Pleasing 4 Pets

As a growing number of people decide to treat themselves using holistic or alternative methods, it seems that an increasing number of caring pet owners are calling for their vets to treat their beloved pets using natural alternatives and organic forms of healing as a replacement for conventional medicines.

Holistic remedies can be explained as a philosophy that envisions the patient, whether that patient is human or indeed animal as a complete unit encompassing the mind, body and spirit.

The impetus of holistic pet care is on evading ailments with a combination of a healthy existence including the benefits of a decent diet and the effects of exercise to keep your pet stable and in optimum health.

While some pet owners research the benefits of holistic treatment in a last ditch attempt to relieve painful or complicated animal illnesses there are a wide range of other possible uses for these unconventional remedies, from acupuncture to deep tissue massage.

Other complimentary treatments include the use of herbal remedies to manage a variety of animal behavioural issues such as separation anxiety or uncontrollable obsessive behaviours, and all holistic remedies can be used in conjunction with traditional or conventional medicines prescribed by your vet.

If you are considering treating your pet using any form of holistic therapy you should ensure that any alternative treatments are issued under the close direction of a holistic specialist or under the supervision of a vet.

When you lose a much cherished pet there are certain challenges that you as an owner must face. Some animal companions do not die out of the blue and can unfortunately suffer crippling and debilitating illnesses in the same way that humans can and unfortunately in these circumstances the owner is faced with the agonising decision of when their pet should be put to sleep. So in addition to their grief at losing a pet, some owners often experience feeling of guilt and culpability for the death of their much loved animal.

Pet memorials are often an effective and heartening way of remembering and honouring the existence of a treasured animal companion that has sadly passed away. A memorial to your precious pet will serve as a permanent testimony to the special bond or mutual friendship that united you as pet and owner.

Some owners choose to bury their animals in a pet cemetery and others decide to have their animals cremated and choose a significant or special place to scatter their ashes.

Many grieving pet owners opt for an intimate ceremony to commemorate the life of a pet and to celebrate the unconditional love and companionship that they offered throughout their lives. This form of tribute can often be of comfort to children who have suffered the loss of a pet, and can be a useful tool in enabling them to understand death and loss.

There are no firm guidelines relating to what you have to do when you lose a pet, but what is important is to allow yourself time to mourn as well as time to recall the happy moments and special memories that you shared.

The UK’s standing as one of the greatest nations of animal lovers in the world received considerable damage recently after a report was released confirmed a massive increase in the number of owners abusing their animals.

The RSPCA revealed that since the launch of the Animal Welfare Act, which was made law in April 2007, the number of persons found guilty of cruelty to animals rose by almost 25% during 2007.

Somewhere in the region of 500,000 pets were found to be in need of help, many of them having been abused, abandoned or neglected in some way.

The Chief Officer of the RSPCA Inspectorate, Tim Wass went on record to say :

“ These animals are helpless victims of our affluent, throwaway society - they’re bought on a whim and discarded when the novelty wears off.”

The disturbing figures also exposed a 34% escalation in the number of those convicted for cruelty towards dogs and a 15% increase in convictions for cruelty towards cats. Cruelty investigations overall totalled just under 500,000, an increase of around 12% on the previous year.

Throughout the course of 2007 a total of 54 people received prison sentences on the grounds of animal cruelty and 861 individuals were prohibited from keeping animals on similar grounds.

Current unstable economic conditions are putting pressure on most family budgets at the moment. The recent and dramatic upturns in petrol, grocery and energy prices have done little to alleviate this pressure.

With families everywhere more aware of their budgets than ever before, many are looking to cut costs in all areas of their outgoings. But is it possible to cut down on pet care costs too?

There are a number of ways that you can make an effort to control your expenditure in this area.

• Try grooming your pet at home. Aim to begin by brushing both your animal companions’ hair and teeth where possible, on a regular basis. If you are careful you can even attempt to trim down their nails. Remember that the more often you do this, the more used to this type of handling they’ll become. This could help cut down on grooming bills and even dental costs. In the long term these actions can be considered as a form of preventative maintenance for your pet.

• Consider purchasing your pet provisions in bulk quantities if you can. Many supermarkets and pet shops offer good deals on quality brands in multi-packs and bulk buys.

• Shop around for a veterinary practice which offers good value for money. Fees vary widely between different veterinary practices. There are a great number of experienced and skilled vets in the UK who will provide expert services for reasonable cost. Be open and honest with your vet when discussing treatment for your pet and determine for yourself which vet is most suited to you and individual economic circumstances.

• Make the most of three-year immunisations where possible. Many animal vaccines are now offered in discounted three year doses. Your vet should be able to advise you which vaccinations are available in these extended doses.

Hamsters are mammals belonging to the rodent family. They typically possess large incisor teeth that grow continually making it necessary for them to habitually gnaw in order to avoid overgrowing of the teeth.

Traditionally hamsters are nocturnal creatures, and will sleep during the day, waking only during the evening. You may be able to persuade your hamster to wake at an earlier time by offering him food earlier. After a short time your hamster will realise his feeding time. However you should always ensure that he has fresh water available in a position where he is able to reach it comfortably.

Most pet stores offer a variety of dried food mixes expressly intended for your hamster. These usually consist of rodent pellets, crushed oats, peanuts, maize, barley and sunflower seeds, with some of the more superior mixes providing a wider range with the addition of dried fruit or vegetables. If you decide to treat your hamster to some fresh fruit of vegetables you should limit the amount that you offer him, and bear in mind that he will likely attempt to store it, and it will decay and rot over time. You should also be aware that hamsters are unable to tolerate certain fresh produce, such as kidney beans, raw potato or rhubarb, and tomato or rhubarb leaves.

Hamsters traditionally have very weak eyesight but have a sharp sense of smell and exceptional hearing. The majority of hamster species can be identified by their expandable cheek pouches which they use to collect food and bedding to transport around, most commonly to a private part of the cage and where they will frequently hoard food.

Typically the common hamster will not require any form of grooming other that perhaps an occasional brush with a very soft toothbrush to help remove debris from their coats. They do not require bathing, as they are fully able to clean themselves, although many hamsters might welcome a shallow dish of sand in their cages that they can roll in to remove any excess greasiness from the skin.