Miscellaneous
Despite warnings and prescription diets, dog obesity has increased by 37 % and cats by 90 %!
A recent study of compiled data from 430,000 cats and 2 million dogs showed an increase in obesity between 2007 and 2011 of 37% in dogs an over 90 % in cats.Why and what can we do?
What Does Climate Change Mean for Our Pets?
I am referring to weather, economic and political "climate change".
I think I am a moderate. As a business owner and mom I hold some very conservative views. However, as a vegetarian and intense animal lover I am often on the side of some extreme liberals.
Economically, I'd like to make a nice living, but dollar sales are never primary on my mind. My business partner has had to remind me, that if I keep "discounting" I won't be in business very long to take care of any pets!
As far as the weather is concerned, I think I like spring and fall best, not too hot, not too cold.
But, what is going on in all three of these arenas? Everything is changing. You can't count on anything anymore.
Is Your Pet Receiving an Unnecessary or Unsafe Vaccine?
Is Your Pet Receiving an Unnecessary or Unsafe Vaccine?
The American Veterinary Medical Association states,
"Vaccine products vary in efficacy and safety and are not necessarily indicated for all patients. Modern science continues to develop strategies and technologies for safer and more efficacious vaccines. Consequently, thorough evaluations of the potential for disease exposure, individual patient susceptibility to various diseases, and the risks/benefits associated with vaccination, are necessary in order to establish optimal health care programs for each individual patient."
Despite this recommendation, many veterinarians continue to vaccinate all their patients similarly.
Read more: Is Your Pet Receiving an Unnecessary or Unsafe Vaccine?
April Showers Bring....Pet Anxiety?
April Showers Bring…..Pet Anxiety?
Thunderstorms and spring trips to the vet or groomer may be warm weather phobias that send your dog or cat into full panic mode, whining, barking frantically, trembling, pacing! Holistic veterinarians can suggest solutions for this distress which are healthier than conventional tranquilizers. An effective natural solution often requires a multimodal approach however.
Do May Flowers Cause Your Dog to Scratch?
Do May Flowers cause Your Dog to Scratch?
What causes an itch?
The medical term for itching is pruritus. Muller and Kirk’s veterinary dermatology text describes this as “an unpleasant sensation that provokes the desire to scratch… The skin is richly endowed by a net work of sensory nerves and receptors…The itch sensation may be modified by emotional factors and competing cutaneous sensations…a host of chemical mediators have been implicated…Anxiety, boredom, or competing cutaneous sensations (e.g., pain, touch, heat, and cold) can magnify or reduce the sensation…For example, pruritus is often worse at night because other sensory input is low… Stressful conditions may potentiate pruritus through the release of various opioid peptides.”
Dr. Jodie Featured on Animal Advocate TV
Check out Animal Advocate TV's website, where Dr. Jodie is featured as an Industry Expert!
Your Knowledge of Food Energetics Could Help Your Pet
When you touch cinnamon, it doesn't feel hot, but when you eat it, it makes you feel warm. It has a warming energy. Mint has a cooling energy. Meats can be categorized this way as well.
Chicken, lamb and venison are considered hot meats. Neutral are beef and bison. Rabbit and turkey are middle to cooling according to some sources. In general, fish are cooling, as is duck. You can remember that salmon is a warmer fish because it is pink.
A red color is a heat sign and a fiery constitution (personality) is evidence of heat with in. These are eastern concepts or oriental philosophies. It is interesting how often this philosophy makes sense and is useful when making food therapy decisions.
If a crazy, spinning Pomeranian is prone to yeast otitis and urinary tract infections and dermatitis, he probably has red, gooey ears, reddish, cloudy urine and red crusty spots on his skin. His constitution is hot and the red ears and skin and blood are all heat signs. The gooey and cloudy are "damp".
Read more: Your Knowledge of Food Energetics Could Help Your Pet
