Medical ID Tags for Pets

You may have seen or heard about medical ID bracelets or hang tags for people with diabetes or other serious medical conditions. Well, they make these tags for pets, too. I recommend getting a medical ID tag for your pet if they are on insulin for diabetes or another medication that is vital to their health.
By putting a medical ID tag on your pet, this will help anyone groomer, trainer, dog walker, vet, etc.) know that your pet has a special medical need in case they need to be treated. In addition, if your pet was lost, this information would be helpful to anyone that finds him/her.

ID for Your Pets

Does your dog or cat have current ID tags? If not, you can go to Petsmart or Petco and have new ones made instantly. As an animal communicator, I get a lot of lost pet calls. Many of the pets do not have collars or ID tags because they don't typically leave their backyard or home. But, when they decide to leave to explore the neighborhood, it is always easier for animal control or anyone else that finds your pet to get your pet back to you if they have your information.

This same advice applies to microchips, too. If you have adopted your pet from a rescue shelter and your pet is microchipped, please remember to update your information with the microchip company. I can't tell you the number of times that the contact information with the microchip company still lists the adopting shelter rather than the pet's owner.

Is Your Dog Afraid Of Thunderstorms?

As the old saying goes "April showers bring May flowers". However, those April showers often bring thunderstorms with them. This begs the question (no pun intended), "Is your dog afraid of thunderstorms?"

Dogs being afraid of thunderstorms is a very common occurrence. Sometimes dogs become frightened by the loud noises and flashes of light. Sometimes their human companions are fearful of thunderstorms and project that fear to their pet, sometimes it's picked up from the pet's parents, siblings or other animals in the house.

I frequently receive calls asking how to correct this problem. By communicating with the pet I am able to find out the reasons why they are frightened by thunderstorms, what they would like to see happen to help them and discuss with their human companions measures that need to be taken.

Here are some helpful tips that seem to work well:

* Allow your dog to wear a close-fitting t-shirt that has a familiar scent. This allows them to have a since of security similar to when they were in the womb of their mothers. This is similar to when a child has a security blanket.

* Find a place for them to hide and call it their "safe place". Each time it looks like there is going to be a thunderstorm, tell them to go to their safe place. After showing and telling them this a few times, they learn what to do. A safe place can be under the bed, in a partially closed closet or in a room without windows.

* Use a calming herb or flower essence solution before the thunderstorms start. Bach's Rescue Remedy is a great product that is easy to find at your local health food store. Consult your veterinarian before giving any supplements to your pet.

Try these suggestions before the thunderstorms start and you should have a calmer time with your furry friend.

Animals as Witnesses

Have you ever wondered how observant animals are? Do they understand when there is something wrong with their human companions? If they witness a crime within their household, could what they convey to an animal communicator be enough to help the authorities catch the criminal?

I know that using animals as witnesses may seem somewhat unconventional. But, they have eyes and ears just like we do. They process information that they see and hear just like we do. They only need someone to ask them what happened and be able to communicate that information back to the authorities or families that are involved in an effort to lead to crimes being solved.

We currently use animals to detect disease, to look for people in the rubble of a collapsed building, to find people that are trapped under snow after an avalanche, to search for missing people and to sniff out drugs and illegal contraband. Why not use them as witnesses as well?

Paper Shredders and Pets

I read recently that paper shredders should be left in the 'off' position or completely unplugged when not in use. This prevents injuries to tails, tongues and feet if your pet accidentally lays its tail on the shredder, licks the shredder or puts its feet on the shredder.

Reiki for Animals

Energy healing is a gentle, painless, yet powerful modality that works where it is needed most. The form of energy healing that I use is Reiki. Traditionally, Reiki has been used primarily on humans since the mid 1800s. However, it has been found to benefit any living thing, including plants and animals.

Reiki can be used for distance as well as hands-on healing. It works on many levels: mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. Because Reiki consists of the same Universal Life Energy that makes every living thing alive, any living thing can be helped by Reiki energy.

Typically, when a Reiki practitioner uses Reiki on an animal, the animal will become very relaxed and sometimes will even fall asleep. A treatment can be short (about 5 or 10 minutes) or long (up to an hour) depending on how much healing the animal feels it needs.

Once the animal has absorbed all of the energy it feels it needs, it will slowly awaken and walk away. Often, in my experience, before walking away, the animal will give me a sign of affection as a way to say, "Thank you". This has usually taken the form of a nuzzle, 'love lick' or 'love nibble'.

Please keep in mind that Reiki is typically used as a complimentary therapy and is not a substitute for veterinary care.