More General Ideas for Converting:

Puppies:

Puppies will generally have a healthier digestive system than older dogs or those with health issues, and therefore will tolerate a more rapid switch (i.e., 1 or 2 days) with no trouble. Start by substituting ¼ Thrive for your dog’s current food in each meal, gradually increasing Thrive while proportionately decreasing the kibble until the transition is complete.

Young and Healthy Dogs:

These dogs can transition more quickly than older dogs and those with digestive issues. If your dog has no signs of illness or digestive difficulties such as loose stools, constipation or occasional vomiting, then you may be able to switch within 5-7 days. This gradual transition aids in your dog’s gastrointestinal system in adapting to the new meals.

a)    Begin by substituting 1/8^th Thrive for your dog’s current food.

b)    After 3 meals, double the Thrive portion to 1/4, while reducing the kibble by the same amount.

c)    After 3 meals, double the Thrive portion again to ½ and reduce the kibble again.

d)    After feeding ½ Thrive for 3 meals, give a meal of all Thrive. If your dog tolerates this well with no digestive upset or other symptoms of discomfort, you have successfully switched your dog.

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Here is some practical information for switching your dog to Raw Dog Food

Basics:

Every dog is unique and there is no single “one size fits all” approach to transitioning your dog from kibble (dry processed food) to a more natural, holistic, raw meat based diet. There are however, some basic techniques and principles that apply in most cases;

a)    Be positive. Dogs are very sensitive and can sense apprehensions or skepticism you may be feeling about feeding raw food. Being confident will reassure your pet about your choice to change to a new diet.

b)    The older the dog (or the longer it has been eating kibble), the longer you should take to transition to the new diet.

c)    While variety is the key to outstanding health when feeding a fresh, raw meat based diet, its best to start with one type of meat during your transition (preferably the same meat type you are currently feeding). This will make it easier on your dog’s digestive system.

d)    Fast your dog the night before beginning its transition. Your dog will have a greater interest in the new food the next morning and this also gives their digestive system a chance to rest.

e)    Limit the treats during the transition; especially flour/grain based ones, in order to increase your dog’s appetite for its meals.

f)     Provide access to plenty of clean water (preferably filtered).

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Whenever I am pet sitting a cat, dog or other animals, my goal is to feed and give water, as instructed and then, ensure that everything is cleaned up afterwards. Treats are given as a bonus gift and this makes for wonderful friendships and helps with bonding.  I next tend to the attention part of our visits by walking the dog, giving TLC or playing on the ground or in the yard depending on the location. This is the fun part of the visit and is a kind of a meeting of the minds so you can get to know each other.  For dogs, playing ball, Frisbee or a walk is a great time to release some pent up energy. For cats, playing, petting or sometimes combing is great bonding time.

Most pets at the very beginning are stressed from being without their owners and from having a new face arrive to feed and give them water. It usually doesn’t take long for the bonding to begin once they realize you’re there to feed them and give them treats. Depending on the pets sometimes one day is all you need for trust to evolve and for others 2-3 days. It all depends, for dogs on the breed and the personality and for cats just personality. I usually try and suggest that before a long vacation, a couple of day visits be scheduled in a row which starts the bonding process and reduces the stress when the owner’s time away is longer. This time together ensures well being for all pets especially after they have your scent down. I have sat on many many couches just letting the pets smell and thereby getting to know me. They are just so curious about the new scents and usually come right to you to smell and sense who you are. Sometimes, it’s just seconds before they jump up on your lap, lay down by your feet or back away to come back, again. I have seen so many different reactions. Animals can be so inquisitive and stand offish all at the same time. My approach with all animals is to arrive in any home and then just go and sit down in the kitchen, usually at the consultation without making any big deal towards the animals that are either around me or backed away. I make my presence known by my posture and demeanor. This I think, ensures confident control, especially with dogs and lets them know in a subtle but assertive manner that I am boss. From this assertive role I am able to take great care of all pets.

 All in all the above approach has worked for me unless I have been remiss at the consultation and missed some classic signs of behavior issues. In these cases my approach is totally different in regards to entering their domain. I am still assertive but am more aware of all my surroundings. Even still I have been bitten and have had to resort to different tactics by applying some Essential Oils to myself and the home which completely changed the dynamics of the then, hostile environment making it more peaceful and calm for everyone involved.  I have found using Essential Oils has dramatically changed many of these difficult situations of inappropriate behavior from dogs to one of being calm and submissive.

For more information on Essential oils you can go to my website at: http://www.pet-ex.biz/EssentialsforYourPets.html and look at the product page and link or check out many more testimonies and applications for their use on humans and animals.

Emotional Work With Animals: 

The work  John and I have done with some abused animals: 

 First there is Katie, a Lhasa Apso, that did not look like one! She was owned by a woman for 12 years and was always groomed and pampered from that the Animal Hospital told us. One day her owner brought her in and asked the Vet to puther down because she met a man and was going to travel! (She doesn’t realize a man will walk on any given day, sorry Guys, and Katie would be loyal to her the rest of her life).

Anyhow, knowing Katie the way they did, instead of putting her down a Vet there found her another home with a woman. For 2years the woman abused Katie. By the time she was rescued she down to 6 lbs., eyes shut closed with infection and she kicked her and broke her lower jaw. After Katie was brought in for the second time abandoned (that owner was committed to a mental institute) she just sat in her cage, not barking, no playing probably lost her will to live. When we arrived it as for another animal, but when I heard about Katie I fell in love with her so for the first night I held her, really no movement on her part. The next time I saw her I had her smell the Trauma Life, and I rubbed Peace & Calming on her pawpads, and I put a little on myself.

The following day I received a call from the office saying Katie had barked for the first time and asked the technician to play with her (like dogs do). They wanted to know what I had done to Katie because there was such a change in her behavior and she seemed happy to be alive. Well Katie still doesn’t have a home but the Vet’s office will keep her. I continued this each time I saw her, changed to “JOY” and she is doing wonderful. John and I are looking at a store to open and if it pans out I am considering taking Katie, as I currently have an elderly dog 105 years old, a cat and a 7 month puppy which brings me to another story.

My elderly dog lost her brother 4 years ago. She seemed to be fine. Suddenly a tumor grew on the outside of her leg. The Vet suggested surgery and I felt I had no choice. It was removed and in 6 months grew back again. Surgery again, 6 months later I noticed it grew back. Because of her age surgery is a risk. I went into a natural healing book for animals and since we work with Chinese herbs, flower remedies etc. I went into the Bach Flower remedies. John had said from day one, Princess is mourning but she seemed fine so I disregarded what he said. As plain as day the chapter read “If an animal is attached to an owner and the owner dies (in this case I replace owner with brother) a tumor can develop, can be removed and will grow back until the grieving is dealt with. Boom it hit, John was right.

We started her on the Bach Flower remedies for grieving (4 years later) and I mixed the Frankincense and Clove and started applying to the tumor. I didn’t use a couple drops, I used more than I should have. The tumor has become much smaller and in the process of using too much oil some of her fur in that area fell out! Not a big deal, but I was so anxious to get rid of the tumor.  So now I continue to use the oil mixture on what is left of the tumor and I am waiting to call the Vet and let him know a third surgery will not be required. It as a combination of flower remedies and oils in this case because the dog seems much happier. When I asked the Vet what the tumor is called he said a Hygroma, and is due to old age!

Next we’ll talk about abused Doberman puppy Gia. The owner did not feed this dog, when she was brought into the Vet’s she could not walk, skin and bones, mites, infection in both eyes, a complete mess, and my stomach hurt as I
looked at her. John started her on flower remedies, had her smell Trauma Life, and did some Reiki (energy work for those of you who are not familiar). Before we left that night she ate more than she had the previous three weeks she had been at the Vets. By the way her hair had fallen out, she looked more like a Greyhound. John continued with Reiki and I would have her sniff Trauma Life. She started to play tug with another dog that she had never done and 3 weeks later she is going home with one of the employees.
Thanks to Trauma Life and Reiki.

I can go on but will stop here and keep you posted with new great stories with YELO. WE LOVE THEM, AND THANK GARY YOUNG. Jean, thank you for always keeping me posted on newsletter. Right now so much going on but YELO are at the top of my list.
Candice Bianchi, March 8, 2000

 I wanted to tell you an experience that I had yesterday using the oil Peace and Calming,  As you may know, we each have a horse and usually ride every Saturday morning.  Due to all the rain, the horses have not been ridden as frequently as we would all like.
  Yesterday morning was also very windy, something that horses don’t like as it distorts their most acute sense of hearing. My horse, Caz, is very “go-ey”, loves to move quickly and would rather  trot or lope than do anything.  He is also just getting used to being a trail horse and can be nervous at times. All these conditions made me nervous. I decided to use some Peace and Calming on me and thought ” what, the heck, I’ll try it on him too.”  I put it on his forehead between the eyes, his heart area and his throat.  While I was at it, l put another dose on  him, thinking that not much would happen anyway.
After about 45 minutes of riding, I noticed that he was moving pretty slow, he would drop to the walk in the middle of the lope. This was after our usual beginning or trotting fast, loping and jumping over small washes.  I kept on asking my husband to see if my horse was injured or ,walking like he was bruised. On our ride home, Caz., was walking so slowly that I felt like I was riding a rental horse.  It finally occurred to me that it had to be the oil. He was sound and he was healthy.  I think that the second dose was just too much.
 l just thought you would get a kick out of hearing how it worked on him.   I will try again if I think the situation warrants it, but I realize that even on a big animal, a little goes a long way.
Gloria Gardner, Phoenix, AZ
 Here’s another “miracle” with the oils.  I had two 4 year old cats, Spanky and Alfalfa, non-look-alike brothers who had been together and constant companions to each other since birth.  One evening, in October as I was taking out the garbage, Alfalfa,  basically an indoor cat, shot out the door. It became foggy, and I couldn’t see to find him.  I sent his more independent brother but to look for him. Spanky came back, but not his brother.  When the fog cleared the next morning, I discovered that, Alfie had been hit by a car and died instantly.
Spanky “moped” about the house all that day.  The next day Spanky exhibited highly distressed behavior, jumping from counter to counter and from window to window, looking out and cat calling for his brother.
 I’d heard Peace and Calming oil helps with “hyperactive” children, so I wondered if it would help a hyperactive and distressed cat.  I put n few drops of the oil in my palm and gently, coaxed Spanky over to me.  I touched the oil to his paws, then stroked behind his ears and down the back of his spine.  He calmed down completely in less than five minutes.  For the next two weeks, every time Spanky would start to get upset, I’d repeat that procedure with Peace and Calming, and it would work to calm him every time.  Now he has adjusted to his loss and is back to normal.

 
 Another past miracle involving Spanky: Last March he was bitten by something under his chin (possibly flea or mosquito or some kind of insect) and developed an allergic reaction.  0ver the next couple months, he lost patches of fur an his tail and lower back.  His former full grey Angora coat became sparse.  I put a few drops of Purification Oil in his cat box with each change and also stroked his fur with a few drops of Lavender. 0ver the next several weeks his fur returned to its former full and abundant state  The “Fat Cat” is back.
Katey Hasson, San Leandro, CA

Here are some suggestions on what to do for your pet and home to prepare for a pet sitter:

For Your Pet:

For Your Home:

These are just a few things to remember to protect your pet and your home.

For more pet tips or questions:  http://www.pet-ex.biz