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By Susan Chaityn Lebovits - Boston Globe
More veterinarians offer acupuncture as alternative for pets in need of pain relief
Organic pet food, dog playgroups - in many homes, four-legged creatures are treated like an equal member of the family. And as more people embrace Eastern medicine, they're also doing so for their pets.
Dr. Edward Leonard has been practicing pet acupuncture at Slade Veterinary Hospital in Framingham for the past six years.
His most common patients are older, arthritic animals, though he also treats disc disease, paralysis, and allergies.
He's even treated a few dogs with cancer - not as a cure, he's quick to explain, but to keep them as vital and comfortable as possible.
"Some owners bring in their pets when they haven't found relief in any other way," said Leonard, a veterinarian for more than three decades. "Others want to provide a holistic or natural treatment, or combine therapies."
Classical music fills Leonard's homey office. Books such as "Chicken Soup for the Dog & Cat Lover's Soul," and Cat Fancy and Natural Dog magazines sit on a table in the waiting room, and small bags of kibble and dried duck treats are within reach.
On a recent Wednesday, Leonard examined Jesse, a 100-pound pooch who is a mix of Leonberger, St. Bernard, and Labrador retriever. Jesse has arthritis and degenerative joint disease, and had her right hip replaced. Leonard, who charges $56 for an office visit, checked the pulse in Jesse's back leg, looked at the color of her tongue, and gently felt around for painful spots, which became obvious when Jesse winced.
"These are all indicators of what the animal's condition is," he said. "After I treat them with acupuncture I can often see an immediate difference in tongue color and circulation improves, which I can feel in their pulse."
The slender needles are identical to those for humans. Generally Leonard leaves the needles in for 15 minutes, although he said that toward the end of a treatment, some animals will try to pull or shake them out in the same way they remove excess water after coming out of a bath.
Jesse's owner, Sarah Booth, a senior scientist and director of the Vitamin K Laboratory at Tufts University, said she's been very satisfied. "Our dog seems to have benefited tremendously from treatment," the Framingham resident said.
Animal acupuncture has been gaining popularity this decade, both locally and nationally.
Vikki Webber, director of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in Fort Collins, Colo., said student enrollment there has tripled since 2002.
"We've been teaching a certification course since 1974, and for three decades we were the only ones offering such a certification," Webber said. "Now there are two additional institutions, and between all of us we educate at least 300 students a year."
Dr. Revital Kastner, a 2003 graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, and the owner of Park Street Veterinary Clinic in North Reading, has been certified in pet acupuncture since 2007. Kastner said she treats about 10 patients a month.
"I used to have to tell people about acupuncture and convince them that it could help," said Kastner. "Now people ask me about it and come in specifically because they've heard that I use that modality."
Some animals respond to acupuncture right away, Kastner said, but she cautions that it's not a quick fix. Like Leonard, Kastner says pet owners should be prepared to commit to at least three to four sessions before deciding if it's right for their pet. Kastner charges $65 per acupuncture treatment, $57 for a regular visit.
Ann McKinney, a 2005 graduate of the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in British Columbia, has opened Acu4Life in Groton.
"I had initially wanted to go to veterinary school but after working with many veterinarians I realized that I could not euthanize an animal," she said. "I felt acupuncture was a different way to help animals."
Dr. Donna Blasko, a Medford veterinarian who also works at Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England in Waltham, said she has taken classes in pet acupuncture and is also board certified in human acupuncture. Having been trained in Western medicine, Blasko admits that she was once a skeptic.
"Seeing results in animals, whom I think are impartial to placebo, has convinced me that it is an effective modality for wellness and improving quality of life, whatever state of health that life may be in at the moment," Blasko said.
Leonard also makes the crossover from pet acupuncture to human - on himself.
"If I'm having dental work done, I'm likely to use pressure points on my hand to relieve pain," said Leonard. "And on the occasions where I have pain going down my leg, I'll use the acupuncture needles."
Leonard first became interested in veterinary medicine in high school, when his parents asked him to take the family dog for his shots. He was premed at the University of Dayton in the late 1960s and joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps. He was a captain in the US Army Veterinary Corps until 1975, spending three years working in a clinic in Germany that provided care for 150 sentry dogs.
He worked as a veterinarian in Salem for two years, then moved to Wayland and opened a private practice in Natick. From 1980 to 1995, Leonard was the director of veterinary medicine for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. He has been at Slade for more than a decade. Leonard said he became interested in pet acupuncture in the mid-1980s, as he found treating the body without medication intriguing.
He began with pet acupressure, using a few points for dental pain during tooth extractions, and in 2002 took pet acupuncture classes at Tufts' Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton. Leonard is also certified in tui na, a Chinese medical veterinary massage.
Even with all that healing knowledge at his fingertips, Leonard said, he does not offer his services to friends.
"My wife is the only human that I'll work on."
Susan Chaityn Lebovits can be reached at lebovits@globe.com.
By Rilla Jaggia - Los Angeles Times
A child learns that the most important person to learn to trust is herself
"She's in the sandbox," said Mom.
"They found her when the stream went dry," said Dad.
"Can we keep her?" I asked.
The tortoise lay hidden inside her beautiful shell.
"Aren't you going to be friendly?" I begged.
But she wouldn't budge.
"Come on, little lump!" I picked her up. "Won't you come out and play?" I shook her. "Come on!" She slipped from my fingers -- slam -- crack!
I stared at the pavement. A jagged break ran down the tortoise's shell. I had done that. Tears poured from my eyes.
The vet fixed her shell, but I couldn't stop crying. Mom gave her away.
"I never want a pet, ever," I told Mom.
She wasn't listening. On my birthday, something wet and warm splashed against my face.
"Woof?"
It was a ball of fur with a bow tied around its neck.
I felt sick.
"Happy birthday!" Mom and Dad smiled.
I went cold. "I told you," I sobbed. "No pets, please!"
"Woof?"
"No!" I hid beneath the blankets. "You can't trust me, little puppy." I started to shiver.
"Sorry, love. We'll take her back," whispered Mom.
Months later we were driving home when a lump of feathers fell from the sky. It bounced on the car and landed by the road.
When I turned, I saw a flapping shape rise and disappear.
"It flew away," I said. "It must be OK."
Dad was relieved. When we reached home, he searched the car for dents. Instead, he found a baby hawk stuck to the front. It was alive!
"There must have been two of them fighting in midair," said Dad.
He undid its wing. Mom brought a box. I watched from a distance.
Hawk moved into our kitchen, and Mom roped me into helping out. Slowly, Hawk got better. He began flapping his wings. Mom had me keep watch for the neighbor's cats as Hawk remembered how to fly outside.
On a sunny day, Hawk decided it was time. He soared into the air. Soon, he was a speck on the horizon. He never looked back.
"The Santa Anas are blowing," moaned Dad, days later.
"You know what that means," Mom said with a sigh.
"Fire season," I said with a groan.
There was a whimpering sound. A black nose sniffed the backdoor screen, a shaggy tail wagged.
"Poor thing, she must be lost," said Mom.
We took her in. "Remember, you are only a visitor," I told the dog.
A week and many phone calls later, Mom came into my room.
"No one has claimed her. Her house may have burned down."
I felt sick. "We only take in guests," I said. "What about the shelter?"
Mom looked me straight in the eyes.
"Woof?" said the dog.
Crack! I heard instead.
"Woof?" She stared up at me, begging.
I squeezed my eyes shut -- and in my mind I saw a turtle slam into the pavement.
"Woof?"
I shoved my fingers into my ears. "I hurt things," I whispered. "You can't trust. . . ." All at once, the wind whistled in my head. Hawk climbed into a sunny blue sky.
I opened my eyes.
The dog was still there. "You can't trust me," I said. Her eyes were pools of love and trust. I stopped shivering.
"You don't understand."
She didn't blink.
"No!" I said. But I couldn't shake the picture of Hawk, cured of his broken wing, flying free. I'd helped do that. "Maybe I can be trusted."
The dog put her head in my lap. Her tail wagged her butt.
"Sandy Wigglebutt," I giggled. "I guess I'm not too old to learn new tricks, after all."
"Woof!" said Sandy Wigglebutt, and she curled up on the carpet.
By ABBY SIMONS, Minneapolis Star Tribune
A Brooklyn Center police detective would not give up until she found Edgar, a dachshund stolen in a break-in
If the barking of her German shepherd in the background wasn't clue enough, the way detective Mona Pearson described her relentless search for a stolen Brooklyn Center pet makes clear her canine devotion.
Her dedication paid dividends for a long-haired dachshund and his owner separated by thieves in October.
Edgar was reunited with Meaghan Dop at the Brooklyn Center Police Department Friday night after Pearson spent days pursuing an anonymous tip that the dog was at a north Minneapolis home.
"She was obviously very happy to see her dog again," Pearson said. "I was holding him and the minute he saw her he recognized her voice. His tail was wagging and he was wiggling in my arms."
The investigation began Oct. 28 when Dop's house was burglarized and several valuables -- most importantly Edgar -- were taken.
Within a day, Dop printed flyers offering a reward, and pleaded publicly for her beloved dog's return. But detectives were stumped.
"We had followed up on everything that we could," Pearson said. "Everything had been a dead end."
Monday, an anonymous caller contacted Dop, tipping her off to Edgar's whereabouts, but rejecting the promised $1,000 reward. Pearson made several trips to investigate the house, but on the first few visits, no one would answer the door. Pearson persisted until she spotted Edgar.
On Friday, she talked to the homeowners and retrieved Edgar without incident. He was healthy and unharmed.
"I've been with Brooklyn Center 12 years, and we've never had a case before with a missing pet, which hit very close to home for me," Pearson said. "I didn't want to leave without the dog, and I can imagine she thought she was never gonna see him again."
Pearson said no arrests have been made in the burglary, and it's unclear whether the people who had Edgar were responsible for the break-in.
Dop could not be reached for comment Saturday. Presumably, she and Edgar had some catching up to do.
Hometown Life
This January as many pet owners resolve to improve their eating habits and fitness routines Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Livonia, urges them to remember to consider their pets health as well
"Feeding your pet a balanced diet promotes overall health and allows you and your pet to enjoy more quality years together as a family," said Karen Johnson, DVM at Banfield pet hospital.
In honor of January Pet Food and Fitness Month, Johnson offers the following tips:
Feed your pet a high-quality diet. Select food made by companies known for staying current on the latest nutritional research. Your veterinarian can recommend the best diet for your pet based on factors including age, health and lifestyle.
Offer fresh food and water every day. Also, remember to wash bowls regularly.
Feed your pet the correct amount of food. Determine portions according to your pet's weight and avoid overfeeding. Use feeding recommendations on the pet food label as a guide and adjust for activity level. Your veterinarian can help determine the correct amount to feed your pet.
Follow a daily feeding schedule. This will help your pet maintain normal elimination habits and avoid indoor accidents.
Most pets do better when fed two smaller meals rather than one large meal.
Avoid people food. Your pet's digestive system is simpler than yours and can be easily upset by feeding him or her table scraps. Feeding from the table makes it more difficult to control calorie intake which can lead to weight problems.
Watch the treats. It's often not the dog or cat food fed to the pet that adds unwanted pounds but high calorie treats multiple times a day.
Consult your veterinarian for exercise needs. If your considering adding a pet to the family, first determine the pets need for exercise and whether those can be blended into your lifestyle. Your dog needs a walk at least once a day. If the pet has been inactive, start slowly gradually increasing the pace and length. Find a schedule that works for both of you whether a short walk twice a day or one long walk.
Help your cat stay active. Overweight cats are at risk for medical conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. There are a variety of toys designed to help your cat stay fit and active.
"One of the best ways pet owners can increase the strength of the bond they share with their pets as well as improve their own fitness levels is to introduce daily walks and interactive play," said Johnson.
Training your dog to obey commands is an important part of pet ownership. When your dog is properly trained, it is much easier for you to communicate with him and this enhances your relationship. This can also help save your pet from harm
Dogs want your praise, so using positive reinforcement when training your dog or puppy is the best approach. Hitting or yelling rarely works, and besides who wants to hit or yell at their dog anyway?
The “down” or “lie down” command is one of the basic commands and should be one of the first things you teach your dog once he learns to sit on command. It is not hard to train a dog to obey commands and once you have done one command, it gets even easier as the process is basically the same for each. Here’s some steps you can use to teach your dog to lie down on command:
1. Get the dog to sit (you should have already trained him in this command)
2. Firmly give the “down” command while gently forcing his legs out in front (this will cause him to lie down).
3. Give your dog praise. Show him you are really happy with your voice and body language.
4. At first the dog will get right back up, but as time goes on you can lengthen the time the dog stays in the down position by waiting to give him praise.
5. Repeat this anywhere from 3 to 5 times for each session. Repetition is important but you don’t want to do too much at one time. If you really want to drill it in, you can have several sessions spaced out throughout the day.
There’s more rewards than meets the eye with training your dog. For one the dog gets used to listening to his name. He also will get used to doing things on your command. Taking the time to traing your dog cements your position as pack leader and helps your dog feel secure in his role. Spend a couple of minutes each day training your dog. This will help cement your friendship.
by Michelle Critchell, DC Dogs Examiner
Where can you take your significant other and your dog on an outing? Take a winery tour. There are many wineries within ninety minutes of Washington, D.C. that accept dogs and significant others. Only the dogs need be leashed, but both should be well behaved.
“Pet visitors are rewarded with a special dog cookie,” noted Dorothy and Conrad Brandts of Oak Crest Winery in King George, Virginia. Oak Crest offers free tours and tastings and your pup may be beside you.
The Philip Carter Winery, sixty-five miles outside D.C, also welcomes you and your dog. If you go without fido, they have plenty dogs on the property to keep you company. The Philip Carter Winery continues an ancestral tradition of wine making in picturesque Fauquier County. They have many events for the coming holidays, as well as a special discount of 15% on all wines.
Fabbioli Cellars in Loudon County is a family owned operation and focuses on making high-quality red wines. Doug Fabbioli said, “We have had many dogs and their owners and welcome them.” Fabbioli loves dogs and the environment and has implemented many sustainable agricultural practices.So, pack up a picnic and head to the countryside for a winery tour. Leave room in the car for the shopping finds and great wines!
Pets in the City
By Joanne Anderson
I, like other Chicago pet owners, am happier when my dog relieves himself of any excrement, urine, vomit or hairballs outdoors. In fact, I have come to rely on this as a normal, everyday, event. Unfortunately while these accidents occur infrequently for me, for other they arise a bit more frequently, whether they have dogs or cats or any other type of (hopefully) domesticated animal(s).
Cat urine is one of the more bothersome of pet accidents in that it has a way of smelling quite unlike anything else, and unfortunately it is not a good odor at all, while sinking deeper in to the carpeting and padding of your home. If you work long shifts or are out of town often for your job or even for a vacation and this type of accident sets in you are left with little choice but to call a carpet cleaning company. If you were to try and clean up the urine stain yourself with a towel and water or a store bought spray the chances are you will be surface cleaning and dealing with unpleasant smells for some time to come.
Many residents in Chicago live in apartments and condos that have area rugs and wood flooring. That wood flooring can be affected in the same ways that carpet is and many times efforts at cleaning them also push it deeper into the grain of the wood. Since carpet cleaners call themselves carpet cleaning companies most people don't think about their having the skills and ability to professionally clean floors, but they do and they are happy to remedy your carpet and floor needs at any time.
Maybe during a walk with your dog he or she finds something, anything left on the ground and decides to it. This is usually ok, however sometimes it results in a sick dog who vomits hours after the walk and when they are back home. The convenience of the dog getting sick outside removed you will now have a situation on your hands that is less pretty than cleaning up any "number two" accidents. Again, surface cleaning will only embed the mess deeper in the carpet but an expert shampooing and cleaning will ensure the mess is gone while sanitizing your carpets and keeping them looking their best.
Also keeping food and water bowls away from carpeted areas will help in keeping them clean.
My grandfather always said that if you don't like the weather in Chicago, then just wait a minute. Those of us that have spent one year or more here know that statement to be true as the weather can go from sunny to rainy, cloudy to snow, ice to rain to sunny again in a moment and those sorts of changes makes walking your pet or emptying litter boxes a little less regular. This provides higher instances of "potty" accidents and along with the heat from summer or the heat to keep you warm in the winter these can become even more of a nuisance with smell and staining.
Remember that year round and everyday there is a carpet cleaning professional that can help you to remedy all of your pet accident problems so you don't have to worry about anything other than the enjoyment of your animals.
Thank you for reading! For more info check out my Chicago carpet cleaning website where hopefully you'll find the solution for all of your carpet cleaning needs! I look forward to answering any floor cleaning and restoration inquiries you may have. Simply click here: Chicago carpet cleaning contact to be redirected to my websites contact page, also here is the original Pets in the City article location.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanne_Anderson
The Pet Safe Kitchen
By Wendy Boyd
Do you know what dangers lie under your kitchen sink? Many of us are unaware that we have a virtual toxic waste dump in our kitchen. So many of the soaps, detergents and cleaners that we use on a day-to-day basis present a serious danger to our dogs, cats and other furry friends (not to mention yourself).
Eighty-one Thousand (81,000) chemicals have been registered with the EPA in the last 30 years, and fewer than 20% have been tested for toxicity! EPA studies indicate that elevated concentration of household chemicals persist in the air. Long-term exposure to chemicals inside our homes may be harmful to our families and our pets.
Has your dog ever tried to lick the dishes after you've rinsed them with liquid soap and water? Does your cat peak into the washing machine while your loading it or curl up on the wash fresh out of the dryer? Several years ago we had a cat that loved to jump into the tub right after we cleaned it and he would try to drink the water left in the tub (we would always shoo him out before he got the chance). The behavior of our furry friends, while often cute and endearing, can very often be dangerous to their well being. Many common household cleaning products contain chemicals which are dangerous to you, your family and your pet. Some things you can easily watch out for:
1. To protect your pet you should avoid sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye. Found in dish-washing liquids, laundry products, oven cleaner, scouring products, and tub & tile cleaners, sodium hydroxide is immediately irritating to the respiratory tract if inhaled. Contact can cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth, and throat. It can cause liver and kidney damage as well.
2. Have you ever sprayed air freshener around the litter box or caught your pet drinking from the toilet bowl? Both can be dangerous to your pet. Hydrochloric acid is often found in odor eliminators and toilet bowl cleaners. Hydrochloric acid can cause severe damage to skin. It can be harmful to health, just by breathing the fumes. If swallowed hydrochloric acid can be fatal.
3. Many all-purpose cleaners, cleaning wipes, de-greasers, floor polish, rug shampoos, toilet bowl cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, and window cleaners contain butyl cellosolve. It can cause irritation and tissue damage from inhalation. Butyl cellosolve is so hazardous a person who spends just 15 minutes cleaning scale off shower walls could inhale three times the acute exposure limit. Imagine what harm it can do to your beloved pet.
According to The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care by C. J. Puotinen, accidental exposure to toxic chemicals is the leading cause of death for America's dogs, cats and other pets (pg 323).
The Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) recommends you keep pets away from cleaning products. Shut them out of the room while spraying bathroom cleansers, etc. They also suggest you close toilet lids to keep pets from drinking the water. This is very important if you choose to use automatic chemical tank or bowl treatments.
To protect your pet you may wish to start using "Green" products. Sloan Barnett, in her book Green Goes With Everything, suggests that "A green product is one that won't harm you, your children, your pets, or the environment inside the house or outside where your waste goes. And it won't hang around like an unwanted guest after you use it - on floors, carpets, counters, clothes, and so forth."
One of the most effective and well known "Green" product lines is Shaklee's Get Clean. It has been featured on the Oprah Show and on Rachel Rae. Get Clean products are nontoxic, natural and never tested on animals. According to Rachel Rae the products in the Get Clean starter kit "provide you with a combination of really great cleaning power but also they're non-toxic, they are economic, and they are safe for you, your home, and most importantly, the planet."
No matter how hard you try, it is still possible that your beloved pet comes in contact with something dangerous to her health. That is why the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends pet owners keep a "Pet First Aid Kit" that includes:
- Fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting)
- Turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe (to administer peroxide)
- Saline eye solution
- Artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing)
- Mild grease-cutting dish-washing liquid (for bathing an animal after skin contamination)
- Forceps (to remove stingers)
- Muzzle (to protect against fear- or excitement-induced biting)
- Can of your pet's favorite wet food
- Pet carrier
The ASPCA recommends you always consult a veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) for directions on how and when to use any emergency first-aid item. We also suggest that you keep the telephone number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center-(888) 426-4435-as well as that of your local veterinarian in a prominent location. More information is available on the ASPCA web site, aspca.org.
The Pet Poison Helpline handles some 100,000 cases of pet poisoning each year. They have compiled a "Poison Proof Your Home" list. It includes items like:
• Identify your plants. Are they toxic to pets?
• Keep medications safely locked up behind cupboard doors. Do not leave them on counter tops or tables. This includes inhalers, dietary aids, dietary supplements or neutraceuticals!
• Keep home fragrance products beyond their reach.
• Keep rodenticides far away from a pet's access. Keep in mind that rodents can transfer the toxins to accessible locations. Certain rodenticide products do not have treatment antidotes.
• Know what a product's active ingredient is and potential toxicity for pets.
• Do not spray aerosols or use any heavily fragranced products (including plug-in products) around caged birds or other caged pets.
• Never medicate your pets with human products without first speaking to a veterinary professional!
• Keep open dishes of potpourri (liquid or dry form) out of reach.
• Do not use insecticides around your pet without knowing their toxicological profile. Read labels and use products only as recommended.
• Keep garbage behind closed doors.
• Do not allow batteries of any type lying around. Dogs enjoy chewing on them which can result in serious harm if ingested.
(The complete list may be found at petpoisonhelpline.com).
Finally, remember there are a number of food products that are toxic to your pet. Products such as chocolate, chewing gum, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, or garlic should never be left somewhere that your pet may be tempted to take a taste test. Often kitchens may contain many toxins to pets such as cigarette and other nicotine products, coffee grounds, alcoholic beverages, moldy dairy products, & chicken bones. Keep these items in closed cabinets, closed refrigerators or in closed trash containers, away from the reach of our curious little friends.
Have the phone number for your veterinarian easily accessible. It's also a good idea to keep the local pet poison control hot-line with your emergency phone numbers.
Our pets can provide years of affection and companionship. Take a few minutes today to make your home environment one that is safer for your pet. In the long run you will benefit in so many ways.
Wendy Re Boyd is the owner and president of Greener Living, an eco-consulting firm, located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Greener Living helps families have greener, safer and healthier homes. Wendy is also a Shaklee Independent Distributor. She and her husband, Keats, together with their children, their Golden Retriever, rabbit and two cats reside on Cape Cod. You can learn more about Get Clean by calling (508) 428-6154 or by visiting http://www.Go-ing-Green.com or http://www.ilovegreenerliving.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Boyd
Keeping Your Cat Fit With a Cat Exercise Wheel
By Trevor Kassulke
Obesity is a problem with many cats these days. This is especially a problem for cats who stay indoors all the time and don't have a chance to exercise that often. If a cat has the opportunity to eat as much as it wants whenever it wants to this also can add to the problem. The best way to deal with obesity is to prevent it in the first place. One way to do this is to get your cat to exercise more often through the use of cat toys. One cat toy that is particularly useful for this is the cat exercise wheel.
This Wheel is just what it sounds like. It looks like an extra large version of the exercise wheels used by hamsters and other small animals. They are usually made of metal and measure between 36 and 48 inches in diameter. The one side of the wheel is open so the cat can get into the Cat Exercise Wheel and the other side is either solid or spokes depending on the manufacturer. The wheels with spokes also have a clear plastic piece you can put on that side if you are worried the cat would get hurt by the spokes.
The Wheel was created originally for use by Bengal cats, but any cat can use this type of exercise wheel. Most cats seem to like running on the wheel, but some are a bit unsure of it at first and might need to be coached on how to use it. There are a variety of videos on the internet of cats using a Cat Exercise Wheel if you are interested in seeing how these work and whether or not the cats appear to enjoy them.
If your cat is already obese, it could still benefit from the use of a Cat Exercise Wheel. Usually it is recommended that an owner try to help an obese cat slowly lose about 20 percent of it's weight through diet and exercise changes. A Cat Exercise Wheel is a great way to get your cat to exercise without having to constantly have to coax them with a cat toy. Just be careful not to try to force the cat to lose too much weight too quickly, as this can put the cat at risk for liver disease and other health problems. Slow weight loss is also the most likely to last, as is the case with people.
Trevor Kassulke owns and operates http://www.catcareguidance.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kassulke
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