When I Talk2theAnimals, sometimes the animal tells me she needs a little more help to balance herself so that the original problem her human brought to me can begin to be resolved.  Sometimes this may include the help of a trainer or a vet.

Many times the animal will tell me an alternative modality will be helpful, such as massage, chiropractic, Reiki or Bach Flower Remedies.  In massage, the muscles are kneaded to reduce, or release pain or tension.  Chiropractic involves manipulation of the spine, joints and soft tissues, putting the animal back into alignment.  Reiki and Bach Flowers work the energies of the animal.

To learn more about Reiki and Bach Flowers, I am going to point you in the direction of a couple of my blogging/Twitter buddies.  Coryelle Kramer is a Bach Flower Therapist and also an animal communicator.  On Coryelle’s blog you will find a lot of information on Bach Flowers, as well as common uses of the flower essences.

Reikifurbabies specializes in Reiki for animals.  On their blog you will find out what Reiki is, how it affects the animals, and you will be able to read some case studies and testimonials.

Happy reading and I hope you enjoy their blogs.  You very well may find a new modality for your beloved pet!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Recently Ali Jarvis of SideWalk Dog invited me to attend a fundraising luncheon for the Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota.  While I had heard of this organization, this luncheon provided me with the opportunity to learn more of what they do.

I learned HSDM provides hearing dogs, special skill dogs, service dogs, including dogs who assist people who experience diabetes and seizures, and they provide dogs who assist people who are autistic.

Wonderful testimonies were given by families who do have a dog from HSDM, and some of the service dogs also made an appearance.  Two puppies in training were there and of course, they were a big hit with those of us who needed a puppy fix.

I invite you to visit the Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota website to learn more about the program and what they offer.  While you’re on the homepage, scroll down to see an amazing video of how Finn Golden’s life has been transformed with the addition of his service dog Traeh.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Spring is coming; even in Minnesota there are signs of spring: warmer temperatures, and a little bit of green in my garden – weeds.  Soon we will have spring showers, and then the mosquitoes will be out.

Mosquitoes can carry heartworm, a potentially lethal infection for dogs.  Here in MN it’s time to have the heartworm exam done, and beginning May 1, my dogs Teddy and Emmie will begin their monthly heartworm regime.  Why is this important for dogs?

Heartworm is a parasitic infection caused by bites of the culicine mosquitoes.  When a dog receives the bite, the heartworm larva remain around the bite wound for two months as they grow into adult worms. Then they enter the bloodstream and migrate to the dog’s heart and lungs, where they begin their own regenerative cycle.  They can be 6-14 inches in length and can live in the dog 5-7 years.

Dogs need to be tested yearly for heartworm because there are not any visible signs of the infection in early stages.  In severe cases of heartworm, your dog may exhibit the following:

• Cough
• An intolerance to exercise
• Difficulty with breathing
• Loss of appetite and weight loss

Once a dog shows symptoms, hospitalization is almost always required because of how involved the treatment is.
Even Dr. Pitcairn, in his book Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health For Dogs and Cats says he is reluctant to tell people to stop the use of heartworm preventives as he cannot guarantee the dogs won’t get heartworm.  If you would like to read more on Dr. Pitcairn’s views, click here need link to order the book.

If for any reason you think your dog has heartworms, contact your vet immediately.
Harmony,

Janet Roper

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The No Kill 2009 Conference will be held on May 2-3, 2009 in Washington, DC.  From their site:

The No Kill Advocacy Center is teaming up with the Animal Law program at George Washington University Law School to bring together the nation’s most successful shelter directors and the nation’s top animal lawyers. They will help you create a No Kill community and teach you how to use the legal system to save the lives of animals.

Learn from animal control/shelter directors who are now saving over 90% of all animals using the building blocks to No Kill success—programs and services that have had results in both urban and rural communities—to increase adoptions, reduce length of stay, increase redemption rates, rehabilitate animals, and much, much more.

Learn from animal law experts who have challenged our legal system to help animals: Whether it’s drafting model laws, fighting breed specific legislation, eliminating the gas chamber, filing impact legislation, or protecting condemned dogs, learn how to use the legal system to save the lives of animals.

Learn from activists fighting entrenched and regressive shelters in their own community as they show you how to launch successful campaigns for reform.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Here we are in March, and it is officially Adopt-a-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month.  While you are looking to adopt (not buy) your cuddly guinea pig, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• As with all pets, an adult should be the primary caretaker.
• Guinea pigs need ample room; their living quarters should be at least 18 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 14 inches high.  The larger their living space, the more active they will be.
• Aquariums do not provide adequate ventilation for guinea pigs.
• Guinea pigs chew to wear down their growing teeth so everything in the cage must be non-toxic.
• Use plenty of lining for the cage.
• Plenty of high quality hay provides nesting and snacking opportunities for your guinea pig.
• Your guinea pig will also need a gnawing log, platforms for climbing and tunnels for crawling, a food bowl and a water bottle with a sipper tube.
• Handle your guinea pig carefully as they are disposed towards stress.
• Introduce deep leafy green vegetables one day at a time, such as romaine lettuce, kale and collards.  Watch for any stomach upset.
• Guinea pigs like fruit such as melon slices and apples. Be sure to remove the toxic apple seeds.
• Because their cages double as bedding and litter box, the cages need daily cleaning.
• Guinea pigs are social animals, so you will want at least two.  However, make sure they are compatible as well as being of the same sex.

Check with your local Humane Society to adopt your guinea pigs.  The Guinea Pig Handbook by Sharon L. Vanderlip, D.V.M. is an excellent resource on care of your new guinea pig.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Got pets? Dogs and/or cats?  Then you will find Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats a must for your library.  It’s a hefty book, a paperback with 464 pages.  Originally published 20 years ago, it has sold over 400,000 copies.

Prevention is the key to having a healthy pet.  Dr. Pitcairn’s book provides succinct, easy to follow and easy to understand information on natural care for cats and dogs.

The book is divided into two parts, with the first part covering natural health for pets.  In this section you will find information on diet, home-made recipes, exercise, choosing a healthy animal, creating a healthy environment for your pet, dealing with the death of a pet, how to care for a sick animal and holistic and alternative modalities for pets.

The second part of the book is a quick reference section for diseases and even has a section for handling emergencies and giving first aid.

This is an invaluable reference to have on hand, I highly recommend it. To purchase the book, simply click on the book icon and you will be taken to Amazon.

As far as the home-made pet food cat recipes, my 17 year old cat Mitzie gives them 5 out of 5 purrs!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Congratulations to the two winners of the Talk2theAnimals Birthday Celebration Contest!  We had lots of entries, it was difficult to narrow it down to only two winners.  A heartfelt thank you to all who entered their stories.

The Grand Prize Winner is Bonnie Koening who wrote ‘Why Do You Think Sickness is Wrong?’ a story about her cat Georgia.  Runner up is Sarah Tymeson who asks if the thoughts in your mind are yours or from an animal.  Besides having their entries published, Bonnie won a Talk2theAnimals TeleParty for her and 5 of her friends, and Sarah won a half hour communication.  Congratulations Bonnie and Sarah!

Enjoy these two wonderful stories!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Why Do You think Sickness is Wrong?

By Bonnie Koenig
http://www.chey.mysiamese.com

Talking To Georgia

My old cat is dying.  Two and a half years ago she was diagnosed with a menigioma and given three to six months to live.  I took her to a homeopathic vet and she did quite well for a time but now I see her walking around like an old cat in kidney failure.   I wonder how much more?  Is she comfortable?  What does she want?  How can I meet those needs?

I’ve always been able to talk to Georgia.   Years ago, when she went outside, I would sit on the back porch and concentrate upon her in the late evening and tell her it was time to come home. She’d be jumping over the fence as I was getting ready to go inside.

I settled down in bed with her at my feet and concentrated upon her as she snoozed one evening not long ago.  I asked if she were comfortable? How did she feel?  She seemed not quite all in her body but she was content.  No she was not the young cat she once was, but she was fine.

I told her I worried. I had missed all these signs on another cat she had lived with.  I worried that this cat had been sick and I didn’t know.   If I had know “what was wrong with her” maybe I could have eased her suffering.

Georgia said, very clearly.  “There was nothing wrong with her. She was sick.”

And I said, “That’s what I mean. If I had known, maybe I could have helped.”

Georgia said, “Why do you think being sick is wrong?  It’s not wrong. It just is.”

I was so startled I was thrown out of the meditation with her but her words have stayed with me, haunting past choices.

Why do I think sick is wrong?  Why have I tried to so hard to control the passing of each cat as they get elderly and sick, worried that they can’t handle the end, when really it appears it is only my worry for them?

Georgia has indicated that as a hunter cat, had she been outside, she would have been killed and eaten by a bigger hunter by now.  And that would have been okay with her (she adds though that she has no desire to be thrown out to the coyotes).  Had her life been different, though, that is just the way things would have been.

For today Georgia is still with us.  Perhaps tomorrow. No matter what happens, Georgia says it’s okay. She is content.  And so we enjoy these last weeks together.

RUNNER UP

By Sarah Tymeson

I was working on a blog post a few months back and was telling the story of the horses I’ve known and how they’ve shaped my life.  There were several listed but one name eluded me.  I could NOT think of his name to save my soul.  It drove me crazy for days.  All I could remember was that it was short…only 3 or 4 letters.  And I was about 90% certain it started with a ‘K’ but that was all I could muster (and I wasn’t even all that sure about the first letter).  Hubby even tried to help, naming off horses that I’d worked with.  I must say, I was impressed that he would remember ANY of their names!  So, randomly, for days, I would half-yell, “What is his name?!”  Seriously, things like that drive me NUTS!
On weekends I work at a stable.  I find that my time there is very relaxing and I tend to have my communicative moments there.  And not necessarily by choice either.  Since I’ve only recently tuned into this ability, I’ve not yet gained full control over where and when it occurs.  So, while cleaning stalls, in the quiet of the barn, when there is no other thought in my mind, the animals tell me things.  Lilly informed me that she’s a princess and wants the “royal treatment.”  Another horse, Trouble, wants to be a jumper (I think, still want clarification here).  Tex wants to be un-retired.  And so far, I haven’t minded these ambushes because I’m grateful that anything at all is getting through.  And that is how it happened on one cool morning:
I was cleaning stalls and this movie began to play in my mind.  Now, I must say 2 things here:  I do not normally visualize anything in my mind.  And it was not a movie that I had seen before in its entirety.  I’ve seen bits and pieces, but a scene from this movie played constantly in my mind for several stalls.  I kept thinking:  Why on Earth am I thinking about this movie?! I didn’t even really like it that much.  But no matter how hard I tried to think about other things…my to-do list or what to make for lunch…this movie was “attacking” me.  Over and over.  Without ceasing.  And then it hit me!  The movie playing in my mind was Shallow Hal.  The horse’s name was HAL!!!  How else would a horse with the name “Hal” communicate to someone what his name is?!  And as soon as I yelled out, in the quiet stillness of that barn:  His name is HAL!  I had NO more thoughts about that movie ever again.
My lesson:  When thoughts flood your mind that you seem to have NO control over, check:  Are these thoughts mine?!  If not, they may very well be the animals in your life trying to tell you something.

About the author:  Sarah Tymeson works with animals…primarily horses presently…using Access Energy Transformation to unlock and dissolve the blocks that they don’t realize they can let go of.  Oftentimes the animals in our lives take on our garbage in an attempt to help us, and then that gets stuck in their bodies and hinders their progress and health.  And all they need is the realization that they can let it go and the tools to do so.  Visit http://healing-horses.com for more information.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Need some bunny to love?  OK, sorry, that pun is bad, I must admit it.  But, should you need some bunny to love, February is the idea month to find that bunny.  An earlier post talked about what to look for when adopting a rabbit, and gave you some sites to check out.  If you live in Minnesota, you may want to check out the MN Companion Rabbit Society, located in Edina, MN.  Below is a rabbit lovers video, showing a mother bunny and her two babies, a fun video to watch.  Hop right to it and watch the video!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Hey Ho, Teddy here!  Me and Mom had a tug of war on who would write this post and I won!  HA!  That’s because I have strong teeth and I know how to hang on to things, and dog pals, there’s just some things I want to tell you, so I was determined to hang on until Mom let me write this post.  HA!

But she said I have to remind all you dog pals to tell your humans to keep you safe over this Valentine’s Day thing coming up.  So dog pals, just tell your humans to read this.

There, that’s done.  Now for the important stuff of what I’ve got to say!  HA!

So me and my sister Emmie and the cats were listening to Mom talk on the phone to one of her people pals about Valentine’s Day.  Apparently people give treats to each other, can’t be a bad day then, can it dog pals?  Well, we all thought it would be very nice if people would give their pets treats that day.  Mom must have heard us talking cuz she said something about giving us special treats that day.

But then Emmie, you know what she said dog pals?  She asked about those animals who are in the shelters who don’t have their own humans to give them treats!  Dog pals, I gotta tell ya, that made all of us think for awhile, cuz we were all adopted and we KNOW what it’s like to be in those shelters!

So we came up with a list that you dog pals can tell your humans to take to the shelters to give to the animals there who haven’t found their humans yet.  Me and Emmie and the cats think it would be a very good thing to do.

• Call your local shelter or humane society to find out how to donate and if they have any specific needs.
• Food is good!  Tell your humans to think of donating food and treats!  Also items like chew toys, kitty litter, bedding, blankets, rugs, pet carriers, crates, bowls, feeding trays, grooming items.
• Cleaning supplies so the humans can keep it clean for our dog pals!  Paper towels, bath towels, bleach, trash bags and cans, pooper scoopers, litter pans and kitty litter.
• I guess there’s a place called an office for the humans there.  Office equipment and supplies, computers, printers, phones, copiers and fax machines.
• Donate money, in case they need it for some exact stuff they need, or to help the sick dog pals; some dog pals might even need surgery!
• Tell your human to consider becoming a volunteer and donating their time.

You know, dog pals, some shelters may even need CARS! to take us dog pals in for rides.  HA!  So that’s why you gotta tell your humans to call first, and see what that specific shelter needs.

Oh, the cats said not to forget about the cats and kittens that are there at the shelters.  And Emmie said when she was in the shelter, she saw birds and rabbits and rats and gerbils and hamsters and guinea pigs; she said they need special treats and stuff too.

So dog pals, I think if all us dog pals pull together and tell our humans, the animals in the shelters will have a good Valentine’s Day too!

Over & out,

Teddy

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Looking to adopt a family pet?  Have you thought of adopting a rabbit?  February is Adopt a Rabbit Month.  Here’s some information to help you decide if adopting a rabbit is right for your family.

• Life expectancy of a rabbit is 5-15 years.
• Rabbits need daily care and interaction with their humans.
• Rabbits are indoor creatures, and require a safe home environment.
• Rabbits are heat sensitive and require the temperature to be monitored.
• Rabbits are fragile and need to be handled carefully.

For more bunny information, check out these sites:

Best Friends

MN Compaion Rabbit

Humane Society of the United States

As with any other pet, adopt, don’t buy.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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