The Loss of a Pet and the Role a Memorial Can Play

The death of your pet can, for many people, be equivalent to losing a family member. The resulting emotional turmoil is often not recognised in a western society that largely shuns grief, especially when it comes to the loss of an animal.

It is important to accept that for you the grief of losing your pet is very real and is something that you need to work your way through, as with any loss. There are many articles available on the 5 stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.

Memorialisation forms an important part of the acceptance stage of the grieving process. This is true even if the pet has been cremated and its ashes scattered. Memorialisation gives a focus and reference point for the happy memories of your pet that are so important to moving through the grieving process. Time can be spent at a memorial reflecting on your relationship with the pet and re-enforcing the positive memories you have of your pet. This act of re-enforcing positive memories is a well accepted coping strategy when it comes to death and loss.

The memorial also provides a place that communicates in a real way the importance that your pet had to you and the strength of your relationship to your pet. This can assist, without the need for verbalisation, in communicating the loss you feel to your loved ones. In doing this they are more easily able to recognise and accept the feeling of grief you have as being real and significant in your life and so provide to you the love and support that you require.

Memorialisation adds a sense of permanence to a pet's life by ensuring that memories are perpetuated. A pet forms an important part of your life and history and a memorial lasts through time to future generations, helping them to understand your life and what was important to you in your journey.

In summary, in what seems to be an ever hardening world it is vital for you to recognise the emotional role that your pet can play in your life and therefore the sense of loss and grief that are natural when it passes. You may also like to consider if for you a memorial to your pet may provide you with a focus point and testimonial to your pet that may assist in your journey through grief to acceptance.

Pet Adoption From a Pet Shelter

Pet First Aid Can Help Save Your Pet's Life

ByShaun Petntek Lawrence

Pet first aid can help save your dog, cat, puppy or kitten. As with some things, you may not think you need it, until you're actually without it. It can be a very traumatic event to find your pet choking on some food, your cat overheated on a hot summer day, or a newborn puppy having a seizure. Sometimes these events take place away from the home like when taking your dog for a walk or when you're in the airport with your cat.

A few important things you can have in your pet first aid kit are:

• Muzzle - even the best behaved dogs can bite out of fear and stress
• Scissors - used to cut any foreign object that may be lodged in the fur
• Tweezers - people are not the only ones prone to the occasional splinter
• Gloves - used to protect yourself from both receiving or transmitting germs
• Towels - multiple uses
• Medical tape and gauge - in case you need to bandage a wound or cut

One of the most important parts of your pet first aid kit is the contact number of your veterinarian. You should also have the contact number of an emergency veterinarian as well as an after-hours contact number for your veterinarian.

You should also be prepared for any natural disasters that may happen. This can include disasters such as flood, fire, earthquake, tornado or even a tsunami. Things you can do to prepare is make sure you have a pre-determined plan in place, communicate and cooperate with emergency personnel and have a disaster recovery plan in place. Another good idea is to make sure your pet has a collar tag that will help identify them if they become lost.

It is also important to pack a simplified pet first aid kit when you travel with your pet. A key item of this would be medication to help with stress and diarrhea. Traveling can be hard on your pet which can lead to stress and diarrhea. Make sure you also have your veterinarian contact information in a safe place in case you need to contact them. You can also call the national animal poison control hot-line at 888-426-4235 if you can't contact your veterinarian.

The items above can be put to even better use if you have participated in a pet first aid course. These courses typically will prepare you for how to handle an emergency with your pet. Your local red cross will be able to assist you in finding a pet first aid course.

With the ever increasing popularity of smart phones, there are even pet first aid apps now that you can download right to your iPhone or Android. These pet apps very in design and style, but they all offer vital information on what to do when your pet is in need of some medical help. Of course, these apps are to be used as a tool and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

If you are interested in learning more about pet first aid apps, please check out Petnek at http://petntek.com/2012/01/10/pet-first-aid/ the leading social media news site for pet related apps, gadgets, innovations and technology.

Natural Wheatbags For Pets

As a pet owner and lover you know how sad it is to see your pet age and develop some of the same health problems that humans get when they age. Pets now live well into their teens and, with aging of the joints and the body the chance of stiffness, swelling and pain can and does occur. Arthritis in dogs as well as cats that are reaching their advanced senior years is more and more common.

One option to help your pet deal with the signs of aging is to feed a great diet that provides all the nutrients that senior pets need. It is also important to keep up their exercise levels and avoid any rapid weight gain which can put stress on already stiff or sore joints. If you are doing all this already you are on the right track but there is one more simple yet highly effective thing you can do for your pet.

Natural wheatbags are a wonderful way to help your senior cat or dog relieve pain, soothe and relax sore muscles and provide additional blood flow to stiff joints. It is also a great way to help your senior pet stay warm on colder winter, spring and autumn evenings. These natural wheatbags can be placed in the bedding under a towel to provide gentle heat that will help relieve stiffness in the morning. If the dog or cat is not a chewer you may not need the towel, they will just cuddle up on the bag and go to sleep.

For dogs that chew you may want to use natural wheatbags to heat up the bed and then remove them when the dog is going to use the bedding. Place the natural wheatbags, which will vary in size requirements based on the dog's bed area, in place about 15 minutes before use. Remove and allow the dog to snuggle up in the warmth.

The bags can also be used as a spot treatment on hips, legs or along the spine. Your pet can be sitting on your lap, on the floor or anywhere else and you can simply hold natural wheatbags over the area that is problematic. This is a great option and will get your pet used to the bags. Always provide reassurance and lots of love and your cat or dog will soon come to view this therapeutic time as a real treat.

When using natural wheatbags with your pet there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, always monitor the heat level and intensity of the bag before placing it on your pet. If it seems hot to your hand it will be hot to the pet. Dogs and cats with shorter hair will feel the heat much more than long haired pets. Carefully watch your pet's response and if they seem uncomfortable remove the bag and let it cool a bit. You may want to try heating it approximately half the recommended time so the dog and cat gets used to having natural wheatbags on their body.

Maria Carr

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Helping the Planet With Eco Friendly Pet Products

Eco friendly pet products have been on the market for some time now, but in recent times, consumers are aware of the importance of going green, and also the advantages of using eco friendly products in their everyday lives. Organic pet products can benefit your pets in many ways.

We love our pets and want to do everything we can to make them healthy and happy. Eco friendly pet beds, pet toys, and sweaters are safer for your pet than many of the pet products you find in your local stores. Some pet goods that are imported can contain harmful chemicals that could possibly make your pet sick if they ingested the materials when chewing on them.

The quality of eco friendly pet beds is very high, particularly ones made right here in the USA, and you can be assured are made of the best quality organic materials. Some are made of recycled plastic bottles, which converts into very soft materials used for the stuffing and covers for pet beds. In addition to being very comfortable, durable, and safe, they are completely washable. This material is also used in dog toys, cat toys, collars, leashes, mats, and sweaters for your best buddy.

Keep in mind there are also organic dog and cat foods on the market, which contain much less preservatives, and are less processed than regular dog or cat food. Previously it was hard to find organic pet foods, but now most supermarkets carry it. This is much healthier for your dog or cat, just as organic food is healthier for us.

If you are having problems finding eco friendly pet products in your local pet stores, try searching on the internet, from the comfort of your home. There are many internet sites that have a variety of pet products made in the USA from recycled materials. You can search and find the best price and products. The price may be higher than average pet beds and toys, but the cost is well worth it in the long run, to help keep your pet safe and vigorous.

Consumers spend millions of dollars every year on eco friendly goods for themselves so they can have a better life. We should not exclude our pets. There are more and more eco friendly pet products available for your best friend. After all, our pets are part of the family, and we want them to have a better, longer, healthier life.

Barb Mueller loves animals, particularly her two border collies, Ruby and Elsie. She started her website, http://www.petbedsplusmore.com for pet lovers to find high quality eco friendly pet beds and other pet products.

Obesity Is Killing Pets - Here's How to Stop It

The weight of humans is publicised across the media but the weight of your pets seems to be almost disregarded. If you, as a person are concerned and conscious about your weight then you should put the effort in for your pets as well. There has been a recent up rise of pet obesity across the UK and USA and it is extremely damaging to their health and could potentially end in fatality.

In the past year, researchers have found that the rate of pets being overweight has remained the same yet the rate of obese pets has rapidly increased. It has been said that 53 per cent of adult dogs and 55 per cent of cats are now classed as being overweight and almost half of that percentage are obese.

These horrifying statistics show that pet owners are not caring for their pets properly and they over-feed them and have a lack of exercise. It is almost as important that pets are healthy as it is humans and they need caring for correctly in order to survive and be happy. A lot of owners admit to over-feeding their pets with food and treats but many of them do not think there is anything they can do about these growing statistics.

Pet owners are being held completely responsible for this exponential up rise as they are completely accountable for the amount that their friendly companions eat. From this, pet owners are the only people who can help put a stop to the up rise of overweight and obese animals.

How Can I Improve My Pet's Health?

Different pets have alternative requirements for a healthy diet but whether you have a cat, dog, hamster, rabbit or bird they all have a particular healthy diet similar to humans. Most pets cannot survive on a human diet and this goes for cats in comparison to dogs etc. As cats and dogs are the most popular pets to keep these are the main focus at the moment.

Dog Nutrition

Dogs need a balanced diet of meat, cereals and vegetables a lot like us humans - but do not be deceived as a complete human diet is unhealthy for dogs. Dogs are classed as omnivores but they do not need any necessary carbohydrates in their body. Also, be sure to supply your dogs with clean water at all times. 'Wet foods' need to be served at room temperature and given once or twice a day in comparison to dry foods/breakfast cereals which need to be given in small portions and the directions on the packaging should be followed. Chocolate should never be fed to a dog, as much as 3oz of cooking chocolate can kill a medium-sized dog.

Cat Nutrition

Unlike other animals, cats cannot live on a vegetarian diet as they need a lot of protein in order to stay healthy. Cats need protein, fats & oils, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates to stay happy and healthy - they also need plenty of fresh water as they can become seriously ill after not having water for a few hours. Kittens need to be fed small meals several times a day and need to eat more than adult cats whereas adult cats need to be fed differently. Adult male cats need 250 to 300 calories a day and adult female cats need around 200 to 300 calories a day. An average cup of dry food contains 400 calories and an average cup of wet food contains 150 calories. Depending on your cats eating habits will essentially depend on how much you feed them.

Animal and pet obesity is a huge issue and it needs resolving as soon as possible so do not hesitate to join in on the nutritional way to feed pets!

Jade Jennison is an enthusiastic writer in the subject matter of pets and their well-being and aims to provide information to people who share the same interests as her own. The websites recommended by Jade have been thoroughly researched and come highly acclaimed from direct experience. Take a look at Snack and Tack for a vast array of healthy food for every one of your pets.

Custom Ceramic Pet Urns - Ideas to Celebrate Your Pet's Life

When your beloved family pet passes away, the grief that you feel will likely be just as powerful as you feel when you lose any of your human friends. After all, your pets are furry friends. They stick with you through thick and thin. They're always there for you when you need someone to cuddle and they'll never judge you when you make a mistake. It makes complete sense, then, that you would want to have a memorial to them after their death and ceramic pet urns are a great way to honor your pet after they die. There are many ways to incorporate their urn into a bigger memorial and here are a couple of suggestions for pet memorials.

Pet Garden
If you had an outdoor pet, you'll understand the value of planting a memorial garden for your beloved family friend. Pick durable, hearty plants that would withstand your pet's "love" and then you can have a memorial stone created for the garden. The beautiful thing about ceramic pet urns is that they are biodegradable, so you can either fully bury the urn or set it in the garden to break down naturally. The ceramics won't add any harmful chemicals to the soil and your pet will be returned to the earth in their very own garden.

Plant a Tree
Along the lines of a garden, you can also plant a tree in your pet's honor. The shade that the tree will provide for future pets will be a reminder to you of the companionship that your old pet offered you and now they are watching over your new pets. Again, the ceramic pet urn will biodegrade into the soil and leave no trace.

Memory Shadow Box
To create a complete indoor memorial for your pet, you can get a large shadow box and fill it with all of their favorite things. Perhaps a piece of their favorite blanket or their most cherished toy. You can put their favorite treat in there as well. Arrange the items in a neat fashion and then place your ceramic pet urn in the center and close the box. Everything will be well-preserved and displayed in a unique fashion.

Donation to a Pet Charity
Animal hospitals and shelters are always in need of donations in order to provide care and a home to animals that have not found their new owner. A donation made to one of these charities on behalf of your pet t is a great way to honor their memory. If you can, get a certificate for the donation, frame it and set it next to your ceramic pet urn on a shelf.

Melody Jamali is the Founder and President of ( Une Belle Vie ), a Colorado company dedicated to bringing choice of cremation to public light. Their company offers the widest selection in decorative urns for cremation and includes a wide collection of resources designed to help families and friends in their time of need. From tool for the grieving to informative articles about planning, support and other uplifting thoughts, Une Belle Vie is a company dedicated to helping your celebrate the life of the one you love - on your terms.