Author: Marjorie Lewis

Winter brings shorter days and colder temperatures, but that doesn’t mean your pets have to hibernate until spring. Keeping your dogs, cats, and horses active during winter is essential for their physical and mental health. Here are some engaging and practical ways to ensure your furry and equine friends stay active and happy all season long.

For Dogs

1. Embrace Outdoor Adventures

• Winter Walks: Bundle up and maintain your regular walking schedule. Use doggie sweaters or jackets for short-haired breeds to keep them warm.
• Snow Play: If there’s snow, engage in fun activities like fetch with brightly colored toys that are easy to spot.
• Safe Surfaces: Be cautious of icy patches to prevent slips and injuries. Consider booties to protect their paws from cold and salt.

2. Indoor Exercise and Enrichment

• Interactive Toys: Puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys can stimulate your dog mentally.
• Hide and Seek: Play hide and seek with treats or toys around the house to encourage movement and scent work.
• Obstacle Courses: Create a mini obstacle course using household items for your dog to navigate.

3. Training Opportunities

• Teach New Tricks: Use indoor time to teach your dog new commands or tricks, strengthening your bond and keeping their mind sharp.
• Obedience Games: Practice recall, sit, stay, and other obedience skills in different rooms to add variety.

4. Socialization

• Doggy Playdates: Arrange indoor playdates with other friendly dogs if space allows.
• Visit Indoor Dog Parks: If available in your area, indoor dog parks can be a great way for your dog to socialize and burn off energy.

For Cats

1. Indoor Exploration

• Vertical Spaces: Install cat trees or shelves to encourage climbing and jumping.
• Window Perches: Set up comfortable spots by windows for bird-watching and environmental enrichment.
• Rotate Toys: Keep your cat interested by rotating toys to make them feel new and exciting.

2. Interactive Playtime

• Feather Wands: Engage your cat in chasing games that stimulate their hunting instincts.
• Fetch Games: Some cats enjoy fetching small toys like crumpled paper balls or soft toys.
• Puzzle Feeders: Use puzzle feeders to make mealtime more engaging and mentally stimulating.

3. Environmental Enrichment

• Sensory Experiences: Introduce new scents like catnip or silver vine to stimulate their senses.
• Hideaways: Provide boxes or tunnels for hiding and playing.

4. Training and Social Interaction

• Clicker Training: Yes, you can train cats! Teach simple commands like “sit” or “high five” using positive reinforcement.
• Quality Time: Spend time grooming or simply sitting with your cat to strengthen your bond.

For Horses

1. Regular Turnout

• Maximize Outdoor Time: Allow your horse as much turnout as weather and footing conditions permit.
• Group Turnout: If possible, allow horses to socialize with herd mates, encouraging natural movement.
• Safe Environment: Ensure pastures are free of hazards, and consider using sand or gravel in high-traffic areas to prevent mud.

2. Indoor Exercise

• Riding Indoors: Utilize indoor arenas for riding sessions to maintain fitness.
• Longeing and Groundwork: Practice longeing, long-lining, or liberty work to keep your horse active.
• Obstacle Courses: Set up simple obstacles like poles or cones for variety and mental stimulation.

3. Mental Enrichment

• Training Sessions: Winter is a great time to focus on refining skills or teaching new ones.
• Desensitization Exercises: Introduce your horse to new objects or scenarios in a controlled environment.
• Enrichment Toys: Provide stall toys or treat-dispensing balls to keep stalled horses entertained.

4. Health and Safety Considerations

• Warm-Up and Cool-Down: Spend extra time warming up and cooling down to prevent muscle stiffness in cold weather.
• Blanketing Appropriately: Ensure your horse is comfortably blanketed according to the temperature and their coat condition.
• Hoof Care: Keep hooves clean and trimmed; consider snow pads or studs if necessary.

General Tips for All Pets

Maintain a Routine

Animals thrive on routine. Try to keep feeding, exercise, and playtimes consistent to provide a sense of stability.

Watch for Signs of Discomfort

Be attentive to signs that your pet is cold or uncomfortable, such as shivering, reluctance to move, or seeking warm places.

Nutrition and Hydration

• Proper Diet: Adjust caloric intake as needed since some pets may require more energy to stay warm.
• Fresh Water: Ensure access to unfrozen, clean water at all times.

Safety First

• Visibility: Use reflective gear or lights during walks or rides in low-light conditions.
• Paw and Hoof Care: Regularly check paws and hooves for ice buildup, cracks, or injuries.

Enhancing the Human-Animal Bond

Winter can be a wonderful time to strengthen your relationship with your pet. The extra time spent indoors or in close quarters offers opportunities for:

• Learning Together: Whether it’s new tricks for your dog, training sessions with your horse, or interactive play with your cat, learning together enhances trust and communication.
• Observing Behavior: Pay attention to your pet’s preferences and behaviors, which can inform how you engage with them.
• Quality Time: Simply being present with your pet—cuddling, grooming, or talking to them—can deepen your connection.

The Importance of Winter Activity

Keeping your pet active during the winter months is essential for their physical health and mental and emotional well-being. Whether you’re engaging your dog in winter play, providing enrichment for your cat, or maintaining regular exercise with your horse, staying active fosters happiness and connection.

An animal communicator can further support this by helping you identify activities that align with your pet’s unique personality and needs. They can also assist in addressing winter-related challenges, such as boredom, behavioral shifts, or changes in routine.

Make This Winter a Season of Connection

Winter brings opportunities to explore new activities, strengthen your bond, and ensure your pet feels loved and understood. With a little creativity, planning, and the guidance of an animal communicator, you can make this season truly magical for both you and your beloved companions.

Stay warm, stay active, and enjoy this special time of connection with your pets!

Now that it’s officially fall, many of you have already decorated your homes or are about to start, bringing the beautiful colors and textures of the season into your space. However, as an Animal Communicator and medical intuitive, I often see how certain fall decorations, while festive and fun for us, can cause distress to both our pets and local wildlife.

Animals are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, and some common fall décor items can lead to confusion, anxiety, and even physical harm. Let’s take a look at how we can still enjoy the season while being mindful of our pets and the creatures around us. Understanding how these decorations may affect them is the first step in ensuring their safety and well-being.

Specific Fall Décor to Avoid 

Fake Cobwebs

Fake cobwebs are a popular fall decoration, often draped over bushes or trees to create that spooky seasonal look. However, these synthetic webs can be dangerous, especially for wildlife like birds and butterflies. Hummingbirds and butterflies are in their peak migration season during the fall, and these delicate creatures can easily become entangled in fake cobwebs, leading to injury or worse.

Similarly, pets like cats or dogs may be intrigued by these unfamiliar objects and try to play with or chew on them, which can also lead to dangerous situations.

Tip: Opt for safer alternatives. Instead of using fake cobwebs outside, try using natural decorations like pumpkins, cornstalks, or hay bales. These are not only safer but also more in tune with the autumn season. If you do want to use fake cobwebs, keep them indoors and out of reach of pets.

Fake Berries and Artificial Fruits

Another common fall decoration is the use of artificial berries, fruits, and acorns. While these items look festive, they can be mistaken for real food by wildlife like squirrels, birds, or even your own pets. Consuming these artificial items can lead to choking or cause serious health issues if they are made from toxic materials.

As an Animal Communicator, I often help pet owners understand the source of sudden illness or distress in their animals, which sometimes turns out to be related to them ingesting something they shouldn’t have—like these types of decorations. In the past, I’ve even helped owners curate questions and requests for their vet when these instances arise. 

Tip: Choose real, edible items. Consider decorating with real fruits and vegetables, such as pumpkins, apples, and gourds. Not only do they create a more authentic fall aesthetic, but they also pose less risk to wildlife and pets. If your pet or local wildlife nibbles on them, they’ll be safe and might even enjoy the snack!

Candles and String Lights

Candles and string lights are often used to create a cozy, autumnal atmosphere, but they can pose serious risks to pets. Open flames from candles can be knocked over by a curious pet, leading to burns or even fires. Similarly, string lights can be tempting for pets to chew on, which can result in electrical shocks or choking.

Through my work, I’ve often helped pet owners understand why their pets may seem anxious or agitated around certain decorations. In many cases, the lights or candles were the culprits, either because they were too stimulating, their fragrance too strong, or because the pet had a close call with a dangerous situation.

Tip: Choose safer alternatives. Use flameless, battery-operated candles to create the same warm glow without the risk. Ensure string lights are placed out of reach of pets and always unplug them when not in use to avoid any accidents.

Being Mindful of Outdoor Fall Décor, in General, is Important

During the fall, many animals, like hummingbirds and butterflies, are migrating or preparing for the colder months. Unfortunately, outdoor fall décor can sometimes disrupt their natural paths, especially if it obstructs their usual resting or feeding spots.

Decorating your yard with too many obstructions can prevent these creatures from finding safe places to land or forage for food. I often encourage clients to take a moment to observe where animals naturally gather food or rest, allowing this awareness to guide where and how they place their outdoor décor, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt the wildlife around them.

Tip: Leave space for wildlife. Instead of cluttering your yard with too many decorations, consider leaving some open areas where migrating animals can safely rest. Adding wildlife-friendly items like birdbaths or nectar feeders can also help support these animals during their journey.

Seasonal Changes and Pet Anxiety

Pets are sensitive to environmental changes, and introducing new décor into their familiar space can sometimes cause anxiety. Through my work as an Animal Communicator, I’ve encountered many pets that show signs of distress when their environment changes abruptly, such as new decorations with unfamiliar smells, textures, or even lights.

Some pets might start acting out—chewing, hiding, or showing other signs of discomfort—because they are unsure how to respond to these changes. As an Animal Communicator, I often help pet owners identify the root cause of their pet’s behavior, which can often be linked to these kinds of sudden changes in the home.

Tip: Introduce changes gradually. If you notice that your pet is acting differently after you’ve decorated, consider gradually introducing the changes rather than decorating all at once. Give them time to adjust to the new look and feel of their environment. You can also observe how they react to certain objects and remove anything that seems to be causing them anxiety.

Create a Safe and Cozy Fall for All

Fall is a time of warmth, beauty, and transformation, and it’s only natural to want to celebrate the season with festive décor. By being mindful of the materials we use and how our décor impacts the environment, we can still enjoy a beautifully decorated home while keeping our animals safe. If you’ve noticed changes in your pet’s behavior or health after decorating, working with an Animal Communicator can help you better understand what’s causing their discomfort and how to ease their stress. This fall, let’s celebrate responsibly by creating spaces that are safe and welcoming for both our pets and the wildlife that share our surroundings.

When we think of breast cancer, we often associate it with humans, but did you know that animals—especially dogs and cats—can also develop this disease? Just like humans, our pets can face serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses as they age. As an animal medical intuitive, I’ve worked with many pet owners who were surprised to learn that their beloved companions could develop these serious health issues, and I’ve helped them navigate not just the medical side of things, but the emotional and energetic aspects as well.

In this blog, I’ll talk about how breast cancer can affect animals, how you can recognize potential symptoms, and how an animal medical intuitive can provide unique support during these challenging times—not only with cancer but with other health conditions too.

Understanding Breast Cancer in Animals

Breast cancer, or mammary gland tumors, is one of the most common types of cancer in female dogs and cats, especially if they aren’t spayed. The risk of developing this type of cancer increases as they get older, just as it does in humans. Dogs, in particular, are more prone to developing mammary tumors, with certain breeds like Poodles, Dachshunds, and Spaniels being at higher risk.

Cats, although less commonly affected, can also develop this type of cancer, and it’s often more aggressive when it does appear.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Pets

The early signs of breast cancer in pets can be subtle, which is why it’s important to regularly check your pet’s mammary glands for any unusual lumps or bumps. Other signs to watch for include:

• Swelling or lumps around the mammary glands
• Discharge from the nipples
• Loss of appetite or sudden weight loss
• Lethargy or changes in behavior
• Pain or discomfort when being touched around the chest or abdomen

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible for a thorough check-up and testing. Early detection can make a big difference in the treatment and outcome of breast cancer in animals.

How an Animal Medical Intuitive Can Help

While traditional veterinary care is essential for diagnosing and treating breast cancer, an animal medical intuitive can offer additional support to help you and your pet navigate this difficult time. An animal medical intuitive taps into the energetic and emotional layers of an animal’s health to provide a holistic view of their condition. This intuitive understanding can complement conventional medical treatment and offer insight into the underlying emotional and energetic imbalances that may be contributing to your pet’s illness.

Here’s how working with an animal medical intuitive can help:

1. Emotional Support for You and Your Pet

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be an emotional rollercoaster for both you and your pet. Pets are incredibly sensitive to our emotions, and they can pick up on the stress and anxiety that we may feel. As an animal medical intuitive, I can help you understand the emotional energy surrounding your pet’s illness and guide you in creating a calm and supportive environment during treatment.

2. Helping to Identify Imbalances

Through intuitive communication, I can help identify where there might be energy blockages or imbalances in your pet’s body that could be affecting their health. In some cases, this can provide insights into the root cause of their condition and suggest areas for further exploration or treatment. This doesn’t replace veterinary care but can offer a deeper understanding of what your pet is experiencing.

3. Guidance on Treatment and Care

An animal medical intuitive can also provide guidance on supportive care that goes beyond traditional medical treatments. For example, I may suggest natural remedies, energetic healing practices, or lifestyle adjustments that can support your pet’s well-being during their treatment. These suggestions are intended to enhance the care your pet is already receiving, offering a more holistic approach to healing.

4. Intuitive Understanding of Other Health Conditions

Breast cancer is just one of many health challenges that animals can face. As an animal medical intuitive, I can help with a variety of conditions, including:

• Chronic pain or arthritis: Offering insight into how your pet is coping and what adjustments might bring comfort.
• Digestive issues: Identifying potential emotional or energetic causes for your pet’s digestive distress.
• Allergies or skin conditions: Exploring the possibility of environmental or emotional triggers.
• Behavioral changes: Understanding shifts in behavior that could indicate underlying health problems or emotional imbalances.

Every health condition, whether physical or emotional, has a story behind it, and an intuitive approach can help uncover that story.

Prevention and Early Detection

One of the best ways to help prevent breast cancer in your pets is through early spaying, which greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, especially if done before their first heat cycle. Regular veterinary check-ups, proper nutrition, and maintaining an active lifestyle can also go a long way in keeping your pets healthy.

Beyond physical care, paying attention to the emotional well-being of your pets is equally important. Pets are incredibly attuned to the energy around them, and their emotional health can impact their physical health in profound ways. By regularly checking in with them—whether through observation, affection or even working with an animal communicator—you can ensure that they remain balanced and healthy both inside and out.

Supporting Your Pet’s Health Holistically

Navigating a serious health condition like breast cancer in pets can be overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. An animal medical intuitive can offer a compassionate, holistic approach that supports your pet’s health and well-being on multiple levels—physical, emotional, and energetic.

Whether your pet is facing cancer, another health condition, or you just want to ensure they stay healthy for years to come, incorporating intuitive guidance alongside traditional veterinary care can make a meaningful difference. After all, our pets rely on us not only for their physical care but also for the emotional and energetic support that helps them thrive.