Category: Animal Health

Dog Anxiety Awareness

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date May 1, 2023

Do you have anxiety or have you ever felt anxious? Chances are that you have. Since anxiety is “an overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs”, it’s a pretty common thing. In fact, according to the American Psychiatric Association, nearly 30% of Americans suffer from anxiety in their lifetime. That’s nearly 1 in every 3 people!

Have you ever thought that your dog might have anxiety? Even humans have a hard time identifying their own anxiety, let alone their pets. Imagine being a dog that cannot verbally communicate it or even do anything on its own to reduce it. Since the first week of May is Dog Anxiety Awareness Week, I’d like to share some information with you about how to identify that your dog has anxiety and how to help them with it as well.

Dog Anxiety Signs

Just as with any disorder, there are several signs that can also overlap with other disorders and illnesses. No matter what you expect that your dog may have, it’s a good idea to take note of the symptoms they have and how often they are displaying them. Here are some signs that could indicate that your dog has anxiety that you’ll want to take note of:

Changes in eating habits
Digestive issues such as acid reflux and diarrhea
Hiding or disappearing from view
Displays of fear, such as shaking/trembling
Lashing out unexpectedly
Unusual growling, or showing teeth

Our dogs take cues from our own behavior so relax your muscles, slow and deepen your breath and manage your own anxiety to demonstrate the desired behavior to your dog.

Why do dogs get anxious?

Anxiety can be triggered in dogs by many factors. In some cases, a dog may have a negative association with a common object used by a human such as a hat or walking cane. In many situations, the negative associations can be removed through training with a qualified professional. Big life changes like a new home or introducing a baby, new roommate, or an additional pet to the house can result in anxiety. Sometimes these changes merely require an adjustment period, but in some cases may require training to assist the dog with acclimating to the newness.

In my experience, the most common cause of anxiety with dogs is noise. Loud noises such as fireworks, gunfire, thunder, alarms, and even yelling can cause anxiety. Reactions can range from merely a bark to long periods of distress. Sometimes creating a distraction or replacing the noise with another one can help. Aids that can help reduce anxiety include:

Compression – such as a tight-fitted shirt or wrap similar to swaddling a newborn
Calming music
Running a fan
Diffusing essential oils. Be careful though, not all essential oils are safe for dogs. Some that are safe and commonly used include lemongrass, lavender, and rosemary
Massage
Use a gentle tone with your dog, and do not use a voice they may mistake as praise for their behavior this may only add confusion

Using An Animal Communicator to Reduce Anxiety

Sometimes anxiety happens sporadically, but sometimes it can become a routine issue. An animal communicator can help you to pinpoint the cause of distress. Without knowing the trigger, you may be unknowingly making the situation worse, or better yet the solution may be something simple that never occurred to you. Be proactive and plan for utilizing the above-listed aids when you know there may be an anxiety-inducing event such as July 4^th, an incoming storm, or houseguests. Consult a qualified trainer to help you work through specific reactions. You can be your dog’s greatest advocate by creating a safe environment. Not only will you both be happier, but your bond will also strengthen.

Animal Health Dogs

Canine Fitness Activities You’ll Both Love

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date April 6, 2023

With Spring officially here, do you find that you’re not eating so much hearty food and that you’ve started to move more? As the temperature continues to increase and we have more sunny days, you’ll see more runners and walkers out and about, with and without their canine friends. If you have a furry friend, I’d encourage you to incorporate some canine fitness into your own fitness routine as there are many benefits to both.

What is Canine Fitness?

When you think of fitness in general, do you think about just physical fitness or do you have a more holistic thought? Canine fitness, just like human fitness, is more than just being physically fit. It encompasses our mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Here is a great blog that breaks down each type.

Canine Fitness Basics

Since physical fitness impacts so many areas of our lives, as well as our pup’s life, it’s important to keep the basics in mind. When it comes to canine fitness, the basic strategy is the same for ourselves and our pups:

Provide a healthy diet
Engage in lots of regular activity
Burn more calories than you eat
Keep moving throughout your life

While these are the basics to keep in mind, it’s also important to take the individual, person, and pup, into consideration. For instance, a husky needs a lot more exercise than a basset hound and of course, a husky with impaired vision may not be doing as much running as a husky with great vision. Just as you take your own personal history and abilities into consideration, be sure to do that for your canine friend, too!

Canine Fitness Activities

When you’re determining what activities to do with your dog, there are several things to consider. Below, I’ve included two to get you started.

Hound Type

Some dogs are sight hounds, some are scent hounds and some are attention hounds. Find out what activities suit you and your pup the best.

Exercise Preference

Find out what type of exercise your dog loves to do. Is he a runner, a sniffer, or a couch potato?

If you’re not sure what your dog likes, working with an animal communicator can help your dog to express his individual needs and preferences.

He might express that he likes:

Taking a long walk sniffing along a nature trail
Running a 5K
Hiking a mountain trail
Dog Sledding
Swimming
Nose work
Obedience
Agility
Dock diving
People watching
Squirrel watching
Frisbee
Fetch

Try something you both love so you both get all of the benefits of it! Remember that no matter what type of physical exercise you choose, you should keep your pup out and active as they age. A dog that engages in age-appropriate exercise will stay healthy longer than one that spends time on the couch.

Canine Fitness for the Mind

Throughout their active years and well into old age, dogs enjoy stimulation for their mind and their senses in addition to physical exercise. Creating ways to engage your dog through enrichment activities that they can enjoy even on a rainy day will make their life feel full. These might include:

Puzzle games
Volunteer therapy work
Hide and seek
Grooming
Chew toys
Bird watching
Visiting friends

The mental and emotional health of our dogs is just as important as their physical health. Allowing outlets for energy helps them to rest better. Allowing them outlets for their curiosity and natural behaviors reduces the risk that they will develop anxiety and unwanted behaviors. Keep them busy? Keep them happy!

Animal Health Pet Resources

Should I Seek Veterinary Care?

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date March 29, 2023

Have you ever woken up one day and started your normal routine only to greet your animal and realize they weren’t themselves? Just like with our children and others we are around often, we can typically tell when something is “off”. Since we can’t talk directly to our pets and have them literally speak back to tell us what’s wrong, we have to start to gather information from the past and present to determine if a trip to the vet is needed. The question of seeking veterinarian care for your pet can be a complex one. There are so many factors that play a part in this decision.

Typically, Yes, You Should Seek Veterinary Care

My quick and basic answer to this question is “Yes”. When a client contacts me and asks if they should call their vet about their pet’s symptoms, my first answer is always “Yes, if you have a concern about symptoms displayed by your pet, you should always seek proper veterinary care appropriate to the condition.”

When making this decision for my own pets, I ask myself, “What is my level of concern?” and “what are the symptoms I am witnessing?” Asking myself these questions first helps me to prioritize my next steps.

For instance, if my cat is experiencing some unusual itching and otherwise seems perfectly normal, my concern level would be low and I would take a common sense, wait-and-watch attitude. If the itching continues after bathing and grooming and then progresses to open sores, I elevate my concern and contact my vet.

However, when my horse suddenly begins exhibiting signs of colic my level of concern is immediately high. I collect the data about vital signs that my vet will need and call them right away.

Let Your Experience Level Inform Your Decision for Veterinary Care

Each individual pet owner must take their own personal experience into consideration when dealing with the health of their pet. New pet owners should rely on their vet to educate and guide them through this learning process.

I personally have years of experience dealing with all types of health conditions in dogs, cats, and horses. I have collected quite a bank of knowledge and experience in assessing symptoms and prioritizing my level of concern. If my dog breaks a toenail, I feel perfectly confident to treat that bleeding at home. That feels well within my skill and experience. If my new Guinea Pig looks “a bit off” I have no skills or experience to guide me, so I call my vet immediately.

My personal motto is, “if in doubt, call the vet”.

Finances Always Play A Part In Seeking Veterinary Care

One of the most difficult parts of this decision is the financial consideration related to veterinary treatment. In this day and age veterinary care has become very expensive. There is no getting around that fact. All too often my clients find themselves having to choose between paying the mortgage and getting the veterinary care that their pet requires. They may have to delay a vet appointment due to a lack of funds for payment. This is not an ideal situation for any pet owner.

I encourage pet owners to purchase pet insurance coverage in order to reduce the stress of this aspect of the decision-making process. I find that pet owners will seek veterinary care more readily if they know that their insurance plan will cover at least part of the cost of treatment. For more information on navigating pet insurance, please visit my recent blog.

Practice Prevention to Reduce Your Need for Veterinary Care

One of the very best ways that a pet owner can avoid the tough question, “do I call the vet”, is to prepare ahead and reduce the chance of the health condition before it becomes a problem. Preventive healthcare maintenance is worth every penny you spend. Your vet can help you determine what your pet needs to stay healthy at any life stage. Some of the key parts of wellness are:

Annual exams by your veterinarian
A healthy diet and regular exercise
Regular grooming
Immunizations and parasite control
Providing a safe environment free of hazards
Careful observation of symptoms of a problem

We all wish for healthy and happy pets. Do your best to support wellness through regular healthcare maintenance and don’t be afraid to rely on your vet to guide you through the inevitable injuries and illnesses that are a part of all pet lovers’ lives.

You can also consider using an animal communicator to help you communicate with your animal about its discomfort and behaviors. Animal communicators can also assist your vet in many ways.

Animal Health Horses

Pain Signals from a “Sound” Horse

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date December 16, 2022

Have you ever looked at your horse and just had a “gut feeling” that something was off? How do you determine if that feeling is accurate? How does any horse owner know what is motivating their horses’ “bad behavior”? Is it pain? An illness? A general unhappiness about their environment? The trainer may say that it is poor work ethic, rider error, or just plain naughtiness. The vet may not see any obvious lameness and declare the horse to be sound. Yet, the gut feeling still persists, but where do you look for answers?

Through my 40+ years as a horse owner, equestrian, and equine sports therapist, I have not only experienced it for myself, but I have heard some version of this sad and frustrating story time and time again. I have watched so many of my friends and clients navigate the unexplained behaviors of their beloved horses. The story often sounds like this:

The months go by and I feel the joy has gone from riding. I look at my equine friend and partner and see a dull and listless gaze. I can see he is not happy. I remember the days of laughter, hard work, and accomplishment when we felt powerful together, fit, strong, and forward. The strides felt long and light as we covered the ground, the wind in our hair. Today we trot forward with a stiff feeling back, short strides, and no energy to push on. His ears are back, his tail swishes, and he chomps the bit and stumbles frequently. If I ask for more, we end up in a struggle. He has no more to give. I know in my heart that this is not “bad behavior” or a “poor work ethic”. This is not the result of “poor riding”. This is not the natural state of my beloved horse.

All of the stories sound similar.

“I know something is wrong with my horse but I can’t find the cause.”

“This is not his usual behavior.”

“I know when he is happy and well and this is not it.”

“He is ‘off’ but no one else can see it.”

“My trainer says to push harder, my horse is just being naughty.”

“I have tried everything, massage, acupuncture, Magna Wave, chiropractic, saddle fitter. Everything helps but only temporarily. He is still ‘off’ and reluctant to work.”

So WHAT IS IT? It’s PAIN.

These behaviors are often the early signs of musculoskeletal pain that appear before a lameness can be detected.

Our horses are strong and brave. They work hard for us and try to meet our expectations. They push through the pain. They push and push, doing their jobs despite the pain in their body. They move differently and act differently while they compensate for the pain and continue to work. They work until they no longer can. By the time we detect an obvious head-bobbing lameness, it may be too late to help.

Sadly, our equestrian culture has developed a deaf ear to their pain. We have somehow lost the open dialogue that says, “Hey, my friend, what’s up? You feel a little off today. You’re not yourself. I can feel your back is stiff. Do you need another day of recovery? Maybe some stretching?”

Horses are generally very honest creatures. They don’t try to trick us into giving them a day off. When they are feeling playful and full of energy, they let us know. When they are in pain and honestly unable to perform they also let us know. They communicate with the same body language they use in the herd; stance, posture, facial expression, and willingness to move.

We Need To Trust Our Horses

We, as equestrians, need to practice our listening skills. Listen with our gut and watch with our eyes. If your horse is telling you he is “not himself”, trust him!

When we don’t trust, the frustration is real, painful, and expensive. These are statements I often hear from clients when they are searching for answers in the wrong places.

“My vet can’t see a head bobbing lameness, writes a prescription, and sends an invoice.”

“My trainer pressures me to continue training and competition despite my concern.”

“My horse is losing weight and muscle tone even though he is working regularly. I buy more supplements and treatments for ulcers.”

“I take time off to let him rest…..get radiographs…..try some shockwave….get a second opinion…..how about some joint injections….and still he is acting out under saddle.”

“I bought a new custom saddle and the latest magic pad. Still he bucks.”

Help To Identify Pain is Available

Sue Dyson, VetMB, Ph.D., a world-renowned expert in equine orthopedics, with a particular interest in lameness and poor performance in sports horses, has developed a tool that I hope will change the way we judge horse behavior. Her tool “The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE)”, developed through years of studying behavior in the ridden horse, teaches horse owners, trainers, and medical practitioners a new way of qualifying a horse’s behavior to determine if the horse is experiencing musculoskeletal pain.

An E thogram is a catalog or table of animal behaviors used to qualify normal vs. abnormal behaviors. You can download this table related to the Ethogram to keep for your reference. When used as a diagnostic tool, this Ethogram can help horse owners to identify and treat pain before the condition progresses and perhaps ends the horses’ riding career. An in-depth application of the Ethogram by NIH is detailed in this study.

The technique for evaluating a horse using the Ethogram can be seen in detail in Dr. Dyson’s film The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain. I believe this film is a MUST-WATCH for all horse owners. It is 35 minutes which could be the best investment in your horse’s wellness plan.

A General Synopsis of The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain

The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain is a film that dares to challenge the way we look at “badly behaving” horses, and promotes the notion that lameness doesn’t start at the head bob. Through a six-phase study, spanning three years, and over 400 horses, Dr. Dyson, and colleagues developed The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a tool to reliably predict lameness before the condition worsens into limping and other obvious signs of injuries. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram is a catalog of 24 behaviors, which scientific studies have demonstrated can be associated with pain in the ridden horse. The majority of these behaviors are at least ten times more likely to be seen in lame horses compared with non-lame horses.

The film follows Dr. Dyson and Dr. Jim Myers of Gold Coast Equine, as they examine and diagnose show jumper Lauren McMahon’s beloved mare Galina, who was not obviously lame, yet seemed increasingly unhappy under saddle. Lauren had “tried everything” to figure out what was wrong, including ulcer treatments, multiple joint injections, and specialized shoeing but Galina only became more resistant under saddle. Galina’s story is not uncommon for horses that do not present with an obvious head bobbing lameness. Oftentimes these are horses that get labeled as “resistant,” “lazy,” and horses that buck or rear from pain, “explosive.” Trainers often tell riders to “push them through it.”

It also educates horse lovers on how to spot the early signs of pain while taking viewers on an emotional “ride” through the eyes of a young girl who loves her horse and will stop at nothing to try to figure out how to make her comfortable.

Dr. Dyson’s research was further explained in an article published recently in Equus Magazine. An excerpt from the article explains:

“Undiagnosed lameness has a far-reaching impact on the lives of horses and their riders, says Sue Dyson, VetMB, Ph.D. “One of the reasons I was incentivized to develop an RHpE was I had become so dispirited by seeing so many horses who clearly had pain-related problems that had been ignored for far too long,” she explains. “The horse, the rider, the training technique were being blamed over and over again. Coercive training techniques were being used. Longer whips, spurs, tighter nosebands, and ‘stronger’ bits were being employed. Moreover, veterinarians did not understand what they were looking at either—if an enlightened owner sought advice, and there was no obvious lameness seen in hand, they were told that the horse had behavioral problems.”

Learn more about Dr. Dyson’s Train with Trust Project.

I hope that you will join me in continuing the conversation with our horses, giving them the opportunity to express their needs through behavior and building trust for a pain-free partnership.

Reference: The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain: Shifting the Paradigm of How We See Lameness by Padmavideo

Animal Health

How An Animal Communicator Can Assist Your Aging Animal

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date November 22, 2022

Aging is a natural process for all living organisms. Sadly, as humans and pet owners, we not only have to go through the aging process ourselves, but we also have to see our aging animals go through it. As with humans, this can be a joyful and challenging experience, all at the same time. While the aging process is very different for us and our furry friends, there are a lot of similarities.

Pets Get Diseases, Too

According to VetSource, there are 7 common health problems found in aging animals, which also happen to be found in aging humans. They are:

Kidney Issues
Heart Problems
Cognitive Dysfunction
Arthritis or Joint Problems
Dental Disease
Lumps and Bumps
Loss of Vision and Hearing

As stated in our most recent blog, The Many Ways an Animal Communicator Can Help Your Veterinarian, life-threatening and nonlife-threatening health problems should always be addressed by a veterinarian, and an Animal Communicator can provide complimentary assistance.

Using An Animal Communicator Through the Disease Process

Pet caretakers can use animal communication to deepen their understanding and relationship with the pet who has been diagnosed with a disease. For instance, I’ve worked with a senior dog who, during a consultation, reported a spot on his lung that didn’t feel right. At first, he described it as a “flat feeling spot”. At our next session, the feeling had changed to “an area that doesn’t expand easily when I breathe”. A vet exam revealed a growth in that lobe of his lung. As the family, vet, and dog progressed through medical treatment, animal communication sessions helped to monitor his pain levels, difficulty breathing, and his personal experience of the disease progression. At each session, the dog was able to express any changes he felt as a result of medication and dietary adjustments. Working together as a team has helped this family to navigate a difficult time with less stress and worry. They have been able to fine-tune his treatments and he has survived more than 10 months longer than his original prognosis.

It’s best to check in with pets regularly using animal communication to observe changes or symptoms, especially when disease is present. Many health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can reach a life-threatening level before a pet exhibits visible signs. Animals are often able to describe physical sensations such as difficulty breathing or irregular heartbeat which can alert you to seek medical care before the situation becomes critical. In situations like these, an animal communicator can help pet owners manage the disease and prolong their pet’s life.

If you’re considering using an animal communicator and your animal has already been diagnosed with a disease, it’s best not to share the diagnosis details with the animal communicator prior to your consultation so that they can feel what is reported from the animal first and not have perceptions skewed by another perspective.

Using An Animal Communicator Through the End-of-Life Process

As you know, the end-of-life process is often accompanied by disease. As a pet’s health declines there are simple things that the pet can share with you to better help you manage their physical condition and surroundings to support them during the aging process. For example, a pet may look sad and you may think it’s unhappy. When in reality, he simply isn’t as energized in his old age and is just tired. When communicating with your animal, they may report that they are feeling dehydrated and don’t have enough energy to get to the bowl. Therefore, you can just move the bowl closer to them to make the effort easier.

Knowing what an aging animal wants can really make a difference in its final days. I have worked with a senior dog who is blind. Since he is blind, his sense of smell gives him great joy despite not being able to walk very well due to his weak legs. To improve his quality of life, the owners pick him up and take him to the park so he can smell the lake, the dirt, and the other animals that have been there. This is the best day ever for him but they wouldn’t have known how to give him joy in his final days had they not worked with a communicator.

Additionally, when a pet is nearing the end of its life, palliative care is often put in place to maintain a level of comfort and quality of life just as it would for a human. The animal communicator can provide information that the veterinarian can use to help them transition more comfortably.

No matter if your pet is just aging or aging with a disease present, their level of comfort and well-being are critical so do what you can to make their last days, their best days!

Animal Communicator Partnerships Animal Health

The Many Ways an Animal Communicator Can Help Your Veterinarian

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date November 16, 2022

Have you ever had a sick pet that you’ve taken to the veterinarian and after dozens of tests and thousands of dollars, there’s finally an answer to the change in their behavior? If you have, you know how frustrating this can be. If you haven’t, I hope to help you prevent having this experience.

As pet owners, our pet’s health, well-being, and safety are of the utmost importance to us. Considering this, it can be disconcerting at times trying to determine what exactly is going on inside of them – if only they could talk, right? Well, they can! Through telepathic communication, we have the ability to ask them how they are feeling, what they are feeling, and where they feel it. Having the animal communicate this information rather than making assumptions, is so much better for the animal, the owner, and the veterinarian as it alleviates guesswork. When it comes to your pet’s health, combining the services of an Animal Communicator with a veterinarian can lead to less testing and diagnostics, saving money and time and resulting in a quicker diagnosis.

Assisting Your Veterinarian

At any age, behaviors and physical changes can happen and we don’t always know the cause of these changes. This can cause us, humans, to be stressed, but it can also cause heightened stress levels in our pets, which in turn could exacerbate the issues going on, making it more difficult to determine the root issue.

Even when the issue is not presenting itself as severe, when something changes in our pets, our first instinct is to take them to the veterinarian. This can be costly and require multiple visits and tests. Therefore, when you observe initial changes, scheduling a personal consultation with an Animal Communicator can equip you with more information to help your veterinarian focus his tests and diagnostics more effectively.

When we humans go to the doctor, the doctor interviews us and we are able to express our specific needs and feelings so the doctor can then provide focused treatment based on what we say. For instance, if you’ve noticed that your pet is not eating as much as normal and the pet is able to express that there is a tooth that is bothering them. Chances are that I can narrow down the area of where that tooth is; upper jaw, lower jaw, left side, etc. With this information, you can go to your veterinarian and tell them more specifically where to look for the issue. An Animal Communicator fills this gap so that your veterinarian can begin by evaluating the area mentioned and remedy that problem more quickly without unnecessary costs and tests.

Another example is a horse owner who reports that there are changes in their horse’s behavior and they think it may be lame. A veterinarian would have to evaluate all legs from top to bottom with a physical exam or radiographs and they may just give them painkillers to solve the problem. When working with an Animal Communicator, the horse may tell them that it has pain in the left, front leg at the knee. Combining the visual veterinarian exam with the feedback directly from the animal can enable the doctor to target diagnostic testing more quickly and accurately. In this example, the veterinarian could begin with radiographs of the knee and visually confirm the issue, saving time and money.

The Importance of Checking In Routinely With Your Pet

By giving your pet the opportunity to express themselves and truly tell you the things that are going on with them, you can broaden and deepen your relationship with your pet. It can allow you opportunities for them to let you know early when an issue arises so that you can get the necessary treatment for them or even prevent an illness. Stay on top of your pet’s wellness by scheduling a conversation with your pet communicator today.

Animal Communicator Animal Health

Animal Medical Intuitive – The Basics

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date September 26, 2022

As a pet owner, have you ever sat and pondered about your pet? Maybe they’re starting to act out or even withdraw. No matter what their behavior, or lack of, the reason behind what they’re doing could very well be due to a medical problem which is where a medical intuitive could prove to be very helpful.

Having a pet is one of life’s greatest blessings, but because of the communication barrier, it can become difficult at times. What if you could sit with your pet and ask them questions about their behavior, health, likes, dislikes, or just things that you are curious about? Well, you can!

A medical intuitive is an alternative medicine practitioner, who uses their intuitive abilities to find the cause of a physical or emotional condition through the use of insight rather than conventional medical diagnostics. Other terms for this practice include medical clairvoyant, medical psychic or intuitive counselor. These practitioners do not diagnose or treat medical conditions. They can, however, offer insight from a unique perspective that often adds useful information when used in conjunction with conventional medical diagnostics. It is one tool that can be added to your overall wellness protocol.

What Do Medical Intuitives Do?

Medical intuition focuses on visualization skills and intuitive and innovative scanning to obtain information from the physical body and its energy systems. It is designed to assist health care providers in a cost-effective, targeted approach to a patient’s presenting concerns, and is not meant to serve as a diagnosis of illness or disease. Studies have shown that medical intuitives have strong, subjective accuracy rates in identifying primary and secondary health issues. Additionally, their services are positively evaluated in the context of an individual’s concerns regarding their health.

History Of Medical Intuition

Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) was one of the most well-known medical clairvoyants. He was said to be able to discern the health conditions of people, and in many cases, heal them of their affliction. Many of the treatments that he developed are still used today.

In some cases, medical intuitives have been hired by hospitals, clinics, and medical offices, particularly in California. Some medical intuitives also work with M.D.’s.

How Can An Animal Medical Intuitist Help?

When a human visits a medical professional, they often engage in an extensive intake interview where the doctor can ask in-depth questions about how the patient feels. This interview helps the physician narrow down potential causes and develop the next steps for testing and diagnostics. As many animal owners can attest, veterinary diagnostics can be a very hit-or-miss process, expensive and frustrating. It can be difficult for a vet to focus on the root cause based only on our visual observations. An animal is not able to verbalize his physical sensations such as:

“My throat feels raw when I swallow.”
“The pain feels sharp in my left upper hip and radiates down my leg.”
“I feel a rapid flutter in my chest”
“I feel the pain in my right front hoof. It feels fine at the walk but the pain starts when I canter”
“I feel nauseous and low on energy”

When a horse exhibits lameness it can often be difficult to tell which limb is the cause. Narrowing down the focus onto one limb can save everyone a lot of time and money.

Clients often consult an animal communicator/medical intuitive prior to a non-emergency vet visit to collect information that will help the vet to zero in on the root cause and reduce the number of tests required. By locating sensations during an intuitive scan of the body, an animal communicator can report details of pain location, intensity, and quality. These details help the pet owner and their medical care team to discover symptoms that are not visible to us and to refine the treatment plan.

Regular “check-in” with a communicator can be useful to monitor the well-being of a pet during a course of treatment by asking the pet about pain levels, appetite, and other symptoms.

Pet owners also consult a medical intuitive to help them assess the quality of life of their senior pet as they navigate the challenges of old age.

As an animal communicator and animal medical intuitive, I use a scanning technique to feel what the animal is feeling in his physical body. As an empath, I feel the physical and emotional feelings of the animal in my own body reporting sensations of pain, pressure, headaches, nausea, itching, vision disturbance, hearing loss, dental issues, joy, sadness, lethargy, difficult respiration, etc.
Contacting an animal medical intuitive should never be your first choice in any emergency situation. Always contact your vet or local emergency clinic first. The intuitive work can complement your conventional veterinary care but never replace it.

Animal Health

Tips for Preventing Animal Dehydration

Post author By Marjorie Lewis
Post date July 29, 2022

Has anyone ever told you that you should drink half of your body weight in water to stay hydrated? Did you know that there is a similar methodology for animals, too? According to PetSafe, your pet should have a minimum of 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. Sadly, many of us don’t know exactly how much our pets weigh and hydration is an afterthought. Many pet owners only think about it when their pet is showing signs of dehydration.

What is considered dehydration?

Technically, a pet is dehydrated when more fluid is used or lost than what is taken in, making the body unable to carry out normal functions. For cats and dogs, 80% of their body is made up of water which is essential for circulation, electrolyte balance, digestion, metabolism, organ function, and waste removal.

Signs of Dehydration

The quickest way to tell if an animal is dehydrated is to pinch loose skin; between its shoulder blades for a dog and on the side of the neck for a horse. If the skin stays put or slowly returns to normal, then the animal is most likely dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration include:

Dry Mouth
Excessive panting
Appetite loss
Confusion
Depression
Lack of coordination
Lethargy
Red, inflamed gums
Respiratory trouble
Seizures or collapsing
Sunken eyes

What increases dehydration?

No matter what type of animal you have, there are going to be certain things that will increase the chances of dehydration or even make their current state of dehydration more severe.

Temperature – the hotter the animal is, the more water its body will use.
Activity – increased activity equates to more water being used by the body.
Diarrhea and vomiting – when there are periods of this, an animal is most likely excreting more than they are taking in.
Diabetes – when an animal has diabetes, the kidneys work overtime to filter out the excess sugar. The excess sugar is filtered out, taking along tissue fluid with it which is what causes dehydration.
Fever – this causes water to burn off more quickly.

Tips for Keeping Your Animals Hydrated

Each animal is different. They all have different activity levels and requirements based on their diet and health.

Cats

Cat’s have a low thirst drive. Senior cats actually live mostly in dehydration. To help keep your cat hydrated:

Provide a water fountain with moving water.
Use wet food instead of dry.

Dogs

To help keep your dog hydrated:

Make sure your dog always has a bowl, even on walks. Take a look at this portable dog bowl.
Put toys in the water bowl.

Horses

To help keep your horse hydrated:

Be sure to have a clean water source.
Balance electrolytes based on their workload.
Put a treat like apple juice in the water.
Use their favorite bucket (for example, shallow vs deep).
After exercise, put a small serving of grain in a shallow tub with water to encourage drinking.
Provide salt in their diet to make them thirsty.

If you find that your animal is still not drinking enough, there could be an underlying issue. Using an animal communicator is a great way to get to the root of the problem. An animal communicator will interpret what your animal is saying so that you can have a better understanding of how they currently feel and can take proper action.