It is shocking that the FDA still allows the pet food industry to add harmful and disgusting ingredients in their products after all the recalls in the industry. These are the same brands that have the wonderful commercials on TV, sponsor ACK Dog Shows, and have full page ads in most dog magazines. Advertising at its best.

These are just a few of the ingredients found in some well known brands of pet foods. A warning to those with weak stomachs please read with caution!

*Animal meat meal and animal by-products: this is what is left of the slaughtered animal after the meat is removed. It can include things like beaks, feet, blood, intestines, bones, and tissue.

*Beef and bone meal: another by product of beef which can include hair, hooves,horn,manure, entrails and blood.

*Chicken Byproduct Meal: Consists of the dry, ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines — exclusive of feathers except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices.

*Corn bran: which is the outer layer of the corn kernel. It has no nutritional value.

*Corn Gluten: is the residue from corn which can be used as a protein but can cause allergies in many dogs just like wheat gluten.

*Wheat Gluten: The tough, viscid nitrogenous substance remaining when wheat is washed to remove the starch. An inexpensive byproduct of human food processing with almost no nutritional value left, serves mostly as a binder.

Wheat also exacerbates pain in dogs and humans.

Take the time to research your pet’s food before buying a pretty package. Most of the smaller pet supply shops carry the healthy brands. It is difficult to find those in most grocery chains unless it is a natural health food store.

If you would like to learn more about the best commercial dog foods on the market please visit the link below. Your dog will thank you!
www.dogaware.com

It feels like spring and i want a dog. I want one now. I should join a 12 step program for dog-aholics. It is overwhelming and it is all i can think about. It has been so long since i had my own dog. When i lived in San Diego i had three German Shepherds, Nina, her son Merlin and his wife Liberty. All passed away before i left the west coast. My heart tugs every time is see a shepherd. I can spot one from a distance. More than once i have almost wrecked my car gazing at a shepherd walking down the street.

I know that there is a dog in my near future- but my inner child is having a hard time being patient for that right rescue dog to appear. Yes, this next dog will come from a rescue group or shelter unless Rin Tin Tin knocks at our door or the Monks of New Skete call and say “Congratulations! You just won a New Skete Shepherd!”. There are too many dogs who need homes and i do not want a designer dog. And i promised my husband and 3 cats i would wait until April or May to begin searching for that dog.

This dog also must meet criteria set my family and myself. He or she must get along with all 3 cats and not try to eat them. He/she must be a big dog, not a small lap dog. And if possible this new dog will be trained as a therapy dog. The reality is when the time is right the dog appears. They pick us. But….oh the anticipation of who will choose us?

The sun was out this weekend with a heat wave of 55 degrees. The urge to roll in the grass was unbearable. It was wet, so i showed restraint. … And i really did not want to embarrass my husband anymore than usual. He is quite patient with my dog obsession. (well actually its an animal obsession but our small apartment will not allow us to have a horse, pig or elephant.) More than once Salem residents have approached me with “Oh.. you’re that Dog Lady.” ( I am sure they were all kind or scared enough not to say “Oh, You’re that crazy dog lady.)

My husband Norm, also an acupuncturist has recently diagnosed me with Gou Shen Shi Syndrome translated as Dog Mind Excess. (Gou is Chinese for dog. The rest is TCM speak.) The symptoms of Gou Shen Shi Syndrome usually appear around the same time as spring fever. It is estimated that 30% of most people suffer from chronic Dog Mind Excess.

TCM Signs and Symptoms of Gou Shen Shi Syndrom

Tongue: long and dry from panting like a dog
Pulse: Big and fast from over excitement

Symptoms include:
* Obsession with dogs.
* Identification of good sticks. (Size matters.)
* Running after other dogs to greet and play with.
* Sticking head out the window during car rides. (I don’t usually do this one.)
* Heightened sense of smell. (I can smell smoke coming from the next town.)
* Scratching fleas – real or imaginary
(Last week i had to throw away my “dog coat”, the coat i wore making house calls because it had fleas. It took me a few days to realize that it was the coat that had fleas, thus the reason i had flea bites on my arms. My family is grateful that they were not attacked by the coat fleas…. and they were not imaginary fleas.)
* Ogling the Planet Dog toys at WholeFoods. (guilty)
* Drooling on cool leashes and collars at the local pet shop. (Drooling is such an ugly word.)
* Thumping rear leg when happy.
* The urge to bite when annoyed. (no comment!)
* The urge to howl along with other dogs. (why not?)
* Exhibiting symptoms of dog ailments such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, knee problems and lower back pain. (all of the above)
* Subscribing to dog magazines, watching dog movies and surfing pet finder for dogs to adopt. (it beats shopping for designer clothes.)
* Stalking neighborhood dog owners when they walk their dogs. (Some no longer make eye contact with me.)
* Carrying dog treats in car, purse and pockets at all times when possible. (mandatory)
* Knowing all the dogs’ names in the neighborhood but not their owner’s. (guilty)
* Chasing loose dogs down the street in hopes of capturing them before they are hit by a car. (I now have a leash in my car for this purpose.)
* Reprimanding other irresponsible dog owners for leaving their dogs in cars on hot days with the windows rolled up, leaving their dogs outside during frigid temperatures while they are shopping and those who allow their dogs to be unleashed on a busy street. (Probably how i earned the Crazy Dog Lady title!)

So i ask… what Traditional Chinese herbal formula does one take for Gou Shen Shi Syndrome?

I think the cure is a dog.

For those who are looking for a product that melts ice without causing harm to your pets, children or the planet we found one!

Gaia Enterprises Safe Paw Ice Melter is 100% salt-free and is guaranteed pet and child safe.

Look for Safe Paw Ice Melter at your local pet supply or visit their website. www.safepaw.com

Looking for an eco-friendly organic shampoo that is reasonably priced for your dog? We are happy to endorse Bella Oils and their products for people and pets.

“As time passes we hear more about the adverse effects of the synthetic chemicals that we use in our daily lives. Often these chemicals are in products that we would generally regard as safe, such as deodorant, toothpaste, body lotion, or shampoo. With this in mind, we try to use products that are as close to nature and are processed as little as possible.”

“Our Organic Pet Shampoo is made from organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils, organic aloe vera, and a combination of natural and organic essential oils. This eco-friendly natural liquid soap product is extraordinarily mild, hypoallergenic, and free of petroleum or animal by-products. ”

To see more of the products offered by Bella Oils visit their website. www.bella-oils.com

Fireworks and Your Dog

Dog’s senses are much more acute than ours. Sounds such as fireworks, thunder and loud booming noises can sound threatening and overwhelming to them.

* I always recommend having Bach Flower Rescue Remedy around for any type of stress for humans and pets. Make sure you put a few drops in the water bowl, especially on days that storms are predicted and holidays with fireworks, such as the 4th of July. You can find the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy at Whole Foods, The Vitamin Shoppe and other natural food stores.

* Reassure your dog that it is ok. Talk in a soothing voice and massage its ears with a small amount of Rescue Remedy.

* Let your dog hide somewhere inside where he feels safe. Make the spot comfortable for him. It could be his crate, the basement or your bedroom. Don’t leave him outside.

* If possible, leave an air conditioner on in the room the dog is in to provide a cool temperature and white noise.

* Play classical music or natural sounds such as ocean waves to soothe and calm him. Don’t play it too loud though, it could have the opposite effect.

Does your dog inhale its food? If so the Eat Slow – Be Healthy Dog Food Bowl by our friends at HandiCapped Pets may be the solution to slow Fido down!

“If you let your dog eat too fast, you risk health complications like GDV or Bloat. Slowing a ravenous dog down also reduces re-eating and associated problems. The Eat-Slow dog food bowl prevents this.”

For more information on these bowls or other unique products for dogs please visit the Handicapped Pets website.
www.handicappedpets.com

In May’s Four Paws Aupuncture E-letter, aromatherapy oils that repel bugs were featured. For those who do not have the time to make their own natural insect repellent, Burt’s Bees makes a safe spray for all!

DO NOT USE ON CATS!

Burt Bee’s website reads. “Our 100% natural blend of bug-fighting oils repels even the most stubborn of pests. Rosemary, Lemongrass, and Citronella oils mix with 5 other oils that bugs hate, creating an all natural solution for keeping them away. Since there’s no DEET in this formula, it’s safe enough to apply with confidence to children and pets.”

Ingredients: glycine soja (soybean) oil, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) oil, thuja occidentalis (cedar) leaf oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, cymbopogon nardus (citronella) oil, eugenia caryophyllus (clove) flower oil, geranium maculatum (geranium) oil, tocopherol

To learn more about this product visit www.burtsbees.com

By the Monks of New Skete

“In this book (and tape) the monks build upon the basic puppy training covered in the “Art of Raising a Puppy”. It covers how to select a dog to fit your lifestyle, how to read a pedigree, how and when to train, and how to properly use praise and discipline with wisdom, compassion the brothers are known for.”

This book is a MUST for anyone who has a dog or is thinking about adopting a dog. The Monks of New Skete are the original Dog Whisperers! I have been fortunate to visit with the monks and their Divine canines on several occasions. Their method of training is simple, compassionate and it works. Your dog will thank you!

You can find it at www.newsktemonks.com

This blog was inspired by an unpleasant experience a friend of mine had while walking a rescue dog, whom we now refer to as Kujo. During the walk Kujo encountered a greyhound and lunged at him, trying to attack him. Fortunately neither dog was on a retractable leash and both owners were able to pull the dogs away before contact was made. Nobody was injured, however everyone involved was very shook up. This was a reminder that dogs can be unpredictable at times. I’ve also recently seen a large dog start across my street snarling at a smaller dog on the other side. Fortunately, the big dog’s owner had a strong leather leash to control the dog, and a good thing, too: that lunge across the street would have been right in front of a car.

While researching the pros and cons of using retractable leashes, I came across an excellent article written by Kelly Ryan and Lisa Mullinax of Four Paws University located in Sacramento, CA. They have given me permission to share parts of it in this newsletter. They write:

“Retractable leashes also give a false sense of security. They are sold with indications as to what size dog they are appropriate for. This makes it seem as though they will be able to withstand a good hard tug from a dog of that size. One of our students bought a retractable leash for dogs “up to 50 pounds”; her 30 pound puppy broke it. She bought increasingly sturdier retractable leashes, and her 30 pound puppy broke all of them. The leashes were not frayed or in anyway damaged, her dog just got up enough speed in 20 feet to pop them. After three busted leashes in about two months, she gave them up for good and bought a thin, 6 foot leather leash. Two years later, she is still using the same leather leash.”

The authors summarized their experiences:

“Retractable leashes can be a convenient tool for experienced handlers with well-mannered dogs. However, they are not a substitute for training, they do not give a dog freedom, and there are serious safety concerns for your dog.”

Please read the entire article by clicking on the Four Paws University website below.

www.4pawsu.com
please note that 4 Paws University is not connected to Four Paws Acupuncture

t is that time of year when thunderstorms, fireworks,the vroom of motorcycles and other loud noises frighten pets.

Here are a few tips to help calm and relax your pets during these terrifying times.

* Create a calm and peaceful safe haven for your pet to hide in during storms or fireworks.

* Choose a room with white noise such as air conditioning, an air filter or relaxing music set to a low volume. This will help to filter out some of the noise. Research has shown that pets relax while listening to calm, soothing music. Leaving the television on for background noise can actually cause more stress for your pets.

* Bach Flower Rescue Remedy is one of my favorite products to relieve stress in both humans and pets. It is a blend of five Bach Flower Remedies which can be added to food, water, or massaged gently on your pet’s head or rubbed into the ears.

Rescue Remedy is safe and does not interfere with any medication. It can be used everyday. For more information on Bach Flower Remedies visit their website.

www.bachremedies.com