By: M Jayne

Pet Wellness embraces many areas of a healthy happy pet so in appreciation of Stress Awareness Month learn how you can identify and eliminate pet stress to give him a longer, happier, healthier life.

April is Stress Awareness Month and this applies to all living things, big, small, human or not – particularly our pets. Are you surprised to read that animals have stress? Stress affects our dogs and cats and various type pets across the board. Pet stress just like people stress causes health problems, decreases the quality of life, causes depression, and shortens life span. For these reasons, amongst others, it is necessary for pet owners to practice another part of pet wellness which is finding out if their pet is stressed, identifying the stress factors, and using the necessary techniques to eliminate the stress and increase the quality of their pet’s life.

Pet Stress Signs

Many pet stress signs can also be signs of other problems so do not just assume it is stress. It’s important to look into all the avenues in order to efficiently help your pet and save yourself and your pet future health problems and chunky vet bills.

1. Itching

Itching is a sign of several things such as fleas, ticks, lice, or skin allergy but it can also be a sign of stress if your dog or cat is itching himself more than normal. Eliminate the possibility of fleas, ticks, lice and allergy first, and then consider that it could be your pet is stressed. Natural health care for petstreatments offers effective allergy itching remedies that can be administered at home. Treating itching and discomfort from allergies and eliminating the allergy source will also keep your pet from suffering from stressed caused by discomfort – from ongoing itchiness.

2. Excessive shedding

The more pet stress there is the more shedding there will be. Shedding however is also common with poor quality dog food, poor diet, and can also be genetics, as well as a dog that is not getting enough sun light. Another condition of excessive shedding is when the pores of the dog’s skin do not close all the way allowing hair to fall constantly. This usually requires a vitamin such as Biotin to help. Or, your pet could be too stressed out.

3. Lethargy

A lethargic pet is always a sign that something is not right and needs to be looked into urgently. Lethargy can stem from depression, poor health, not enough exercise and unhappiness. Or, your pet’s stress is on fire. Usually a vet will request a stool sample in order to get to the root of this problem.

4. Aggression

A sick, injured or pet in pain may be aggressive if approached or stroked, outside of this your pets aggression could be stress related.

5. Lack of or no appetite

Pets that are stressed, sick, or depressed will often eat less or lose their appetite all together. This is another area, obviously that needs to be immediately addressed if noticed by pet owners.

6. Lack of interest

A dog or cat that suddenly shows lack of interest in things he was always excited to do or enjoyed doing is a sign of a sick, sad, or depressed pet. Check for sickness first then consider stress as a reason.

7. Passive behavior

The opposite of aggression, some pets will become passive when stressed.

8. Negative behavior

Often pets who are bored will dig, chew, or bark constantly. A stressed or sad dog will be destructive, this is also a common behavior of intelligent breeds who are not left alone for long periods of time or not exercised physically and mentally enough for their breed.

9. Change is bathroom habits

A dog that is house trained or a cat that is litter box trained who suddenly forgets this and goes in the house, could be stressed or sad. Consider the age of your pet and for how long he has been trained because accidents do happen and especially during the puppy stages or learning stages.

10. Sounds

Funny as it may be cats will often purr when they are stressed, sad or even dying – as opposed to a dog that will growl when unhappy or agitated.

11. Body Language

Many pets, particularly dogs and cats will have a change in body language such as slouching while they walk, hanging their head low, walking more slowly than usual, and laying down all the time. This could be a sign your dog or cat is not well, has an injury, is depressed, or experiencing pet stress.

Happy Pet Signs

1. Curious

2. Playful

3. Shows recognition of people he knows

4. Normal stools and bathroom habits that are rarely disturbed

5. Over all happy appearance and behavior

6. A healthy appetite

Just like people dogs and cats have different personalities and owners, with different lifestyles and different environments. Dogs and cats will handle their stress in different ways – some are more wound up and edgy while others go with the flow and may not be too bothered by things. When a pet owner is stressed or depressed it can affect their pets, particularly a dog or cat, as these animals are very open to the feelings, spirit, and environment of their owners. If you are stressed, anxious, or depressed, it is highly likely that your dog or cat will be as well.

But there are other factors that can cause your dog or cat pet stress.

1. Pet wellness requires pet owners to identify if their pet is stressed and take the necessary actions to improve the situation. Consider first yourself. Are you stressed more than the norm? Are you depressed, sad or feeling anxious and nervous? Remember that just like your kids, your pet will pick up on your stress and if it’s having a direct hit on your behavior, state of mind, actions and personality, it is certainly affecting your pet as well.

2. If your pet is sick and is not getting better this can cause him stress and unhappiness just as it would you. So keep an eye on your pet and be sure to take action on any out of the norm situations that may arise. Do not delay because you don’t know what the situation might be and it could be time sensitive, making all the difference between recovery or death. For pets that already have an illness or health issue stress can delay healing, and even cause the problem to become chronic if your pet is dealing with unrelenting stress.

3. Constant television, flashing lights, lack of visual stimuli, smoke or polluted living environments all can cause dog stress through his eyes. Consider turning off your television for some time during the day, easy lights in the evenings, toys and a stimulating, clean air environment.

4. Once again, just like with our kids the television can become a problem if not managed in the household. A constant, loud television can add stress through your dog’s ears. Loud noises, other dogs constantly barking, people arguing, children screaming, sirens, video games, thunder storms and slamming doors that are consistent in a pets environment are other stresses through sound can affect your dog. Consider classical music for your dog or cat when you leave him home alone as opposed to television or the radio. Classical music is quiet, slow and relaxing and proven to be favored amongst dogs and cats. There is loads of pet music CD’s available these days that have clinically proven types of music most suitable and enjoyed by dogs and cats. An antistatic cape can be used for help with dog that suffer from thunderstorm stress. Consider the noise level in your home and make changes for a calmer, quieter atmosphere if necessary.

5. Perfumes, excessive or irritating essential oils, hair spray, air fresheners, deodorants, and smoke are also stress culprits that cause anxiety or agitation through the dog’s nose. For health reasons and global warming signs it is preferred that people not use air fresheners in their homes or vehicles. Instead get to the root of the odor problem and try a natural freshener such as boiling are cooking a cinnamon stick. Don’t use perfumes, deodorants, hair sprays or smoke around your pet. Instead keep use of these items to one room to keep the rest of the house clean.

6. For anxiety and fear, pet owners will often consider a product called Dog Appeasing Pheromone. However, before you go that route consider Lavender aromatherapy, which has shown success in reducing stress, sadness and restlessness in dogs housed in shelters and dog pounds.

7. The mouth and digestive system of a dog also play a part in stress. A poor diet, unhealthy teeth and gums not getting enough water, or having to compete for food are all sources of pet stress. Make sure your dog is getting regular dental checkups and regular cleaning. A safe and trusted eating environment, fresh clean water daily, a balanced healthy diet

8. Temperature and climate are also sources of stress. A pet in uncomfortable, painful or isolated living conditions will have high stress levels.

9. Excessive exercise, poor training techniques, and injuries gone untreated can cause arthritis and joint disease. Poor training can also cause fear and lack of trust, all of which bring on stress. Exercise should be breed and age appropriate, fun and stimulating and moderate. Training should be age and breed appropriate and never on a hard core, cruel basis. To protect against injuries, joint disease and arthritis, ensure your dog or cat receives body-benefiting treatments such as pet massage, cold or hot heating pads and swimming in the pool if possible. Make sure your dog is comfortable with water first and that you are with him when he is taking a dip. Like a child, never leave your pet alone in or near water. Massages do not have to be expensive you can learn to do it at home, as well as many other natural health care for pets practices.

In the spirit of stress awareness month remember that being a responsible and conscientious pet owner requires you put pet wellness into practice and keep abreast of any changes in your pet, just as you do yourself your children. Be aware of changes in behavior of any kind to be addressed and sourced to the root of the problem. Stress is the not the cause for all problems your pet may encounter but it should certainly never be ruled out. Give your pet the quality of life he deserves by ensuring his meals, treats, exercise, training, lifestyle, treatments and environment are healthy ones and appropriate for his breed and age. Giving your pet a wholesome pet natural diet, vegetable enhanced and free from poor quality food ingredients, unhealthy additives will maintain your pet’s inner and outer beauty as well as protect him from disease. Maintain his health further by doing your level best to eliminate pet stress and enhance the length and quality of your pet’s life.

For more assistance with cat stress visit Cat Behavior.

Michel’s family and pets live on the wellness side of life. She carries out her mother’s tradition of people and pet wellness including holistic care, natural remedies, and home grown healthy meals. People and pet wellness is life’s passion for Michel, who even heals her pets without a vet using natural health care for pets.

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By: Florin Albu

Older dogs are most prone to arthritis and that’s the sad fact. Arthritis in dogs is very similar to arthritis in humans. And there are no absolute cures yet. The only thing that you can do for now is to manage the disease and make your dog feel comfortable despite its condition.

Old or young dogs with arthritis can still live a normal life if owners just give them what they need to ease the pain. For starters, your dog is going to need comfortable bedding. Arthritis is a joint and muscle condition that could really be crippling. The most you can do is give your pet soft beddings, ideally a rubber foam mattress that is about five inches thick.

Dogs with arthritis would benefit most from regular exercise. However, never allow your dog to perform any extraneous exercises any longer as it may negatively affect their condition. Mild and gentle walking exercises are good enough. Make it a point that you walk your dog a few blocks everyday. Running is discouraged. If your pet is a guard dog or a field dog, maybe you should consider retiring it and just make it a regular household pet.

What complements good exercise is proper diet. Always watch the weight of your dog, especially if it belongs to the larger breeds. These dogs can easily become overweight. But just the same, smaller dogs can be obese. And being overweight limits their daily activities. As such, they won’t be able to do several long walks with you. What’s more, your dog’s weight will be putting too much strain on its joints. This aggravates the condition even more. If your dog is overweight, give it a light diet. Don’t wait for it to contract arthritis before doing something about its meals.

On the other hand, there are dog food formulas that are especially designed for arthritic dog. Ask your vet about it. Sick dogs require a change in their diet plan. Your vet should be able to provide the right nutritional meals for your pet. He might advise you to use Purina’s JM dog food or Hill’s RX J/D formula.

It may also be necessary to give your dog commercial medicines to aid in its health. These medicines are again, prescribed by the vet. Give it to your pet as indicated and always bring your dog to its regular checkups. The vet needs to monitor the health of your pet so that it can adjust the medications as needed. Some dogs respond well to certain medicines while others don’t. This is the reason why post-diagnosis visits are always crucial. Never miss one or your dog may suffer unnecessarily from arthritis.

Aside from prescription drugs, there are over-the-counter medicines and natural remedies that can help your dog. Aspirin is known to relieve pain and inflammation in pets if used the right way. As for natural medicines, Omega 3 supplements, vitamins, and minerals can contribute so much help alleviate the condition. Under the guidance of the vet, give your dog a combination of these medicines so it can live longer and much happier with you.

DogArthritisCare.Com – Visit us for more info on the canine arthritis condition and read our rimadyl and deramaxx frequently asked questions section.

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By: Thomas Johnsen

When it comes to the health and well being of your pets, you want to do everything to ensure that they are happy and healthy. But you may not always be able to know where to look in case you suspect your pets are ill or not feeling well.

Pets have a natural animal instinct to hide their symptoms when they are not feeling well. This kind of behavior stems from the past when animals were seen as weak to their predators and therefore could not show signs of sickness.

There are some symptoms that you can take note of in your pets and if you see any of the following symptoms you may want to seek medical attention from a vet. Here are some of the warning signs that your pet may be sick or not feeling well:

1)

If your pet is acting differently around you and either wants a lot more attention than usual or not any attention, it could be a sign that he is not feeling well. For instance, if your pet is normally very affectionate and wants to always be around you and be petted and suddenly is acting withdrawn and goes off by himself a lot to hide, it may be a sign that he is not feeling well. That also goes for if your pet is normally independent and spends a lot of time by himself and suddenly acts like he can’t get enough attention, he may as well be sick.

2)

Changes in eating behavior can be indications that your pet is sick. If your pet is not eating very much, or a lot less than normal, he may not be feeling well. If your pet is eating more than usual but not gaining weight, it could be signs of worms or other digestive conditions.

3)

If your pet has changes in the frequency or amount of elimination this could also be an indication that he is not feeling well and it could indicate a bladder or urinary infection.

If you think your pet could be ill and is exhibiting any of those signs, it is always best to seek out a pet MD or at least call your vet to discuss whether you should bring him in.

There are also sources on the web that you can go to for pet questions and answers. Some sites offer the ability for you to ask questions to a pet MD and receive answers for a nominal fee. Other sites allow you to review previously asked questions and answers for any conditions that may be applicable to your pet.

If you truly suspect that your pet may be sick or not feeling well, it is best to make sure that you get them checked out to be sure. Unlike humans, they can not tell us when they are not feeling well and may try to hide it, so it is best to take the necessary precautions.

You love your pet and want them to lead a long and healthy life, do what you can to protect their health. Even if you think it is nothing, by the time your pet is exhibiting symptoms like the ones mentioned before, whatever is ailing them could already be getting worse. Most conditions can be treated by a pet MD and most conditions require only moderate dosages of medications or treatments.

Even if your pet may require more extensive care, there are many vets who are willing to workout payment arrangements with you to help you care for your pet.

The Author is the Leading Expert on a wide selection of pet related topics and he is the creator of How To Find Cheap Cat Insurance. Visit the Dog and Cat Insurance Website to find free guides and valuable tips that will make it at lot easier being a pet owner. And everything can be researched from the comfort of your own home.

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By: Jared Wright
Natural herbal health supplements for dogs are becoming more popular with pet owners. They do not contain any pesticides or chemicals, and irradiation is not used in the manufacturing process.

Conventional manufacturers use irradiation to prevent bacterial growth, and to increase product shelf life. This process is responsible for destroying the vitamins and enzymes needed for healthy canines. Only certified raw ingredients are used in producing natural health supplements for pets.

Increasingly, dog owners are choosing natural herbal supplementation to meet their pet’s health needs In fact, vitamins for pets possess the same high quality standards that human supplements have. Not surprisingly, pets have similar health concerns as their human owners, which reflect issues related joints, vision, digestion, and the liver.

Dogs can also be obese and require supplements for weight loss, as well as calcium for strong bones. They are just like a member of the family, which is why their health and quality of life are of major importance for owners. As a result, the choice of natural health supplements and food ensures optimum quality of life for their beloved pets.

Vitamins and minerals for your dog:

Vitamin B Complex:

The benefits of B complex vitamin for your dog includes growth enhancement, stress management, and reduces reactions to vaccines. Vitamin B can be found in liver, yeast, wheat bran, wheat germ, and kelp.

Low levels of this vitamin can manifest as:

A loss of hair, coat turning gray early, weakness in the back legs, reduced appetite, ticks, fleas and cardio problems.

Vitamin C:

Dogs can make their own vitamin C from minerals in their diet, unlike humans who must get this nutrient from outside sources, such as sun light. According to research for this article, your dog does not need vitamin C supplement, and you shouldn’t feed your canine any food that contains it.

Benefits of vitamin E for your dog:

- Promotes circulation

- The dog will age slower

- Prevent cataracts

- Boosts the immune system.

- Better endurance

- May dissolve breast tumors

- Improved spinal strength

- Promotes skin and coat health

Glucosamine and chondroitin:

These work best in tandem and are good as a preventative measure. They allow for greater lubrication of the joints and dogs can be given these from an early age.

Antioxidants:

Antioxidants help protect against the damage incurred by free radicals. Free radicals damage cells and can cause premature aging in your pet.

It is a good idea to ask your vet about supplements to be fully informed. There is a chance that your diet for your dog is good enough that supplements may be unnecessary.

Jared Wright is the webmaster of Clivir.com where people meet to learn from one another on topics such as health. You can follow the links to find more related articles such as natural health supplements and liquid multi vitamins.

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By: Laura Ramirez

Natural cat immunity enhancers are a relatively new development in the area of veterinary medicine, but they are based on centuries old principles which have been put to successful use on animals and humans alike.  The basic idea is that maintaining a healthy immune system will lead to overall good health.  It’s really that simple, and now a range of natural products make it that much easier when it comes to helping our furry friends.

Just like humans, cats are exposed to a host of environmental toxins on a daily basis.  This exposure, combined with a less than ideal diet and lack of exercise, can leave the immune system compromised, opening the door to a host of different ailments.  In order to avoid this kind of damage, it is necessary for cats to maintain a healthy daily routine including getting the proper vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Cats that go outdoors on a regular basis are naturally drawn to certain plants which can provide healing.   These natural cat immunity enhancers offer protection and enable the immune system to function properly.   Supplements which contain these kinds of natural ingredients can offer the same kind of healing power for indoor cats.

Of course, supplements are only one part of a larger health regimen which your cat should be exposed to on a daily basis.   A well balanced diet, free of artificial colorings and preservatives, and continual access to a clean water supply will help your cat to feel healthy, as will making sure that it gets plenty of exercise, whether it leaves the house or not.

Along with a regular daily routine, natural cat immunity enhancers such as comprehensive supplements can go a long way toward ensuring good overall health.  Created by experienced homeopaths, these products contain a specific blend of herbs and other plant based ingredients which are targeted toward maintaining proper immune system function and battling specific symptoms which are the result of a weakened immune system.

Included among these natural ingredients are herbs such as Milk Thistle, Echinacea, Huang Qi and Mistletoe.  Huang Qi is a powerful whole body tonic which has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries.  It boosts the immune system and can actually repair damage caused by cancer and other illnesses.  Milk Thistle targets the liver, stimulating bile production and improving liver function.

One of the more important cat immunity enhancers is Echinacea.  This particular herb works on the lymphatic system, preventing various forms of cancer as well as immune deficiency.   Mistletoe helps maintain proper blood pressure and strengthens immune system function.  By combining these and other herbs, these supplements offer your pet the to natural cat immunity enhancers that will allow the body to heal and ward off disease and infection.

As concerned owners, we only want what is best for our pets and nothing is better than the healing power of nature.  So do your homework and find an all natural supplement which will work for your pet.  Because supporting good immune system function naturally is truly the cat’s meow!

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