Category: animals

It won’t be long before autumn rolls around and owners will be shopping for things like dog clothes and dog boots for winter and dog costumes for the holidays. Halloween is a big chance to have a lot of fun with your pet dressing up. Most dogs and even some cats and other pets will love the attention they get in an outfit, and will also love how much better their paws feel on dangerous ground. Usually, the pads on animals’ feet are enough to protect them, but because of human actions like pouring salt or other chemicals in the grass and on the pavement, sometimes our pets need extra protection. This can even be true in the spring and summer, with pesticides being sprayed everywhere. Two big reasons that costumes and booties are so useful during the cold holidays are warmth and road safety while out on a walk.

Dogs do have a natural coat, and this is normally enough to protect them, but many breeds, especially the short-haired and tiny ones, need something to help keep in heat when the temperature drops into the 30’s and 40’s. Domestic dogs are not like their wild relatives that still have adaptations to survive cold weather. Some breeds, like the Husky or German Shepard, do have many of them, but even these canines need some protection in the most extreme cases. Many small dog costumes are warm and thick enough to keep a trick or treating pooch comfy while he’s out, so it’s an added bonus to the pet parent. Jut make sure that the clothing is made of warm material before buying, since a costume can also be made out of thin polyester. If your dog is going to be at an indoor party, a thin costume is actually desirable, so that he won’t overheat.

Dog boots are becoming a widely used item since there is a growing need for them. Now, even the dogs that race the Iditarod in Alaska each year are outfitted with them for a better performance. Your little canine may not be a racer, but he definitely needs the protection from any harmful substances on the ground, and he can be seen easier by cars at night if the boots have reflective strips on them, which many do.…

If you're a truck driver, you know how lonely it can be while you're making a run. Some consider keeping a pet on the road but are unsure if that's a wise idea. Here are some guidelines for over-the-road driving with a pet on board.

Which type of pet would be best suited for long haul traveling? Probably the animal best-suited for traveling long distances would be a dog. How many times have you been driving down the highway and see a dog gleefully riding with its head out the window, wind blowing in their faces? Dogs and driving seem to just go together.

Before putting your dog into the truck and taking off, you may want to be sure they like to ride. A couple of weeks before your trip, start taking your dog out for short, close-to-home trips. If they ride well, extend the length of the trips until you're gone for a couple of hours at a time. If your dog does not ride well by getting sick or acting angry, it would probably be best to leave them at home.

Be sure that you have time to stop and give your dog a potty break and a chance to stretch its legs. Remember to take your dog to tie itself before you do the same for yourself. They can not control them as well as you can.

Food and water are important for your pet as it is for you. You may choose not to leave food out for your pet while you're driving. Instead you can feed them when you stop to get something for yourself. Remember to let them out of the cab each time you stop.

One thing you'll need to keep up-to-date is your dog's vaccinations and make sure you have a license for it. Of course, you'll want to keep copies of these papers in your truck. It's illegally that you'll ever need them, but it's better to have them and not need them, than to have your dog impounded.

You may want to check with your veterinarian to see if there are any first aid items you'll need for your pet while you're away. Do not use products for people on your animals-it could be deadly. It would also be a good idea to keep a copy of your dog's veterinary records with you in case you have to see a vet while on the road.

Do not forget, no matter how much your four-footed friend may like to do so, it is best to keep it on a leash when not in your truck. An extra leash and collar may be wise things to have with you. You may also need to bring along a dog crate.

If you plan on stopping overnight at a hotel, you may want to verify with the hotels on your route what their policy is relating pets. Many hotels do not mind pets as long as they are crated overnight. This helps cut …

Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) is an exception to the fears and cautions surrounding the use of herbs in animals. It is very safe and non-toxic. The part of the tree used is the inner bark, which is soft and stringy. Simplest to use is the powdered form, which can be purchased in bulk, or pre-packed in capsules, at most health food stores. It is readily available over the Internet from herb suppliers.

Herbalists attribute many wonderful healing properties to Slippery Elm: demulcent (soothing, mucilage-forming), emollient (soothing and protective for skin), nutritive (providing specific food nutrients), tonic (promoting healthy function of one or more body systems), and astringent (constricting, binding or drying effect). It can be used both internally and externally. Slippery Elm is one of the herbs used in the original formulation of “Essiac,” an herbal brew widely promoted as a cancer-fighter.

In the gastro-intestinal tract, Slippery Elm acts directly. It can be thought of as a sort of natural  “Pepto-Bismol.” (Pepto-Bismol itself should not be used because it contains salicylate, a.k.a. aspirin). Its mucilage content coats, soothes, and lubricates the mucus membranes lining the digestive tract. Slippery Elm is an excellent treatment for ulcers, gastritis, colitis, and other inflammatory bowel problems. It is high in fiber, and so helps normalize intestinal action; it can be used to relieve both diarrhea and constipation. It may also help alleviate nausea and vomiting in pets suffering from non-GI illnesses, such as kidney disease. A syrup made from Slippery Elm Bark can be used to help heal mouth ulcers from all causes (see recipe below).

Slippery Elm is said to relieve inflammation of virtually any mucus membrane, and has been used in the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the lungs (bronchitis, asthma), kidneys, bladder (cystitis, FLUTD symptoms), throat (tonsillitis), and joints (arthritis).

Slippery Elm contains many nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene,  calcium, and several trace minerals) that can be beneficial for recuperating pets, and it may stay down when other foods are not tolerated. It is known as a “survival” food; George Washington and his troops survived for days during the bitter winter at Valley Forge eating nothing but gruel made from Slippery Elm bark. However, Slippery Elm may interfere with the absorption of certain minerals and pharmaceuticals, so is best given separately from any concurrent drug therapy.

In the case of cystitis (bladder inflammation), Slippery Elm is thought to soothe the bladder lining. However, it is somewhat high in magnesium, so may be contraindicated in dogs who have an active infection with an elevated urinary pH, where struvite crystal formation may be a risk. (In cats, urinary tract infections are very rarely bacterial.) Slippery Elm bark contains natural pentosans, a class of complex sugars that contains the same compound found in the drug “Elmiron®,”the major pain-relieving treatment for interstitial cystitis (IC) in women. Pentosan has been used by the pharmaceutical industry as an anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory for more than 40 years. (Anti-coagulant effects are not seen with normal oral administration.) …