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Flint River Ranch Pet
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Natural Pet News
January 20, 2005 Edition

This newsletter is provided free twice a month.
Your email address is not shared or sold.

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A Note From Randal
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Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all doing well. It seems Winter has finally arrived. We had one small deposit of snow but not like many of you in other parts of the US.

In this issue, please take note of the Pet Safety and Pet Health sections. Two topics I believe you will benefit from.

Thanks for all you to do to spread the word for us.

Until next time,

Randal

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Pet Safety
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Heartworm Prevention Drugs Not Working

All these years if a pet became heartworm positive, the pet owner was blamed for forgetting to give the pills. Blame was always on the owner, but now we find out that the pills are not working.

There was an American Heartworm Society Convention in July 2004. Although the entire speeches will not be released to the public until spring-summer of 2005, there are abstracts. There was one by Dr. Victoria Hampshire of the FDA regarding the failure rate increasing on heartworm preventatives.

You will also find a chart regarding the top symptoms reported to FDA for each chemical. It doesn't look good. The ones that are used only during mosquito season aren't helping either.

Sign up for the "Paws for Progress" newsletter to stay up to date on this topic. The archives are here if you want to check it out:

If you're looking for a more natural approach to heartworm prevention, an herbal program is working for many dogs. Herbs not only remove all the worries and concerns over side-effects that the drugs list, they also provide additional health benefits for your pet. Visit this site for an herbal heartworm program that comes with individual help if you need it. Ask Robin your questions and understand why herbs are good for your dog:
http://www.theherbsplace.com/heartprevent.html
Herbal Heartworm
Prevention

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Search Pet Topics and Archived Newsletters
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Links and information for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses and reptiles.
http://www.healthypetcorner.com
Search Pet Topics

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Pet Health News
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Raw Meat Diets Spark Concern

In recent years, feeding dogs raw meat has become increasingly popular. The trend, however, has sparked health concerns, because of the risk of foodborne illnesses in pets as well as the public health risks of zoonotic infections. Now, a new study that identifies potentially harmful bacteria in 21 commercial raw meat diets bolsters these concerns.

"This has some potential public health concerns for both the animals being fed these diets and their human owners," said Dr. Rachel Strohmeyer, a researcher at the Animal Population Health Institute, Colorado State University. She presented her findings at the annual meeting of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases held in Chicago in November.

Proponents of raw meat diets say it improves dogs' performance, coat, body odor, teeth, and breath. While high-performance dogs, such as racing Greyhounds and sled dogs, have been fed raw meat diets for years, the trend to feed raw meat to companion dogs is new.

Because of this trend, and because the safety of these raw diets has received limited attention, Dr. Strohmeyer tested 21 commercially available raw meat diets, two dry dog foods, and two commercial canned dog foods for non-type specific Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, and Campylobacter spp. The researchers purchased diets of beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey in four months, trying to space the purchasing times far enough apart so that they came from different lots. Three samples from each product underwent bacteriologic culturing each time.

The researchers did not find Campylobacter spp in any of the foods, but non-type-specific E coli was isolated from all raw meat products. Ten of the raw products contained S enterica. "It is really important to note that 99 percent of raw meat samples were contaminated with aerobic bacteria, and 79 percent had gram-negative, probably enterica, contamination," Dr. Strohmeyer said.

The scientists also found non-type-specific E coli in a few of the samples taken from the dry food, and believe post-processing contamination is to blame for these results.

"There is a greater apparent risk to animals and humans from feeding a raw meat diet," Dr. Strohmeyer commented. "I really do not think that there is any advice we, as veterinarians, can give to improve safety. You can give basic food safety guidelines like hand washing, cleaning surfaces, and bowls, etc., not letting the food sit out for extended periods of time. I just think that it would be a disservice for a veterinarian to give any recommendation for the safety of dogs and their owners (except to not feed raw meat to pets). Bacteria are not the only health concern, there are also parasites and protozoal organisms that can be transmitted in raw meat, even meat labeled fit for human consumption."

Other veterinarians, including Dr. Jeffrey LeJeune, a food safety molecular epidemiologist and microbiologist at The Ohio State University, agree that pets should not be fed raw meat. This may be a hard sell, however, to some clients.

"From my own clinical experience, owners that feed raw (meat) pretty much have their minds set that they are going to feed raw," Dr. Strohmeyer said. She thinks clients who are thinking about feeding raw (meat), however, can be swayed fairly easily, just by basic education.

Source: JAVMA News

Natural Health Pet Consultant

Robin Sockness is not a vet and has no professional degrees, but she has been using natural remedies with her own dogs and cats since the early 80's and has worked withover 500 dogs on a natural heartworm program.

Along the way she's helped dogs with multiple problems besides the heartworms and is now willing to work with others on individual pet concerns. Check this site for information on this free service:
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/consult.html
Natural Health Pet
Consultant

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Dogs Behavioral and Training
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Socialization - From Krista Mifflin, Your Guide to Dogs.

What is Socialization: 
Socialization is basically the very lengthy (life-long) desensitization process of exposing your puppy to every new sound, sight, and situation possible. To eliminate any adverse reaction and have your dog view these occurences as normal, and non-threatening, and non-exciting.

What is the purpose of Socialization?: 
The ultimate goal of socialization is to be able to take your dog any place, any situation, and have him stay calm, relaxed and confident. Over-excitement, anxiety, hyperactivity are all unwanted reactions in a properly socialized dog. It can be done, but this desensitization process does not have an ending, it is something that must be continued every day of your dog's life.

Before that scares you, I'd like you to note that it really is not as hard, or time-consuming as one might think. This is

For the rest of this article go here:

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Cats Behavioral and Training
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Scoop & Snuggle - Warming Up an Aloof Cat - by Colleen Patrick

Introduction:
Colleen Patrick is a volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter, and has been involved in animal care for more than 20 years, including taking care of a farm and all its animals while the owners were away for several months. She also is the creator of Peaceable Pets, a petcalming tape/CD in which she actually talks to the animals in a calm, soothing voice. This is Colleen's third Guest Article at About.com.

So you have a new cat?
Great.

You've done everything right to select your purrfect pet.
It's a cat. Or a kitten. Sweet, soft, playful, smart.
You have visions of yourself curled up in front of the fireplace with Muffy snuggled in your lap as you read a book with a hot cup of your favorite tea sitting next to your overstuffed chair.

Suddenly, or maybe it was over a period of time, you realize that your dream kitty is aloof and distant. He only lets you pet him when he wants it, and then only for short periods of time.

Find out more about the Scoop and Snuggle Technique here:

Remove Urine And Odors - Even Under The Carpet - Shipping Included

This stuff really does work. Don't be fooled by the low cost. This superior concentrated natural bacterial-enzyme cleaning product has a fresh lemon scent and will remove nasty odors and stains from all animals, even skunks.
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/petforce.html
Pet Force for
Stains and Odors

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Featured Pet Product
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To see a picture and/or purchase go here:

Herbs and Supplements by Pet Health Topic and Pet Consultations

Visit our online catalog for pets with products arranged by health topic. Find a natural solution for your pet or consider an individualized consultation if you need help. Find out more here:
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Pet Catalog &
Consultations

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Featured Web Link
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Free Class on Pet Rabbits

Rabbits can be delightful pets and do very well as house pets. They're definitely not low maintenance pets. Rabbits need a good amount of interaction, socialization, and gentle but firm training to help them become wonderful pets.

"Introduction to Pet Rabbits" is meant as an introduction to keeping rabbits as pets and the proper care of pet rabbits. If you are just considering a pet rabbit you may still find this course useful in helping you decide if a rabbit is the right pet for you. Introduction to rabbits is delivered via email in eight weekly installments, starting on the day you sign up.

More information click here

Send Free Pet Ecards or Buy Posters

Healthy Pet Corner offers free e-cards for Birds, Cats, Dogs, Horses, Rabbits, and Reptiles. Posters available too!
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/petposter.html
Send Free e-Cards
and/or Buy Pet Posters

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Good News Pet Story
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The Dog In the Sky - By George Ostrom

What if you got hit on the head by a dog from the clouds? After the unbelievable thing that happened near Bozeman, we know such a thing could happen.

Getting clobbered on the head by a big trout out of the sky was the topic in this column last September 30th. Also discussed another 'raining trout' that shattered the windshield on a school bus near Great Falls. These fish-bombs are the result of osprey losing their grip and are fairly common occurrences.

Owls and eagles are known to pick up almost any prey they can fly with. Eagles will kill young mountain goats and bighorn kids by knocking them off of cliffs but can't fly away with them. I've seen golden eagles soar away with fairly large jack rabbits. A great horned owl had no trouble stealing a two-pound puppy I put outside of our cabin at the Flathead Mine. Once saw a bald eagle fly with a big mallard duck.

So how much did the doggie weigh that was stolen by an eagle December 29th? I talked to the owner of 'Freddie' and she told me he weighed between 15 and 16 pounds when the eagle took him away.

Freddie is truly a miracle dog,

For the rest of the story go here:

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Herbal Heartworm Prevention And Treatment
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We want dog owners to know! There are natural alternatives for heartworm. Prevention and treatment programs. Get individualized help from Robin Sockness who has helped over 500 dogs in the past few years.

http://www.theherbsplace.com/heartworm.html
Help for
Heartworms

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

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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, "HealthyPetCorner.com."