Pet Wellbeing - January Newsletter: Your Latest Pet Health Tips and a Preview of Our Brand New Look

• Happy New YearTime to Get Your Pet Screened for Cancer
• Can You Get Pink Eye From Your Pet?

 we're excited to announce our new site design which will be launching very soon. We believe that products of the finest quality deserve a home that's just as good and we've been hard at work to deliver just that. In addition to looking great and making the products you need much easier to find, we've put an even greater focus on our amazing team of experts. You'll now be able to interact with them on a whole new level, asking your most burning pet health questions and receiving the expert answers you need.

So you and your pet have survived the first few weeks of the new year. Congratulations...and here's hoping that the rest of the year brings more happiness and prosperity to you and yours!

One way

If your pet is still a puppy or kitten under the age ofyears, then having a veterinary checkup once a year will usually suffice. But if your pet is over the age of 2, then it is suggested that you take him or her to visit the vet at least twice per year. During these checkups your vet should conduct a chemistry panel, complete blood work, and a urinalysis. If not, you should request them to be done. You should also request that an X-ray be taken of your pet's thoracic regionthis is the area between their neck and their diaphragm.

Between these vet visits, you should spend some time every month checking over your pet's body. This is easily done during a grooming or petting session. This will give you an opportunity to run your hands along your pet's spine, stomach, and legs to feel for any abnormalities or unusual formations. If you should find any, immediately report it to your veterinarian. This simple once-over only takes a few minutes and could save your pet's life in the long run.

Signs That Your Pet May Have Cancer

Cancer causes the death of more than 50% of cats and dogs older than ten years. Therefore, it is essential to know the signs of cancer so that your pet can get the treatment they deserve.

• Bumps and lumps that you can see or feel through your pet's skin
• Sores that seem to get worse and do not heal properly
• A rash or other type of skin irritation that seems to also get worse and refuses to heal
• Any bleeding or discharge anywhere on your pet's body
• Loss of appetite for more than one day
• Loss of weight even though your pet is eating normally and has not had ain their appetite
• Discomfort or pain whenever your pet swallows or chews their food
• Lethargy
• Foul odor emitting from your pet

Treating Your Pet's Cancer At Home

Should your pet ever receive a veterinary diagnosis of cancer, your vet will immediately create a treatment plan. This plan could involve chemotherapy or radiation therapy sessions, medication and/or surgery. However, there are also alternative treatments options that you can do for your pet at home, such as acupuncture and homeopathy.

Homeopathy works on treating the underlying symptoms of cancer; whereas veterinary medicine usually only treats the effects of cancer in pets. Homeopathy is the administration of herbs, flowers, roots, spices and essential oils that have been chosen for their own unique and specific healing properties. Such remedies are usually given in the form of either a tincture, tablet, tea or cream. Utilizing certain types of herbs and essential oils can have a wonderfully positive effect on both the health and the overall disposition of your cat or dog.

Before choosing a homeopathic treatment, you should first understand which herbs work best to treat the symptoms of cancer. A few good ones to know are:

• Burdock. This herb will quickly help to heal your pet's wounds. It also helps in maintaining a healthy liver.
• Chinese Rhubarb. This herb will help by cleaning out your pet's overworked digestive system, thereby alleviating any indigestion and soothing any vomiting episodes that can sometimes occur after a chemotherapy or radiation therapy session.
• Sheep's Sorrel. This herb will help to heal and prevent any internal bleeding.
• Slippery Elm. This herb will reduce inflammation in your pet's digestive system and mouth by coating it. This will then make swallowing, chewing and digesting food much easier on your cat or dog.

Related Products: ES Clear for Dog Cancer Support & Cat Cancer Support

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Yes....and No.

Pink Eye, or Conjunctivitis, has a few different forms. Only one of those forms is highly contagious: the Bacterial form. The bacterial form can be carried by both people and pets. Bacterial Pink Eye can be spread through contact from dog to dog, cat to dog, human to dog and also from insect to dog.

So if your pet has the bacterial form of Pink Eye, then yes, you can get Pink Eye from your pet. If your pet has been diagnosed with the bacterial form, then you should try to avoid touching your pet's eye with your bare hands and always practice proper hygiene.

Conversely, should your child come home from school with a case of Pink Eye, you should

Strains of Pink Eye

However, there are also other strains and forms of Pink Eye that pets can contract.

• The viral strain of Pink Eye is completely airborne. It occurs more commonly during the drier winter months when the air is more humid.
• Foreign bodies in your pet's eye can also lead to Pink Eye. This can be a small leaf, bark or even an insect. If such a foreign body is not removed immediately, then will start to irritate your pet's eye. This irritation will eventually lead to Pink Eye. As soon as you notice that your pet's eye is red and irritated, quickly rinse out the eye with water or special pet-friendly eye wash.
• Pink Eye can also be caused by an injury or scratch on or near your pet's eye. If you consider how rough some dogs and cats play with each other, it is not hard to see how easily one pet can accidently scratch the eye of another pet.

• During the spring and summer months allergens are high in the air causing cats and dogs to be more susceptible to them. Allergic reactions to pollen, grass and house dust can also lead to Pink Eye in pets. Allergic reactions to something in your pet's environment can create a sinus irritation and inflammation of the eye's mucus membranes.  In such a case, you should first try to find out what the allergen is, and then eliminate it from your pet's environment, before you attempt to clear up their Pink Eye.

Symptoms of Pink Eye in Pets:

• The whites of your pet's eyes will take on a pinkish hue
• A discharge will be evident from your pet's eye
• The tissues surrounding your pet's eye will begin to swell up, causing your pet to look like they have rather puffy eyes
• Some cats and dogs may have difficulty in blinking their eyes normally
• If the Pink Eye is pretty bad, your pet's eye may even swell shut

Treating Pink Eye in Pets:

Your pet's eye and the surrounding area is extremely delicate and sensitive. Therefore when treating Pink Eye in your pet you should always use utmost caution to avoid any further injury or damage. One of the best ways to treat Pink Eye is through the use of herbal remedies. However, given the delicate nature of your pet's eyes, such remedies should be used only once a proper diagnosis has been made by a qualified veterinarian.

Before resorting to a herbal remedy, you should first make quite sure that your pet's eye and the area around the eye is completely clean and free of any dirt. To this end it is best to use a warm and soft wash cloth and gently wipe your pet's eye to remove any debris, foreign bodies or any discharge that is occurring.

You can try dislodging foreign bodies by gently flushing out your pet's eye with lukewarm water. If this doesn't work then you should immediately take your pet to a veterinarian for medical help.

If your pet has Pink Eye that is caused by an allergen, or if the Pink Eye is present in its viral or bacterial form, you can treat it at home using certain homeopathic remedies. The best herbs to use for treating Pink Eye in pets include:

• Eyebright. Just as its name suggests, Eyebright will help to brighten up your pet's eyes by removing any bacteria and reducing any inflammation around the eye area.
• Chamomile. Not only will Chamomile help to reduce the redness and the inflammation, but it is also a great herb to boost up your pet's immune system.
• Goldenseal. Another anti-inflammatory herb.
• Rosemary. This wonderful herb works as an antiseptic  to help speed up your pet's healing process.

By treating your pet's Pink Eye as quickly as possible, you will be able to decrease the chances of you, or other members of your family, contracting the Pink Eye from your pet.