What's New @ Animal Designs February 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
Looking for that purr-fect gift for a pet lover but unsure what they
like? Why not give them a choice with an Animal Designs gift
certificate. It couldn't be easier, just click here
www.animaldesigns.com/giftcertificates.htm choose the dollar amount
and add it to your order. You can shop with confidence knowing
that your recipient will receive a truly unique gift.

2) PET JOURNALS
It was a warm spring evening and we were all in the barn, cleaning
stalls and getting ready to feed the animals. My son came back in
from dumping the wheelbarrow with a funny look on his face. He
said "Mom, I think you'd better have a look outside." I walked over
to the big door at the end of the barn and as I rounded the corner I
froze. Seven foot flames were roaring through the neighbor's field,
straight toward our pastures and barn. I was terrified! All the
horses were in the upper pasture. I had to get them down to the barn
and FAST. Thank goodness for mares with a little common sense.
Gypsy, our pony mare (and lead mare of the herd) came sauntering down
to the barn with the other three girls trailing behind her just as I
turned to start shouting directions to the kids. I put the kids to
work putting the girls up. That just left Okie, my then four year
old stallion, and Cappy, our 12 year old gelding up in the far corner
of the upper pasture. By now, the flames were licking hungrily at
the old wood of my fence posts in the upper section. I was getting
worried. As I whistled for our shepard/rott, CJ, and started for the
upper section, my husband and the fire trucks all pulled in. Mark,
my soul mate, saw where I was headed and tackled me on the spot. By
now the flames were well into the pasture. I was flummoxed. How
would we ever get the boys down out of there now? All I could think
of was CJ. I whistled and yelled, "CJ, bring 'em home!"
That was his nightly signal to gather up the herd and bring them to
the barn and then I prayed and cried. CJ, a dog to never give up,
ran right up through a rapidly closing gap and rounded up the boys.
By the time he got them headed back down to the barn, his gap had all
but closed. He just kept at the two of them, determined to get them
home like I had asked. He managed to get them through, barely,
although he burned his feet
and his whiskers doing it. He took them down and put them right into
their stalls, then took up position with my husband, fighting
satellite fires
until the firepersons got to our place and put them out. CJ is gone
now of old age, but his son is in my backyard and he will
always live in my heart. Without his help that day, I would have
lost Okie, my stallion, my best friend and riding buddy. The guys at
the firehouse called him amazing and that year, CJ rode on the lead
fire truck in our yearly community parade.
www.petwarmers.com

3) FEATURED ITEM
Keep your brewed tea piping hot with a custom tea cozy available in a
wide variety of animal prints. This handcrafted cozy is washable and
adjustable to fit most teapot sizes. Makes a great Valentines Day
gift or perfect addition to your collection.. Click here to view the
selection http://www.animaldesigns.com/cgi-
sz/webcwrap/szw/st_main.html

4)ASK THE VET
Dear Dr. Shawn:"I read in one of your past columns about using ginkgo
for cognitive disorder. However, I also recently heard that a new
study showed that ginkgo was not effective when tested in people.
Could you address this issue in your column and tell me what's the
current status of this herb?"
A:"Ginkgo is one therapy that has been proven to be of benefit in
people with mild cognitive disorder, and is one of the supplements I
recommend for dogs and cats with this problem as well. Currently, my
favorite treatment of cognitive disorder is choline supplementation
plus B vitamins and antioxidants; ginkgo is another option I
occasionally recommend. The study you mention was done by the NIH in
2001. In the study, 230 people over age 60 were given memory tests
and their scores recorded. Then, half of the people were given a
placebo and half were given a ginkgo biloba supplement for 6 weeks.
Following the 6 weeks, all participants were then retested on the
memory tests and their scores recorded. The scores following ginkgo
supplement were no better than those folks on placebo or the scores
given at the start of the 6 week trial period. The NIH concluded that
ginkgo did not improve scores on memory tests, and this is what the
media reported. Unfortunately, there is more to this story than this
simple conclusion. Holistic doctors like me were not at all surprised
at the conclusion, because ginkgo does not work in normal people to
make them smarter Ginkgo has a long history of helping people with
early cognitive disorder however, and it is for this purpose that it
is most commonly prescribed. So while the study confirmed that ginkgo
does not help normal people improve their memory, the study did not
address the fact that ginkgo is not needed by normal, healthy people
but does help those with impaired mental ability. While the NIH did
not test ginkgo in pets in this study, many holistic veterinarians
and herbalists do believe that ginkgo can be helpful for pets with
cognitive disorder. It is wise to always question any medical
reporting and try and get all of the facts."
Dr. Shawn Messonnier is the author of the award-winning The Natural
Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. Please address questions to him at
Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park Blvd., Plano, Tx, 75075 or
email him at naturalvet@...

5) DRAWING & FUN STUFF
Congratulations to ...winner of the kitchen towel and hotpad set for
January. February's drawing is a paw print billfold. After
entering your name, check out the rest of the fun page at
http://www.animaldesigns.com/trivia.htm
Thanks to Kathy S. for submitting this month's photo of her bird
Einstein, never camera shy.
We would like to honor your Pet next month, so send us a copy of
their photo either by email or snail mail.

6) COMMENTS-QUESTIONS-SUGGESTIONS
A recent customer comment from Joy F. "I received the purse you made
for my daughter and I am simply delighted. It is truly a beautiful
piece of art. She will be thrilled. Thanks ever so much for all
you've done. You will be hearing from me in the future I am sure."

All the Best,
Jeanie