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NATURAL PET NEWS
April 6, 2003 Edition

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This newsletter is sponsored by TheHerbsPlace.com
Shop for natural supplements and healthy pet foods.
Natural *HEARTWORM* program and prevention too!

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SEARCH PREVIOUS ISSUES and MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/petnews.html
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A NOTE FROM RANDAL
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Hello Everyone,

Doing the research for this issue, I became aware of a problems that has
existed for years without my awareness. That is, when a person is deployed
for military and they have no family or friends their pets often have to be
given to shelters. The web address below in our "Featured Web Link" section
shows that the folks in San Diego have planned for these instances in a most
interesting way. Please visit their website to find out about the different
ending when the owners come back.

In two weeks Easter will be upon us and many times animals get abused due to
this time of year. Please read the article below for information and some
better alternatives.

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THIS EASTER, GIVE ANIMALS A BREAK: Because holidays are traditionally a time
for celebration and family gatherings, it can be easy to forget that they
are often the toughest times of the year for animals. Pigs, in particular,
suffer terribly on factory farms, en route to becoming the holiday hams that
are so popular at Easter. "Gestation crates" and "farrowing crates," where
sows are kept virtually locked in place for the majority of their lives, are
methods of intensive confinement that pervade the modern factory farming
system. This Easter, why not consider setting a compassionate, new tradition
by preparing a vegetarian or vegan spread for your family's Easter dinner?
Many wonderful recipes and meat-free alternatives can be found at :
And don't forget to to find out how you can take action to help pigs in factory farms.
**********

As always, thanks for your readership and sharing our ezines. After all,
sharing with others is how we grow!

Until next time,
Randal

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PETS IN THE NEWS
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AFTER HEART ATTACK, PATIENT'S PET MAY HELP HEART

(Reuters Health) - Chalk up one more potential attribute of the family pooch
-- a new study suggests that after a heart attack, pet owners have healthier
hearts than heart attack patients who don't have a dog, cat or other pet.

According to a report in The American Journal of Cardiology, Dr. Erika
Friedmann and colleagues compared heart rate variability among a group of
102 patients who had a heart attack in the past two years, including 35
patients who owned a pet.

Heart rate variability is a measure of the heart's ability to handle stress.
A reduction in heart rate variability is linked to a higher risk of heart
disease and death.

Friedmann, who is with Brooklyn College of the City University of New York,
and her team found that certain heart rate variability measures were higher
in pet owners -- particularly dog owners -- than non-owners.

While studies have found a lower heart rate variability in depressed people
than in those without depression, this did not explain the findings.

More research is needed to see if the improved heart rate variability in pet
owners is due to some psychological factor or exercise that patients might
get from walking their pet, according to Dr. Richard Stein, a spokesman for
American Heart Association (news - web sites).

The study offers a "cute observation," said Stein, "but it does not provide
enough evidence to recommend that heart attack patients go out and get a
dog."

SOURCE: The American Journal of Cardiology 2003;91:718-721.

:


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PET HEALTH NEWS
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NO FLEAS - NO FUSS

Some people with indoor/outdoor pets are noticing they don't have flea
problems when they use a homemade carpet freshener with essential oils.
We're becoming more aware of the hazards of chemicals, so many people are
turning to essential oils instead. What a delightful natural alternative to
toxic chemicals. You can choose your own aroma, but Lavender is known to
repel bugs. To make your own, begin with a box of borax (from the detergent
section of the store). Mix two cups of borax with 25 drops of a pure
essential oil. Make sure you crush the drops and distribute evenly. Use
some kind of a shaker bottle to apply to the carpets, let sit for at least
an hour and then vacuum. Find out the people benefits of Lavender Oil here:
http://www.theherbsplace.com/lavender.html

If you'd like something uplifting and cheery, try Lemon Essential Oil:
http://www.theherbsplace.com/lemonoil.html

You may have seen flea products to be applied directly to an animal that
contain orange oil. These are toxic to animals when applied to their skin,
so be careful with essential oils. They are concentrated if they are pure.

Go natural and have fun with it! There are kits available if you'd like to
try various essential oil recipes for you home. Find out more here:
http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialkits.html

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DOG TRAINING/BEHAVIORAL HELP
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ABOUT THAT ALPHA ROLL - WHY YOU SHOULDN'T ROLL YOUR DOG - Krista Mifflin

The Alpha Roll, once hailed as the premier way to prove to your dog who's
"Alpha" (Boss) in the family, has been replaced by a gentler, more
successful way of training. Now the Alpha Roll, besides being obsolete, has
proven to be detrimental to the health and mental well-being of your dog, as
well as downright dangerous to the "Roller".

What is an Alpha Roll?

An Alpha Roll is the act of flipping your dog onto his back, and holding his
throat. Supposedly this will teach him that YOU are Alpha, and he will
respect you for this. Wrong.

For the continuation of the article:


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CAT TRAINING/BEHAVIORAL HELP
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AGGRESSION - INTERCAT from Encyclopedia of Feline Veterinary Medical
Information

Aggression between cats is a difficult problem. In some cases it seems
almost unresolvable. I have several clients who have finally just resorted
to keeping their cats in separate parts of the house, all the time.

We have used medications for these problems and some of the time they either
worked or the cats finally worked out their problems. It is always hard to
tell which of those two possibilities really happened.

Amitriptylline is sometimes helpful when given to the aggressor cat. It is
used by giving 5mg twice a day or 5 to 10mg once a day (the recommendation
seems to vary and may be based entirely on the cat's response to
medication).

Anti-anxiety medications can be helpful when given to the cat who is being
attacked, IF the cat reacts with a great deal of nervousness or hair-raising
and running away. That sort of behavior tends to egg on the aggressor cat..
By using an anti-anxiety medication like diazepam (Valium Rx) or buspirone
(Buspar Rx) in the "victim" cat to reduce these behaviors, the attacking cat
may be less likely to be stimulated to attack.

In general, cats do not have the social structure that dogs do, so dominance
behavior is less likely in them. Most cat disputes are territorial,
predatory aggression that is redirected, or fear based. Sometimes play
behavior in cats can look pretty rough, too. Many cats do not become
territorial until they are 2 to 5 years of age. Unfortunately, these
behavioral patterns are a problem when cats must live together indoors.

Dr Mike Richards, DVM

For additional information:


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Comments on Soothing Mist from a customer:

"My dog has had a problem with compulsively chewing his back near his tail.
I've tried several things and they don't seem to work for long. I saw
Soothing Mist on Healthy Pet Corner's site and decided to give it a try.
The herbs in it sounded very soothing and healing. I added some Tea Tree
Oil because I like to deter fleas. I've used a spray of Lavender and Tea
Tree to prevent fleas for years, but he always ran from me when I wanted to
spray him. When I get the bottle of Soothing Mist, he comes to me and sits
still, so I think he knows it's helping him. I've been using it on my cat
that has skin issues also and it's been doing good." Robin

Read more about Soothing Mist here and order some for your pet today:
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FEATURED WEB LINK
*****************

ORGANIZATION FINDS HOMES FOR PETS OF DEPLOYED MARINES

When San Diego Marines deploy, many of them have to leave their pets behind,
10News reported.

An Oceanside organization called Foster For Troops is helping to rescue
animals needing a home while their owners are on deployment.

"You know, anyway we can help, I think, we feel, we're proud that they are
there and we are hoping that we can make any kind of contribution to make
their lives easier while they're out," foster pet caregiver Dave McMahon
said.

If you'd like to help, visit the .


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If you enjoyed what you read please forward
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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.

http://www.healthypetcorner.com
Healthy Pet Corner.com

http://www.theherbsplace.com
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