Financial Assistance Resources
Articles
The Pet Fund is an education resource as
well as an organization dedicated to keeping animals out of
shelters. Monthly updates from animal health publications will be
added to this page to provide additional information about
preventative care practices for companion animals.
In addition, links to other animal assistance organizations are
provided below. Organizations interested in being added to the
website should contact The Pet Fund at (916) 443-6007 or via email
at info@thepetfund.com.
Or you can mail us information about your nonprofit at:
The Pet Fund
1510 19th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
The Whole Dog Journal wrote a great
review of the work of The Pet Fund!
The complete article is
available by clicking here. Reprinted from The
Whole Dog Journal Copyright © 2006 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. The
Whole Dog Journal is published monthly (12 issues) by Belvoir Media
Group, LLC, 800 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854.
800-829-9165. Subscriptions are $24 annually.
www.whole-dog-journal.com
The
Pet Fund has an article in the online Housepet Magazine, an online
magazine for the health and longevity of our canines available at
www.housepetmagazine.com.
The complete
article is available by clicking here.
From
Animal Wellness Magazine, an article entitled "Caring For Your Cat
During Her Golden Years" - Reprinted with permission of Animal Wellness
Magazine, © May 2007,
www.animalwellnessmagazine.com.
Many of us share our lives with senior cats. These wise and
oh-so-comfortable companions are our longtime friends, our confidants, and
our family. We want them with us as long as possible, and that means
understanding their needs as they become “golden oldies.” The natural
lifespan of the cat can easily exceed two decades. This surprises some
people, who might consider a cat in its early teens to be elderly. While
proper care of the younger cat means she’ll enjoy better condition when
she’s older, it’s never too late to take steps to help ensure a senior
feline’s health and longevity.
The senior years of your cat’s life can be the best years. The older cat
is a treasure, worthy of tender care and loving attention. As anyone who
has lavished that love on a special elder feline can attest, it will be
repaid a hundredfold in devoted companionship, trust and love.
Also included in this article:
- Food for the geriatric cat
- What about vaccinations?
- Three “old age diseases” in senior cats
- For the complete article and to subscribe to Animal Wellness
Magazine, click on
www.animalwellnessmagazine.com.
For archived articles from Animal Wellness Magazine,
click here.
From Animal Wellness Magazine, an article entitled "What is Bloat
and Why Is It So Dangerous?" - Reprinted with permission of Animal
Wellness Magazine, © January 2007,
www.animalwellnessmagazine.com.
It
sounds like something that would affect fish rather than dogs, but it’s a
very real canine health issue. Bloat, which can lead to gastric dilatation
volvulus (GDV), occasionally referred to as gastric torsion, is a top
cause of death among some breeds, especially medium, large and giant dogs,
and those with a deep or barrel chested body structure. Boxers,
Weimaraners, standard poodles, Irish wolfhounds, Irish setters,
Rottweilers, great Danes, Doberman pinschers and German shepherds are all
high risk, but dogs of other breeds, including those without the classic
barrel chest, can also be afflicted. To further complicate matters, some
high risk dogs never experience it, while others considered low risk do.
Why?
Bloat and GDV are something of a mystery. Why they happen has not been
truly defined, and triggers are as individual as the dogs affected. Over
the past several years, however, a lot of research has been done to
understand more about this condition. In 1994, Purdue University’s School
of Veterinary Medicine began the largest study to date. Over 1,900 dogs of
different breeds, weights and ages were studied in an effort to better
clarify which are most at risk and why, and what can be done to prevent
and treat the disorder.
What is bloat and what are the signs?
It often begins when the stomach becomes bloated with air during exercise,
or while the dog is eating or drinking. It is widely believed that the
combination of air with food and/or water causes the stomach to expand.
The stomach of a dog rests in the abdomen much like a pendulum, and since
there is nothing to secure it to the abdominal wall, the trapped air
enlarges and compresses the stomach (gastric dilatation or bloating). This
can then cause the stomach to twist (volvulus or torsion: volvulus is a
twist of more than 180º, while torsion is one less than 180° degrees),
blocking blood flow to the stomach and other organs.
The lack of blood supply leads to a myriad of problems including low blood
pressure, shock, necrosis (tissue death) and a build-up of toxins.
Abnormal blood-clotting (known as DIC – disseminated intravascular
coagulation) can also occur, along with cardiac abnormalities and
eventually death.
Bloating by itself is not necessarily life-threatening, since some dogs
bloat without their stomachs twisting. In some ways, it’s the luck of the
draw if a bloat will progress to GDV. Nevertheless, the potential is
there. At the first signs your dog is bloating, it’s imperative to seek
immediate veterinary care. Once a dog has bloated, with or without GDV,
there is a greater chance it will happen again.
GDV is very serious and, without immediate treatment, fatal. Dogs will
show a range of signs including discomfort and restlessness, drooling,
panting, discolored gums (either red or white/grey), retching without
producing vomit, and a tight, distended abdomen.
If you notice these symptoms, get your dog to the vet without delay. Quick
action and immediate emergency treatment are essential.
Great strides have been made in the treatment of GDV, giving most dogs a
70% chance survival rate, but recovery isn’t guaranteed and the dog’s age
and overall health have an effect on how well he does. While there is no
guarantee that your dog will never experience bloat or GDV, taking
preventive steps certainly lessens his risk. Consult with your
veterinarian, and learn all you can about the condition. The more you
know, including the early signs and symptoms, the better your chances of
reducing the severity of an incident if it does occur, and the better your
best friend’s chances of a full recovery.
Also included in this article:
- Could my dog be affected?
- How is it treated?
- Surgical options?
- How can I prevent this condition?
- Diet considerations?
- For the complete article and to subscribe to Animal Wellness
Magazine, click on
www.animalwellnessmagazine.com.
For archived articles from Animal Wellness Magazine,
click here.
NATURAL REARING--WARNINGS ABOUT
FLYING WITH YOUR ANIMALS
An article about air shipment of pets is available from www.naturalrearing.com. An excerpt is available here:
- Red Alert on Air Shipment of Pets
Here’s a little bombshell for you:
"…oversedation is the most frequent cause of death of pets being
transported by air."
This observation comes from none other than Dr. Arthur V. Tennyson
of the American Veterinary Medical Association. He is now advising
veterinarians not to prescribe a tranquilizer or other sedatives
for animals about to travel by air…except in unusual
circumstances. Even though such drugs have been used, there is
very little actually known about the effects of sedation on
animals that are enclosed in cages and transported at high
altitudes.
Dr. Tennyson says that even if the animal appears excited before
the trip begins, once aloft it probably calms down in the dark,
closed hold. When the pet is calm, however, the effect of the drug
might be excessive, he warns.
To help an animal that will be flown, the Bach Flower remedies are
extremely useful. We all know about Rescue Remedy (or Calming
Essence). This can be improved for flying by adding Mimulus for
specific fears (i.e. fear of abandonment) and Aspen for the vague
and general fear. Elm is a good remedy for the feeling of being
overwhelmed (ex. by the rigors of traveling). If the trip is long,
add Wild Rose. This will help the stress of confinement and will
aid to bring joy.
The remedies chosen can be given 3 times a day the day before
travel and more frequently on the day of travel (i.e. when you are
packing; leave the house; arrive at the airport; and just before
you must leave the animal). If water is accompanying the animal in
the crate, then the remedy can also be put in the water dish.
For other natural remedies, including homeopathic and glandular
remedies for stress, go to
www.naturalrearing.com.
An article about the basics of holistic care is available from www.naturalrearing.com. An excerpt is available here:
NATURAL REARING--PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
The basic principals of natural rearing are both simple and elegant. Yet to the newcomer, the wealth of detailed information can be overwhelming. Probably the hardest part is first "unlearning" what we have taken for granted for most of our lives….
To put the learning process in
perspective we need to address three broad categories:
1. Diet (including food, water, and supplements).
2. Vaccinations (conventional, holistic and a fundamental
understanding of the immune system).
3. Veterinary medicine (conventional, holistic and when to use the
best of both worlds).
… There is little doubt that the "Western" world has produced some of the finest "emergency" medicine in the world. Modern science has provided some outstanding tools for diagnostic purposes. Conventional medicine views the body as a mechanical device and seeks to put a label on a problem through symptomatic description. Treatment is generally by surgery or drugs. The D.V.M. of today is superbly schooled in the use of these modalities. What seems to have been pushed aside is the old primary rule of medicine "Firstly, do no harm". Over vaccination and over use of antibiotics and steroids are common.
The holistic veterinarian has learned to question some of what he has been taught and has gone on from earning his D.V.M. to trying to become a "healer" in the true sense of the word. In general, drugs for suppression of symptoms are rarely used. Instead the holistic practitioner seeks to determine the underlying cause of the symptom and may use one or several modalities to support and revitalize the body's own method of healing. Recognition of the "Vital Force" in a living body is freely given and considered to be as important as the "mechanistic" model learned in school. An attempt is made to view the animal as a "whole" individual being and more than just the sum of its parts.
…The challenge for the D.V.M. that chooses to practice a "Holistic" form of medicine, is the sheer volume of modalities utilized throughout the world. No one person could possibly become an "expert" in every field. The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association lists the following modalities in their directory: Acupuncture, Bach Flower Remedies, Chinese Herbs, Chiropractic, Clinical Nutrition, Color Therapy, Conventional Medicine, Electroacupuncture according to Voll, Glandular Therapy, Homeopathy (Classical and other), Interro, Biotron ll, Nutrition, Magnetic Therapy, Pulsating Magnetic Therapy, and Western Herbs. This list, although extensive is by no means complete. Entire fields of study such as Ayurvedic Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Medicine, and many others, are also open for investigation and incorporation into a veterinarian practice.
For the student of natural rearing there is no need to be overwhelmed by the plethora of information available. Rather, take comfort in knowing that there are many ways to deal with health problems and there is always hope when conventional medicine has given up. Most enthusiasts will find themselves turning to holistic care first, as their primary source of veterinary medicine. Conventional treatment is usually reserved for the emergency situation that can pop up from time to time. Both have their place.
One of the goals of natural rearing is to minimize the need for any veterinarian assistance. Prevention of ill-ness and fostering of well-ness can be achieved if a total program is followed. Providing your animal with the best chance of "being all that it can be" is a lofty goal, worthy of the extra effort it takes to accept the responsibility and think for yourself. There is no substitute for fresh, wholesome food, clean water, exercise, plenty of fresh air and avoidance of chemicals and drugs to the greatest extent possible.
Also included in the full article:
- Resources for education about
herbal remedies
- Natural Diet recommendations
- Use of supplements for optimum health
- Vaccination information
- Homeopathy, Enzymes, and a holistic approach to health
- Traditional and alternative veterinary medicine
To view the complete article, go to
www.naturalrearing.com.