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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Susan's Homemade Pest Repellent for Pets

Ingredients
1 quart water(well water or bottled, not tap/city water)
2 lemons
1 orange
few sprigs rosemary.
(please use organic or home-grown-non-pesticided ingredients!) 


Directions
thinly slice orange & lemons, peel & all or peel only.
Add to water in a large saucepan/pot 
bring to a rolling boil
Then cover & remove from heat. 
Allow to steep in the pot in the refrigerator overnight .
strain with cheesecloth or something similar that will finely strain
Pour into a clean spray bottle.
Spray dog all over, including feet, until DAMP.
brush or rub in and allow dog to dry. 
Repeat every week or two as needed.

Variations 
can include using: cedar oil, neem, Apple Cider Vinegar(organic with the "mother"), grapefruit peels. 
I know this base recipe works for us, and I usually try some new addition every batch or two. 
I got this  idea from Dr Pitcairn's Lemon Dip for fleas but I needed something that worked well on ticks too. 
this has been very successful for us. You may need to use it more or less, or use more lemon, etc. to find the exact mixture that works for you.
I currently have 3 40-45 pound dogs that like to spend alot of time outside. One batch lasts us about a month. 

Help rescue a part of American History

This is a post via a wonderful volunteer at the shelter where Romeo & Juliet were brought in. We need help getting them to Dr Brisbin in South Carolina for his evaluation & study, as he is facing double knee replacement surgery and may not be able to drive himself there to pick up the pair. He is very excited about this pair, the ramifications of finding CDs in Louisiana and finding a cream & a red together(suggests possibly a larger pack -genetics- or broader range  or migration than previously thought).

This is American History in the making, Carolina Dogs are possibly the United States' only aboriginal dog. Furthering Dr Brisbin's study can only help finding more about the Carolina Dog, and thus  Early American Peoples. Please Chip In or volunteer to drive a leg if you are on the route! If you need more information, please send me an email asap & I can put you in touch with the right people. 




CHIP IN FOR RESCUE AND VET CARE OF ROMEO AND JULIET:
http://sherryg.chipin.com/romeo-and-juliet-carolina-dogs
click on link above for easy options.
"Romeo and Juliet are two wild, mated pair of Carolina Dogs that was picked up by Animal Control and is in our shelter in Port Allen, LA. Dr. Lehr Brisbin is wanting to bring these dogs up to South Carolina to his place. He is very excited about them and what this could mean to his studies and the fact that there has been no validated pockets of CD's coming from Louisiana. 
Dr. Brisbin was planning on driving to get them himself but now because of knee surgery, it is looking like we are going to have to arrange transport, which we are going to need help with. Also Juliet's eyes are getting worse and she needs vet care. Our shelter is a very small shelter, with no in house vet so everything extra that is done for these animals comes from donations. If you could PLEASE help in any way we would APPRECIATE it. It is a 12 hour drive from Baton Rouge, LA to Akin, SC. If anyone would be able to PERSONALLY DRIVE any of these legs that would be appreciated. 
Dr. Brisbin has said that anyone helping transport these dogs to him would be first in line for a free registered puppy. iIt wouldn't be so hard on one person if we could break this up. I would like to collect enough money to help with mileage and any vet care for these dogs. They may also need to be temporarily boarded as our shelter is in danger of becoming full because of hurricane evacuees animals that we are forced to take in. We have jumped through hoops getting these dogs approved for this trip to Dr. Brisbin, now we are just asking for help getting them there...thank you."

Monday, August 27, 2012

Is Our Pet's Health Mirroring Human Health Today?

Our pets seem to be mirroring the same increase in symptoms & diseases that humans are having today; obesity, diabetes, cancer, immune system disorders, intestinal/digestive problems, chronic skin problems/infections. The vast majority of these pets are fed commercial pet food- the human equivalent of pre-packaged fast food/junk food and are being vaccinated way more than many experts know is necessary. What does this tell us about our own health?  

 Could we learn something from this parallel about our own health? 
 Sadly, some dogs are beyond help and must be humanely euthanized(such as the example I wrote about recently- Jack's Story - vaccines can be deadly  or intensively managed to survive day to day, but the vast majority can be returned to more viable health by an immediate switch to healthy species appropriate raw foods, refraining from further unnecessary vaccinations(see this video for information ) and possibly detoxification help by an experienced Homeopath or Naturopath.  
 Of course you can help your pet to have a healthier life from the beginning by starting them out on a Natural diet as soon as you get them and refraining from use of toxins in/on/around your pets. One step further is thoughtfully choosing a pet that has been Naturally Reared and is from Naturally Reared parents. 

 Likewise we can positively affect our own health by choosing a healthier lifestyle; eat less processed foods, more whole foods, more organically grown foods, and decreasing our dependence on pharmaceutical medications & vaccinations to control illness symptoms in instances that we could heal ourselves via lifestyle & diet.

I'm pretty sure everyone has noticed that healthy living, use of organics,  natural or homeopathic remedies, whole foods and similar measures is on the rise. This is a slow process, getting the mainstream of society to increase their use of these healthy habits, just as it is a slow process getting the veterinary establishment to learn about, accept, and promote a healthier lifestyle: whole fresh raw foods, less chemicals and minimal (and safer) vaccinations, for our pets. There have been changes, there is a glimmer of light on the horizon, Integrative Veterinary Medicine is on the rise, the Rabies Challenge Fund(http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/ ) is working hard to raise awareness and prove that Duration of Immunity in core vaccines is much longer than what  has been "taught" in past years. 

We that HAVE experienced the transformation in our pets, from surviving to thrivingwe must continue to educate others, we must keep challenging the current status-quo of yearly vaccinations and the pushing of toxins & kibble as the only way. We have to continue to support our Naturopaths and Holistic & Integrative Vets, those that are willing to step out on a limb and question the mainstream for our pets health, not their bottom line,  and we must continue to support organizations like the Rabies Challenge Fund. 
Maybe along the way, pet owners will also learn more healthy ways for themselves and their human families. It has happened to me! Through my journey of learning about healthier ways for my dogs, I have become aware of healthier choices for myself and my family....What about you? 

Photo Journal of Raw Feeding #5

Cooter



Jesse
   

Daisy

Add Coconut oil, garlic & DE 

2 fresh eggs & 1 pound of  ground beef steak patties


Mix & add 3 tbsp veggie puree

Shown with beef bones 

My pack eating calmly near one another. I  would not allow anything else! 

Cooter  & Daisy are done in less than 2 minutes 

Jesse is a slow eater, but that is ok, he likes to savor the flavors!  Jesse does not have to worry about eating fast, because the other dogs respect his space while eating. With multiple dogs  this is a must have rule in my house! But if you leave your bowl & walk away, then it is fair game:) 
Daisy waiting on her bone 
Jesse waiting on his bone

Cooter didnt want to come up on the deck, but he did sit when asked so I handed it down to him. 

Jesse took his bone out to the shade to gnaw on it.

Cooter went right to work on his.

Daisy enjoying her bone on the deck.


I hope you can see how easy raw feeding can be, and enjoyable too! For the dog as well as the human  that enjoys seeing their companion get so much  enjoyment & stimulation from their food! 


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Photo Journal of Raw Feeding #4

Photo Journal of Raw Feeding #4


This meal is a little different in that it was a "gorge" meal. The previous day my pack fasted and the day after they got a late, small meal. It works out over the week, their weekly total amount was still the same.
As many of you know, I feed differing amounts of varied meats & food sources every day and I always feed at different times each day. I try to keep their feeding much like a carnivore/scavenger in the wild would experience. I have found that this is good for (1) behavioral reasons, (2)for mental stimulation and (3)physical health. 
Behaviorally- think "diva" dogs that must be fed at the exact same time every day in the same dish, etc,  or they get sick or have a meltdown. . . 
Mental Stimulation- whole prey, ground, chunks, fur on , or not... its all a mental workout for a dog, plus doing "brainwork" (series of commands, searching, etc) before feeding is an additional workout... 
Physically- occasionally fasting is good for detoxing and overall health, gorging isn't really good for people, but it is good for dogs, their stomach is like an accordion or vacuum cleaner bag, it needs to be fully filled & expanded on a regular basis, this helps avoid long term digestive system problems as your dog ages. 
(only Cooter's meal is pictured, because I had so many pictures I couldn't upload them all!)


Started with one whole chicken each. 

This was Cooter's .
The "giblets"- neck, gizzard & heart in this one. 

Cooter "sit" 

Cooter "wait" 

Cooter "go ahead, eat"

He starts with a wing.

I added this pic because you can see his ribs & waist...for now...:)

I love Whole Prey because it works body & mind while they eat. 

He has eaten the giblets that were inside, and the ends off the legs & wings & is now working his way down the body.

a good view of what he has eaten so far. This has taken him about 8-9 minutes. 

Getting relaxed as his belly gets full.

WOW! Look at that belly bulging! 


Almost done.... but Stay away pup! 

What was left. I rinsed most of the debris off. 

10&1/4 ounces left over, bagged & frozen for next meal.

Now that is a FULL satisfied dog, ready for a nap! 





Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Raw Feeding Journal #3

Trout, Gizzards & Hearts


1/2 tsp. Organic Coconut Oil

Add 1 TBSP. Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Add 1/4 tsp Organic Garlic Powder

Add 1 tsp. ground eggshell

3 fresh eggs from our own chickens

Add egg, minus shells (to be saved, rinsed & dried for grinding later)

approx. 1 & 1/2 lb of chicken gizzards and hearts, semi-frozen 

Locally caught wild Trout (these have been gutted, but I take what I can get for free:))


slice trout (1 per dog, 9-10 inches each)
Add Trout 

Stir it all until trout, gizzards & hearts are coated with egg & supplements are mixed in well


All dogs must sit & wait calmly
Cooter gets his first... YUMMY!


All 3 dogs eating 
I think that means they liked it!