My dog got her first hot spot recently and I couldn’t afford to take her to the vet.  She was licking the base of her tail obsessively and after a couple of days of this a completely bald round spot developed on her tail.  I noticed that it started getting slightly infected looking and so I looked up what the cause might be.  It became clear very quickly that she had a “hot spot” which is a section of skin on a dog that becomes infected with bacteria (known to vets as pyotraumatic dermatitis) and itches, so the dog licks it until it becomes worse and eventually the most infected spot loses its fur and the sore may even ooze with pus.

In my dog’s case I am almost certain the cause was fleas because we had neglected to give her flea medication for several months.  Other causes of hot spots may be irritated anal sacs, allergies, thick coats, or grooming issues such as tangles and mats.

A friend of mine who works in a feed store looked up the ingredients in their most highly recommended hot spot treatment and suggested I might be able to make one of my own.  (Thank you Blaize!!)  The three ingredients she mentioned were the chamomile, aloe vera, and the tea tree oil.  It seemed that my dog’s hot spot was very itchy and I had harvested some plantain from my yard because I’d read about its anti-itch properties and I decided that this would make a good addition to the hot spot treatment.

Once I made up the remedy I sprayed my dog liberally with it directly on her hot spot and then I did my best to lift the fur of her heavy coat to spray the skin surrounding the hot spot.  Before this she had been very agitated about her sore area and when I tried to examine the area she growled and warned me to keep my hands off.  She had been chewing and licking the area obsessively so it was easy to notice that after the first spray application she must have felt some immediate relief.  She stopped bugging the spot almost immediately and only tried licking it again after an hour or two at which point I applied another round of spritzing her hot spot.

Within 24 hours she stopped touching her hot spot entirely and it was able to scab up and heal.  She still has a little bald spot on her tail but there’s no sore left at all.

What You’ll Need:

Non reactive sauce pan (either stainless steel or enamel coated)

Wooden spoon

Strainer

3/4 cups dried chamomile

3/4 cups dried plantain

1 Tbsp aloe vera juice

6 drops tea tree oil

2 cups water

8 ounce spray bottle

Method:

In a nonreactive small saucepan add the chamomile, plantain, and water and bring to a boil.  Turn down the heat and simmer herbs for a half an hour or until the water has reduced by about half.

Strain out the herbs and then pour the liquid into the spray bottle.  Add the aloe vera juice and the tea tree oil drops.  Shake well every time before use.

Store in the refrigerator.

To use: Shake up the remedy and then spray it on the affected area liberally.  Rough the fur up around the hot spot to expose the skin and spray as you do it.

You should notice an improvement within the first few hours.  Be very careful to notice if the exposed skin of the hot spot reacts to the spray.  If it shows any signs of getting worse stop using the spray immediately.  Though all the ingredients in this remedy are mild and in normal circumstances shouldn’t cause your dog’s skin to react, there is always the possibility that your dog may be allergic to one of the ingredients so use common sense.

Apply the spray to the hot spot every couple of hours until your dog stops worrying the sore and lets it begin to dry out.  Stop using the spray when the hot spot scabs up and your dog is no longer paying any attention to it.

To take care of the right parrot, of any race, you need some basic things. It covers essential to a good diet, the right amount of space and interaction. If you can provide three things, you are adopted parrot living a long healthy and happy life. Believe it or not, some parrots they outlast the original owner!

Proper Diet

Many people just because a bird is a parrot that all they want to eat revolves around seeds. Well, maybe the right seed is part of their diet, not all of them want to eat. Believe it or not, if you only feed your parrot seed will lose BIG part of the protein needs. Parrots also eat large meals consisting of fruits and fresh vegetables. Fresh fruit this can include: apples, Oranges, pears, and bananas. Vegetables can include: broccoli, cabbage, and spinach. The combination of fresh fruit and vegetables with a mixture of bone and constant high quality, fresh water will make sure your parrot lives a long life.

Room

When it comes to room, there are differences in opinion. Some people recommend that you purchase a bird cage for your parrot. Some people say just buy a very large cage. Either way it is up to you, the owner, to find the best fit for you. Even aviaries that provide a good and well, BIG parrot room to grow. Not everyone can. But now there is NO reason to have a cage so small, that the parrot feather is sticking out of it! This is because they create a variety of birdcages that you can buy to ensure it does not happen. Has too small a cage is open to those leaving parrot outside influences, such as your pet cat or dog!

Interaction

Parrots are like any other pet you may have, they want to talk to someone! To contact someone! Interaction is very important to their welfare, development, and stress levels! Think about it like this … How long you stay on earth with some kind of interaction people? Type of person that if you have no one to talk to you? Ever! You probably meanest person in the planet! Now think about your parrot! If you have adopted him, and all he has done is eat and then go to the street, no wonder he continued paglangkay bunch of noise! You should talk to him, notice him, even playing him! The interaction can help both of you in the long term. This will allow you to get to know him and recognize him for you!

Dogs are canines just like wolves yet for some reason dogs are treated like a different species than wolves. They are not animals anymore they are now simply pets.

Look in your dog’s mouth and you will see their canine teeth. Those teeth are not just there to make them look good. They are there to help them tear flesh off of their dinner. Unfortunately they can’t tear kibble apart so those teeth are pretty useless unless they are getting their species specific food.

Yes people will argue that it’s dangerous to feed raw and I’ve even heard the argument that feeding your dog raw food can turn them wild. This was coming from a man with a little white Maltese. I’m pretty sure that dog is going to stay sweet and cute after a bite of raw food.

Those reasons are only based on fear and lack of knowledge, not actual experience.

Guaranteed those people have not tried a species specific diet. If they had they would see their dog enjoys the food, lives through the day, and over a small amount of time shows increased health through their looks and their energy.

Those arguments are from three different branches. Fear based people, vets, or pet food companies.

These pro ‘pet food’ people have read article after article of other fear based people who have been led to believe that man made ‘pet food’ is the only way to keep your dog healthy.

Or else they have read the articles from the pet food companies themselves or from vets that strongly disagree with raw but never really seem to have a good argument.

Vets can’t have a good argument about this because they know that real food is better for your dog. It’s common sense.

The most valid argument I’ve seen is that it’s hard to balance the diet to ensure that your dog get’s the proper nutrition required.

Every dog requires the same main ingredients and there is a ratio of what they need. Once you learn this making their breakfast or dinner becomes easy. They need meat, organ meat, vegetables, oils, bone and minerals.

Depending on where they are in their life cycle they require different proportions of these ingredients and that is all learned very quickly once you begin to understand a species specific diet. Once you understand it your dog now is getting one hundred percent of the benefits out of their food that they could possibly get.

The pet food companies write articles because they want to sell their ‘pet food’ and will do anything in their power to make you believe that their food is the healthiest and wisest choice you can make.  They have a major advantage already with TV commercials.

Putting a dog on their commercial and making it look cute appeals to every single pet owner. I can’t help but smile at those commercials even though I know they are just trying to get people to buy their product. They tug at our heart strings.

They claim their food has real meat, vegetables, oils, and minerals jam packed into every piece of kibble yet in the same breath they advocate against feeding pets real meat, vegetables, oils, and minerals. Do you see how mixed up that is?

Why is it only okay when it’s from them? Because when you buy their product you are putting money into their pockets. It’s as simple as that.

Pet food is such a weird term in itself. There’s human food, animal food, and then pet food; I guess somewhere along the way pets become became not quite animals but not quite humans. It’s ridiculous.

The point I’m trying to make with this article is that people need to research this stuff for themselves. Don’t let other people tell you something and then just because they said so believe it.

Seeing is believing and I guarantee that once you feed your dog what they require you will see the difference and understand.

You have nothing to lose but the health of your pet. Start learning and informing yourself here.

Ava getting her hands on some local, organic produce.

I stopped going to farmer’s markets for many years because I was always disappointed by the lack of . . . well . . . farmers. But recently I’ve noticed local produce popping up at the various markets around town from time to time. While this is exciting to see, most of the farms I’ve come across have only sold one or two items. I found one selling tomatoes and another selling sprouts – both wonderful to pick up but nothing that gets my grocery shopping done.

So you can imagine how excited I was to finally find a local farmer with a 10′ x30′ tent full of produce. And not only produce, but organic produce! Meet E.T.’s Homegrown Produce from Grant, FL, one of the newest vendors at the Victoria Park farmer’s market. So far, I’ve found both their produce (quality and selection) and their prices to be excellent. The couple that owns the farm are incredibly nice, and they always indulge my son’s passion for gardening and my daughter’s love of baby eggplant and yellow squash.

In case you’re not familiar with Victoria Park, it’s a community in DeLand less than a mile off I-4 (exit 116) and its market is open every Sunday from 7AM to 1PM. The 20-minute drive from my home is well worth the effort to be able to load up on local, organic produce each week.  And while the rest of the market is still pretty small, there are several other vendors worth mentioning:

• Artisan Breads, selling a wide variety of partially-baked vegan breads, dinner rolls, bagels and more.

• Nature’s Select all-natural pet food and pet care products.

• Green Goods, a vendor selling organic, local plant starts (in homemade pots made from newspaper), gardening supplies and garden design services.

I’ve also seen a vendor selling all-natural pound cakes and another with a large bulk selection of raw nuts, dried fruit and other snacks there on occasion.

I’m so happy to have finally found local, organic farmers! Be sure to pay them a visit so they keep coming back!

A friend of mine just got a new puppy, and she is floundering in a sea of way too much conflicting advice about how to deal with fleas, ticks, and other bug problems. So, being a good friend, I’ve agreed to give her even more advice, probably even more conflicting than what she’s already heard. (What are friends for?)

(Standard disclaimer: Not only has the FDA not approved any part of what I say, the FDA would laugh until they wet their pants if I even came near them. I’m a muscian with no medical training of any kind, I just read a lot and pay attention.  Follow any advice I give with a grain of salt, do your own homework, and please do not hold me responsible for any negative results.  I’m a musician.)

Her dilemma: to give monthly “preventative” medication or not? Obviously, me being me, I do not choose to give it to my pets. As I discussed in a previous post , the meds don’t actually prevent fleas, they keep a constant very small level of insecticide in the pet’s system so that the fleas die before they can reproduce. Which is very efficient, but I still do not choose to go that route, because my own belief is that it has a negative effect on the overall health of the animal.

I think the question for anyone would have to be something like, “How much would I freak out if I found living fleas on my animal?” Because once they are there, there’s a pretty lengthy and commitment-required regimen, if you don’t want to go the flea bomb route, for getting rid of them. (Discussed in part II of this post) (And by the way, they do sometimes appear on animals being treated in other ways! That’s another reason given for abandoning chemical flea treatment; many believe that the fleas are getting stronger and developing resistance to those meds anyhow.) 

Because the fact is that every animal is different, and while I can say loftily that I’ve had pets for 16 years and experienced only 2 flea outbreaks, I could have been just plain lucky. However, given that that’s all I actually did have in all that time, in hindsight, it’s fairly clear that giving the prevention would have been way more expensive and way harder on the pet than it was worth for those two weeks out of 16 years when fleas actually were a problem.

I. So, flea prevention tactics to actually prevent fleas:

1. Natural diet and supplements: My holistic vets have always said with great conviction that the most important aspect to keeping your pet from getting fleas is to keep them really healthy and with a very good immune system—that fleas don’t really like the blood of healthy dogs, so they stay away.  I’ve been feeding my dogs some of the very natural foods for years, mostly because my doxie has a bunch of food intolerances and I need to give him stuff with only a few ingredients or we run into problems. California Natural (by NaturaPet, and Holistique (by Solid Gold) have served him really well over time, and they’re not too hard to find. For those who really want to get into it, there’s Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats  (available on Amazon.com and other places) which is full of actual vet-created recipes for making one’s own dog food. (It’s actually not as hard as it looks, and the food is way less nasty than the canned stuff you buy. It can be prepared in quantity and frozen in easily thaw-able batches, and there’s enough flexibility that you can buy what’s on sale and it’s really pretty cost-effective.) But most of us just don’t really choose to go that far. Maybe when my kids are in college I’ll have time for that.

There are a gajillion different supplements out there for dogs, and every holistic vet I’ve talked with has his or her own pet favorite, so it’s hard to say. One thing they seem to agree on is that fish oil is a really good thing. (I get mine from Robbins Pet Care online, where you can get cute little fish-shaped capsules, twist off the tail, and squeeze the oil onto the food. Much easier than measuring!)

One of the easier supplements to find is “The Missing Link;” I think you can even get it at PetSmart and places like that. It at first seems horrifically expensive (and probably is if you have a Great Dane or something), but with small dogs it really goes a long way and covers a lot of nutritional bases, and is in my opinion way easier than having six little bottles of different kinds of supplements to give your dog. I know this because currently we do have lots of little bottles, and they’re driving me nuts, but when they run out I may just shift back to Missing Link. (There’s one little bottle for digestion, another for his joints, another that’s a probiotic, on and on…)

I have also heard that giving a dog a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with meals or in their water will keep fleas from wanting to jump on them. I’ve never tried it. Sounds a little too bizarre to be true. But who knows? I’ve also heard (and this makes more sense) that using it as a rinse for a dog after a bath, or in a spray, is a good way to keep fleas off. But I’ve never tried this either.

Brewer’s yeast, added to food each day, is also said to keep fleas away. Again, I’ve never tried it.

1. Bug Repellent:  In natural bug repellents, you have your essential oils and you have your Neem oil.

Neem Oil: expeller pressed from the seeds of a tropical evergreen indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, this is one of the most widely used bio-pesticides in use today for everything from domestic pest control to organic farming. Added to pet shampoo (this site suggests 1 teaspoon neem oil in a quart of warm water with ¼ tsp liquid dishwashing soap to make a flea and tick-killing spray) it helps kill fleas and ticks that are already there, added to an insect repellent blend it helps keep them away. Lots of neem products are out there—I can’t really recommend one over the other.  

I also happen to think neem oil smells really vile. Which is why I like to also use essential oils…

Essential Oils: These are the active ingredients in most non-toxic, deet-free bug sprays you can buy these days. It’s insane how widely varied the costs are for the different ones, although the quality of the essential oils used may have something to do with that. I doubt if there’s any one “magic formula” that’s going to work better than all the rest for every single dog in every single part of the world, but they all have some things in common. (Note: the prices between different pure essential oils, by themselves, are sometimes a shock, but most often they really do reflect the relative preciousness of the oil. Most of the insecticidal oils aren’t the really expensive ones, though.)

A few of the best-known essential oils for flea prevention are: lemongrass, citronella, eucalyptus, cedar, lavender, and peppermint. (I’m skeptical about lavender—but it does have a reputation for enhancing the quality of whatever oils you blend it with, so maybe that’s part of it.) I’ve also heard rose geranium mentioned. 

(By the way—never use essential oils on a cat! Cats’ metabolism’s can’t deal with things the way other animals can, and severe liver damage can result. Hydrosols, the liquid byproducts of making essential oil, seem to work fine with cats, though. The Nature’s Gift website has lots of information about these.)

I’ve mentioned before Nature’s Gift (www.naturesgift.com ) a site with some of the best aromatherapy information I’ve ever found. They sell a great blend called “Skeeter Beater” which also does a good job keeping fleas away. A few drops of the oil on a fabric collar (of a dog, not a cat!), or a few drops in a spray bottle with distilled water, is what my family uses on dogs and humans whenever we are out and about. A few drops of neem oil added to that is even better. (Except for the smell. Yuck. I just don’t like it.)

As with all things, your mileage may vary! Some of these may work for you, some not, and trial and error is about the only way to do it. Just, as I say often, do your own research and homework, and make informed choices.

1. Vigilance

The final and probably most important thing about flea prevention is to pay attention. Frequent grooming, bathing, brushing, etc. are key to keeping fleas from becoming a problem, and if you do see one or find the signs of them on your pet, leap into action immediately, because you never know when the eggs will get laid and/or hatch. 

“Flea sign” in a dog looks like little crumbs of black dirt, usually very close to the skin. It’s not dirt—it’s blood from the animal that the flea has consumed and digested…well, okay, to be real honest, it’s Flea Poop. But best to just think of it as dried blood, which is essentially what it is. The way to tell the difference between ordinary dirt and flea sign is to wipe it up with a damp tissue—if it streaks to red, it’s flea sign. If not, it’s just dirt.

If your dog has raw itchy spots and seems uncomfortable and you find flea sign…be afraid. That usually means they’ve been around a while and escaped unspotted.

Which brings us to Part II: What to do if they get in anyway? (Flea removal)

The unfortunate part of trial and error, is, of course, the error part! That means you may well have to deal with a flea infestation at some point, and while the process is not fun and it’s fairly labor-intensive, it’s also pretty effective. 

Oh, and if you have two adults in the house who can initiate steps 1. and 2. simultaneously, that’s best of all.

1. First things first: Give the dog a bath.

My dog hates baths. Most people’s dogs I know hate baths. But this is the first line of attack and probably the most important. A couple of tips:

·         a little neem oil, just a few drops, in whatever shampoo you use will kick up its effectiveness.

·         When you get the dog in the tub, immediately create a soapy barrier around the dog’s neck. The fleas, when they hit water, will immediately head for higher ground, and it’s really hard to get them out of the dog’s ears if they make it that far. 

·         Then scrub the poor creature, really well, all the way to skin level, not neglecting any of the nooks and crannies (between toes, armpits/pawpits, around the ears, etc.)—obviously, be careful around the face; as I said, fleas will long to get there, but they’re hard to clean without hurting the dog.

·         If your dog has long hair, brush its coat out while still soapy, and/or use a flea comb (available at pet stores) to really seek out the little buggers.

·         Rinse well. I usually repeat, if I think the dog can take it and he’s not looking too pathetic. Dry the poor wet creature off with a towel, be resigned that water will still be shaken everywhere, and move on to the next step.

1. Clean your house. I mean, really, clean it all, all at once. (Again, if adult #2 can be doing this while adult #1 bathes the dog, so much the better!)

·         Okay, we got all the fleas off the dog. Unfortunately, they have probably managed to lay some eggs somewhere, or lots of somewheres, around your home. So now you need to wash everything, every soft surface your pet has ever been anywhere near, to make sure of getting the eggs.

·         Wash all bedding in hot water.

·         Vacuum all rugs and soft furniture. If your vacuum has a bag, freeze its contents before dumping them out. The purpose of vacuuming is twofold: first, you hope to get the eggs and larvae, if there are any; second, the flea sign, that dried blood, is what the eggs need to eat upon hatching, so if there’s nothing for them to eat they starve quickly—unless they find a host to chow down on. Vacuuming and cleaning bedding is probably the single most important part of this whole process.

·         If you can, stuff pillows and cushions into the freezer for 48 hours or so; this kills the eggs. Otherwise, really good vacuuming usually does the trick.

·         With any luck, this will get most or all of your unwelcome visitors. However, even if you’re pretty sure you did a fabulous job…

1. Use a flea comb daily, or more often even, for at least a week.

·         The flea comb is a great thing. Go over every inch of the dog with it, combing backwards against the lay of the coat. If you find more flea sign the day or two after the big bath, you still have fleas on the dog. Keep a cup or bowl of soapy warm water next to you; if you catch a flea, immediately submerge it in the soapy water, This kills it. The little suckers don’t squish, they have to be drowned. If you’re not sure whether it’s a flea or a piece of flea sign, submerge it anyway—if it’s sign, it’ll float; if it’s a flea, it’ll sink. And you won’t lose the slippery little sucker in trying to examine it. (A single flea can lay up to 500 eggs in its lifespan and 50 in a day, so every one of the little buggers you get is that many fewer to deal with later!)

·         An extra hint for those with male dogs, although it’s a little…gross to contemplate. (Grosser to witness, let me tell you.) If you really want to know whether or not your treatment worked, wait till some moment when your little boy is sleeping in the sun, calm and at peace and well into his nap, and then gently turn him over so you can see his boy parts (or where his boy parts used to be, assuming you, as a responsible pet owner, did indeed get him neutered. J) If there are fleas on him, chances are they’ve headed in that direction and are taking their own little nap, where for some reason it’s warmer than elsewhere, and there they stay until they realize they are busted, at which point they run for higher ground. For me, this is always the final test. If there are no fleas there for several days of naps in a row, I’m pretty sure they’re gone. Never worked with my female, though.

1. Lather, rinse, and repeat: a week or so later, go through the whole process again—bathe the dog, wash the bedding, vacuum the house. Keep doing this until from one cleaning to the next you have had no indication of any flea activity anywhere in your home. (As in, after a week of no activity, do it one more time, and then figure maybe you’re done.)
2. Keep vigilant: for several weeks or even months after the incident, go over the dog with a flea comb just to make sure you’re still in good shape.

So…that is what I’ve always done, and it’s served us well. As I said in the beginning, it’s going to depend on a lot of factors, most of which it’s hard to even recognize, whether a natural flea prevention regimen works. For me, it’s been well worth it—but I can’t say that if I’d been dealing with 3 outbreaks a summer every year since getting my dogs, I wouldn’t be heading for Frontline. And again, I live far enough north that the climate kills most of the bugs for several months out of the year.

Good luck!

Pookies Pet Nutrition and Bakery

Almost two years ago I made the decision to start feeding our cat healthier food since we had cleaned up our family’s diet. A friend had recommended Innova brand cat food, which after making some calls I found that Pookie’s carried it.  At the same time I tried a brand of raw cat food which my cat loved, but I decided to stick with the Innova since it was less messy.

I love that the store is small and pet friendly- owners can bring their cat or dog in while shopping. The staff has always been very friendly, knowledgable and helpful.  Besides a wide range of cat and dog food, the store carries pet bedding, toys, and freshly baked dog treats. I will admit that we don’t have a dog but have bought the treats to enjoy for ourselves.  They are wheat free and some are vegan….and though they are a little dry, they taste good!

Pookie’s has locations in Winter Park and Ocoee.  For more information you can visit Pookies website.

Those of us caring for animal companions want to do everything we can to ensure their total health and long, happy lives. Like parents, we make mistakes along the way, but keep asking questions in hopes of >>more

Timmy’s Toy Chest announced through it’s newsletter that they are now carrying African Pygmy Frogs in Eco-System Aquariums.  Each aquarium includes two full-grown male frogs that need to be fed just twice a week (food is available for purchase too).  The Eco-System Aquarium is self-contained and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance or upkeep.  Owner Lin Hanzelko states:

The Eco-System Aquarium is the coolest. It is a complete system that requires no filters, aeration, or chemicals. There are living rocks in the tank that stabalize the ph and ammonia levels. There is a living snail in the tank. His job is to keep the tank clean and free of algae. There is a piece of bamboo in that tank that provides oxygen for the frogs.

The African Pygmy Frog lives entirely underwater but surfaces to breathe. They are typically earth-toned and weigh just a few ounces. For more information on their behavior, care, or keeping them as pets please visit Wikipedia. 

The frogs and eco-aquariums were such a hit that their first stocking sold out in less than one day!  They got new frogs in yesterday so stop in and check them out. 

Timmy’s Toy Chest is located in Lake Mary in Colonial Town Park.  For more information please contact them at 407-804-9877.

Perhaps you feed your dog all natural foods and treats because you know it’s better for their health and vitality.  But do you know how important it is to also use all natural, non-toxic grooming products and flea control products on your pet?  If you’re concerned about your pet’s health, but still want to pamper your pooch, then head on over to Woof! Orlando – Orlando’s first certified “green” pet grooming salon.  

Woof! Orlando is not only an award winning pet grooming salon (specializing in Terriers), but it also offers spa features for your dog.  Using only eco-friendly and all-natural grooming and cleansing products, they can pamper your dog with spa services such as:

• Conditioning Wrap
• Tropical Exfoliator
• Silkening Serum Treatment
• Blueberry Facials
• Teethbrushing

Owner Michelle Olds is passionate about creating a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle for central Florida dogs.   Her mission is to show dog owners how easy it can be to choose greener products that benefit both the Earth and your dog’s health.  And one of the first places you can go green for a healthier pet is through dog grooming.

It’s amazing how many chemicals groomers use on dogs,” Olds said.  “It’s not even that much more money to go green with dogs.  It’s just that people don’t know how important it is.”

In order to spread the word about how harmful dog grooming salons can be to the environment and how easy it is to change for the better, Olds went to someone who could help her spread the word - the City of Orlando.  Orlando’s Green Business program had been certifying only restaurants, landscaping businesses and vehicle maintenance industries who demonstrated a commitment to go green by protecting their stormwater run off.  Olds showed the City of Orlando how dog grooming businesses can contribute to poor water quality through the chemicals that are washed down the drain and dumped in the streets on a daily basis.  After becoming aware of the problem, the City of Orlando started certifying dog grooming businesses, as well, with Woof! Orlando as the first certified green dog grooming business in the city.

Traditional dog groomers can douse your dog with harsh and harmful chemical-filled grooming and cleaning products that aren’t good for your dogs health, or the environment.  While Woof! Orlando uses all natural grooming and cleaning products, their commitment to the environment doesn’t stop there. 

Olds is constantly on a mission to green Woof! Orlando, from switching to more energy efficient light bulbs to only using green cleaning products. Olds also expects all of the suppliers that she deals with to respect the environment, too.  In fact, Woof! Orlando only stocks products in their green dog boutique that are healthy and eco-friendly for your dog, as well as are manufactured by companies with a demonstrated commitment to the environment.  Their green dog boutique currently has an assortment of natural grooming products, such as Spa Diggity Dog, as well as healthy dog treats such as Sam’s Yam’s.  And you can stock up on healthy eating for your dog, too, with Natures Variety Frozen Raw food and Instinct Dry Diet.

With a solid commitment to going green for both the health of the planet and the health of dogs,  Olds is on a mission to show central Florida dog owners that you can have a well-groomed pet that’s healthy and happy and even flea-free without the need of toxic chemical products.  With happy dog owners and even happier dogs constantly entering and leaving Woof! Orlando, it’s clear to see that’s she’s already succeeding.

Woof! Orlando is located at 3019 Edgewater Drive (across from Edgewater High School) in the College Park area of Orlando.  Visit wooforlando.com or phone (407) 422-2206 for more information.

Walking into the Dog Bark Bakery in Celebration, you instantly know that you and your pets are in good hands.  From the vast array of healthy and holistic products that line the walls to the warm and welcoming smile from Winston Tenorio, the owner of this “gourmutt” dog bakery, stepping inside Dog Bark Bakery is like taking a giant leap in creating a healthier lifestyle for your four-legged members of your family.

Dog Bark Bakery is the passion of Winston Tenorio, whose passion for pets is obvious from the very first minute that you speak with him.  After his dog, Hannah, was treated for breast cancer twice, Tenorio made it his mission to open a store that was dedicated to providing healthy and nutritious foods for dogs and cats, as well as a vast array of other natural and non-toxic products for pets.

With an extensive background in the restaurant industry working for some of the biggest names in the field, Tenorio took his expertise and decided to start making gluten-free treats in his own gourmet dog bakery.  In fact, visitors can watch Tenorio cooking his all-natural treats in the open-air kitchen located right inside the store.  During my recent visit to Dog Bark Bakery, the bags of homemade treats were flying off the shelves.  With flavors such as BBQ, Carrot Cake and Cinna Crispy bones, these gourmet dog treats sound good enough for the dog owners, too!

For a special occasion in your dog’s life, be sure to check out Dog Bark Bakery’s birthday cakes, Carob-dipped treats or specialty catering, with delicacies such as caviar squares and cream pups.

The diagnosis of Hannah’s cancer has deeply affected Tenorio and has spurred his dedication to creating a healthier lifestyle for dogs and cats.  His store is packed with some of the best all-natural and organic pet products available, and Tenorio’s goal is to provide these products, which can sometimes be a little pricey, at the best price around.

A lot of times people don’t buy the healthier products for their pets because of the cost,” Tenorio said.  “I believe it’s important that everyone should be able to afford the best for their dog and cat, so I think that I have the lowest prices for all-natural pet supplies in a hundred mile radius.  I try to keep the prices as low as I can so that everyone can have a healthy pet.”

Not only does Tenorio strive to provide a great value on healthy pet products, he also generously gives towards pets who have been diagnosed with cancer.  Tenorio started the Hannah Canine Cancer Survival Fund in honor of his dear dog.  The fund helps provide financial support to needy individuals whose pets are undergoing cancer treatment.  Tenorio’s face lights up when he talks about the first recipient of the fund, an elderly lady whose beagle was diagnosed with cancer.  With no family around, the beagle, named “Angel,” was the lady’s only companion and family.  With the help of the Hannah Canine Cancer Survival  Fund, Angel was able to receive treatments and return to his owner.

Tenorio has no plans to become a chain dog bakery or develop a larger business that loses a personal touch.  He’s happy to be able to bake dog treats in his small Celebration store while having personal conversations with his customers.  His passion for animals is evident and for that, the lives of dogs and cats in central Florida can be just a little bit healthier. 

For more information, contact the Dog Bark Bakery at (321) 939-1334 or visit dogbarkbakery.com.

Kimberly Button is the founder of greenWell, a green consulting company that helps families create healthier, non-toxic homes by providing eco-wellness house calls, green nursery consultations, in-home presentations and professional speaking engagements.

During a recent visit to the Sand Lake Farmers Market at Whole Foods in Orlando, I discovered The Beeswax Balm Company.  This local company (based in Sanford, FL) is creating quite a buzz in the natural products industry with it’s high quality body balms that sooothe and nourish using the power of bees and a few other all natural ingredients, too.

The Beeswax Balm Company’s balms are lovingly created using a handful of all natural, high-quality ingredients.  In each balm, you can find -

• Beeswax (for skin softening)
• Shea Butter (Hand pressed to contain more vitamins, with a natural SPF)
• Vitamin E (promotes healing)
• Aloe Vera (a nutrient-rich powerhouse that calms the skin)
• Cocoa Butter (the ultimate moisturizer)
• Vegetable Glycerin (emollient properties)
• Neem Oil (naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal)
• Olive Oil (great for skin)

With these all-natural ingredients, The Beeswax Balm Co. has found that their balms aren’t only great for moisturizing, they have healing properties, too.  In fact, many users claim to find relief from psoriasis, eczema, rashes, second degree burns, diaper rash and brittle fingernails.  The balms are so gentle and effective, The Beeswax Balm Co. suggess using them for small children and even your pets and horses.

The balms are rich and thick so you might be concerned about having greasy skin throughout the day.  Don’t worry.  The balm is a little rich when you first rub it into your skin, but in a matter of minutes it has completely absorbed, leaving nothing but softer skin behind.  With an eclectic array of fragrances, you’re sure to find one that suits you.  The balms include:

• Natural (fragrance-free)
• Banana-Coconut
• Lavender
• Frankincense & Myrrh
• Natural with Manuka Honey
• Manuka Honey Lip Balm with natural SPF

You can try out The Beeswax Balm Company’s healing balms at farmers markets throughout the area, including Sanford Farmer’s Market, Maitland Farmer’s Market, Sandlake Whole Foods Farmer’s Market and Lake Eola Farmer’s Market. You can also buy the products at M&M Vitamins in Lake Mary and Let’s Clean Green in Sanford, as well as ordering online at thebeeswaxbalmco.com.  For more information, you can also phone The Beeswax Balm Co. at (407) 324-4452.

Kimberly Button is a green consultant with greenWell, an eco-wellness company that helps families create healthier, non-toxic homes by providing eco-wellness house calls, green nursery consultations and in-home parties.

There’s a great coupon in the back of Moms Like Me magazine this month. (You may know this magazine as “Central FL Moms” since they recently changed the name.) The coupon is for $10 off a $40 purchase at the new Whole Foods Market on Turkey Lake Road.

You can pick this magazine up for free around town. Check their website for locations if you’re not familiar with it. Oh..wow! I just checked the main Whole Foods site and found a printable coupon that can be used at ANY location. Check it out here.

Pets like people can be allergic to products plus also need to be careful of what they eat. There wouldn’t be pet supermarkets otherwise! My friend leaves pay check to pay check largely due to making sure his cats are well taken care of plus he goes on weekends to feed the cats in the parking lot! He is a nice guy.

Pets can be allergic to pollen, have food allergies and even get contact dermatitis to certain substances that come in contact with them. Look into ways to minimize these reactions by reducing the number of chemicals that your pet needs to deal with.

There is nothing more painful than watching a pet constantly itching and trying to scratch itself. Whether it’s fleas, allergies or other reactions , pick up what your pet is reacting to to ease the pain.

Free Dog and Cat Cookbook- CLICK HERE

Discounts on Miracle II Products for Pets and People

Keep a diary of your pets’ reactions to see what in environment is difficult for them.

Simon the puppy playing with his human brother! Photo courtesy of Alexandra Holt.

 When Simon the puppy became part of the family this year I knew that he’d join the kitties and the humans in eating a human grade whole foods diet.  I set off into the kitchen and whipped up my first batch of homemade dog food.  Simon loved it and I loved making it for him, but I wondered if I should be feeding him a raw food diet.  After all, in the wild, dogs certainly don’t cook their food! But my food, and Simon’s too, comes from the grocery store.  What if the chicken or beef I was buying him was contaminated with some sort of bacteria or parasite?  I just didn’t have enough control over the ingredients to ensure that Simon was going to avoid illness, so I cooked it and reassured myself that he was eating a fabulous diet that most dogs could only dream of.  Then I heard about The Honest Kitchen and discovered the answer to my raw food conundrum!  I really can offer Simon a safe raw food diet without moving to a farm!

About The Honest Kitchen

     The Honest Kitchen is a private, family owned company located in San Diego, California.  Lucy Postins started cooking for her Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy back in 2000.  By 2001 she had developed a recipe using all human grade raw ingredients that used dehydration as the method to preserve the food safely without removing any of the nutritional value.  In 2002, The Honest Kitchen was officially born after they located a human food manufacturer who could produce their food on a large scale.  They are a company committed to quality canine and feline nutrition.

Whole Dog Journal - 2007 Editor

• All products and ingredients are 100% human food grade.
• All products are produced in an FDA approved human food producing facility.
• All meats are hormone and antibiotic free.
• All fruits and vegetables are GMO free.
• All grains are certified organic.
• No chemical preservatives, no by-products, no added salt or sugar, no chemical preservatives, no artificial colors.
• Great for dogs and cats with allergies – no beet pulp, rice, wheat, corn or soy (common allergens that cause dry, itchy skin, hair loss/dullness, lack of energy, chronic ear problems, chewing at feet, etc.).

The Honest Kitchen  knows that eating the exact same meal day after day isn’t good for people and it isn’t good for our pets either.  They offer a wide range of products with quality, nutritious, human quality foods.  It is easy to incorporate these products as a base for homemade whole pet food diets or BARF (biologically appropriate raw food) diets, or the product can be used as a stand alone meal (with the exception of the Preference product – you have to add your own protein).

About The Honest Kitchen’s Dehydration Process

Muggs, the bull terrier, shows off The Pet Pantry delivery van! Photo courtesy of Alexandra Holt.

Here’s welcome relief for skyrocketing gas prices – a home delivery service that brings high quality pet supplies right to your door!  The Pet Pantry has been in business for the past 4 years making home deliveries to 6 central Florida counties.  Locally owned and operated by sister-in-laws Ginny Blurton and Inga Mueller, The Pet Pantry offers human quality pet foods at a variety of price points, making it affordable and convenient to feed your furry friends a safe, healthy, and nutritious diet.  You don’t even need to worry about being home when they stop by.  They’ll weather protect your order and leave it at your front door!

The Pet Pantry strives to be environmentally and socially responsible in their business practices: 

• Their employees are able to telecommute and live within 3 miles of their Longwood warehouse.  
• They make 40-50 deliveries a day in their delivery van.  Carefully planned out routes help them drive and work smart – typically they drive less than 3 1/2 miles between stops.  Their customers save on gas expenses and reduce the impact on the environment by having only one vehicle on the road instead of 40-50 customers driving individual cars out to a pet food store.  
• The Pet Pantry makes regular contributions of both money and food to many area animal rescue groups:

Greyhound Pets of America
Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid FL
Gold Coast Greyhounds
Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue
SPCA of Central Florida
Boston Terrier Rescue of FL
Pug Rescue of Florida
Central Florida Pug Rescue
Lab Retriever Rescue of Florida
Compassionate Canines
Greyhound Ranch
Cavalier Rescue USA
Candy’s Cats
Coastal Poodle Rescue
Orlando Pug Rescue & Adoption

 

Some of the product lines offered:

 

The Pet Pantry

Ark Naturals  
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Diamond Pet Foods
Eagle Pack
Holistic Select
Evanger’s
The Honest Kitchen
Innova
Merrick
Natural Balance
Nutro
Old Mother Hubbard
Orijen
Prism
Premium Edge
Snack 21
Solid Gold
Wellness
Wysong
Zuke’s

Most of the products carried by The Pet Pantry are listed on Whole Dog Journal’s Top Dog Food list!

The Pet Pantry also carries pet litter, toys, treats, grooming supplies, flea control and supplements! If you don’t see an item that you need, let them know! Special requests aren’t a problem!

“Our vision for the Pet Pantry is to someday offer daily delivery in Central Florida – to be a one-stop shop for all your pet’s needs, providing quality products- next-day delivery to your door.” Ginny Blurton, The Pet Pantry

 

Cost of delivery:

Free for orders over $25 within their regular delivery area.  $5 charge applies to orders under $25

Where they deliver:

All of Orange, Seminole, Brevard counties, most of Lake, Osceola, and Volusia counties.

When they deliver:

Each area is geographically divided by zip codes – check out their zip code delivery schedule online or call to find out when they’ll be in your area.

Want to stop by and pick up your supplies instead?

Be sure to give them a call before you head over to their Longwood warehouse – they’re happy to arrange to meet up with you. The phone number is 407-331-7387.

They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, free samples, and they don’t require a contract! Simply place a standing order for regular delivery or place an order by 2:00 pm the day before your area’s scheduled delivery day.

Want another reason to have your pet supplies delivered by The Pet Pantry? You’ll love their Join the Pack Program! Refer a friend and both of you will get 10% off of your next order!

Many families have traditions of lighting fireworks in their backyards, even handing lit sparklers to toddlers as they run in dizzying circles in the yard.  This is a safety disaster waiting to happen and a practice that needs to be abandoned.  Leave lighting fireworks to the professionals this year!  Take your family out to see a public firework display as a safer alternative to lighting fireworks at home.

Fireworks are dangerous!

The National Council on Fireworks Safety reports that every year nearly 10,000 people are treated for injuries related to at-home fireworks.  It is estimated that as many as 45-50% of those injured are children.

Never use homemade or illegal fireworks – their use accounts for 30-35% of all firework related injuries!

Never allow a child to play with or light fireworks – even sparklers!  Sparklers get very hot:  over 1800*F! That’s hot enough to melt gold!  They are simply not safe, especially in the hands of a child.  Six states have already banned all consumer fireworks, including sparklers.

• Try offering glowsticks as a safer, non-toxic alternative to sparklers this year.  If you have a budding scientist in your house, you can even incorporate a science lesson on chemiluminescence (the science behind why glowsticks glow)!
• Older kids (grown ups too!) might enjoying chewing on wintergreen candies in the dark and watching each other to see the resulting blue sparks.  Your budding scientist can tell everyone about triboluminescence!

• Fourth of July Celebration in Sanford, 
• Red, Hot, and Boom in Altamonte Springs,
• Fireworks at the Fountain at Lake Eola in Orlando, 
• or the Independence Day Fireworks Displays at Disney World.  Disney World has gone “green” with their fireworks displays – they now use compressed air instead of gunpowder to launch their fireworks!

Fireworks terrify animals!

Here’s another reason to abandon the tradition of at-home fireworks – they terrify animals.  Pets are not allowed at public firework displays and for good reason.  The sudden and very loud explosions are very damaging to our pets’ sensitive ears.  Animal shelters report a surge in lost pets during fireworks season as petrified animals flee for safety.  

• Keep your pets inside in case your neighbors decide to set off fireworks.  
• Turn on some soothing music inside the house and dim the lights to help reduce your pets’ anxiety level.
• Make sure that your pets’ ID tags have current contact information in case they run away.
• Do not bring your pets to a public fireworks display.

Lucy and Jasper were just plain fat.  They were tiny balls of fluff when I adopted the alley cat siblings and just one year later my furry babies were lethargic and visibly overweight.  The most exercise they got was running to the food dish.  To make matters worse, I was paying top dollar on what I viewed as high quality commercial pet food.  Four months ago that all changed when I read the list of ingredients contained in the cat food and started my quest to improve their health.

What I learned was shocking and forever transformed my thoughts on proper pet nutrition:

• 47% of pets in America are obese.  (American Veterinary Medical Association)
• 4-D animals are used in commercial pet foods.  Dead, dying, diseased and disabled animals that can’t be used for human consumption are ground up to feed our pets – hardly suitable food at all.   (Frazier, Anitra. The New Natural Cat: a Complete Guide to Finicky Owners.  New York:  Penguin Books, 1990.)
• Corn and corn by-products are the fillers used in most commercially prepared pet foods. Just check out the labels!  I can’t imagine cats in the wild stalking corn…so probably doesn’t belong in their domestic diet either.

I learned about a couple of alternatives to feeding my cats commercially prepared foods.  A raw food diet made a lot of sense for them, as cats in the wild certainly don’t cook their lizards and mice before eating them.  However, I wasn’t comfortable serving my cats raw poultry when I wasn’t 100% sure I trusted the source.  I decided on what I felt was the next best thing – a whole foods diet that I prepared in my home.

I opened my copies of The New Natural Cat: a Complete Guide to Finicky Owners and The Whole Pet Diet:  Eight Weeks to Great Dogs and Cats and set to changing forever how my pets would eat in my house.  I knew that cats are “obligate carnivores” but also learned that they would ingest a small amount of vegetables found in the stomach content of their prey and that whole grains can mimic the fur that would normally be digested after a kill.  I carefully measured out meat, whole grains, and vegetables in the recommended proportions and started cooking my cats’ first healthy meal.  My chicken and chicken liver stew bubbled on the stove while my cats slept.  Into the food processor, whipped into a delightful mousse, and the food was ready for them.

I proudly presented my cats with their new, homemade food.  They were not impressed.  The books had prepared me to expect a battle as cats are creatures of habit.  That was definitely an understatement!  They sniffed the food and walked away, back to their bed.  The next day I again brought out a portion of their new food.  Still no interest from the felines.  Same thing the next day.  Jasper started to get impatient with me and padded over to the closet where the commercial pet food was kept.  He mewed in front of the door and tried to open it with his paw.  I could imagine what he was telling me, “in here mom!  The food is in here!”  I held tough.

After four days had passed, the cats were definitely thinner and finally hungry enough to tentatively try the new food.  We haven’t looked back since.  They are now firmly hooked on their whole foods diet and life has dramatically changed for them.  No more feline couch potatoes!  They are a healthy weight, sleek, bright eyed, and active.  Very active!  I have never seen such a flurry of feline activity!  As I write, Lucy is begging me to play ball with her and Jasper is exploring the cords in the back of the computer.  They merrily gallop from room to room, scale their cat tower in seconds, and pounce on each other with great enthusiasm.  My furry friends are healthy and happy thanks to their new diet!

Lucy and Jasper with mom. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Holt.

Check out Jan Zeiger’s article, Natural Pet Market in Lake Mary

On the way home the other day, we stopped at Debbie’s Health Foods to get some organic eggs since we were out.  We drove up to find a large sign saying that it had moved to the other end of the shopping center.  I was pleasantly surprised when we got to the new location!  Debbie’s Health Foods is no longer a small health food store; it’s on its way to becoming a fully stocked grocery store with just about everything the health food enthusiast could need or want! 

In addition to natural remedies and supplements, they’ve got dry goods, organic produce, frozen foods, and all natural personal care and cleaning products.  I noticed that they have a pretty good selection of natural pet food as well!  I commented on the new location and was told they’re adding new items and products everyday!

Debbie’s Health Foods is a great option for those of us who live in or around Orange City.  I was only there for a few minutes, so I can’t comment on the prices.  I’ll add to this review if I get to visit sometime in the near future.  I hope to check it out again on the first Tuesday of the month since that’s when everything in the store is 20% off! 

Are you a regular customer?  Please take a moment to comment so others can benefit from your experience!

My girl friend who is all about “Green living” introduced me to this website and I have to say I’m hooked on the Veriuni products. They are amazing. I have two little kids and seeing them walk barefoot had never felt better! I bought a few other natural products and made a gift bask for another friend who just had a baby. Now, The Vstore is my one and only stop for any natural care products. Oh my God, you have to try the citrus cleaner!When my sister found out about this site, she ordered their shampoo. For years she had been trying to get her hair smooth and thick at the same time (she has the most unmanageable hair) She fell in love with the Veriuni shampoo will never try anything else again!

https://www.moreinfo247.com/10047570/Department.vstore?id=32

Our boy, Nedd is “scary smart”! He’s one of a kind, a special blend of a sable and white collie and a black and white German Short Hair Pointer. He’s absolutely beautiful and brilliant.

Nedd has several nicknames including: “Nedd, the atomic party puppy”. At the age of 12, he begins each day with a favorite Kong toy in his mouth. He barks very loudly and still plays very hard.

He has a little bit of arthritis which he takes a daily dose of Cosequin which seems to help keep in under control safely.

We also feed Nedd the best diet we’ve found, Blue Buffalo Senior Lamb & Rice! And, he had the best veterinary care available.

He’s a great buddy, especially to my hubby, Christian Comedian MartyDaniels. Nedd shows us unending loyalty and devotion. He’s truly a best friend.

The Knowledge Shop in Casselberry will be offering a class to help you get in touch with your furry friends and be able to provide them the best care naturally.  The class will help you find out how animals communicate and also offer you various alternative healing practices such as healing touch, aroma therapy, flower essence, acupressure, natural foods and expressing spiritual love.  It is on Saturday, October 13 from 9:30am to 12:30pm and will be taught by Reiki Master and holistic health practitioner, Heather Zarcone.  Cost is $37.  Please visit The Knowledge Shop for more information and to register.