Blog posts tagged with 'holistic pet care'

By Dr. Pamela Fisher, DVM

Now that spring has sprung, it is important to recognize the stresses that our cats and dogs may encounter and be proactive!

Warmer weather means more animal and humanactivity outside.  Cats have a very large range of hearing, even more acute than dogs or humans.  They can distinguish sounds much higher in pitch than dogs can, and are about equal in terms of low pitch noises.  Cats can also detect tiny variances in sound.  In nature, this allows them to detect the size of a potential predator.

Cats often feel stray and roaming cats are invading their territory.  They can show their stresses by misbehaving, urine marking, or aggression towards their housemates.   It is important to provide plenty of exercise enrichment, such as climbers, scratching posts, and puzzles, to help reduce stress.   Try to keep strays away, and contact your local Trap, Neuter, and Return group to help with outside cat population control if needed.

Territorial issues may arise with the activity outside as well.  Dogs are very alert to territory encroachments.  This could lead to increased barking if dogs feel like their area is being threatened outside. 

Often dogs enjoy eating new spring grasses to help their bodies detox and adjust to the season change.  Studies hypothesize this is an inherited tendency from their wild ancestors. Check your pet’s diet to make sure they are eating a healthy balanced grain free food/treats with minimal carbohydrates (and no added sugars).  

Adding some fresh vegetables and perhaps a little organic dandelion greens to their diet may be helpful. It is also important to be aware of toxic exposures as the seasons start to change. These could include lawn organic or chemical treatments, compost, garbage, cleaning chemicals, etc.  If your pet gets into any of these or has digestive upset contact your veterinarian. Be sure to give them a few sprays of Calm My Digestion for several weeks to help ease their stomach and digestive tract. This will also help with their adjustment during the warmer weather.

There are many great solutions to help ease your pet’s mind during these potentially stressful times. 

For indoor cats, Calm My Cat spray and Calm My Pet Music are both excellent for distracting your cat from the disturbing noises outside so they can relax.  Make sure to use on all cats in the household.

For your dogs who are reactive to things going on right outside your yard, try Calm My Dog and Calm My Stress to help them be more at ease.  Inside, add Calm My Pet Music as well to help them relax and avoid being distracted by noises and spring thunderstorms.

By Dr. Pamela Fisher, DVM

It is already the holiday season again!  Here are some best practices to make sure your pet is safe and happy during these potentially stressful times:  

1. Keep the Same Routine- Routines can be interrupted very easily during the holidays.  Try your best to make these situations as comfortable as possible for your pet.  Even if things change slightly, it is important to stick to their normal routine as much as possible.

2. Bundle Up and Get Plenty of Exercise - If you live in a snowy area, make sure your pet is protected from the elements.  This may include jackets and snow boots to make sure their paws do not get too cold.  Also, you can play fetch in the basement.  Another popular activity could be hide and seek with treats, or puzzles to keep them engaged and entertained.

3. Be Careful Introducing any New Treats or Foods- Always make sure to read the ingredients to make sure they are grain-free and natural.  Do not feed table food.

4. Supervise with any New Toys or Chews- Especially if there are other pets visiting, there can be stress over dominance and protection of treats/toys.  Make sure that all your pets are comfortable with each other, and all new toys and chews are natural and safe.

5. Keep Holiday Plants and Ornaments out of Reach-   Trees, including water for live trees, tinsel, ornaments, strings of lights, or cranberries are all potentially very dangerous for our pets.  Also, avoid scented candles and other scented items because our pets can be very sensitive to these smells.

6. Store Chocolates and Holiday Cookies Safely Out of Reach- You can always get your pet their own safe treats so they can enjoy the holidays as well!

7. Play CMP Therapeutic Music and Use Calm My Pet Essences- Play Calm My Pet Therapeutic Music to help all your pets feel their best and be relaxed.  Use Calm My Pet essences everyday and especially before, during and after company arrives, and any other stressful situations.  

By Dr. Pamela Fisher, DVM

What is the best way to handle bringing home a new rescue dog from the shelter?  We will go through multiple ways to make sure your pet is as comfortable as possible for the transition.  Many pets, rescue animals especially, have issues from the past that they need to work through. These tips will help make those issues seems smaller for your new pup.

Create a Predictable Routine – Changing homes is a stressful time for dogs. The best way to mediate this is to create a predictable routine for your dog.  This means consistent eating times, exercise, and sleeping. Dogs are creatures of habit, and having a consistent routine will help them adjust to their new home and know exactly what to expect on a daily basis.

Training – Starting a your dog in a training class as early as possible gives them socialization and skills to know how to act in public, as well as at home. Include training practice in daily routines to give your pup a job. Make training fun for you and your dog!

Healthy Diet - A balanced diet is very important for your dog to live a happy and healthy life.  Make sure to feed them natural, grain-free foods.  Also, it is very important to have treats and puzzle toys to keep your pet engaged during potentially stressful situations.

Exercise – Consistent exercise is an essential part of keeping your new dog relaxed and happy.  A tired dog is a happy dog. Make sure you exercise your new dog daily, preferably at least two 15-20 minute cardio sessions a day. Also, vary the type of exercises. Between walks, runs, fetch, and interaction with other dogs, there are plenty of options.

Unscented Essences and Music-  Calm My Pet offers a Calm My Rescue Kit, which is made specifically for rescue pets adjusting to their new home.  It includes an unscented spray for rescue dog stresses, and therapeutic music performed by a sound therapist to help your dog have an easier transition.  This product was featured as a Modern Dog Magazine Fave Find for 2016!

Most of all, be patient and have fun. Your dog can sense your stresses and can feed off of that. So, the more relaxed you are, the better your pet will do!

By Dr. Pamela Fisher, DVM

With spring coming to a close and summer right around the corner, it is important to be ready for thunderstorms and how your pets will react. 

One great way to prepare your pet for thunderstorms is to play the sounds for your pet in a controlled manner.  Either record some sounds of thunder yourself, or you could easily find some sounds online to reenact the situation for your pet.  While playing these sounds, on a low level, always below fear threshold, feed your pet treats so they associate positive events with the sound of thunderstorms.  Every few days increase sound slowly, desensitizing by associating positive rewards with calm behavior. Also, when practicing, make sure they have a safe place to go during the sounds (crate, playpen, etc.).

Calm My Stress is made for specific intense stress situations such as thunderstorms. Even during the practice sounds, use Calm My Stress before you start, during and after your desensitization training in order to give them a sense of balance and calming.

During an actual thunderstorm, it is best to allow your pet to go into their safe space.  Calming therapeutic Calm My Pet Music in the background can greatly benefit pets during the training sessions and real events. You do not need to drown out the sounds of the thunderstorm, but just having that music playing will provide therapeutic benefits.  Also, use Calm My Stress, before, during, and after the storm.

For more information on how to deal with thunderstorms or other specific stresses, feel free to reach out to us through our contact form. 

By Dr. Pamela Fisher, DVM

People utilize holistic therapies to keep themselves healthy and happy. We use these techniques to relax, de-stress, and heal on many levels. However, many are unaware that these alternative therapies are available for their pets too. Animals find massage and various sorts of energy work helpful for staying on a healthy path. I know this to be a fact because my world revolves around healing pets.

After many years in traditional small animal practice, I felt that alternative healing choices could greatly benefit our pets. I began pursuing training in these holistic techniques.  Currently, I have been practicing holistic veterinary medicine for over 18 years. I work with animals to improve their health and quality of life by utilizing alternative, holistic health care methods.  Every day is a new opportunity for me to learn from both the miracles and the challenges I encounter.  My teachers are the four-legged creatures that surround me.  I strive to stay focused with careful attention, so I may learn the lessons that these pets can teach us.

My clients come to me seeking help because their pet can’t explain the issue or research the condition.  Both the clients and their animals look to me for healing.  The pets need only to look into my eyes to see my willingness and ability to help.

Here are some alternative therapies that should be considered for pets:

Color Therapy uses color and light to balance energy of the physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental body. Specific colors may be applied by lights, essences, fabrics, gemstones, or colored glasses. Color can be targeted at energy centers and acupuncture points to bring homeostasis (balance) to the body.

Reiki (Universal Life Force Energy) is an ancient Japanese art of natural healing. With this Touch Healing technique, the healer uses his or her hands to transmit healing energy to balance the physical and emotional body. Reiki brings about deep relaxation, destroys energy blockages, detoxifies the system, provides new vitality in the form of healing universal life energy, and increases the vibrational frequency of the body.

Healing Touch for Animals® (HTA) is a compilation of bio-field techniques by Carol Komitor, LMT, CHTP to facilitate the healing process. Healing Touch for Animals works with the energy body to provide the correct physiology (balance of systems) so the body can heal. HTA provides the techniques to support this process. HTA helps with emotional, physical and behavioral issues. It works by releasing endorphins to establish a deeper relaxation and state of being, allowing the body to function at a greater energy level. By allowing muscles to relax, circulation is increased, sending more oxygen, nutrients, and hormones into the body to support healing. Both HTA and Reiki are bio-field, energy-based healing modalities.

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a light touch technique, which enhances the body’s natural healing processes. Osteopath John E. Upledger developed this intuitive guided therapy. Generally using pressure equal to the weight of a nickel, the body is evaluated and gently manipulated to help the body release any restrictions and promote the normal rhythm and flow of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. The length of time and the number of sessions needed is extremely variable and depends on, among other factors, the complex layers of the injury or trauma. Certain injuries may mask the original cause of the problem as a defense mechanism for the body. This gentle approach follows the body’s lead to uncover the source of pain or dysfunction and can open the path to wellness.

Massage and Acupressure help your pets physically and psychologically, aiding to relieve distress, anxiety and discomfort. Research shows that animals that are handled when young learn faster and have more advanced neural development compared to animals that are not. In humans, massage has been known to raise the pain threshold and reduce treatment soreness. It can calm or energize. These same results are seen in working with pets. Massage can be used as a prevention measure for canine athletes. Other benefits include toxin release, increase in flexibility, confidence building, and energy restoration.

These holistic treatments work with the body to achieve optimum health and balance. All pets can benefit from these methods. These techniques help our pets heal themselves through relaxation, increased circulation, toxin release, and immune regulation. The Chi (or life force) restored through energy work and nutrition helps our beloved pets feel more energetic. The relaxation/balance response is profound. Hands-on therapy can be beneficial with the following conditions:

• Pre and post surgery – calms the animal pre-surgery and reduces healing time post-surgery
• Any illness, including cancer
• Competitive canines or dogs in service – helps focus and reduces stress
• Emotional/Behavioral issues and everyday stresses
• Physical injuries – works with the body to reduce pain and increase mobility
• Rewards for your loving companion

Holistic pet therapy is a way of giving back to our companions for all the unconditional love pets give us everyday. Most pets are healers in their own way and often reflect our illnesses. We can learn to help both them and ourselves by addressing physical, spiritual, and emotional unbalances. As we attempt to achieve balance for our pets and for ourselves, we will see the healthy vibrations resonate through our lives and the world.

These techniques are very similar to what we strive to create with Calm My Pet products.  Our products are made with similar techniques in mind as those stated above, and they can be used to promote balance both physically and emotionally. They can either be an augment to the therapies you currently use or as standalone products to help your pets feel their best.

**While holistic pet therapy is a wonderful complement for your pet's health care, always seek veterinary advice before starting any therapy for your pet.