I hope you are not reading this over lunch!  This is not a lunch topic. Did you know that anal glands are located on either side of the anus? When cats defecate, a very strong, foul smelling substance is secreted, allowing cats to track presence of other cats in their te...

Many, many, many pets today are on limited ingredient diets. The ingredients being limited are protein sources, also known as single source protein diets. Have you noticed that many limited ingredient diets or single protein source diets have no chicken? This has to do with the most common causes of digestive inflammation. What does it mean when we talk proteins, energies…hot, warm, cold, neutral? The ‘HOT’, ‘WARM’, ‘COLD’, ‘NEUTRAL’ protein principals stem from Traditional Chinese Medicine. While some believe that cold maybe more sluggish or lazy, while warm or hot may be more vibrant, energetic or even irritable…protein principles do affect digestion and basic health ...

It’s that season again! The weather is getting warmer. Bugs and creepy crawlers are out and about. With this lovely Shelter In Place order, some of us are taking this opportunity to spend more time outdoors with our pets. I’ve seen more dogs walked and even cats walked than ever. Some are on leashes, cats on harnesses and some are even in pet strollers! #cutenessoverload It goes without saying that we want to protect ourselves and our furry family members from nasties such as fleas, mosquito bites and ticks. Depending on your location in the country, these pests may be more prevalent. For example, when we lived in Maryland, we had to be vigilant against fleas, ticks and mosquitos all year round. The weather was ...

Girl pets have nipples.. that is a given. When I used to breed Siberian Forest Cats, people would call me constantly asking about the pimples on their boy's bellies! Yes, boy cats have nipples. In fact, cats are supposed to have 8 nipples. Some are gifted with more but generally speaking, 8 evenly spaced pimples, 4 on each side, used to feed off-spring. If you are raising an eyebrow, think about it, human males have 2 nipples like human females. They don't have mammary glands like women, however, nipples are there. It is really important to keep kitty nipples healthy. The color of the pimple nipple should be same as the skin color on the belly. Some darker colorations of cat, such as black, may have dark grey to black belly skin and t...

Age can get to us all! Once energetic and vibrant we become less active, sometimes even depressed. We can remember special occasions really well but may not be as sharp about daily happenings. The same thing happens to our pets. I see a reduction in mobility, I see a change in coat and then also cognitive function. Itrsquo;s hard to keep pets mobile as they reach their golden years. While running up the stairs or catching a frisbee was once a daily past time, with painful joints, speed reduces and the type of exercise needs to be changed. I had to remind myself that healing from even a minor injury like a sprain or a bruise takes longer as we age. Instead of catching a frisbee, a simple...

SEPARATION ANXIETY OUR PETS Sometimes our brand new little pets exhibit Separation Anxiety. They have no past abuses to speak of and we wonder why that is. Just remember that their days used to be filled with brothers and sisters play and snuggle time. A warm scent ...

When my pets got considerably older, they seemed lost. They would get up and stop in the middle of the room. Did they need food? Did they need out? Did they want to get comfy on the couch? It is really challenging to keep your pet's mind active and you will have to find activities that keep them entertained, keep you enjoying...

These anxious feelings can be associated can be associated with: 1. Fear 2. Separation 3. Aging 4. Diet/Nutrition 4. Boredom INMPO, it is really important to understand the root cause of anxious feelings so we can end the cycle, create a healthier environment for our pets and sometimes the tools that we use, will depend on understanding the Why or the How. First things first, I like to balance the energy in my home. I do this with essential oils. Pets do feel fear and they do express it, we just have to understand their body language. Are the ears or whiskers pulled back? Frightened cats may hide. They also tend to roll into a ball or try to seem very ...

Cats like all other creatures can experience stress. Since they donrsquo;t speak, it can be a challenge for us indentured servants to the feline, to decipher what exactly is going on. For example, one of my cats Fitbit tends to Stress Shed . Yup it is a thing. She sheds incredible chunks of hair when we get in the car. A fear of...

Orange You Glad I'm going to tell you how safe and effective cleaning can be with the use of CITRUS ! Citrus is perfectly safe around pets and can be used to break down grease. The aroma is pleasant and uplifting and does not cause respiratory distress like so many spray cleaners do. If you are a chemist, you may appreciate this link: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Lemon If you are not, you may feel intimidated looking at the chemi...

I had recently seen an article posted regarding pets up taking/absorbing cleaning chemicals and having reaction to them. Specifically, the active ingredient is BAC or Benzalkonium Chloride. Take a read: http://bit.ly/2NGjKZ0 I certainly had a reaction to it. In fact, I immediately looked up BAC because I vaguely remembered another chemical called triclosan. First and foremost, I would like to remind everyone that even AIR and WATER are chemicals! Don't take my word for it, research it! Water: https://www.slideshare.net/e-twinning/chemical-composition-of-water Air: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener that has become very popular. It looks and tastes like sugar. It has a very low glycemic index, so it does not raise blood sugar levels and it does not spike insulin, which for many people is a good thing, especially when we have a sweet tooth. We have seen a huge increase of this product being used in dental health products, in fact, some dentists will recommend xylitol gum because, unlike sugar, it will not rot your teeth! You see, the harmful bacteria that uses sugar to grow, cannot use Xylitol and therefore so chewing gum that contains Xylitol helps lower the incidence of gu...

  Grooming Tools I Use Daily Swear By! As a professional, certified groomer, I have been taught that some tools are invaluable to have in your arsenal. Everything from nail clippers to shears to shampoo, detangler, degreaser and dryers. Want to know what a pro uses? Check out this link to get my list of must haves! Let me know if you have specific questions and I will be glad to answer! DONT LEAVE WITHOUT YOUR FREE EBOOK XXOO AJ

OK I love to shop so much as every other gal, especially when it is for lovely kitties and puppies! You all know that I am very health conscious and the products I have learned to select I have tried, used and continue to use to this day. Take a look at these goodies and why I like them ...

Kitty Sensitivities! L etrsquo;s talk about kitties and what their sensitivities can manifest as. While in doggos, I tend to see itchy paws that have been licked lots and lots, in kitties, I tend to see itchy bellies more. Sometimes, the belly will have little or no hair in the places that the cat has licked so much for an extended period of time. Some...

Let's go back to nutrition for a minute. What is nutrition? Nutrition is the process of finding food for health and nourishment. An example would be eating a healthy diet. What is healthy and how do we know it is really healthy? Perhaps drinking a soda/pop is not healthy. The same company that manufactures soda/pop classic is marketing a diet version which is free of fat and sugar as a healthy alternative. Yet the sweete...

I love this topic. Look up the definition of toxic load, don't take my word for it. It is the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the body. These toxins come from food, water and personal care products. Have you heard me say that air is a chemical and water is a chemical and guess what? We can't live without either. Ther...

I get a lot, a lot of questions about pups and their inflamed paws. This generally tends to pertain to dogs. In cats, I see more belly licking and hot spots. I will talk kitties in another post. Does your pup or doggo have itchy paws? Lots of licking? Sometimes a stale...

First and foremost, I am a pet parent, or a pet owner if you prefer. That means I like to do research and find out as much as I can about products I use around or on my pets. I serve as the voice of my pets and it is my responsibility to do due diligence. I am sure you can agree. Second, I am a pet professional. That means, I am not only an expert in my profession, but ...

If you are looking for a fun and decorative way to diffuse essential oils, then you will love this DIY reed diffuser. This easy diffuser is great to have at home, in the office, at school, or anywhere you would like the aroma and benefits of essential oils. Ingredients ¼ cup Fractionated Coconut Oil 15 drops favorite essential oils Reed diffuser sticks Note: You can purchase reed diffuser sticks at most craft and candle stores. Instructions Put Fractionated Coconut Oil and essential oils into glass container. Add reed diffuser sticks. It may take up to a day for the essential oil blend to make it's way up the diffuser for you to smell. Tip: Flip each reed every two to three days for a stronger aroma.