Frustrated Over High Veterinarian Bills

Writen by Kim Bloomer

Over the past 30 years we have learned so much about taking good care of our pets, right? We feed them "premium" high dollar pets foods, give them tasty packaged treats, vaccinate them yearly, bathe them with expensive shampoos, give them heartworm preventative, use flea collars or flea and tick preventative, brush their teeth, and get yearly checkups with our vets.

Then why are our pets not healthier? Why, instead, are they getting more and more humanlike diseases such as allergies, diabetes, thyroid problems, cancer, and on and on? Why are their coats not so shiny anymore, and they seem to scratch and itch all the time? Why are they so lazy and sleep all the time? Why do they still smell bad, have waxy ears, and bad plaque on their teeth?

The biggest problem points to nutrition, or lack thereof. But I feed my pet a high premium pet food recommended by my vet you might say. Exactly – that, however, is the problem. These so-called premium foods are full of "byproducts", corn meal, and many other things our pets were never designed to eat nor utilize in their bodies. The preservatives alone are not allowed in human products so how could our pets be expected to digest these toxins without repercussions to their health? The "byproducts" are things that should just be destroyed and not used for anything let alone pet food.

Another problem is exactly the thing you thought were protecting them: yearly vaccinations. This is a huge problem because the rabies vaccine is the one that is mandated by law and it the very worst one for your pets. These yearly vaccinations are not only not necessary but could be a major contributor to the diseases that are plaguing our pets. Vaccinosis is the result of all this over vaccinating and possibly even the culprit behind all the diagnosed diseases resulting in the decline of the health of pets.

Combine poor food, over vaccinating, with the toxins from flea collars, pet toothpaste, packaged treats, and preventative medicines and you've got unhealthy, immune suppressed pets that lack the energy to do much more than sleep.

Okay, so now what? Fortunately there are solutions and the best one to start with is food; preferably raw. If that doesn't appeal to you there are other solutions and answers to help you help your pets on the road to wellness. There are now pet foods on the market that have human grade ingredients without all the toxic preservatives and byproducts. Here are a few to get you started:

http://www.canidae.com
http://www.pets4life.com/
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petfood.htm
http://www.holistichorse.com
http://www.herbsnbirds.com

There are solutions to protect your pet in lieu of vaccinations and still comply with the law. Holistic veterinarians have alternatives to help you in this area: http://www.altvetmed.com, http://ahvma.org

When a pet has a healthy immune system, they won't smell bad, have waxy ears, and cruddy teeth. There are alternatives to using toxic flea collars and preventative medicines for your pet. Use the resources provided in this article and you will find the best solutions for you and your pets. You can lower your vet bills and your pets can live longer, healthier lives.

Kim Bloomer operates a home and internet business in wellness for both people and pets! She also publishes a pet wellness newsletter, Aspenbloom-WellPet. Go to http://KimBloomer.com for details on all her business ventures.

The Boston Terrier

Writen by Michael Russell

The Boston is among a small group of dogs who were "made in America". Originally it was bred from crosses between the bulldog and the terrier, and careful selection has produced a dog that is consistently marked and very true to type. He has distinctive white markings on a background of black, seal or brindle. Ears are upright and may be cropped or natural. Backskull is flat, muzzle is short with a well defined stop. His nose is of the braccocephalic type and he can be heard to snore at night. Most dogs with this type of nose are not highly athletic in nature since they do not have the breathing room required to be highly active, especially in the heat.

Also most dogs of this type tend to have some problems with natural birth because of the large head, so he is not used a great deal in the "puppy mills" as a breeding dog. therefore his numbers are small in comparison to other small breeds, (he is not "over-bred") and this has helped to protect the breed from too many health problems. The eyes are somewhat large and round and protruding. Because of this he requires a daily eye inspection as he may be susceptible to eye injury. Other than a history of skin problems there do not seem to be any other notable health concerns. His movement should be free and easy, never lumbering in gait.

The Boston is a delight to own and train. He is generally easy to housebreak. If brought up with children he is tractable and gentle in nature. He was bred as a companion dog and despite his title is a member of the non-sporting Group, not truly a "terrier" in nature or habit. He is adaptable to a small apartment and does not need an inordinate amount of exercise. Usually he is under 25 pounds in weight. Bostons are generally easy going and not prone to pick a fight.

He is a popular figure in the show ring. Coat care is minimal, all he needs is a quick wipe down. He is not heavily used as an agility dog since his bulldog background can lead to breathing problems if overly exercised. He does however make a fine therapy dog because of his smaller size and winning personality, especially because he can be so easily trained to do tricks and was specifically bred as a companion dog. His first love is to be with people. He was bred first and foremost as a pet and because of his distinctive markings became popular as a show dog and a dog to "show off"; it is considered stylish to own a Boston.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Animals