Ultra Oil for Pets

I used to think supplements unnecessary. I make sure my family eats healthy, nutritious food, so why should we need anything more? I learned that due to the depletion of minerals in our soil, the foods we thought were so nutrient-rich–and should be–sadly, are not. Even whole, organic, natural foods don't pack quite enough punch. So I put my family on the best supplements I could find with maximum absorption. The whole family takes multivitamin & minerals, calcium, and omega-3s, and us oldsters also take joint supplements so we don't get all crotchety when we try to run around.

But what about N.A.S.H.A., our dog? She just turned eight, yet still acts like a puppy. Would she need to supplement, too? I feed her the highest-quality food. But then, taking what I know into consideration...she'd probably need to get on board with the rest of the family.

I discovered Ultra Oil, a skin and coat supplement, a balanced source of omegas for pets. Ultra Oil is designed to compensate for the deficiencies found in our pets' foods. It is heart-healthy and helps with immunity and overall organ function as well as itchiness and skin dryness.

Although N.A.S.H.A. is healthy overall, she has that wiry fur that easily tangles, and she has seasonal allergies that cause her to lick and chew her paws at various times of the year (like, now), depending on what's in the air and on the ground. Since pets absorb everything they step on through their paws, it's easy to understand why it's common for pets to pay so much negative attention to them.

Tony Klabunde from Ultra Oil describes the supplement:

Ultra Oil gives you everything you need from a fish oil supplement with the omega-rich, low mercury sardine & anchovy, but we don't stop there. We add hempseed oil (nature's most balanced source of omegas) along with flaxseed and grapeseed oil. This allows for the complete profile of healthy fats, including omega 9s, in the right balance to be optimally absorbed. We believe this is why our supplement is so much more effective at healing allergic breakouts, itching, and hot spots that fish oil alone just can't touch. After people see the effectiveness of this balance on even the most serious skin irritations, they keep coming back, but the #1 thing that causes people to originally switch from fish oils is the fact that Ultra Oil doesn't have that stinky odor.

And, it's true! I really stuck my nose in there, and the stuff has no odor whatsoever. N.A.S.H.A. is a super picky eater, so I thought for sure she'd reject her altered regular food when I put the Ultra Oil on it, but I have seen no change in her eating habits whatsoever, so she either likes it or doesn't notice it. Based on her weight, all she needs is one pump per day. Administration instructions are on the bottle, so you'll know how much your pet needs.

After being on Ultra Oil for a month, now, I have noticed a reduction in the amount of time N.A.S.H.A. spends tending to her paws. There is an occasional lick, but, for the most part, the Ultra Oil has alleviated her allergic reactions. Though her fur isn't like that of a mink, and she'll always be prone to dreadlocks, it seems softer to me and tangles less.

I love the fact that Ultra Oil is non GMO and completely human grade. The farmers from which they source their seed oil use sustainable farming practices. So I can feel good about giving it to my pet.

Though we've seen some benefits in N.A.S.H.A., I'd love to see first hand how the stuff works on a dog with extreme allergies and hot spots. Stay tuned for future reviews!

Ultra Oil is available for individual use and wholesale applications.

Disclaimer: I was provided Ultra Oil in exchange for my honest opinion.

companion animals at the Children's Museum of Phoenix

The littles and I were eagerly anticipating our recent visit to The Children's Museum of Phoenix because May is Companion Animal Month (sponsored by Banfield Pet Hospital) at the museum. Since we're all animal lovers and we love the museum, it couldn't get much better! Of course, we first had to dive into...er...climb into the Schuff-Perini Climber, quite possibly the coolest climbing apparatus ever created. The littles spent about 30 minutes exploring and trying to lose and find each other. I went up, too. Unlike the bacteria-laden hamster maze passed off as a play place by the dining establishment with the golden arches, this climber is clean and most spaces are large enough for adults, who are encouraged to climb with their little ones.

The littles really enjoyed the pet-themed art projects in the art studio.

They started by creating "Pet Crayon Rubbings," which Porter really took to. The museum provided all necessary supplies and instructions. It was pretty amazing how many different animals could be made with the simple rubbing outline.

Next, they moved on to make "Pet Stick Puppets," which was a lot of fun. They traced from templates, added details with markers and cut paper, and then glued their creature onto craft sticks. They did a show in the puppet theater with their finished products right there in the art studio.

We came away with some really special handmade treasures.

We set off to explore the museum some more, and in addition to the amazing regular exhibits, we discovered that the hallway leading to the reading nook was full of whimsical animal art by Carolyn Schmitz.

The paintings were hung low enough for the children to view comfortably, and my littles had a ball just spotting the different animals and intricate details in each painting. The juxtaposition of classic realism with a child-like subject matter would please art-goers of any age.

The highlight of our visit to the Children's Museum of Phoenix's Companion Animal Month was the "Ask the Vet" session. Banfield Veterinarian and Chief of Staff at the Tempe Marketplace office, Dr. Ryan Pearce, was on hand to chat with children and answer questions about pets and veterinary medicine.

Dr. Pearce was knowledgeable and great with kids. Not to mention, he brought tattoos and other giveaways so he was "in."

The kids asked about what kind of animals Banfield and Dr. Pearce take care of and learned that they see mostly cats and dogs, but also snakes, lizards, mice, birds, rabbits, hamsters, and other companion animals.

Porter asked, "How does it make you feel when you save an animal's life?"

Dr. Pearce got a big smile on his face and said, "it's really rewarding because we get to see the pets happy and healthy, and especially make the pet's parents happy because they are usually really worried and scared when something happens to their pet. It makes me feel really good to help someone, you know? You should take every opportunity to help someone when you can. It makes you feel really good–sometimes better than the person you helped."

What a great message.

Dr. Pearce and the staff at the Children's Museum of Phoenix also told us about their "Future Vet Camp" program held once every three months for one day. The program, geared for children of elementary school age is a "career discovery program that teaches children about veterinary medicine." Future vets get to interact and learn about procedures from a veterinarian and a therapy dog, and they even earn a stethoscope upon "graduation." I think I know two future vets.

In June, SRP is sponsoring "Safety Month," and the museum has some really fun activities planned, including programming on bike safety and safety around water and electricity.

The museum is celebrating its 5th Birthday with a "Big Birthday Bash" on Friday, June 14th. Marion Wiener, Director of Marketing & Communications, informed me that "general admission gets you all that you love about the more than 300 hands-on, learning experiences at the museum, plus face painting, magic, balloons, birthday crafts, cupcakes, giveaways, and more!"

Our Companion Animal Month experience at the Children's Museum of Phoenix was educational and lots of fun, and I didn't even touch on the regular exhibits, which make up the majority of the museum. It's a place worth coming back to again and again to discover new things, and even the old things become new experiences as the children grow and rediscover.

Disclaimer: I was provided admission to the museum in exchange for my honest opinion.

kids and animals: instilling respect

My children have been junior pet sitters at Well Minded since before they knew they were junior pet sitters, traveling with me to care for all kinds of animals from typical house pets to reptiles, to farm animals. In addition to teaching them that our clients' homes are to be respected in every way, I have taught them how to treat animals and how to be safe around them. At ages six and four, my children can read animal language better than most, so I feel confident and secure in their ability to practice self control and gentle love. Even so, the most important rule for children and animals is to never leave them alone with an animal, especially if that animal is unfamiliar to them. I must confess that I do leave my children alone with our animals–a risk I am willing to take since I feel that I can trust all parties. Both animals and children are unpredictable, however, so I realize that there is always a chance something could go wrong. I never leave my children alone with a client's pet, both for the safety of the pet and my children.

Teaching children how to behave in various animal encounters is not only important for their safety, but also for the animal's safety.

You obviously don't want your child to pull a tail or hit an animal–these things should be easy to teach, unless your child has a bit of Lucifer inside, in which case, it's best so steer clear of animals until an exorcism can be performed. Assuming your child's soul is pure with delightful intentions, here are a few suggestions:

• I recommend exposing your child to animals at an early age, if only just to observe. The more your child sees animals, the more comfortable and familiar they will be with animals. And I don't just mean picture books. Make sure your child is comfortable around all family pets, and vice-versa. Take your baby to the zoo and talk about the animals. Take opportunities to interact with friends' pets.

• Talk to your child about how the animals feel in a given situation. Jumping next to a napping cat may produce a reaction in the cat that is hilarious to the child, but the cat has been startled and will most likely steer clear of the child in the future, breaking a possible bond. Explain that the cat feels scared and startled. Most children are born with a natural compassion for animals. If that tendency is fostered, it is easy for a child to respect an animal's feelings and space.

• Model good behavior around animals, and explain what you are doing, even if it seems mundane. "This dog likes it when I pet him from the top of his head to the middle of his back. He doesn't like his nose touched. I'm going to pet him the way he likes it so that we can be great friends."

• No matter the situation, children need to be calm around animals. Unless it's a game of fetch in the backyard with the family dog, keeping a calm, confident energy around all animals is important. Animals pick up on human energy in an instant and are often leery around children making erratic movements, squealing, or being careless. Kids will be kids, and I don't want to take all the fun out of being around an animal, but if treated with respect and care, an animal will show you it's best side, which is much more fun for everyone.

• Teach your children how to restrain themselves around animals. All kids want to do is touch and pet and love, with the best of intentions, but some animals can be shy or standoffish, or even scared. Pushing the animal to interact is a big mistake. I teach my children to be calm and ignore a barking dog. I teach them not to chase a cat who wants privacy. And with enough practice, they have grown to restrain themselves on their own.

• Learn about and teach your children animal language, even if it's just the basics. What does a cat's hiss mean? Why is the dog's hair standing on end? Why did the tortoise pull into his shell? All of these are warning signs and children should be taught to recognize them.

Children and animals go together like pb & j. Foster your child's natural curiosity. If you take every opportunity early on, your kids will grow to love animals and treat them with the respect they deserve.

Original content by well minded word.

pats on the head feel good

Wow! My first (of many, let's hope) blog award! What a wonderful feeling to be noticed by a fellow blogger. A big thank you to We Live in a Flat for awarding my post, i believe in leashes: my story, recognized in Positive reinforcement doesn't just apply to dealing with dogs, with The Best Moment Award! I received this major award (I'm waiting for my leg lamp in the mail) because We Live in a Flat was inspired by my telling of a life-changing moment. I always love when something good comes of something bad. I accept this award and am flattered to be recognized.

The Best Moment Award

‘Awarding the people who live in the moment. The noble who write and capture the best in life.  The bold who reminded us what really mattered – savoring the experience of quality time. (Please check out MomentMatters.com).

RULES: Winners re-post this completely with their acceptance speech. This could be written or video recorded. Winners have the privilege of awarding the next awardee’s! The re-post should include a NEW set of people/blogs worthy of the award; and winners notify them the great news.’

I am happy to be able to pass the torch along and award other fellow bloggers with the same honor:

For truly showing what it means to live in the moment and capture the best in life in a canine way, I honor The Lonely Dogs, Take my paw and dream with me. The photos on this blog are beyond inspiring. It was difficult to choose just one post, so please take the time to explore this blog about her "twenty-three incredible rescue dogs that share their lives with me in Mexico."

For making me laugh enough to share again and again, Sara Bran's Notes from the Edge Of Motherhood, Reward Stickers for Adults: Gummy Little Redeemers. Just delightful, and so true! I wish The Best Moment Award came with a sticker.

And for writing a story I've heard, done, told, and felt a million times in and entirely new way, Hey Ma, I'm Home: Don't Break the Pet. Brilliant.

As my predecessor did for me, I would like to add that you are receiving this award simply because your posts and your blogs inspired me. The award is non-obligatory, and you do not have to post it on your blog or pass it on if you do not wish to do so.

It's amazing what a simple pat on the head will do for a person, though. Those pups have it figured out.

fearful dogs and cats: breaking the barrier

When I schedule an initial consultation, a prospective client might warn me that their pet is is "shy" or "timid" or "skittish." In reality, their animal is fearful of strangers and new situations, and possibly a whole host of other things. This type of animal is actually a wonderful candidate for the right professional in-home pet sitter. Some animals are fearful because they have had a negative experience in the past. Unfortunately, they can't tell us why they are troubled. I still haven't completely given up my girlhood dream that an animal might someday just speak up. 

Until then, it's up to us to take charge of the situation and do our best to ease the animal's fears. I have a method that is almost always successful. New clients are often amazed that their usually-reclusive animal will snuggle up to me only a few minutes after my arrival. "Wow, she really likes you. She never likes anyone." 

Take the situation where you're arriving at a friend's house. The dog is barking it's brains out and retreating or hiding behind something. (Yes, many dogs bark at me when I first meet them.) If you want to be friends with the animal, what would your first instinct be? 

I'm guessing it would be to talk to the animal and ease it's fears. Show how friendly you are by raising the pitch of your voice and smiling at the dog, perhaps approaching it with your hand out in an unthreatening way. That would be very sweet of you, but would be the last thing you'd want to do. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it would only worsen the situation. A human might see a friend, but a dog would see a threat. Your strange voice would alarm her. Making eye contact with her is considered a threat in dog language. Putting your hand out invites a bite, and moving toward the dog makes her feel like you are chasing her. And that nice smile? Well, in the dog's mind, you're bearing your teeth, a sign of impending attack.

Perhaps if you entice the dog with a treat? Then you would only be reinforcing the behavior you don't want to see. Oops. Let's definitely not do that. 

What can you do instead?

Nothing.

It may seem a bit odd, so I always warn my potential clients ahead of time. "Please know that when I arrive, I'll ignore Princess since you told me she's shy. It's not because I don't want to be her friend, but I want her to be able to get to know me on her terms."

When I am invited in the home and Princess is barking and hiding behind her owner, I don't even look at her. I act as if she's not there. I greet the owner and any other friendly animals that may want to hug and kiss me, but completely ignore Princess. She gets to see that I'm not a threat to others in the home. I then ask the owner if there is a place where we can sit and chat about the animals in the home. We sit at a kitchen table or living room couch. 

Usually within a couple of minutes of my sitting down, Princess will be sniffing my leg. I continue to ignore her. She may retreat and come back a few times. Once she is relaxed and seems to be more comfortable, I'll offer the back of my hand, without saying a word, and without looking at her. If she sniffs my hand and stays, I'll scratch her chin. It is important not to put my hand on top of the dog's head, because that is a dominance signal. Fearful dogs need you to help them rise to the occasion (chin up) rather than show them your dominance (covering the top of their head). There is a place for the head pat with secure, confident animals. 

I'm gaining trust at this point, but I don't talk to her or look at her. At all. In fact, when the consultation is over, I leave the home without ever having acknowledged Princess directly. You know how you should always leave your date wanting more? Well, the same goes here. 

When I come back next time, the owners usually aren't home. Princess may bark for a bit, and I'll just ignore her. She then remembers me as a non-threatening individual and warms up quickly. 

Just this past weekend, I cared for a fearful dog. She was a brand new client, and I ignored her during my first visit to the home when the owners were away. She barked at first, so I sat down and pet the other dogs. I kept my back to the fearful dog. I eventually felt her sniffing my back. It took a couple of visits, but she finally allowed me to pet her. It was all on her terms, so she felt comfortable. We aren't best friends, yet, but these matters take time, like any solid relationship. 

Fearful cats can be a bit more stubborn, but the method is just the same. I have won over quite a few felines this way. For the few that stay in hiding, I always make sure to see their glowing eyes before I leave them alone, just to make sure they are safe. There is one home I have been visiting for eight years now, and I've still never seen the two cats who live there. I know their hiding places, so I quickly peek for the glowing eyes, and then go about the business of feeding and litter-box scooping. I don't ever pester them or try to coax them out, because I know that would only make them hide deeper in the closet or trick me with an altogether new hiding spot. I'm not sure there's any chance I'll ever get to pet those two, but I always keep a bit of hope.

The trick to gaining the trust of a fearful animal is to always remember that the dog is a dog and the cat is a cat. Learn their language for the best chance to break down their fearful barrier to lifelong friendship. 

disclaimer: Sometimes fearful animals can become aggressive. Always use extreme caution around aggressive animals. Truly aggressive animals can be very dangerous and may require professional, one-on-one attention for rehabilitation.