Freedom, my lab, like most dogs has the habit of getting into the trash regardless of the amount of disciplinary action my sister and I give him. My first instinct was that we weren't feeding him enough or that what we were feeding him he was bored with. By no means does my sister and I reward Freedom with human food/treats therefore, we couldn't understand his desire and need to rummage through the trash can.

Dogs, unlike cats, will eat whatever whenever they want. Rummaging through the garbage contributes to the cause of most unhealthy dogs often leading to serious illness.

Besides sneaking in treats, I recently learned, through many pet care books I picked up from the library the other day, that dogs rummage through trash to satisfy their natural instinct to scavenge, hunt and gather. This is a natural behavior, nature of the beast. This is why it is difficult to punish a dog for "stealing" food.

If you can't throw your garbage right away, storing it in the shed for a short period will spare the dog any possible encounters with rotten food that may make he/she sick.

Luv Sheila & Freedom (my black lab)

Please do not copy content without permission: orginally published on the petwellbeing blog

I hope that both pet owners and pets had a wonderful Easter Holiday. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience as we were out of the office on both Friday and Monday for the Easter long weekend, catching up on all calls and paper work on Tuesday forward. Please enjoy the following information in regards to the outer appearance of dogs.

Like young boys and girls, dogs go through hormonal changes which influences and effects their outer appearance.

Male dogs start developing sex hormones while still in the womb, whereas the female will develop these in her first season, usually six to seven months. These hormonal developments influences the speed in which physical characteristics form.

Males in general in the animal kingdom develop more attractive features than the females as the primary breeder. They also leave a stronger scent behind. This explains why Freedom, my black lab, gets over jealous when he smells the scent of another male dog on my hands.

Dogs who have fur in the yellow red shades are more likely to develop Avalanche of Rage Syndrome which is simply put as a chemical development in which fits of rage will temporarily appear and then disappear within minutes. These happen for no reason often barking at tails.

We've all been in the awkward situation in which we pet someone's dog referencing them by the wrong gender only to be corrected by the owner. There is a way to tell a male apart from the females, especially in labs, without having to ask. A male lab will have a big head and a big body, whereas the female will have a big head and a smaller body.

Since we're on the topic of appearance I will address the vanity side especially with toy dogs. I enjoy dressing up my dog in cute shirts, however, with the warm weather approaching, as suggested by most dog clothing companies, limiting dress up time is important during hot weather as clothes may overheat the dog restricting the skin from naturally cooling the pup. Heat exhaustion can lead to other illnesses including excessive dehydration. Your dog will look just as cute without that pink glitter shirt during the summer season.


Luv Sheila & Freedom (my black lab)

Please do not copy content without permission: Originally posted on petwellbeing blog

The following is customer testimonials received this week on our Plantaeris holistic forumula.

"This product is amazing!! I can't thank you enough!"

"Katie has had chronic diarrhea since she i got her at 6 weeks old. I took her to the vet and he gave her antibiotics and tested her but could not find anything wrong with her. I fed her science diet id for her condition and she still has the problem. Then a friend saw your web site and told me about it. I started giving her Plantaeris and I could not believe it!!!! She does not have diarrhea when I give her this in her wet food. I also have Molly who has an allergy problem and loses the hair on her tummy and back legs. I started giving her stimmune and she now has a full body of hair on her whole body. her hair is shiny and thick. I love your products."

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

I read an interesting article this morning on the way to work in regards to blood type in cats and dogs that I thought that I would share. Although rare, there has been some occasions in which both cats and dogs have needed blood transfusions. Although pet blood donation centers are rare, it's worth looking into as your pet could save the life of another.

Unlike humans who have 4 blood type options, dogs on the other hand have 8. A dogs blood types are: 1-1,1-2,1-3,4,5,6,7 and 8. These blood types are characterized by assorted antigens found in the red blood cells membranes which determine the DEA. Each type can be positive or negative. The most common blood types in dogs are 1-1 and 1-2. Dogs can safely have the same amount of blood withdrawn as humans.

Unlike dogs, cats only have 3 blood types: A, B, and AB. Cats are mostly type A and rarely AB. Like humans, cats can die if they receive the wrong blood type during transfusion. The quantity recommended is 60 ml.

The following was obtained through an article from the Hospital Veterinaire Rive-Sud, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

For more information on where you can donate blood, please contact your vet for information.

The following are testimonials received this week for Tripsy for Kidney Failure:

"When I received the diagnosis I researched it and found Tripsy on your site and read good things about it. Since I've started her on Tripsy she has been doing very well."

"Boots was in decline until I started him on the Tripsy medication. It extended his life for approx. 1 year, but the disease continued to advance and he passed away 3 weeks ago. I am still very appreciative of the extra time this medication allowed us to spend with him, before he went off to cat heaven."

"With the daily dose of Tripsy along with sub-q fluids (Ringer's 2-3X/week), the quality of Julie's life was improved and supported to the extent that she lived nearly a year longer than the veterinarian projected as possible. Until the night before she died, Julie was interested in her surroundings, her four-legged buddies, and food...esp. tunafish. I'm just grateful for all the time we had with her."

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

When pets are raised together at birth or when they're very young, will more likely be best friends growing up, however, when an adult animal(s) are introduced to each another, there are some expressed territorial issues on both sides.

Both cats and dogs are very possessive over their territory, therefore, the idea of a new mate being introduced into their space can lead to anxiety.

Before bringing in a new adult animal into the home there are a few things to consider:

How will the first animal possibly react to attention given to the new family addition? A way to asses the situation before making any commitment is to request to babysit a friend's cat/dog for a weekend, preferably a pet that hasn't been introduced to your already existing companion. Although animals, after they get to know each other, do eventually bond, your cat/dog's reaction during those three days will say a lot about its bonding mannerisms.

Because medical information is vague for adult cats, financially, without sacrificing the care of the main pet, will need to be taken into consideration. If you can't afford the vet bills for two pets, than raising another animal may not be in the cards.

Picking the right kind of cat/dog that is compatible with your current breed is also important.

If you already have a new addition to your home and are noticing bonding issues between the two pets, I suggest using those baby or dog fences around the house to keep both pets temporarily separated from each other. Make sure to purchase a fence in which both animals can see through so that they will get used to each other and eventually, those fences aren't needed anymore.

Luv Sheila & Freedom (my black lab)

Most of us rely on a handshake, an e-mail, or even a simple conversation, dogs on the other hand get to know other by sniffing each other's rear end. This defiantly would not go over well at the bar, however, with dogs, it's as common as a human asking another for directions or the time.

So why do dogs sniff each other's rear ends? The best way to summarize the reason is that dogs have one of the most powerful sense of smell in the animal kingdom. By sniffing another canine's rear end they can obtain numerous amounts of information. They detect pheromones to determine if another dog is angry, scared or friendly. This information allows them to make a decision weather the dog is friendly to play with or to bark and or retreat. Dogs have been known to do the same for their owners as well. Although dogs aren't sniffing their owners rear ends, a simple sniff allows them to anyalize the pheromones we emit so that our canine(s) can understand our mood(s).

Personally I prefer a handshake.

My sister and I are thinking of purchasing a new rabbit, however, picking a name has been difficult. We were grocery shopping the other day and came up with some cute rabbit names based on food products. This is our personal list of our top 10 favorite rabbits names based on grocery foods in order from least favorite to favorite. Of course these can also be used when naming cats/dogs. With Easter around the corner, Cadbury was our obvious #1 choice.

10. Pepper
09. Twizzler
08. Salsa
07. Hersey
06. Neestle
05. Cupcake
04. Peanut
03. Pastry
02. Recesses
01. Cadbury

Remember that lost pets without an ID tag, rarely get returned. It is important to make sure that you’re dog/cat has either an ID tattoo or a visible clear pet ID tag that displays the pets name, owners address and phone number.

We all like to celebrate special occasions with our friends and family, pets are no different. On Birthdays some of us bake cakes, invite other pets, throw parties, buy toys etc. Unlike human presents/treats, there are a few things to consider when purchasing a toy for either a cat or a dog.

Choosing a dog toy can be overwhelming as dependent on age and breed, there are some preferences.

It can be tempting to give an old toy from our son(s)/daughter(s) closet, however, there are some health and safety concerns to consider.

The size cannot be too small in fear of swallowing and cannot be too big as it may cause dental damage depending on the toy. A good size toy should be the approx size of a curled first.

Whether a plush toy, chew toy or fetch toy, the toy(s) must be easy to wash and done so on a regular basis as bacteria can live on toys, especially toys used for both indoor and outdoor play which may cause the pet to be sick.

There are a few suggestions to avoid when purchasing a toy. Avoid, if possible, rope and stuffed based toys as these can unravel, accidently get digested creating a blocking or choking sensation.

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

My cat was dying and down to 3 lbs. He had taken SO much Tapazole, his last blood test shows his thyroid is normal and good. The diahrrea stopped immediately upon the first of the plantais medicine. his movements have become firm and just a few a day. He is eating really well and trying to gain some weight back. thanks you so much...I am recommended your products to any and all.

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

"Our TT-Jazz could barely stand on her feet. She was very weak. Blood test showed she had a toxic liver and more tests were needed confirm Cushings Disease and/or cancer. I was devastated over her illness. The high medical costs that did not guarantee her recovery, with her age as an issue, added to my distress. So I prepared for the worse.

Thanks to web research I discovered your site and purchased Milk Thistle and Supraglan. That was a month ago, and TT-Jazz has renewed energy, a healthy appetite -- actually she's back to her old finicky self again. Her coat is looking more healthy, and she's light on her feet. I've been given additional quality time with her -- and for her age that's important to me. Thanks for your knowledge in the products and kind support.

The customer rep was always kind and patient with me. She knew I wanted to make my pet's aging life as comfortable as possible. She provided clear explanation about the products. The rep's quality assistance paid off. Much thanks to her."

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

"Our TT-Jazz could barely stand on her feet. She was very weak. Blood test showed she had a toxic liver and more tests were needed confirm Cushings Disease and/or cancer. I was devastated over her illness. The high medical costs that did not guarantee her recovery, with her age as an issue, added to my distress. So I prepared for the worse.

Thanks to web research I discovered your site and purchased Milk Thistle and Supraglan. That was a month ago, and TT-Jazz has renewed energy, a healthy appetite -- actually she's back to her old finicky self again. Her coat is looking more healthy, and she's light on her feet. I've been given additional quality time with her -- and for her age that's important to me. Thanks for your knowledge in the products and kind support.

The customer rep was always kind and patient with me. She knew I wanted to make my pet's aging life as comfortable as possible. She provided clear explanation about the products. The rep's quality assistance paid off. Much thanks to her."

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

wonderful........after first dosage, within an hour, she felt alot better.
Its happened twice so far where nothing else worked but this product.

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

Nubbins was supposed to die within days, if not hours, but he lived 14 more months, and he was on ES-Clear the entire time. His survival confounded our veterinarians--14 months is an enormous time for a cat, 14 months of napping in the sun, purring, and sleeping in front of the fire. I have no doubt that ES Clear for cat cancer slowed the progress of his diseases.

Disclaimer: Results may very depending on, however, not limited to: age, breed, stage at which the pet was diagnosed, previous medical history and associated medication(s), allergic reaction(s), proper or improper administration, viral, bacterial or emotional. These products are not drugs nor are we making any drug claims. If you suspect your pet has a medical condition, seek out a trusted veterinarian to assist you with proper diagnosis and ongoing clinical verification.

"So far my pet appears to be enjoying the drinkwell fountain and filtered water that I purchased."