Your new pet needs to be treated as the baby it is. Remember, babies get sick easily and stress causes sickness. Additional handling and picking up the new addition to the family by eager youngsters should be avoided. Also take extra measure in doing what is b est for your new pet as well as your child.

Your Tree holds many dangers for all types of pets; tinsel is the number one on the list. Pets can not resist its shiny texture and if eaten it can require surgery to be removed from the intestines. Breakables ornaments that are hung low enough to be batted of the tree can cause cuts in paw pads or can be ingested and will also have to be surgically removed. Use garland instead of tinsel and place all breakable ornaments higher on the tree. Pet safe ornaments can be purchased and put on lower branches to keep kitties occu pied.

Keep all chocolate stored and out of your pet’s reach. Even small amounts of chocolate can prove to be toxic to your pet. Poinsettias can irritate and cause some upset stomachs if you pets do any chewing on the leaves, stems or the flower itself. if they are a must in your house keep them a place where you pets can not reach.

Dinner is a favorite to all, and most of us give holiday dinner to our pets. However it is important to only give your pet what you yourself would eat! Do not give any kind of bone that could splinter off inside your pet. Do not ever give your pet fatty scraps. If it’s not good for you, it’s not good for your pet either!

If your pet stays outside for long periods of time, provide a dry, warm, draft free, sleeping area and fresh water. Very important to remember that cats like to seek out warm engines of visitors. When leaving always check under the hood or this could be a disastrous result.

Cats and dogs are always attracted to the sweet taste of antifreeze. With even a tablespoon it could prove fatal to your pet so use a non-toxic antifreeze. You have no control of what your guests use in their cars.

Always be careful as many animals are lost each year because of the lure of antifreeze.

Julie WAU

Pregnancy Safety

Mothers-to-be, remember to avoid contact with any feces. Expectant mothers should never clean out litter trays or do any gardening in places where cats may have gone to the loo. This is to avoid a dangerous disease called toxoplasmosis, which affects the eyes and brains of unborn babies, leading to problems later in life.

Things to Do Before the Baby is Born

* Set up the baby’s nursery early.

* Put double-sided tape on the mattress to keep the cats out of crib.

* Bring a blanket home from the hospital for your pet so your pet can get used to your baby’s scent.

* Give your pet lots of attention once the baby arrives.

* When your child is in the same room, play with your pet a little more, give him a few treats, etc. Make sure he knows that he is still loved as much as he always was.

* Try not to drastically reduce the attention you’ve been giving your pet, or you will start causing negative associations with the baby. You want your pet to think, “This baby is the greatest thing in the world.”

* Update all vaccinations for both your dogs and cats.

* Take your pets in for a check up with your vet for internal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and heartworms.

* Stock up on plenty of heartworm prevention and flea preparations. Ask your vet about the one month, three month, or six month supply of heartworm preventatives (dogs) and flea control products (dogs and cats). It will save you a trip and it’s cost effective.

* Begin introducing your pet to the idea that a change is coming. Introduce the nursery to the pet. Expose pet to “baby” smells, like baby lotion and powder.

* Try practicing with a doll. Give the doll your undivided attention. See what kind of reaction you get out of your pet.

* Ask family or friends if they have noticed any particular changes in your pet’s attitude.

* Bring other babies and toddlers around so your pet can get some experience with them.

* Play the sounds of a baby crying, gurgling and cooing.

* OBEDIENCE TRAIN YOUR PET before the baby arrives!!! If there are behaviors that your pet does now that you do not want your pet to do when your baby arrives, like sleep with you, jump up on you, etc., start correcting those behaviors now.

* Now is the time to decide if you want an inside or outside pet.

When Your Baby Comes Home

Welcoming a new baby is exciting for your family. Make sure that you give your pet a lot of extra attention, because the main focus will be on you and the newest member of the family. You don’t want your pet to feel left out and unloved and unappreciated.

Expect a lot of company in and out of your house the first couple of weeks. You will naturally be somewhat distracted, so don’t forget to pay attention to your pets as well.

There is a possibility that your pet will be eager to greet you and jump on you when you first entering your home, so let another person hold the baby when you return from the hospital. Have that person take the baby into another room. Give your pet a some welcome-home attention and a few treats to settle him down.

Bring the baby blanket over that you had been using to familiarize him with the new smell of the baby, and bring your pets with you to sit next to you and the baby. Don’t forget to reward your pet with treats for good behavior. Always supervise any interaction with your pet and your baby.

* Pay close attention and watch for protective signs from your pet; he may begin guarding his food and water bowls and toys. Your pet may get aggressive when a crawling baby enters his territory.

* Never leave your pet alone with a baby.

* Pets to be cautious of are all exotic pets, especially ferrets and reptiles.

Cats in the Cradle

“According to an old wives’ tale, a jealous cat will ’steal a baby’s breath’ if given half a chance. No one knows exactly how a cat might manage this feat, but that mystery hasn’t stopped the superstition from surviving to the present day.” Victoria L. Voith, D.V.M. School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania http://www.cah.com/dr_library/babiepts.html

Julie WAU CO

resources: Raining cats and dogs – pets, pregnancy and your baby http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/features/…ies_003846.htm

Babies and Pets http://www.lvma.org/babies.html

Babies and Pets http://www.yourbabytoday.com/babypla…bies_pets.html

Halloween brings the constant ringing of the doorbell from trick-or-treaters, noise, commotion and people in strange costumes. Because your pets rely on their constant daily routine, these Halloween festivities can frighten and agitate your pets. It is best to enclose your fuzzy buddy in a quite comfortable room with some of their favorite things. Keeping them safely indoors protects them from becoming at risk to cruel treatment of Halloween pranksters.

At Halloween, pets are found to be innocent victims of pranksters’ cruel jokes. October is one month out of the whole year we need to take extra safety precautions for our pets.

Ritual Sacrifices are still in existence. The danger to black cats on Halloween is at an all time high. Many shelters and humane societies have refused the adoption of black cats for the entire month of October. This causes the black occult practitioners and other sadists to look to the streets for their sacrificial cats. Color is not always their highest priority. So keep your cats safe and indoors.

Don’t send Odin or Freya along to trick-or-treat with your children. The family doggy can get confused during the noise and all the commotion of the festivities and can be hard to handle. In result your dog could end up biting someone, running away, or bolt off the leash and get hit by a car or get lost.

Make sure all your pets have ID tags in case they turn up missing or escape from your home unnoticed in all the commotion.

Halloween goodies, yum. Tell your children not to share there goodies with their best fuzzy buddies. Chocolate is toxic for dogs, cats and ferrets. Other dangers are lollipops and any other candies with plastic components. Because of the sticks from lollipops and plastic components of other candies if swallowed they can cause an intestinal obstruction and rupture the intestines. This is a life threatening emergency.

Keep your pets away from your Halloween decorations. Pets love to play with anything that dangles, hangs or is shiny. They may tangle themselves, or end up choking on any type of decoration. Keep pumpkins and candles away from curious noses and paws. Candles can singe, burn or set fire to fur and knocked over pumpkins can set fires.

Hope you have a pet safe and Happy Halloween!!!!!

Julie WAU WY

Resources:
www.kidsource.com/kidsour…event.html
cats.about.com/cs/catmana…tmonth.htm
vetmedicine.about.com/lib…urrent.htm
www.adoptapet.com/boo.html
www.theacorn.com/News/200…ts/45.html

Remove skunk odor. Use vinegar straight to remove skunk odor from your pet’s fur.

Stop your cat’s scratching furniture. Sprinkle or spray vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat scratching.

Fish bowl cleaner. Eliminate that ugly deposit in the gold fish tank by rubbing it with a cloth dipped in vinegar and rinsing well.

Remove pet stains from carpets. Blot up urine with a soft cloth, flush several times with lukewarm water, and then apply a mixture of equal parts vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse and let dry.

Source:Kitchen Crafts and more.

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
* 1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk
* 1 tsp. sugar (or less)
* 1 egg
* 1 tsp. beef or chicken bouillon granules
* 1/2 cup hot water

PREPARATION:

In a large bowl, dissolve bouillon in hot water. Cool to room temperature. Add remaining ingredients. Knead for three minutes or until dough forms a ball. This dough can be really tough to roll so i let my husband do that part.

Juno’s Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 cups whole-wheat flour
* 1 tbsp. baking powder
* 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
* 1 cup milk

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 375′F. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.These cookies BURN easily!!

Vicky

Should the temptation to roll in something smelly be just too much to bother following commands, he can at least learn that if he does this he will not be allowed in the house or to jump up on you. At least this way he isn’t sharing his smell with you!

Just a reminder since you have a child in the house, is careful your dog doesn’t become infected with worms. These parasites are not passed by saliva, but children can pick them up by playing on the ground or the floor.

· Runny or crusty eyes or noses. This can be a sign of respiratory or eye infections. Such infections are generally treatable with antibiotics, so it’s not a reason to dismiss an animal immediately (especially if you’re at a shelter). But if a lot of the animals at a pet store or farm have these symptoms, it’s a sign that the owners aren’t taking good care of their pets, which could mean your potential pet has other problems, too.

· Ears. Head shaking and scratching may be a sign of fleas, ear mites, excess wax, or infection. Again, these maladies usually can be treated, but consider the cost involved and the care the animal has received in the past.

· Mouth and teeth. You may need help looking into the mouth of some animals, but even quickly checking out the teeth can tell you a lot about their health. Teeth that are overgrown or crooked (also called maloccluded) will need to be trimmed, straightened, or removed, for instance. · Feathers, fur, skin, and scales. In general, you’re looking for smooth, shiny fur and feathers, without large bald patches or visible dandruff. Fish should have intact bodies (i.e., no torn fins) and should be free of white or mold-like spots.

· Private parts. You may feel squeamish about this, but just as you’re familiar with your young child’s privates, you need to get familiar with your pets’ regions. The area around the anus and down the hind legs of your potential pet should be fairly clean. Matted feces can be a sign of digestive disorder; urine-soaked fur can be a sign of a bladder infection or incontinence. Urine-soaked or poop-smeared bodies also can be a sign of poor care on the part of the owner.

Finding healthy pet references: http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5147,00.html