Weird stuff you pet eats!

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Mariangie

You could spend a whole Sunday afternoon watching animal shows about this topic. Some of these cases will make you think: “How in the world this animal swallowed that, why did it eat it?”

Well, in 2011 some of the most incredible things were swallowed by pets, costing an average of $3,382 for surgeries to remove those foreign objects!

Can you imagine your cat or dog ingesting one of these?:

100 rocks (yes, 1 animal ALONE ingested this!)
box of razor blades
chopsticks
dental retainer (I assume this inspired a popular commercial these days)
dirty diaper
makeup sponge
glass ornament
artificial fingernails
14 hair bands
foot long metal hanger
15 vanilla votive candles
2 baby bottle nipples
cell phone case
G.I Joe action figure
package of fluorescent light bulbs
mothballs
wedding ring
aluminum can

The list is much longer than that, I just posted here the ones that impressed me the most… Oh, I almost forgot.. one pet ate:

a marijuana cookie (but that one, I’m SURE the pet owner had mixed feelings between the pet’s health risks vs. the loss of the cookie)

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Mark your calendar!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Mariangie

Did you know that April 27 is National Hairball Awareness Day?

During the cat’s hygiene “ritual” they swallow hair and most of the time, that hair passes the digestive system and it is eliminated in the cat’s stool.

However, there are some times, when you hear or see your cat gagging and vomiting tubular shaped matted masses of hair.

In order to decrease the recurrence of this problem, try this.

Make the habit of brushing your cat, that way, you diminish the amount of hairs, your cat swallows.
Try using a skin and coat remedy, this can reduce shedding.
Give your cat hairball or furball remedy.
Feed your cat, food specifically identified as “hairball control” .
Play with your pet! A bored cat groom excessively and in turn swallow more hair.

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Using natural treatments for epilepsy in cats or dogs

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Mariangie

Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine (CAVM for short) has been used as part of the treatment to control seizures in epilepsy patients even though epilepsy is a very difficult condition to treat even with traditional veterinary medicine methods. That is why CAVM treatments are still a popular option for pet owners. However, these treatments need to show that are benefiting the brain and improving its function modulating in some way, brain activity.

Some herbs have shown to be helpful in the treatment of epilepsy seizures some of them are, Skullcap, Blue Cohosh, Valerian root and others. Using a herbal remedy to soothe the brain and improve neurological health (in cats and dogs) would:

Improve your pet’s nervous system stability
Maintain normal electrical balance in the brain
Soothe the brain and nervous system
Support natural temperature mechanisms
Support healthy arterial blood pressure

It is important to consider that the natural remedy you use to control your pet’s seizures it’s easy to administer, preferably in a tincture solution, to avoid a stressful situation for you and your pet every time you need to medicate it.

Nutrition play a key role in modulating brain’s energy. The ketogenic diet was develop for children who were not responding to medication and has been adopted for use in veterinary medicine. In this diet, 90% of the total calories consumed in a day consist of fats and only 10% of the dietary intake of carbohydrates and protein combined.

Acupuncture has also been used to treat epilepsy and it is the most well studied CAVM approach. The impact of acupuncture in seizures may be delayed and not as notorious as the results observed when used to treat spinal cord injuries or pain.

The thing is that pet owners would prefer to see their pet’s off of lifelong medicine and would like to switch to complementary/alternative medicine or try a combination of the two, traditional and alternative medicine to treat their pets.

NOTE: As with any other health related issue, we strongly advice that you consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet’s epilepsy treatment.

These common household items are poisoning to your dog!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Mariangie

In 2011, some of the poisoning cases most frequently reported in veterinary clinics, involved substances commonly found in your household. They have been listed in order of frequency.

The most frequently reported cases of poisoning included food items, such as: chocolate, grapes, raisins and xylitol (commonly found in some chewing gum)
Insecticides such as bait stations, sprays, flea & tick treatments were the second most common poisoning group.
Mouse and rat poison took a third position
Human NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and naproxen
Detergents, polishes and other household cleaners
Human antidepressants such as, Prozac and Paxil
Fertilizers
Acetaminophen
Veterinary pain relievers

Higher heartworm risk this season

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Mariangie

Heartworm risk- Adult heartworms release their young into an animal’s bloodstream, when a mosquito bites that animal ingests it and in their digestive system, it matures into larvae. Then the mosquito bites another animal, and infects it. The larvae takes about 6 months to mature into adult heartworm, when the cycle starts all over again. Lots of precipitation and warmer climates create the PERFECT conditions for mosquitoes to reproduce, meaning more vectors out there spreading heartworms to your pets. Please take the necessary precautions to prevent these parasites from attacking your pet.

Please wear your helmet!

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Mariangie

Welcome to MindBodyAndPaw.com!

Please forgive the dust :( In my quest to give you a better service, I completely messed up my previous site. All content is here, you can navigate through the site, read and you will be able to see all the cute pics, and most importantly, shop normally and securely in just a matter of hours.

Thank you for your understanding!

Mariangie

Teething fur baby? Try this…

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Mariangie

Follow these tips to help your teething puppy or kitten:

* Start brushing your pet’s teeth from day one. Even though your puppy or kitten will lose their first set of teeth, the sooner the better to get your pets used to having their teeth brushed. Try and brush 3 to 4 times a week.

* With very small puppies and kittens, just put a small amount of pet-specific toothpaste on your little finger and gently rub this over their teeth and gums.

* Your puppy or kitten might be a bit quiet and not all that keen on eating during the teething phase. Provide small amounts of easily chewable food often.

* For the sake of your furniture invest in good quality, chewy toys. Ensure that these toys are pet-friendly and do not pose a choking hazard.

* Keep a careful eye on your small breed dog during the teething process. Small breed dogs are predisposed to incomplete shedding of their deciduous teeth which will lead to dental health complications.

* If at 8 months of age the dog still has baby teeth, seek veterinary advice as it may be necessary to extract these teeth to prevent dental disease.

* Combine PupTeeth Granules with a course of Immunity and Liver Support to supplement the immune system, natural remedies can be very helpful to help your pet through the teething process as comfortably as possible.

Help your pet keep a sharp and healthy brain.

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Mariangie

Here are some tips for healthy brains:

* Ensure your pet is eating a balanced, high-quality diet with plenty of raw and unprocessed food and fresh water. A healthy diet affects brain and memory functioning

* Regular daily exercise is essential to help keep your pet healthy and fit, as well as in peak mental health. Bored, frustrated animals will not function well mentally!

*Daily routine is important. Do not pamper your pet at home and allow bad behavior, and then expect total obedience during competitive events. Establish who is boss at all times!

* Skin and Coat Tonic ™will help to keep your pet’s coat healthy and shining!

* When competing in shows, use PetCalm™ just before the event as a natural nerve tonic.

* Use Immunity and Liver Support™ capsules to support your pet’s immune system – very important when attending any public event!

* Don’t become so caught up in performing that you forget to have fun with your pet!

* Work on your own stress levels so that they don’t have a negative impact on your pet.

Tips for calming your spooky horse

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Mariangie

There is a lot that can be done naturally to soothe and comfort an anxious and spooky horse.

* Use slow fluid movements around a jittery horse.
* Speak in low tones in a calming manner until he is relaxed.
* Spend ring time just walking with your horse – your consistency will build that needed trust.
* Increase your horse’s turn out time, allowing your horse to expend extra energy in its natural setting.
* Talk to your feed supplier about low energy feeds which can help to lessen hyperactivity.
* Specific toys can also serve to relax your horse.
* A gentle rub down or massage helps too.
* Also, use blinders or blinkers on your horse while leading him or her out of the stall.

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Sad pet? Try this…

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Mariangie

There is much that can be done to support emotional well-being and balanced happy mood in our pets. A solid routine, healthy diet and stable home will all help to ensure that pets feel comfortable and secure. When you know that changes are unavoidable, take steps to expose your pet to them slowly and be understanding of the effects this might have. Consider the following:

* A balanced, high-quality diet is very important during stressful times and can help to support your pet’s immune system. Include plenty of raw and unprocessed food (preferably organic).

* Aromatherapy and massage can help to soothe and comfort pets (do not use aromatherapy oils on cats).

* Try to keep the home environment as safe and stress-free as possible. Try not to make any further changes to the environment during times of change or difficulty.

* Regular exercise will help to keep your pet healthy and fit, mentally and emotionally as well as physically.

* Investigate alternatives for pets who struggle to adapt to kennels when you are on vacation. Perhaps you could arrange for a familiar person to stay in the house or have your pet visit a friend while you are away?

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