or collared if they are going to be out of the house. You wouldn’t want someone picking up your pet to call their own. They also run the risk of being taken to the pound if they’re not collared and/or tagged.

• Keep your pets healthy! This is a big one. Keeping your pet healthy is one of the most important things you can do. Make sure you keep your pets free of parasites and common diseases. Be positive that your pets’ vaccinations are up-to-date.

Following these simple steps can assure that your pet remains safe and out of harms way. Keeping a safe, healthy environment is very important for your pet!

]]> http://freepettips.com/2008/10/keep-pets-safe/feed/ http://freepettips.com/2008/07/what-to-look-for-in-a-kitten/ http://freepettips.com/2008/07/what-to-look-for-in-a-kitten/#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:35:45 +0000 admin http://freepettips.com/?p=29 When purchasing a kitten as a pet there are a few items you MUST look for.  If you question any of the following items, or the health of the kitten be very cautious in finalizing the deal.

1. Inspect the kitten’s mother.  Make sure she is free of physical and mental defects that might have been passed to the offspring.
2. Make sure the kitten is at LEAST eight weeks old.  Those first eight weeks with it’s mother and siblings are extremely important to development.
3. Is the kitten relaxed and gentle?  Stressed out and hissing kittens grow up to be stressed out and hissing cats.
4. Has the kitten received all vaccinations appropriate for its age?
5. Is the kitten too thin?  Could be a sign of worms or malnourishment.
6. Are the eyes clear? 
7. Are the eyes, nose and ears free of discharge?
8. Is the kitten’s coat shiny? Have you seen it cleaning itself?
9. Check for regular breathing.  Do the lungs sound clear?  Any wheezing?
10. Check for sores, and tenderness on the body.

Many dogs will never visually show during a pregnancy, and the ones that do will only show a few days before giving birth.  Instead you should look to the behavior of your dog:

• Changes in appetite - some dogs will eat more, while others will ignore their food altogether.
• Prominent nipples
• Increased sleeping / lethargy
• A clear discharge from the vagina
• A firm abdomen
• “Nesting” behaviors - digging and scratching at bedding, floors, etc.

When your dog is close to giving birth, you will see a decrease in appetite and a increase in nesting, restlessness, and panting.

There are some new products on the market that will help you find out if your dog is pregnant, but they are still out of reach for the home user.  One such project is ReproCHEK, which will determine pregnancy within 15 minutes, but is expensive ($500) and requires the pet owner to draw blood from their pet.

So even in this day and age of technology, intenet knowledge and wonder drugs… the best sure-fire way to find out if your dog is preggers, is to see your vet.