Back in 2008 when this site was first started, we wrote an article about the way dogs have helped mankind by their ability to sniff out bed bugs. Our article sparked attention in the NY Times when a woman responded “what about the dog hair?” when we wrote that dogs were trained to sniff out bed bugs successfully. See the Article
Bed bugs two years ago was a major problem but not to the extent that they have infested most of the United States. Bed bugs are travellers and they travel with people in their clothes, suitcases and are quite mobile thanks to our modern travel methods today. Especially prelevent in US multiplex buildings and now movie goers can pick up bed bug hitchhikers at their local AMC Empire theaters.
Ohio also has its problems with a massive bed bug infestation and even the Dept of Defence was called in along with the CDC and the EPA. All these government agencies cannot handle a bed bug infestation which seems to be spreading around the country. Except for our faithful friends -our dogs.
Dogs can be trained to sniff out bed bugs and are used for various company’s that are hired to sniff out the problem areas. Most often bed bugs feed on your blood at night therefore they are the Bed Vampires! You can find bed bugs that like to hide in dark and narrow creveces in your bedding, behind your bed board, under your mattress, between the mattress and the box springs and elsewhere in the bedroom. The bed bugs come out at night in search of a host that provides fresh blood and that would be you or your dog.
Bed Bug Sniffing Canines The University of Wisconsin has hired dogs to sniff out student dorms with trained dogs.
Bella a 4 year old Lab is a Bed Bug Detection Dog
Travelling to places such as the Bahamas or in the Caribbean can expose you to bed bugs in hotel rooms. Bedding should be checked if you find any bites in the morning.
Travel Tips and Bed Bugs
When you travel and sleep in even the most expensive hotels you can pick up bed bugs and wake up in the morning covered in bloody sores and bites. If so remove yourself from the hotel and demand your money back. Shake all clothing or wash in hot water if you have been infected or bitten by bed bugs. Call the health authorities in the country.
You do not have to use Chemicals to Kill Bed Bugs- heat can kill them effectively without chemicals. IF you heat your home to over 115 degrees by a company experienced in this type of treatment they will kill off the bed bugs.
Tags: Bed bug sniffing dogs, heat kills bed bugs, dogs sniffing bed bugs, NY infestation of bed bugs, killing bed bugs, bed bug bites.
Dogs sometimes are born with congestive heart failure which puts them at risk for heart murmurs or it appears to affect dogs as they grow older and they later develop heart problems during their lifetime.
Either a cocker spaniel, or a boxer or any breed of dog can get the symptoms of Congestive heart failure.
The causes of Congestive Heart Failure are either by genetics or by birth or damage to the heart valves. Also heart worm disease can cause heart failure or other diseases that affect the lining of the walls of the heart.
Again older Dogs are susceptible to heart failure or problems of the heart when they exhibit symptoms of congestive heart diseases.
The symptoms of Congestive Heart Problems
The most common are: fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath and weight loss. Appetite and weight loss, fainting or a distended abdomen are also other signs of associated problems of heart congestive failure as well as lethargy.
How You can Help Your Dog with Congestive Heart Problems
A holistic veterinarian can do the tests to confirm a diagnosis of heart problems but there is much you can do to help your dog. Basically because the heart is not pumping blood effectively there will be congestion in the heart or the lungs due to fluid build up and backs up in these or other major organs.
Vitamins that Help Congestive Heart is Vitamin E which helps to heal the damage to heart muscles internally as well as selenium and Vitamin B.
Co Q Enzymes also are great for helping to clear the heart and strengthen it both in humans and dogs. There are expensive prescription drugs for congestive heart failure and it is best to consult with a holistic veterinarian for professional testing and help for your dog.
Alternatives for Healing Heart Damage
Herbal remedies are a part of the over all therapies for dogs with heart problems that are safe and work even if you are using prescription drugs. The main thing is the support the healing of the heart and strengthen the arteries and heart muscles. Anti-oxidants are also recommended to manage your dog’s heart and should be taken along with reducing salt in the diet.
Many commercial dog and cat foods have high sodium content and this should be avoided. Congestive heart disease cannot be cured therefore management should include a wide variety of choices to help your dog live a long life. There is a product that contains the ingredients all on one bottle and that is Cardio help for your dog.
Most of us have dogs that are getting older and they age faster than humans by 7 years to our one year of time.
The joints in the legs and shoulders of our furry friends both dogs and cats get a good work out during their lifetime and sometimes get broken in the process.
My dog is approximately 7 1/2 years old now and although she acts like a crazy puppy she is still showing signs of getting older and slowing down some in her activity level.
How to Help your Dog’s Joints
By the time your dog is 8 or 9 years old for the larger breeds you may want to consider some supplements that will help them as they age in the joint areas. Some dogs are born with weak bones and joints which makes mobility more difficult as they age. Products that contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate compounds help to ease the soreness and pain and the best part of using these products is that studies show they repair the joint cartilage.
The protein molecule in chondroitin actually gives the cartilage more elasticity which gives your dog or cat more mobility, reduces the inflammation and sore joints.
A diet rich with omega-3 fatty acids also is shown to prevent the deterioration of your dog’s joints and also does double duty by helping the heart as well another bonus. Reducing the toxins in the diet and providing your dog with an organic dog food is the best way to avoid needless surgeries and drugs to help with the side effects of growing old.
Holistic veterinarians have long advised pet owners to look towards the support regime which includes glucosamine for dogs around age 8 or older and cats can benefit as well at the same age even if no symptoms of limping or struggling with movement are present. Your dog relies on exercise to keep healthy and it is necessary for good health and a long pain free life for dogs and cats. The benefits of supporting your dog or cat’s joints are endless and most pet owners would agree that having a dog that can walk and run is worth the effort.
Other Help for Older Dogs
When my dog wakes up the first thing she does is to do a long stretch on the floor she lowers her front and stretches her spine. I taught her to do this when doing my yoga on a floor mat. As I was doing my yoga exercises my dog saddled up beside me to join in the event on the living room floor. So, I put the word “stretch” in and she followed my motions and started doing downward dog which is a yoga technique.
Massage Your Dog
I also do a light massage for my dog when she wakes up in the morning and this helps to get her moving. Start at the neck and massage gently on both sides of the neck, back and legs. This gets the blood circulating after a long sleep and helps the glands get rolling for the day. I also do this at night before she goes to sleep and it seems to help her get rested and more comfortable. These tips can be done in just a few minutes per day to give your buddy a good start and end to a long day.
TAGS: Dog joint support, glucosamine for dogs, joints in older dogs, joint support for older cats, diet and joint support in pets, yoga for dogs, exercise with your dog, dog yoga exercises.
Watch the Video to Learn how to Do Stretching Exercises for Good Joint Support with your Dog
July 25, 2010 Oil Spill refugee dogs are available for adoption as the BP Oil spill has forced owners to give up their pets which is a grave side effect of British Petroleum’s reckless lack of safety.
It must be hard for an owner to give up their pet after years of providing a home and to have to face the fact that there is no money to feed the animal and trusted friend of the family. Actually it is heartbreaking to hear the stories told of owners bringing the pets to the SPCA and Animal Shelters in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi,
The Gulf coast is having major economic problems with dogs and cats being abandon out of the greed of a corporation to by pass safety measure and protect the US shoreline. The Shelter at Ann Arundel County SPCA has seen dogs arriving after the oil rig explosion on April 20, 2010 and it has been 3 gruelling months for both animals and lack of food. These dogs need loving homes and we are sure when you see the pictures you will want to adopt one too.
Here are some photos and if you can help -give them a call to find out more about the dogs available. If you know of someone who can provide a loving, safe and nurturing home -spread the word and lets all pitch in and help these lost animals.
Dogs Available for Adoption -Oil Spill Refugees
More Photos of Oil Spill Refugee Dogs-Ready for a Loving Home
The economic downturn for several years has found many pets being dropped off at animal shelters simply because owners do not have the money to care for them. From California to Florida the southern states now have the Oil Spill to contend with and financially it is breaking people’s lives and also their dogs lives.
Please share this article with your friends and spread the word- these animals need help. Hundreds of dogs and cats have been dropped off -please help them.
TAGS: Oil Spill Refugee Dogs Available, Oil Spill Refugee Animals, Louisiana SPCA, Animal Shelters in Louisiana, BP Oil Spill dogs abandoned, Dog Adoption-BP Oil Spill, Abandoned dogs from BP Oil Spill.
July 15, 2010 Kidney failure in dogs is called Chronic Renal Failure or CRF common with cats or dogs it is an illness no pet owner wants to hear about their pet.
What Causes Kidney Failure
The function of the kidney is to filter toxins out of the body through the urinary tract and healthy kidneys can usually handle a great amount of toxins easily. When the kidney is damaged it is less able to handle the toxic overload and more liquid or fluids are required to flush out the junk.
Other causes of kidney failure are: poisoning, or a source of an external toxin your dog has been exposed to and that includes dog food. Many chemicals in dog food even today three years after the dog food recall there are still deadly chemicals in commercial dog foods. (See our Archives on Dog Food for the best resource of information).
You want to clean up the inside environment to help fluids to carry the toxins out of your pet dog or cat. Using herbal remedies is the best way to achieve this goal.
Today toxins are in pet foods in higher concentration, they are in the air and water and attack both people and pets on all sides. Therefore to reduce the amount of toxins requires a plan such as filtering water and purifying the diet with organic foods, cutting out commercial pet foods and adopting a more organic diet.
As the disease progresses you may notice your pet is tired, constipated, and has a poor appetite or perhaps losing weight.
Usually a blood or urine test will detect the imbalance in your dog to tell what extent the disorder has progressed.
Diet for Kidney Illness in Dogs
You want a low protein diet and low salt for a dog who is suffering from renal or kidney damage.
You also want a low Phosphate diet.
The best diet is a home made dog food.
Hydration – lots and plenty of fresh, filtered water and encourage your dog to drink water with kidney problems.
In the summer months water is extremely important and limited time in high temperatures of the day.
Supplements For A Kidney Illness in Dogs
For a dog with kidney illness Omega 3 fatty acids of an organic brand is very beneficial.
Vitamin E (again organic sources) will help heal the damage internally.
Anti-Oxidants will help attack the toxins and protect the healthy cells in your dog or cat.
Only Natural Pet Kidney Urinary Support in a herbal formula will help protect, heal and stimulate the kidneys to improve.
Lifestyle Changes for Dogs with Kidney Illnesses
Reduce stress in your pet’s life, reduce anxiety provoking incidents allow for lots of rest and comfortable surroundings.
Acupuncture can help to slow the progression of the illness.
Vitamin B12 will help support the stress load on your dog.
Exercise and fresh air will help your dog with overcoming an illness.
Massage the lower back in a downward motion, from shoulders to the base of the tail area will promote good circulation of the body, and a gentle tummy rub from the chest downward will help move toxins and relax your pet.
Vet Stem Company which uses stem cell therapies and treatments is a company we support in their quest to use a dog’s own stem cells to improve auto-immune, arthritic, and diseases in pets.
You can contact Vet Stem on their state of the art treatments for dogs including heart problems, kidney disease, heart disease, arthritis, dysplasia and other illnesses at: Vet Stem Company
TAGS: Dog renal disease, Dog kidney diseases, herbals for dog kidney disease, Blood tests for dog renal disease, food and diet for dog with kidney disease, remedies for dog kidney disease, simple massage for dog kidney diseass, Vet Stem Company, stem cells for dog-cutting edge therapy, Stem Cell Therapy for dogs, Support for dog renal diseases, herbals for cat renal diseases, dog health, dog health 1 natural dog remedies, pet toxins, what causes kidney failure in dogs.
June 13, 2010 A healthy doggy summer -a day at the beach and a picnic this video illustrates that dogs an have fun too. Summer is a great time to share some fun with your dog, take them for walks, a trip or a picnic dogs love spending time with you too.
Summer is the time to get out and enjoy your dog with long walks, picnics, swims at a nearby lake, or just hanging around tossing a ball or frisby with your favourite pal.
Summer is also a time for fleas and I found the best kit to work on fleas from the outside and the inside of your dog to avoid all that scratching and pain. Fleas are thriving in the summer heat and it won’t take long for your dog to pick up some even in a park or beach.
Here is a kit that I found that has it all for all the Flea Care you Need This Summer. Again these products do not contain harmful chemicals, pesticides, or harmful solvents that burn your dog’s skin or cause cancer. We only use Natural ingredients and that means the ingredients come from plants, not a chemical factory.
The summer flea problem is a combination of heat and accessibility of your dog coat. You can have a mild case where there are only a few fleas but remember they multiply fast. Then there is a moderate or medium case where your dog scratches and this is recently within the past few weeks. Then there is a severe case where your dog is scratching all day long at every chance because the poor thing is infected. This is a case where the fleas are biting you too and you can see them jumping off or when you comb your dog or are doing your brushing.
In any case this kit contains one ingredient you have heard about and that is garlic, fleas don’t like garlic much. However this kit contains much more and is worth every penny. Don’t spend hours and gas money going to find a store or several stores to buy what you need -it is all in this case:
You Get All This: The Natural Pet All in One – Flea Remedy, A Grip Easy Flea Comb, Only Natural’s Garlic and Brewer’s Yeast formula, a Herbal Defense Shampoo, A Herbal Conditioner, A Herbal Spray, and a Spot Skin Relief Oil, and finally the Flea Buster Powder for your carpets and dog’s bedding. All In One Flea Kit is the best ever for attacking fleas on all fronts – not just a shampoo. This is due to the fact that fleas are everywhere or can spread if you don’t start attacking them in all locations, the bed, the skin, the insides, the hotspots and it is effective in eliminating fleas for the summer.
There is a kit for Cats too: same great ingredients no chemicals or pesticides in these products -ever. Fleas can cause skin problems like itching, bleeding, sores and sleepless nights for your pet. The dog flea infestation season is months long and nipping the problem in the bud is the best way to treat a dog flea problem.
Ensure your pet is not getting these deadly ingredients and do not buy your products at Home Depot or some other chain -they do contain harmful chemicals. Enjoy your summer and check back for more dog health news and information.
Tags: Dog healthy summer, healthy doggy summer, dog health, flea kits for dogs, flea kits for cats, cat flea problems, dog flea infestation, natural flea products for pets, pet products for fleas, skin problems and fleas, dog flea problem.
The season of scratching dogs is fast upon us with the irritable skin rashes, hives, eczema, and sores from fleas. Pet owners need to attack the problems not the symptoms and that comes from good dog health information.
The summer flea season drives your dog and you crazy with constant scratching your dog’s skin becomes irritated and your dog will be miserable all summer. The health of dogs is attacked in two ways on the outside for skin and coat applications and on the inside to promote healing at the cellular level.
Dog’s Allergies
Most dogs are now allergic to food ingredients due to poor quality dog foods on the market. Either chemicals, dyes, additives, and undesirable ingredients in dog food cause you dog to have itchy skin.
Switching to an organic diet for your dog will alleviate this problem completely in most cases.
Most common causes of skin itching can be pin pointed to: Fleas or mites,
the environment, nutrition and allergies.
Handling Dog Itching from the Inside
Smaller irritants such as sarcoptic mites, fleas, allergies, and scabies all cause inflammation of the skin and treating the symptoms rather than the problem is not the way. Some chemical mixtures make matters worse and that type of itching comes from the chemicals.
There is a pet skin care formula that does work to relieve your pets irritations and rashes. Vetinox has a product called Derma-IonX which relieves pet’s skin irritations and is safe and natural.
Derma-IonX contains only natural homeopathic ingredients such as: selenium Metallicum, sulphur, Alumina, Urica Urens, Agaricus Muscarius which is an all natural homeopathic remedy solution made of 74 organic trace minerals, purified water and potassium sorbate. These ingredients cannot be stressed enough to help your dog reduce the inflammation of dog’s itching. Derma-IonX reduces rashes, hives, eczema, and red skin itching spots that eventually lead to your dog losing its fur.
To take it one step further Derma-IonX helps to regenerate new cells needed for your pet’s health and well being. This formula also detoxes your dog’s cells from a build up of heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides and other substances in the cells. This product also provides needed electrolytes and
oxygenates your pets tissues.
How is Derma-IonX Different than other Products:
Basically Derma-IonX is a liquid which you can put in your dog’s water bowl or administer by a teaspoon. This product helps support your dog’s skin to heal not like other products that only addresses the symptoms of dog itchy skin. Wouldn’t you rather eliminate the problems rather than the symptoms? It is more cost effective to address the issues of itchy dog skin problems.
Handling Mites on the Outside – Mite Shampoo
Pet owners do not appreciate chemicals in their dog shampoos and when you wash your dog you don’t want the shampoo to cause more skin itching due to the ingredients.
You want to use an herbal shampoo with all natural ingredients that cleans and promotes healthy dog skin and fur. The bad ingredients in pet shampoos today are parbens, sodium laurel sulphates and petrochemicals that make your dog worse. Do not buy dog shampoos from pet stores or your local Wal-Mart. Most of these products are made in China and are not inspected by the US government. You are totally on your own if you use them and have to face the possible consequences of making itching worse.
We recommend Manage Mites Shampoo from Pet Alive which contains only natural products are are made from herbs not chemicals. The shampoo contains natural ingredients such as Garlic, Agrimony, Wormwood, Neem, and essential oils such as lemongrass oil. The base ingredients are olive oil, grapefruit extract, aqua and coconut oils.
Use these all natural organic products for dogs this summer and you and your buddy will be enjoying the sunshine without the terrible itching and scratching.
Tags: Dogs health and itchy skin, Dog itchy skin, itchy skin problems for dogs, mite shampoos, natural organic products for dogs, dog mites, dog allergies, Pet Alive Mites Shampoo, mites shampoo, itchy dogs.
A dog led police to a burning house in Caswell Lakes Alaska while the police followed this dog it was obvious it was on a mission to lead police to a place where there was danger. This German Shepard was smarter than he looks and his name is Buddie.
The owners of Buddie are Ben Heinrichs and his parents Lynnette and Thomas Heinrichs. The trooper has his video camera on while following in his vehicle and he was not giving up on where this dog was leading him down some dark snowy roads in Alaska.
Buddies House Burning-Dog Rescues Family by Getting Help
This story is just amazing because as Ben did escape the house he summoned Buddie by saying ” we need help” and Buddie took off like a shot to get just that -help.
Never let it be said that dogs are not man’s best friend and in this case a rescue dog.
The dog led police right to his owners house who escaped with minor injuries and the fire department got there just in time.
Another example of a dog’s intelligence and bravery of which you can find stories like this every day. Somewhere some dog is saving a dumb human.
TAGS: dog leads police to burning house, dog saves owner from burning house in Alaska.
April 11, 2010 The story of a war dog Ruby that dates back to 1967 during the Vietnam war where a stray dog was found. The story is told by a Vietnam veteran Bill McDonald and a dog. She was named Ruby and was in poor condition with mange and very thin from lack of food.
Ruby the Vietnam War Dog
The soldiers gave her nourishment in the way of some rice, dried fish, meat and c-rations, she was given a name Ruby and hung around the camp while soldiers fought the war. The story continued as the war also did and fell in love when she ran away when bombs fell near the camp. Ruby ran to another camp which had a bunker and a friend named Blockhead.
If you wish to adopt a dog into your family and are capable of taking good care of dogs like Ruby go to the Human Society near you and adopt a good friend for life.
April 7, 2010 Dogs are getting cancer in larger numbers today than ever before and the problem is poor nutrition in dog food.
When you analyze what is really in dog food you will become a more educated dog owner. Look at the ingredients of your dog food, go to the manufacturers website although commonly they do not reveal the real ingredients. Does your dog digest its food and do you know that digestive enzymes have much to do with how your dog obtains the nutrients in the food you feed them.
Cancer can be prevented and treated by increasing your supplementation just like in people. It is an option to consider for a dog owner to examine the real nutrients in dog food.
You need to watch this video to help avoid cancer.
TAGS: dog cancer, dog health cancer, dog health1-dog cancer.
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