What's New @ Animal Designs January 2003
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1. What's New
2. Pet Journals
3. Featured Item
4. Ask the Vet
5. Drawing and Fun Stuff
6. Comments-Questions-Suggestions

1) WHAT'S NEW
You'll notice something new on our web site, the Better Business
Bureau On-Line Reliability seal. The BBB symbol is recognized
worldwide as the standard for good business practices. This
guarantees that you can continue to shop with confidence at Animal
Designs. Our goals for this year are to offer the best products and
continued individual attention to each and every customer. We wish
you the best for 2003 and a very Happy New Year!

2) PET JOURNALS
The term of "syndrome" seems like it's attached to most everything
these days and is generally viewed as negative. However, in the world
of owning pets, I've got a new one I call P.L.U.S. -- otherwise known
as Pets Love Unconditionally Syndrome. If you're lucky enough, you've
been on the receiving end of this syndrome. In past stories, I've
written about my Yellow Lab, Amy, because she is so much a part of my
everyday life. Morning, noon, night, writing, singing, working inside
or out -- it just doesn't matter as long as she's with you. She's
clearly got the syndrome. Because she is aging and has several health
problems now, we've gotten even closer. The fact is, I need to be
next to her as much as she needs to be next to me, maybe even more.
Someone recently asked me, after losing their precious pet, why it
hurts so bad -- even as much as losing a person. I feel the answer
lies in our pets' ceaseless, unconditional love. How could anyone not
be devastated by such a loss. Our pets don't follow the humanistic
guidelines for giving and receiving love. They truthfully accept us
exactly as we are and even love us for it. It's as if the judgement
gene was left out and they got a double dose of the happy gene. Have
you ever scolded your pet or just plain been impatient with them? We
all have and this is where the P.L.U.S. really shows its stuff. For
instance, maybe their need to be next to us means we're literally
tripping over them just to walk across the room. And maybe that's
followed by a few words of disgust spouted off at them. But perhaps,
in that moment of our scolding them, we should look a little deeper
to see if it was the very pedestal they put us on, that we really
tripped over. Maybe if we paused, just in that moment as they walk
away with ears down and tails tucked, we'd realize we're the culprit
here -- that in our own hurriedness, or lack of being in touch with
ourselves, is what truthfully made us stumble. How many times have
you crossed that room and not tripped over them? This of course comes
just before we feel miserably guilty and call them to come back over
to us -- which they do at just about the speed of light. Are they mad
at us? No! They've got P.L.U.S.! Being around P.L.U.S. also helps us
complete chores that may not otherwise get a passing thought. For
instance, our two dogs tore out the screening in a spot on our
enclosed patio. We immediately replaced the screening, but also cut,
sanded, painted and installed 4 rows of railing as added security.
Moreover, after 10 years of procrastinating, I finally got rid of
some unwanted gravel so it would be easier on their feet and
arthritic joints. I keep looking for a reason why the dogs would need
new tile on my kitchen countertops! In this world where everything
has become so disconnected and we've been reduced to some kind of a
number on the phone's keypad for customer service, our pets have
become even more vital to our everyday existence. I believe if we
could just follow the guidelines of our pets in their unconditional
loving, the world would be full of purring, tail-wagging, happy to be
alive folks. Maybe a synonym could be given to the abbreviation of
P.L.U.S. I'd call it "People Loving Unconditionally Syndrome". What a
world this would be!
www.petwarmers.com

3) FEATURED ITEM
The featured item this month is our soft polar fleece scarves
available in a great selection of animal prints. They are generously
sized 56" x 10", blanket stitching on the outer edge and machine
washable. Better hurry as supplies are limited, click here to
order: http://www.animaldesigns.com/cgi-sz/webcwrap/szw/st_main.html


4)ASK THE VET
Immune System Support in Pets
Shawn Messonnier DVM
author, The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, Prima, 2001
One of the most common questions I get is this:"What do you recommend
to boost my pet's immune system?" Using nutritional supplements to
boost the immune system in times of illness is very important for any
sick pet.
While supplements can be used to support the immune system during any
illness, I am most often asked to prescribe something for pets with
the following problems:any infectious disease (especially feline
respiratory
disease, kennel cough, distemper;) cancer; mange; and any condition
in older pets that just "aren't acting quite right." In this article,
I'll discuss some of the more commonly used immune-boosting
supplements, along with recommendations on how to keep your pet's
immune system acting as healthy as possible all year long.
Antioxidants are among the most commonly used supplements to help
pets with a variety of medical disorders. Antioxidants are specific
vitamins (such as vitamin C and vitamin E) and plant and animal
compounds
(bioflavonoids such as grape seed extract, quercetin, coenzyme Q-10,
ginkgo biloba) that are responsible for maintaining health.
Technically, they do not boost the immune system (although
proanthocyanidins appear to
potentiate the immune system via enhancement of T-lymphocyte activity
and modulation of neutrophil and macrophage responses) but rather
clean up the products of cell damage (oxidizing chemicals.)
Antioxidants also
decrease various chemicals (histamine, interleukin, tumor necrosis
factor) that cause cell damage. Because antioxidants minimize damage
to cells, they are useful whenever disease is present and immune
support is
needed. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida)
is the most commonly known immune stimulant which also functions as
an antimicrobial (antiviral and antibacterial) herb. In people,
echinacea is the
number-one cold and flu herbal remedy. There are a number of classes
of pharmocologically active chemicals in echinacea, including
polysaccharides, flavonoids, caffeic acid, essential oils,
alkylamides, and polyacetylenes. Currently, to prevent long term
immune system problems, most doctors recommend using echinacea for a
short period of time (3-4 weeks) followed by a resting period (3-4
weeks) before the herb is resumed.
Arabinogalactans are polysaccharides mainly derived from larch tree
(Larix occidentalis.) Studies have shown that these compounds may
enhance natural killer cells and cause a release of interferon gamma.
Arabinogalactan has strong immunostimulating and anti-inflammatory
properties. Arabinogalactans can be used as part of the integrative
approach to cancer treatment and anytime immune stimulation is needed
(viral, bacterial, or fungal diseases.) The product ImmunoSupport by
RX Vitamins for Pets is the only arabinogalactan product currently
available. Purine nucleotides are the final class of supplements that
can be helpful for pets needed immune system support. These compounds
are involved in virtually all cellular processes and play a major
role in structural,
metabolic, energetic and regulatory functions. Like arabinogalactans,
they have been shown to stimulate the activity of natural killer
cells. Purine pyrimidine complexes are the active fractions found in
colostrum, the first milk produced by mammals. Colostrum contains
cytokines and other protein compounds that can act as biological
response modifiers. Research supports its use in the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as other autoimmune
conditions. Nucleotides also may play an important role in essential
fatty acid metabolism, and may have a positive effect on the
functions of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver. Nucleotides
are usually given to pets in the form of colostrum or a product
called Transfer Factor.
Maintaining a Healthy Immune System
While supplements can be used in times of illness, maintaining a
healthy immune system is important in decreasing the incidence and
severity of disease. Follow the following tips to keep your pet as
healthy as possible.
1.Feed the most natural diet possible. Learn to read a pet food label
and avoid foods with chemical preservatives (BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin)
and animal and plant by-products that can damage a pet's immune
system and do not
help maintain health as much as foods with natural preservatives and
no by-products. When possible, prepare and feed a homemade diet
(using on of the recipes in The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats)
to ensure that
your pet is eating the healthiest food possible.
2.Minimize vaccines. Most pets do not need annual "shots." A simple
blood test called a titer test can determine which vaccines you pet
needs.
3.Minimize chemicals. I prefer not to use chemical flea prevention
products unless absolutely needed. Monthly heartworm medication is
preferred over the 6 month injectable heartworm preventive.
4.Administer whole food vitamin and mineral supplements,
antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids to maintain a healthy body.
5.Administer choline supplementation to prevent or delay the onset of
Alzheimer's disease (cognitive disorder) in dogs and cats 10 years of
age By following the ideas presented here, you will be able to
confidently
work with your veterinarian to help your pet maintain a healthy immune
system.

5) DRAWING & FUN STUFF
Congratulations to Melissa Z...winner of the Paw Print Polar Fleece
Scarf for December. January's drawing is a paw print kitchen towel
and hotpad set. After entering your name, check out the rest of the
fun page at http://www.animaldesigns.com/trivia.htm
Thanks to Michelle U... for submitting this month's photo of her
adorable pals, Serena and Cookie.
We would like to honor your Pet next month, so send us a copy of
their photos either by email or snail mail.

6) COMMENTS-QUESTIONS-SUGGESTIONS
A recent comment from one of our valued customers. "I shop A LOT ---
This has by far been the best - speedy, not expensive, professional
and NICE. Everyone take notice. Thank you." Aida J.

As always, we appreciate your comments, questions and suggestions and
we've provided this link for sharing this newsletter with your
friends. http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=620320

All the Best,
Jeanie