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Why am I up at this hour..anyways, a Cherries Puggle for the BP shop for February.
Val going Raw?
I've been thinking about switching Valkyrie to a raw diet, but am a little clueless on what all I'd need to know! Please link me to all the good resources that you'd recommend and tag those that might have helpful things to share to a possible newbie raw feeder!
Spay her!
Last night, in a dog group, a person asked about the signs of labor and how to keep her dog comfortable during pregnancy...obviously...someone who has never bred a dog before and has no knowledge of the process, genetics or health.I recommended for her to speak to her vet and to get her dog spayed after she weaned her pups. Others advocated spaying.
Her response, "I JUST WANTED MY DOG TO HAVE ONE LITTER OF PUPPIES!" She quickly deleted her post.
This, folks, is the very definition of a backyard breeder.
Do you think your dog will be happier having a litter of puppies? Or do you think she will be just as happy not going through the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, possibly having complications during the birthing process and having to care for a litter?
On top of that, how does one ensure that the puppies do not end up in shelters? How does one ensure that these puppies do not have puppies?
If it offends you that someone tells you to spay your bitch or queen, you really need to question your motives for wanting her to have a litter.
I DO support responsible breeding. That is, breeding done with the intent of bettering the breed. Typically, these people belong to breed groups and national organizations. They spay/neuter offspring that do not promote the betterment of the breed (”pets”), have health certificates and are very knowledgeable about the faults and strengths of the breed.
But if you want your dog or cat to have a litter just to have the experience of having a litter before spaying her, please think again. Please go to a shelter and look at all of the cats and dogs who will likely die because someone thought the same.
Unless you are a professional responsible breeder, do the rescues and shelters and your pet a favor and spay her. It is a simple procedure that can help make her life better and save the lives of countless others.
With much love,
Beth
Why are we afraid?
I love my doctor, my husband’s doctor and our vet. It took guts and determination to do so. It wasn’t always like that.
Me: I don’t want to put the cats on kibble. I feed a raw diet.
Vet: You cannot possibly know how much carbohydrates to feed a cat each day! How much vitamin E does your cat need? You cannot feed a balanced diet using a raw diet! It’s dangerous.
So, I fired him.
Me: I would like for you to run a blood panel checking for nutrition deficiencies, FT4, FT3 and antibodies. I would also like my husband on Armour.
Doctor: I can run the tests, but you will be wasting your money. I only go by TSH and only prescribe levothyroxine.
So, I fired her.
Me: The Vicodin and Flexeril are not helping. I am still in a ton of pain.
Doctor: There’s nothing else I can do for you.
So, I fired her.
Me: I feed a raw diet. I firmly believe that this is the most natural way to feed my pets.
Vet: While I don’t necessarily promote a raw diet, I do support it. I have seen pets come back from the brink of death when their owners switched them to a raw diet. I cannot explain it, but there’s something to it.
So, I hired her.
Doctor: ((Before I could say anything)) I am ordering a complete blood panel, including a nutrition panel and complete thyroid panel. I am also taking you off of levothyroxine and putting you on Armour.
Me: ((Crying)) Thank you.
So, I hired him.
Doctor: You have fibromyalgia. I believe your pain is real. We are going to try you out on a few medications to find the right combination. We won’t stop trying until we find what works for you. Please be patient with us.
Me: ((Crying)) Thank you.
So, I hired her.
Why is it that we hold medical professionals in high regard, put them on pedestals and are afraid to fire them when they fail to help us? Why is it that we stick to the same professional regardless if they are trying to work against us?
It took me going through a multitude of vets, endocrinologist and general practice doctors before I found the right medical professional that worked.
In all lines of professionals, you have the C students and the A students. Just because a person has a degree and letters after their names, it doesn’t mean that they are qualified to work for you.
If you fail to do your job, you are fired.
Your vets and your doctors, you hire them. If they fail to do their job, do not be afraid to fire them. Be your own advocate. Be your pet’s advocate. Be your spouse’s and children’s advocate. Accept nothing but the best.
Okay medical professionals are easy to come by. Excellent medical professionals are hard to come by. But never stop looking. They are out there!
With much love, Beth
Feeding tips
I do not feed in bowls. In fact, these are my pet dishes (besides the glass pans on the floor for water).
These came from the dollar store. I’m pretty sure you can also buy plates and saucers from garage sales as well.
Why? Less mess. My pets are more apt to keep their food on their plates.
Another MAJOR reason: whisker stress. You can read about it here.
After my pets are done eating, the plates go in the dishwasher or are washed by hand (depending on the amount of energy I have).
Another benefit of feeding on plates: no chin acne from plastic bowls!
Raw feeding tip 2
If you have an aggressive chewer or gulper (both of which Gypsy, pictured, is), try feeding frozen meals. Here, Gypsy is eating a drumstick with a bit of liver wrapped in a couple thin layers of pork. This took her a couple of hours (instead of 10 seconds) and she enjoyed it!
Please remember to feed your pets as often as necessary. The guidelines are as follows:
Adult dogs (HEALTHY): 1 to 2 times a day
Adult cats (HEALTHY): 3 to 5 times a day
Puppies and kittens: as often as they would like (4 to 6 times a day)
Cats and dogs with medical conditions: As often as necessary
With much love,
Beth
Product Review: Z Bones
New to the Raw Pet blog is weekly product reviews. I will be doing them weekly. Unless specifically stated, I have bought these products. These are tested out on my helpers.
I went to a niche shop in Port Huron, Michigan: Nature Living Bounty. There, I purchased two Z-Bones, made by Zukes. They ran me $2 each-an awesome price.
Let me start by saying one thing: these have NO animal product in them. They are packed with nothing but plant material. I thought about it for a little bit. These are a TREAT. These are not meals. These are not something they will be getting every day. So, that’s okay.
They claim to be made in the United States. I still need to do research to see where the materials are sourced.
I took them out of the package. They are very firm. No smell. No artificial colors or flavors.
I gave Ginger the “Clean Carrot Crisp Flavor” and Gypsy had the “Clean Apple Crisp Flavor.”
Needless to say, after the girls became comfortable, they went to town on the bones.
In fact, the bones did not last long at all. They were rated for dogs 25 to 60 pounds. My dogs are 15 pounds.
But given the price and the few moments of chewing pleasure my dogs had, I would say that this is a good buy. If you are interested in purchasing the products, I added them to our store.
I do warn: if you are a prey model raw or treat purist, you will not like these. However, if you are like me and realize that this is a treat and nothing more, you will want to try these out with your dogs!
Have you tried this product? How was your experience?
With Much Love,
Beth
QCT: Quality Cuddle Time
My pets (all 8 of them) KNOW when I am in pain and they can sense a migraine before it happens. They instinctively know to bug me until I lay down. When I do lay down, they press their warm bodies against me. Last night, during a major storm, Phantom, my calico, laid at my head and purred. Gypsy, my JRT, had her body pressed up against my legs. Benny, the cat pictured above, had his body pressed against my ribs. Daisy was laying on my legs. Elsa was laying on my chest. Ginger, my Boston mix, was laying next to Benny, patiently waiting for a spot to open up. Mooch and Patches, my other two cats, were waiting for a spot on the bed to open up-watching me from the chair at the foot of the bed.
When I use my cane (or they sense my balance is not the best before I realize it), my pets “guide” me where I need to be. One of them walks in front of me. One walks next to me. One races to where they think I am going and waits for me. They wait for me to do what I need to do and then they escort me back to where I need to be (either the couch or the bed).
Perhaps our pets KNOW that they have special abilities as AWESOME healers. Perhaps they come to us to be healed and they return the favor. It is a beautiful relationship. If you do a Google search for the term “pets as healers,” many websites come up praising pets. Many state that the healing powers of pets have been known for thousands of years.
While I do not profess to know the technical sciency reason behind this, all I know is that when I have warm loving bodies pressed against mine, my pain is reduced. My body relaxes. I feel much better. I love my QCT: quality cuddle time.
Do your pets make you feel better?
After I sign off, at the end of this post, I have 2 memes that show the healing powers of our pets.
With much love,
Beth
Learn the language!
Our pets are always communicating with us. But do you know what they are saying? Did you realize that 100 percent of pet attacks on humans are a result of human error-a failure to accurately read body language?
By learning pet language and always being aware of the pets around you, you can help prevent attacks. Teaching children how to respect pets will also help prevent attacks.
What is your pet currently telling you?
Just now, Daisy told me she REALLY loves me. Ginger is begging to go outside (there’s a squirrel out there). Mooch is being attentive, watching me closely waiting for the purrfect opportunity to jump in my lap. Elsa is content in a tiny plastic bin that holds our bills.
When you learn what your pet is telling you, you can accurately respond and create harmony in your home!
With much love,
Beth
