Animal Nurture Pet Therapy

Spring is here at last! Sunshine, soft breezes, and unfortunately... fleas and ticks! Please remember, pets are very vulnerable to these parasites and need to be protected! Talk to your Veterinarian about preventatives!!!! Also, heart-worm season is here as well! With the sun and gorgeous days ahead, please keep in mind your pet’s needs and safety.

Please remember, your pets get cold just like us! They can get frostbite rather easily. On cold, icy days, put a little udder cream, nose cream, or if desperate-Vaseline on your baby’s paw pads and nose to help protect them from the frozen winter winds and ice. PetSmart and petco both sell ointments for this that is much more preferable than Vaseline (which is petroleum based-ugh) These ointments create a protective barrier from ice and extreme cold for potty breaks warm blankets when inside are always a plus- as my girl, Maci demonstrates so naturally. Remember, if you are freezing outside- most likely so is your pet!

Tonight I would like to address the CONE OF SHAME - a necessity many of us pet parents are forced to utilize at some point. Now, of course your beloved baby looks silly at this point, a giant megaphone- or as my friend calls it a love funnel is turning your baby into a lampshade! Of course your pup is mortified by this growth of horror BUT you CAN make this a lot more bearable for your pup! FIRST AND FOREMOST- despite the crazy desire- do not laugh at your baby or ...point at them, they already feel discomfort, laughter can push them straight towards trauma! SECOND- do not approach them all guilt laden or feeling sorry for them! Dogs feel your emotions- those awwww poor baby and I am soooo sorry pumpkin actually make your baby feel worse! Extreme sympathy or guilt makes the whole ordeal feel hugely WRONG and traumatic to your pup. They see that cone coming, slathered in your guilt, and they will panic and try to escape what may be death!(in their mind- or at least a bath when they didn’t want one!) If you can control YOUR emotions, facing this situation with calm and no reaction, your pup will accept his cone a lot quicker. If you make it feel like any other day and action, it is not so scary. TREATS HELP or making it fun helps- a cone is only horrible if you make it so! A little soft treat like cheese while putting on the E collar makes it a better experience. Special praise and kisses followed by a normal command (like sit) also makes it seem normal instead of catastrophic. CUDDLES- don’t forget to treat your baby as normally as possible- the cone is flexible, you CAN cuddle your pup or let them chew on a favorite toy. The more normalcy you can keep, the easier it is for your baby to survive this ordeal with their dignity and without trauma Our pets are far more aware of us than we can understand, they read our energy far more clearly than we can read theirs! Please be aware of this when facing the cone and help your pet survive their new fashion accessory. (Once they are more comfortable you CAN laugh, after all they end up in crazy situations with that monstrosity! Just don’t do it while they are newly coned. It really does traumatize them!) Much thanks to my friend for allowing me to photograph her boy in his cone

Please check out this rescue! They save the unwanted, the sick, the old, the cast out. They take in the dogs no one else wants or will consider worthy of rescue. Knick knack pittie pack is an amazing organization that loves each dog with all their heart and saves them from untold horrors.

There is something magical when I get to give a pup energy work and massage. Seeing their eyes closing, their jaws ease to just loosely open as their body grows soft and deeply relaxed. Touch, such a simple thing, but so profound.