Email Lists

Lew Olson - who owns K9 nutrition email list. Go to her site and you can join from there. Her Web site is: B-Naturals.com

Wellpet list on the Wellpet Web site. You can join from there. I highly recommend either the wellpet list, Barf list or K9 nutrition list.

And so the dogs aren't the only ones getting in good health - here is a wellpeople list!
To subscribe, unsubscribe, view archives, upload or download shared files, or for information about this list, click here

• CastofCharacters.com hand-cast bronze pet hardware - Clicker Jewelry!

• CharmingCreatures.com has dog themed gifts, collectibles and decor for dog and animal lovers: figurines & ceramics, puzzles, jewelry, coin banks, clocks, music boxes, salt & pepper shakers, teapots...even gifts for guys!

• CompetingAtYourPeak.com - For those of you that compete, have performance anxiety (ring nerves) and would like to increase your effectiveness in the ring. You can now stop ring nerves from home. Get the Audio ring Nerve Program from Competing At Your Peak, Inc. for $29.95!

• DressedtotheCanines.com - Featuring custom and hand-made collars, harnesses, sweaters and accessories for your dog, cat or other pet!

• Dr. Mac's Amazing Behavior Management Advice Site - So our dogs aren't the only ones being trained using positive methods, check out this site (to be honest, I haven't read through the entire site, but what I read so far looks pretty good).

• Fine Pet ID Tags offers custom engraved Pet ID Tags for Lovely Pets!

• K9Country.com

• Mid Atlantic Border Collie Rescue - a not-for-profit organization that is run by volunteers; currently serving Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virgina plus the District of Columbia. Mid-Atlantic rescues Border Collies and dogs of the Herding group that have been discarded, neglected, abandoned or are stray; and places them into responsible homes.

• NaturalRearing.com

• Sheltie Rescue

• ThenSome.com: Vaccinations

• VitaminWorld.com

Equipment

• Whistles for the whistle recall - DO NOT get the silent dog whistle. It is my theory that the silent dog whistles are in reality, broken whistles that someone had the brilliant idea of palming off on unsuspecting buyers.

• X Back Sledding Harness - 320-485-4825 - Go to their website and look for the instructions on how to measure for a harness. Measure TWICE, order once.

• Leather Tracking harnesses (padded breastplate). My other pick for a harness. You would use this if your dog tends to back out of collars, or if your dog is big Lab or German Shepherd sized. With this tracking harness, they can't get out of it. They are beautifully made, comfortable and fully adjustable. You can get them from: K9 Solutions. Item # 233 Use "pam" as the coupon code and get 15% off!

• BridgePortEquipment.com
  Has the best leashes. For the 33 foot long lines (leather and nylon) go to the tracking section. I use the 3/8" or the 1/2" wide. When buying a long line, don't get cotton - they rot and break at the worst possible moment!

Vaccinations

Rabies Vaccines - The REAL Truth

Response to question from Mastiff-Talk on Yahoo groups:

Dear Heather (Jackson): Thank you for the inquiry. The principle behind the vaccine protocol that we follow is to start vaccinating a little later [i.e., not before 9 weeks, now that most bitches have been well or even over vaccinated], give the minimum number of vaccine antigens needed for serious diseases in your area in 2-3 doses spread at least 2 and preferably 3-4 weeks apart, give rabies vaccine as late as possible by law in your state ---but separate rabies from the other vaccines by at least 2-3 weeks, give one more booster a year later with the rabies booster separated from the rest, and then start annual serum titer testing instead of more boosters, except as required by law for rabies vaccine. Whew !

Click to read the full explanation of this vaccination protocol.

Responses to questions:

Dear Marge (Lutz): Thank you for the three back-to-back vaccine questions. Most vaccine reactions beyond acute anaphylaxis begin from 3 to 45 days post vaccination. Occasionally, there appear to be some adverse effects to rabies vaccination that show up at 4-6 months later, but the cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven to my knowledge.

Click to read more about the adverse effects of vaccines.

Pets don't need shots every year

Experts say annual vaccines waste money,
can be risky

By LEIGH HOPPER
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Medical Writer

Debra Grierson leaves the veterinarian's office clutching Maddie and Beignet, her Yorkshire terriers, and a credit card receipt for nearly $400.

That's the cost for the tiny dogs' annual exams, including heartworm checks, dental checks and a barrage of shots.

"They're just like our children," said the Houston homemaker. "We would do anything, whatever they needed."

What many pet owners don't know, researchers say, is that most yearly vaccines for dogs and cats are a waste of money -- and potentially deadly...

Click to read the full article.

Tick Info

Tick Tips
If you have a smooth coated dog, right after your walk, "brush" him down with one of those big sticky lint rollers. The sticky paper will capture any ticks that haven't burrowed yet.

To rid your yard of ticks, get out your garden hose, attach one of those bottle sprayer things, fill it with 1/2 Ivory liquid dish soap (no other brand, must be ivory) and 1/2 water. Spray your yard a few times per week for about 2 weeks. No more ticks! Be sure to spray any fencing as well. This will not hurt any foliage.

New (or not so new) tick borne disease - Anaplasmosis. My dog Emma had been very lethargic, refused to eat or play, was very depressed and has been diagnosed with Anaplasmosis. So be sure that if you see any of these symptoms, you have your vet check for lyme, Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis. From a site on Google:

Q. What is canine anaplasmosis?
A. Canine anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, formerly known as Ehrlichia equi) is transmitted by the deer tick and the Western black-legged tick—the same ticks that transmit Lyme disease. Canine anaplasmosis symptoms are often arthritis-like with multiple painful joints. Some canine anaplasmosis-infected dogs run a high fever, accompanied by lethargy, inappetence, vomiting and diarrhea. Neurological signs, while infrequent, may result in seizures and neck pain. Although minimal geographic data is currently available about the disease, its common host, the deer tick, can be found throughout the United States, primarily in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central states, as well as California.

Skunk Odor Info

Recipe to get the skunk odor OUT:

teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap
1/4 cup baking soda
1 quart hydrogen peroxide
mix and rub into dogs fur

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT, try to keep this once you are done using it. Throw it out as soon as you are done. It WILL explode.

Car Sickness in Dogs

Ginger Trips by Soloray (1 or two wafers)
Cocculus Indicus (for nausea - great for humans too) (use 3-4 pellets)
Rescue Remedy (a few drops)

For each car trip, use two of the remedys listed above. They can be purchased at most health food stores (real ones - NOT CVS type)

Sites with Good Articles &
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

• Position paper from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Science on Puppy Socialization. For those of you whose vets continue to say “no classes until 6 months old,” print this out and give it to them!

• Hypothyroid Symptons by Dr. Dodds

• Think you want to breed Fluffy to Fido? Think you would "like her to have one litter? Think you would like to have your kids "experience the miracle of birth?" THINK AGAIN!

• How much is that doggie in the window? Puppy Mills

• How do I find a good breeder?

• Almost Home Daschund Rescue Site - Great Site - even if you aren't interested in Daschunds! BTW, I LOVE doxies - very smart dogs!

• Dr. Ian Billinghurst's Website

• Grain Free Pets

• Ved Medicine at About.com

• Natural rearing and feeding for cats and dogs

• Great links to all sorts of holistic care

For Those Who Are Local

Nature's Harvest - Main St. in Blairstown. 362-6766. Michelle is very knowledgeable. Tell her I sent you.

Dr. Khalsa - Holistic vet in Yardley PA. Far, but worth the trip. She is THE best. 215-493-0621. She is a little weird sometimes - sometimes she gives you all the time in the world and sometimes she tries to rush you out the door. BE FIRM and insist that she answer all your questions. (Be sure to have them written down beforehand).

Dr. Karen Dashfield - Vet on Call. 973-940-1666 Even though she is an allopathic vet, she is wonderful. She doesn't give me a hard time about feeding a raw diet. <gShe comes to your house, loves dogs and they love her (Shadow LOVES her!). If she can't at first find out what is wrong with your dog, she - omigod! does research!!!! Incredible nowadays! She does Search and Rescue, teaches first aid for dogs and is an all around wonderful person.

Eberly Poultry - Lancaster, PA, 717-336-6440. Ask to talk to the store. Organic chicken farm. Call them with order 1 week in advance. Stuff comes in bulk (60#) boxes so you will have to divide and conquer. I freeze the chicken in 1 meal packages for my 3 dogs. For example - Cody & Shadow get one back each and Beau gets 2. For wings, I triple the amount - 3 wings = 1 back. For necks - depends on the size - if they are big I feed one or two, if they are small, I feed 4-5. Chicken backs are .40 per pound and there are approx. 2-3 per pound. Make sure you put plastic sheets down in your van/car otherwise you will have chicken blood all over it and I can tell you, you will have to have your van/car professionally cleaned! Been there, done that!

This is where I get my organic chicken for the dogs and for me and Jim. You WILL be able to taste the difference.