Common Problems...Commonsense Solutions
Note: Information provided here is not intended for diagnosis or treatment of your pet's particular condition. Chronic symptoms can be a sign of underlying pathology and should be addressed first with your veterinarian.
Tom Cat Spraying
Eliminate sources of stress. Feliway (pheromone spray) and/or flower essences are helpful in transitioning away from territorial behavior (See F.U.S. below).
F.U.S. (Feline Urinary Syndrome)
Prevention includes lowered stress, filtered water, and a low ash/low magnesium food supplemented with cranberry extract. If your cat is urinating frequently, with dark or bloody urine, he may have a blockage and should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
Dry, Flaky, Itchy Skin
More often than not, common skin problems are allergic reactions to an inferior diet. Switching to a quality natural diet, suppplemented with essential fatty acids, will usually clear things up in 6-10 weeks. When selecting a new food, remember that the shorter the ingredient list, the better.
The Steroid Habit
Quite often skin conditions are severe enough at first that steroid (prednisone, etc.) injections or pills are needed to quell the itch and inflammation. This helps curtail further irritation from scratching, and gives the skin a chance to heal. However, because long-term use of these drugs can cause serious damage to joints and major organs, one should avoid using them continuously just to control symptoms. If your animal has been on steroid therapy for some time, do not stop abruptly. Instead, confer with your veterinarian on how to taper off gradually.
Fleas
Please refer to our FAQs page.
Nuisance Barking
Address "separation anxiety" or other emotional issues, supported with flower essences. For intractable cases, consider a Citronella "Anti-Bark" Collar.
The Pet Food Puzzle
Don't be taken in by slick corporate marketing or "Big Box" advertising. There are hundreds of brands on the market, but only a handful are formulated with your pets' well-being in mind. For insights on choosing a healthier diet, see our FAQs page. If you're unable to visit our store, contact us and we'll do our best to help, or we will put you in touch with someone in your area who can.
Flying with Your Pet
If you must transport your animals by air, take steps ahead of time to prepare them for this potentially traumatic experience. Buy your crate or transport bag well before you travel so that your pet can become accustomed to it (do not buy today & fly tomorrow). If your pet is a nervous traveler, consider using Five Flower Formula or other appropriate flower essences to help calm and soothe. And, above all, avoid shipping your animal in the cargo hold during extremely hot or cold weather.
