K9 Massage

Nervous Dogs

2012-02-12T21:30:00.001+08:00

Today was the lovers and leashes event in support of neutering cats around Jaya One which was supported by SPCA. There were many dogs of different breeds there. In the morning, there was lots of huskies and malamuts. I had a table there selling anti-oxidants and other goodies for the canines. I was also snapping some photos. This photo below started me thinking. How many of us know the dog's behaviour? Look at this picture, look at it's little face and look at it's body language. She's looking away from the camera. It tells me a lot about this dog. It is not because she is camera shy, it is because she is a nervous dog, she does not trust anyone easily and she's scared. So much information that we can read from just one picture. So how do you approach a dog with that disposition? With nervous dogs like this one, you cannot run up to it as it will run away, you cannot just start patting her either because you will run a risk of getting bitten because of her nervousness. Luckily this little one here did not suffer from aggression/fear. She was merely afraid of people and will turn away if anyone tried to pat her.

The next photo shows how you should approach a nervous / scared dog. First approach the dog quietly and softly. Do not create loud noises as this may spook the dog. Then offer out your hand to let the dog sniff your hand. The hand offer is to show that you mean the dog no harm. Here you can see the dog is still looking nervous. The correct way when extending out your hand to the dog is have your palm facing downwards. This reassures the dog that you mean him / her no harm. The without any sudden jerking movement, stroke the side of his / her face first before gently moving to stroke his / her head. She may not allow you to stroke her at all the first time and that is fine. At least contact has been made and she knows you mean her no harm. To create a relationship with a nervous dog takes time but once she trusts you, she will be your friend for life. So be patient and keep trying because I promise you, the gift of friendship and loyalty from your new found friend is priceless.

Dogs and spirituality

2012-02-02T09:35:00.000+08:00

There is something I want to share. As the above title suggest, dogs and spirituality. As most of you will not be aware, I am an animal communicator as well. Yes animals (not just dogs) communicate with me and I with them. The communication is not done orally. It is done mentally. They talk to me when they need me most to communicate their emotional state. How is this done? With energy. When I read that animals cannot talk, I have to disagree. They do communicate but we are not listening. Perhaps with all the 'noise' and our busy schedule have de sensitized our senses. It is easier to not listen then to listen. And when we do not listen to our pets, it shows up in our lives as well. Who are we not listening to? Just like how we treat our pets, it is the same with humans. I believe how we treat our pets reflects on how we treat each other. If a person abuses their pets, it shows me the character of the person and I stay far away from him / her. If a pet does not like someone, be cautious with that person. Your pets will give you their most honest opinion and will never lie to you unlike humans.

The pets in your household are part of your family and as part of your family, they are selfless and gives the owners unconditional love. They will do anything for their owner without expecting anything in return. How many people in your life gives you unconditional love?

I have had communication with pets with terminal illnesses who will not cross over the rainbow bridge because their owner cannot let them go. They stay and live through the pain until the owner says, 'It's ok to go.' They stay because they care and love their owner and will only cross over when the owner is ready. I stand corrected, they will stay only if their body permits them to for as long as possible. Their spirit will fight on. Make no mistake, when the animal's spirit is ready to go, it will leave it's physical body but because of their love for their owner, they will the spirit to stay for as long as physically possible. Let's face it, we as 'parents' of our pets do not want to lose our 'kids' and even I have that issue but I know when it's time for them to go, they will go. I recall when my little female west highland terrier passed on, she was struggling with her breath, rasping away yet hanging on to her life, the minute I whispered to her, 'It's ok baby, you can go,' she let go and passed on. It was the hardest thing for me to do and to say, but I knew I had to in order for her to pass on peacefully.

So the next time you stroke your pet, thank your pets for being part of your lives.

Canine Muscle Therapy

2012-01-25T21:02:00.000+08:00

I am constantly being asked, how long is the session? What does it do? The statement I often hear is, "I can do it myself too!" Here's the short version of muscle therapy for dogs.

I can massage my dog too!

Yes I have no doubt that dog owners can massage their own dogs. In fact I'm sure lots of dog owners do. What I do is very different from just massaging the dogs. I work the muscles of the dog. I pinpoint which part of the muscle that needs to be 'unknotted' and sometimes the dog I work with will experience some discomfort but the result is, they normally end up relax and will fall asleep for a long time. I am a qualified therapist for dogs and have studied the musculoskeletal system of the dog. I am aware of the contraindication whereby I cannot and will not provide therapy for the dogs as it may injure them further.

How long does one session last?

For the first session, it may take up to an hour. The first hour I will sit with the owner and find out more about the dog and it's medical history. The diet that the dog is on, if there are any x-rays that I need to be aware of. Then I take a look at the dog's gait / movement. Which way he is swinging or favouring, whether he is lame..etc. Then I will sit and do a session on the dog. As it will be the dog's first session, it may not want to sit still and will fidget. The session may last only 20 minutes with the dog. As I do not believe in forcing the dog to sit still for the session, I will call it a day. The session will take time for the dog to adjust but he/she will feel the benefits from the first session. Eventually, the dog will be begging for a longer session!

Benefits of muscle therapy.

The benefits of muscle therapy for the dogs are many. For healthy dogs, it maintains their optimal level of health so as to ensure that their muscles are healthy and supple. This would in turn lessen any vet visitation. For dogs that do have health issues like hip dysplasia, muscle degeneration, sprain, strains, arthritis, this therapy will benefit them in helping them to loosen up their muscles. Dogs that have hip dysplasia will have better movement for their legs. Please note that this is not a cure for hip dysplasia. This treatment mainly helps the dog to ease the pain that they experience from hip dysplasia and gives them a better movement. Also note that if a dog suffers from hip dysplasia, they will be more reluctant to move or take their walks and their weight will slowly increase which in turn is bad for their hip, hence a vicious cycle. I have seen dogs that just got up after a treatment and started running around because she felt so good! For older dogs that suffers from arthritis, this is when the muscles and joints stiffen, this treatment will allow them to move around. Wouldn't it be great to see your dog being able to run again?
I currently have a dog that I have been treating for 3 years that was suffering from muscle spasms which is caused by muscle degeneration from her neck area. Since I started treatment with her, her spasms have stopped. Now her treatment has been reduced to once a month.

How often does the dog need treatment?

The frequency of treatment will depend on the vitality of the dog. For dogs that have health issues, I advise treatment once a week. I will then observe the dog for a period of time and see how he / she is progressing. If he / she is improving, the treatment will then be reduced to once every two weeks and eventually once a month. The observation of the owners is also very important as I can keep up to date on it's progress.

What does this therapy do?

Muscle therapy helps in oiling the muscles, create fresh oxygen flow and releases the toxins in the body. When the muscles are in optimum health, there will be less injuries and the dog will have a long and happy life.

What are the charges and where am I based?

Currently I do house calls. The charges for 2012 are as follows:
One time consultation fee RM10
Small dogs RM65
Medium dogs RM75
Large dogs RM85
There are packages that I'm offering. Please email me for details on happydogz13@gmail.com
I will also be available on the 12 February 2012 for the lovers and leashes event organized by SPCA at Jaya One from 12-8.

12 Feb 2012 - Lovers and Leashes

2012-01-08T09:49:00.004+08:00

On the 12th February, nearing to Valentine's day, SPCA is organizing an event called Lovers and Leashes. It sounds very S&M but rest assured, it is all about your pets on that day. There will be booths set up, a play pen area for your little ones to play and proceeds of that day goes to cat sterilization in Jaya One.

I will have a table on that day whereby I will be promoting Nzymes for pets. This is an anti oxidant for your pets. It is not only confine to dogs but also to birds, horses, cats..etc. The products Nzymes, promotes a better health for your pets. I have been giving this to my two little ones. My male westie who usually seem lazy, sleepy and slow, is now very alert, active and it shows in his eyes. It's as if he's come alive! I discovered Nzymes on the internet some years ago. I decided to read up on this as I wanted to give my dogs a healthy diet. Upon reading the testimonials, I decided to purchase this product and try it out. It turns out, it was the best thing I have purchased for my dogs. As a Canine Myofunctional Therapist, I am always on a look out for holistic product for your pets. Nzymes provides your pets with enzyme rich food plus a powerful antioxidant protection. The live ingredients add the key nutrition needed for a long and vital life and quality building blocks a pet's body needs to cleanse toxins and free radicals from soft tissues to maintain the normal healthy functioning of the immune system. With today's pet food sold in the shops, there aren't enough nutrition in their food for our pets. I cook for my dogs. I do so because I know what goes into my dog's stomach but I am also concern that they do not get the nutrition and enzymes they need. So, Nzymes helps protect my dog from illnesses and I must admit, both my dogs are in good health.

Aside from providing protection for your pets, Nzymes full range product aids for dogs that has itchy skin, yeast smell. This product has helped in the dog's skin problems, aids in hip dysplasia, joint health, post operative recovery, paralysis, nerve damage and much more other ailments. You can read about the benefits of Nzymes in their website on: www.Nzymes.com

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-04T13:55:00.002+08:00

Happy Dogz would like to wish everyone of my readers here, HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you're a pet owner, be a responsible pet owner!

Santa Paws Event on 11/12/11

2011-12-12T22:55:00.002+08:00

Santa Paws event held at Jaya One has come and gone. There weren't many booths taken up on that day but that didn't matter. There were plenty of canines! There was a section where the dogs could socialize and there was even a trainer available to give out advice. Santa was out and you could take photos with him with your canine friend. The photos were free and there was a donation box where you could donate some money to the SPCA.

On that day, I had a table whereby I was selling holistic supplements for animals, promoting and raising awareness on canine myofunctional therapy and the benefits of it. There was a sale of novelty collars and jewellery for humans too! There was a box whereby I was raising money for an animal shelter in Egypt named Touch of Life as well as 10% of my sales will go towards the organization as well. Why I am raising money for a shelter not based in Malaysia? Well, Malaysian shelters have gotten a wide awareness from the public. They get donations from the public as well as the government (if they have NGO status). I decided, why not try raising awareness for other shelters from other countries? In Egypt, the animal shelter do not get governmental aid and they rely solely on donations by the public. Vets are hard to come by. Recently there was a horse that was abandoned, with broken legs that was lying on the road for at least a week. It was emanciated and who knows what was wrong with it. The shelter was desperately looking for a vet but I think none was found. The horse died a few hours after being found. That is just one of the heart wrenching stories in Egypt. I did raise some monies for the shelter. This will be a continued task on my part to raise so more monies for this shelter in order for the animals be fed and taken care of.

Back to the Santa paws event, my ambassador for that day was my little female poogle (poodle/beagle). She was an adorable little dog on that day. All calm, cool and collective. She checked out everything that was there, sat and took care of my stall and behaved herself. I am a very proud mum!

Photos of an English Cocker Spaniel

2011-11-25T23:37:00.002+08:00

This is a great photo of an English Cocker Spaniel. I had the privilege

of taking his photos a few days back. Many owners who owns an English Cocker Spaniel are aware of the problems that occurs in them. Namely, the cockers are prone to ear infection. It occurs because their ears covers over and the ears does not get air to circulate. Hence, ear infection and constant visitation to the vet. Ear infection can be under control. Just monitor your Spaniel's ear constantly and watch him closely when he starts to scratch his ears more than usual. Catching it early will help a fast recovery.

For more photos, please visit:http://lifeofexpression.blogspot.com.

Products for your pets

2011-11-17T09:39:00.004+08:00

I have recently brought in 2 products for your pets. It is suitable for horses, cats, dogs, birds. It's a holistic product from the US, contains no yeast, gluten, sugar or starch and all the ingredients are Human Grade. What does it do? This is a very powerful 'antioxidant formula' found in Nzymes Antioxidant Treats and Nzymes Sprouted Granules has has been recommended by doctors, veterinarians and breeders for over 20 years. This product help to improve the body's ability to use good nutrition to help strengthen the immune system and improve health, mobility and vitality and longevity in pets of all ages.

As we all know, pets past a certain age especially senior dogs will suffer from musculoskeletal inflammation ie. arthritis. A study was conducted using this product by veterinarians and it was found that out 387 dogs aged from 6 months - 18 years that 88 % showed significant improvement in mobility, range of motion, felief of pain and reduction of swelling. 12% of the dogs did not show significant improvement until the fourth week of treatment. Overall, the mobility of all the dogs increased as treatment time extended past the initial response point.

I have both the treats and the granules and they both perform the same function. In today's diet to our pets, there is not enough nutrients for the pets. And as we all know, our pets these days suffer from osteoarthritis, inflammation, joint pain, hip dysplasia, pano, OCD, HOD, Shedding, hair loss, dry skin, itchy skin, digestive disorders, gastritis, pet food allergies, epilepsy, fatigue, hot spots and many other stress related symptoms contributed by a weakened immune system.

Our body need enzymes to function. Without enzymes, neither vitamins, minerals nor hormones can do the work it needs in our body. The same goes for our pets.

If any of you want to buy the products, please email me at: happydogz13@gmail.com

The prices:

Nzymes Granules: RM171

Nzymes Treats: RM85

Prices are not inclusive of postage and packing.

I will also be in Jaya One on the 11th December for the Christmas Pets Bazaar. I hope to see you there!

WORLD ANIMAL DAY 13/11/11

2011-11-11T17:01:00.002+08:00

It is that time of the year again..it's WORLD ANIMAL DAY!! This year it is being held at Desa Park City, Kepong and it starts at 3 - 7.30pm. Hopefully, we'll have good weather and things go smoothly on that day. This year I have decided to have a booth for both the canine therapy and animal communication. I will also have anti-oxidant treats and granules for sale on that day. Additionally, I will be selling muffins and biscuits for the canines, all home baked by myself. 10% of the sales goes to the SPCA. So if you happen to not have anything to do on Sunday 13th, pop over to desa park city with your canines and have a nice day out. Come visit my booth!! See you there!

Dog training

2011-11-11T16:56:00.002+08:00

I have been asked many times by a number of dog owners whether I'm a dog trainer as I am an animal communicator. My answer has always been the same..'NO I am not a dog trainer. I am an animal communicator.' I talk to animals, find out what is troubling them and relate it to the owner. And find some kind of compromise if need be between the owner and pet. So there is a negotiation between the two.

A dog trainer, trains the behaviour of the dog to perform certain things like, sit, stay, stop jumping on the guests and owner...etc. you get the idea. I am sure many of you have heard of Cesar Milan..he's a dog whisperer aka dog trainer. Anyway, for those of you who want to learn on how to train your dogs to behave, please have a look at this link below. This trainer enforces positive training on the dogs. I am sure you will find training tips as I did. Enjoy!

http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/blog/effects-training-dog-brain/

Leash or unleash

2011-11-04T15:46:00.002+08:00

My husband and I walk our dogs twice a day on the leash because with it is safer for us, for all those around us. They are not fierce dogs nor do they attack. The leash helps us control them, making sure they do not get knock down by cars, kicked by people who do not like dogs. Back in the UK, I would let my old dog off leash at the park so that she can have a run around. She would never go far. Always looking back for me. I feel safer as the park is well away from the roads, there are lots of space and there are other dogs that she can play with. Malaysia is different. There is one or two parks that is dog friendly and it has to be on leash. Now I have seen owners walking their dogs off leash here, while walking on the pavement on a busy road. Yes, your dog may be well behave, well trained but what if he sees a cat across the street? How are you going to stop him? Before you know it, he would have run across the street chasing the cat. Now imagine the road full of cars and your dog running across it. What are the chances that your dog will NOT get knock down by a car?

Be a responsible owner. Always leash your dog when on main roads or if there are people you know that may not like dogs.

Vaccinations

2011-10-14T12:27:00.002+08:00

In my past post I wrote about the dangers of yearly vaccinations. My one year old female beagle/poodle recently had to take her one year shot. In fact today I took her to the vet to have her shots. She won't be getting another shot until 2013. I realize that having yearly booster or in my case two yearly booster can compromise her immune system. Now, I do not want my little poogle to fall ill after her vaccinations. So, I administer one dose of Thuja 30c which will help her immune system and next week I will administer Sulphur 6c for a week to maintain her health. These are homeopathic medicine that I give my dogs. I am an avid supporter of alternative medicines and homeopathic medicine do not harm your pets or yourself. It is very safe.

Problems with ticks?

2011-10-07T21:24:00.003+08:00

I wrote recently about using this natural product that kills and prevents ticks effectively on my dogs. The reason why I started using it was after my brother asked me to try it out as he uses it for his dog and also around and in his house. You see, this product not only kills ticks, it also eliminates fleas, mites which means you can even spray it on your bed at home as we all know, there are mites living in our bed feeding off our dead skin. That's a fact. So, it is no surprise that sometimes we wake up in bed scratching away.

The second reason is this, spot on didn't work on my dog. He kept getting infested with ticks everytime we take him out for his walks. It's annoying, and worrying. It only takes one infected tick for the dog to get tick fever. So far, we've been lucky. Now since using this product, he no longer gets infested with ticks. Yes we do still get one or two ticks, but out comes the spray and the ticks just drops off..DEAD!

Thirdly, I didn't believe in slowly poisoning my dog with spot on or the spray. And if you are using the frontline spray for tick prevention, you are advised to not hug, touch your dog for at least a day. Reason, it's poison and it may be damaging to your health in the long run. But how many of us adhere to that? I know I can't stop myself from stroking my dog and giving him and her (I have two dogs) a kiss. And I have done it before when I was using frontline. Do you know that it is dangerous? That it is a carcinogen?

On to natural products. I have tried mixing my on concoction. I was told tea tree oil mix with eucalyptus mix with water works wonders! I tried it..the problem is, when I put it into the spray bottle, the oil would clog up the spray and soon it would be impossible to get an even spray from the bottle. Maybe it's the way the spray was design. So I gave up on that. Although yes I have heard tea tree oil works on fleas. Not sure about ticks. By the way, if you want to apply tea tree oil onto the dog's skin directly, you need to know how much to apply and personally I don't think it's a good idea until you have read up on it and do your research.

This new product I have currently, is being sold in Singapore. In fact it comes from Singapore as the manufacturers are there. It is called Bio-X d'Bug. It eliminates fleas, ticks and mites. This is great because, if your dog suffers from skin condition, it will help it tremendously and also heals it. The first point of healing when having skin problems is to heal the condition of the skin as it is the immediate problem. The second is to build up it's immune system in order for the condition to not flare up. That would be another product. Bio-X d'bug is safe & eco friendly. It comes in a 220ml spray bottle. It's active ingredient is Etofenprox which was classified by WHO as "unlikely to present acute hazard in human use" and US EPA classed this as "Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans..." So when you spray it on your pets or your home, you can immediately hug your pet, for the home, as it is non-toxic, you can rest easy knowing you are safe in your own home.

Next question is, how much is it? It is sold at RM58 per bottle. Is it expensive?? Well, honestly it isnt. Why? Because, not only does it kill ticks and mites, it is also a deodarizer. So when your dog starts to give out a smell, you can spray it on him instead of buying the perfumes for pets which also has harmful chemicals.

Interested? Email me @happydogz13@gmail.com I currently have 4 bottles left.

Canine Therapy

2011-10-03T23:28:00.003+08:00

I recently had a new client today regarding her little dog. In fact the dog is my 'client'. At first he was very unsure about what I was doing to him as he constantly turn round and bite me. His muscles were very tight and it was a new experience for him. Loosening his fascia and kneading into his muscles can be quite uncomfortable in the first treatment and subsequent treatments. I knew that he wasn't trying to hurt me and for the better part, he is a very sweet dog. The poor thing suddenly loss the use of his hind legs hence overusing and over compensating on the other muscles. I'm not writing about this client as every client I see have got their records and are confidential. What I am writing about is about the benefits of therapy. Some call it massage. Yes in layman's terms I guess you could call it that but it is more than just laying my hands on the dog and stroking him. There is a certain amount of pressure that I will apply on the dog, manipulate it's fascia to loosen any adhesions in the dog's body which can be uncomfortable. There are certain strokes that I will apply and sometimes I apply TTouch on the dog when it's too painful using the stroking action. Many times I get asked, 'Do you put a muzzle on the dog if it's aggressive?'. There is one of two answers: 1. I do not muzzle the dog because it isn't a punishment and the dog will not relax as it associate muzzle negatively i.e. to stop attacking people. 2. If the dog bites and breaks my skin, I will refuse to continue any further. After all I need my hands to work on the dog.

I get asked how long is one session. The maximum time that a dog will allow me to 'massage' him/her is 30 minutes. In fact 30 minutes is sufficient to complete the therapy. Now back to the client I first mentioned, after a few minutes, he relaxed and his muscles were no longer reacting to the massage. If anyone of you think that this is easy, well, first learn up on the musculo skeletal of the dog. I do not do this blindly. I have learned about the muscles and skeleton of the dogs. When the therapy can be applied and when I cannot do it. Contraindication of when I cannot give a 'massage':
1. When there's a spinal injury
2. Cancer
3. when they are under pain killers

So the next time someone says to you or the pet shop states, we massage dogs as well as groom, ask them, what kind of massage they do then ask them, what qualification do they have.

Experimenting with props

2011-09-14T15:55:00.002+08:00

Recently, I was so inspired to take up my camera again to take photos on pets. So, I decided to put a few things together, and coaxed my two little ones to pose for me. It was very challenging for the most part. They just would not sit still!! Such are challenges when dealing with pets. But it was fun. Here are a few shots I took.

Season of ticks

2011-09-05T17:36:00.000+08:00

It is that time of the year, or rather it's all year here it seems for ticks to appear in your dogs. I have this problem and tackle it constantly. At first I applied spot on which is the recommended 'medicine' to prevent ticks for your dogs by vets and pet shops but what few realize is that some ticks become so immune to it that it stops to work. Such is my case. Spot on just doesn't work on my west highland terrier. Plus, few do not realize, spot on has got a little poison that seeps into your pet's skin in order to deter and kill ticks. How much poison does it have? I assume a minimal amount but when you apply it every month which is recommended and for the rest of the dog's life..it does work up to alot. It will slowly build in your dog. So what do I do now? I've resorted to holistic approach and it works. Sure I still find one or two ticks but at least it isn't a whole infestation on my dog.

Why do tick like to 'hang' on to my westie? Well, it has alot to do with his blood. Many do not realize that if the dog's blood is thin, ticks love it and therefore you will find ticks on him/her. Dogs that do not have sufficient nutrition, will be exposed to ticks. SO what do I do? Well, I am currently giving him homeopathic remedy which is given orally and an organic spray to deter ticks. The homeopathic remedy is to enrich his blood giving my westie the necessary defence against the ticks and hopefully deter the ticks. When dogs are healthy, they live a happier life and tick free!

Exercising your pet

2011-07-26T10:40:00.002+08:00

Pet ownership, especially if you own a dog, carries along a new set of responsibility. A pet is not something you buy or adopt because your child wants it, nor is it something you can discard when you are bored or ignore once they are in your home. They are a part of your family and should be treated like a part of your family. They want to feel love, wanted and to be taken out for walks. Every morning and evening, my dogs look forward to their walks. They will sit in front of us in the evening telling us, it's time to go out. In the morning, our female will wake up, jump off the bed and nudge us with her cold nose to get up so that she can go for her walks. I want to tell you today about exercising your dog(s). Exercising your pets is essential for their health. The benefits you will get from your dogs are boundless.

Walking with your dog has so many benefits for owners and for the dogs:
1. It gives you a workout. You don't have to pay a huge amount of money to the gym for a brisk walk with your dog.
2. It creates a stronger bond between you and your dog and make you both closer to each other.
3. It keeps the dogs muscles supple and keeps the dog healthy
4. Dogs that do go for their daily walks, exercise or runs, will be less likely to suffer from dementia when they are older. It is a very sad to see dogs that are going senile in their old age.

Every dog that I have had, I've had a special bond with them all. My first west highland terrier, was with me through my ups and downs. I would take her out for long walks in London when I was living there and we would have such fun. The joys of having to walk her off the leash and watching her jump in and out of lakes was priceless. Then to see a smile on her face was so precious. I know in Malaysia, walking your dogs off leash is impossible, the restriction imposed by DBKL, the cars on the road would be unsafe as there are no parks that your dog can walk unleash. Also there is the problem on irresponsible owners that just do not pick up their dog's waste (that's in my last blog).

Practise responsible ownership. Exercise your dogs and pick up your dog's waste because it will create a more positive atmosphere between non dog owners and dog owners.

Responsible pet ownership

2011-03-20T22:54:00.003+08:00

It is a horrid experience for anyone doing their morning exercises around the housing area to step on dog faeces also known as DOG POO. Some pet owners do not pick up after their dogs. While I am an animal lover, it is very annoying when I step on dog poo!! In fact, I find myself swearing under my breath and cursing the irresponsible dog owner. Now, here's something to think about. I am a dog lover and already find the experience horrid. Now imagine a person who hates dogs. This is the situation we are facing today. It is irresponsible when the owners just open the gate, allow the dog to run out and do their business then come back into the house without facing any consequences, just because they don't want the dog to soil the house compound. It is very ignorant and irresponsible to think that if the pets have gone out on their own accord, they've already had their exercise. First there is the problem on who will pick up their poo? If the owner thinks that, it's ok, the rain will wash it away, there's a misconception there. It doesn't wash off immediately. Where is the consideration for their neighbours? We live in a day and age that people are so selfish and only think about themselves. Next, what if your dog gets hit by a car? Do you then start to feel the responsibility or the guilt? Worse still, they go out and get another dog. Do we really need to give DBKL more reasons to restrict on dog ownership?

The responsibility of owning a pet is not only to feed your pet and to ensure he/she has enough water, it is the quality time spend with your pet, the love you shower your pets, that also includes walking your pets, which ensures he/she gets enough exercise and picking up after your pets. Is that so difficult to do? Dogs aren't just there to take care of your house, they are a part of the family and should be treated like a part of the family. Adopting a dog is a noble thing to do. I applaud those who do. What happens after adoption is entirely up to the new owner. How you treat the dog is what really matters. It isn't enough to just tie him / her up and leave her outside and feed her. He/ she needs love and companion. Give your pets a chance into your heart and you will see how rewarding it is.

Please pick up after your pets. Do not allow any more reasons for those who dislike dogs, to hate them even more.

Foods to avoid giving to your dogs

2011-01-18T22:41:00.003+08:00

Hi All! I was just sitting by my computer and realized that many people do not realize that there are certain foods that your pet dogs should not be given. Not only should it not be given, but it is also dangerous to your dog's health if eaten. I will list 10 most common 'foods'
1. Chocolate
2. Raisins
3. Grapes
4. Caffeine
5. Pet or human drugs (I know some pet owners do give benadryl to their pets)
6. snail or slug poison
7. Insecticide ( this is obvious)
8. Toads (there are plenty around that your pet might just put his/her mouth around it)
9. Household chemicals (make sure they are kept away from pets)
10. Certain plants can be harmful for your pets.

Prevention is better than cure. So for the loving pet owners out there, please take note. :)

Animal Communication Workshop with Rosina Arquati

2011-01-03T16:09:00.010+08:00

It was about a bit over a year ago that this workshop caught my attention..Animal Communication workshop. It is the first time that this workshop has been brought to Malaysia and I have been wondering whether I can communicate with animals as I have a passion for them. So I enrolled into this workshop and the rest as they say is history. I am a qualified animal communicator after completing all three levels and a healer for animals. The journey has been long and it is still ongoing. So I was excited that Rosina, my teacher is now coming back to Malaysia for a level 1 workshop. Anyone who loves their pets, who are curious as to what your pets are thinking, and how to help them, please attend the workshop. It is a once in a lifetime experience. This workshop provided me to understanding that I need to help my pets and others as well. It is not animal training/behaviour training..it is what it is..animal communication i.e. communicating with you pets mentally. Open your heart and belief you can talk to your animal. Everyone are able to communicate with their pet. Below are the details on when the workshop will be:
When: 26-27 February 2011
Price: RM800 net for both days
Time: 10am-5pm
Venue: Sri Wangsaria Condominium (for details on how to get there, please contact me)
Contact: Irene Lim
Email:happydogz13@gmail.com

For those in Singapore or would like to attend the Singapore workshops Level 1,2 and 3, details are in their blog:
http://zeuscommunications.blogspot.com/2011/01/animal-communications-workshops.html

For more info on Rosina, goto http://rosina.wordpress.com or click on the right hand side of my page under Rosina Maria Arquati.

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-25T11:44:00.003+08:00

Merry Christmas too all of you! May you have a blessed christmas and a great 2011 ahead. With this current economic situation, we can only take a day at a time, be grateful for what we have and hope for good things to come.
This Christmas, I am grateful for all that I have. I am blessed.

We adopted a recent addition to the family. A 6 month old puppy mix - poodle and beagle. She is now 9 months and she is a handful! Her physical attributes are very much like a poodle but her colouring is all beagle! :D There are still a few kinks that we need to sort out like her tearing up newspapers at home. Ahh the joys of having a puppy. My almost 5 year old westie who is pretty much like an old man, behaves like one too...mood swings and all..has to put up with this little lively pup! But everything is good. They do get along on the whole. This little pup enjoys being brushed, very affectionate, loving and very intelligent. She picks things up very quick. Well this is her first christmas with us..she's a little bundle of joy, and always shower us with love.

I am reminded of the joys of the unconditional love a pet has for their owners. Now I have 2 dogs who are my babies who loves me unconditionally. I am indeed blessed.

SPCA

2010-09-15T15:54:00.003+08:00

A boxer mix up for adoption at SPCA. She has been there for a year. If no one adopts her, she'll be put to sleep. She is the saddest dog I've seen and feel.

Recently I went to SPCA in Ampang to take photographs of the dogs there for their newsletter. It is very sad to see the dogs in the kennels especially dogs that was given up by their owner due to some excuse or another..the one I heard is "my dog kept biting my shoe". Why do people even bother getting a dog if they are not going to spend some time with their pets? Dogs and cats are not just an animal. They have feelings and needs just like humans..just like a child. Make no mistake, owning a pet is like having a child. Just because you cannot understand what your pets are saying, doesn't mean they have nothing to say or they have no feelings. As an animal communicator, it was heart wrenching to see the dogs in the cages, with their sad eyes...the questions they have .."WHY? What did I do wrong? Why doesn't my mom / dad want me anymore?" I don't have any answers for them. The animals there know that it's only a matter of time, if no one takes them, they will be put to sleep.

Dumping your dogs or cats at SPCA you are charged for doing so. But that is not the point. When you buy a pet, be aware that it is for life. What gives any pet owners who tire of their pets the right to dump them at SPCA, PAWS or the streets? It is inexcusable. When getting a pet, be prepared to take on the responsibility of owning one. Be patient, tolerant and kind to your pet. Don't raise your hand because he/she was naughty, raise your voice once and raise it only when you catch your pet doing something naughty. Raising your voice after the event does not help your pet because they will not have associated what they have done to your raised voice. To train your pet, be vigilant and patient. If your pet turns to your shoes as a toy to bite, chide him and say 'NO' and take it away from him/her. Ever wondered why some people's pets are well behave and yours isn't? Love and patience. With love and patience and disciplining, your dog will learn to behave and respect you without fear.

Dog Obesity

2010-08-02T08:31:00.002+08:00

My dog gets walked twice a day. He needs his daily walk to do his business. Apart from doing his business, he also needs his daily exercise so that his weight does not increase. We have to watch his weight more so now as he has been neutered. The dogs weight tends to spiral after neutering or spaying.

It is during these walks that I see some dogs that are overweight. Dogs that do not get their much needed exercise. Why? Because owners don't spend time with their pets. They let their maids take the dogs out not realizing that the maids just atke it down the road, stop and talk with their friends for 20 minutes, then walk back home. The owners think that their dog have gotten their walks, while is is far from the truth. Now not all maids do that. There are some maids that do walk the dog. It is unfortunate that the dog don't get their exercise. Owners should spend time with their dogs and take them out for walks because not only does it provide exercise for the dog and the owner, it is also a bonding experience for the dog and owner. After all, the dog is part of the family.

Dog obesity is not to be taken lightly. I see dogs that are overweight wobble unsteadily on their legs. Problems developed or it emphasizes an existing problems. Dogs that have hip displaysia struggle with weight gain. More weight, more pressure on the hip and causes discomfort in the dog.

Apart from hip displaysia problem, obesity in dogs can bring about diabetes, Hyperadrenocorticism (cushing's disease) where there are excessive production of hormone cortisol produced by the adrenal glands. Affected animals do not usually gain weight, but rather have a fat re-distribution to the abdomen and therefore have a potbellied appearance which mimics weight gain.

So while owners think that dogs that are fat are cute and adorable, let me assure you that it isn't. If we as humans know the effects of obesity for us, why aren't we more concern for the pets? After all, our pets are part of the family.

States

2010-07-31T11:18:00.002+08:00

I have just recently got back from my trip in the States. We decided to step into this pet shop at St. Thomas at Yach Haven Grande. It's the cutest little shop. While we were there, we spotted this rottweiler pup behind the counter. The girl behind the counter asked us whether we would like to pet him...to which we said 'YES'. He was so energetic and teething. So he was chewing us with his sharp teeth..for those of you who remembers their pups when they were teething..you will also remember how sharp it was!! It was all good. Playful, cheeky and a healthy little pup. He was adorable!

Children and pets

2010-01-08T22:59:00.002+08:00

Children when young have no qualms or fear of anything they do. In fact they are fearless! If they fall down, they just pick themselves and go. They learn from what we as adults show them. They get their fears, prejudices, likes and dislikes from the adults. I haven't seen a single child that is not influence by reactions around them. Where is this going you may ask.

My dog gets regular walk every day twice a day for at least 30 minutes. He loves his walks, he loves to greet people and loves other dogs and kids. Picture this scene, while walking the dog, you see a child. Two reaction will occur:
1) The child gets really curious and wants to come and pat the dog
2) The parent of the child will say, 'he's going to bite you' to prevent the child from coming near.

The second scenario is really upsetting. It is offensive to hear that my dog is aggressive when he isn't! This is where the child takes the cue and develops fear in dogs. Yes I understand some parents do not like their children to be exposed to animals. Probably looking at an animal raises fear in the parents..which I think is ridiculous.

Where is this leading? Well, during christmas, my in laws were over in Malaysia. I also love to take photos especially where there are animals involved. I managed to take this great picture of my niece and zoe the boxer. This photo shows the unconditional love of zoe and my niece. Personally, animals can teach us so much and the kids gain so much from them.

care for your pets

2010-01-01T11:53:00.002+08:00

It is the New Year. Yesterday I visited a puppy that is paralyzed due to irresponsible owners. Let me start from the beginning. This puppy was first adopted out by an independant rescue organization to a family. They probably thought, it's great to have a puppy, we can play with it, he's so cute. However, a few months into the adoption, the puppy was rescued by another independant animal rescue organization because, this puppy have somehow become paralyzed on his hind quarters. The organization when questioned what had happen to the animal, the owners replied, the puppy got caught and hit by the electric gate and thereby causing damage to his hind quarters. I am doubtful to the story that was told. I suspect it may be that someone had taken a stick and hit the puppy so hard that caused deep nerve damage. I was told that the owners felt so bad that RM500 was given to the organization to aid him. Honestly, RM500 is NOT enough for this puppy. He needs constant care. He needs a wheelchair and the owners that had him should be made accountable for the damage that was caused to this puppy.

How can something like this happen? But it also begs the question, how are people treating their pets. Many times you see owners letting out the dogs from the gate, allowing them to roam around the neighbourhood without supervision. I've seen dogs that have been reprimanded with sticks. This is irresponsible behaviour of the owners. Dogs are not like cats. They require attention and love.

It also poses another question. How thorough are the independant pet rescue when adopting out the dogs or cats? Yes I acknowledge their effort to get the stray dogs out from the streets into a good home. Yes I acknowledge that monitoring will be hard but when an organization is set up for this purpose, one would expect that monitoring the pets that have been adopted out is part and parcel of it. It isn't the case of OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND. It's not as simple as I've got one less dog or cat to adopt out and concentrate on the one that next dog or cat to be adopted out.

Every pet owner should treat their pets humanely. Raising your hand on your pet is not the right way to train your pet. It is cruel, unnecessary and may caused physical damage to your pet as the puppy mentioned above. Owners or future pet owners have to be educated on how to own pets. They need to be aware that having a pet becomes a part of your family. In fact they are your family member once you bring them into your home. I find nurturing my pet is the best training. It creates stability in my pet and I get loved ten folds.

Titer Test

2009-12-04T13:53:00.003+08:00

Many dog lovers like myself are under the belief that our beloved canines need vaccination once a year. In fact I get a phone call from the vet reminding me of when my dog's vaccination is due. Thinking nothing of it and trusting the vet, we think that by vaccinating our pets is the best course to prevent diseases.

Up until recently, that was what I thought too. All my previous dogs have gotten vaccinations every year. Then I received an article to a site I subscribed to and something was brought to my attention regarding vaccinations for pets. Do our pets really need vaccination every year? After thinking about it, we as humans don't go for yearly jabs because we don't need it. In fact, tetanus shot for us last 10 years before the next booster. So do our dogs need their yearly booster? We could be over vaccinating our pets and be the cause of their diseases. This is what many vets don't tell the owners. Why don't they?Because while they are vets, they are also running a business. I am not discouraging people from visiting their vets nor encouraging owners to NEVER vaccinate their dogs. What I am saying is, before you vaccinate, ask your vet for TITER TEST for your dogs. This test will show whether or not your pet still has the vaccine in their system. If they still do, the likelihood is that your dog will not need his/her yearly booster.

Over vaccination of your dog could cause cancer in your dog and even renal failure.

I have included on the left hand side of my blog the website for this. Go have a read on it. It may prove to be a life saver for your dogs!

Dog Health Problems

2009-12-04T13:43:00.003+08:00

I have recently been asked to add a new URL on my blog. Upon reading and checking up on it, I find that it is very useful for those who have questions about their canines. From health of the dog to nutritional values. It is a very informative site. So do please click on the link on the left hand side of my blog.

Healthy Treats

2009-01-08T23:12:00.005+08:00

Pet lovers out there who are concern about what goes into their pet treats and food have resorted to home cooked meals and treats for their pets. You can get recipes from the net, order books online and many other various sources. However, while the intention is good, pet owners should also do their research on the ingredients i.e. whether or not the ingredient is harmful to the pets. What you feed your pet is very important and it could mean life and death for your pets.

Below I have pasted an article from the net on the dangers of homemade treats especially fresh fruits. Do have a read at it.

"Of primary concern is the use of fresh fruits in the preparation of doggie treats. Because most fresh fruit seeds contain a chemical known as cyanogenic glycoside, fresh fruits should not be used in the preparation of the family dog's homemade treats. Cyanogenic glycoside results in a dangerous cyanide poisoning in canines, often leading to death. In the most mild of cases, using fresh fruit in homemade doggie treats can, at least, result in significant illness symptoms such as dry heaving and vomiting. When preparing homemade doggie treats, avoid the use of fresh fruits such as apricots, cherries and apples.

Along the same line as fresh fruits lies the danger of grapes and raisins. When preparing homemade doggie treats, dog owners should avoid the use of grapes and raisins as an ingredient. While research has shown the use of raisins, in very low quantities, may not result in a health risk, the use of raisins and grapes, in large quantities, may be toxic to the canine. Specific chemicals in grapes and raisins may attribute to common ailments such as diarrhea, vomiting and, in most cases, lead to kidney failure. As a dog owner preparing homemade doggie treats, avoiding the use of raisins and grapes is highly recommended."

As fresh fruits are not recommended to give to your pets, you could use dried apricots and apple rings. Also instead of raisins, use dried cranberries.

IN MEMORIAM

2008-08-07T18:37:00.003+08:00

It has been a while since I last posted my dog's renal failure. It's with great sadness to us that she, Bonnie, have succumbed to her illness. It was very quick and she went without any pain. She fought a good fight. She died on 31st May 2008. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her, not a day goes by without us missing her. She was the liveliest dog, cheekiest character and a joy. Many time I've sat and thought about what I could have done. I could have detected it sooner, I should have...in the end, the realisation is this, there was nothing anyone could have done about her condition. Renal failure is irreversible. I've done my utmost best to help her. She was loved by all. In her short life, she's taught me to live life to the fullest. Life is for the living and she did live up till the end. Words cannot express how much she's taught me and how much she's done for me. She will forever live in my heart. Rest in peace my little one.

Renal failure

2008-04-13T22:02:00.002+08:00

As I sit here in front of my computer, I'm at a lost for words. I don't have a clue what and how to say this. Normally words comes very easy to me but today, it is different. You see, we found out this afternoon that out little bonnie has renal failure. Both her kidneys aren't functioning and as I write this, the little one is sitting at the vets on a IV drip to rehydrate her little body and to flush out her puss in her bladder. I am devastated by this news. I am in despair. The vet was surprise as to my dogs condition. You see, she's only 2 years old...only an adolescent. So, for a young dog to suffer from renal failure is very uncommon. My husband searched the net and found that there is a disease called "renal dysplasia" whereby the failure of the kidneys is genetic. Which comes back to this...how moralisitic are the breeders here in Malaysia or anywhere else in the world. It doesn't only happen in Malaysia but everywhere else. Those who buy their pups from the pet shops, do not get the history of this pup and where the lineage is from but only to take the word of the salesperson that tells you and we trust and take their word for it because the puppy looks so cute! I am ashamed to admit this but I am one of those 'people' that bought my dog in the pet shop.

I digress. Back to Bonnie. It seems to be the general concensus that there is nothing the vet can do with renal failure. Kidneys do not regenerate unlike the liver. The most they can do is do administer iv drip or a sub- cuteneous liquid to the dog which aids in the dogs hydration. I on the other hand refused to believe that there is nothing that can be done. When I got home, after allowing myself a good cry, went onto the net, and did some research and found that there is a product that may help reverse the condition. Now I don't know how good this product will be or even whether it will work but I am willing to give it a shot and who knows, it just might work.

K9 Massage

2007-09-16T08:51:00.001+08:00

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Eukanuba / Pet-n-You Carnival 2007

2007-09-09T13:22:00.000+08:00

The day started like any other day. Lucky for us today unlike the event at the UPM the heavens did not decide to open it's doors and bless us with a shower. As like any dog event, many dog owners were out, enjoying the sunshine and as it was held at Central Park in Bandar Utama, there were dogs that jumped into the water and had a swim, at the same time cool themselves down on this humid day.
I had a stall set up beside PAWS Animal Shelter. People came asking about the service that I provide and also bought my dog friendly cookies. This time I had blueberry muffins on sale too plus carob chip brownies. I say dog friendly because it is for human consumption too. Despite informing people that it is also for humans, many fear to try. It is the human conditioning of the mind that makes people so dubious on trying it. Towards the end of the day, my cookies were all sold out.
I had the pleasure to meet a lot of other westies besides my two. They were just adorable. I did however have one downturn on the day, perhaps my male westie got up too early this morning because when he got the the event, he was growling at pretty much every dog that was in his path. It was as if he was on a war path! Luckily, I had my husband to help me out.
After a long half day, my dogs are now peacefully sleeping at home. Oblivous to anything around them. They're now in their own doggy dreamworld.

DOGATHON 12th August 2007

2007-08-18T09:37:00.000+08:00

12th August holds the annual dogathon event at UPM. It started at 7am and ends at 2pm, or so we assume. However like all events that are held outdoors, it is dictated by weather. So by 12.30pm, dark clouds were looming over the horizon and approaching us fast. 10 minutes later, it started to drizzle. It is fortunate that by the time we got to the car, the heavens open and started to pour down! We were dry but not everyone was that lucky. It was obvious that the day ended wet. :)

Before the rain, the event was quite interesting. It was my first dogathon and I was volunteering behind the PAWS booth, offering up consultation for massage service and also the sale of my dog cookies. All proceeds went to PAWS. My husband and I plus our two dogs decided to take a quick walk round the event and we spotted a group of HUSKIES (a very popular breed these days), we even spotted a chihuahua pup which was TINY! (Pictured above.)There were dog agility event and a look a like event plus a whole host of contest. Unfortunately, not everything went to plan and price giving was cut short due to the rain.

As well, we cannot control the weather but at least we had fun. The next event, I will have a booth at ONE UTAMA, CENTRAL PARK on the 9th September 2007 promoting the massage and sale of some goodies for your K9s. So catch me there!

Canine Myofunctional therapy

2007-05-21T18:30:00.000+08:00

Canine Myofunctional Therapy
What is it?

It is the manipulation of the dog's muscles, in layman's terms, dog massage. This can only be done by a qualified myofunctional therapist because, if a dog is massaged incorrectly, it could result in injury.

Why Dogs Need Massage

It may seem like a fancy and frivolous idea but the fact is that massage has so many physical and psychological benefits for your dog. You could almost call it essential of health care, like grooming, feeding and exercise.

Yes, you can argue that in the wild animals do not massage each other and hence becomes a pointless exercise The fact is, wild animals do engage in one form of massage - social grooming. For example, when a dog licks its offspring which facilitates the digestive process. It is well known that animals will not thrive because they do not have adequate physical contact with their mothers. Our dogs these days are so domesticated and most days are confined indoors lacks the much needed exercise and toning up. Therefore, massage will help to tone up the dog's muscle. Applying massage to an aged dog helps greatly in alleviating his /her degenerative disease that affects his/her hips. Abnormal body ailments and related imbalances can benefit greatly from massage.

Our dogs these days, through domestication have altered their structure and physiology Dogs that suffers from depression or have suffered a recent loss in the family, a massage helps to alleviate their state.

Pets learn to enjoy their massage so much that they will come back for more.

Benefits of massage
increase oxygen and blood flow
increases the flexibility
relaxes and calms nervous dogs
improves the behaviour of the dog
early detection of illness in the dog
improves the dogs overall health
as a stimulant to enhance postoperative recovery

Massage is therefore not limited to dogs who have got problems. Even canines that are in good health need a massage from everyday strains and stress. Even in simple play or failure to warm up could result in an injury. It must be pointed out that canine myofunctional therapy is not a replacement for seeing your vet when there is a physical problem in your dog.