Cattle

Archive for January, 2012

Over recent years, we’ve been learning more and more about the benefits of treating human aliments with natural remedies. The same holds true for our companion pets as well. Older dogs and cats suffer from painful arthritis as their joints begin to deteriorate over time. Instead of turning directly to prescription drugs which can be costly and come with nasty side effects, many people are looking for alternative options for arthritis pain relief for canine dogs.

In the past aspirin for dogs with arthritis painhas been a popular treatment. But this type of treatment is quickly losing popularity because dogs are particularly sensitive to the effects that Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, can have on their gastrointestinal system. Side effects of NSAID’s include pain, bleeding and ulceration.

So health conscious pet owners are in search of safer alternatives. One natural component is quickly gaining popularity, specifically because of the clinical studies that have proven its effectiveness.  Cetyl myristoleate is a natural component that has been clinically proven for arthritis natural pain relief and thousands of people and pets dealing with the disease are finding great success with CM8. Cetyl myristoleate is the cetyl ester of myristoleic acid. It has multiple biological properties. It acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever, as well as being an immune system modulator. It is a naturally derived, highly purified, and refined waxy ester prepared to be taken by mouth. Because it is an ester form, highly resistant to oxidation, it has a relatively long life in the body. No harmful short or long term effects have ever been observed in humans or in laboratory animals, even in extremely high doses.

The only natural arthritis pain relief product that uses CM8 is FlexPet. The vitamin supplement for dogs and cats has been proven to correct the problems and eliminate pet joint pain by reducing the inflammation while lubricating the effected joints. This is mainly because of the main ingredient, cetyl myristoleate. In addition to it being an immune system modulator, CM8 delivers special nutrients and herbs to the joints, bones, and surrounding tissue. It alleviates pain, boosts immunity, strengthens the skeletal system, removes harmful toxins and promotes general health and well being.

Natural Horsemanship is a philosophy of training and working with horses by communicating in the same language of the horse. Horses use body language to communicate with each other, and thus the foundation of natural horsemanship technique is based on body language.

History of Natural Horsemanship
Many say that natural horsemanship has been practiced in one form or another from the beginning of man’s relationship with horses. Classic dressage training focuses on principles of natural horsemanship. There are several “modern” practitioners of natural horsemanship, each with their own techniques. The recent movement toward training with natural horsemanship developed in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions. Trainers included Tom and Bill Dorrance, and Buck Brannamen. Another prolific practitioner is Pat Parelli. He has founded schools and clinics all over the world to disseminate his methods.

Get Started
Each of the trainers mentioned above practices their own techniques, many of which overlap. To get started practicing natural horsemanship, first find a community of like-minded horse owners, riders and trainers. Natural horsemanship techniques are many and varied; however, though the techniques have been practiced for literally ages, the idea is still new to some people. With the rise of the internet, it is easier than ever to connect with others walking the same journey with their horse. The American Association of Natural Horsemen is a great resource for beginners and professionals alike to connect with others.

Discover the Method that Works best for You and Your Horse
Natural horsemanship techniques all point toward a better relationship between horse and human. To decide what works the best for you and your horse, try different techniques. Read books by different trainers, and read online forums for tips and tools. Learn from those with more experience, and ask lots of questions. Then, try what you have learned. If something does not work, try something different, or relate your experience to your fellow horsemen and see what they have to say.

Find a Mentor
The journey of natural horse training can be bumpy, exhilarating, frustrating and rewarding—all in one afternoon! To have the best experience possible, find a mentor to help you along the way. Your mentor could live in your hometown, or they could live half a world away. Again, by using online communities and forums, you can connect with people all over the world from which to learn. A great mentor is someone who will let you ask a lot of questions, and who has the time to devote some personal attention to your cause.

Keep it Up
Consider the practice of natural horsemanship as a lifestyle and not a one-and-done solution. The journey on which you embark with your horse is one that will last your lifetime, and provide continual learning opportunities. Enjoy the journey, as it is just as rewarding as the results.

People are not the only ones exposed to numerous health risks. Pets too are in danger of experiencing a variety of health problems. When pets are sick, they usually go through a lot of pain, leaving them stressed and even sleepless at night.  Resting is the most common way of recharging one’s self and doctors always advice patients to take a good rest.  The same advice is given by vets to pet owners. Studies also show that resting, specially sleeping brings a lot of relief and comfort for sick pets.

Since sleeping plays an important role in the pet’s fast recovery, owners must also give importance to their sleeping area.  The cold floor may not be suitable to their aching joints and may worsen their arthritis.  Giving them therapeutic pet beds can help them soothe their body ache as they lay on soft and comfortable mattresses.  There is a wide variety of dog beds and cat beds available today.  Pet supply manufacturers have developed temperature controlled beds that can either perform heating or cooling functions.  A correct body temperature is better for their health in cold or hot environments.  During the cold season, pets would surely love the warmth of heated dog beds and during the hot season, pets would enjoy the cooling effect of cooling dog beds.  Both these products have medicinal or therapeutic benefits to dogs of all ages.

Pets with joint ailments like old and arthritic dogs can take advantage of therapeutic or orthopaedic pet beds. These will save them from excessive moisture, heat, cold and pests. They provide comfort and support to the pressure points like the spine, hips, and shoulders.  Any pet will surely enjoy these cozy and soft foams that perfectly match their weight and shape.

French Bulldogs are usually described as ‘clowns in a philosopher’s cloak’ since their glum faces mask their very comical traits. The popularity of French Bulldog puppies lie in their reputation as companion pets. With their even temperament, easygoing and amiable nature, this breed makes for very pleasant companions for the elderly and children.

Affectionately referred to as Frenchies, this breed is small, muscular with a heavy bone structure and a heavy head. They possess a smooth coat and their small face is trademarked with ‘bat’ ears. French Bulldogs like being couch potatoes as much as they like chasing balls. Although active and alert, they are not good as security dogs. Here are some key facts related to these puppies.

French Bulldog Puppies: Key Considerations

Some major characteristics and concerns with French Bulldog puppies are:

Problems associated with a short face: This breed faces some health problems due to their short face. Hence, you must be sure to:

• Keep this breed away from smoke, chemical cleaning products, allergenic pollen and freshly-cut grass to avoid respiratory problems.

• Veterinarians must be very careful with their treatment. They must be administered only modern anesthetics and their heart and blood pressure must be checked often.

• French Bulldogs must be housed in air-conditioned or cool environments. In hot and humid weathers, they become vulnerable to heatstroke as they cannot pant vigorously enough to keep themselves cool.

• Dog collars must be avoided since it applies pressure on its windpipe and makes it difficult to breathe.

• The folds of its skin must be washed after meals.

General health problems: Poor breeding practices can lead to health problems for French Bulldogs. There are probabilities of joint, heart and eye diseases and spinal cord disorders.

Obstinacy: French Bulldog puppies can be very stubborn and manipulative, especially when they are being trained or exercised. You have to show them consistently that you are the boss. Food is a good motivator to goad them to perform different tasks; however, if they are not exercised properly, they end up being fat and unhealthy.

Dog First Aid Kits are easy enough to create. First you need some kind of container to hold all the medicines, drugs and supplies in such as a tackle box, old lunch box or some other shoe box sized plastic container. It should be water-proof, strong enough to withstand mild pressure and have a clasp of some sort – but not locking.

Label it on all sides with a felt tip marker so that it is easy to read. Something such as “Dog First Aid Kit” or whatever just so you can easily know the difference between your human first aid kit (if you made it yourself as well) and this one for your dog(s) and puppy (s).

Under the lid of your dog first aid kit would be a great place to tape an index card which contains the numbers of your local veterinarian, poison control, and other canine emergency numbers for your dogs (emergency vet, etc).

It would also be a good place to list a description of your dog(s) including color, weight, name, health issues, distinguishing characteristics and a recent photo labeled with the name of each pet. Your dog will thank you in the case of some sort of disaster or emergency when you are not at home for some reason.

Below is a list of several items you should obtain to place within your dog first aid kit and brief explanations as to what each item is for. Remember, your dogs health may depend on it.

Dog First Aid Kit Ingredients

Activated charcoal: for poisonings (1 gram per pound, mixed with water),

Antihistamine tablets: for insect stings and allergic reactions,

Betadine or Nolvasan: cleaning open wounds,

Blankets: several if possible, to help prevent against shock in the event of an accident or injury as well as a good way to transport an injured dog,

Blunt nosed scissors: to cut tape and clip. Keep these scissors with the kit.

Canine rectal thermometer: to take the dog or puppies temperature,

Cortisone ointment: Used as a topical anti-inflammatory,

Cotton balls and swabs: Used mainly to clean wounds,

Eyedropper or dosage syringe: to apply medications to your GSD,

Eyewash: to irrigate the eyes of your GSD,

First-aid cream: to sooth and protect wounds,

Gauze bandage: for wrapping wounds,

Gloves: both thin plastic to avoid contamination and thicker ones if you have a fear of being bitten,

Hand towels: to dry hands, for clean up, etc.,

Hydrogen peroxide (3%): has various uses, one of which is to induce vomiting,

Ipecac: used to induce vomiting (1 teaspoon per 20 pounds),

Kaolin and pectin: to help diarrhea (1 teaspoon per 10 pounds),

Magnifying glass: to help locate any tiny objects

Muzzle: even the best German Shepherd may bite when in extreme pain. If you don’t have one you can also make one from strips of soft long fabric, tube socks, etc.,

Nail clippers: best case scenario, have both human and canine nail clippers,

Non-stick adhesive tape: to help tape bandages in place,

Non-stinging antiseptic spray: to help clean wounds,

Pepto-Bismol , Maalox or Kaopectate: to help relieve minor stomach upsets,

Petroleum jelly: for use with the rectal thermometer, also an aid in constipation (1/2 teaspoon per 10 pounds),

Saline solution: can be used for many things such as irrigating wounds,

Stretch bandages: for wound dressing,

Styptic pencil: to stop minor bleeding,

Tweezers or hemostat: use to pull our splinters or other small foreign objects,

Vegetable oil: for mild constipation (1 teaspoon per 5 pounds, mix it in with food)