I find it disturbing when people espouse the opinion that animals do not have feelings. As an animal communicator I know for certain that they do, as they regularly share their feelings with me. Why is it that some people are so insistent that we not anthropomorphize animals? Could it be that ascribing emotions to animals means we would have to acknowledge they are sentient beings?

When my beautiful mare, Misty, lost her new filly she had tears running down her face. I had never before seen a horse cry, but that day Misty cried. She had so looked forward to being a mommy and she was devastated. She grieved her baby for months. Her usual spark was missing, so much so that she allowed two of the geldings to boss her around, effectively moving her down from second to fourth ranked in the herd. Her normal personality was very much an alpha mare so it was astonishing to see this change.

Later that year she started looking pregnant. The only stallion she had contact with was our mini, Arlo, who at 31 inches could not have done the deed…unless she laid down. Uh oh. Suddenly I started hearing stories about minis who had bred full-size horses.

That very cold and snowy December as her udder filled and began to wax I was checking her every two hours round the clock. This went on for two weeks with all the signs of impending birth. Then one day everything stopped. She had just gone through a false pregnancy!! She wanted that baby so badly that she imagined herself pregnant and manifested all the physical signs. If animals have no feelings then why did Misty grieve and experience a false pregnancy?

How many times have you heard about cats who suddenly stop using their litter box and soil the house? Often they are upset about something and are acting out those feelings desperately trying to communicate with their guardians.

I recently communicated with a cat who felt displaced by new family members and began to withdraw. As he withdrew further and further he left himself vulnerable and was eventually killed by predators. If he had no feelings he would likely still be alive.

Dogs are even more demonstrative, displaying a wide range of feelings. Is there any doubt about the joy they exhibit when their person comes home? My new puppy, a standard poodle, is one of the most demonstrative dogs I’ve ever met. She is filled with exuberance and loves to clown around for our amusement.

How many times have you seen a dog dreaming, talking in their sleep with their limbs jerking to and fro? Why would they dream if they have no feelings? What would be the purpose? And haven’t we all heard stories about dogs who gave their lives to save their person? Is that not love?

I haven’t even touched on their sense of humor. Some are sarcastic, others more thoughtful wise cracker types like a George Carlin, some are raucous, others have a dry wit. They run the gamut. One stallion I communicated with bragged about how “well endowed” he was. I think he got a kick out of the shock value. See, there’s another category: twisted humor.

I could go on and on with many anecdotes about all manner of animals who have expressed their feelings during communication sessions, but by now you probably get the idea. So just why are some people convinced that animals lack emotions?

The only conclusion I can come to is that believing they are “dumb” animals allows for treating them like inanimate objects, just another piece of property.

The Pet Chatter, Debbra Lupien, has always talked to her animals. But it wasn’t until she met Scenic Mist (Misty), that she learned animals can, and want to, communicate with humans. Thanks to strong motivation from Misty, she learned to have a two-way conversation (telepathic animal communication) very quickly.

Misty was the most challenging horse Debbra had ever met. She was a dream horse to look at, but a nightmare to handle. She was aggressive and bad tempered, with a huge chip on her shoulder…at least from outward appearances. Once Debbra learned to open the animal communication channel, she was able to get Misty’s side of the story and realized that Misty had some valid reasons for her attitude. As those issues were resolved, Misty was transformed into a true equine partner.

Since then, Debbra has taken every opportunity to communicate with animals and hone her ability. What a revelation it is to directly communicate with the animal rather than having to guess what is going on. Debbra now regularly shares her stories and insights on her blog: http://www.lupien.net/petsaretalking

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbra_Lupien

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But if you suspect that your female hamster is pregnant, leave her alone and do not handle her. It is not a good time to be picking her up, petting her or trying to play with her. She will be uncomfortable and protective, and may bite as a result. You also risk injuring her or the babies, especially if she is resistant to being picked up and tries to get away or jump out of your hand.

As a matter of fact, one of the signs that she may be pregnant is if her behavior changes and she resists being picked up and handled. She may also become aggressive toward her mate, so it is important to keep them separated.

So instead of handling her, nurture her and the babies by providing good nutrition and a safe, healthy environment while she is pregnant. This is a good time to make sure she gets plenty of fresh water and fresh veggies and fruit, and healthy protein like fresh cooked meat, hard boiled eggs or tofu.

Make sure that that the mother has lots of clean bedding and nesting material for giving birth and caring for her new babies. Also make sure the cage is kept clean, well ventilated with fresh air, but away from extremes of heat, cold or drafts.

Once the pups are born, do not handle them or touch them for at least 3 weeks. Touching the babies too soon is very threatening to the mother, and in her fear she may decide to eat them rather than expose them to danger. So do not put her in that position. Just leave the babies alone and provide their mother with healthy food and living quarters so she can take care of them safely and naturally.

If your female is not already pregnant, here are some things to consider. Although physically able to breed as young as 5 weeks old, it is better to wait until she is about 16 weeks old. This will increase the probability that the mother will bear healthy babies, and that she will be healthy and mature enough to take care of her litter.

Of course, most experienced hamster owners will advise against breeding them at all. Without complete knowledge of their genetic history, there is a high risk of potential health problems which can lead to heartbreak and expense for owners. So the usual recommendation, especially to new hamster owners and children, is to always keep the genders separated and enjoy taking care of the hamsters as pets.

Emily Brock is a hamster enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on hamster life visit http://HamsterLifeAnswers.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emily_Brock

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Getting rid of fleas can be a very difficult and expensive mission. The only way to properly get rid of a flea infestation in your home and on your pets is to understand the flea cycle. Using a multi module approach to killing the flea population will make sure you do not have any more flea problems.

A good plan should be formed to remove fleas from your home in the most cost effectively manner. This can be orchestrated by simply understanding how fleas breed and where they live. Also, you must understand how the medications work that are responsible for eliminating them.

Fleas lay eggs that pupate in the environment for up to several months. The adult female flea can lay up to 2000 eggs with in her 50 life span. Once the fleas hatch they must feed on a blood meal within 72 hours or they will die. Since a single clutch of flea eggs can survive months without hatching it is important that cleaning is repeated every couple of weeks.

The multi-modal approach should include:

* Cleaning your home
* Medicating your pets
* Using flea birth control

Cleaning your home:

* Remove and wash all bedding and rugs that where your pets sleep.
* Vacuum your home thoroughly, this activates the eggs to hatch and removes fleas in hard to reach areas
* Spray outdoor areas in your yard with flea killer
* Clean up your backyard by removing weeds and areas of high vegetation where your pets like to sleep

Medicate your pets:

1. Fast acting flea killer- Give as needed. Any time fleas are noticed or if your pet visits flea infested areas such as dog parks. There are some very safe over the counter flea medications that kill all fleas on your pet within 4 hours.
2. Long term flea preventative- These are usually placed topically on your pets once a month to provide 30 days of protection from adult flea bites. They often kill the fleas before they even have a chance to bite your pets, which helps to stop FAD.
3. Flea birth control- Given once monthly as a tablet to stop flea from being able to reproduce. Very good for heavily infested flea areas and for helping to control outside populations.

Using this method of flea control year round will save you lots of money in the long run. Hiring a professional exterminator can be very expensive and is often ineffective if proper flea control is not used on our pets. If one flea is noticed than you can be sure that there are 10 X as many in the environment. When buying flea medications always make sure that the brand is veterinary approved and it is made especially for the species being treated ie: cats or dogs. A good way to save on veterinary costs is to purchase the flea medications from the internet.

Visit PetVetWisdom.com to find vet recommended Flea Medications. We have researched and found the lowest online providers for these medications. We also provide direct links to specific medications for the safety of your pets.

Petvetwisdom was created by veterinarians to help our pet owners save money on veterinary care and find information on common diseases. We have veterinarians on staff to answer any pet questions via email for no charge.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Michael_Fredrick_DVM

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We as humans, try to eat fairly well balanced meals. If you are like our family, you gulp a few vitamins and supplement pills every morning in hopes of staying healthy.

Since our pets no longer head for the woods to find their source of food, they too, need additional “health insurance” by means of vitamins and supplements.

Not even the very best canned or dry food made for cats and dogs is perfect. There is not a 100% balanced and complete food to be found anywhere, no matter what the label says. Pet food for the most part is processed by heat and as we know heat destroys vitamins and enzymes. Even frozen and freeze-dried pet foods are not the “100% perfect food” to feed your pet.

What are some of the alternatives you should be looking for to insure your pet’s health? I am not suggesting that you give your pet a hand full of pills to swallow. I am aware of how much fun it is to give a cat a pill. Even have the scratches to prove it.

No, I just want you to be aware that there are areas of health to consider when planning your pet’s diet and that their food should include certain elements. If the food you are serving does not provide these things, then it is a good idea to consider this list and possibly add these supplements.

* Digestive enzymes – Mother Nature in all her glory endowed every vegetable, fruit and animal food source with enzymes that break down food into particles small enough to be processed by the body. Most processed pet food is lacking in these enzymes as they are basically destroyed by heat.
* Our pets need these digestive enzymes to aid in their digestion and assimilation of the nutrients in their food. The lack of these enzymes can be responsible for such things as itchy skin, flatulence, body odor and excessive shedding to name a few.
* Essential Fatty Acids – Our pets need these fatty acids to help in their cardiovascular functions and for nourishment for their skin and coats. For many years pet owners have given their pets fatty acids for the above reasons, but now veterinarians have found that they play an important role in the control of allergies, inflammation and the function of other body organs in cats and dogs. Granted they can be found in the foods we feed our pets, but once again food processing limits the amounts they are getting.
* Multi Vitamins – they are important for us to take and they are just as important for our pets. Look at it as “health insurance” for your cat or dog. Going back to the same old story, much of the vitamins and minerals in our pet’s food are once again destroyed by the heat in processing the food. Even if they are added as an after thought later by the pet food companies, the vitamins and minerals slowly dissipate when exposed to air and light. The first bites are the best nutrition wise.

As in all things pertaining to your pet it is best to talk to your Vet regarding what supplements you should add to your pet’s diet. Doing a little research on the internet and talking to friends that have animals can also give you a wealth of information.

One very important thing cat caregivers should remember is that cats need the amino acid called “taurine” in their diets. I have found that Hartz makes a vitamin for cats that are not only filled with most things a cat needs, it is a great source of “taurine.” Our cats readily eat the vitamin pill, it is rather large, so I break it up and they seem to enjoy it. It can be found in most grocery stores and is reasonably priced.

Since I am on the subject of cats for the moment, I would like to include a recipe that I have used daily for several years and credit it to saving our Smokey’s life and making him well and strong. It is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals; it will do wonders for your cat’s coat and its inner well being. A friend lent me the book that this was in and unfortunately we do not know the author or the name of the book. It is well worth the effort it takes to put it together and it will benefit your cat in many ways especially if your cat is a finicky eater like ours is.

It is rather like building a mouse: (a cat’s best source of food)

11/2 cups of Brewer’s yeast (acts as something living, raises the quality of protein and helps replace some B vitamins and amino acids)
1 cup lecithin (to emulsify fatty wastes and provide a good coat)
¼ cup kelp powder (provides minerals and roughage, the nutrition found in a mouse’s hair and contents of its tummy)
2 cups wheat bran (provides minerals and roughage, as does the kelp powder)
2 cups bone meal (helps bone structure)

Mix together and keep in an airtight jar (peanut butter jar works well) and keep in the refrigerator. Mix or sprinkle 1 teaspoon in your cat’s food at mealtime, total of 2 teaspoons per day. If you feed your cat several times a time adjust the amount and spread it accordingly. You may have to try a little bit at a time to get your cat used to the taste. You can buy the ingredients at the health food store and it lasts for a long while. Just keep it in the refrigerator. I had trouble finding kelp powder and as a result bought pills and ground them in a small coffee grinder, which I keep to grind up things our cats are finicky about and I then can sneak them in their food, etc.

As our pets grow older, it is important to be observant regarding their behavior. If your dog or cat is approaching 8 or 9 years of age keep an eye on its mobility, watch for stiffness in the joints. This might be a good time to start giving Glucosamine, which is joint supplement. Again check with your Vet before starting any new health regimes.

CoEnzyme Q 10 is another helpful supplement that will help protect your pet’s health and gums.

The list of supplements that are good for your cat and dog is long. It can be an overwhelming. Use the Internet as a research tool, talk to your Vet, consult a holistic veterinarian, and talk to friends with healthy pets, read pet food labels and most of all watch your pet.

Take a long look at your pet’s coat and skin, are their eyes bright, do they have abundant energy, are their teeth and gums healthy? A good long look will give you an idea of what your pet needs. Keep in mind that what is good for one animal is not necessarily good for another.

Some pets need more of one thing while others may not need it at all. Just like their human caregivers, pets come in all sizes and shapes and they, just like us have certain health needs and requirements. Be mindful of your pet, be observant, talk to your vet and use the tools and services that are available in today’s world to make certain your pet has all the health benefits available.

I wish you and your pet a long and healthy life. Good luck.

Keeping our pets healthy is very beneficial not only to the pet, but to our pocketbooks. If the only time you need to visit the veterinarian is for yearly check ups and necessary shots you are saving money. Nutrition is very important in keeping a dog/cat healthy, proper quality food that contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals is a good way to start. If this article has been of benefit, please visit my web site and blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Audrey_Frederick

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My Cat had his tail broken 2 months ago and now he is unable to use the restroom properly. His butt is swollen. I wondered that it might hurt him to poop, and that’s why he can’t use it correctly. His tail is paralized and a bone, where the tail and the back connect, is sticking up. Can u please help me?

answer :
Hi,

A broken tail is painful and may certainly interact with normal urination/defecation. However, following amputation and allowing reasonable time to fully recover, the problem should be sorted. I suspect that your cat may have contracted a pelvis injury at the same time as the tail incident. This would be very common especially if the patient suffered a road traffic accident.

I recommend that you ask your veterinarian to review the x-rays (he most probably x-rayed your cat prior to the tail amputation) and re-check for a small pelvic fracture. I would like to note that it is very possible to miss a small, non-displaced fracture without being incompetent.

Should there be a fracture, be re-assured that it usually heals nicely following simple cage rest of about 6 weeks duration.

However, if the hypothetic pelvic fracture did not heal properly and triggers a narrowing of the pelvic opening, then ongoing constipation is possible. The use of liquid paraffin to help fecal passage may help.

Best wishes, Julien

http://vetstoria.co.uk

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Her own special area on the kitchen floor, with a plastic placemat.

My cat also has portion control because she eats what she wants and leaves the rest to dry out, or get stale. She takes her time to clean her dish. Then she will vocalize if she what’s more, and she sits by her dish patiently, some times, more urgently other times.

She drinks from her water dish in a relaxed manner and without messes or spills.

After the cat has finished her eating, the relaxing continues.

Leisurely washing her face, paws and whiskers, perhaps her ears too in the process. Taking the ‘necessary time’ to get every whisker and corner clean. She seems to be quite methodical about this and remembers where she left off if distracted, (we humans have a problems with distractions).

By this time the cat is totally relaxed and ready for her cat nap.

To take these ideas into your life is not difficult at all.

Prepare you meal in advance, a bit of advance planning reduces stress of course. Even if you take your meal out of the freezer and into the microwave to cook it . You can do this with a calm focus. Remember to put the meal into a nice dish and for your sake sit the kitchen or dinning room table to eat. With the emphasis on sitting. Even plan on lighting a candle or two.

If you are aware of your weight and use potion control you will not feel guilty by rushing though your meal.

Again by rushing though your meal you are eating too quickly to adequately digest adding calories, stress and other toxins your system does not need.

Yes this takes a bit of control and planning but you are worth the extra effort. Your invested time is well spent as well. This is self-nurturing and good for you.

After your meal clear the dishes, put them in the dishwasher or hand wash them. A clean kitchen will greet you later and add to your calm.

Brushing your teeth and washing your hands may add to the relaxation and general self care. This will take practice, and a good habit in the long run. You will find that your food will digest better and your focus on celebrating your meal will uplift you as well. So you can continue with the rest of your evening in a calming and productive way.

Those of you who have a family to prepare meals for can share the responsibilities of preparation and you can teach by example with your calm tone that will set the environment around you.

You see our fine furry feline friend is loving you in her own way by showing you the basics of calm. Learning the feline finesse of eating can calm and relax your stressed inner beast.

Ellen R. Norman publishes e- books containing stress reducing,and teaches calming tecniques, suggestions and tips. Please sign up for free newsletters and special reports on her blog at, http://www.thezensage.typepad.com

Also for more comprehensive calming techniques and insights on how calm can be easy. Please go to http://www.nostress4nurses.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_R._Norman

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Fleas, since they consume blood, are a wonderful intermediate host of many parasites that can ruin your pet’s health, especially in cats. In cats, fleas can carry a parasite called hemobartonella that live in and destroy red blood cells. In the Middle Ages and even now in the American southwest, fleas are also the source for the plague caused by a bacterium, yersinia pestis. More commonly, fleas transmit tapeworms that are the intestinal parasites that look like little pieces of rice around the rectum. Finally one of the biggest problems is that a fleabite is very irritating leading to an allergic reaction. In dogs, allergic reactions are the most common problem.

In young animals fleas can be fatal to pet health, due to blood loss. Many puppies and kittens have died from loosing too much blood from flea bites. So, with all the problems fleas can cause, control of this dreaded parasite is key. Many stores such as sell flea products and there are different topical applications and shampoos that are effective flea control. Medications found at your local veterinarian are the newer generation of flea preventatives. These products work much longer on the skin of the animals, typically around a month. Some of these products also break the life cycle of the flea not allowing them to reproduce. Oh, by the way, one female flea can produce fifty eggs a day! The number one cause of seeing too many fleas on our pets is a highly infected yard. All flea products take twelve to twenty-four hours to kill the fleas and often many fleas hop on every time they go outside. Treatment of the yard is just as important as treating your pet.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about flea control visit Pet Knowledge Site for current articles and discussions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Pearson

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Another benefit to purchasing pet meds online is the convenience of having the medications delivered. Most vet practices keep regular nine-to-five business hours, making it very difficult for most people to stop by and purchase what they need, without having to take time away from work and other responsibilities. When these treatments are ordered online, they are shipped right to your home, saving you the time and aggravation of having drive to the office and pick them up yourself.

While most prescription pet meds are not available for purchase to the general public, the most commonly used, veterinarian recommended non-prescription medications are easily purchased online. Though you would move mountains and spend any money necessary to care for a beloved pet, it is nice to know that there are convenient, money saving alternatives to the high prices that vets charge for these must-have medications. Compare the prices that your own vet charges for these medications and you’ll see the benefits immediately.

For more information on Pet Clothes Please Visit http://www.petplanetrx.com/pet-clothing-s/24.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Davidson

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