Pet Loneliness – Signs Your Pet is Lonely and How to Handle it

Did you know that pets have the capability of feeling lonely? Just as human beings feel lonely when in solitude too often, pets also have the tendency of feeling lonely in such environments too. Such a feeling usually has a negative effect on the pet and may lead to some behavioral issues that may become unpleasant to its owner. As a pet owner, it is important that you know just how to detect and go about pet loneliness in order to avoid the aftermath of such loneliness. Furthermore, your pet will serve its purpose better if it is well taken care of and always has company.

There are many ways you can detect pet loneliness. However, you need to be keen, as such signs may easily pass off as the normal tantrums that may be thrown by the pet. The most common sign of pet loneliness is when the pet forgets that it is housebroken. The pet may start defecating and urinating in inappropriate areas. The most intriguing part is that they will always do this at least 30 minutes after you have left. This basically means that the pet is seeking attention that it feels is not getting. Diarrhea and vomiting due to stress levels that are high usually occurs in extreme cases.

The lonely pet may start developing destructive tendencies in addition to relieving themselves in restricted areas. Due to separation anxiety, the pet may decide to destroy everything that has your scent on it. This includes items like your shoes, clothes, and even furniture. Such aggressive and hyperactive tendencies are normally due to the anxiety. If it is a dog, it will go about destroying parts around the compound that it knows you wouldn’t want destroyed as it seeks attention. This may even make you start feeling some anger towards your pet and even at times think that your pet is coming down with something.

Treating pet loneliness does not entail visiting a veterinary doctor, though this is an option. As long as you have a grasp of the condition that your pet is going through, you will be able to help your pet overcome loneliness. The best way to go around this situation is avoiding medication and embracing methods that will help the pet holistically. Creating more quality time for your pet is one of the best ways to go. This way, you and your pet will be able to interact joyfully and in time the pet will be able to overcome the loneliness it feels. You may want to find the pet an alternative companion to keep it company while you are away. This way the pet will not feel lonely at all. This does not necessarily mean getting another pet. You could hire a pet sitter or have a nearby friend or teenager stop by and play with your pet during the hours you are away. Alternatively you can enroll your pet in a day care service. This way the pet will not feel lonely while you’re away as it will be able to interact with other pets and their keepers. In this way you will be treating pet loneliness without necessarily using anti-depressants that may be prescribed by the veterinary doctor.

How to Potty Train Your Puppy

Having a new puppy in your home can be a a great joy but it also come with several responsibilities. While you will love playing with your puppy, cleaning after it can bring a lot of stress. Puppy potty training tips can help you prevent your new puppy from ruining your carpet. Below are some tips on how you can potty train your puppy.

First of all, you will need to establish the time you want to start training your puppy. This is because the ability of the puppy to learn may differ depending on its age, with older puppies learning fast, as compared to their younger counterparts. Puppies of seven to eight weeks tend to learn well and you may want to wait until then. You will also need to be patient and avoid scolding the puppy every time it eliminates in the house.

Puppies tend to behave in a certain way when they are about to eliminate and identifying these signs will be important in puppy potty training. For instance, a puppy will dig on the floor, sniff around, and become restless. Watch out for these clues after feeding your puppy or when it’s sleeping. Additionally, ensure that you take it to the potty after eating, before sleeping, and the first thing after waking up.

Having a speicific spot can make the learning easier for the puppy. Choose a specific spot in your home so that every time the puppy wants to poop it can run there. Like kids, puppies love praise so make sure to praise your puppy every time it eliminates in the right spot.  This can go along way in reinforcing the good behavior.

Verbal cues should be used in puppy potty training. Some of the words that you can use include “outside” or “potty”. For instance, when you see the puppy eliminating in the house you should use a firm tone to stop it. The firm tone will force it to stop so you can take it outside.

Some times it is advisable to keep the puppy in an inclosed place so you can monitor it. You can put it in a kennel or a crate but not all day long since the young puppy needs to go out. Alternatively, you may want to put it on a leash or fence off the kitchen, laundry or bathroom area for it to stay in.

Accidents are bound to happen despite your efforts to teach the puppy to eliminate in the defined potty area. If you find the puppy just when its about to eliminate, you should startle it and command it to go outside. In case it has already eliminated you should clean the surface and instead of rubbing its nose in the poop, apply vinegar. Vinegar smells like the urine of another dog and the puppy will avoid going near the place at all costs.

Keep in mind that puppy potty training is not instantaneous. By being patient and consistent you will be able to achieve the task before you. Finally, always remember to compliment the puppy every time it remembers to use the potty since this will act as a motivation and positive reinforcement.

How to Make Your Home Pet-Friendly and Safe

Pets are more than ordinary animals; and they not only add warmth to your home, but also keep you company whenever loneliness strikes. In fact, some of our pets can be very good playmates. There is no doubt that you are bound to develop a deep feeling of closeness with your furry, feathered and finned friends.

Unfortunately, most people fail to think about their pets whenever they are building a home or moving into a new one. As a pet owner, it is essential to have a pet friendly home, one that will give it maximum comfort and security as it moves around. You could think that making your home pet friendly is such an easy task that can be done in a couple of minutes. To the contrary, it takes time to ensure that your home is safe to support the life of your pet. It has every right to live just as long as you, right? Here is what ought to be done.

Fence your home.

This is particularly essential for an outdoor pet like a puppy or dog; one that you do not have to necessarily keep in your house. A fence is extremely essential for such pets to define their territory. Putting boundaries around your yard lessens the chance that your pet will expose itself to hostile or harmful environments. Besides, you are rest assured that it will not get lost because it only plays within the compound of your home. The type of fence that you put up also contributes a lot in establishing a pet friendly home. Avoid electric fences that can electrocute your pet or thorny ones that can cause physical bodily injury.

Set up a housing station.

However close you want to be with your pet, the fact that most of them prefer having their own housing station is inevitable. Animals will always be animals; there are times they need their own time to shed off their domestication and roam freely. You have to consider putting up a comfortable cage or house where they can spend part of their time. If you have one pet, a small housing unit would be fine but if you own many pets, a large housing unit with a partition for each is preferable. Always strive to make the housing station as friendly as possible.

Keep harmful substances out of reach.

Pets and kids have one thing in common; they will get into any and every thing. Therefore, harmful substances such as drugs should be kept out of their reach. Some pets are naughty. They can be all over kicking things here and there while eating whatever pleases them. Such substance that can cause any type of harm should be tucked away safely to ensure that your pet can move around the house freely without swallowing anything dangerous. Similarly, electrical faults should be quickly fixed and sharp objects should be well kept. You never know what your pet is up to, do you?

Clean your house with simple vinegar.

Another aspect of a pet friendly home is in how it is cleaned. While appreciating the fact that you have to keep you house clean by scrubbing the floors using various detergents and disinfectants, the health of your pet is equally important. If you truly love your pet, then the cleaning of your house should be done by simple vinegar diluted with water. This is because vinegar has no effect on pets.

Vacuuming of carpets should be done after sprinkling them with baking soda and windows should be constantly sprayed with isopropyl alcohol.

There are indeed numerous measures that can be taken into account to achieve a pet friendly home. Nevertheless, the outlined ones are the most basic and essential to keep your pet safe and comfortable.

Pet Reiki – Healing Energy for Your Pets

Reiki offers benefits to both humans and animals. It is gentle technique that promotes healing and relaxation. Being non-invasive, it never causes any harm, and is best to complement traditional veterinary medicine and other holistic healing methods. Minimally, the recipient actually feels the flow of peacefulness and relaxation during the session.

Pet Reiki can be one of the best forms of spiritual healing for your pet. Being gentle and safe, it is a non-intrusive therapy that allows gentle healing of pets for any kind of pain, illness, emotional problems or injuries.

All those who have pets are now turning to Pet Reiki for healing animals because it not only improves the happiness and health of their pets, but it also heals them mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally by using just pure vibrational energy and the palms of the hands.

Being highly intuitive, animals absorb the energies of their masters, including emotional balance, stress, and tension, and easily become unsettled and unbalanced due to these negative energies. With an healing session of Pet Reiki, one can successfully remove these blocks and release the pet from this energy and help in regaining optimal happiness and health.

For pets, Reiki is one of the best healing methods as it is primarily energy based and effective from distance. This is great for dealing with aggressive or feral animals, and can also be offered to them in cages, or in some outdoor setting. Pet Reiki is wonderful for shelter animals, who mostly have kennel anxiety and have suffered greatly in past.

The Pet Reiki therapy sessions may vary in number, length, and approach. Mostly, in the first session, the therapist familiarizes themselves with your pet and will try to establish a rapport. They will gather background information about the pet’s lifestyle and health, and what you want to achieve. After the first session, all subsequent sessions may last between 20-45 minutes, depending on the needs of the pet.

During the healing session, no treatment table is used, as most of the dogs and cats prefer to sit or lie down on floor, in the owner’s lap or in some comfortable chair. The therapist takes a hands-on approach and uses a fixed set of various hand positions that are suitable for pets. Being a gentle process, the pets find it welcoming and soothing.

Sometimes dogs and cats may get nervous or even aggressive as they don’t like being touched by the strangers. For this reason, Pet Reiki is best as it can be administered from distance. This approach works well, as energy flows just in the same way as if it is being given “hands-on”.

Pets respond well to Reiki treatment, and it is great particularly for dealing with pains, strains, back problems, and aches. Pet Reiki also reduces anxiety, stress, coat or skin problems, and nervousness, and also helps in dealing with some behavioral problems in pets.

Being totally natural way of healing, Pet Reiki allows your pet to maintain optimal health. Many pet owners are now becoming more and more attracted to Pet Reiki because it helps in healing without any need for frequent and expensive visits to a vet. It is also a wonderful for preventative well-being for a pet. Pet Reiki is beneficial even if there are no signs of discomfort. Reiki is pure, universal Love, and there is never a negative reaction or consequence to it.

Pet Reiki is performed by Reiki Master, but can also be performed by you, once you learn the techniques. Once you master Pet Reiki, you can heal your pet and even yourself, whenever you wish, and best of all, it’s totally free.

Pets and Children Playing and Growing Together

As a parent with pets and children in the same house, you probably know by now that pets are a huge a part of your kids’ lives. That is why it is important that you are involved in discussion and planning that will eventually lead to a positive result and experience for everyone involved. There are many valuable lessons that a child may learn through interaction with pets. When a child treats a pet with care, kindness, and patience, the child will also be learning how to handle and treat people. He will be prepared well to relate with people in the right way, portraying virtues of respect and care.

The child will also learn how to be responsible through interaction with pets. Before you decide to get your children a pet they have always wanted, you need to lay down some ground rules for them to follow. Since they want to keep the pets, they will have to abide by the rules you establish. This way, they will be learning how to be responsible while still enjoying their furry friend.

Children should also be taught the right way to play with pets. With these skills, there will be safe interaction and relationship between pets and children. The children should be told clearly that provoking their pets by handling it the wrong way may just turn tragic. You, as a parent should learn safety tips for interaction between the pets and children. These safety tips should be passed down to the children to ensure that they are safe at all times. Research is the key when it comes to these safety tips.

Research will also come in handy in terms of finding the right pet breeds known to be good with children. It does not matter the type of pet; finding the right breeds for your children is important. Choosing a pet that is right in terms of your lifestyle, your family, and home is important. You should go for a pet that isn’t intimidating to your children. Getting the children a pet they can maintain is the right way to go. Aggressive pets will only work negatively in all you will be trying to achieve with your children, apart from scaring them. Exotic pets like chameleons, frogs, etc., are very hard to care for, hence when making such decisions, a lot of care should be practiced.

Caring of pets can help in the development of social skills among children. However, there are some guidelines that you as a parent should apply for this to be possible. Children, especially those under the age of 3-4 years, need to be supervised at all times as they interact with their pets as they are not mature enough to control of their physical movements and impulses.

Children who grow in a family with pets tend to portray some characteristics that are unique in all ways. These children usually have a high self esteem and confidence. The positive relations they have had with pets will influence their developed trust when relating with others. Non-verbal communications, as well as the virtues of empathy and compassion, mature well within such children.

Coping With Pet Loss

Dealing with the Loss of a Good Friend

Animals are on this planet to serve specific functions. Some animals are more involved in nature’s food chain, other animals are used for transportation like horses, and some animals serve as companions to people, like dogs and cats. People can sometimes meet a cherished friend when they get a dog or cat. After spending many long years together, sometimes that cherished friend can get sick and die or have to be put down for the sake of it suffering. The loss of a beloved pet can be devastating to its owner. Have you lost a pet and are having a hard time dealing with the loss? Here is some information on ways to deal with the loss of your good furry friend.

You’re not insane.

When someone dies, a person can suffer intolerable grief. But can’t that person who lost a pet have the same grief? Of course! Because grief can be just as strong for a pet as it can be for a person, you are not crazy for feeling the loss as deep as you do. You lost someone that meant a lot to you and that is nothing to be ashamed of.

Your feelings: People, whether they lose a loved one, friend, or a pet, have a lot of feelings rushing through them. They may feel angry, guilty, ashamed, and scores of other feelings. These are all very natural feelings to have. There are stages of grief that a person goes through before the bad feelings start and the good memories begin.

Deal with the feelings: Grief can be a poison that courses through your body and this poison cannot be simply locked away. You need to express the feelings that are pouring through you. You might want to consider finding a support group for people who have lost their pets. There may be a support group within your community, and if there is not a support group locally then try the Internet. There are a lot of websites that can help you express all the emotions you are feeling in a healthy way.

Say goodbye to your special friend: Did you bury your friend or cremate them? Do you have the remains? It may be a good idea to select a beautiful, peaceful place to lay your good friend to rest. Don’t be afraid to tell that special pet just how much they meant to you. Some people even have a small stone erected in the memory of a special animal.

Do not get a replacement pet: When the time is right, you may get a new pet, but for now the pain and grief may be too fresh. Give yourself some time to mourn for you loss before investing emotionally in a new pet.

The death of a pet can be devastating to the owner. People can grow very attached to their dogs and cats and even see them as their children. If you have lost a pet, there is no shame in feeling the heavy loss. Do not be afraid to talk about what you are feeling. There are support groups out there to help you deal with the loss of your pet, and with their help you can move on with your life.

How to Cope When a Pet is Sick

Once in a while, life brings us challenges that we are forced to find a way to overcome. Some of these challenges include the grief that is caused when you have a sick pet, worse off when the diagnosis is dire. One gets to experience a number of emotions when one is about to lose a pet that is like family. There are a number of ways that you can use to rise above this and cope when a pet is ill.

The first and most important step in any coping mechanism is to sit back and take a breath. This will let you calm down and give you time to gain perspective on your new found situation. This can also be a good time to find ways to meditate to ensure that you remain rational, even when the situation is dire.

One may also want to write things down. This is the best way to keep up with all of your pet’s requirements at this time of need. It can also be a good way in which you will record any questions that you have for your vet. This is important as it will enable you to make your pet more comfortable at its time of need.

Find a way in which you can seek the support of all those around you. This includes your family and friends. This should also be the time when you engage in discussions with any children or teens that may have had a special bond with the pet. This is intended to prepare them for the inevitable end, in the case of a terminally ill pet. It will also be a good way to find solutions to any concerns they may have.

Take comfort and solace in your pet, treasuring every moment that you still have to share with one another. This is also the time when you make the animal as comfortable as possible. This is dependent on the pets given personality as each is different in terms of what they like and what they may dislike. Reiki is a wonderfully comforting experience for both owner and pet in this tough time. The healing energy can help ease the pet’s physical pain, as well as the owner’s emotional pain from seeing their furry loved one suffering.

Probably the most important piece of advice is that you should remain positive. It may be easy to be overly pessimistic about the situation, especially in cases where you are fearful that your friend may be departing for good. There are different ways to remain positive. One that may be helpful is to put down on paper all that you love about your pet or memories of the happy times you have shared together.

As much as finding out ways to help your pet is important, try to avoid the pieces of advice that will make you more depressed about the situation. This may include different points of view that point to a negative outcome and in some cases seeking treatments for your pet that may not be helpful.

Some of these measures may help you move through the trying times when a pet is sick, terminally ill and/or it has left you. The most important thing to remember is that family and friends will be there to support you and you should find solace in the times you have been together.

Pet Exercise

Why It’s Important to Get Your Pet Exercise, and How Can You Do It

Everyone knows of the great benefits of having a pet around the house. They’re great companions, they make you feel good, and they are even good for your health and well-being.

However, it’s too easy for pet owners to forget that their pets need exercise. Here are some of the reasons your pets need exercise, followed by some ways to make it happen.

The Benefits of Pet Exercise

Sometimes people forget about the fact that pets are living, breathing beings with their own needs. In a lot of respects, they’re just like people, and the need for exercise is the same.

People need to get more exercise because it keeps them happy and healthy. An adequate amount of exercise keeps their blood pressure down, is good for their heart, helps them sleep better, and acts as a stress reliever. Most of the reasons your doctor tells you that you should start an exercise plan also apply to your pets.

However, there is one big difference between the benefits of people exercise and pet exercise.

If your pet doesn’t get enough exercise, they will cause trouble. If they don’t have an outlet for the energy they have built up, they will chew things, jump on stuff, bark and generally annoy you in a variety of different ways until that energy is released.

How to Get Exercise for Your Dog

Walking

This is an oldie, but a goodie. Every dog loves to take a good, long walk and it’s an easy way for you to get exercise at the same time, while enjoying the great outdoors. If your dog is well trained, you can take him or her to a big field and let them roam free, provided they listen to your commands.

Teach Them to Fetch

This is another staple, but it requires a little more training for some dogs. If you can teach a dog to chase a ball and bring it back to you, they can get exercise in your backyard or even down your hallway.

Dog Parks

The number of dog parks has increased dramatically over the last few years. They are great places to take your dogs and let them run around and play with the other dogs. An added benefit of dog parks is that it promotes socialization for both pet and owner.

Let’s not forget that cats need exercise too!

It may be enjoyable to watch your cat sleep and snuggle all day in hundreds of positions and places, but they need to get up and move around too.  Cats are hunters so try these things to get them to be more active.

How to Get Exercise for Your Cat

String

You can drag a string around the house and let your cat chase it. You can attach the string to a stick for you to hold so you don’t get scratched. You can also attach a feather or bell or small cat toy to the other end for your cat to “catch”.

Water Bottle Lids

Cats like to bat these around like they’re playing soccer and they can keep your cat busy for a while. You can even attach a string to them so you don’t find random lids all over the place.

Play Chase Outside

It would be very cool to teach a cat to fetch an object you throw but realistically, they’ll just chase it. But no worries, you’ll BOTH get exercise with this game! Find a ball or cat toy to throw or drag around outside and watch your cat go, if they’re in the mood of course. Some cats love tennis balls because they are “furry” and can grip and groom them like an animal. When you throw the ball past the cat, he is likely to go into hunt mode and chase it down and pounce on it. You just have to go get it or find a partner to play with to keep the game going, unless you have a cool cat who has learned to fetch.

Exercising your pet will help them maintain their weight, health, and well-being, while keeping them and YOU happy. It will also be a very special bonding experience and may even become a stress-relieving ritual for you both to take pleasure in.

Importance of Homemade Pet Food

In this modern era, people are fairly knowledgeable and well-informed about what is more beneficial for them. What is best for their pets is certainly one of the most important fields of where pet owners are becoming aware. Pet owners are no longer fooled by the attractive and catchy marketing tactics of commercial pet food companies. They are looking for various homemade pet food options.

With the passage of time, pet owners have started to become aware of the risks and dangers involved in commercial pet foods. Their eyebrows are raised every time they hear headlines of pets dying due to the negligence of the commercial pet food companies, so they are not sitting back and letting their pets have kibbles as the only dietary option. Pet owners are becoming more cognizant of the fact that commercial foods can contain things that can harm the well-being of their beloved pet. It was not that long ago that pet owners started checking into the labels to know what was in the food. Previously, the only thing that had to be checked was if the product contained corn. Now, they know it is not adequate!

Pet food companies are very aware of different tricks that can make us buy their products, and they have been using them for the long time. What they actually do is mention meat at the first or second spot on their ingredients list, which makes pet owners think that meat is the main source of protein in the food. However, the fact is, that meat plays little to zero role in providing proteins to your dog or cat. The maximum amount of protein comes from plants and other sources. This is because plant based sources are an easy option for the pet food manufacturers and aid them in boosting the protein record on their labels.

If you think deep, it would be easier for you to establish that there is very little meat in the commercial pet food. The reason is that meat consists of 75-80% of water; so how can nuggets be so dry? This is because there is a very little meat in it, and in its place, they have soybean meal, soy, corn gluten meal, brewers rice, and some preservatives and dyes. All of these ingredients offer the pet food companies an easy and cheap option for proteins. But, now people are becoming aware of the real differences between a commercial pet food and homemade pet food.

The dangers and risks to your pet’s health and general well-being are not worth it, especially when there are some good alternatives available. Considering the fact that pets have been living with humans for the very long time, eating commercial food has been a very recent thing for them. Domestic pets have survived without eating any commercial food in past times. Homemade pet food carries more nutritional value than any bowl of kibble. Making homemade pet food recipes by using ingredients that provide excellent nutritional value is something that can really do a lot of good to your pet’s health. Therefore, homemade pet food is the best option for the proper health and well-being of your beloved pet.

Check out our natural dog food  and natural cat food pages to find healthy alternatives to commercial pet food. Your pet deserves the best of everything, including nutrition!

Pet Food Safety

Part of your responsibility as a pet owner is to keep your pet safe and also protect it from harmful food products. However, there is a common assumption amongst pet owners that a pet can eat any food that a human consumes. This is far from the truth and by feeding your pet certain types of food, you might be slowly poisoning your pet without even knowing it. Pet food safety is very essential for the well being of your pet and you should note that the body system of an animal greatly differs from that of a human being and certain types of food that are safe for human consumption can be dangerous when ingested by animals. The following is an overview of some foods that are considered toxic to pets.

Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins are considered to be two of the most toxic when it comes to pet food safety. Grapes and raisins usually cause irreversible damage to your pet’s kidneys and might even cause death in extreme cases. This condition mainly affects dogs and cats.

The signs of toxicity that a pet might display after ingesting grapes or raisins include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased urine production and even a drunken gait. These symptoms usually start manifesting themselves a few hours after the initial ingestion. It is usually advisable to take your pet immediately to a vet when you start seeing these signs. The normal treatment procedure involves induced vomiting and gastric levage which is the pumping of the stomach.

Onions

Onions might seem to be quite harmless and even beneficial as they have medicinal properties. However, the ingestion of food containing onion by a pet can be quite catastrophic. In animals, onions cause Heinz body anemia, a condition which brings about the destruction of red blood cells and may lead to kidney damage.

Signs of onion poisoning on your pet include increased heart beat, pale gums, weakness, vomiting and bloody urine. It is also important to note that onion related ingredients such as garlic and chive also have the same effect. Treatment for onion based toxicity includes fluid therapy and oxygen administration. Due to the seriousness of this type of poisoning, you should ensure that you properly dispose of food products that might contain onion.

Chocolate

Chocolate and cocoa contain a chemical known as theobromide that can adversely affect the lungs, heart, kidney and nervous system of your pet.

Signs of chocolate poisoning usually include tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and even hyperthermia. Your pet might also go into a coma and the normal treatment regime is to induce vomiting or perform a gastric lavage.

Caffeine

Food items containing caffeine are considered risky when it comes to pet food safety. Food products that have caffeine contain a chemical that is also present in chocolate, therefore, this type of poisoning can be compared to chocolate poisoning.

Macadamia Nuts

Ingestion of macadamia nuts and other types of nuts is not generally fatal but can cause your pet extreme discomfort. Some of the adverse effects associated with ingesting nuts include vomiting, general body weakness, depression, joint swelling and a drunken gait on the part of your pet. Symptoms usually disappear after a couple of hours but it is advisable to take your pet to a vet.

Xylitol

This is a sugar free sweetener found mostly in chewing gum. When ingested by your pet, it causes the pancreas to increase its secretion of insulin causing the blood glucose level to fall.
Common signs of Xylitol poisoning include a drunken gait, vomiting and seizures. Intravenous administration of dextrose is usually the course of medication offered when you take your pet to a vet.

In order to ensure pet food safety, proper disposal and storage of potentially dangerous food products is highly recommended. You wouldn’t want to accidentally poison your pet or allow for them to poison themselves!