Flea and Tick Prevention on Dogs and Cats.

Hi everyone I hope you are all keeping well and enjoying this lovely weather, The latest on Cody is he's not been back to the vets no more health scares and seems to be back to his usual cheeky self.

Sheba is doing great, she just takes everything in her stride and nothing fazes her she was 6 years young in February and never been to the vet apart from routine vaccinations and a hot spot, she's loving this warm weather and getting out more.

I'm really proud of the both of them the way they deal with new situations, with Mum suffering from Alzheimer's and Anne and I taking turns to care for her it can't be easy on Sheba and Cody hopefully we will know more next month on what's happening.

I've just been sent this infographic from Ron Rutherford @ Havahart Wireless and though it was very informative and well worth sharing especially now the weather is warming up.

What’s the Difference Between Fleas and Ticks?

Though both pests look similar, fleas and ticks have very different life cycles and habits. Fleas tend to stick to one host for the duration of their lives, which can last for more than 100 days. Adult fleas lay 20-40 eggs per day for several weeks and these eggs are shed wherever the host goes.
Ticks, on the other hand, have multiple hosts throughout their life, which can last up to 3 years. Female ticks can lay thousands of eggs but only once in their life and immediately afterwards they die.
Ticks can also transmit deadlier diseases than fleas. Fleas spread bartonellosis and tapeworm. Ticks spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Can Humans Get Fleas?

It’s not just your pets who are at risk. Fleas bite humans, too. Their bites look like small, red bumps with a red halo around the center. Most often, you’ll find their itchy bites around your ankles or waist.
Most humans don’t contract any diseases from flea bites but that’s not the case for your pets.

How to Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks?

It’s important to keep your lawn cut short and to vacuum your home at least once a week to keep fleas and ticks away.
Here are a few tips for flea and tick prevention on dogs and cats:

• Wash your pet’s bedding 1-2 times per week.
• Always check pets for fleas and ticks after they come in from outside.
• Provide a flea collar, topical or chewable flea preventives for your pets.
• Keep your pet away from dense shrubbery and tall grass.

If you think your pet already has fleas, wash them with a flea and tick shampoo and then use a flea comb to get the little pests out of their fur. If you’ve found a tick on your pet, follow the instructions here to remove it quickly.

Dogs Annoying Cats With Their Friendship. (Wordless Wednesday)

Wordless Wednesday.

Sleeping cats and dogs.

I like the ones of Sheba with the cats, it goes to show Dogs and Cats can get on well.

Healthy foods for your dog and cat.

 Foods That Help Your Dog, Cat Naturally Repel, Eliminate Infestations of Insects, Parasites

In this article:

• Supplementary Food Stuffs That:
• You can add to your dog’s and cat’s daily diet to help your companion animal’s immune system and body naturally repel insects and parasites;
• Fight infestations of insects, parasites, and;
• Associated diseases;
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Organic, unpasteurized
• Beets, Carrots and/or Turnip
• Brewer’s Yeast
• Coconut Oil
• Garlic
• Honey – organic, raw, unpasteurized
• Kelp
• Lemon
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Papaya
• Pumpkin (Pepita) Seeds or Oil
• Yogurt, Kefir or Fresh sauerkraut
• Additional Precautions to Ensure a Healthy Immune System

Supplementary Food Stuffs 

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - Organic Unpasturized

for dogs and cats...

Dogs and cat’s that are fed a diet of commercially made dry dog food/wet food usually have an out-of-natural-balance(acidified) blood PH level. Disease, parasites and insects are attracted to acidified blood.

• By adding Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to your dog’s and cat’s diet:
• You can help re-balance his/her blood PH level. 
• ACV is a prebiotic and helps maintain the proper acid/alkaline balance of the digestive tract.
• Inhibits the growth of bad bacteria;
• Helps to clean the blood and liver of toxins;
• Helps prevent dry skin;
• Promotes the growth and maintenance of healthy fur.
• ACV can also be used topically to repel insects – you can make your own all-natural, toxic-free insect repellent spray;
• Read here about:
• Many more benefits of ACV;
• Understand how to choose a good quality ACV;
• How to add ACV to your dog’s and cat’s diet;
• Daily Dosage;
• Cautions for some medical conditions and drug interactions.

Beets, Carrots, Turnip
for dogs and cats...

 Add to each meal one of the following (fresh, grated or finely chopped – organic is best) to help cleanse the digestive tract and scrub parasites away in combination with using a natural dewormer…

Daily Dosage

• Carrots ½ tbs to 2 tbs a day, or;
• Beets ½ tbs to 2 tbs a day, or;
• Turnip  ½ tbs to 2 tbs a day.

Brewer’s Yeast or Nutritional Yeast (not baker’s yeast!) and B-Complex Vitamins

for dogs and cats...

Brewer's Yeast

Brewer's yeast is created from a single-cell fungus called Saccharomyces cerevisiae.  Brewer's yeast is used to make beer. It is also a prized supplement as it is rich in minerals - particularly chromium (chromium helps in the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels), selenium, protein and B-complex vitamins. B complex vitamins also support the health of eyes, hair, liver, mouth, nervous system and skin.

Brewer's Yeast does not contain vitamin B-12. To ensure your dog or cat is getting sufficient B12 you can supplement their diet with select dairy products and meat. If your dog or cat is on a commercially prepared dog of cat dry or wet food, make sure you supplement their diet with some real meat.

Brewer’s Yeast is high in B complex vitamins - B1 (thiamine, B2 riboflavin, B3 - niacin, B5 - pantothenic acid, B6 - pyridoxine, B9 - folic acid and B7 - biotin. 

B complex vitamins help the body be less appealing to insects such as fleas. Brewer’s yeast can be added to your dog’s or cat’s daily diet in capsule from or lose powder form.

A half teaspoon of nutritional brewer's yeast daily can provide the B complex vitamins a dog and cat needs.

Daily Dosage:

• 1 teaspoon per 30 pounds of body weight.

B-Complex Vitamin Supplement

Some dogs and cats that are prone to food sensitivities and yeast infections are also sensitive to Brewers’s yeast. Other dogs and cats that are prone to yeast infections can tolerate Brewer’s Yeast without any issues. For dogs and cats that are Brewer’s Yeast intolerant you can use a B complex vitamins supplement.

Daily Dosage:

• Cats and smaller dogs - 50 mg once a day;
• Medium to large dogs – 50mg twice daily.

You can also add other fresh foods that are high in Vitamin B complex – you can read about that here.

Coconut Oil
for dogs and cats...

Coconut oil offers a wide spectrum of health benefits including properties that help support a dog and cat in the fight against insect and parasite infestation and related diseases. Coconut oil is

• Anti-bacterial;
• Anti-fungal;
• Anti-viral;
• Anti-parasitic.

Coconut oil helps to clear-up:

• Flea allergies,
• Itchy skin, and,
• Supports healing required as a result of insect bites and stings.

Coconut oil supports fur and skin health.

Read here about:

• Many more benefits coconut oil;
• Understand how to choose a good quality coconut oil;
• How to add coconut oil to your dog’s and cat’s diet;
• Daily Dosage;
• Cautions for some medical conditions and drug interactions.

Fresh Garlic

for dogs...

You may have heard or read that garlic is bad or toxic to dogs – this is only the case if garlic is consumed in unreasonable quantities. When added to the daily diet in a safe quantity garlic is very beneficial to your dog. In addition to having many other health benefits…

• Garlic contains multiple forms of sulphur – sulphur is a natural insect repellent!
• Garlic cleanses the blood which helps in fighting disease spread by some parasites;
• Garlic is an:
• Anti-allergen;
• Antibacterial;
• Antibiotic;
• Anti-carcinogen.
• Anti-fungal;
• Antioxident;
• Anti-protozoan;
• Read here about:
• How to add garlic to your dog’s diet;
• How to prepare the garlic;
• Daily Dosage;
• Cautions for some medical conditions and drug interactions.

Honey - Raw Unpasturized, Organic

for Dogs and Cats

Raw unpasteurized organic honey (and bee pollen and/or bee propolis) is beneficial to dog's and cat's when provided in the correct dosage on a daily basis, Honey helps to protect the body from bacteria and viruses – including those caused by insects and parasites.

• Read here about:
• A few more of the many benefits of honey;
• Understand how to choose a good quality honey;
• How to add honey to your dog’s and cat’s diet;
• Daily Dosage;
• Cautions for some medical conditions and drug interactions.

Kelp

for Dogs and Cats

Adding Kelp to your dog’s and cat’s diet helps to protect against fleas and can mediate the irritation caused by flea-bite allergies. Kelp also reduces skin inflammation – itchiness resulting from other allergies and improves the health of skin and coat.

Kelp also supports your dog’s and cat’s health in other ways. Kelp…

• Helps to keep the GI tract clean and promotes a healthy balance of GI fluids;
• Is high in bio-available iron which helps supports blood health and heart health;
• Kelp is also high in Vitamin C, iron needs the presence of Vitamin C to increase its absorption rate by the body;
• Speeds healing as the amino acids present support repair of injured tissue;
• Helps to avoid and treat thyroid problems as kelp is rich, natural source of iodine – low iodine levels are a trigger for thyroid problems;
• The high-levels of iodine and other nutrients (i.e. manganese, folate, magnesium, tryptopan, copper, calcium, vitamin B2) also support the health of the adrenal and pituitary glands.

The best kelp is that which is most contaminant and toxin free:

• Deep sea kelp;
• Norwegian kelp.

Maximum Daily Dosage:

• Small size dogs and cats - ¼ tsp
• Medium size dogs - ½ tsp
• Large size dogs – 1 tsp

Fresh Lemon

for Dogs

 

Lemons are a very alkaline food that helps the body balance PH levels – as noted above dogs that are fed a diet of commercial dry dog food have acidified blood PH levels which attracts insects and parasites.

• Lemon is a detoxifier and can kill undesirable microorganisms in the GI tract.
• Lemon is a natural dewormer.
• Lemon can also be used topically to repel mosquitoes and other insects;
• You can make your own all-natural safe sprays and collar drops for your dog;
• Read here about:
• The many more benefits of lemon;
• Understand how to choose a good quality lemon;
• How to add lemon to your dog’s diet;
• Daily Dosage;
• Cautions for some medical conditions and drug interactions

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

for Dogs and Cats

Ensuring that your dog and cat are getting enough good quality Omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis helps to ensure that you dog’s and cat’s skin and fur are healthy and that their immune system is properly supported. 

A proper daily intake of Omega-3 fatty acids also offers a vast number of other essential health benefits that you can read about here. Remember that insects and parasites are attracted to animals that have weakened immune systems. Animals with strong immune systems have their own natural defence against infestations of parasites and associated diseases. 

I am not aware of any commercially made dog or cat food (and I have looked at many from all over the world) that provides the proper balance of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids for a dog’s or cat’s daily diet. Make sure you add good-source Omega-3 fatty acids to your dog’s and cat’s diet on a daily basis. You can read about that here.

Fresh Papaya

for Dogs and Cats

Benefits

• The enzymes in papaya:
• Help to irritate and destroy worms in the animals GI Tract;
• The enzyme papain aids in the digestion of proteins and also helps alleviate allergies;
• Papaya promotes the health of the cardiovascular system;
• Papaya helps provide protection against colon cancer;
• Papaya has anti-inflammatory qualities (important if your dog suffers from conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, etc.);
• Helps to prevent macular degeneration;
• Papaya is:
• A rich source of antioxidants including:
• B vitamins;
• Carotenes;
• Flavonoids;
• Folate;
• Vitamin A, C and E;
• Minerals:
• Magnesium;
• Potassium, and are:
• And excellent source of fibre. 

To Prepare the Papaya...

• Remove the skin of the papaya;
• Remove the seeds;
• Finely chop or mince by hand or using a food processor or blender;
• Or use in powder form (in which case dosage would be as per manufacturers’ instructions).

How To Add Papaya to Your Dog’s or Cat’s Diet

• Mix the papaya in with your companion animal’s regular food.

Minimum Dosage

• Small Size Dogs and Cats - ½  tsp to 1 tsp
• Medium Size dogs – 1 tsp to ½ tbs
• Large Size Dogs – ½ tbs to 1 tbs

Pumpkin (Pepita) Seeds and Pumpkin Seed Oil

for Dogs and Cats

Benefits

• Antimicrobial support;
• Antioxidant support;
• Nutrient support;
• Are an anti-carcinogen, and;
• A dewormer.
• Use raw pumpkin seeds - certified organic raw is best.

Preparation:

Grind the pumpkin seeds to a fine powder (you can use a mortar and pestle, a coffee grinder, a food processor, etc.).

Use

• Add the ground pumpkin seeds to your dog’s food once a day for two weeks.
• As pumpkin seeds are completely non-toxic to dog’s and have many health benefits, i.e.
• Are a good source of zinc, vitamin A and are high in protein; 
• You can also choose to add pumpkin seeds to your dog’s diet on a regular, daily basis;
• My dog’s get finely ground pumpkin seeds sprinkled on their food daily. 
• For more information on the benefits of pumpkin seeds you can read here.

Dosage Seeds

• 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 lbs of body weight

Dosage Oil

• 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin seed oil (or wheat germ oil) for every 10 lbs of body weight.

Yogurt and/or Kefir and/or Fresh Sauerkraut

for Dogs and Cats

Ensuring that your dog’s and cat’s gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) is healthy also supports your dog’s immune system. The beneficial microorganisms in viable probiotics do a series of things that help your dog and cat naturally fight-off parasites and associated diseases…

Probiotics:

• Produce antibacterial agents and enzymes that kill a wide range of pathogenic bacteria and viruses;
• Help to deactivate toxins that are produced by pathogenic bacteria;
• Produce:
• Beneficial enzymes;
• A range of essential B-Vitamins;
• Perform digestion of:
• Old organic compounds (muco-proteins);
• Parasites.
• Read here about:
• More benefits of kefir and yogurt;
• Understand how to choose a good quality kefir and yogurt;
• How to add kefir and yogurt to your dog’s and cat’s diet;
• Daily Dosage;
• Cautions.
• You can read more here about why adding probiotics to your dog’s and cat’s diet is essential.
• You can read about the benefits and dosage for fresh sauerkraut here.

Additional Precautions to Ensure a Healthy Immune System

The following provides some additional pre-cautions that will support your dog and cat in having a healthy and strong immune system...

Your dog and cat:

• Is on a species appropriate diet;
• Is not over-inoculated;
• Is not on repeated doses of antibiotics;
• Is not on chemical-based insect, parasite preventatives unless TRULY necessary;- but is instead on natural, herbal, homeopathic insect, parasite preventatives, worm preventatives, etc.
• Is not exposed to toxins in their immediate, daily environment, i.e.
• Natural non-toxic household cleaners are used instead of chemical-based cleaners;
• Does not come into contact with or ingest grass and other vegetation that has been treated with chemical-based lawn and garden pesticides and herbicides, road salt, etc.

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Related Articles

For related and additional articles on dog and cat, care, health, training, nutrition and animal advocacy go to this page.

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the Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer Services

Training;

Behaviour Modification;

Rehabilitation;

Nutrition;

Health 

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5 Things Your Vet Should Never Say to You.

5 Things Your Vet Should Never Say to You

If you ever hear your veterinarian utter these words, it's time to get a new one -- right away. 

Do you have a great relationship with your dog's veterinarian? If you answer yes, cherish and nurture that relationship and thank your lucky stars. For every 10 dog moms and dads I encounter who tell me they love their veterinarian, there are probably two or three who tell me horror stories. For those totally fantastic, caring veterinarians out there who are dedicated to dog health and reading this article, I commend and applaud you. If any of the following hits a nerve and you are a practicing veterinarian, please change. The dogs of this world depend on you, as do the majority of loving dog parents.

   

Hi everyone i was asked to take the post down by Dogster you can view the full post here.

Post courtesy of Carol Bryant @ For the love of dog. Dogster. Carol can also be found on her blog @ Fidose of Reality. ps Carol i hope you don't mind me sharing your post off dogster.

I had to change Sheba's vets because i didn't like the way she was treated when she was a puppy she was nervous of the vets and the vet didn't help when she went to be Spayed she put her brakes on and didn't want to go into the consulting room so the vet grabbed the lead off me and dragged Sheba into the room saying he hasn't got time to mess around, and on another occasion our cat millie got attacked by a neighbours dog and was rushed to the local vet who Sheba was registered with they gave us a phone call to say they didn't think she would make it and could we go straight down to see them we were allowed to see Millie for 5 minutes which turned out to be the last time we saw her alive, they were more concerned about us paying for her treatment the vet was supposed to phone us with an update at 8am i waited until 10am never heard anything phoned them up only to be told she died at 3am and they had been to busy to phone me, when we went to collect Millies body they were sat around drinking tea I've never sat foot in the place since.

Than things changed for the better we phoned up the vet Millie was registered with explained what had happened and asked if he could arrange for her to be cremated, he even arranged for his receptionist to come and pick the body up in case i found it to stressful driving with her body in the car, when we got to the vets Simon the vet said said spend as long as you need to say goodbye.

The difference in professionalism is amazing we've got Cody and our going to get Coco registered with the same vet he only treats felines so there's no barking dogs in the waiting area he's more like a family friend instead of our vet he never rushes you and explains everything to you, he's one in a million i just wish i could find a vet as good for Sheba.

Here he is.

Just Cats veterinary clinic. 

(Wordless Wednesday) Crocheted cat and dog blankets.

Mum's just opened up her own Etsy shop selling crocheted cat and dog blankets.

Cody's Crafty Delights.

Etsy Shop.

Facebook page.

All products endorsed by Cody catty BOL