A Light Look at Pet Grooming

The following video is presented by Petside. I thought you might enjoy it.

Pets Lose Homes and Families in Foreclosures

You have reached the end of your financial rope. The bank takes your house back or sells it at auction. You are suddenly faced with finding a place to live and no money to move. Do you move in with family? Rent an apartment? What do you do with the family pets?

For too many pets, it means being left in the home. Shut up in a room or tied in the back yard, people are being forced to abandon their pets when they lose their homes. Banks legally cannot release personal property for a certain period of time and are resisting having the animals removed. It's a bad situation for the pets involved.

Abandoning a pet to starve in an empty home should NOT be an option. There is no way to predict how long the pets will be there before someone finds them and it's almost a given that they will go to the local pound. Here are some suggestions that may help you re-home these pets or help the ones who have or will lose their homes.

1. Check with your friends and family to see if there is someone who can keep your pets temporarily while you get back on your feet. Perhaps co-workers or one of the local rescue groups.
2. If you know someone who is having financial difficulty, ask them if they have made arrangements for their pets. This may be somewhat futile as people facing the loss of their home, don't go around shouting it out.
3. Put an ad on Craigs list. While you don't go into the gory details of your financial life, you might want to say "forced to move, these dogs will go to pound". Looking for permanent or foster home for .... Many times, people will take the dogs in on a temporary basis while you are looking for a home where you can keep them. It is a good idea to ask some kind of small fee to protect your pet.
4. Put an ad on Petfinder. Again, mention that you are forced to move and that the pets are desparately in need of a home either temporarily or permanently.
5. For those of us who are aghast that people would abandon their pets, step back for a moment and realize that these are not necessarily bad, irresponsible or uncaring people. These are usually good people in a bad situation and it's happening A LOT right now. We can help.
6. If you can find it in your heart and room in your home to help, consider fostering a dog while the family gets back on their feet. Realize that it may be a longer term situation until the family can get settled and that you may end up re-homing the pet yourself if you choose not to keep it.
7. Check Craig's list, pet finder and offer to help. Post lists of shelters of no kill shelters in your area.
8. Contact your local shelter or rescue group and offer to foster a pet. Shelters are already over flowing but may be able to help out with the vet expenses for a pet. This will at least help to make room for the pets who are facing foreclosure.
9. Donate to your local shelter or rescue group. If you have been donating to Humane Society of the US or PETA, take those dollars and send them to your local shelters where they will be used to help the animals and not to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobbyists.
   

Maybe we should start a National database of people who are willing to foster pets on a temporary basis. I would be willing to start organize this if people are interested and would be willing to help out.

Photo Courtesy of Katayun

Acupuncture for Dogs

I thought this was an interesting article on Acupuncture for Dogs. I have found amazing relief from acupuncture and had heard recently that it was gaining in popularity for dogs.

Acupuncture For Dogs by Alien

Acupuncture is noted for its approach to treating the overall health of a person. That being said, acupuncture for dogs is proof the subject doesn’t have to be a person.



Acupuncture for Dogs

It might come as a surprise to some but acupuncture has been used for the treatment of various animal ailments in China for just as long as it has been used for humans. There is evidence that a very early form of it, that resembled blood letting, was used over three thousand years ago. Today, acupuncture is used in the treatment of several conditions in dogs. Veterinarians that have been trained in the use of acupuncture have become common in many countries.

The principles that guide acupuncture hold true for animals as well as humans. Since dogs are mammals and have the same organs as humans, it is not surprising that the flow of vital energy between these organs would work in a similar manner to human beings. The full range of treatment in acupuncture is not available for use on animals because the animals are unable to relate the kind of information that is needed to make a complete analysis of their condition. Despite this, the practitioner will ask the pet's owner a serious of questions that often seem totally unrelated to the complaint. This is being done to make a diagnosis using the principles of Chinese Medicine.

There have been good results reported in the treatment of dermatological conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic respiratory conditions, gynecological disorders, reproductive disorders, and back injuries. Several studies have been done on the use of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic back injuries in dogs and the results have been extremely favorable. Of course, pain relief is another condition that responds very well to acupuncture treatment, but again, it is hard to determine the exact location and type of pain the dog is feeling because of the communication difficulties.

Most dogs react very favorably to the actual treatment. In many cases, the animals are reported to be strangely calm and almost seem to realize that the treatment is doing them good. The normal treatment often takes forty five minutes to an hour and it is not unusual for a dog to lie perfectly still with minimum restraint for this time. There are some dogs that are so excitable by nature that it is impossible to administer the treatments without maximum restraint. This is rarely recommended, however, because there is evidence that the amount of chemical reactions going on in the excited animals would tend to counteract the results of the treatments.

Acupuncture treatment for dogs is similar to the treatment of humans in most ways. It is guided by the same underlying principle of treating the whole animal rather than a specific ailment. It needs as complete an understanding of the emotional and spiritual well being of the animal and it attempts to restore harmony to the natural order within it. Also, the treatments are generally combined with herbal treatments and can be done as a sole method of treatment or can be done in coordination with a more Western approach to veterinarian medicine.

Alien writes for Online doctor. He also writes for makeup tips and blackheads removal

Article Source: Articles Directory - ArticleGOLD

How To Prevent Tear Stains

One of the most frequent questions that I get is how can I prevent tear stains under their dogs eyes. There is nothing that spoils a dog’s cute expression more than dark red tear stains under their eyes and around their mouth. These stains can be prevented.

There are several reasons why tears cause staining. The most common is that when the hair and skin is wet it causes a low grade bacterial infection or a red yeast infection. Other causes could be a blocked tear duct, ear infections, genetics, allergies, food and possibly the water they drink.

There are several methods of curing tear staining and you may have to experiment a bit with what works for your dog. Remember when trying any of these that the results may not be immediately visible. It takes time for the tearing to slow and for the stained hair to grow out.

Probably the best way to prevent and cure tear stains is with a trip to your vet. A low dosage of tetracycline for about 2 weeks has been found to be very effective at curing tear staining that is due to bacterial or yeast infection. Some other antibiotics that have been found to be effective are Flagyl, and Tylan. They will also be able to determine if the staining is caused by a blocked or closed tear duct.

In addition to whatever method your veterinarian suggests, you can help the process along by following these steps daily. Make sure that your dog’s hair is not sticking up or falling into the eye and irritating it. Trim the hair or pull it up in a top knot. Then take a cotton ball and putting a drop or two of regular Visine on it. Gently rub under the eye on the stain. This will help to dry the area as well as neutralize stains themselves. Once you have the area clean and dry, you can take a tiny amount of petroleum jelly and smooth the hair down and out of the eye.

If your dog has staining around the mouth, you may want to make sure that your dog food does not have artificial coloring in it. Many dog foods have coloring that will cause staining. Also make sure that you are using stainless steel food and water bowls. Plastic bowls or cracked or chipped ceramic bowls can harbor the bacteria that cause staining around the mouth. Adding a little vinegar (1 tsp per quart) can help to change the ph balance and eliminate some staining. It takes a little effort to get your dog to actually drink this so start small with ¼ tsp per quart and work up slowly to 1 tsp.

One product that has been used by breeders and exhibitors to remove tear stains is Diamond Eye Tear Stain Remover. You can purchase a small bottle by clicking on this link Diamond Eye Tear Stain Remover, 4.22 oz. (125ml). It not only clears up the staining but also keeps the skin under the eye healthy.

Your groomer will trim the stained hair away from the eye as well as trimming any hair that might be falling into the eye. With regular grooming, this will keep tear staining to a minimum but removing the hair is only a temporary cure at best. Eliminating the actual cause along with good grooming is the way to keep your dog looking its best.

15 Minute Blizzard

Did anyone else notice the 15 minute blizzard we had yesterday morning? I looked out the window about 11:30 and the snow was not only coming down, it was so heavy and blowing that I couldn't see the house across the street. It didn't last but about 15 minutes and the snow on the ground was gone in less time.

I think it was Mother Nature's warning signal. The forecast now is calling for a wintery mix on Thursday and it sure seems like it is cold enough for that to not only happen but be significant enough to cause problems. It is making me think about weather changes for the shop and I suppose it's time to start bringing home the week's appointments so I can call and make adjustments due to weather.

Don't forget to make special arrangements for your pets in the storm. The salt that you put on steps and sidewalks can be poisionous to dogs. Make sure to wipe their feet so they don't lick it off or use a pet safe variety.

5 Tips for Winterizing your Dog

Ever notice that your skin gets drier in the winter months? Your dog or cat has the same problem. The nights get longer, the days cooler and the temperature drops. As your heating bills go up, your dog's skin and coat gets drier.

Here are a few tips to help keep your pet's coat and skin in tip top shape this winter.

1. Shampoo regularly. A regular bath will help keep your pet's skin clean and the pores unclogged. It helps to loosen dead hair and will keep the skin healthy. Use a mild, natural shampoo that is formulated for pets. The PH balance for pets is different than for humans so a human shampoo is not the right choice. At Happy Tails, we recommend Espree products as they are all natural and remove dirt without stripping the natural oils from the coat.
2. Brush regularly. Brushing your dogs coat will help to stimulate the skin. It removes dirt and tangles and keeps the coat from matting. Matts prevent the skin from drying and can contribute to fungal and bacterial infections of the skin. You will want to brush your dog out completely before bathing as small tangles or matts will become larger as the coat dries.
3. Condition the coat. Always use a conditioner or remoisturizer after the bath. These products are specially formulated and help to seal the hair shaft. This prevents moisture loss and makes the hair smoother to prevent tangles and matts. There are many options for different coat types. If you are not sure which is the best for your pet, ask your groomer or veterinarian.
4. Keep Feet clean. Dogs grow hair between the pads of their feet. During the winter with frequent rain or snow, this hair needs to be cleaned and/or removed to prevent infections. Just think about running around with wet socks outside. Whether it is cool and rainy or icy, this is very uncomfortable. Ice and snow can back inside the pads. The hair gets wet and matts and then does not dry completely. Removing this hair is the best option but if you can't do that, make sure that your dog's feet are clean and get dried when they come inside.
5. Supplements. The best way to care for your dogs skin (and your own) is from the inside out. Make sure that you are feeding a good quality dog food. Dog foods should contain Omega 3 and 6 oils. If you are noticing hair loss or dry skin, it's a good idea to supplement their regular diet with additional oils. Almost all of the skin and coat conditions will clear up with proper nutrition. I recommend Nu Vet Supplements as they are made with human grade ingredients and I have seen amazing results.

With a little extra winter care, your dogs coat and skin should remain healthy and shiny through the winter months. Stay warm!