Parvovirus

Important Parvovirus Information

For  most of us, vaccinating our dogs and cats against disease is just another one of those routine and necessary steps of pet ownership.

But how many people actually know what those vaccinations are trying to prevent?

If you’re not familiar with Parvovirus, definitely check out the just-released episode of Pet Talk with Dr. Sarah.

Accompanied by her canine co-star, Sr. Sarah shares her knowledge of this deadly disease. She covers all the basics in the short video below, including how it’s transmitted, what the symptoms are, and what you need to do to make sure your dog never contracts this deadly illness.

(Parvovirus Video by Dr. Sarah, Life's Abundance Staff Veternarian)




In this video Dr. Sarah also talks about the importance of a good quality food. Click the following and learn why more and more pet parents are choosing Life's Abundance Dog Food over other leading Brands.

Maintaining Strength and Mobility for Older Dogs

Today, Dr. Sarah  discuss issues that effect many dogs as they age – maintaining strength and mobility.

Watch as Dr. Sarah dispenses her valuable veterinary insights about nutrition, weight control, and the importance of strength training for the preservation of healthy bones and muscles.

If your dog or cat exhibits gimpiness, or just isn’t as lively as in younger years, you’ll be especially interested in learning about what options are available to you to make a positive difference in their lives, now and long into the future.

Our good doctor explains how pain may be at the root of some problems, while in other cases diet may be responsible for a hitch in the get-along.

Additionally, Dr. Sarah reveals some simple exercises you can do with your beloved dog to make him/her feel better and age with grace.

Be sure to share this important health message with your friends and family, too!

Click for more information about Life's Abundance Dog Food, Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Dogs, Healthy Training Treats for Dogs, or Agility for Healthy Joints that Dr. Sarah talks about in the video below:

Healthy Skin Starts from the Inside Out

Tips for Better Skin Healthby Dr. Sarah from Lifes Abundance October 2010 Newsletter

While underappreciated or even unrecognized as an organ, skin has amazing properties. For starters, it’s the largest organ of the body. Both tough and pliable, skin has many functions, including regulating body temperature, helping to prevent dehydration and protecting against injury and disease. Without skin, our cats couldn’t have hair, and everything that was on the inside would be exposed, making snuggle sessions a little on the icky side!

Canine and feline skin shares many similarities with human skin, but there are significant differences. They do have three layers of their skin, with the same nerves and blood vessels running throughout. Even though the pigmented skin in dogs contains melanin, dogs do not have the ability to tan like humans do. Also, they have apocrine glands (similar to human sweat glands), however, dogs do not sweat like we do. Instead, dogs have eccrine glands in their paws, which secrete a watery substance like sweat, although this typically only occurs when they are nervous and under stress. Now you know how it is that they can sometimes leave little damp paw prints when exiting the veterinary office!

As the body’s first line of defense to environmental factors, the skin is subjected to all sorts of insults and injuries. Critters of all stripes, from fleas to ticks to parasites (like mange mites) bite and damage the skin. Additionally, skin is under repeated assault by foreign objects, nibbling teeth, scratching claws and constant licking, all of which can weaken and impair the skin’s protective barrier. Skin can also be affected from the inside out by infections, hormonal imbalances, allergies and immune disorders.

Young pets are particularly suspectible to skin problems because their skin is more sensitive and their immune systems are not fully developed. Kittens, for example, are prone to ringworm (fungal) infections and puppies are predisposed to demodectic mange. If your puppy or kitten develops a rash, loses hair, or has bumps or warts, consult with your veterinarian to determine if treatment is necessary.

The bottom line is, healthy skin is a vital part of pet health, and its condition is a reflection of a pet’s overall well-being. Vulnerable to attacks on all sides, it’s very important that pet parents regularly monitor their pet’s skin health. Skin normally does its job well as the body’s protector, but sometimes even skin needs an extra boost. In this episode of Pet Talk, Dr. Sarah reviews some common causes of skin and coat problems in dogs and cats, and reveals some safe and natural home remedies that promote overall skin health.






For more information about the Lifes Abundance Pet Food that Dr. Sarah is talking about in the above video, please visit:  Lifes Abundance Dog Food

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Bad Behavior or Serious Medical Issue

Doggie Dunce Caps: Bad Behavior or Serious Medical Issue
from Pet Talk by Dr. Sarah, Lifes Abundance August NewsLetter
Click Here to subscribe to Dr. Sarah's Pet Talk and Lifes Abundance Newsletter.  It's Free!

Have you ever found freshly dug holes in your backyard? Or bits of your favorite chair strewn across your den? Are you the proud parent of a canine that greets your guests by repeatedly jumping on them? Does your furry friend beg at the table, bark incessantly or strategically deposit her poo next to the dining room table? Simply put, if your dog could star in a film entitled “Dogs Gone Wild”, then you share a common complaint among dog lovers worldwide: frustrating behavioral problems.

There is one thing that unites all behavioral problems - they are undesirable to the pet parent. Behavioral problems are the most common complaint received by veterinarians at annual exam time. Whatever the complaint - whether it’s barking, chewing, digging, chasing, biting or aggression - many dogs exhibit problem behaviors. If you’re wondering what could cause these ongoing stresses in your relationship with your canine, you’re not alone.

There are many possible reasons why a dog exhibits bad manners. The easiest and most common explanation is a lack of proper training. Much to the chagrin of some new pet parents, dogs are not born fully trained – it’s up to us to teach them the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Other contributing factors of bad behavior are loneliness and boredom, which is especially common in young dogs of active breeds. Destructive behaviors like hole digging and fence chewing are often physical expressions of cries for attention.

You might be surprised to learn that medical conditions can be at the root of bad behavior. For example, aggressive outbursts might be the result of a serious and painful hip, a broken toe nail or even an infected ear. If your dog has ever snapped at you while you were petting her back or neck, a bulging disc or a pinched nerve might be the culprit. These conditions are extremely painful, and dogs are predisposed to bite when experiencing this level of pain. In fact, aggression and biting are common indicators that your dog is in pain.

In this episode of Pet Talk, Dr. Sarah discusses common medical causes of unacceptable behaviors, what you can do about it, and the kind of training veterinarians recommend.

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Click the following for more information about  Life's Abundance Dog Food

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How to Brush a Dog's Teeth

by Dr. Sarah from Lifes Abundance

While many people like the smell of puppy breath, the same can’t be said for “Dog Breath”. It’s almost universally considered as eye-stingingly unpleasant. This phrase has even been used by as a play-ground insult! While it’s a joke to some, when you look at the science behind foul panting, it’s clear that bad breath is anything but funny.

In fact, bad breath is epidemic, affecting four out of five companion animals over the age of three. Additionally, this condition could be a sign of dental disease, which can lead to health consequences throughout the whole body, not just in the mouth. As some veterinarians have rightly noted, infections of the gums and teeth can spread to other parts of the body, including the heart, kidneys and intestinal tract … even the joints!

Brushing your dog’s teeth and providing them with dental snacks are two ways to help improve the health of teeth and gums, especially in reducing the build-up of plaque. Unfortunately, however, many pet parents find brushing frustrating, which can result in a stressful experience for pets.

Thankfully, Dr. Sarah is here to share with you the proper technique for brushing your dog’s teeth.

If dental health is a priority for you, watch this short, how-to video from HealthyPetNet about dental care, so you can help your pet fight dental disease and bad breath.



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Click for information about where to find Holistic Dental Treats or

Healthy, Holistic Treats for Dogs

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