How Do Your Customer View Your Pet Business
June 30th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World44 Comments
There are thousands of local and online Pet Stores but most people only know about Petco and PetsMart. The reason these businesses have succeed is because of consistent advertising so the customer does not forget their name (brand). Branding is the key to success of any business regardless of size.
A brand is your organization’s personality. Without a brand you’re only a small business. You need to start with targeting your potential customer base. If you provide a Pet Sitting service, make sure people in your area know about you. Try to take advantage of all possible advertising opportunities. Have good references ready for potential customers. People feel more comfortable with the businesses who provide customer feedbacks.
Try different marketing strategies before you decide on one. Measure your advertising performance periodically and make changes accordingly. Try to advertise on media that provide you longer visibility. For example, it is better to advertise in Yellow Pages or Online Business Directory who provide one year listing than your one time ad in the Newspaper.
Other thing you could do is, study marketing strategies for big businesses who are successful. You may not be able to spend same money as big businesses but it could give you enough information to make the right marketing decisions. Based on the Overture keyword tool, there were 3,95,015 searches performed for the keyword “Pet Supply” in the month of May 2005. This information is to give you an idea that people are looking for your products or services, but they should be able to find you. This can be done with branding your business.
Technorati tags: people businesses provide advertising customer
Handling The Feet
June 30th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World40 Comments
I was working with my yearling Pooka. She is an Arab-Shire filly. She leads OK and is not afraid of us. She comes up to us when we enter the field and will let us pet her when she is lying down. So today I decided it was time to handle her feet.
Just do it…
I had a friend hold her lead rope while I started to touch her leg. I basically did the old approach and retreat working my way down to her hoof. This went well. I then tried to pick up her hoof and things did not go so well. She tried to move and jump around. I tried to hang on but she is about 500-600 lbs so in the long run, she won.
Plan B: Regroup and try again…
OK, so maybe I was a little quick to handle her feet. So, I decided to take it a bit slower. I took my lead rope (15 feet) and tossed it over her back repeatedly. She was OK with this as I had done this before with her. I then tossed the lead rope around her feet. I would swing the rope so it would wrap around her legs. She did not like this. Pooka would kick and try to get away. I would just keep tossing the rope and making sure her nose was pointing towards me, so I wouldn’t get kicked, until she stood still. Eventually she did. After a bit of a fight she stood still and all was OK. The rope around her legs did not kill her and she stood still while it happened.
Now it was time to pick up her leg. I took the lead rope and put it around her foot. So, basically I had this huge loop in my rope that went around her leg. If I dropped one end of the rope he leg would be free, just in case all hell broke loose. While keeping her nose pointed towards me I seesawed the rope back and forth all over the upper to lower parts of her leg. When Pooka was OK with this I pulled on the loop picking her foot up. She jumped around and kicked but I was safe, nose pointed towards me, and the rope felt no pain. Once she should stand still and let me hold her leg up for 2 seconds I would release the tension and let her put her leg down. I then worked up to 4 seconds and then 10. Once I could hold her leg up for 10 seconds I decided that it was time for me to pick up her hoof with my hand.
Finally (OK, only 20 minutes later)
After all this I again attempted to pick up her hoof with my hand. Wow, no problem. She let me pick it up. I would hold it for 2 seconds and let it go. Then 4 seconds. The 10 seconds. Then I took a pick and picked out her foot.
That was a good day for Pooka so I let her go on her way.
Todd Mera
Todd Mera is a Biochemist that has always had a love for horses. Todd started training horses in his 30s. He has worked with and trained many horse starting from birth and older problem horses. http://www.EverythingEquus.com
Does Your Boston Terrier Want To Be With You
June 29th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World34 Comments
This may come as a surprise…but if the tables were turned, and the Boston Terrier could choose his owner, would he have chosen you?
We are always trying to figure out the right breed for us, and usually a dog is chosen on the “he’s so cute and adorable” factor.
But if in an upside down world, the dog was the one skipping around the neighborhood looking for the right owner, would you be chosen?
Interesting thought isn’t it?
So, let me tell you the three things that your Boston Terrier is looking for in you. If you match all of these then you can pat yourself on the back for being a perfectly suitable owner.
Firstly, are you someone who has time to spend with your Boston?
If it were upto him your Boston Terrier would go EVERYWHERE with you! They thrive on human company, much more so than most breeds. This doesn’t mean that they cannot be left alone; but they are much happier when you are around.Knowing how much they love being with you is what drew me to them from the start.
If you find yourself not being home for most of the day, then you would not be an ideal owner for a Boston Terrier.
Secondly, how do you rate on what I call the “affection and passion factor”?
Let me illustrate this point with a quick question.
You will often find that although you have many things you are interested in, are you passionate about all of them?
Of course not. We all have varying degrees of things we are passionate about.
If what you want is just a dog around the house, but not one you are willing to invest your time and affection in the relationship, I’m afraid a Boston Terrier would not choose you.
Your Boston Terrier wants to be an active part of your home and family, and not just a pet you keep in the back yard or confine in a room for him to circle around endlessly.
Your Boston has unlimited affection for you, and he wants to be with you to accept this boundless affection.
And finally, do you like being the envy of other dog owners?
With the right methods and time invested, your Boston Terrier has the potential to make all your neighbors green with envy!
Being a very intelligent breed you can not only train him to listen to your every command; but you could teach him tricks which will make peoples jaw drop in amazement.
Imagine being the talk of your neighborhood when they are struggling with their dogs’ behavior, while your Boston Terrier displays behavior that makes you proud.
And the best part is you can take all the credit for it :)
Your Boston Terrier wants you to take advantage of his inherent gift to reward you with good behavior and tricks because of their superior learning ability.
So, do you meet the three factors and desires listed above as an owner? If you can say “yes”, then you know you ARE a great owner that your Boston Terrier loves to be with.
But it goes without saying, that, for you to get the best out of your Boston Terrier, you need to use the right methods.
So I leave you with a question - are you using ways to train and raise your Boston Terrier with methods he responds to?
Abhik Sarkar has helped over 3000 owners to raise and train
their Boston Terrier with easy to use methods. To recieve
your free 8 part mini course visit: Boston Terrier Information
Caring For Your Pomeranians Teeth
June 29th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World47 Comments
Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not caring for them properly can cause serious health problems for your dog.
Dental disease in dogs can cause serious health issues as the bacteria from infected gums and teeth can “spread” to other parts of the body and affect vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and intestines. Tarter or dental calculus starts off soft but can harden on the dogs teeth. Once hardened, it cannot be brushed away but requires a dental scaling just like you get in the dentist chair! If the teeth are left untreated, the buildup can cause the gums to become inflamed and can also cause serious infections.
Does Your Pom Have Bad Teeth?
Pomeranians are prone to dental problems. Buildup of plaque and tooth loss can be severe and cause problems with their daily routines. To tell if your dog has bad teeth, lift up his lips and check his teeth at the gumline - can you see tarter? Are the teeth white or discolored? Does his breath smell? Are there broken teeth?
All of these can indicate the need for better dog tooth care. Your veterinarian will probably do a dental check as part of they yearly checkup and can advise you as to the extent of the problem, if any.
Providing Better Pomeranian Tooth Care
Bones
Chewing on raw bones can be a good way for your dog to remove built up tarter but Poms have very small mouths and may not be able to chew a real bone so you might want to try one of the manufactured bones that are made specifically for dog dental care. I would advise against cooked bones as they can splinter and cause damage to the gums or intestine if swallowed.
Brushing Your Poms Teeth
Brushing is a vital part of dog tooth care and should be done at least once a week - preferably every day. There are plenty of flavored toothpastes formulated for dogs that your pet will love the taste of. You can use a finger brush (a rubber piece that fits on the end of your finger with bristles), a hand held brush that looks much like a human tooth brush, or a little brush that fits on the end of a “ring” which you put on your finger. My Pomeranian is extremely tiny and I find the “ring” brush works best for me.
Scaling
This procedure is done by your veterinarian and is pretty much the same thing as the scaling you get at the dentist. The teeth are scraped and polished and any loose or badly damaged teeth are removed. Your dog is put under anesthesia for this procedure and it is quite costly. Proper brushing will limit the need for this to be done.
Getting Your Pomeranian Used To Brushing
While it’s best to start when he is a puppy, it’s not too late for your older Pom to get good dental care! Start off slowly, maybe with just a dab of the toothpaste on your finger so he can lick it off (my dog loves the taste!). Be sure to use a special paste for dogs and not human toothpaste - human toothpaste can be harmful to your pet. You can get a paste from your vet that has enzymes that will help fight the bacteria. Also, you’ll want a soft brush so you do not damage the gums.
Take it one day at a time and gradually get the dog used to you touching his head and opening the mouth. Each day try to go one step further - open the mouth, then touch his teeth, then his gums. Use your finger at first and introduce the brush later. This can be a a bonding time for you and your dog - eventually your pet may even look forward to his nightly brushing! Remember that your Pom is very small so you don’t want to scrub roughly and hurt the dog - just brush gently.
You should try to brush your dogs teeth every day or at least every other day so that the plaque will not have a chance to harden. While this may seem like a chore, think of it as an important medical need for your pet.
Frequent brushing and proper dental care can add years to your Poms life!
Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and webmaster of Pomeranian Pages.com where you can find out more about the Pomeranian Breed. Be sure to check out their dog care articles.
What’s The Real Deal On Pet Insurance
June 28th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World40 Comments
Even if you haven’t had a run-in involving your pet of late, pet insurance has probably crossed your mind. And if you have, the bill for any non-routine care may have cost you anywhere from a cool couple hundred to nearly a grand.
You might have wondered why people have health insurance and most pets don’t, when the medical costs seem practically the same! And yet, navigating through the underbrush of fine print involved in pet insurance may have put you off. Is it worth the money? What do insurers really cover? And why do some plans cost the moon while others seem much more affordable? We’ll try to clear a path through the paper jungle.
Tip #1: Get Them in Young
Ideally, you’ll want to identify right pet insurance plan for you, and get your pet in young while she’s still quite healthy. The reason is, should your pet develop a long-term health issue such as a thyroid problem, she won’t be eligible for many programs, having a “pre-existing condition.” If you stick with one quality program, though, you’ll probably be fine.
Tip #2: You Get What You Pay For
This may stick in the craw a bit, when you start looking at insurance premiums. Some of them cost an awful lot! Be sure to look ahead too, at estimated increases down the road. The older your pet grows, the more the premiums will cost. They will get quite stiff for an older pet, even a healthy one.
So why should you pay out a mint for plan A, when plan B offers coverage for half the price? The answer is: lack of nasty surprises.
Let’s face it, no one but an insurance adjuster can tell what the fine print means when it comes to covering your pet. But we do know this: on the cheaper plans, unhappy things happen. Let’s give an example - let’s say you have two pugs, both covered by an inexpensive plan. One sadly breaks his leg and needs several surgeries, costing two thousand altogether.
You may think your inexpensive plan - which happily, covers 2K of expenses - will handle it all. But when you submit your claim, you discover that 2K is the maximum coverage for both dogs, and your pug is only eligible for half. Even worse, but very common, is a lower limit per incident. In this case, Low Cost Pet Plan will respond that it only covers $500 for this “incident,” but if your poor pug breaks his leg three more times this year, they’ll be happy to help.
Tip #3: You Get What You Pay For
Yes, we know we said that already - but we didn’t say it enough.
Here’s a horror story that happens often on a low-cost plan: you have an insurer. You pay your premiums. But one day, your aging pet develops diabetes. That year, when it comes time to renew the plan and update the premiums, your insurer sticks in an exclusion. As of that moment, they no longer cover diabetes in your pet. Yes, they can do that - and you’re out in the cold.
No less common — and no more pleasant — is the limited payout per condition problem. Your low-cost insurer may cover the first three years of your diabetic pet’s vet bills, but after that, you’ve run through her lifetime allowance for diabetes. Now in her golden years, all her medical costs come straight from your pocket.
What you want is a reputable company that agrees to insure your pet for life, period. No tricks, no last-minute exclusions, no lifetime condition limits. But to have these things, you’ll need to pay for them.
Tip #4: Follow the Wagging Tails
Pet insurance costs too much to be throwing darts in the dark. You need to know which plans will come through for you down the road after you’ve paid their premiums for years. So do your research - look for good word of mouth. You can learn a lot with some smart surfing and Googling.
Although we haven’t used either, we found many satisfied buyers with PetPlan and Marks and Spencer. There are other good plans as well, and plans that are best avoided. The tip we like most is to ask your vet what she uses. Yes! - many vets insure their beloved animals, and are scrupulous in who they choose.
Tip #5: Do You Even Need Insurance?
There’s an argument - and it’s a good one - that pet insurance really serves no purpose. You can see the force of this line of thought when you check out the premiums of quality, reliable plans - they’re high. So why should you pay out all that cash for what *might* happen, instead of stashing it each month in your own high-interest savings account and simply withdrawing what you need?
The answer is simple: discipline. Some people have the discipline to pay their premiums, but not to establish a separate account they won’t touch except for emergency pet expenses. Other than discipline, there’s probably no real reason why you shouldn’t self-insure.
With one exception - liability. Some plans offer extra coverage if your dog injures someone and you get sued. These aren’t the kinds of things you can effectively save up for on your own, so if you think it might be a problem, pet insurance might truly be the route for you.
Tip #6: One More For the Road
Is your pet a prize purebred, with a pedigree reaching back before William of Orange? Expect more vet costs over its lifetime - it’s just a statistical fact. Perhaps this subtle factor will help you decide whether you should self-insure or go for a plan.
Peace of Mind: Priceless
We’re animal lovers. And in the back of our minds lurks the fear that Fido will someday come down with something we can’t afford to treat - simultaneous renal failure and diabetes, for example (to cite a sad chapter from my own pet annals). The peace of mind in knowing you can afford to care for your furry companion, no matter what the future brings, is profound. That’s why insurance was developed, and that’s why pet insurance might be the right choice for you.
Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for continually-updated celebrity
wedding news, remarkable beach wedding favors, exclusive hairstyling articles and gorgeous and unique wedding favors.
Protecting Yourself From Online Pet Classifieds Scams
June 28th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World43 Comments
Internet Fraud, Classifieds Scams, Abuse and Suspicious Replies are world wide issues that have become widespread in targeting sellers and buyers everywhere specially on the Internet. Often this involves buyers from Nigeria, Africa, Holland and other countries. In recent years, online Pet Classifieds scams have increased and have affected many people.
Online classifieds scams pose threats to both sellers and buyers.
Posing As A Seller:
A Person can post an ad for a puppy that only exist in the item description. Actually, seller doesn’t have the puppy that he/she is trying sell or give away. Seller will then ask for money and refer them to the shipping company who is supposed to send the puppy to the buyer. Buyer waits for few days and contacts the seller, but no answer. Tries again for couple of more days..no answer. Finally buyer decides to call the shipping company with the reference number for the puppy. Shipping company replies that they don’t have anything related to this reference number or it is not for your puppy. Buyer loses money.
Posing As A Buyer:
A scammer can pose as a buyer of a puppy and contacts the seller. Buyer is desperate to buy and accepts your listed price and suggest that his/her agent will pick up the puppy with a check that is more than the asking price. In return, they ask buyer to deduct amount for the item, get remaining amount and give a fake cashier’s check. Seller will lose the puppy and the money.
Check any websites who have classifieds, if they don’t have a warning about online scams, they should have!
There are ways you can protect yourself from these scams, visit our Scam Alert page on http://www.petboro.com/scam.aspx where you can find examples of scams and emails and list of known scammer emails that people have reported to us.
Technorati tags: scams puppy buyer classifieds seller
Gps Pet Tracking
June 27th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World44 Comments
If you have a dog or cat that is an escape artist with cross-country travel on its mind, you might want to consider a GPS pet–tracking device. The same technology that enables rangers to follow tagged animals will allow an owner track straying or lost pets. You can choose either a collar design or a backpack type that works with a harness.
Before you rush out to buy a GPS pet–tracking device you need to consider a few things. Firstly, in addition to the system having a GPS receiver, a transmitter is required so the animal’s location can be reported. This usually means a service provider is needed.
Some pet–tracker systems are used with GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) that uses your GSM mobile phone and a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card for tracking. Note the SIM card provider needs to have a service in the area where you’ll be using the device.
There are various ways of accessing the information that your GPS receives. These include via home phone, Internet, and software installed on your computer. Phone access is not recommended and installed software limits your access to information. Internet access to your GPS data is the recommended way to go. You just log on, enter your password and your pet is located.
Pet finding software allows you to define your pet’s boundaries and upload them to your computer. If your pet goes beyond its boundaries then an alarm will sound and you can quickly locate where the animal has gone. If you are traveling with your pet beyond its boundaries you can disable the alarm, or if you are visiting another area you can upload new boundaries. Most systems allow you have more than one area entered.
All GPS units vary in sophistication as does the pet–tracking GPS. You can choose a unit that gives location and nothing else, or you can purchase a device that will give you location and the information of how to get there, including reference points along the way. As in any product, what you spend will define the abilities of your system. If your animal is a water lover make sure that the unit is waterproof.
There is a difference between dog tracker collars and GPS pet–tracking devices. The former are usually limited in range to about half a mile and are ineffective if your animal has been stolen and removed from the area. Beacon devices can only be seen within the range of the light.
A GPS Pet-tracking device that is not being worn is useless. If you invest the money, make sure that your pet wears his/hers all the time. Yes, animal snatchers will sometimes remove collars, but a surprising number don’t think about doing so. Combined with micro chipping and registration, pet–tracking GPS devices will go a long way to ensure that your lost pet will be located.
Anne King is a sports and recreation writer in Boise, Idaho. For more GPS tracking information, visit Maps GPS Info.com which provides practical information on GPS and maps that everyone can use. The website includes product reviews and a maps/GPS glossary.
Technorati tags: pet–tracking animal information device location
Your Purrrfect Companion
June 27th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World10 Comments
Out of all the pet animals, the cat is most expressive about its needs. The feline loves to be pampered and cared for. Don’t you just love the pretty pussy pictures they make? They can also become ’sulkily aggressive’ at times. Understanding their feelings and needs is not at all difficult.
Just like your body language, behavior, and words give away your intentions and feelings, similarly, your pets also communicate through their bodies, and noises they make. As a pet owner, it is important for you to understand the signs, scents, and body language of your pet. Other than those, the visual information is also very important for understanding what your pet wants to communicate.
No longer “The Mystery Cat”
The cat language can be understood by your cat’s postures. Cats can be lazy and furtive at the same time. Its arched back depicts the no-nonsense attitude where you need to be careful! There are various other postures like its lying on its side, and lying down with tucked paws. The former is the relaxed state, and you need to careful about the latter. It makes evident that your little pet is definitely up to some nuisance.
When a cat feels sleepy, like most human beings and animals, it adopts the fetal position.
Purrs, Sounds, and Noises
Your cat’s purr in various pitches can foretell the things in store for you. For cats, you-the owner is like family. They look up to you as bigger cats. Outsiders are like prospective predators and they are considered threatening. So, if your cat comes across a new face, please make sure they are at a safe distance from each other.
If you make a loud noise, your little companion might hide away somewhere out of fear. They love to spend quieter moments. They show their affection by purring politely at you. The cats love to hear female voices, as they are more attractive. Half-mews, “Prrrh” and trills friendly greetings when you are also welcomed with a little ‘fluffy’ rub.
Your cat needs attention or food when its mews are shorter vowel sounds. The sounds without vowels can either be questions or greetings. At that instant you need to look at its facial expressions to gauge what is in your love’s mind. Sounds like ‘Mrrrheor’ or ‘Ree-orh’ are made to seek your attention.
Sweet Emotions
Your pet recognizes your touch and loves it. Patting your cat’s head for a sweet ‘hello’ can make him/her feel on top of the world. This strengthens your bond with your furry friend and enhances trust. Touching noses increases the level of intimacy and love at both ends.
The ‘Cat’ and Tail of it…
A cat’s tail is the best way to gauge its emotions. A low tail indicates that the cat is not too sure of its environment and is ready for any happening, whereas, an upright tail suggests its confidence and alertness. A lashing tail expresses pending aggression.
Your cat can become dangerous when its hair fluffs out. This is where it means, “Do not mess with me”. You’ll be able to make out if your pet has been engrossed in some violent sessions with its other ‘friends’ when its hair is all out of place and makes noises like it is crying.
Your cat’s flattened ears show fear or threat. When its ears are facing forward, it shows that it is paying attention.
But, other than these indicators, you need to read your ‘purrfect’ companion’s face and eyes to understand its emotions and what it is thinking.
Author’s Bio:
Mary Majorda of California has lived along with kittens since as long as she can remember. She got her 1st kitten at the age of 2 as a birthday gift from her dad and since then she hasn’t parted from cats and kittens. Besides having a family of a husband, 2 kids and 4 kittens, her love for them has pursued her to become a vet. Get Kitten Pictures from http://www.cutelittlekittens.com
Essential Oils And Our Pets
June 27th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World11 Comments
Before we talk about using the essential oils, we first should define what is an essential oil in the first place.
An essential oil is a bioavailable nutritive liquid. This liquid is derived from flowers, plants, trees, etc., through a special distillation process. Essential oils (when left in their purest, non-diluted state with no synthetics added) have a 100% kill factor on harmful viruses, bacteria, funguses, mold and tumors.*
The key to using an essential oil in the ways I will describe here though is to make sure you 1) know your source 2) because you’ll want the oils derived from certified organic plants not grown with pesticides in order to have the full effect of the oil.
Aromatherapy is often a word you’ll find associated with the essential oils. The phrase was first “coined” by French chemist Dr. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, Ph.D., in 1920. One day while he was working in his laboratory he had an accident that caused a third-degree thermal burn to his arm and hand. His immediate reaction was to plunge his arm into what he thought was a vat of water but rather it was a vat of lavender oil. So, he continued to use the lavender oil to treat his burn which eventually healed completely and left absolutely no scar!
Now please keep in mind that most of the essential oils on the market today have synthetics added to them as they’re basically made for the cosmetic industry and are not nutritional. However, there are some excellent therapeutic grade oils on the market that are pure, unadulterated oils that can be used internally, topically and inhaled as powerful immune system builders.
While these essential oils for the most part have been created with humans in mind, many people are using these essential oils in their pet care successfully, and I’m one of them.
The essential oils work synergistically with the body to maintain, help, repair, and renew it right down to our DNA. The “oil” from the plants is similar to our blood and immune system so they work very harmoniously within our bodies. They go in and oxygenate and detoxify our blood simulatenously and create an environment where pathogens cannot live! Even more exciting is when the oils are either directly inhaled or diffused (using a cold air diffuser) they will cross the blood-brain barrier and clean out the petrochemicals. Due to their adaptagenic qualities they go into our blood streams, cells, etc., and seek out where they are needed like little therapeutic agents.
You might be thinking, well but I don’t have any petrochemicals in my brain or blood and even if I do, my pets don’t. Think again. Dr. David Stewart, PhD, wrote in his article Essential Oils for Things That Bug You Around the House the following “Among the many chemicals in our industrial environment that get into our systems and make us sick are the pesticides we use in our homes. We use them because we they are toxic to the creatures that bug us, but they are also toxic to us. Sometimes the toxicity is immediately apparent: we get a headache, get sick or feel nausea from the fumes or other contact.
Sometimes the toxicity is subtle and can accumulate resulting in chronic complaints and disorder (including allergies, cancer and miscarriages) that can be serious and even deadly over time. Sometimes we even put poisons on our pets to deal with ticks and fleas, not realizing that these substances are not healthy for us nor our animals.”
Pesticides normally include some kind of petrochemical. Meaning if we don’t take responsibilty for our health and the health of our pets, we can become sicker and sicker through the use of all these pesticides, herbacides, and chemical cleaning products in our homes. What affects us can affect our pets even faster and more readily because they are lying on our chemically cleaned floors and in our chemically treated and fertilized yards.
There is hope though! By using therapeutic grade essential oils, we can eliminate much (if not all) of the poisons from our homes and in our bodies -and that includes our pets too! While I can’t go into depth in one single article I can leave you with some links to follow up on and a few of the essential oils you may want to get immediately to start implementing the change in your lives and the lives in your pets.
When using therapeutic grade oils, you can use them “neat” (undiluted) on skin, inhaled, or even internally with some oils. To apply any to your pets, you may choose to diffuse them in a diffuser until your pets become more used to the oils. With cats it is always a good idea to err on the side of caution and either diffuse them or apply diluted to their hind feet (using more mixing oil than essential oil) or tips of their ears. I only use one brand of oil and do not use any others. I know my source and these oils and trust them. Do your homework before embarking on the oils for your pets, especially your cats.
Lavender oil has so many uses benefits including the one at the beginning of this article: for burns, cuts, scrapes, sunburns it is an all-purpose oil. Add to that the calming effect and wonderful smell, you can’t go wrong with this oil. It can be used on bee stings and insect bites also and is a good oil (when diluted with a organic mixing oil such as olive or almond) for cleaning your dog and cats ears (VERY diluted on a cat!). When you use any of the oils (neat or straight undiluted) the oils act an insect repellant. When you mix them with water they act as a natural pesticide. This oil is a good repellant to chiggers, fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and ticks!
Peppermint oil: this oil is great for relieving doggy flatulence (and human!), diarrhea, indigestion, as an anti-inflammatory, and can reduce fevers. You can also use it before or during a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue -I do daily! Oh and the best part -it can curb your appetite! This oil is also good at getting rid of the following bugs: Ants, aphids, beetles, catepillars, fleas, flies, lice, moths, plant lice, and spiders.
There are many many more oils to help you for nearly every single medical protocol for you and your pets. Here are some articles you can read along with Dr. Stewart’s above which can all be found on my dog’s blog Bark ‘N’ Blog (see bio):
“Aromatherapy Research and Education: What is AFNOR?”
“How Do Essential Oils Work?”
“The Healing Power of a Rose”
“Important Facts Regarding Toxins in our Environment”
*All information presented here is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, illness or injured condition of the body or pets and the author, publisher, and contributors accept no responsibility for such use. Anyone suffering or their pets from any disease, illness or injury should consult with their physician or veterinarian.
Originally published for Suite101.com Holistic Pet Care Topic
DISCLAIMER: The only essential oils we use and refer to in ALL articles are Young Living Essential Oils. We DO NOT use any others and would not state what we do about using essential oils on any other brands
About the Author:
Kim Bloomer is a natural pet care educator helping pet owners learn to care for their pets through natural, holistic means. Disease prevention is her goal to help pet owners lower their pet care costs and extend the lives of their pets. Visit her website Aspenbloom Pet Care and her dog’s blog barkin’ about natural pet care from a canine perspective Bark ‘N’ Blog
Filtration Methods For The Discus Tank
June 26th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World10 Comments
Good filtration is the prime priority in the discus tank. Basically, there are three types of filtration - mechanical, chemical and biological. Let’s start with the basics…
Mechanical filtration removes the uneaten food, waste products and acumulated plant waste from the tank. Different methods will accomplish this - pads, sponges, and floss, to name a few. The objective here is to capture the dirt before it pollutes the tank to high levels. Common filter floss is inexpensive, and highly efficient, making it a good medium for the tank filter. One must keep in mind, however, that the function of the mechanical filter is basically aesthetic.
Filtering using chemical filtration takes place at the molecular level. The most commonly used medium is activated charcoal. Activated charcoal adsorbs a huge amount of pollutants in the tank, and discoloration, antimony, arsenic, chlorine, chloramine, chromium, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, phosphate plus some of the heavy metals and other toxins in different degrees. (adsorbs: Formation of a thin film on a surface.) It does not, however, remove ammonia, nitrite or nitrate, so don’t expect it to do the job of biological or mechanical filtration. If your tap water is overly high in phosphates or nitrates, there is the chance that your fish won’t do well until you pretreat the water with activated charcoal or other specific resins. If you live in the city, chances are good that the city can provide you with an analysis of their provided water. If, however, you live in the country, and have your own well, then the water should be sent to a lab for testing.
Activated charcoal can produce crystal-clear water, but the downside of this is that one tends to rely on the activated charcoal to cover up sloppy maintenance. It should be used as a back up only, and you should not be dependent on activated charcoal to keep water safe and clean for the Discus. Frequent water change is the only real insurance you have of keeping your Discus safe and in good health.
I have saved biofiltration for last because it is the most important aspect of a good environment for Discus. Without good biofiltration practices, your Discus will not survive. Mechanical and chemical filtration results can be seen visibly - the tank just looks cleaner. Even though chemical filtration does remove some of the toxic materials from the water, it takes biofiltration to make the water safe for habitation.
Cycling a tank is a practice that reproduces the nitrogen cycle in the aquarium.
In the aquarium, we need beneficial bacteria, which are known as nitrobacters. (Proline Bacteria is a well known brand of bacteria strain used in aquaria. A kit for starting the normal freshwater tank is a little over $9.00.) These “good” bacteria colonize the filter media and every surface of the tank. The most beneficial of these bacteria is Nitrosomonas sp. which consumes the toxic ammonia that is produced by decomposition of fish waste, plant matter, and uneaten food. In the Nitrogen Cycle, the ammonia is reduced to nitrite. The nitrite is then consumed by Nitrobacter sp. and is reduced to nitrate, which is the least toxic end-product of nitrification. The nitrate is then removed from you system by a regular water-change regimen.
Maintaining a healthy bacterial colony in the biological part of your filtration system is quite simple if care is taken to not destroy the colony. When cleaning the media, use only tank water. Never use hot water or fresh tap water to clean the sponges or media, but instead gently rinse and carefully wring out excess water in a pail of tank water. The goal here is to maintain the highest rate of bacteria as possible on the media.
It is possible that your biological filter will crash if the aquarium is left without power for a day. The bacteria are without oxygen for a period of time which will cause them to die, your fish will be gasping for breath, and a foul smell is encountered in the tank. Never simply turn the filter back on! this will flood the aquarium with toxins, and the media must be replaced if a crash occurs.
Following these simple principles will help to insure that your Discus have a happy and safe environment for many years. Again, there is no subistitue for regular water changes, but by following these simple rules, chances of survivial of the Discus are much higher.
Alden Smith is a published author, and has been marketing on the internet for 7 years. His website, King Discus, is an active gathering place for discus breeders and lovers of discus fish.
His wife Betsy is the administrator of All The Best Recipes a site rich in online recipes and cookbooks.
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