Feng Shui For Your Pets
In the recent years, Feng Shui, has become more and more popular as they are used inside the home, in gardens, at work places, and even in cars. This is not a shock for a lot of people since Feng Shui designs do bring about a certain amount of equilibrium and harmony…at least for human beings. But how about your pets? Can you Feng Shui your pet’s environment for much better health and harmony? Feng Shui pets, really?
The short response is yes. Chi passes through all life, humans and pets included. What will work for the human in the house can also be good for the pet. Let’s say, clutter. Too much clutter in your dog’s sleeping place for example, brings him disharmony. So get rid of any clutter around their sleeping area to permit chi to flow. For more guidance that goes beyond the Feng Shui mirror and your pets, visit http://www.fengshuimirror.com.
How To Keep Your Older Dog Healthy
As it is with humans, aging is inevitable for dogs. However with advances in canine medical science, the average lifespan of a dog has stretched from 7 to 12 years, and with this comes older dog health issues to which owners should be alert.
Dogs can begin to exhibit signs of aging from as early as 7 years old, and usually the larger breeds age faster than small breeds. Smaller dogs can be 10 to 12 years old before they begin to show such signs. But whatever the breed, older dog health problems will become issues for their owners.
While every dog is different depending on his lifestyle, size and breed, and their health problems manifest themselves in different ways, there are some older dog health issues common to all senior dogs.
As a dog ages his metabolism slows down and you will notice him taking longer to recover after exercise, and being slower to stand up, especially after resting. He may no longer be able to jump into the car, or run upstairs as he did when a puppy.
Dogs, especially the larger breeds, can suffer with joint and bone problems, particularly arthritis. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint, and for dogs (as with humans) it can be extremely painful. Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication may be required. Vets often recommend a gradual weight reduction for those dogs that are overweight, because the heavier the dog, the more pressure his joints are under.
Older dogs are also susceptible to eye problems, particularly cataracts and glaucoma. Owners usually notice cataracts when their dog’s eyes take on a cloudy appearance. Glaucoma on the other hand is very difficult for owners to detect and as such can be potentially very serious if left untreated.
All of a dog’s internal and external organs become compromised as he ages. The kidneys, lungs, heart and liver work less efficiently and the immune system ceases to fight viruses and bacteria as well as it used to.
Canine dental care is another area that can cause problems as a dog ages. Owners should check regularly that gums a bright and healthy and that there is no build up of plaque on the dog’s teeth. Any dental problem left untreated could affect other organs, even the heart.
With many of the conditions of older dog health, the best thing you can do for your dog is to lavish him with affection. Monitor any changes and brush his coat daily.
It is vital that owners acknowledge the fact that their dog is slowing down, and adjust the his diet accordingly. Continuing to feed a dog without a downward adjustment to its calorific count will result in an overweight dog. Carrying around that extra weight puts renewed pressure not only on the joints, but just about every other organ as well.
So the best older dog health tips are: regular visits to the vet, monitor any changes in your dog’s mobility, regularly check his gums, teeth and eyes, and feed him a diet that reflects his slower lifestyle. Oh yes, lots of cuddles and pats.
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Don’t Neglect Dog Paw Health
It’s obvious that should a dog have a paw injury or health problem, its mobility will be affected in some way. Detecting that a problem exists before it becomes debilitating for him is the responsibility of his owner.
Dog paw health can be adversely affected by injury, illness or allergy and acting fast will alleviate discomfort and hasten recovery.
For dogs who enjoy outside activity, foreign objects like twigs and thorns can lodge in between his toes. If you find this has happened and can easily remove the object, follow up with bathing the area with a saline or hydrogen peroxide solution for a few days to prevent infection. By leaving it unattended, an abscess may form and result in infection.
Just as cuts in human fingers and toes bleed profusely when cut, so too do the pads and webbing between the toes in dogs. It is because these are vascular areas and to stop bleeding a pressure bandage will be required. If the cut is very deep, a visit to the vet is advisable.
If swelling is apparent between the toes, it is possible that the dog has developed an interdigital cyst. These are not uncommon and are caused by a sweat gland blockage. Soaking the paw in salty water will help bring the cyst to a head. If it doesn’t, a trip to the vet is required.
One of the most common paw problems in dogs is interdigital dermatitis, and is often caused by allergies, especially to some grasses. If the dog cannot be prevented from licking the area, the skin could become raw and the veterinarian will need to be consulted for anti-inflammatory or antibiotic medication.
The ideal ways to ensure good dog paw health are:
• Examine your dog after playing and exercising to ensure he has not scrapes, cuts, prickly seeds, splinters etc. especially if you have been in an open grassy area or forest
• Always dry your dogs paws carefully after he has gone swimming, has been on wet grass, after giving him a bath
• Stop your dog from licking any area of skin that is swollen, ulcerated, or irritated (you may need to bandage the area).
• If you ever suspect that your dog has walked over dangerous chemicals wash the dog’s paws very carefully with sponge and cold water, don’t allow him to lick the area, and call your veterinarian.
• For dogs who do not walk and run often, it may be necessary to cut your dogs nails. Take instruction from the vet on how to do this, or better still, have the vet do it. If allowed to grow long, nails can snag and break causing a lot of discomfort to the dog.
Dog paw health is an area that can be overlooked but a dog spends a lot of time on his feet and will suffer if any problems are left unattended.
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Carolin Shadler’s Blog
