Whiskers Pet Care

20/12/2022

A question that often comes up when speaking with clients and others with elderly or infirm animals.....

If they're happy, why bother to change their diet at this late stage?

And a very good question it is. Because, isn't it best to just keep them happy now? Won't making a change cause distress?

Well, it might, but it might also help them to feel and be better for longer too.

Changing an animal's diet isn't something that is done suddenly, regardless of age or health condition. It's done gradually, monitoring all the while. It takes patience, a little determination, and lots of love, while taking note of all the changes, and adjusting as necessary.

I've helped a few cats as they approached the end of their lives, including my own.

I'm thinking now of Diego, who passed earlier this year at the grand old age of 20, having been diagnosed with kidney disease a few years before.

I helped his humans to move him onto a much better diet that would support his body and health; the improvements were clear very quickly, and were retained until he finally left us. They would often get in touch to let me know how happy they were about his change in diet.

When he passed, and they wrote to let me know, this is what they said:

"Sorry to let you know that we lost Diego last night. I just wanted to thank you for everything over the years, and helping us get his diet right that really did give us extra time with him."

The right diet really does make a difference, at any age, and any health condition. It means so much to me to be able to help as many as I can, so if you'd like my help, get in touch:

[email protected]

11/12/2022

This is very cute, and of course very true!

😻😻😻

I would just add in a serious note though, for safety. If giving a cat a bag to play with that has handles like this one, please remove the handles first.

It’s so easy for them to get their heads caught. I’ve seen it happen, more than once, and it can be both terrifying, and cause injury.

😄
Artist: Liz Climo

05/12/2022

I love to help people when they want to transition their cats to a better diet. Makes my heart happy!

And help is often needed, because it can be a bit of a minefield in knowing what to buy and why, and much patience and determination is needed for many cats; especially those who have been fed the feline equivalent of McDonalds for a while!

[email protected]

to enquire, or have a look at my website:

Whiskers Pet Care in Manchester, Salford and surrounding areas. Cat sitter, small pet sitting, animal reiki and support for the loss of a pet.

05/12/2022

Whiskers Pet Care in Manchester, Salford and surrounding areas. Cat sitter, small pet sitting, animal reiki and support for the loss of a pet.

24/08/2021

Suzanne Elizabeth, I have a notification that you have sent me a message, but I can’t access my messages.

Would you please email me at:

[email protected]

Thank you 😻

03/05/2020

credit

02/05/2020

A wonderful rescue story with a happy ending. 😻😻😻

21/04/2020

https://animalwellnessguide.com/enhancing-feline-digestion-with-acupressure/

No matter what your cat is eating, a little help with digestion can only make the absorption of nutrients better. These points in the Feline Digestion Chart

09/04/2020

China has drawn up new guidelines to reclassify dogs as pets rather than livestock, the agriculture ministry said, part of a response to the coronavirus outbreak that the Humane Society called a potential "game changer" in animal welfare.

30/03/2020

I'm enjoying having this quiet time for myself and my own cats, but missing all my other cat friends! No cat visits, because no clients can go away........

So, this leaves me with some time on my hands. While it's nice to be able to slow down, and catch up with other things, I am missing my animal related activities, and there's still much that I'm able to do distantly. (And it would also help to earn a little too!).

So, just putting it out there that I am available for:
* Distant animal Reiki/healing
* Animal intuitive connections
* Distant healing for people
* Intuitive guidance for people

Get in touch if you'd like to enquire about, or book a session -
[email protected]

26/03/2020

In light of the UK Government’s current guidance on reducing the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) by limiting non-essential contact with others, RCVS Council has agreed to temporarily permit the remote prescription of veterinary medicines where appropriate and where complying with Government...

23/03/2020

DOES YOUR DOG HAVE ARTHRITIS?

Our latest blog by Catriona Dickenson of K9 Massage Clinic (member of the Canine Massage Guild) shows how canine massage can help improve your dog's health and well being if they are suffering from this

https://cam4animals.co.uk/blog/arthritis-and-the-older-dog…

23/03/2020

All animal rescues will be experiencing the same. Please, if you feel drawn to, do whatever you can to help your local rescues. It really does all help. Thank you. ###

22/03/2020

Happy Mother’s Day to all cat mums!

18/03/2020

We've seen posts circulating about the dangers of hand sanitizer and pets licking hands. This is the response from our official guidance service.
Also majority of the alcohol evaporates from your hands very quickly.
And one last point, ironically, the treatment for cases of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) toxicity is actually to give calculated amounts of alcohol (ethanol).
So whilst we wouldn't recommend letting your pets get hold of the bottle, it is safe to use to clean your hands around your pets.

11/03/2020

Please consider helping if you can and are drawn to. And if you live elsewhere, your local rescues will be struggling in the same way, and will always welcome help, no matter how little. Thank you 🙏😻😻😻

07/03/2020

Since the “cat coolers” are also easy to make, Philip Rogich has inspired dozens of other craftsmen to make their own feral feline shelters as well.

04/03/2020

Forget the material things. Let's make the world a little bit better. That's the greatest gift of all.

29/02/2020

27/02/2020

Having been involved in helping so many animals in rescue with Reiki, very happy to report how much it helps. So many come into rescue with all sorts of physical and emotional issues, and I've seen first hand how well Reiki has transformed them into animals that people want to be giving homes and love to.

A nonprofit is hoping more shelters use the healing technique to help shelter dogs relax in such a stressful environment.

27/02/2020

https://wwwcaninemindandbodybalance.co.uk/

Highly regarded canine therapist.

Integrative canine therapy centre. Combining the best complementary therapies to support your dog emotionally and physically.

26/02/2020

I started this painting when I was watching the Taylor Swift documentary. Seeing the adorable cat on her piano at the very beginning was my inspiration! It was a really good documentary and I really love cats. Also, I really love naps.

24/02/2020

22/02/2020

Wonderful group, compassionate and supportive. 💖

THE RALPH SITE PET LOSS SUPPORT FACEBOOK GROUP - CLOSED/PRIVATE

This group complements - but definitely does NOT replace - this open public page and the main website with its forums. Facebook groups work differently to pages as you know. The group will allow people who are struggling with pet loss and need support and compassion from others to receive this more easily and reliably than you can with a page. It is easier for people to have on-going interaction during this difficult time in the group format.

Also groups allow notifications so you can tell when other members have posted or commented, all of which again helps with supporting each other through the heart ache of pet loss.

And I know that some people are reluctant to share how they feel about their pets on an open public page hence the group is closed/private.

This is an amazing page and will always be the backbone of The Ralph Site. But if anyone would like to join the group as well then click through and ask to be added and I will add you in due course.

Thanks as always,
Shailen

http://on.fb.me/1vw8uwq?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

21/02/2020

Another rabbit post..... this time to say farewell to beautiful Gracie.

She's the black one on the left of the photo, snuggling with her buddy, Pogo. She became poorly recently, and passed away yesterday, peacefully and comfortably.

Rabbits love to be with other rabbits, as you can see from the photo. Some cope perfectly well as single rabbits, if that's all they've been used to, and live in the home with their human family; in effect they become bonded to us, in the same way as they would become bonded to another rabbit.

But, if possible, it's always nicer for a rabbit to have another rabbit buddy to bond with and snuggle up to.

This reflects the fact that, in the wild, they are prey animals, and live together in groups for the sake of safety of the whole group. They will often snuggle together, as this presents a larger, and more difficult prey object, for a predator to pick on. Animal behaviours can always be linked back to the essential species nature. They may live safely with us, but this has only been for a short time relatively, in the whole of their existence, and the need for safety and survival is still passed down genetically.

Pogo hasn't always lived with Gracie. He had a lovely buddy called Penny when I first got to know him, but she passed away a few years ago.

So, his humans decided that he needed a new buddy, and went through the process of finding one that he could happily bond with, and she with him. When finding a new rabbit companion, the bonding process is an important part of this, and one that takes as long as it takes. They don't always take to the first one presented to them.

But he and Gracie hit it off pretty quickly. And she was brilliant for him. He'd always been a fairly quiet, shy and anxious bunny, but she really brought him out of himself, showed him that he could be more confident. In the past he wouldn't often come up to me to for strokes and cuddles (so important never to force yourself on a rabbit, but to let them come to you), but it wasn't long after he and Gracie buddied up, that he was happily bounding up to me whenever I came to visit.

Gracie was a young girl, yet she wasn't too much for the older Pogo. In fact, sometimes it was other way around, if you get what I mean (and they were both neutered!). She was the sweetest little angel, who had plenty of confidence, and was very happy in her life. She loved her new family, and especially Pogo.

I shall be visiting tomorrow to bring them all love and Reiki, to help them in their grieving. I'm not sure that Pogo will have a new buddy now at this stage in his life; it may well be best that he has a quieter life with just his humans, who love him so very much. But I'll see what they say tomorrow.

So sad to be saying goodbye Gracie, and thank you so much for your beautiful life. And enjoy playing with the birds who welcomed you back to your eternal home on the other side of the Bridge.

21/02/2020

This is always my quieter time of year for pet sitting, and it's good as it gives me time to get on with other activities, as well as giving me time to sit back a little to do some thinking and reflection.

I've been enjoying the time for animal healing and intuitive communication, always such a blessing, and as well as helping the animals, and their families, there are always so many lessons to be learnt. Our animals have so much wisdom.

This week, I have spent much time with rabbits, both in person, and healing distantly. I always enjoy rabbit energy, I can spend ages with them, such beautiful, and interesting, beings.

I have known Columbus for many years, through my pet sitting activities, and I consider her to be a good friend. I was asked the other day by her human family if I could connect with her. She'd developed a cataract on one eye, and then the other, such that she was now almost completely blind.

They were concerned for her, and wanted to know whether she was ok, and if there was anything she needed.

I'm not going to share the detail of the session, as much of it was very personal to her human family (who themselves are also healers); yet there was so much wisdom that came through from this wonderful old soul, that I felt that she'd like me to share with others.

While she was aware that, for her physical body, this was a loss, in a much broader sense, and for her spirit, this represented a gain.

She isn't so young these days, so is closer to the end of this physical life than the beginning of it, although she's not leaving just yet. She is growing in light, as are we all as we go through our lives, and there are some things that, on a spirit and soul level, we choose to leave behind. We, very literally, feel the need to be lighter.

Things that, on balance, we have less need for than others.

For Columbus, she knew where everything was in her house; her favourite places to sit and to sleep, where her food and water were, and her people. She knew that she was safe, and comfortable, and loved. Her other senses are making up for this seeming loss, and she doesn't see (!) that she's actually lost anything.

She's guiding my words as I write now, and doesn't want me to go into too much more detail; how you will all read these words, and perceive them, will be different for you all.

She'd like to ask you all, as she did with her family too, to take her words within, and use them as medicine for your own healing.

Consider that each of our lives is a journey, every single moment is different to every other single moment. Life is a series of continual changes. Nothing stays the same.

How has your own life changed as you have travelled it?
How are you different now to who you were 5, 10, 15..... years ago?
What is superfluous now in your life?
What would you like to make room for?
How easy or difficult is it to let go of these things?
And why?
And as you sit and ponder, let any and all questions and answers just come to you..........

Thank you beautiful Columbus, for your wisdom and medicine.

19/02/2020

Posted • Please can we STOP saying that annual vaccination of dogs against core diseases has been changed to every three years? ‘Three years’ may be better than every year but it is just as random and incorrect. The fact is that most dogs are protected for life after the puppy shots alone with no need for any boosters. Ever. This can be checked throgh titre testing. Never routinely booster adult dogs against core diseases. It is that simple!
Wsava vaccination guidelines to breeders and puppyowners 2013: ‘The wsava states that we should vaccinate against the core diseases no more frequently than every three years. This is often taken to mean that we should vaccinate every three years -but this is not the case. If the dog is already immune to these three core diaeases, re-vaccinating will not add any extra immunity.’

17/02/2020

Steroids are incredibly powerful medications that can have very serious side effects for pets.

10/02/2020

We can learn a lot from the incredible love and compassion that animals show other living beings. Unlike us, they don’t let fear, jealousy and pride muddle their feelings of love and empathy; when they care for someone, they do so wholeheartedly. Their pure expressions of love and selflessness oft...