Pet Advice

Animal Assisted Therapy
The term “animal assisted therapy” is to be distinguished from the more familiar practice of “animal assisted activities”, which refers generally to pet visitation at hospitals and residential care facilities. Animal Assisted Therapy is part of a formal and carefully designed treatment program with specific and measurable objectives that matches one animal to one patient. Under the guidance of a trained medical professional, patients with severe mental and/or physical disabilities are encouraged to interact with a “therapy dog” under the supervision of a trained dog handler. The patient’s interaction with the dog is increased gradually. Initially, the patient may merely observe the dog or touch it. As the patient becomes more responsive and confident, activities may include brushing, attaching collars and even walking the dog. Progress records are maintained as milestones are met and exceeded. Studies have shown that therapy pets motivate people to participate in therapeutic interactions. Dogs are not judgmental, they don’t hassle or pressure their partner and they have endless patience. Further, simply because they are animals and require care, the patient grooming them or walking them is made to feel useful. The benefits and expectations of animal assisted activities, or pet visits, vary according to the needs and conditions of the patients being visited. Pet visits are less formal; they do not follow a particular treatment plan or schedule and they are not usually set up on a one pet to one patient scenario. Pet visits are common to hospitals, assisted living homes and nursing homes. They are often nothing more than a way to entertain people or to change their routine and brighten their day. On the other hand, when visited by a pet some people who have basically shut themselves off from human interaction will begin to work their way back to reality. Apparently the pet stirs emotions in them that have been lying dormant. Examples have been given where patients who have not spoken a word in over a year will begin to talk to the visiting dog. Now that pet therapy has become a proven and documented reality, institutions are beginning to capitalize on this phenomenon with the “resident pet.” This term refers to a cat or a dog that becomes a permanent resident of a particular facility and is usually given free run of the place. Each resident benefits from a proprietary interest in the animal and looks forward to assisting in its care. In some cases, a full course of therapy has been designed around the care and feeding of a resident pet. The residents meet to discuss what must be done and develop their own charts and schedules to accommodate the pet’s needs. However, staff must be constantly on the alert to avoid problems of jealousy and feuds over the pet’s affections. The attributes and characteristics that comprise a good visiting dog or therapy dog have more to do with temperament than training. Not to say that the dog will not need training in basic obedience, but that is normally sufficient except in extraordinary situations. Patients and residents react to the dogs in a variety of ways. Some are effusive, some impulsive and others are shy. Therefore, the dogs must be ready for anything. It surely wouldn’t do for a dog to lunge away or growl if a patient makes a loud noise or reaches for them abruptly. When selecting a dog for these purposes you would not necessarily want an animal that is high strung or one that is too laid back to get up and socialize. Numerous studies have documented the benefits of pet therapy. Pets have been used in treating AIDS patients, cancer patients, the elderly and the mentally ill. One study determined that petting a dog can lower blood pressure and another found that pets can reduce stress related illnesses. A study at City Hospital in New York noted that heart patients who owned pets lived longer than those without pets. Owning a pet was found to be more significant to long term survival than the presence of even a spouse or friends. Pets make us feel good. They comfort us, allow us to be ourselves and give those of us that need it a reason for living. Please visit my website for more great information at http://www.free-online-veterinarian-advice.com Chris Suckow lives and works in Los Angeles CA http://www.free-online-veterinarian-advice.com
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

The Shih-tzu Spa - Grooming Tips for your Shih-tzu.
Bathing - It is very important to bathe your shit-tzu every other week. Use a tablespoon of shampoo for a litre of water. Whisk up some foam generously, in a baby tub and rinse your dog thoroughly.Dilute some conditioner in water in pour a generous amount on your Shih-tzu. This will help reducing tangles as well as keep the coat soft. Be very careful when you choose the shampoo. Check the pH so that you do not end up buying a shampoo that is too acidic. They can dry out the coat of your dog. Even bathing too often will reduce the natural shine of the coat. Your doggie has a short muzzle, he will tend to get more dirty in the process of sniffing or rubbing things. So it is important to clean the face of your dog twice a week. Use a soft brush to do this. Clean the feet and the area under the eye and rinse well. Brush your dog before and after bath. Plug the ears with cotton balls so that water does not seep into the ears and cause infection. Also take care not to let any shampoo get into the eyes. Use a benign ointment for the eyes if necessary. If any residual shampoo is there, just wash with lukewarm saline water. Clean the anal gland of your dog regularly. Take the help of the vet if necessary. Wrap your dog in a towel and give a thorough blow dry but do not blow hot air directly on the face.Brushing & trimming - The coat of the Shih-tzu requires regular brushing in order to prevent it from getting tangled and matted. If you prefer floor length hair for your dog, keep a wire brush handy. Start brushing from the extreme ends like feet and legs. Brush in gentle downward strokes to reach the belly and then the back. Use a coat conditioner to keep hair silky and shiny.Be gentle with tangles. Never ever pull them as this may cause pain to the dog. Treat the hair as you would treat your own! Use a softer comb near the eyes, feetpads and under ears. In case you want to remove excess hair in the ear canal, apply some ear powder and pull gently.Also keep the hair around the mouth short so that your dog does not gather food there. The last stage is trimming around your puppy s bottom area and tail. The tail should be brushed and trimmed short. This way your puppy can go to the toilet easily. The hair can be trimmed with scissors to keep this area free from hair. It is a good thing to check this area daily to ensure that no deposition of excreta is attached to the hair.Teeth - Shih-tzu teeth are prone to Periodontal disease, Gingivitis and Plaque. So brush yor dog’s teeth twice everyday with dog toothbrushes and dental cream. Also encourage your dog to chew on a dog kibble so that it does not develop plaque easily.Ear Care - Examine your dog’s ears once every week. Use a cotton swab daubed in ear solution to wipe the ear canal in order to remove all dirt and ear wax.Eye Care - As the Shih-tzu has big eyes, it is more susceptible to eye infections. Use a moist cotton ball to clean the skin around the eye. Do this atleast once every week.Take care that no discharge gets deposited for a long time. Consult your vet in case of any redness or imflammation.Nail Care - Always clip nails after bath when they are soft and easy to clip. Do not cut the red streak as this may cause bleeding. In case it bleeds,use styptic powder to stop it. Hair-do - You can also make fancy hair-dos with your Shih-tzu’s long tresses.You can part the hair and tie it up with light rubber bands and then pin the pig-tails up in top knots. This will also prevent the hair from getting into the eye. Only make sure that it is not too tight to make the dog feel uncomfortable. Even whiskers can be attached upwards with pins. In case your dog is going for a show,keep the hair plaited all day in thin braids. When you will undo them, your Shih-tzu will have soft flowing curls all over. This way you can easily give your Shih-tzu a wonderful new makeover. So take out some time and let your imagination take wings. Have fun grooming your pretty Shih-tzu. Visit http://www.toydogtrainers.com to know about all kinds of toy dog training and care. About the author : Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dog of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog. The Toy Dog Training Institute was born out of a need to educate Toy Dog lovers across the globe on how to train and take care of their pets easily at home, without breaking the bank. Nancy Richards, a devoted dog lover, started this Institute a year back. The Toy Dog Training Institute is a leading organization in the world dedicated to the welfare of Toy Dogs . The aim was to promote public interest in Toy Dogs and convey by all possible means an unbiased presentation of the use of Toy Dogs . Terms of use: Anybody is free to use the article in their website as long as an acknowledgement is given to the author 'Nancy Richards' along with a link to the Site http://www.toydogtrainers.com .
Source: www.ArticlePros.com