If Dogs could Send a Letter to God…

Dear God, Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another? Where are their priorities?

Dear God, When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it the same old story?

Dear God, Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We dogs love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the ‘Chrysler Eagle’ the ‘Chrysler Beagle’?

Dear God, If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God, If we come back as humans, is that good or bad?

Dear God, More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God, When we get to the Pearly Gates, do we have to shake hands to get in?

Dear God, Are there dogs on other planets or are we alone? I have been howling at the moon and stars for a long time, but all I ever hear back is the Schnauzer across the street.

Dear God, Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God, We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers,

While inefficient or over active immune systems can cause diseases, other diseases can also compromise the immune system’s ability to combat diseases. Many times a certain drug used during the course of a treatment negatively affects the immune system, which in turn can be a cause behind the occurrence of another condition.

A dog’s body is capable of fighting minor diseases on its own. Frequent occurrences of skin disorders, allergies, respiratory and eye disorders and other general problems are sure signs of dysfunction of the immune system in pets. It is important to be on guard rather than letting the situation go out of hand. Maintaining the health of the immune system of your pet will not only restrict frequent occurrences of disease but also help in improving chances of survival in the event of a serious disease.

Antioxidants are one of the proven supplements that help in fighting disease. Antioxidants also limit cell damage and thus provide support to the immune system when disease occurs. Vitamins are a group of organic substances that are essential in small quantities to normal metabolism.

Vitamin C and E are specific antioxidants that are normally used as supplements to counter the oxidizing chemicals originating during cell damage. Vitamin C also plays a key role in enhancing the T-cell production for an increased resistance to bacterial and viral infection and allergies. Vitamin E, on the other hand prevents oxidation of Vitamin A, red blood cells and unsaturated fatty acids.

Carotene, an orange compound of an unsaturated hydrocarbon found in many plants is converted into vitamin A in the liver. It is indispensable for a healthy skin, growth, digestion and repair of body tissues and protecting mucous membranes of mouth, nose, throat and lungs for reducing vulnerability to infections.

Bioflavonoids or simply flavonoids, a group of antioxidant chemical compounds widely found often as a pigment in plants, fruits and vegetables, are termed as ‘nature’s biological response modifiers’. They have a strong inbuilt capacity to affect the way the body responds to allergens, viruses and carcinogens. Flavonoids are widely present in plants and protect them from microbes and insects.

Diseases like liver disease in dogs or feline liver disease are highly progressive diseases that are also difficult to diagnose and even lead to the death of your pet. Moreover, symptoms of liver disease in dogs and cats are varied and subtle and the disorder is likely to be diagnosed late. It would be unwise to look for vitamin supplements at the time of illness. The preferred approach should be to maintain the health of the immune system for reducing the incidence and severity of diseases in pets.

As much as you can, try to feed a natural diet to your dog. If you must buy commercial pet food gather enough information so that you can understand the contents mentioned on the label so as to be able to avoid those containing chemical preservatives. Chemical preservatives do more harm than the possible benefits of the ingredients.

To ensure that your dog is eating the best food, feed a home cooked diet that is rich in Vitamin C, E and A, antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids for best possible benefits for immune system. Even though dogs need meat based proteins, a healthy mix of meat and vegetables will go a long way to derive benefits that both vitamins and flavonoids can provide to the immune system.

For more about herbal natural remedies for pets click here

Legislation calls for bill that would force commercial kennels to increase the space requirements for dog cages, stop using wire flooring, do away with stacking of cages and provide animals vet checkups for dogs as well as an outdoor exercise area. Also, daily cage clean and temp requirements between 50F to 85F. Well, it’s not perfect but it’s a good start. Opponents, including sport dog organizations said the bill goes too far. The reason : the organization does not support back legislation that could “criminalize and penalize sportsmen out of existence ”

My believe, and I’m sure yours too, that it’s time to put an end to this horrible inhuman suffer of the mill dogs.

(From the pet news issue of August 2008. )

A new study shows that people who own a pet are more likely to vote for McCain who has 12 dogs at home, while Obama has none.

43% of dog owners say they’ll vote for McCain while only 41% of cat owners do so.

The reason, they say, people who own pets are more  merciful, taking care, giving, and trustful. Another reason is that people connect better with others who have similar interests and they find them more like them.

I wonder:

1. Does a pet person is really a better person?

2. Is it wise to make a decision based on this fact?

Love hearing your opinion..

Faith was born with only two legs, but with the help of her beloved owner, she learned how to walk, using only her two back legs. Now she visits hospitals, rehabilitation institutes and schools giving example and inspiration to disabled and sick.

(The Washington Post)

I believe we all can learn something from this amazing pooch!!

Even if you’re not in a position to adopt a dog, there are many different ways you can help a dog/cat in need. All efforts count — the important thing is to get involved!

Already saving the world?

Are you the proud parent of 25 cats and dogs but still want to do more?

Here are some ideas to get you started:
Copy this and Add to this list and share it on your blog!
Donate items to your local pet rescue or shelter
Blankets to use as pet beds
New/used leashes, collars, cat and dog toys, crates, training equipment, baby gates, play pens, treats and food, cleaning supplies

Donate money to your local dog rescue or shelter
$50 can help spay or neuter a cat or dog
Planned giving—leave money to your favorite pet charity in your will
Fund raising for a specific shelter by setting up an online fund raising page

Offer Your Professional Services
If you’re a trainer, donate time to help with obedience training.
If you’re a vet, give a discount for your services for rescued animals.
If you’re a groomer, donate your services to pets awaiting adoption.
If you’re an event planner, help dog rescue organizations with event coordination and outreach.
If you raise livestock, provide access to your flock to train herding dogs!

Volunteer your time
Foster a pet
Volunteer to transport dogs — to events, to prospective homes, etc.
Post flayers for pets awaiting adoption
Forward emails to your network of family, friends and colleagues
Volunteer at or attend adoption days and events
Help bath pets for adoption days
Spread the word about pet rescue and pet overpopulation
Walk a dog at the shelter or play with some toys with a kitty
Call an animal shelter or rescue — ask at your local shelter how you can help.

Take action!!! Suspect a dog is being neglected or abused? Report it!
You can make a difference, I have and it is so rewarding!

You can read more on the PET-ABUSE site

Please read this FDA release and pass it on

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01854.html

We all know the safety concerns we have for ourselves during the hottest months of the year, and most of them also apply to our pets. But when it’s hot for you, it is probably even hotter for your pet — especially if it has a dark coat, a short muzzle breeds such as bulldogs and pugs, or he is elder.
Decrease the risks of letting your pet enjoy the outdoors in summer with these tips: Read the rest of this entry »

You got your new pet almost a week ago. In that time, the little beast has eaten three pairs of shoes, gnawed your sofa, chewed thru the power cord of your computer and, just this morning, you found him gleefully chewing up your credit cards. This is getting expensive really fast and starting to get dangerous for the pup also.

Read the rest of this entry »

It is a known fact that all animals, including humans, have different methods of dealing with perceived threats. While aggressive dog behavior dog biting is a more common response in canines, cats are more likely to take to flight. However, cats also choose between flight, fight, freeze and appeasement when they get cornered in a situation they perceive as fearful. Cats can also be aggressive but they may choose to fight only in typical situations.

One of the most common types of aggressive behavior in cats is aggression that is redirected from the actual source of threat. Unlike dog aggression, that is more likely to be related to dominance, cats are more susceptible to redirect their aggression to a harmless bystander.

A cat that perceives threat from a source that is inaccessible or is aroused excessively by a stimulus is liable to attack whosoever is close - an object, family member or another cat in the household. Although redirected aggression is normal in a wild setting, it is one of the main reasons why some families give up their cats for good. Owners or other victims normally remain oblivious of the real reasons behind the aggression. The general perception is that the cat has become aggressive without a reason.

Cats enjoy sitting near windows and they are prone to get excited or fearful if they see another cat outside. The presence of another cat in the house, visitors, high pitched noises, a dog or an unusual odor are some of the other stimulating factors that trigger redirected aggression.

Recovering composure after anxiety or arousal depends upon the severity of the stimulus that has triggered the aggression or anxiety. Bringing the cat back to normal behavior can take months. However, if the cat is continuously exposed to the same environment that provokes an emotional response, the aggressive response can get strengthened over time.

Treating feline redirected aggression is difficult as the stimulus is not easily identifiable. It is important to understand feline behavior so that you can deal with redirected aggression in cats. The key to treatment involves an understanding of these four vital factors:

o Cats can sometimes inflict serious wounds and the primary step is to ensure the safety of the family members. The smallest detectable sensation can make a cat anxious or fearful and instigate aggressive behavior. In such extreme cases the cat should be isolated for safety.

o Identify the trigger. Look outside the window for signs of an intruder, smells of urine, paw prints, spaying against the window or nose prints on the window pane. Try whatever you can to prevent recurrence. Request your neighbors to keep their cats inside for a certain period of time or put a curtain over the window.

o If the cause of the aggression and excitement is a dog chasing your cat, separate them and ensure that it does not happen again.

o If nothing works, take the ultimate step of using anti-anxiety drugs even though it is difficult to medicate aggressive and nervous cats.

The instinctive predatory nature of cats is what makes them concentrate fully on a particular object or animal. The general idea behind treating redirected aggression is to consistently desensitize the cat from what seems to trigger the emotional response. Counter conditioning by offering treats when the cat remains calm in face of the original trigger too helps to a great extent.

If you like to read about dog aggression you can read it here

References:

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aggression3.html
http://www.kingstownecatclinic.com/Redirected%20Aggression.htm
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00030.htm
http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/aggression_to_people/redir_to_humans.html