With Summer appoarching and More people taking a vacation I thought about reprinting our How to pick pet sitter.
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1. Does the pet sitter have commercial liability insurance?
2. What training does the pet sitter have?
3. Â Does the pet sitter ask questions such, what does the pet like, dislike, what medication does each animal have, routines, allegories, etc?
4.
Do they do a home visit before beginning work, so they can get know your animals?(this one I find important, because you want to know if you pet will like them, if not then you need to find someone else. For example, I don’t want my dog with a male sitter, since he is afraid of males and will attack, so make sure that you know that you dogs will have a comfortable relationship with them. )
5. Does the pet sitter have a contract that spells out what they will and will not do?
6. Will they spend time with your animal or just come and feed and water then leave?
7. Does the pet sitter make sure that you are home at the end of the trip? ( this is important because if something happens you want someone to still come and feed your animals)
8. Do they provide any references, that you can either call or email?
Questions you should ask your Pet Sitter
1. What services are included in the fee?
2. (some pet sitters will include an extra fee to give med's, come out more then once or twice a day, multiple pets, etc)
3. Â What type of pets do they take care?
4. Some pet sitters only take care of dogs and cats, but others will feed fish, reptiles, birds, etc. You want to make sure that your pet sitter will take care of all your animals
5. How much time will the pet sitter spend with your animals?
6. Some pet sitters will spend a certain amount of time, exercising your dog, cat, etc while others will just come to make sure that they are ok and feed and water them only.
7. How do they handle emergency situations?
8. Will they take your animal to the vet, will they deal with police or fire department if necessary. You need to find all that out.
What you should do for your Pet Sitter before you leave
* Assemble everything the sitter will need to care for your pet, including house keys, food and water dishes, any medications your pet may need, and enough food and treats to last for the duration of your trip.
* Describe your pet’s personality to the sitter, and spend some time introducing the sitter to your pet. You should also acquaint the sitter with your pet’s health issues, habits, hiding places and favorite toys.
* Leave your sitter with written, detailed pet care instructions, including phone number for your veterinarian and your travel itinerary with contact numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.
Mar 31, 2010
Mar 22, 2010
Pumpkin Recipes
Ingredients for Pumpkin Dog Cookies
•1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
•2 tablespoons dry milk
•1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
•2 tablespoons vegetable oil
•1/2 cup pumpkin
•1/2 cup water, + 2 tablespoons water
•1 cup white flour
•1/2 cup corn meal
•1/3 cup oats
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1/4 teaspoon ginger
Directions
•Place all the ingredients in your breadmaker in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
•Use the Dough cycle.
•When the dough is ready, remove it from the breadmaker and divide it into thirds.
•Roll each dough ball with a rolling pin until it is ¼” thick.
•Using the size cookie cutter that is best for your breed and size dog, cut out the cookies.
•Place the cookies on a greased cookie sheet.
•Bake the cookies at 275-300 degrees F for about an hour or until lightly browned.
•Turn off the oven and let the cookies finish drying in the oven overnight.
Pumpkin Cookies for Dogs
Ingredients
•1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
•2 tablespoons dry milk
•1 cup white flour
•1/3 cup corn meal
•1/2 cup oats
•1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1 teaspoon ginger
•2 tablespoons vegetable oil
•1/2 cup canned pumpkin
•1/2 cup water + 1 tablespoon water
Directions
•Place all the ingredients in your bread machine and set the machine for the dough cycle.
•When the dough is finished, remove it and roll it into sheets that are 1/4" thick.
•Using cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes and place it on a lightly greased cookie sheet or an ungreased pastry mat.
•Let the cookies rise for about an hour.
•Bake the dog cookies for an hour at 275-300 degrees F.
•Turn off the oven, and let the dog cookies continue to dry overnight in the oven. When they are completely done, they will be hard, dry and crisp. The dog treats will be hard for you to break in your hands--and better for your dog's teeth and gums.
•You can store these dog cookies for a month or so at room temperature.
If you would like to give the dog treats as a gift, serve them at a dog party or use them as a festive treat, you can decorate them with dog treat icing and sprinkles. Your stars will be easier to decorate if you use a larger star cookie cutter to make bigger stars. You can always break them in half for a smaller dog.
•1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
•2 tablespoons dry milk
•1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
•2 tablespoons vegetable oil
•1/2 cup pumpkin
•1/2 cup water, + 2 tablespoons water
•1 cup white flour
•1/2 cup corn meal
•1/3 cup oats
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1/4 teaspoon ginger
Directions
•Place all the ingredients in your breadmaker in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
•Use the Dough cycle.
•When the dough is ready, remove it from the breadmaker and divide it into thirds.
•Roll each dough ball with a rolling pin until it is ¼” thick.
•Using the size cookie cutter that is best for your breed and size dog, cut out the cookies.
•Place the cookies on a greased cookie sheet.
•Bake the cookies at 275-300 degrees F for about an hour or until lightly browned.
•Turn off the oven and let the cookies finish drying in the oven overnight.
Pumpkin Cookies for Dogs
Ingredients
•1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
•2 tablespoons dry milk
•1 cup white flour
•1/3 cup corn meal
•1/2 cup oats
•1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1 teaspoon ginger
•2 tablespoons vegetable oil
•1/2 cup canned pumpkin
•1/2 cup water + 1 tablespoon water
Directions
•Place all the ingredients in your bread machine and set the machine for the dough cycle.
•When the dough is finished, remove it and roll it into sheets that are 1/4" thick.
•Using cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes and place it on a lightly greased cookie sheet or an ungreased pastry mat.
•Let the cookies rise for about an hour.
•Bake the dog cookies for an hour at 275-300 degrees F.
•Turn off the oven, and let the dog cookies continue to dry overnight in the oven. When they are completely done, they will be hard, dry and crisp. The dog treats will be hard for you to break in your hands--and better for your dog's teeth and gums.
•You can store these dog cookies for a month or so at room temperature.
If you would like to give the dog treats as a gift, serve them at a dog party or use them as a festive treat, you can decorate them with dog treat icing and sprinkles. Your stars will be easier to decorate if you use a larger star cookie cutter to make bigger stars. You can always break them in half for a smaller dog.
Mar 19, 2010
Pumpkin's Benfit
Many know that pumpkin can be considered a health food, but it can also have benefits for our pets as well.
The health benefits of pumpkin are well-known, though most people do not think of pumpkin as a health food. Perhaps this is because most of us think of pumpkin pie, which is a high-calorie treat--but it might be one of the healthier desserts we could choose. Pumpkin is loaded with vitamins C, K and E, beta-carotene, fiber, and several other beneficial antioxidants and other phytonutrients like lutein and ziazanthin. Pumpkin seeds are high in various minerals such as manganese, magnesium, zinc, potassium, copper and iron and are high in essential fatty acids (no trans fats, either!) Pumpkin is a common ingredient in some facial and skin products that help protect against aging and dermatologic maladies. There is even research that indicates pumpkin extracts can be useful in the treatment of diabetes. For humans, it is no less than a miracle food.
But what about our pets? They don't need vitamin C and very few dogs or cats are deficient in any of the above minerals or vitamins, thanks to the diets most of them consume (which are superior to what the average human consumes as part of his or her diet.) But the fiber content is sometimes very useful in the treatment and maintenance of digestive health of our pets. Few foods are more readily consumed than pumpkin puree (not the pumpkin pie filling) by our pets; just a small portion in their daily diets (1/4 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, depending on the pet's weight) can make the difference between a case of chronic diarrhea or constipation and a normal daily bowel movement. Many veterinarians often prescribe pumpkin as part of the treatment for either intestinal malady, as well as simply a healthful dietary supplement.
It may not seem logical at first that something like pumpkin fiber can treat both defecations that are too runny as well as too hard and dry. But that is why fiber additives are advertised to help make us ‘regular'.
Diarrhea is usually the result of lack of water re-absorption in the colon (the last part of the intestinal tract), either because of too-rapid transit through the intestines, or because of some toxic, secretory activity in the tract itself. Fiber in the digesta can directly assist in the formation of more solid stools and also by slowing the passage of waste material through the colon,allowing more time for water re-absorption. Thus, added pumpkin in the diet can help in the treating of loose stools in our pets.
Alternatively constipation is often due to the too-slow passage of material through the colon, allowing too much water re-absorption and resulting in dry, hard, and difficult-to-pass stools. Additional fiber in the diet will keep some of the moisture from being re-absorbed by the colon. Even pets that are not constipated but just having trouble getting that last little bit of stool out, or having some perianal itching afterwards can benefit from the addition of pumpkin in their diets. Therefore, one can see that added pumpkin in the diet can help in treatment and prevention of constipation as well.
And what is so special about pumpkin? After all, couldn't the addition of Metamucil or some other form of fiber additive be just as useful and effective? Probably. Pumpkin, however, has several advantages over other fiber forms. Primarily, it tastes good. I have not known too many dogs that will not readily accept pumpkin as part of their diet, or as an intermittent treat. Most dogs love it, which makes giving them added fiber not only convenient but even enjoyable. And often cats will like pumpkin, too. Trying to get a cat to take fiber in any other form can be very frustrating. Pumpkin is loaded with other nutrients as well, though perhaps less useful for our pets than for us. Still, aren't harmful and could be beneficial.
As mentioned above, pumpkin can be given to cats as well as dogs. Not only can it help with the problems of simple diarrhea and constipation, but also can help cats deal with their unique hairball problems. Cats that vomit up hairballs frequently (more than once a month) should probably see a veterinarian; however as that is probably not normal, particularly if additional pumpkin does not help matters much.
It is interesting that cats, too, seem to benefit from the addition of pumpkin in their diets. Why this is surprising is cats are obligate carnivores, which means they are meat eaters. Vegetables are usually not an important part of a true carnivore's diet (dogs are not really true carnivores despite their being members of the carnivore family.) Yet many cats seem to relish eating vegetable material, most which is not digested. Vegetable fiber passing through even the short digestive tract of the feline can assist in correcting problems in defecation and normal stool production. And often on top of the list of a cat's favorite vegetable is canned pumpkin. Use caution in feeding excess pumpkin to a cat as they could develop excessive gas and discomfort. A little pumpkin goes a long way and a lot is not good!
Please note that the form of pumpkin recommended is pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which is far too sweet and sugary for most pets. The internet is bursting with all sorts of pumpkin remedies for pets as well as humans, but be sure these recipes include the puree and not the pie filling, and do not contain pet-toxic food items like chocolate, onion or garlic.
Birds may also benefit from pumpkin in their diet!
Please remember that serious cases of diarrhea or constipation may still need veterinary attention and may not respond to simply adding pumpkin to the diets. However it is always worth a try, and pumpkin often will be prescribed by a veterinarian as part of the immediate, if not long-term treatment of a pet's medical problems
If you do not have pumpkin, substitute acorn squash, hubbard squash, butternut squash, buttercup squash, or calabaza. Sweet potatoes are also a good option as a subtitute for pumpkin.
The health benefits of pumpkin are well-known, though most people do not think of pumpkin as a health food. Perhaps this is because most of us think of pumpkin pie, which is a high-calorie treat--but it might be one of the healthier desserts we could choose. Pumpkin is loaded with vitamins C, K and E, beta-carotene, fiber, and several other beneficial antioxidants and other phytonutrients like lutein and ziazanthin. Pumpkin seeds are high in various minerals such as manganese, magnesium, zinc, potassium, copper and iron and are high in essential fatty acids (no trans fats, either!) Pumpkin is a common ingredient in some facial and skin products that help protect against aging and dermatologic maladies. There is even research that indicates pumpkin extracts can be useful in the treatment of diabetes. For humans, it is no less than a miracle food.
But what about our pets? They don't need vitamin C and very few dogs or cats are deficient in any of the above minerals or vitamins, thanks to the diets most of them consume (which are superior to what the average human consumes as part of his or her diet.) But the fiber content is sometimes very useful in the treatment and maintenance of digestive health of our pets. Few foods are more readily consumed than pumpkin puree (not the pumpkin pie filling) by our pets; just a small portion in their daily diets (1/4 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, depending on the pet's weight) can make the difference between a case of chronic diarrhea or constipation and a normal daily bowel movement. Many veterinarians often prescribe pumpkin as part of the treatment for either intestinal malady, as well as simply a healthful dietary supplement.
It may not seem logical at first that something like pumpkin fiber can treat both defecations that are too runny as well as too hard and dry. But that is why fiber additives are advertised to help make us ‘regular'.
Diarrhea is usually the result of lack of water re-absorption in the colon (the last part of the intestinal tract), either because of too-rapid transit through the intestines, or because of some toxic, secretory activity in the tract itself. Fiber in the digesta can directly assist in the formation of more solid stools and also by slowing the passage of waste material through the colon,allowing more time for water re-absorption. Thus, added pumpkin in the diet can help in the treating of loose stools in our pets.
Alternatively constipation is often due to the too-slow passage of material through the colon, allowing too much water re-absorption and resulting in dry, hard, and difficult-to-pass stools. Additional fiber in the diet will keep some of the moisture from being re-absorbed by the colon. Even pets that are not constipated but just having trouble getting that last little bit of stool out, or having some perianal itching afterwards can benefit from the addition of pumpkin in their diets. Therefore, one can see that added pumpkin in the diet can help in treatment and prevention of constipation as well.
And what is so special about pumpkin? After all, couldn't the addition of Metamucil or some other form of fiber additive be just as useful and effective? Probably. Pumpkin, however, has several advantages over other fiber forms. Primarily, it tastes good. I have not known too many dogs that will not readily accept pumpkin as part of their diet, or as an intermittent treat. Most dogs love it, which makes giving them added fiber not only convenient but even enjoyable. And often cats will like pumpkin, too. Trying to get a cat to take fiber in any other form can be very frustrating. Pumpkin is loaded with other nutrients as well, though perhaps less useful for our pets than for us. Still, aren't harmful and could be beneficial.
As mentioned above, pumpkin can be given to cats as well as dogs. Not only can it help with the problems of simple diarrhea and constipation, but also can help cats deal with their unique hairball problems. Cats that vomit up hairballs frequently (more than once a month) should probably see a veterinarian; however as that is probably not normal, particularly if additional pumpkin does not help matters much.
It is interesting that cats, too, seem to benefit from the addition of pumpkin in their diets. Why this is surprising is cats are obligate carnivores, which means they are meat eaters. Vegetables are usually not an important part of a true carnivore's diet (dogs are not really true carnivores despite their being members of the carnivore family.) Yet many cats seem to relish eating vegetable material, most which is not digested. Vegetable fiber passing through even the short digestive tract of the feline can assist in correcting problems in defecation and normal stool production. And often on top of the list of a cat's favorite vegetable is canned pumpkin. Use caution in feeding excess pumpkin to a cat as they could develop excessive gas and discomfort. A little pumpkin goes a long way and a lot is not good!
Please note that the form of pumpkin recommended is pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which is far too sweet and sugary for most pets. The internet is bursting with all sorts of pumpkin remedies for pets as well as humans, but be sure these recipes include the puree and not the pie filling, and do not contain pet-toxic food items like chocolate, onion or garlic.
Birds may also benefit from pumpkin in their diet!
Please remember that serious cases of diarrhea or constipation may still need veterinary attention and may not respond to simply adding pumpkin to the diets. However it is always worth a try, and pumpkin often will be prescribed by a veterinarian as part of the immediate, if not long-term treatment of a pet's medical problems
If you do not have pumpkin, substitute acorn squash, hubbard squash, butternut squash, buttercup squash, or calabaza. Sweet potatoes are also a good option as a subtitute for pumpkin.
Mar 17, 2010
NAMING CATS by Bobbi Hahn
I've come a long way from the early childhood evening when I named
our first cat Sugar.
We found her in a peach basket beside the path by the railroad
tracks where my parents and I often strolled after dinner. I enjoyed
waving to "Casey Jones" and he always waved back from the caboose as
the train passed by.
I heard pitiful cries, and my father went into the weeds to
investigate. He came back with a tiny creature curled in his hand, her
eyes still closed. She was the only survivor of the litter of kittens
someone had dumped in the peach basket and tossed away like garbage.
We fed her with my doll's baby bottle. Why she came to be called Sugar
instead of Peaches is lost in the midst of memories.
Next came Sufi al Kyahammi, named during my teen literary period.
I'd just read The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam when she came into our lives,
and I was inspired to find a fittingly exotic name for that gorgeous
Persian cat.
I am not responsible for "Puss Puss" as her name was chosen
unanimously by our sons. (The same sons who named the dog Pooch.)
I don't understand why they were so unimaginative with pet names because
they were always very creative with everything else.
As our sons grew older, I assumed primary pet-naming responsibility.
My first brainstorm was Grizabella Houdini Appletree. Grizabella because,
like her namesake in the musical Cats, she was quite bedraggled when my
grandson and I discovered her under the apple tree in our side yard.
Houdini because she escaped from the box where I tried to confine her
on her first night with us. She was a beautiful Maine Coon, elegant and
graceful and always composed in the way that only a feline can manage.
Next came Greystoke Edmund Hillary. Greystoke from my sons,
who were into Tarzan at the time. (Yes, I allowed them to share the
pet-naming responsibility once more.) Edmund Hillary because Gus, as he
was nicknamed, loved climbing on things, and he could scale tall buildings
with a single bound. Well... not really, but you get the idea. My dear
friend Verla and I found him in the parking lot of the local hospital.
He was crying, covered in oil, and quite a mess. He was the sweetest,
most loveable and loving cat I've ever known.
Mozart Merrill Sugartree. Mozart because she loves classical
music and, whenever Mozart is playing, will sit in front of the speakers
in rapt attention. Merrill is part of the name of the business where
I was working when Pat, a coworker and I heard her loud meows from
Sugartree Alley, behind the building. She was a very young kitten,
so I'll never understand how we heard her from up on the second floor,
through closed windows, on a busy street. She is the biggest challenge
I've ever had, cat-wise. No matter how much I love her and treat her
well, her disposition is such that she'll be all cuddles and sweetness one
second, and the next second, her ears go flat and she'll try to bite me.
She's succeeded, too, no matter how quick I think I am in getting out
of the way of that tiny, lethal mouth!
Annabelle Lee Syllabub. I already had two cats when some friends
told me about a beautiful stray that had wandered into their backyard.
They described her as long-haired, all white, with gorgeous golden eyes.
I politely demurred, saying I didn't need another cat. They persisted.
I declined, suggesting they pick on other people who had no cats, or only
one cat. They refused to give up, finally inviting me to their house,
"Just to meet the cat." So I went over after work and met the cat.
We sat out on their patio with some drinks, and she came right to me,
jumping onto my lap and making herself comfortable. She had the loudest
purr I've ever heard. I told her she got the Super V-8 model.
Of course, you know the rest of the story -- how I carried her
home in my arms that night thirteen years ago. We weren't living in the
south then, but she was so pretty, she reminded me of a Southern belle,
hence the Annabelle Lee part. I found Syllabub in a dictionary --
it means a sweet confection, and fits her disposition perfectly.
"The naming of cats is a difficult matter," as explained in
T. S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." It's fun but at
the same time an awesome responsibility.
Of course, our feeble attempts probably never approach the truth
of the cat's REAL name, that "deep and inscrutable singular Name."
__________________________________________________
Annabelle and Mozart, two of the cats featured in this story, live
with their two human servants, Bobbi and John. The humans provide a
comfortable environment, tasty food with occasional scrumptious treats,
and keep the litter box clean. The cats refuse to reveal their real
names.
our first cat Sugar.
We found her in a peach basket beside the path by the railroad
tracks where my parents and I often strolled after dinner. I enjoyed
waving to "Casey Jones" and he always waved back from the caboose as
the train passed by.
I heard pitiful cries, and my father went into the weeds to
investigate. He came back with a tiny creature curled in his hand, her
eyes still closed. She was the only survivor of the litter of kittens
someone had dumped in the peach basket and tossed away like garbage.
We fed her with my doll's baby bottle. Why she came to be called Sugar
instead of Peaches is lost in the midst of memories.
Next came Sufi al Kyahammi, named during my teen literary period.
I'd just read The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam when she came into our lives,
and I was inspired to find a fittingly exotic name for that gorgeous
Persian cat.
I am not responsible for "Puss Puss" as her name was chosen
unanimously by our sons. (The same sons who named the dog Pooch.)
I don't understand why they were so unimaginative with pet names because
they were always very creative with everything else.
As our sons grew older, I assumed primary pet-naming responsibility.
My first brainstorm was Grizabella Houdini Appletree. Grizabella because,
like her namesake in the musical Cats, she was quite bedraggled when my
grandson and I discovered her under the apple tree in our side yard.
Houdini because she escaped from the box where I tried to confine her
on her first night with us. She was a beautiful Maine Coon, elegant and
graceful and always composed in the way that only a feline can manage.
Next came Greystoke Edmund Hillary. Greystoke from my sons,
who were into Tarzan at the time. (Yes, I allowed them to share the
pet-naming responsibility once more.) Edmund Hillary because Gus, as he
was nicknamed, loved climbing on things, and he could scale tall buildings
with a single bound. Well... not really, but you get the idea. My dear
friend Verla and I found him in the parking lot of the local hospital.
He was crying, covered in oil, and quite a mess. He was the sweetest,
most loveable and loving cat I've ever known.
Mozart Merrill Sugartree. Mozart because she loves classical
music and, whenever Mozart is playing, will sit in front of the speakers
in rapt attention. Merrill is part of the name of the business where
I was working when Pat, a coworker and I heard her loud meows from
Sugartree Alley, behind the building. She was a very young kitten,
so I'll never understand how we heard her from up on the second floor,
through closed windows, on a busy street. She is the biggest challenge
I've ever had, cat-wise. No matter how much I love her and treat her
well, her disposition is such that she'll be all cuddles and sweetness one
second, and the next second, her ears go flat and she'll try to bite me.
She's succeeded, too, no matter how quick I think I am in getting out
of the way of that tiny, lethal mouth!
Annabelle Lee Syllabub. I already had two cats when some friends
told me about a beautiful stray that had wandered into their backyard.
They described her as long-haired, all white, with gorgeous golden eyes.
I politely demurred, saying I didn't need another cat. They persisted.
I declined, suggesting they pick on other people who had no cats, or only
one cat. They refused to give up, finally inviting me to their house,
"Just to meet the cat." So I went over after work and met the cat.
We sat out on their patio with some drinks, and she came right to me,
jumping onto my lap and making herself comfortable. She had the loudest
purr I've ever heard. I told her she got the Super V-8 model.
Of course, you know the rest of the story -- how I carried her
home in my arms that night thirteen years ago. We weren't living in the
south then, but she was so pretty, she reminded me of a Southern belle,
hence the Annabelle Lee part. I found Syllabub in a dictionary --
it means a sweet confection, and fits her disposition perfectly.
"The naming of cats is a difficult matter," as explained in
T. S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." It's fun but at
the same time an awesome responsibility.
Of course, our feeble attempts probably never approach the truth
of the cat's REAL name, that "deep and inscrutable singular Name."
__________________________________________________
Annabelle and Mozart, two of the cats featured in this story, live
with their two human servants, Bobbi and John. The humans provide a
comfortable environment, tasty food with occasional scrumptious treats,
and keep the litter box clean. The cats refuse to reveal their real
names.
Mar 15, 2010
Home Grown Remedies
ROSEMARY
What it’s good for Sharpening memory
When British herbalist Anne McIntyre was a student, she kept rosemary sprigs on her desk during classes, squeezing the oils onto her hands. “The scent stimulates blood flow to the brain and aids concentration,” says McIntyre, author of The Medicinal Garden and ten other herb-related books. Years later, science came to the same conclusion. In a 1998 study, University of Miami researchers exposed 40 adults to three minutes of rosemary scent. The group showed increased alertness and worked math problems faster—and no less accurately—than they had before the aromatherapy session.
How To Grow It Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant, thriving in sun and well-drained soil. If your winters are very cold, grow it in a pot and take the pot inside for the winter. It’s hard to grow from seed, so start with a plant. Or cut a spike from a friend’s plant at the woody end. Add rooting hormone (available at plant centers) to light soil, insert the cutting, and chances are it will root.
How To Use It Ancient scholars used to wear wreaths of rosemary around their heads, but you don’t have to go that far. Nurse Dorie Byers, author of Herbal Remedy Gardens, simmers a cup of rosemary needles in two quarts of uncovered water, letting the smell waft through the house whenever she’s doing brain work. Or you can brew rosemary tea, adding one to two teaspoons of rosemary needles to one cup boiling water. Steep it for five minutes, strain the herbs, add a squirt of lime juice, and enjoy. Of course, if you’re feeling both forgetful and hungry, rubbing chopped rosemary over chicken or fish creates a dish you’re bound to remember.
Fennel
What it’s good for Calming digestion
It’s no coincidence that Indian restaurants set out tiny bowls of fennel seeds to chew on after dinner. Anethole, the active ingredient inside the seed, relaxes the smooth muscles of the stomach, easing digestion. Even the ancient Romans praised its healing properties, including scientist Pliny the Elder, who listed 22 medical uses for it.
How To Grow It Fennel’s easy to propagate from seed, shooting up to as high as 6 or 7 feet, and returning each year if you let it go to seed. It loves sun and dry, rich soil. Plant the seeds in early April, covering lightly with soil. Thin the seedlings to about 15 inches apart.
How To Use It Gather the seeds from the end of the feathery stalks. With a mortar and pestle, crush one to two teaspoons—fresh or dry—and add those to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for ten minutes, strain, and sip. “If you have digestive problems, drink a cup after every meal until your digestion is better,” suggests McIntyre. Or try eating the seeds straight, or brewing a tea with a teaspoon each of fennel seeds and peppermint. You can also sprinkle fennel seeds into bread or biscotti dough. And of course the fennel bulb, which also contains the antispasmodic oils, is delicious added to stews and soups.
ALOE VERA
What it’s good for Soothing cuts and burns
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all praised aloe vera for its ability to heal sores and soothe itchy skin—and modern science has followed their lead. Researchers have touted aloe vera for treating herpes blisters, burns, wounds, and frostbite. It works its magic through substances that block the production of inflammation-promoting prostaglandins. In lab studies, the plant has been shown to inhibit histamines (one source of itchiness). It also contains bradykininase, which relieves pain and reduces redness and swelling.
How To Grow It Although you have to buy your first plant, by the end of its first year it will have five or six baby “pups,” tiny plantlets that will grow into another plant, says gardener John Beirne, developer and manager of the horticultural therapy programs at NewBridge Services, a behavioral health agency in Pompton Plains, New Jersey: “Give it a good tug, and a pup will separate from the mother plant.” A succulent, aloe vera doesn’t need much water or care. But it likes warm weather, so bring it inside before the temperature falls below 40 degrees.
How To Use It Inside each plump aloe spear is the clear gel that doubles as a salve. Keep a pot in your kitchen window, and each time you get a burn or cut, pluck a leaf, cut it open, and spread the gel on the tender spot. Sharleen Andrews-Miller, a botanical medical faculty member at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, likes to mix about a tablespoon of gel from the plant with a couple of drops of lavender oil for an especially aromatic remedy.
SPEARMINT
What it’s good for Boosting energy
It turns out that “minty fresh” is more than just an advertising slogan. Spearmint’s probably best known as a stomach soother, aiding digestion while easing stomach spasms. But anyone who’s sipped a steamy cup of spearmint tea also knows the lift it can bring. It contains a number of central nervous system stimulants, including menthol, that boost energy more gently than caffeine does. And several may sharpen mental energy by preserving acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital to memory and learning. The mint also stimulates blood flow, which may account for its reputed ability to boost another kind of energy: lust. According to McIntyre, ancient Romans refused their warriors mint, fearful they’d focus only on the women they’d left behind.
How To Grow It You can grow spearmint from seed, but it’s easier to divide a root from a friend’s plant. “Once you plant it,” says Beirne, “it will grow forever, so it’s a great plant to be generous with.” If you want something other than mint in your garden, plant it in a pot, or it will take over. It thrives in almost any condition, even partial shade, although it does best in damp, cool soil.
How To Use It James A. Duke,
a world-renowned herbal expert and author of The Green Pharmacy and Anti-Aging Prescriptions, simply chews on spearmint straight from his garden. Sharleen Andrews-Miller likes to brew a fresh handful in a cup of boiling water, letting it steep for five to ten minutes. Or you can hang bunches upside down in a dry spot out of direct sunlight, crumble a few leaves, and add two teaspoons to a cup of boiling water. “But don’t let it steep more than five or ten minutes, or your mouth will pucker from the tannins,” she says. It’s also great cut up and tossed into salads, tabbouleh, and cold pasta dishes.
Lavender
What it’s good for Easing insomnia
For those who toss and turn, the scent of lavender may well beat counting sheep—or even popping sleeping pills. In one small 1995 study, British researchers found that infusing the scent of lavender into the rooms of nursing home patients worked just as well as sleep medication. Not only did the patients get to sleep faster, they slept more peacefully. The 1998 study that examined rosemary also found that a brief dose of lavender aromatherapy increased drowsiness. “Lavender has a sedative effect on the central nervous system and releases muscle tension,” says British herbalist McIntyre, author of The Medicinal Garden and ten other herb-related books. In fact, when new patients arrive at McIntyre’s office, nervous about what might be brewing in a back-room cauldron, she pulls out the lavender. “I can see its calming effect,” she says.
How To Grow It Like rosemary, lavender is a Mediterranean plant. It likes sun and dry, rocky soil that will force it to struggle a bit. It’s slow to germinate, so rather than grow it from seed, it’s best to buy your first plant or pull a side shoot off a friend’s plant and stick it in sandy or light soil to root. It should be planted outdoors and can be happy either in a pot or in the ground. Water it well until it’s established—and during hot summers—but don’t overdo it; lavender doesn’t like soggy roots. In temperate climates, it will come back each spring, sending up its tall stems adorned with tiny purple flowers.
How To Use It When the flowers open, cut the lavender stalks, tie them in small bunches, and hang them upside down in a dry place out of direct sunlight. Depending on the temperature and humidity, the flowers should dry in two to four weeks. Herbalist and nurse Dorie Byers suggests filling small muslin bags (sold in health food stores for tea) with dried flowers and placing one between your pillow and pillowcase.
You can also make a tea by adding one teaspoon of dried or two teaspoons of fresh blossoms to a cup of boiling water, and letting them steep covered for ten minutes. Strain and drink just before going to sleep. To make a tincture, add approximately 7 ounces of dried lavender flowers to four-fifths of a quart of glycerol (a syrupy alcohol also called “glycerine” and available in health food stores) and one-fifth of a quart of water. Or use one cup brandy or vodka and three cups of water. Cover for two weeks. For sleep, take one teaspoon after dinner and 2 to 3 teaspoons at bedtime.
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What it’s good for Sharpening memory
When British herbalist Anne McIntyre was a student, she kept rosemary sprigs on her desk during classes, squeezing the oils onto her hands. “The scent stimulates blood flow to the brain and aids concentration,” says McIntyre, author of The Medicinal Garden and ten other herb-related books. Years later, science came to the same conclusion. In a 1998 study, University of Miami researchers exposed 40 adults to three minutes of rosemary scent. The group showed increased alertness and worked math problems faster—and no less accurately—than they had before the aromatherapy session.
How To Grow It Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant, thriving in sun and well-drained soil. If your winters are very cold, grow it in a pot and take the pot inside for the winter. It’s hard to grow from seed, so start with a plant. Or cut a spike from a friend’s plant at the woody end. Add rooting hormone (available at plant centers) to light soil, insert the cutting, and chances are it will root.
How To Use It Ancient scholars used to wear wreaths of rosemary around their heads, but you don’t have to go that far. Nurse Dorie Byers, author of Herbal Remedy Gardens, simmers a cup of rosemary needles in two quarts of uncovered water, letting the smell waft through the house whenever she’s doing brain work. Or you can brew rosemary tea, adding one to two teaspoons of rosemary needles to one cup boiling water. Steep it for five minutes, strain the herbs, add a squirt of lime juice, and enjoy. Of course, if you’re feeling both forgetful and hungry, rubbing chopped rosemary over chicken or fish creates a dish you’re bound to remember.
Fennel
What it’s good for Calming digestion
It’s no coincidence that Indian restaurants set out tiny bowls of fennel seeds to chew on after dinner. Anethole, the active ingredient inside the seed, relaxes the smooth muscles of the stomach, easing digestion. Even the ancient Romans praised its healing properties, including scientist Pliny the Elder, who listed 22 medical uses for it.
How To Grow It Fennel’s easy to propagate from seed, shooting up to as high as 6 or 7 feet, and returning each year if you let it go to seed. It loves sun and dry, rich soil. Plant the seeds in early April, covering lightly with soil. Thin the seedlings to about 15 inches apart.
How To Use It Gather the seeds from the end of the feathery stalks. With a mortar and pestle, crush one to two teaspoons—fresh or dry—and add those to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for ten minutes, strain, and sip. “If you have digestive problems, drink a cup after every meal until your digestion is better,” suggests McIntyre. Or try eating the seeds straight, or brewing a tea with a teaspoon each of fennel seeds and peppermint. You can also sprinkle fennel seeds into bread or biscotti dough. And of course the fennel bulb, which also contains the antispasmodic oils, is delicious added to stews and soups.
ALOE VERA
What it’s good for Soothing cuts and burns
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all praised aloe vera for its ability to heal sores and soothe itchy skin—and modern science has followed their lead. Researchers have touted aloe vera for treating herpes blisters, burns, wounds, and frostbite. It works its magic through substances that block the production of inflammation-promoting prostaglandins. In lab studies, the plant has been shown to inhibit histamines (one source of itchiness). It also contains bradykininase, which relieves pain and reduces redness and swelling.
How To Grow It Although you have to buy your first plant, by the end of its first year it will have five or six baby “pups,” tiny plantlets that will grow into another plant, says gardener John Beirne, developer and manager of the horticultural therapy programs at NewBridge Services, a behavioral health agency in Pompton Plains, New Jersey: “Give it a good tug, and a pup will separate from the mother plant.” A succulent, aloe vera doesn’t need much water or care. But it likes warm weather, so bring it inside before the temperature falls below 40 degrees.
How To Use It Inside each plump aloe spear is the clear gel that doubles as a salve. Keep a pot in your kitchen window, and each time you get a burn or cut, pluck a leaf, cut it open, and spread the gel on the tender spot. Sharleen Andrews-Miller, a botanical medical faculty member at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, likes to mix about a tablespoon of gel from the plant with a couple of drops of lavender oil for an especially aromatic remedy.
SPEARMINT
What it’s good for Boosting energy
It turns out that “minty fresh” is more than just an advertising slogan. Spearmint’s probably best known as a stomach soother, aiding digestion while easing stomach spasms. But anyone who’s sipped a steamy cup of spearmint tea also knows the lift it can bring. It contains a number of central nervous system stimulants, including menthol, that boost energy more gently than caffeine does. And several may sharpen mental energy by preserving acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital to memory and learning. The mint also stimulates blood flow, which may account for its reputed ability to boost another kind of energy: lust. According to McIntyre, ancient Romans refused their warriors mint, fearful they’d focus only on the women they’d left behind.
How To Grow It You can grow spearmint from seed, but it’s easier to divide a root from a friend’s plant. “Once you plant it,” says Beirne, “it will grow forever, so it’s a great plant to be generous with.” If you want something other than mint in your garden, plant it in a pot, or it will take over. It thrives in almost any condition, even partial shade, although it does best in damp, cool soil.
How To Use It James A. Duke,
a world-renowned herbal expert and author of The Green Pharmacy and Anti-Aging Prescriptions, simply chews on spearmint straight from his garden. Sharleen Andrews-Miller likes to brew a fresh handful in a cup of boiling water, letting it steep for five to ten minutes. Or you can hang bunches upside down in a dry spot out of direct sunlight, crumble a few leaves, and add two teaspoons to a cup of boiling water. “But don’t let it steep more than five or ten minutes, or your mouth will pucker from the tannins,” she says. It’s also great cut up and tossed into salads, tabbouleh, and cold pasta dishes.
Lavender
What it’s good for Easing insomnia
For those who toss and turn, the scent of lavender may well beat counting sheep—or even popping sleeping pills. In one small 1995 study, British researchers found that infusing the scent of lavender into the rooms of nursing home patients worked just as well as sleep medication. Not only did the patients get to sleep faster, they slept more peacefully. The 1998 study that examined rosemary also found that a brief dose of lavender aromatherapy increased drowsiness. “Lavender has a sedative effect on the central nervous system and releases muscle tension,” says British herbalist McIntyre, author of The Medicinal Garden and ten other herb-related books. In fact, when new patients arrive at McIntyre’s office, nervous about what might be brewing in a back-room cauldron, she pulls out the lavender. “I can see its calming effect,” she says.
How To Grow It Like rosemary, lavender is a Mediterranean plant. It likes sun and dry, rocky soil that will force it to struggle a bit. It’s slow to germinate, so rather than grow it from seed, it’s best to buy your first plant or pull a side shoot off a friend’s plant and stick it in sandy or light soil to root. It should be planted outdoors and can be happy either in a pot or in the ground. Water it well until it’s established—and during hot summers—but don’t overdo it; lavender doesn’t like soggy roots. In temperate climates, it will come back each spring, sending up its tall stems adorned with tiny purple flowers.
How To Use It When the flowers open, cut the lavender stalks, tie them in small bunches, and hang them upside down in a dry place out of direct sunlight. Depending on the temperature and humidity, the flowers should dry in two to four weeks. Herbalist and nurse Dorie Byers suggests filling small muslin bags (sold in health food stores for tea) with dried flowers and placing one between your pillow and pillowcase.
You can also make a tea by adding one teaspoon of dried or two teaspoons of fresh blossoms to a cup of boiling water, and letting them steep covered for ten minutes. Strain and drink just before going to sleep. To make a tincture, add approximately 7 ounces of dried lavender flowers to four-fifths of a quart of glycerol (a syrupy alcohol also called “glycerine” and available in health food stores) and one-fifth of a quart of water. Or use one cup brandy or vodka and three cups of water. Cover for two weeks. For sleep, take one teaspoon after dinner and 2 to 3 teaspoons at bedtime.
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Mar 12, 2010
Raw Food Recipes
Basic Raw Dog Food Recipe
for a 20-25# dog
1/2 cup raw meat (ground poultry, beef, lamb, organ meats)
1/2 cup raw pureed vegetables (variety!)
1/4 cup cooked whole grains
1 teaspoon bonemeal powder (double for puppies and pregnancy)
1/4 teaspoon ascorbic acid powder with bioflavinoids (vitamin C)
1/4 teaspoon kelp powder
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic (not powder)
1 teaspoon oil mixture (2 teaspoons with poutlry)
Oil mixture:
11 oz. canola oil (cold pressed)
2 oz. wheat germ oil
2 oz. flax oil
Keep refridgerated in an opaque container.
Some folks eliminate the grains and increase the meat and vegetables proportionately, and only add the oil if poultry is fed. The meat must be RAW. Dogs should be fed raw bones (cooked bones will splinter). Vegetables must be pureed or they will come out looking pretty much the same way they did going in. Wild canines get their vegetable matter by eating the digested intestinal contents of their vegetarian prey. Variety is essential to deliver the correct mix of vitamins and minerals.
Basic Cat Food Recipe
1300 g raw muscle meat (beef, chicken, lamb, quail, duck, etc., but not fish or pork!)
400 g heart
200 g liver (I alternate with kidneys)
100 g gizzards (excellent for a dental workout, which is important for teeth!)
600 g finely pulped or grated veggies (I mostly use carrots or plain pumpkin)
spring water to desired consistency
4 eggs, lightly cooked
4 tbsp bonemeal
approx. 60 drops of Liquid Trace Minerals
1000 mg vitamin C (calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, or Ester C: the amount is variable according to your cat's needs)
2 tsp salmon body oil
100-200 IU vitamin E added directly to a meal, once a week
for a 20-25# dog
1/2 cup raw meat (ground poultry, beef, lamb, organ meats)
1/2 cup raw pureed vegetables (variety!)
1/4 cup cooked whole grains
1 teaspoon bonemeal powder (double for puppies and pregnancy)
1/4 teaspoon ascorbic acid powder with bioflavinoids (vitamin C)
1/4 teaspoon kelp powder
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic (not powder)
1 teaspoon oil mixture (2 teaspoons with poutlry)
Oil mixture:
11 oz. canola oil (cold pressed)
2 oz. wheat germ oil
2 oz. flax oil
Keep refridgerated in an opaque container.
Some folks eliminate the grains and increase the meat and vegetables proportionately, and only add the oil if poultry is fed. The meat must be RAW. Dogs should be fed raw bones (cooked bones will splinter). Vegetables must be pureed or they will come out looking pretty much the same way they did going in. Wild canines get their vegetable matter by eating the digested intestinal contents of their vegetarian prey. Variety is essential to deliver the correct mix of vitamins and minerals.
Basic Cat Food Recipe
1300 g raw muscle meat (beef, chicken, lamb, quail, duck, etc., but not fish or pork!)
400 g heart
200 g liver (I alternate with kidneys)
100 g gizzards (excellent for a dental workout, which is important for teeth!)
600 g finely pulped or grated veggies (I mostly use carrots or plain pumpkin)
spring water to desired consistency
4 eggs, lightly cooked
4 tbsp bonemeal
approx. 60 drops of Liquid Trace Minerals
1000 mg vitamin C (calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, or Ester C: the amount is variable according to your cat's needs)
2 tsp salmon body oil
100-200 IU vitamin E added directly to a meal, once a week
Mar 10, 2010
Feeding Raw Diet
What is a Raw Diet? A Raw Diet is a diet that is not cooked and is freed raw. Feeding your pet a raw diet is healthy for them and you know what is their food and that it does not contain any fillers or chemicals. This is great diet to have if your pet has any kind of health issues.
A raw diet contains only raw meats and veggies. The items are not cooked. You can give your pet raw bones as they will not splinter as with cooked bones. Some owners have worried about feeding Raw because of coli and Samolina poisoning. Every owner should wash their hands with soap and water to get rid of these bacteria’s for these are not safe in humans, but dogs and cats have immune systems to deal with these bacteria’s and are not affected by them.
Here is a list of some items your pet can try:
• Chicken - whole or any parts! (Backs, necks, wings, etc.)
• Turkey - whole or any parts (wings, necks, etc.)
• Cornish game hens (whole)
• Beef (any cuts)
• Oxtail
• Pork (necks, ribs, any cuts)
• Rabbit
• Fish (canned sardines in WATER, not oil, or Jack mackerel)
• Quail
• Buffalo, kangaroo- almost anything you can think of!
You can feed your dog raw bones but do not feed cooked bones as these will splinter and can cause harm to your pet.
Please note that you should change your pet’s diet slowly to make sure that they are not allergic to any of the meats. So for the first few weeks you should only feed one meat a week. So the first week, you would feed chicken, then next week turkey, etc.
You also need to include veggies, yogurt, pumpkin, eggs, etc to complete their diets. Some dogs love fruit and you can include them. Pumpkin Make sure that you are not feeding you pets any items that can be dangerous such as grapes, raisins, and other items that are deadly for your pets.
You should feed about 2%- 4% of your body pet’s body weight. Slowly change their diet, start by adding a little raw food to their current food. Every day add a little more until you completely change their diet to raw. You could also just add a little raw food their current diet. I know a lot of owners that feed their pets both a good quality dry food and also feed them raw food.
Know that changing your pet’s food to raw has several health benefits, that have been proven and also owners have seen in their pets. These includes a shiny coat, healthier looking skin, fresh breath/cleaner teeth, improve digestion, improve allergies, decrease in shedding, and overall healthier appearance and feeling.
If you do not want to fix your up your own recipe for a raw diet, now you can purchase raw food already mixed. There are several companies out there that are great for your pet and they have a great variety of food.
- Page Lee Raw Pet Diets :
- www.rawpetdiet.com
-
- Aunt Jeni Home made
- http://www.auntjeni.com/
A raw diet contains only raw meats and veggies. The items are not cooked. You can give your pet raw bones as they will not splinter as with cooked bones. Some owners have worried about feeding Raw because of coli and Samolina poisoning. Every owner should wash their hands with soap and water to get rid of these bacteria’s for these are not safe in humans, but dogs and cats have immune systems to deal with these bacteria’s and are not affected by them.
Here is a list of some items your pet can try:
• Chicken - whole or any parts! (Backs, necks, wings, etc.)
• Turkey - whole or any parts (wings, necks, etc.)
• Cornish game hens (whole)
• Beef (any cuts)
• Oxtail
• Pork (necks, ribs, any cuts)
• Rabbit
• Fish (canned sardines in WATER, not oil, or Jack mackerel)
• Quail
• Buffalo, kangaroo- almost anything you can think of!
You can feed your dog raw bones but do not feed cooked bones as these will splinter and can cause harm to your pet.
Please note that you should change your pet’s diet slowly to make sure that they are not allergic to any of the meats. So for the first few weeks you should only feed one meat a week. So the first week, you would feed chicken, then next week turkey, etc.
You also need to include veggies, yogurt, pumpkin, eggs, etc to complete their diets. Some dogs love fruit and you can include them. Pumpkin Make sure that you are not feeding you pets any items that can be dangerous such as grapes, raisins, and other items that are deadly for your pets.
You should feed about 2%- 4% of your body pet’s body weight. Slowly change their diet, start by adding a little raw food to their current food. Every day add a little more until you completely change their diet to raw. You could also just add a little raw food their current diet. I know a lot of owners that feed their pets both a good quality dry food and also feed them raw food.
Know that changing your pet’s food to raw has several health benefits, that have been proven and also owners have seen in their pets. These includes a shiny coat, healthier looking skin, fresh breath/cleaner teeth, improve digestion, improve allergies, decrease in shedding, and overall healthier appearance and feeling.
If you do not want to fix your up your own recipe for a raw diet, now you can purchase raw food already mixed. There are several companies out there that are great for your pet and they have a great variety of food.
- Page Lee Raw Pet Diets :
- www.rawpetdiet.com
-
- Aunt Jeni Home made
- http://www.auntjeni.com/
Mar 8, 2010
Should you Change your pets diet as it ages?
NO. If your pet is doing fine on the food you feed it, there’s no need to change anything. If she’s experiencing problems related to aging such as constipation, or kidney or liver disease, follow these rules:
Dogs need fiber. In general, healthy older dogs need a diet that’s lower in calories and protein, but higher in fiber, which can reduce the risk of anal gland disease (common in small dogs), obesity, and pancreatic problems like diabetes. To get fiber in your dog’s diet, feed her whole grains like brown rice or barley and vegetables such as chopped-up broccoli, Swiss chard, or kale (raw or lightly steamed). Put everything through a food processor so she won’t be able to pick out the meat and leave the rest. Speak to your vet to determine how much added fiber is needed.
Don’t ignore canine weight gain. Dogs don’t automatically get heavier as they age. Check with your vet to make sure your pet isn’t suffering from pain, arthritis, or hypothyroid problems.
Cats need custom care. If your cat has liver disease, decrease the amount of fat and protein in her diet. If kidney disease is the issue, feed her less protein, and make it fish, chicken, or lamb. Include some whole grains, like millet, bulgur, and cornmeal, and add vegetables or psyllium seeds for fiber. (Older cats can suffer from constipation.)
Don’t ignore feline weight loss. Unlike dogs, cats can suffer from hyperthyroidism. If your cat ignores food she’s always eaten or has lost eight ounces or more in a month, get her to the vet.
Some food suggestions:
Dogs need fiber. In general, healthy older dogs need a diet that’s lower in calories and protein, but higher in fiber, which can reduce the risk of anal gland disease (common in small dogs), obesity, and pancreatic problems like diabetes. To get fiber in your dog’s diet, feed her whole grains like brown rice or barley and vegetables such as chopped-up broccoli, Swiss chard, or kale (raw or lightly steamed). Put everything through a food processor so she won’t be able to pick out the meat and leave the rest. Speak to your vet to determine how much added fiber is needed.
Don’t ignore canine weight gain. Dogs don’t automatically get heavier as they age. Check with your vet to make sure your pet isn’t suffering from pain, arthritis, or hypothyroid problems.
Cats need custom care. If your cat has liver disease, decrease the amount of fat and protein in her diet. If kidney disease is the issue, feed her less protein, and make it fish, chicken, or lamb. Include some whole grains, like millet, bulgur, and cornmeal, and add vegetables or psyllium seeds for fiber. (Older cats can suffer from constipation.)
Don’t ignore feline weight loss. Unlike dogs, cats can suffer from hyperthyroidism. If your cat ignores food she’s always eaten or has lost eight ounces or more in a month, get her to the vet.
Some food suggestions:
Mar 5, 2010
A Roadside Rescue in Texas
One afternoon in early 2005, a woman drove past a very large, dark dog body in a ditch along a busy highway. Distractedly, she wondered what happened to it. A few hours later, she approached the dog body coming from the other direction and his head popped up just as she passed. "That dog is alive," she thought. She pulled her car over and got out.
The dog was alive. An emaciated and weakened Great Dane mix, he was a stray who had been hit by a vehicle and left to die.
Another car pulled up. A man stepped out to help. He said, "I've been seeing this dog for days, but I thought it was dead!"
Off to The Vet
Despite the risks involved with handling a heavy, badly injured, and potentially dangerous stray dog, they were determined to help.
The rescuers gently lifted the Great Dane into the back of the woman's SUV, and drove to a nearby veterinarian, who immediately began care. The dog had two broken forelegs, a broken pelvis, and a badly scraped and abraded muzzle and nose. He was starving and dehydrated.
Because the bones had started to knit, the vet guessed that the dog had been hit by a vehicle at least a week previously.
Muzzle-Walking
What about the scraped mouth and nose? The dog with two broken forelegs was attempting to walk on his muzzle, until he became too weak to move, the vet guessed.
The Specialist Helps
The vet called in a orthopedic specialist from a vet school several hours away. This specialist reduced his fees, because "a dog that wanted to live so badly" that he walked on his muzzle deserved special treatment.
After examining the x-rays and the dog, the specialist guessed that the injuries had occurred up to two weeks earlier. Probably Duke was near death when he was finally rescued, after laying beside the highway for many days without food, water, or treatment, while thousands of cars passed.
Duke’s Suffering
Did he raise his head and look at traffic, desperate for food and water? Starvation is painful. Did he attempt to reposition himself on the hard ground, as his multiple broken bones throbbed? Did anyone see him walk on his muzzle?
Apparently not one passerby saw him move during all those days of laying in the ditch. For who is hard-hearted enough to drive past, see a dog in distress, and not make even one phone call for help?
The Happy Ending
Surgeries and treatment began, and Duke's veterinarian continued to treat him for free, but the expenses were steep. A friend sent notices to Great Dane discussion lists across the nation asking for donations for Duke's medical expenses. Responses flooded in. Duke gained weight, had physical therapy, and was adopted.
Duke was a very, very lucky dog. By moving at the right moment, he connected with the brave heart of a woman who couldn't pass him by. For her rescue of Duke, Sunbear Squad presented the woman with a Gene Fields Humane Award.
For more rescue stories: http://www.sunbearsquad.org
The dog was alive. An emaciated and weakened Great Dane mix, he was a stray who had been hit by a vehicle and left to die.
Another car pulled up. A man stepped out to help. He said, "I've been seeing this dog for days, but I thought it was dead!"
Off to The Vet
Despite the risks involved with handling a heavy, badly injured, and potentially dangerous stray dog, they were determined to help.
The rescuers gently lifted the Great Dane into the back of the woman's SUV, and drove to a nearby veterinarian, who immediately began care. The dog had two broken forelegs, a broken pelvis, and a badly scraped and abraded muzzle and nose. He was starving and dehydrated.
Because the bones had started to knit, the vet guessed that the dog had been hit by a vehicle at least a week previously.
Muzzle-Walking
What about the scraped mouth and nose? The dog with two broken forelegs was attempting to walk on his muzzle, until he became too weak to move, the vet guessed.
The Specialist Helps
The vet called in a orthopedic specialist from a vet school several hours away. This specialist reduced his fees, because "a dog that wanted to live so badly" that he walked on his muzzle deserved special treatment.
After examining the x-rays and the dog, the specialist guessed that the injuries had occurred up to two weeks earlier. Probably Duke was near death when he was finally rescued, after laying beside the highway for many days without food, water, or treatment, while thousands of cars passed.
Duke’s Suffering
Did he raise his head and look at traffic, desperate for food and water? Starvation is painful. Did he attempt to reposition himself on the hard ground, as his multiple broken bones throbbed? Did anyone see him walk on his muzzle?
Apparently not one passerby saw him move during all those days of laying in the ditch. For who is hard-hearted enough to drive past, see a dog in distress, and not make even one phone call for help?
The Happy Ending
Surgeries and treatment began, and Duke's veterinarian continued to treat him for free, but the expenses were steep. A friend sent notices to Great Dane discussion lists across the nation asking for donations for Duke's medical expenses. Responses flooded in. Duke gained weight, had physical therapy, and was adopted.
Duke was a very, very lucky dog. By moving at the right moment, he connected with the brave heart of a woman who couldn't pass him by. For her rescue of Duke, Sunbear Squad presented the woman with a Gene Fields Humane Award.
For more rescue stories: http://www.sunbearsquad.org
Mar 3, 2010
Rescued Dog with Two Broken Legs
There is a fenced area behind the ball field in Lakeside Park, Duncanville, Texas. A female white pitbull-type dog was seen sleeping in the bushes in this fenced area for one to two weeks by a kind neighbor, who brought the dog food and water every few days. She couldn't get close to the dog however. One day she noticed the dog was no longer drinking water. That is when she called me. I have a petfinder website under "Best Friends Animal Rescue Club." She told me where to look and I drove right out to Lakeside, bringing water; the neighbor was waiting for me.
We found the dog laying motionless in the bushes. We opened a food can and the dog started to rouse. She was very slow, but came for the food. She was hungry and thirsty. She was very afraid and reluctant to let me pet her, so I didn't push it. She drank lots of water and then laid back down. I could see that her front legs weren't right; they were swollen and I knew they could be broken. I told the neighbor that I would call a fellow rescuer and we would try to coax the dog into the car using food, which we did the very next day. We named her "Peary," because her light green-yellow eyes are the color of pears.
We brought Peary immediately to a vet clinic. She received all of her shots and was tested for heartworms. Thank goodness she was negative. However, her x-rays revealed what we had suspected. Both front legs were fractured and even worse, one was not lined up and had become infected. The vet suspected that she had jumped or had been thrown from a moving vehicle. Peary was immediately put on antibiotics and pain meds, and a veterinary surgeon examined her. Since her injuries had occurred probably at least two weeks earlier and the fractures were already calcifying, the surgeon concluded that she should continue to heal on her own. Antibiotics cleared up the infection. Although she will likely become arthritic in those bones later in life, she should enjoy good quality of life overall.
Peary (now renamed Gracie) has been adopted into a loving family, where she continues to recuperate. Best Friends Animal Rescue Club writes: "Thank you for the wonderful response that Gracie received. It is touching to know that so many people care about God's creatures. Gracie is in a foster home and her foster mom has fallen in love with her. She says that Gracie is home."
—Best Friends Animal Rescue Club, Texas
We found the dog laying motionless in the bushes. We opened a food can and the dog started to rouse. She was very slow, but came for the food. She was hungry and thirsty. She was very afraid and reluctant to let me pet her, so I didn't push it. She drank lots of water and then laid back down. I could see that her front legs weren't right; they were swollen and I knew they could be broken. I told the neighbor that I would call a fellow rescuer and we would try to coax the dog into the car using food, which we did the very next day. We named her "Peary," because her light green-yellow eyes are the color of pears.
We brought Peary immediately to a vet clinic. She received all of her shots and was tested for heartworms. Thank goodness she was negative. However, her x-rays revealed what we had suspected. Both front legs were fractured and even worse, one was not lined up and had become infected. The vet suspected that she had jumped or had been thrown from a moving vehicle. Peary was immediately put on antibiotics and pain meds, and a veterinary surgeon examined her. Since her injuries had occurred probably at least two weeks earlier and the fractures were already calcifying, the surgeon concluded that she should continue to heal on her own. Antibiotics cleared up the infection. Although she will likely become arthritic in those bones later in life, she should enjoy good quality of life overall.
Peary (now renamed Gracie) has been adopted into a loving family, where she continues to recuperate. Best Friends Animal Rescue Club writes: "Thank you for the wonderful response that Gracie received. It is touching to know that so many people care about God's creatures. Gracie is in a foster home and her foster mom has fallen in love with her. She says that Gracie is home."
—Best Friends Animal Rescue Club, Texas
Mar 1, 2010
18-Wheeler Rescue
18-Wheeler Rescue
It was an early evening in November. We were just outside of Grants New Mexico on I-40 East. My husband and I were on our way to Georgia to deliver a load. My husband is a truck driver and I was traveling with him, along with our two dogs, a lab mix and a Chihuahua. I was sitting in the passenger seat when out of the blue this dog came running out on the highway. We almost hit this dog!
My husband pulled the 18-wheeler over to the shoulder quickly and I threw my shoes on and got out of the truck. We were scared for the dog's life—it could get hit by a vehicle. The dog had stopped running and seemed scared and unsure about what to do. At first she just stood there and looked at us! I had forgotten to shut the door on the truck and my lab mix had jumped out after me. My dog ran to the stray dog and so I was able to grab the stray dog, a female. She had a collar on but no tags.
So we loaded her up and once we got her in the truck I checked her out to make sure she was okay. And while I was checking her out I realized we had a beautiful purebred Redbone Coonhound in our truck. I got online and did some searching to find out if anyone had a missing dog in the area. Found nothing! She stayed on the truck with us for the night and that was a very long night. With not much sleep, because she whined and cried all the time.
The next morning I was again on the computer looking desperately for the owners or a place for this dog. I wasn't going to dump her off at a "kill" shelter—I don't believe in that. I made call after call trying to find a place for this dog. Eventually I talked with a hound rescuer in Austin Texas and I sent pictures of the stray dog to him. Yes, she was a coonhound. The rescuer, Jerry, frantically called his contacts everywhere to find a place for this dog. He called us back and told us to take her to a place right out of Amarillo Texas named Critter Camp. She would wait there until another of Jerry's contacts could pick her up and bring her to an Austin Texas-based rescue group. Later that day I got an email from Jerry telling me that if he can't find the owners of this dog, he had someone ready to adopt her. All in a days work!
I'm a huge animal lover. Both my husband and I have saved many dogs. We take them out of horrible situations and find good loving homes for them. Someday I want to open my own business to help animals!
—Rachel, with Alan, her truckdriver husband
It was an early evening in November. We were just outside of Grants New Mexico on I-40 East. My husband and I were on our way to Georgia to deliver a load. My husband is a truck driver and I was traveling with him, along with our two dogs, a lab mix and a Chihuahua. I was sitting in the passenger seat when out of the blue this dog came running out on the highway. We almost hit this dog!
My husband pulled the 18-wheeler over to the shoulder quickly and I threw my shoes on and got out of the truck. We were scared for the dog's life—it could get hit by a vehicle. The dog had stopped running and seemed scared and unsure about what to do. At first she just stood there and looked at us! I had forgotten to shut the door on the truck and my lab mix had jumped out after me. My dog ran to the stray dog and so I was able to grab the stray dog, a female. She had a collar on but no tags.
So we loaded her up and once we got her in the truck I checked her out to make sure she was okay. And while I was checking her out I realized we had a beautiful purebred Redbone Coonhound in our truck. I got online and did some searching to find out if anyone had a missing dog in the area. Found nothing! She stayed on the truck with us for the night and that was a very long night. With not much sleep, because she whined and cried all the time.
The next morning I was again on the computer looking desperately for the owners or a place for this dog. I wasn't going to dump her off at a "kill" shelter—I don't believe in that. I made call after call trying to find a place for this dog. Eventually I talked with a hound rescuer in Austin Texas and I sent pictures of the stray dog to him. Yes, she was a coonhound. The rescuer, Jerry, frantically called his contacts everywhere to find a place for this dog. He called us back and told us to take her to a place right out of Amarillo Texas named Critter Camp. She would wait there until another of Jerry's contacts could pick her up and bring her to an Austin Texas-based rescue group. Later that day I got an email from Jerry telling me that if he can't find the owners of this dog, he had someone ready to adopt her. All in a days work!
I'm a huge animal lover. Both my husband and I have saved many dogs. We take them out of horrible situations and find good loving homes for them. Someday I want to open my own business to help animals!
—Rachel, with Alan, her truckdriver husband
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