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

Choosing a good cat litter is very important, especially if you already have other cats or if you are planning on getting more than one cat or kitten. You will want to find a clumping cat litter to make the task of cleaning the litter box easier. If you plan to have more than one cat, be sure to get a cat litter made for multiple cats.

The placement of the litter box is almost as important as  choosing a good litter. Be sure to place the litter box where the cat(s) can get to it but other pets, such as dogs, can not (dogs seem to love eating cat litter). Also be sure to keep it out of reach of small children as they may think it is a sandbox for them to play in. Another option is to get an enclosed litter box which will help keep other pets and children out of the litter box.

Getting your new kitty fixed at an early age is important, especially if you have a male kitten. Once male kittens start to spray to mark their territory, it can be

difficult to get them to stop. Getting your male kitten fixed before he starts to spray should prevent him from doing it. If he does start to spray before you can get him fixed, he may not stop even after getting him  neutered.

Declawing a kitten is an important decision. If there is any chance your kitty will ever be outside for any reason, it is best to leave his claws intact. This is their defense against larger animals.  If there is no chance your kitten will be outside, you may want to have him declawed for the sake of your furniture. Kittens like to “sharpen” their claws on furniture and walls. I even have a cat who can climb the wall by digging his claws into the drywall. Needless to say, my wall is not very pretty.

As with any pet, before accepting the responsibility, be sure you are well prepared. Get all of your supplies first and then get the cat or kitten. Training the kitten to use the litterbox is easy; I normally just show them where it is and they always go back. Just be sire to keep the litter box clean or they may use the bathroom floor for dong their business.

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As you may well know, potty-training a puppy requires constant effort on your part. The same goes for teaching a puppy new tricks. Puppies learn by repetition; the more they do something, the more likely they are to remember what it is you expect them to do. Don’t give up on your puppy too soon. Just because he isn’t catching on in the first few days of training, don’t assume there is no hope in him learning the tricks. Repetitiveness is the key; keep working on the same trick over and over until he has it mastered. Only then should you consider moving on to a new trick.

It is also important to reward your puppy for his efforts, even if he doesn’t get it right the first time. Your puppy will learn to associate treats with the desired action and will be more keen on “performing” for you if he knows he will be rewarded. As he is learning the new trick, you may want to gradually increase the size of his trick as his performance improves.

Try not to scold your puppy if he doesn’t perform the trick properly. Remember, he is just a baby. You most likely don’t yell at your infant for not walking when you think she should, so why would you yell at your puppy for not catching on to a new trick as quickly as you expect him to?

Keep these few simple guidelines in mind and you will soon find your puppy performing on command.  Remember to be patient and not give up hope; your puppy will learn new things more quickly as he gets older. We really aren’t that much different, you know.

• 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/2008/08/social-networks-for-pets/ http://freepettips.com/2008/08/social-networks-for-pets/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:22:00 +0000 admin http://freepettips.com/?p=58 Online networks targeting pet lovers are common, but a growing subset is catering to the pets themselves. Your pet can now join one of many social networks built just for them. We are starting a list of all the social networks for your critters to play at. Please post reviews or any that we may have missed in the comments:

Dogster
Catster
Hamsterster
Petster
Fuzzster
Pawspot
MyCatspace
Dogbook

Reptiles carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tract and intermittently or continuously shed these bacteria in their feces. Salmonella bacteria usually do not cause any illness in reptiles, but can cause serious illness in people. Most Salmonella infections in humans result in a mild, self-limiting illness characterized by diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. However, the infection can spread to the bloodstream, bone marrow or nervous system, leading to severe, and sometimes fatal, illness.

Fortunately the spread of Salmonella bacteria from reptiles to humans can be easily prevented by using the following routine precautions:

• Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling reptiles, reptile cages and equipment, and the stool of reptiles.
• Do not allow reptiles to have access to the kitchen, dining room, or any other area in which food is prepared. Also, do not allow reptiles to have access to bathroom sinks and tubs or to any area where infants are bathed. Consider keeping your reptiles caged or limiting the parts of the house where reptiles are allowed to roam free. Always wash your hands after coming into contact with any area where reptiles are allowed to roam free.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling reptiles, reptiles cages, or reptile equipment. Do not kiss reptiles or share food or drink with them.
• Do not use the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, bathroom sinks or bathtubs to bathe reptiles or to wash reptile cages, dishes or aquariums. Reptile owners may wish to purchase a plastic basin or tub in which to bathe or swim their reptiles. Waste water and fecal material should be disposed of in the toilet instead of the bathtub or household sink.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children less than five years of age avoid contact with reptiles and that households with children less than one year of age not own reptiles. The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians encourages reptile owners with young children to discuss steps to minimize risks associated with owning reptiles with their reptiles’ veterinarian and their physician. Children should be supervised when they are handling reptiles to ensure that they do not place their hands or objects that a reptile has contacted in their mouths. Reptiles should not be kept in child care centers.
• Pregnant women, children, elderly or frail adults, or immunosuppressed people are particularly at risk of infection or serious complications of salmonellosis. At a minimum, they need to take extra precautions; ideally, they should avoid contact with reptiles.
• Follow instructions from your reptile’s veterinarian concerning proper diet and environment for your reptile. Healthy reptiles living in proper environments are less likely to shed Salmonella bacteria.

While this information can be scary..  it should not discourage reptile ownership.  If you follow these simple rules, you can keep your familiy safe.

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.