Pet Goddess

Dr Yakov Sheynberg, Sheepshead Bay Vet Group,

2006 Avenue U Brooklyn, NY 11229

Great vet, have been with him for many years with many pets, dogs and cats. Sometimes there can be a wait if you come in with an emergency, but when we have an appointment it is smooth sailing, and they are there from about 10 AM to 8pm every day.

 
We met them when they were covering shifts at the local emergency vet’s practice, and were so impressed, we switched vets at once, and have been with them ever since.

 He and his junior are very good diagnosticians. They recently managed to save the life of my 13 year old cocker spaniel when it had pyometra, which they caught very early.

 They also give multi-pet and senior citizen discounts. They always make clear what they are charging for, and if they do additional tests they feel they need to make an accurate diagnosis, they don’t even charge for it.

 
I have noticed a ton of comments about other vets that say they are only in it for the money. That is DEFINITELY NOT the case with this group. Dr. Sheynberg and Dr. Lutansky are genuine animal lovers. When Dr L sees my cocker spaniel, it is like there is no other pet in the room, he is so glad to see her.

 
It is not the world’s most fancy set of offices, but they do excellent surgery, and have a proper oxygen cage for post-surgical treatment. 

I  know because my brother donated it after he went to the Animal Medical Center in the city, where he was living, instead of to Sheynberg, and they failed to diagnose the cat in time at the AMC, despite being such supposed experts, and it died. We later diagnosed it as the disease animals get from inhaling pigeon droppings.

 My brother bought the expensive cage the AMC told him to get, then had no cat. So he donated it to the practice that had done so much to help so many of our pets.

 So Dr Sheynberg and his colleagues are to be commended as well as recommended.

If cost is a consideration, and it is nowadays, here is some helpful advice so you don’t end up spending more than you have to at the vet.

 
As a general rule, vets do tend to make their profits on medications and herbal supplements, so if money is a consideration, ask if there are human alternatives, or go on line to get your pet meds more cheaply, such as at places like 1800 Pet Meds.

Comparison shop for sure. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a prescription.

For instance, our cat has to take fiber. Instead of 30 fiber capsules for about $18, buy psyllium seed and sprinkle it on their food for about $4.59 for a 3 month supply at Vitamin Shoppe.

We also get our meds in Canada.  We would have to pay $400 a month for Pulmicort for our dog from our local pharmacy,  but the Canadian pharmacy lets me have it for about $40 a month, and gives me a bigger discount the more I order.

Not all Canadian pharmacies will dispense medications for pets unless they have a certified vet in the company.  I have used both RX Care Canada and Jan Drug, and the prices, shipping, and handling have all been more than reasonable, and them very efficient and friendly. I  have been doing it over a year now, and have not had any trouble.

A lot of human meds are used for animals, so like I said, with everyone being on a budget these days, talk to your vet about lower cost options if they need medicines.

Posted May 31, 2008 Comments(0)

DE-FLEA YOUR GARDEN
1. Spray beneficial nematodes. Look for beneficial nematode products that available that, when applied to the soil, will specifically control flea larvae.

In addition, it will control many other types of pests that have part of their life cycle in the soil. Check with your local nursery.

2. Block entrances to the house. Close off pathways fleas can use to get inside, Make sure that any doors and windows that are usually left open have secure screens.

If your pet is an outdoor one, be extra vigilant in your use of the flea comb.

If you live out in the country, make sure your outdoor pets are not tangling with the local wildlife. Also make sure that they are  not inviting themselves into your house. Raccoons and possums can get into all sorts of small spaces, and bring fleas with them.

You may need to contact the local humane society for help in getting rid of them, using catch and release, and then blocking up access so they don’t come back.

One things is for sure, fleas are not only a nuisance but a health hazard. You just want to make sure that the things you use to treat the problem aren’t even more dangerous than the fleas themselves.

A safe home is a chemical-free home, for you and your pets.

2662 words

Posted May 30, 2008 Comments(0)

3. Vacuum several times each week. Use a strong canister-type machine, and vacuum all areas to which your pet has access. Use a crevice tool for corners and out-of-the-way places and vacuum thoroughly—not just rugs, but floors, upholstered furniture, and pillows.

Seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag immediately, and discard it away from the house. Severe flea infestations may require an initial shampooing or steam cleaning of rugs and upholstered furniture, and then regular vacuuming thereafter to get rid of all the flea debris.

4. Apply repellants. Natural pyrethrum powders are very effective and can be used safely indoors. Apply powder on floors, along baseboards, under pet sleeping areas. Use pyrethrum indoors only, as it breaks down quickly (and harmlessly) when exposed to sunlight.

You can also a special form of borax that lasts for up to one year in your carpet and upholstery, which results in treating for fleas every day with little work on your part.

On the more fragrant side, you can sprinkle two ounces of any repellent essential oils (such as lavender, citronella, pine, rose, and others) over two quarts of rock salt. Let the salt sit to absorb the oil, then sprinkle it under dressers, couches and rugs, and in other areas that don’t move a lot. You can also mix any of these oils with water in a spray bottle and spray infested areas. These will not kill fleas, but will make the environment less inviting for them to thrive.

Posted May 29, 2008 Comments(1)

DE-FLEA YOUR HOUSE
1-Drive fleas out of your house.
Try to roast them out. This is the quickest way to destroy fleas. Their preferred temperature is only up to about 80 degrees, so you only have to heat your house to about 90 degrees to kill them.

Remove children, plants and pets, close up your house, and turn up the heat to the highest setting. Go on an outing for the day; when you return, the fleas will be killed.

Alternately, freeze them out, putting your a/c onto the coldest setting. When you get back, vacuum and clean your house thoroughly, use the anti-flea powder recommended, and claim your house back from these pesky little unwanted intruders.

2. Use a dehumidifier. Alternatively, or in addition to heat, use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity to a level where they can’t survive. Get the humidity down to less than 70 percent, and the fleas will leave. You’ll be more comfortable, too.

Posted May 28, 2008 Comments(0)

4. Establish one regular sleeping area for your pet. Choose an area that can be cleaned easily and regularly.

Fleas tend to accumulate where animals sleep, so this will make it easier for you to collect them. Bedding materials such as blankets or rugs should be removed and washed frequently. Choose a pet bed that can easily be thrown in the wash.

5. Keep your pet healthy. This is the cornerstone of long-term flea control. Healthy pets don’t have flea problems. Only animals that are sick or weak will have trouble with fleas. Fleas are drawn to animals via a natural electromagnetic signal that announces their vulnerability.

When the animal is healthy, it does not “taste” or “smell” good to the fleas, and therefore will not attract them. If your animal gets fleas, take it as a sign that something is out of balance – their diet needs to be changed, or hygiene improved – rather than simply getting rid of nature’s signal that something is amiss.

Your pet’s coat and condition of skin are often good indicators. Going over them with the flea comb, and grooming them regularly, should help keep the problem relatively under control.

Posted May 27, 2008 Comments(0)

2. Keep your pet clean. Fleas prefer unhealthy, sour-smelling, foul, dirty animals, so you can prevent their presence by keeping your pet clean with monthly baths. Don’t overwash, or you will dry out the dog’s coat.

You can use an herbal shampoo with flea-killing and –repelling properties, however, fleas will die if they are simply immersed in the soap from sudsing up your pet, so you can use any shampoo that is safe for pets.

Look for these ingredients that destroy or repel fleas:
Orange oil—kills both larvae and adult fleas.
Essential oils of citronella, cedar, eucalyptus, and bay—effective insect repellants
Pyrethrum (crushed chrysanthemum blossoms)—a natural pesticide.

3. Use a flea repellant. Between baths you should treat your pet with a powder or spray.
Note what we have said about the powder getting around, though, and be prepared to vaccuum more often, and making sure you throw away the bag, to keep the flea population down in your home.

Natural herbal flea powders — dried, pulverized leaves of rosemary, bay, mint, lavender, lemongrass and rue are effective at deterring or repelling insects, and they are not toxic or noxious if your pet licks them. You may need to apply these coat treatments every day or two during flea season.

Herbal flea collars contain safe, natural oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, cedar, and bay. Citronella is an excellent natural insect repellent generally for humans, on your patios, decks, and in the great outdoors.

Posted May 26, 2008 Comments(0)

DE-FLEA YOUR PET
1. Use a flea comb. If you suspect your pet has fleas, go to the pet store immediately and get a flea comb. It is good to have a flea comb on hand anyway. Pets like to be combed, and if you catch fleas right away, then they are easier to control before they begin to multiply.

Flea combs are sold in all pet stores. They come in all sizes and have teeth that are very close together to trap the fleas.

Here’s how to use a flea comb. Put your pet in a comfortable position and have a bowl of soapy water nearby. Comb through your pet’s fur, making sure you include all areas, then drop the fleas in the soapy water (flush down the toilet when you’re through).

By using a flea comb you are not only removing the adult fleas, but any larvae and eggs that are still on your pet as well. This process may take some time, but use it as an opportunity to communicate love and care to your pet and enjoy giving it the attention it needs. Comb your pet daily until you see there are no more fleas.

Posted May 25, 2008 Comments(0)

Know your flea
They are not only able to breed rapidly, they are tough and tenacious and know how to survive. “Flea season” tends to be when the temperature is between their preferred 65 and 80 degrees and the humidity is 75 to 85 per cent. For some areas of the country, this is all year, while in other parts of the USA, the flea season is relatively short.

It is estimated that for every adult flea found on the pet, there are about 10 developing fleas in the pet’s environment. To entirely solve your flea problem, you must eliminate ALL stages of the flea life cycle on your pet, in your home, and in your garden.

And even if you kill all the adult fleas, there are still flea larvae waiting to hatch, so they are sure to return unless you are vigilant and follow a maintenance system all season long, not just during the so-called flea season.

Flea protection is an ongoing battle, but there are some useful strategies you can adopt for pet and household care which should go a long way toward Natural Flea Control. We will deal with some of them in the next section of this article.

Posted May 24, 2008 Comments(0)

FLEA CONTROL TABLETS
These work by sterilizing the female flea with a hormone, so that when she lays eggs, they will not hatch. This breaks the cycle of fleas at the beginning.

While this is much safer for pets than toxic pesticides, it is still “unnatural,” but can be helpful while you are getting your environment under control if your pet already has fleas.

ESTABLISH A FLEA CONTROL PROTOCOL
Flea control is on ongoing process. It is best to make a plan and follow it, to be sure you cover all the steps.

In order to control fleas, it is necessary to understand their life cycle:

ADULT
When you see fleas hopping on your cat or dog and trying to jump onto you, they are in the adult stage. The average life span of an adult flea is about 6 weeks, but they can live up to a year under certain conditions.

The adult flea spends almost all of its time on your dog or cat and will not leave voluntarily unless their population becomes excessively large (and then they are happy to jump on humans). If you want fleas to leave their natural environment (your pet), you have to kill or remove them yourself.

EGG
A female flea can lay 20 to 25 eggs a day, and may lay several hundred eggs over her lifetime. These eggs fall off the pet and develop where they land, such as your carpet and sofa, and even in cracks in wood floors and other small crevices.

LARVA A larvae hatches from the flea egg. It can entwine in fabric fibers and just wait for its chance to grow.

PUPA The larva forms a pupae and waits for the right time to develop under the right conditions. It can take as few as 9 days to as long as 200 days to go through its growth stages.

This is the real problem stage, because the pupa is resistant to just about everything. Even when you kill all the adults, eggs and larvae, you will have fleas again in about two weeks when the pupae fully develop.

ADULT
When the pupae develop, out come the adults, who lay eggs, up to 25 a day, and thus the cycle starts again.

Fleas reproduce faster than kittens or bunnies — in one month, ten females can generate over 267,000 offspring.

Posted May 23, 2008 Comments(0)

Today Yahoo news posted this article:
Tainted Pet Food

If you think your pet was affected, there may still be time to join the class action suit.

Our hearts go out to  the animals still suffering, and everyone so grievously bereaved due to the sheer greed of all the humans involved in this tragedy.

Posted May 23, 2008 Comments(0)