-Remember that pets have feelings too.

-Always treat your pets with love and kindness.

-Always make sure your pets have water to drink.

-During warm weather be sure to give them fresh water often.

-All pets need fresh water every day.

-Spay and neuter your pets to avoid unwanted babies.

-Be sure your pet wears an ID tag in case it gets lost.

-Make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise.

-All pets need healthy food every day.

-You shouldn't feed your pets people food or food that is meant for other animals. This could make your pets sick.

-Find a good veterinarian.

-Pets come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. They all need special care and lots of love.

-Select the correct pet for your family.

-Dogs need a lot of exercise.

-Keep your pet healthy. Take them to see the vet once a year.

-Feed your pet correctly. Give your pet the right food and Vitamins if your pet is more active than normal, and especially for older pets.

-Keep your pets clean and remember to clean their beds. Brushing your pet's fur will help your pet stay clean.

IS YOUR HOUSE KILLING YOUR DOG?

By: George Graham

Do you love your dog? Would you do anything for your dog? Well your home may not be the best place for your dog to live a long and happy life. Just like parents often put poisonous things into a baby’s room (like new wallpaper and plastic toys) and wonder why the baby is sick, people often expose their dog to things that will kill them and wonder why the dog is sick or dying. Dogs get sick and die from cancer. That is a fact. But did you know that household cleaning products will cause cancer? An example is bleach. Everyone knows that it interferes with breeding dogs by altering the sex hormones and by killing sperm. But did you know it can alter DNA to the point that tumors develop? You find bleach in many of the household products that your dog comes in contact with on a daily basis. It is in laundry detergents, for example. Did you launder that blanket your dog sleeps on? Does you dog sleep in the laundry room? Did you spill detergent on the laundry room floor where your dog can lick it? Your dog can also be exposed to mold, especially in the laundry room. The room is wet and warm and confined. A perfect place for mold growth to concentrate. Molds produce chemical groups like Ochratoxins, Aflatoxins and Trichothecenes. In high concentrations these chemicals cause cancer for people and dogs. Doctors and vets have known this for almost 30 years. Themoldlab.com But these toxins are slow onset problem makers. This means that it may take a few years for the cancers to develop. So your dog may feel great up till the moment that it is too late. Where else do we find mold in high concentrations? In the basement, of course. People quite often have a beautiful sleeping area for their dogs in basements. "Okay, I believe you. What can I do?"

1. Keep cleaning products sealed in plastic containers.

2. Buy cleaning products WITHOUT bleach.

3. Clean up all spills immediately.

4. Keep washer and dryer open when not in use. (To stop mold)

5. Keep the laundry room door open to air out.

6. Periodically spray the rooms with a solution of grape fruit seed extract or Tea Tree Oil to prevent mold growth.

 If you plan to keep your dog healthy, you have to start thinking about it today.

 About the Author: For 30 years, Dr Graham has been helping people treat and prevent disease by showing them how to live in a clean environment. Tennesseemold.com/ebooks.shtml e-mail: DrGraham@themoldlab.com

PET TOXINS

Q. Which foods could be dangerous for my dog?

A. Some foods which are edible for humans, and even other species of animals, can pose hazards for dogs because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death. The following common food items should not be fed (intentionally or unintentionally) to dogs. This list is, of course, incomplete because we can not possibly list everything your dog should not eat.

 Items to avoid Reasons to avoid:

-Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication, coma, and death. 

-Baby food Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.

-Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

-Cat food Generally too high in protein and fats.

-Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.

-Citrus oil extracts Can cause vomiting.

-Fat trimmings Can cause Pancreatitis.

-Grapes and Raisins Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.

-Human vitamin supplements containing iron Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.

-Large amounts of liver Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.

-Macadamia nuts Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.

-Marijuana Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.

-Milk and other dairy products Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.

-Moldy or spoiled food, garbage Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.

-Mushrooms Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.

-Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.

-Persimmons Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.

-Pits from peaches and plums Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract.

-Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.

-Raw eggs Contain an enzyme called Avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

-Raw fish Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

-Salt If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.

-Sugary foods Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.

-Table scraps (in large amounts) Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.

-Tobacco Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.

-Yeast dough Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

IF YOU WANT A FRIEND, GET A DOG!

Carl Icahn, the hostile takeover master who was THE original corporate raider, is often quoted as saying, "In this business, if you want a friend, get a dog!" The rest of us already knew that dog was man's best friend, and with good reason. Dogs as pets date back at least as far as the days of Pompeii, where the remains of a dog stretched out next to a little boy were recovered from the rubble at Pompeii. We all know that dogs are cute, warm, and cuddly, requiring little more than food, water, shelter and affection to return unwavering devotion. Dogs have earned their rightful place as a family member. In fact, what family portrait is complete without the family canine? Dogs earned their place of prominence years ago among their blind and deaf owners and in local, state, federal and international law enforcement. Hint: be sure to rid your coat pockets of doggie biscuits the next time you travel, unless you want to be attacked by a drug and bomb-sniffing dog. A quick glance through the amazing true stories ripped from the headlines below demonstrates that dogs may never fall from their pedestal as man's best friend! While it's true that we must do for dogs what they cannot do for themselves, have a look at the things that dogs have done for us that we could not or did not want to do for ourselves. Dogs CAN smell cancer On September 24, 2004, the Associated Press reported that the first scientific experiment to prove what has long been suspected—that dogs can smell cancer—was successful. A dog's sense of smell is far superior to that of a human's: 10,000 to 100,000 times better. The results of the study appeared in the British Medical Journal. The study proved that dogs could indeed smell cancer. What remains to be determined is whether dogs can effectively communicate the presence of cancer. What's most promising is that dogs may well be able to detect the presence of cancer before high-tech medical testing. Dogs help seniors live longer In 1999, a study reported in the Journal of American Geriatrics concluded what many have known intuitively and anecdotally for a long time: seniors with pets live longer and fuller lives both physically and mentally. Once again, science proves common sense. Dogs require walking. Active seniors with pets have lower blood pressure, visit their doctors less frequently, require hospitalization less frequently and when they are hospitalized, the duration is shorter. Assisted living facilities and nursing homes have moved almost en masse to allowing visiting pets or housing a resident pet for their residents. The Delta Pet Partner certifies pets to visit nursing homes and hospice facilities. If you have an elderly parent, consider giving the gift of life, a companion dog. Hostage miniature dog escapes and eludes captors In 1992, a teeny tiny 11-year-old Pomeranian was reportedly stolen from its home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The following January, a father/daughter team in Corpus Christie, Texas, saw a van chasing the little dog. The driver abandoned the van and began chasing the dog on foot, but could never catch the dog. Finally, the dog's captor fled the scene, abandoning the dog, an animal perhaps 1/20th the size of its captor. The daughter chased the dog, and the dog willingly jumped in her arms. Since the dog wore tags, the father/daughter team returned the dog to its owners. What's next? Courier dogs? Actually, that's old news! In 2001, it was reported that a then five-year-old golden retriever named J.C. delivered its owners' prescriptions from the pharmacy. The pharmacy was located in the same strip mall as the owners' shop in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, and J.C. always accompanied the owners to the pharmacy. The dog began carrying the prescriptions back from these outings. J.C.'s not just any old dog. It was reported that he took instruction well, and when instructed, he ran down to the pharmacy and returned with prescriptions in tow. Since the beginning of their relationship with humans, dogs have fended for their owners, rescuing them from all sorts of perilous situations. Won't you consider rescuing a dog from the loneliness of life without an owner?