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Archived Message of "Natural Pet News"
Published by The Herbs Place.com

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NATURAL PET NEWS
February 21, 2003 Edition

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A NOTE FROM RANDAL
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Hello Everybody,

Hope you are doing well as you receive this issue.

With the weather we have been receiving, we realize our pets are negatively
affected too. Like the article below, they do get "cabin fever" like the
rest of us. I think the article gives some good ideas to help your pets get
through the "winter blues." Hope you like it too.

We have been involved for many years in the sale and distribution of natural
supplements for people and pets. We have personally used these products on
our pets and they have helped tremendously. In the Pet Product section, I
mention a new multi-vitamin for pets. We use this for our pets and they
really like it. Just like in our bodies our pets have to have certain
nutrients to keep their body systems working properly. If you aren't
already, why don't you, consider giving your pet a good multi vitamin. It
will keep their immune systems and other systems in top shape and help you
to have healthy animals at the same time.

Thanks for your encouragement and readership. Remember to share our ezine
with others. After all, "It's How We Grow!"

Until next time,


Randal

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PETS IN THE NEWS
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PETS SUFFER WINTER BLUES, TOO

Norwalk, CT, (featureXpress) -- Severe winter weather - like that
experienced across major portions of the county over the past week - can
cause "cabin fever" or "winter blues" in humans. Less well know is that
pets, especially dogs, can suffer from wintertime depression too.

Heavy snow, wind and cold temperatures often means that the family dog has
fewer opportunities for outdoor exercise and play. Energetic breeds and
young dogs requiring lots of active play can become frustrated at being
trapped indoors all day.

Unfortunately, pets may tell you how they are feeling with a variety of
problem behaviors -- from barking and howling, to chewing furniture or
messing in the house.

Stimulate his body and mind

The best thing for both dog and owner is to bundle up and brave the elements
for a long walk or run together. But that's not always easy.

Best Friends professional dog trainers say there are a variety of other ways
to help your dog fight winter boredom.

Interactive toys can keep a dog active and occupied during the day, while
you're away at work or school. Fill a "buster cube" with his kibble, or
stuff a Kong with peanut butter, cheese or another favorite treat. "Hunting"
to get his meal will give him both physical and mental stimulation while
you're gone.


Try day care

A good alternative to lonely days at home alone is to send your dog to day
care, a service offered by many boarding kennels, including Best Friends 37
locations nationwide. Dogs spend the day quartered in the facility's kennel,
but receive special attention from kennel staff. The structured routine,
which includes playtime, coupled with frequent human contact throughout the
day helps most pets overcome their wintertime blues.

To find a quality day care facility for your pet, look for a quality
boarding kennel. Use your senses to evaluate the facility. Does the place
look and smell clean? Are the quarters large enough for your pet to move
about? Is there exercise or playtime available during the day? Look for a
structured routine, monitoring throughout the day, and frequent contact with
caring, warm humans.

For the rest of the article


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PET HEALTH NEWS
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IS YOUR PET TOO PORTLY? NEW TOYS CAN HELP
KOCO Oklahoma News - Feb 6, 2003

With overweight pets becoming more commonplace, experts say there are a
vareity of new products on the market that can give Fido or Fifi a good
workout, Eyewitness News 5 reported Thursday.

According to veterinarians, about half of all pets in the United States are
overweight, which can lead to a variety of health problems, including
diabetes, arthritis, and breathing problems.

The Good Housekeeping Institute recently tested eight new pet toys and found
three that rated high in giving dogs and cats good exercise.

"In the lab, we took a look at which ones were easiest to use and would hold
up the best. Then we gave them to our panel of pet testers. The ones that
were the winners were the ones that let pets do what they do best," Good
Housekeeping's Carol Forte said.

The Chuck-It Flying Squirrel is a nylon-covered disc that promises to pep up
your pooch's playtime. Its four rubber feet make the toy fly through the air
like a disk, similar to a Frisbee. Chuck-It Junior launches tennis balls for
dogs to chase.

"My dog really enjoyed playing with it. It got her to get off the couch and
run around the back yard. And I liked it because I was able to pick up the
ball just by using the handle. So I don't get the spit and dirt all over my
hands," Good Housekeeping's Mark Kalinowski said.

The CritterBug uses a battery-operated laser beam to get cats moving.

"My cat loved the CritterBug. It really gave her a great workout. She
thought it was a little bug on the floor and she was swatting it, running
around the room getting a lot of exercise," Good Housekeeping's Marjorie
Cubisino said.

Good Housekeeping has three more tips for owners of overweight pets -- ask
your veterinarian to write a diet-food prescription. Divide your pet's daily
portion into smaller meals throughout the day to burn more energy. For
snacks, offer carrots and green beans instead of fatty treats.

If a dog or cat is overweight, experts recommend that owners feed them two
or three small meals a day, instead of putting your pet on a crash diet.
Rapid weight loss is especially difficult on cats, experts say.

This article is from: Yahoo News

Have you heard of the Zone Diet for overweight dogs? Formulated by Dr.
Barry Sears and Dr. Jane Bicks? Read more here:
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DOG TRAINING/BEHAVIORAL HELP
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BITING THE HANDS THAT FEED YOU

Aggression Variables
ð Dog Aggressive
ð Chained Reaction
ð Possession

Aggression   Aggression is one of the most wide-spread problems among
companion animals. Nothing is quite as frightening as a very angry animal
lunging at you. Unfortunately, an aggressive dog these days is a lawsuit
waiting to happen.

If you find that you have an aggressive dog on your hands, the very first
thing you need to do, is visit your veterinarian to rule out any physical
causes. Any dog in pain or discomfort may lash out and just be generally
mean and irritable. You'll need to determine that he is physically sound
before doing anything else.

Obedience training is essential to a dog, both for the ever important
socialization, and to prevent aggression from occurring. Prevention is the
key, especially since correcting bad behavior is ten times as hard once the
behavior is established.

Aggression is caused by many things, and often identifying the cause is the
key to correcting the problem. Recognize your dog's problem, so that you can
get him help, before it is too late.

* Dog Aggression - General Aggression, to you or other dogs.
* Chained Reaction - Fear and Territorial Aggression together make
chaining a dog up a bad idea.
* Possession Aggression - When sharing is a foreign concept.

There are lots of different types of dog aggression, aside from the three
mentioned above. (Continued)

For more of the article go to


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CAT TRAINING/BEHAVIORAL HELP
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CAT TOYS AND HOW TO USE THEM

There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy.
Many of those factors, however, are completely dependent upon your cat's
size, activity level and personal preference. Another factor to be
considered is the environment in which your cat spends her time. Although we
can't guarantee your cat's enthusiasm or her safety with any specific toy,
we can offer the following guidelines.
Be Cautious

The things that are usually the most attractive to cats are often the very
things that are the most dangerous. Cat-proof your home by checking for:
string, ribbon, yarn, rubber bands, plastic milk jug rings, paper clips,
pins, needles, and anything else that could be ingested. All of these items
are dangerous, no matter how cute your cat may look when she's playing with
them.

Avoid or alter any toys that aren't "cat-proof" by removing ribbons,
feathers, strings, eyes, or other small parts that could be chewed and/or
ingested.

Soft toys should be machine washable. Check labels for child safety, as a
stuffed toy that's labeled as safe for children under three years old,
doesn't contain dangerous fillings. Problem fillings include things like
nutshells and polystyrene beads. Also, rigid toys are not as attractive to
cats.

Active Toys:

* Round plastic shower curtain rings are fun either as a single ring to
bat around, hide or carry, or when linked together and hung in an enticing
spot.
* Plastic rolling balls, with or without bells inside.
* Ping-Pong balls and plastic practice golf balls with holes, to help
cats carry them. Try putting one in a dry bathtub, as the captive ball is
much more fun than one that escapes under the sofa. You'll probably want to
remove the balls from the bathtub before bedtime, unless you can't hear the
action from your bedroom. Two o'clock in the morning seems to be a prime
time for this game.
* Paper bags with any handles removed. Paper bags are good for pouncing,
hiding and interactive play. They're also a great distraction if you need
your cat to pay less attention to what you're trying to accomplish. Plastic
bags are not a good idea, as many cats like to chew and ingest the plastic.
* Sisal-wrapped toys are very attractive to cats that tend to ignore soft
toys.
* Empty cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels are ideal cat
toys, especially if you "unwind" a little cardboard to get them started.

Comfort Toys

* Soft stuffed animals are good for several purposes. For some cats, the
stuffed animal should be small enough to carry around. For cats that want to
"kill" the toy, the stuffed animal should be about the same size as the cat.
Toys with legs and a tail seem to be even more attractive to cats.
* Cardboard boxes, especially those a tiny bit too small for your cat to
really fit into.

Get The Most Out Of Toys!

Rotate your cat's toys weekly by making only four or five toys available at
a time. Keep a variety of types easily accessible. If your cat has a huge
favorite, like a soft "baby" that she loves to cuddle with, you should
probably leave that one out all the time, or risk the wrath of your cat!
Provide toys that offer a variety of uses - at least one toy to carry, one
to "kill," one to roll and one to "baby."

"Hide and Seek" is a fun game for cats to play. "Found" toys are often much
more attractive than a toy which is blatantly introduced.

Copyright: Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the United
States.


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WHY PET OF THE DAY?

Whether you do not have any pets or your home, barn, and pastures are full,
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Every day we present a new pet photo and story to try to illustrate how
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GOOD NEWS PET STORY
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DOG STUCK ON ICE RESCUED FROM N.J. RIVER By WAYNE PARRY, AP Writer

NEWARK, N.J. - Firefighters rescued a dog who was adrift on a piece of ice
Wednesday morning on the Passaic River after narrowly missing him several
times.

Two rescuers, one wearing a dark blue uniform, used an 8-foot rowboat to
maneuver near the ice floe and slip a pole around the dog's neck, leading
him on board at about 11 a.m., two hours after the dog somehow made it onto
the ice.

Newark Police Lt. Derek Glenn said the rescuers included Kearny
firefighters. He watched the rescue efforts from the Newark shoreline as the
dog, who appeared to be a Rottweiler, repeatedly slipped just out of reach.

"The dog is waving his tail and barking, walking toward the boat, then
turning around and walking the other way," Glenn said before the rescue.
"Every time they get near him, the ice with the dog on it slowly pulls
away."

The dog had been floating northbound since at least 9 a.m., Glenn said. The
dog did not appear to be distressed, frequently sitting down on the ice and
watching the rescuers trying to get near him.

The rescue effort was hampered by large chunks of ice that the rescuers had
to manually row through, Glenn said. As quickly as they cleared a path
through the ice, it closed back around them, he said.

"The ice is just incredible," Glenn said. "They're really being impeded by
it. There's these gigantic chunks. This is when a jet ski would really come
in handy."

Newark was about to launch a 21-foot boat to get near the dog and also
assist the firefighters, who were visibly tiring after rowing through the
large chunks of ice. In the end, though, it wasn't needed.

This aritcle is from Yahoo News.


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If you enjoyed what you read please forward
this newsletter to your pet-loving friends.

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DISCLAIMER:
The stories, suggestions, and information in this newsletter are not meant
to diagnose or prescribe. If your pet has a medical problem, you may want
the advice and recommendations of a veterinarian. All stories and
information content that is passed along in this newsletter is for
informational purposes only and is not necessarily endorsed by its sponsor,
"The Herbs Place,com." This is a personal publication by Randal Watkins.
The ideas and information expressed in it have not been approved or
authorized by anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall
Randal Watkins or the above-mentioned website be liable for any damages
whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of
this information or its publication, including any action for infringement
of copyright or defamation.

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