This is a mish-mash section on different subjects within the animal world. From animal communication stories to taking care of your iguana or learning which plants to put in your yard for the safety of your pets.
Adopt-A-Pet: There are lots of links to help you find the perfect pet for you. Some are below and specific breed and/or species links are contained in this handout.
Aggression in the Dog: . . .She came forward and reached for their food—John firmly said “down” –down she went! She’s never minded him before. She was up and tried it a couple more times before our bread was finished—each time I had the boys give the command and she obeyed. Afterward she received her meal happily. How fascinating to watch her respond like that—to see her grappling with the switch of power. . .
Animal Communication Stories– Several stories on how I communicate with animals (you can, too!)
Animal Shelter and Rescue Questions Answered: Sometimes I field questions from the public having to do with animal shelters that I can’t answer and some that I can. Here are some interesting questions/answers.
Best Dog Bones to Feed– People often ask me what kind of dog bones are safe to feed their dog. Some bones are safe and actually healthy to give. Others are not and can be dangerous to the digestive tract. Here’s my handout on everything you need to know
Best Friends: I once attended a lecture by a famous psychic. I had been standing in line for about 40 minutes consoling a woman whose dog had passed over. She worried about it’s soul wondered if it would be in heaven. About the first comment out of this psychic’s mouth was that animals did not go to heaven so just forget it! She later wrote a book on how she communicated with animals in heaven. Hmmmm. In it for the money? I wonder. . .
Big Dogs in My Life: I swore I would never have a big dog in my house. When my sister and her husband first got their huge Doberman, Big Red, we all fell in love with him, especially my five-year-old daughter, Kami. I like Big Red–as long as he lived in somebody else’s house. I could imagine a fluffy little lapdog in my old age, perhaps. But not a big dog, ever. Then a terrible thing happened. Big Red was dog-napped. (By Kathy Bingham, Vinton, Iowa Guideposts Magazine February, 1995.)
Bird Cupcakes: We gleaned this recipe from Birds and Blooms then added a bit more birdseed to the suet. Our birds go crazy over it so we’ll continue to feed them in the winter months. One cupcake is literally gone within 5 minutes of putting it out. Wow.
Blood Type Diet for Dogs: On eating for the specific dog breed blood types, my border collie indeed does best on chicken and barley and get diarrhea with lots of other foods. She also prefers cooked vegetables over raw and won’t eat fruit. I noted that lots of breeds test they need parsley as a mineral and detox food and the breeds Kate Solisti listed seem to be right on with my muscle testing. I do believe Kate is onto something here.
Blue-Green Algae Toxins in Water: Idaho Fish and Game cautions that hunters using dogs early in the bird seasons need to be careful about allowing their dogs to drink from algae-contaminated pools. In recent years, at least one hunting dog has died and others sickened after drinking from stagnant pools.
Canine Influenza: Until such time as a vaccine is developed for canine influenza, a strong immune system will be your dog’s best defense against infection. For those of you who would like to be prepared, get a bottle of Pet Vaccinosis Nosode drops. These drops will help detox the negative aspects of all vaccines. The drops should be given orally for two weeks prior to vaccination and up to two weeks after being vaccinated. They can also be used for the treatment of many of the diseases that you are vaccinating for and as a substitute for vaccines.
Cat Facts: Here are a few tidbits I received at a Humane Society Animal Shelter meeting honed for the general public. I added a bit more from my vast knowledge bank from working at a cat clinic in Springfield, OR. Hope you like them.
Certified Organic Food Survey: My girlfriend Skeeter Lynch and her husband Phil Gage used to sell certified organic chicken feed. Skeeter is quite a gal and spent oodles of time searching for just the right feed for her pampered chicks (which is where I got my chickens). Now, Michael and I have tried to cut back a time or two and purchased some organic feed from a different source but the girls just turn their noses up at it. This particular food is that good.
Cheyenne and the Human-Animal Bond: Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it. The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, “I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article. . .” I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
Conversations with Animals Book Review: There is lots of useful information in this book for those owners who know that pets have feelings just like we do. They also know a LOT more than you give them credit for. Lydia tells about one cat, Boo, who had stopped using his litter box (like none of us have ever had that problem, eh?) . . .
Copraphagia (Poop eating) and Puppy Advice: Friday we picked up a female German Shepard. Dixie is 7 weeks old and doing great. She appears to have been the runt, but she has a great personality. Can you tell me why she eats her own poop? Also, can you tell me about some of the basics for puppies?
Dog Biscuit Recipes: Make your own dog biscuits using wholesome, organic ingredients if you like.
Dog and Cat Struvite diets: Homemade low-ash diets for those pets who need it.
Dog Food Recipes: Examples of a homemade dog food recipe. Note that each dog is different with different health concerns and often it is better to have the diet modified by a qualified veterinarian/healer to muscle test the exact needs of your pet.
Feeding Dogs Tablescraps: Help me out if you have time. Every once in a while Rory will give Colby (our dog) a plate to lick sitting in the TV room or at the table after he is finished. He insists that “it is only a few scraps”. Are there better scraps and not-so-good scraps though? I have no problem with giving Colby scraps, but feel that she should always be feed on the back porch, so she doesn’t learn to be expecting or silently begging for handouts. Correct me if I am wrong, but what is your opinion?
Flea Control: How to get rid of fleas in your house. Flea products and natural flea products for your cat and dog flea problems. How to choose the best strategy for you, your pets, your family and your particular environment.
Fly bots (Warbles or Cuterebra) Cats and dogs get infected with bots by eating rodents, rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels. Usually these critters are kind of slowed down because the larvae have migrated into their nervous system and they can’t get away as quickly so are easier to be caught. The problem is that when our pets eat these infected animals they can become infested by both the larvae of the fly AND they can also get weird bacterial infections from the rotting flesh that they’ve eaten.
Hairless Cat with Red Lines: My friends in Russia have a Donskoy (hairless cat) that has these red lines. They are not ring worm. The vets do not know what it is. It is also seen on hairless cats in Canada & France. The vets don’t seem to know what to do about it. I’ll attach pictures. It appears on the underside of the cats and sometimes up the sides.
Holistic Pet Tips: This is a mish mash of fun facts. You will have to understand that I am in a league of my own doing both human and animal alternative and integrative medicine and that all practitioners have their own way of looking at things
Homemade Dog Diets: Often, for pet allergies, it will come up during the exam that your dog needs a custom home-made–sometimes Raw Food diet. I have developed forms, which are not on my website, for this kind of diet. I’ve found that the diet will differ month to month until the body detoxifies. Eventually we come up with one that will work. Often it can be mixed with a kibble. Custom-made diets are made in large batches and frozen in individual servings.
Hyperthyroid Cats: Many years ago my own cat Callie had been losing a bit of weight each year even though her dietary intake had not changed. She started to drink more water and seemed a bit nervous to me. I palpated her neck and thought I felt an enlarged thyroid gland. She had started getting very vocal and was wandering around the house at night meowing for no reason ( a symptom that veterinarians often miss) so I did an x-ray on her, a urinalysis to check for kidney function and turned in blood work to check overall health and for hyperthyroidism and renal failure. Sure enough, her thyroid levels were off. She was hyperthyroid.
Iguana Lizard Care: Iguanas have become popular pets in the last few years. Their biggest problems are a result of poor management due to lack of education. Here are some basic but very important care tips…
Inappropriate Elimination Questionnaire: Inappropriate elimination is a big and annoying problem. The sooner we get to the core cause the happier your household will be. Filling out this questionnaire before you consult with me or see your local vet with save hours of time plus we can help you figure out the problem faster—so that cuts down the expense. We’ll need a floor map and questions answered about environment, type of litter and box, how many pets are in the home and a good history.
Inappropriate Urination in the Cat: A 1996 study determined the most common behavior-related cause for surrendering a cat to a shelter was inappropriate elimination. Several million pets are euthanized each year in animal shelters across the country for behavioral problems. Inappropriate urination is the most common behavioral problem that leads to euthanasia. Let’s discuss what it is, why it happens and empower you to be that investigator that we need to help you.
Keeping Your Cat Off the Counter: Does it gross you out to know that you may be eating cat germs with your food because you can’t keep your cat off the counter? Well, here’s a fantastic tip that will cure that problem. Works every time.
Magic Moment with a Manta Ray: I had not seen this animal before. There was something else odd about her. I just couldn’t figure out what it was. Once my brain clicked in and I was able to concentrate, I saw deep V-shaped marks of her flesh missing from her backside. Other marks ran up and down her body. At first I thought a boat had hit her. As she came closer, now with only ten feet separating us, I realized what was wrong. She had fishing hooks embedded in her head by her eye, with very thick fishing line running to her tail. She had rolled with the line and was wrapped head to tail about five or six times. The line had torn into her body at the back, and those were the V-shaped chunks that were missing. I felt sick and, for a moment, paralyzed. I knew wild animals in pain would never tolerate a human to inflict more pain. But I had to do something.
Must See Vet Stuff Videos: Must see videos in the animal world. Enjoy.
Natural Rat Care: I focus on prevention and environmental manipulation including cleanliness, good food, proper bedding, a variety of things to eat (fresh and sulfite-free dried fruits and vegetables should be represented in all the colors of the rainbow), and then if necessary, support the immune system with fresh herbs (they like chewing on the stems of fresh herbs such as parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme) and homeopathics to kill those bacteria. . .
Old Tired Dog: An old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home. He followed me into the house, down the hall, and fell asleep in a corner.
Parvo/Bland Diet for Dogs: Bland diets are recommended for any type of vomiting or gastro-intestinal diseases. This is a classic. When Parvo, Rotavirus, or Corona hits, you have to move fast. Some breeds can die within a matter of a couple of days, that’s why I suggest having Viral and Bacterial Immune Stimulator drops on hand (most of my clients have these for their first aid cabinet). With the mail these days, it sometimes takes 10 days to get products to you. By that time, your animal may very well be dead. If you can’t get the drops immediately and you really love your dog, then you should take your pet to the vet for emergency care. This diet is a back-up diet for after they get home from the vet.
Pet Friendly Hotels/Motels: Rules regarding pet-friendly hotels and motels and resource links for the US and around the Moscow, Pullman, Lewiston, Clarkston Washington and Idaho areas.
Pet Loss and the Story of Charlie : I’ve always felt that it is important to support that grieving process in my clients and I look for stories that are comforting, which teach that the animal is now free of pain and is waiting on the other side for them. Animals are a gift from God. Each day should be treasured as they do not live as long as we do. And I believe that they are highly instrumental in finding a replacement for them and that they don’t leave us (in spirit) until they know we are strong enough to handle that. This is my favorite chapter from James Van Praagh’s book, Talking to Heaven: A Medium’s Message of Life After Death.
Poisonous Plants for Pets: Just the list so far. I’ll work on fleshing this out at a later time.
Prayers for the Animals: Once a woman in a church I attended asked for prayer for her horse who was not gaining weight. The general consensus was that we should pray for humans, not animals. I left that church. Here are some wonderful animal prayers for those of you who love animals and believe God watches over them too!
Rainbow Bridge: The dog asked the cat, “What just happened?” The cat responded, “That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue.
Roping a Deer in Kansas: I had this idea that I was going to rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it. The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope. The cattle, which had seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having any of it. . .
Rudolf—The Real Story: Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn’t even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn’t buy a gift, he was determined to make one – a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal’s story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was.
Spay-Neuter Benefits: So. . .How many puppies are produced from one female dog in seven years?
Stray Cat Rules: About 60% of my clients with cats received those cats “for free” or the cat (s) came to them as strays. Yes, I’ve heard these rules and variations of them for years! Enjoy.
Struvite Dog-Cat Diet: My biggest problem with homemade diets is that the client starts out with the best intentions so adds all the ingredients, but by the time they’ve done this time-consuming cooking for 3-4 weeks, they run out of an ingredient. The animal seems to do “just fine” without the missing ingredient and they intend to pick it up at the store the next time they are in that area, but often forget.
Talking to Your Cat: Where do you like to be petted most? “I like my chest scratched. It tickles. That’s why I try to use my back feet. I like all the other places, too, like the chin, my ears, and tail base. My back hurts a little bit around the bottom of the ribcage. My litter box is too high to jump into and it tweaks it right now. I’ll get over it in a week or two. I don’t like being patted on my back. I love sleeping with mom. I love feeling her breath on my face. I watch her sleep.” (He’s really getting into this interview now! Geez! Talky little critter.)
The Dog Food Diet: I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry and that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story.)
The Dog Listener Book Review: Establishing yourself as the leader of the pack must be practiced on four occasions: When the pack reunites for any reason; when it eats; when the pack is under attack; and when the pack goes on a hunt. Jan had an interesting interpretation of separation anxiety. If the dog thinks it is the Alpha of the pack, it feels uncomfortable when you leave the pack (to go to the store, work, outside or even to the bathroom!) If your dog follows you around the house, it thinks it is the Alpha. If the dog destroys the molding of the door or rips out the carpets when you are gone, it’s an Alpha. As an example. . .
Urinary Incontinence in Dogs: Larger breed dogs are more prone to urinary incontinence and this is usually from lack of estrogen. Black cohosh is a natural estrogen replacement. If this treatment doesn’t work it’s best to take your dog in for a urine test to rule out bladder stones, diabetes or a chronic urinary tract infection although I often wonder if there is an allergic factor involved sometimes like in human urinary incontinence.
Vaccinating Indoor-Only Cats: I once had a cat in my practice (unvaccinated) that killed a rabid bat. This particular cat was a real slobber machine and drooled whenever anyone pet it. It drooled on all four family members who then had to get the rabies shots (at a cost of $3500!)
Why dogs don’t Live As Long As Humans: The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why. . .”
Winter Safety Tips for Animals: This is the time of the year when you want to be diligent about replacing that water for the animals. Dehydration can lead to bladder stones and urinary track blockages. . . Exposure to salt-based ice melting products can cause dogs severe dermatitis, inflammation of the paws and serious gastrointestinal problems including vomiting and internal burns of the mouth and digestive tract. . . This is antifreeze season. Just one teaspoon of this sweet, delectable substance will totally trash your pet’s kidneys causing an agonizing death.
You Know You’re a Vet Tech if: While out shopping you’ve lectured complete strangers on the evils of products like “Old Roy”, Hartz, and Sergeants. (Yikes—Guilty as charged!) At least one of your pets was once owned by a client, dumped at the clinic, “put to sleep”, and is either blind, three-legged or lame OR have a problem no vet has ever seen before. Every piece of clothing you own is covered in cat hair. You have friends who laugh at your impressions of “kennel cough” and “reverse sneezing”. You get a rash just from looking at a Shar Pei.
Pet Rescue Organizations:
- www.rescueclearinghouse.com (A state by state directory of shelters)
- www.lcshelter.com (Lewiston, ID)
- www.purebredcatrescue.com (Spokane, WA) A Pet’s Fate organization
- www.petfinder.com (Nation-wide)
- www.mcpaws.org (McCall, ID)
- www.homeatlastrescue.org (Berkeley, CA)
- www.whitmanpets.org (Pullman, WA)
- www.caapsnorthwest.petfinder.org (Pullman, WA)
- www.humanesocietyofthepalouse.org (Moscow, ID)
- Other Rescue Organizations