Archive for the ‘Headstones’ Category
Dental Care by a Vet
There are 2 critical components of your pet’s dental care: 1. the oral examinations and 2. the dental cleaning procedure. Veterinarian dental care should begin at the puppy/kitten/foal stage of your pet’s life. As a baby your Vet will check for baby teeth, missing or extra teeth, swellings and proper oral development. Then as your pet matures, you Vet will check for developmental anomalies and the the accumulation of tartar and plaque, periodontal disease and oral tumors.
Your Vet can perform very basic oral examinations while your pet is awake, but a short-lasting anesthetic is required to complete thorough examinations and dental cleanings. The AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) recommends that these exams and cleanings be scheduled annually beginning at one year of age for cats and small dogs, and at two years for large-breed dogs. For horses, have your Vet do oral exams when you schedule your vaccinations and as early as your foal is weened.
Adding a Pet Memorial Stone to your backyard or garden can bring you generations of fond memories of your lost companion animal.
Why Pet Dental Care?
Would you let years go by without a visit to the dentist? Probably not. But your pet’s dental health is just as important to his/her overall health as your dental health is to your general health. To help educate pet owners about the importance of proper dental care, the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) has developed Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.
Dental care among our furry friends is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care. In fact, in a recent AAHA study, it showed that over tw0-thirds of pet owners od ont provide essential dental care. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80% of dog and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of 3. This dental disease doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth, it can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung and kidney disease.
If you currently don’t have a dental care plan for your furry loved one, talk to your Veterinarian and get regular check ups and cleanings scheduled. It can help you pet live a longer healthier life.
Pet Memorials are a way to pay tribute to the life of your departed friend. There are many ways to memorialize your loved one from a pet headstone to a pet keepsake.
Help for Intense Grief
If your grief is not getting any better after the death of your loved one, you may need to reach out for help. Especially if your grief has turned into depression, you need to talk to someone. Counselors and professional therapists or even your clergy man can help you through your grieving because they allow you to talk about it and express strong feelings. Many counselors also specialize in teenagers and children if your family is having trouble coping as well.
It is natural for someone who has experienced a loss to think about death in some degree. But if your loss has you thinking about suicide or hurting yourself in some way, or you feel you can no longer endure the pain, you need to seek help right away. Here are some signs that it may be time to call for help:
1. You’ve been grieving for 4 months or longer and the pain is not getting any better. 2. You feel and act depressed. 3. Your grief is so intense you cannot go about your regular routine and activities. 4. You are having a hard time concentrating, sleeping, eating or socializing like you normally do. 5. You feel you can’t go on living after your loss and you think about suicide, dying, or hurting yourself. If you are experiencing one or all of these symptoms of intense grief, please reach out and make a call. Your doctor may be able to recommend someone. If your children need help, talk to their doctor or school counselor. Watch your loved ones for these warning signs and don’t wait to get help.
Pet Burial Stones are another constructive way to help get you through the grieving process. Write a special, personal tribute only you can write to your lost loved one, and share it with other.
Weight Loss Supplements
Currently there are no weight loss supplements available for cats. There are some studies in dogs that show that the cautious use of some supplements can help obese dogs reduce weight and lower their cholesterol. These studies were done on dog that were not helped by reduced-calorie diets alone. These dogs did lose weight when given a naturally occurring hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA. The DHEA levels decrease in animals as they age, very similar to other hormones in humans. Replacing the DHEA in these dogs can increase fat metabolism and subsequent weight loss.
There are other supplement still presently being studied for dogs which include L-Carnitine, Garcinia Cambogia, and Chromium Picolinate. Please do NOT self administer any of these supplements to your pet. Always consult with your Vet before using any kind of herbal supplement on animals. Together you can come up with a safe, effective weight loss plan for your furry friend.
Cat Headstones are a personal way to pay tribute to your lost feline friend. With the Absolute Black Granite stones, you can include a photo, a tribute and dates. These beautiful stone will last for generations with proper care.
Healthy Exercise Tips
Our pet’s are a member of the family, and we want to keep them safe and healthy. A healthy pet is fit, not fat. Often we are tempted when we get home from a long day at work to plop down on the TV with our chips and pop and ignore our pet’s begging to go out and play. Pet exercise involves YOU. Pet’s generally do not exercise by themselves, they need you to take them for a walk, direct exercise play and keep them moving. If your pet is overweight and needs some extra exercise, here are some easy tips:
1. Keep is simple. Over-exercising an obese animal will do more harm than good. Excess stess and strain on an already stressed cardiac, respiratory and musculorskeletal system can be dangerous. Be sure to watch closely for signs of fatigue and adjust your exercise regime as needed. 2. As your pet adjusts to a new exercise routine, the intensity of the exercise can be increased gradually. Start with 2 easy 5-15 minute walks a day, then slowing increase it to 2-3 30 minute brisk walks per day. 3. Change up your exercise to make it fun and interesting. Play games like fetch, frisby and catch. Also don’t forget joint-friendly activities like swimming. 4. Allow your dog to play with other dogs if appropriate. They can have fun chasing and running with each other too. 5. Make sure you always have fresh water available, especially when it is hot to prevent overheating. 6. Increase your household activities and invite your pet to join you. The more you walk around, so will your pets. 7. Join a pet group like obedience or agility training. It is a great way to get out and moving and enjoy other people with their pets. 8. Exercise your pet everyday. If you have a cat who does not walk on a leash, play with ping pong balls, remote controlled toys, feathers on a pole or other commercially available toys. Playtime with our pets can be fun – so be creative and get out and enjoy some exercise together.
Dog Headstones are a fitting way to pay tribute to our lost furry family member and a personal way to say “Good-bye”.
Tips to Reduce Calories
There are numerous ways to reduce your pet’s caloric intake. Just remember that helping your furry friend lose weight should be a slow and gradual process to avoid other health problems. Here are some suggestions on how to reduce calories in your pet’s diet:
1. Elimate table scraps – they are typically high in fat and calories. 2. Learn to ignore the “begging eyes”. Send Fido or Fifi to the other room during mealtime. 3. Learn to ignore toe biting and vocal complaints and these will diminish with time. 4. Replace your need to give treats as a sign of love. Instead replace food with something constructive like exercise, play or even training. 5. Reduce the amount of food you feed at mealtimes by 15%. Large reductions can result in deficiencies – so consult your Vet before cutting down on food. 6. Consider a lower calorie pet food. You can find quality foods designed for different stages of life. You may have noticed the ”Senior” type foods on the market. They are usually lower in fat and higher in fiber. They allow your pet to eat the same volume without the same calories. 7. Feed smaller portions more frequently. If you feed only once a day, try feeding twice, three times or more. It can reduce calories but help your pet feel full. 8. If you have more than one pet, separate them at feeding time. This reduces competition and the urge to eat more. 9. Keep water available at all time. 10. Don’t leave food out all the time. If you feed canned food, leave it out for just a few minutes each feeding. 11. Be patient. It may take several months to see a desired result. 12. Weigh your pet regularly to see if your plan is working. A gradual weight loss of about 1% a week is a good goal – rapid weight loss can be very dangerous, especially for cats.
Pet Headstones are a personal way to pay tribute to your lost loved one and will help honor their memory for generations to come.
More Symptoms of Grieving
There are many symptoms of grieving - the ways people grieve are almost as numerous and unique as the individuals who grieve. Grieving can be caused by many different causes – from losing a loved one to losing a job, to moving, or from a financial devistation – and more.
One common reaction to a loss is a preoccupation with the person or animal you have lost. You think about him/her constantly and may re-create the circumstances of your loss over and over in your mind. You may also experience vivid dreams or nightmares about your loved one, and you may also even think you see or hear them.
Grief can also take a physical toll on your body. It is not unusual for the bereaved to lose weight, have difficulty sleeping, become irritable and listless or even feel short of breath. Some people find that they have trouble concentrating, studying, sleeping, eating, and may have waves of nausea when they are coping with a loss. Some lose interest in activities that they once enjoyed. Some people try to lose themselves in playing computer games or eat or drink to an excess. And, some people just feel numb like nothing ever happened.
All of these are very normal ways to react to a death or a loss in your life. Give yourself time to heal and realize the healing process will happen gradually. Pet Memorials are a way of remembering your lost loved one and can remind you of all the happy times you enjoyed together.
Different Ways of Grieving
Everybody will grieve for a loss in their life in many different ways. Grief is as unique as your are, so don’t compare yourself to others and expect to grieve the same way. Some of your friends or family members may grieve faster, or not show as much pain or emotion, so you wonder if there is something wrong with you. Loved ones may tell you that you are silly or even dumb for grieving over the loss of just a “pet”. Don’t listen or pay attention, obviously they have never had a strong bond with a companion animal and cannot understand what you are feeling right now. Find solace in the fact that grief is a necessary part of life and is very normal, even though the symptoms may vary greatly with each person. Certain reactions to death of a loved one are quite common, and you can expect to experience some of them:
1. Shock. You may go into shock and even find yourself denying that your loved one is gone. 2. Anger. You may feel angry towards the Vet who could not save your pet. You may even feel anger toward your pet for leaving you. And you may feel guilty that this anger will not go away. 3. Guilt. We feel guilty for a number of reasons. You may feel you could have prevented the death or should have been present to say “good-bye”. 4. Feeling of helplessness. You may feel many additional losses – you lost your friend, your companion, your confidant. These additional losses can leave you feeling helpless and confused. 5. Depression. Even normal, committed, caring people may find that they don’t care about anything or anyone right now. Other feelings you may experience are: Sad, worried, scared, unprepared, cheated, relieved, exhuasted, or just plain empty. There are many more. Just be aware that your emotions may be stronger and deeper than usual and may be mixed together in ways you have never experienced before. All of these are normal and will get better with time. The best thing to do is to share your feelings with someone who has experienced this kind of loss before so you can get some emotional support. Don’t try to hold in your feelings, but express them in ways helpful to your circumstances right now. Pet Headstones are a personal way to pay tribute to your lost loved one and to help with the healing process.
When does “Senior” Start?
So when should you consider your pet a “Senior”? There are endless varieties of senior foods, supplements, beds, etc. So when does your pet qualify for this new title in life?
Usually smaller breeds of animals live longer than larger ones, and cats usually live longer than dogs. The life span of your beloved companion animal will vary with each individual, so your veterinarian will be the best source of advice. He/she will be able to determine what stage of life your furry friend is currently in and can help you and your pet transition into each one according to size, breed and age.
Keep in mind that some breeds of dogs are considered “Senior” between ages 10-13, but giant breeds can reach that as early as 5. Recognizing the “golden years” as a pet owner is very important. We need to be cognisant of our friends starting to slow down a bit, and watch for the signs of arthritis and other age-related disorders. Scheduling regular vet exams is one of the most important things we can do to keep our pets in top condition. Especially as our pets age, these exams become even more important than ever. The AAHA recommends that healthy senior dogs and cats have a check up every 6 months – which is equivalent to every 5-7 human years. Client education and complete laboratory testing to make sure all of your pet’s body systems are functioning properly are the key to Senior health exams.
Pet Memorial Stones are a way you can pay tribute to your loved one. You can have them laser etched with a photo, dates and personal tribute and they last for generations.
Pain Management After Surgery
Pain management becomes particularly important after your pet has surgery. When recovering from invasive proceedures, animals may be not only in pain but also weak and disoriented. The very best thing you can do for your furry friend after he/she has come home, is follow your vet’s instructions very carefully. If your vet prescribes a pain killer, administer it as directed. If you have any questions or if a problem should arise, contact your vet immediately.
Before you pick up your pet, make sure you have a clean, warm, comfortable bed to help him/her rest. Then keep your pet quiet and relaxed so he/she has time to heal without getting stressed or causing further injury. Also make sure you keep your furbaby from picking at the stitches. Many vets will recommend a special collar or lamp shade looking device that will help reduce the temptation. Always be attentive, loving and affectionate while your pet recovers. This comfort and attention may be the best medicine you can give and just what the doctor ordered.
When looking for a Pet Memorial Headstone, select one that makes a personal tribute to your lost loved one and will bring years of lasting memories.