I have just returned from the barn and taking care of Shiloh: deworming, feeding, grooming, and spoiling–not in that particular order.  This was the first day that he was out grazing, and it made me think of the horse care that needs to be provided with the onset of spring.  Click here to read more about the Spring Checklist for Horses.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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There are many items we keep in and around our houses that are lethal to our pets.  The ASPCA has written a very informative article about the top 10 pet poisons of 2008.  I have listed them here, but I invite you to visit their site to read the article in its entirety.

• Human Medications
• Insecticides
• Some People Food
• Rodenticides
• Veterinary Medications
• Plants
• Chemical Hazards
• Household Cleaners
• Heavy Metals
• Fertilizer

We can’t leave it up to our beloved pets to know what is safe and what is unsafe.  If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, contact your vet or, if after hours, your emergency vet immediately.  You can also contact Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at 888-426-4435.

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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True confessions here.  I’m an animal communicator who made a terrible mistake…thankfully it was with my own dog Teddy and there is a simple remedy.

We live in the Minneapolis, MN area, and for those of you not familiar with MN, we easily have 7 months of winter a year.  Which means when you have two dogs, the dog poo accumulates until spring time.

Recently we experienced a day nice enough that I could go out and begin picking up the top layer of the poop.  The snow had melted enough I could get to the poop, but the poop itself was still frozen and easy to pick up.  Not thinking, when I came in the house, I told Teddy, who occasionally eats poop (coprophagla) that he helped clean up the yard when he did that.

Way big mistake!  Teddy has taken it to heart that cleaning the back yard is now his job, so I did a Google search and discovered ScoopyPoo, the #1 Pooper Scooper in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

I connected with owner Sonja Tengdin, and I knew we would hit if off when she said “ScoopyPoo: We love taking crap from you!”  Sonja pointed out the importance of keeping a clean yard.  Did you know:

• 23 million fecal coliform bacteria can be in 1 gram of dog doo.
• Dogs poop on average 23 times a week.
• It can take up to a year for dog poo to degrade.
• Picking up dog poo prevents your dog (and family) from exposure to infectious worm eggs & larvae.

What I truly appreciated is the humorous, practical, down to earth approach ScoopyPoo has to the poop scooping business.  As we talked, Sonja pointed out some benefits I had already been thinking of: if I have someone pick up the poop, it won’t be brought into the house on my shoes, keeping my rugs and floors clean.  I detest spring poop cleaning, I can only do it in short spurts because I start gagging and feeling nauseous.  And frankly, I am busy enough without adding that repugnant chore to my to-do list.

I investigated ScoopyPoo’s website and discovered more information.  They are very reasonably priced, and offer year round pick-up service.  They also have a Big Time Clean-Up, which is right up my alley.  I also learned that because dog poo is considered hazardous waste in Minnesota, ScoopyPoo leaves the poo double bagged in my garbage.  An extra bonus, which I hadn’t even considered, is that when picking up the poo, they check for possibly any unhealthy warnings and alert me to that.

To my delight I found some Poo Haikus on the site:

“I watch where I step
Determined not to mash poo
Ew, my cross trainers.”

The last thing I saw on ScoopyPoo’s website said:

“It’s a dream come true.  Close your eyes.  Imagine never picking up another piece of poop again.  Enough said.”

If you’re in the Minneapolis/St. Paul MN area and need a pooper scooper in your life, I recommend ScoopyPoo!

Teddy, your poop-eating days are numbered!

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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In my book, a perfect world for the animals would consist of a blend of animal communication, training and medical support.  I envision it as a triangle, with each leg of the triangle being one of the practices.  When one leg is faulty, the triangle can come tumbling down.  Just like Humpty Dumpty.

I find it fascinating the different existing modalities that can be on the medical leg of the triangle: chiropractic, healing touch, Bach Flower Remedies and Reiki, just to name a few.  Recently I have discovered a Reiki site; I don’t want to steal their thunder, so I invite you to visit Reiki Fur Babies.  On the left side of the page you will see an interesting write-up of what Reiki is and how it can help the animals.  Enjoy!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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The other night my 15-year-old dog Teddy started pacing, a very unusual behavior for him.  He simply could not get comfortable – he tried the couch, his kennel and his favorite place, under the bed.  He would stay for a few minutes, then get back up and pace.  He carried his tail between his legs, which is very unusual for him as Teddy is quite proud of his tail. However, he was eating, drinking and eliminating, all good signs.

He is on Metacam for his hips, thyroid medication, he has fatty lumps, his eyes are beginning to cloud up and his hearing is not what it used to be.  He’s been on Nutri Source’s Senior Dog Food for quite a few years.

It’s hard for me to admit that Teddy, my 15-year-old perpetual-con-artist-puppy is a senior citizen and is aging.

With the excellent care our animals receive, they are living longer, meaning that we have more senior animals.  Instead of simply being a dog that is kept outside, our pets are now valued family members.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind as your animal ages:

• A wellness check with your pet’s vet will find problems early on, allowing treatment to start before the problem becomes serious.
• Age appropriate exercise will help keep joints mobile and help your pet maintain a good frame of mind.
• Nutritional needs change as your pet ages.  Check with your pet’s medical care practitioner for recommended diet.
• Dental care promotes good general health.
• Alternative practices such as acupuncture, healing touch and reiki can do a lot to keep you pet’s systems balanced.

If you have any tips about life with a senior pet and how to care for them, let us know!  I will keep you posted on how Teddy fairs.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Pets get cold too during the winter, and it is so important that we take extra special care of them during this frigid time.  Here’s a video that gives some winter pet care tips.  Just remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better

FYI: This post is not about yuletide carols and holiday cheer.  While you may not want to read any further, I invite you to keep reading.  There is important information below.  Your comments, thoughts and ideas are very much welcomed.

Actually, I’ve been debating for awhile about writing this post.  I kept thinking ‘When is a good time to write about animals and their right to life?’.  I didn’t want to depress anyone around the holidays. Finally, I decided there is no time like the present to broach this topic.

It seems lately a lot of heartbreaking and depressing stories about human treatment of animals have found their way to me.  The local MN TV stations have been covering a story about a young golden retriever who was shot twice and left for dead at the side of the road in this frigid weather.  Thousands and thousands of horses are dying.  From two colleagues I have heard about animals being skinned alive for their fur.  The fur is fresher that way.  The soon-to-be carcasses are thrown into a pile and can still be alive for another ten minutes.

I don’t know what to say, where to begin.  I get lost in the murky areas of torture, abuse, neglect.  I get further disorientated regarding how lack of economics and education play a part in this, as well as power, might and violence.  I can’t imagine, I simply cannot imagine, what pain a person must be in themselves to inflict this on another living, sentient creature.

This morning I was listening to NPR’s This I Believe.  Dr. Paul Farmer wrote this morning’s essay. The honesty and frankness of his words both touched me and left me heavy hearted.  While Dr. Farmer is addressing the health needs of humans, I see it as appropriate for animals also. Below is a portion of what he said.  To see the entire essay, click here. The words in parenthesis are mine.

As heard on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday, December 21, 2008.

I know it’s not enough to attend only to the immediate needs of the patient (animal) in front of me. We must also call attention to the failures and inadequacy of our own best efforts. The goal of preventing human (animal) suffering must be linked to the task of bringing others, many others, into a movement for basic rights.

I move uneasily between the obligation to intervene and the troubling knowledge that much of the work we do, praised as “humanitarian” or “charitable,” does not always lead us closer to our goal. That goal is nothing less than the refashioning of our world into one in which no one (creature) starves, drinks impure water, lives in fear of the powerful and violent, or dies ill and unattended.

To put in my own words, We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better.

In the book Altruistic Armadillos, Zenlike Zebras, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson comments about beetles that ‘they are living beings who have as much right to their existence as we have to ours’. (p. 23)

I would like to take Masson’s comment a step further and apply that to all animals, insects, any sentient being.  I’m also going to add to that comment: ‘they are living beings who have only as much right to their existence as we have to ours’.

Perspectives will begin to change when it is realized that animals have as much a prerogative and birthright to their lives as you and I do.  This I Believe.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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My four legged family consists of three cats, two dogs and one horse.  Of that, three are senior citizens, two are middle aged and Rave, the youngest cat is still in adolescence.

You can imagine my vet bills – especially with a horse named Ima Real Investment?  However, it is important for us animal parents not only to have a vet, but to have a vet both you and your animal feel comfortable with.

I am very fortunate with my vets – yes, that’s plural!  Excelsior Animal Hospital takes care of the cats and dogs, River Valley Veterinary Services takes care of horse Shiloh, and Interlaken Centre does the acupuncture for the entire crew.

I’d like to share with you what I like about these vets.  These are some suggestions and thoughts to keep in mind should you be looking for a vet.

1. My animals adore their vets and the staff.

2. The reception staff is very friendly, helpful and well informed.

3. The office hours are compatible with my life style and needs.

4. All the vets and staff have an excellent bedside manner with the animals.

5. All the vets have excellent people skills and are extremely good at explaining to me what is going on and the procedure or course of action they recommend and why they make that recommendation.

6. Each vet has their own specialty: one for large animal, one for small animal and one for acupuncture. Should I ever acquire a bird or reptile, I would need to find a vet specializing in those services.

7. Each vet office is conveniently located.  In Shiloh’s case, his vet comes to the barn.

8. I feel comfortable with the facilities – from the parking area to the exam room.

9. Shiloh’s vet is on call; for the cats and dogs, I have an emergency vet service I use when needed.

10. The vets I use are in alignment with my thoughts on vaccinations, diet and holistic approaches.

A couple of other points to keep in mind regarding vets.  It’s best to take a proactive position in finding a vet.  Should there be an emergency situation, you don’t want to find yourself in the position of googling local vet offices or thumbing through the yellow pages.

Also, even with the downturn in the economy, it is very important to take your animals in for their regular checkups.  Regular checkups can help to circumvent serious problems later down the road, and help you to save money in the long run.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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