The Purrfect Nanny & Purrfect Pet Health Blog

In order to keep my horse’s joints  sound and lubricated I depend on joint supplements. For a long time I was used to inject Adequan until I learned about Acetylglucosamine. This product is at least as good as Adequan if not better and it cost me so much less to maintian joint health. With permission of Dr. Grisel from the Atlanta Equine Clinic in Alpharetta I post his article about joint health. Should you deside to order the product at the Atlanta Equine Clinic, please mention that you heard about it on our BLOG.

Any medication administered outside the joint (by mouth, intravenously, or intramuscularly for example) for the purpose of improving joint function and/or comfort is considered a form of systemic arthrotherapy. Anti-inflammatory medications (such as phenylbutazone), some pain relievers (such as capsaicin), and joint supplements (such as Adequan™, Legend™, and Cosequin™) are included in this category. Joint supplements have seen wide use in recent years, and are most often the client’s first line of treatment for DJD in their horse(s). The primary goal of the joint supplement is to stimulate normal activity and function of the synovial membrane thereby enhancing the integrity of the joint environment. Oral, intravenous, and intramuscular forms exist.Most studies show that the oral medications (e.g. Cosequin™, MSM, Flex Free™, Corta-flex™, etc.) are quite effective when absorbed into the system. This type of arthrotherapy works especially well in people and dogs, who are able to absorb relatively large molecules (like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate) through their intestinal wall easily. Horses, on the other hand, are generally not proficient at absorbing large molecules into their system from the intestinal tract. Therefore, a portion of the oral medication (and the client’s investment) may not be completely utilized. Many companies are continually working to find ways to improve absorbability of oral supplements in the horse. Read the rest of this entry »

As February draws to a close, so ends Petfinder.com’s Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.
House Rabbit Society president Kathleen Wilsbach says: The ideal “rabbit person,” in addition to being calm, patient and eager to get to know a rabbit on his own terms, must be willing to rabbit-proof an appropriate exercise area in the home to prevent damage from chewing. Read the rest of this entry »

Join the Humane Society Georgia State Director, Cheryl McAuliffe, and other local animal protection advocates, March 3rd at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta as they meet to discuss current animal protection legislation that is before the Georgia State legislature. The goal of this meeting is to arm concerned citizens with lobbying techniques and ways to take action. The Grass Roots movement is growing and is a great place for each of us to start to promote change and help protect those who can not protect themselves. Please RSVP to this event by 5 PM March 2nd.

A total different approach on dog training based on true friendship and understanding with our companions. This is really one of the best books I ever read about developing a mutual relationship with our dogs. I heard about it from a friend of mine, Tanja with Holistic Sitting in Woodstock, GA. Thank you Tanja!

Who is your favorite dog trainer?

February 24, 2009 the Humane Society of the United States starts its annual campaign to encourage people to save animals lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. Why does the Humane Society want to promote spaying and neutering? “Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets, even purebreds. Maybe someone’s cat or dog got out just that one time or maybe the litter was intentional, but efforts to find enough good homes failed. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats and a proven way to reduce the vast numbers of animals who are born only to die prematurely and without a family who loves them.”

Find out more about why you should spay or neuter your pet.

Find a local Spay Day USA 2009 event here.

The Canton Paw Park, a local non profit group, recently donated three pet sized oxygen masks to the Canton Fire Department. Pets are as much at risk from smoke inhalation during a house fire as humans. Firefighter’s often try to give a pet oxygen using a human mask, unfortunately since human oxygen masks do not fit pets very well and many die from smoke inhalation. The donated masks use the same type tubing and tanks as human masks, but are designed specifically for animals who are rescued from any type of fire or emergency. This donation will allow Canton Fire Department to save more pets who might otherwise succumb to smoke inhalation. Want to find out how you can help get your local fire station pet sized oxygen masks? Check out HelpAnimals.org.

Not so much longer and many of our dogs are going to spend a great amount of their time roaming around in our back yards. My dogs always get very thirsty and I bet so do yours! How do you make sure they always have clean, fresh water available, water that is not invested by ants…? Personally I use the Critter Cooler and I can guarantee that’s the best investment you can make. No more worries every few hours that I have to fill up the water bowl and no worries that the water gets dirty or insects take a bath in it. By the way they also have some great products to keep the water cool for a long time. Go and check it out for yourself and let me know if you share my enthusiasm!

Monkeys as pets? Better think twice before the trouble starts!

Several times in the past we all have heard about attacks by chimpanzees who had been considered absolutely tame. With wild animals there is simply not such a thing as 100% tame. Again I was shocked to learn that a “household pet” chimpanzee almost killed a woman in Connecticut. Known for being the sweetest companion for years, even starred in some commercials, Travis all of a sudden turned wild. Apparently nobody knows what triggered his aggression but the results are not nice. In fact they are horrible. A female friend of his owner was severely injured and her life will be changed forever. Much likely the live of the owner will be changed forever too by the guilt she feels. What seemed to be a live long friendship between human and his closed kin had a horrible ending.
There are so many nice pets out there, why do some people have to have a wild animal?
What are your thoughts about keeping wild animals as pets?

Please also read our article “Monkey Trouble” on our Purrfect Pet Health website.

Our kitties need special treats too!
You can whip this up in the food processor to make it easier.
If you have children running about, enlist their help in rolling the treat balls.

Ingredients
7 1/2 oz tuna in vegetable oil
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
water (as needed)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Mix tuna, flour and parsley together well, breaking up tuna pieces so they are soft and mushy. A food processor will make easy work of this!

Add water gradually, as is needed to make a firm dough that is easy to mold into a small shape.

Roll a teaspoon-sized amount of the dough between your palms, creating a small round ball. This is where the kids come in

Flatten the ball so it becomes disc-shaped.

Repeat process until all mixture is used, placing each biscuit disc onto a lightly greased oven tray.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Turn oven off but leave the tray in until the oven has completely cooled. (This will help the biscuits dry out further, and help the treats keep longer).

Treat your kitties once the biscuits have completely cooled.
Store treats in an air-tight container in the pantry.

Our cats are independent and litter box trained, but they still count on us.
The Humane Society lists ten essentials that when taken care of will help ensure a happy healthy relationship with our feline companions.

1. Outfit your cat with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address, and telephone number. No matter how careful you are, there’s a chance your companion may slip out the door—an ID tag greatly increases the chance that your cat will be returned home safely.

2. Follow local cat registration laws. Licensing, a registration and identification system administered by some local governments, protects both cats and people in the community.

3. Keep your cat indoors. Keeping your cat safely confined at all times is best for you, your pet, and your community.

4. Take your cat to the veterinarian for regular check-ups. If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral.

5. Spay or neuter your pet. This will keep her healthier and will reduce the problem of cat overpopulation.

6. Give your cat a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant access to fresh water. Ask your veterinarian for advice on what and how often to feed your pet.

7. Train your cat to refrain from undesirable behaviors such as scratching furniture and jumping on countertops. Contrary to popular belief, cats can be trained with a bit of patience, effort, and understanding on your part.

8. Groom your cat often to keep her coat healthy, soft, and shiny. Although it is especially important to brush long-haired cats to prevent their hair from matting, even short-haired felines need to be groomed to remove as much loose hair as possible. When cats groom themselves, they ingest a great deal of hair, which often leads to hairballs.

9. Set aside time to play with your cat. While cats do not need the same level of exercise that dogs do, enjoying regular play sessions with your pet will provide him with the physical exercise and mental stimulation he needs, as well as strengthen the bond you share.

10. Be loyal to and patient with your cat. Make sure the expectations you have of your companion are reasonable and remember that the vast majority of behavior problems can be solved. If you are struggling with your pet’s behavior, contact your veterinarian or local animal shelter for advice, and check out the HSUS’s Pets for Life campaign information.