Archive for February, 2008

Hi there, Naturally Healthy Pet people!

I have just had a fantastic week on holiday with the family in Devon. We have found a wonderful holiday cottage near Chagford in North East Dartmoor. In fact, we love it there so much that we go there twice per year for rest & recuperation, and we have even mimicked the atmosphere in our own holiday cottage, www.VaneCottage.co.uk

I was not allowed near a laptop or other computer for the entire week – no bad thing, as it gave me space to relax and brainstorm more ideas for The Naturally Healthy Pet. I love writing articles and blogs, but it is challenging making the time to do it! So if any of you out there would like to contribute with articles based on your coursework etc, do let me know!

Now a quick laugh – I love this cartoon on Youtube, just haven’t got around to pasting the link in the blog yet! Take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJFF7QkwRaI

Love & light,
Alison

Hi Naturally Healthy People,

Following on from my article on phantom pregnancy in dogs, which is on the website, Mary contacted me with the following query:

Could you please let me know how to handle my dogs false pregnancy? I have a 2 year old toy chihuahua who has been running around the house with a stuffed animal, nesting, at times panting, shakes alot, and doesn’t eat much. She is not fixed. I hate to have her cut open. We do not know if we will have her mated yet or not. What should, if anything be done?? Is there anything to help her get through this naturally??

From my experience of my own unspeyed labrador, this is completely normal behaviour – our dog goes through this 8-9 weeks after her season, twice per year, and we just understand and are patient with her. However, it is possible that Willow is less distressed by it all than this little chihuahua.

If you feel that you do need to help her, consider gentle methods such as spiritual healing, and you could use pulsatilla, Bach flower remedies, or the aromatics as suggested in my article. With aromatics, it is best for the dog to select them for herself from a variety – seek the help of a qualified animal aromatics practitioner.

Always consult your vet before using complementary therapies or therapists – this can be just a phone call.

For further details see my article.

Hello there, Naturally Healthy Pet carers –

Today I have come across an article that helps explain the vet’s examination when you take your dog there. It helps point out what to look out for as a pet owner/ carer/ guardian, and will help all you therapists to spot problems when working on a pet.

What Will Your Dog Experience at the Vet?

It is the owner’s responsibility to notice changes that might signify a sickness in your dog.  It would be much easier if your dog could say to you that he feels bad, but he can’t.  It is up to you to notice changes in your pet’s behavior that may be signs of some sort of sickness.  This might include having no appetite, changes in stools or just being abnormally tired.  The more information you have for your vet, the easier it will be for him to determine the problem.  Most of the time, your dog will receive a basic exam and the vet will ask you many questions about your dog and his health.

One of the things your veterinarian will look at is your dog’s nose.  You have probably heard that dog’s noses should be wet and cool.  This is true for the most part, however a dog with a warm and dry nose is not necessarily sick.  However, if it’s not, your vet will probably not be overly concerned.  What will concern him is fluid, mucus or changes from the last visit.  Your vet will also take a close look at your dog’s eyes.  Because eye diseases happen in many dogs, the vet will check to see if there are any warning signs that would warrant further testing.

Not necessarily in this order, your vet will take a good look in your dog’s mouth.  He will be on the lookout for gum inflammation or tooth decay.  He can also check the blood pressure by simply pressing on your dog’s gums.  Pale gums can mean that you have an anemic pet, while a yellowish color can mean that your pet has a liver issue.  Pink, healthy gums and strong teeth are a great sign.  From here, your vet will also check the nails to see if there is damage in the nail bed or a wearing of one paw’s nails.  This can mean that the dog has an injury that is causing him to favor one leg.  Flaky nails also may call for further investigating for some sort of metabolic disorder.

A healthy skin and coat will signify a healthy dog.  However, a dull coat may mean that your dog has fleas, mites, or some other parasite.  It can also mean that your dog has an infection somewhere else that needs to be found.  Sometime during the examination, your vet will check your dog’s genitals.  For female dogs, the vet will check for discharge or irritation.  There could be some sort of reproductive or urinary problem.  A male dog will also be checked for swelling or inflammation in the genitals to ensure good health.

Through these different methods of checking your dog, your vet will be able to tell if there is some sort of condition that needs further looking into.  Assuming that you have noticed no problems with your dog and each of these areas appears perfectly healthy, your vet will most likely present you with a clean bill of health for your four-legged friend!

For additional information on effective dog training techniques that utilize positive, humane, and effective methods, please visit http://www.clickerdogtraining.net

P.S. From Alison -
For a more in depth study of the dog and cat examination, including training a pet guardian or therapist to do this, see Dr Jones’ course

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