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The PetsitUSA.com News

January - February, 2007     Page 1     Page 2
  
 

Tips for Enhancing Your Pet's Life
By JoAnn Carlson

I am not typically one for making New Year's resolutions -- too much stress and expectation! However, I do enjoy the feeling of a "fresh start" and the refocusing that the New Year brings. Here are some ideas and tips to hopefully enhance the health and add some fun to your pet's life.

It is the start of a new year, and people's thoughts often turn to diet and exercise, making up for holiday indulgences. Pets also suffer from overeating and lack of exercise, but there are more things to consider than diet and exercise when it comes to being a good pet owner and animal lover.

Exercise
Regular exercise has the obvious health benefits, but it also is a great time to bond with our pet. A simple daily walk helps a dog learn proper manners and provides some good quality time together. Keeping pets at the proper body weight reduces the risk of heart and joint problems, diabetes, and a host of other poor health conditions.

Health Check Up
A regular visit to your veterinarian is the best way to stay ahead of potential problems. Annual examinations of teeth, heart, lungs, and overall body condition will be less costly than waiting for a problem to develop and your pet suffering needlessly from complications of preventable problems.

Having a good "baseline" of information about your pet also gives the veterinarian something to compare against and determine exactly what is wrong when something isn't quite right with your pet.
Good Nutrition
Like humans, pets that eat poor quality food just don't have the health reserves of those that are on a good balanced diet. Poor skin, fur coat, muscle tone, and obesity problems can be a result of a poor diet. Also, pets are not humans and a diet rich in table scraps is not a healthy one and can lead to problems such as obesity and pancreatitis.

Good Grooming
No one wants to be around a stinky pet. Regular grooming -- bathing, clipped nails, fur brushing, parasite control, not only make our pet more pleasing to be around, it is much healthier for your pet. For skin and coat problems that don't resolve with regular grooming, please see your veterinarian.

Safety
Keeping pets safe is something most pet owners take for granted. However, take a moment to assess the toxic chemicals used in your house and yard. Are they necessary? Are all safety precautions followed? Where are household chemicals stored? Can your pet access these items? Also, think about enclosures for pets. Is the fencing secure? Can your pet get caught or hooked up on a fence, a tree, etc. and choke or get stuck out in the weather when you are away?


This is Domino, and who could deny it . . . this fantastic feline could certainly be the poster child for relaxation! Domino has just about everything a kitty could ask for . . . some wonderful humans who know how to provide for a cat. Look at the great window - it's perfect for bird watching and napping!

Does our next pet of the month live in your home? Let us know! Email a picture of your pet, and be sure to tell us a little bit about him or her.

Dear Site Hound,
After 14 years together, my dog Zinger is quite ill and I know she won't be with me much longer. I'm having a hard time dealing with it and most of my friends don't understand. Is there a website that might help?

Rosie, Lafayette, IN

Dear Rosie,
For many of us, losing a pet friend can be the most difficult time in our lives, and sometimes our human friends don't understand how to deal with our pain. At Petloss.com you won't need to try to justify or explain your grief. The site was created in 1993 to give people a place where they won't have to apologize or hide their feelings. Everyone there has been through the loss of a very special pet and is willing to listen and support you as you and Zinger say goodbye. The site has a very active message board where you can reminisce about your life with Zinger or talk about what you're going through now. You can chat with others in the chat room and attend the Monday night candle ceremony in memory of pets who are ill or who have passed on. You'll also find information on pet loss resources such as books, counselors, grief hotlines, sympathy cards, suggestions on how to write about your grief, and more. And hopefully, through interacting with other pet lovers, you'll find comfort in the fact that you're not alone; and that although Zinger is leaving you, she'll always be in your heart.

Pet Loss Grief Support

Need help finding something online about pets? Contact us with your questions!
 


Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems, By Cesar Millan

Review By Cara Vacchiano, Buddy's Chance, LLC

Content:
Format:  
Price:     
Editing:  

Overall: Save your money, folks!

This straight-forward guide for dog owners contains a great deal of good advice: from admonitions to stop treating your dog like a small person to sound advice on finding a dog to suit your lifestyle and energy level. The book's author, Cesar Millan, also offers solid guidance to help you decide if you're ready to commit to owning a dog, for traveling in the car with your dog, and getting enough exercise for your dog.

There are times, however, where Millan's advice is not followed with concrete steps for owners to take to acheive the end goal. For example, Millan cautions owners not to allow their dogs to control when they wake in the morning. Excellent advice, but this is how owners are told to achieve this result:

"If your dog sleeps in your bed, condition him to get quietly off the bed if he wakes before you do and needs water or to stretch his legs. Then he needs to wait calmly to get up and start the structure of his day."

 

  


 

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