Can Your Dog or Cat Benefit From Behavior Therapy?

By Lisa Fields
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM

If you think your pet has “issues,” you’re not alone. “Ten to 15 percent of owners say that they have pet behavior issues,” says certified applied animal behaviorist Stephen L. Zawistowski, PhD, science adviser to the ASPCA.

But does your pet need therapy? Yes, if his behavior puts him or others in danger.

“Any time the safety or well-being of either the pet or human is in question, a professional should be brought in to determine the best course of action,” says certified dog behavior consultant Michael Shikashio. “It doesn't have to be as severe as aggression. An animal exhibiting 'quirky' behavior like excessive tail-chasing [could] be suffering from underlying issues.”

The first step is seeing your veterinarian. There may be an underlying medical issue that needs to be treated. If you decide to meet with a certified pet behavior professional, be prepared to really work with your pet to get the problem corrected.

“A pet owner shouldn't expect a quick fix,” Shikashio says.

These are some of the behavior issues common in cats and dogs:

Aggression

There are several reasons why a pet may become aggressive: He may be protective of his home or family; possessive of his food, bed or toys; fearful; or feel a need to be dominant.

In dogs, signs of aggression include growling, showing the teeth, charging, barking, snarling, snapping, nipping, and biting.

Going for a walk in the neighborhood provides so much stimulation in some dogs that it makes them feel more alert and aggressive. These are dogs that may benefit from "growl" classes, or reactive dog classes.

In these sessions, behaviorists put together two to four dogs in a controlled situation, to teach them social skills, Zawistowski says. The dogs and their owners are under strict supervision and given plenty of space. Each dog is slowly trained to be able to get closer to the other dogs without showing signs of aggression. These classes can help your pooch become more comfortable whenever other dogs or people are around. This will lead to more enjoyable walks for everyone.

An aggressive cat can bite and scratch. Signs include hissing, growling, howling, staring, flattened ears, swishing tail, and exposed teeth and claws.

Some cats don't like to be petted -- or petted for long periods of time. They may let you know by batting your hand away with a claw. Cats are territorial and may not want certain people or animals in their areas. Mother cats may act aggressively if they think their kittens are threatened. Other cats practice "redirected aggression" -- they may see another cat through a window, and scratch the people or animals that they can reach. Cats that are in pain, for any reason, can exhibit aggressive behavior.

If your cat is showing aggression and you can’t figure out why, you should have her checked out by your vet to see if something physical may be causing the behavior.  If pain is ruled out, a behaviorist who works with cats may be able to help.

source : Can Your Dog or Cat Benefit From Behavior Therapy?

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Should you consider holistic medicine for your pet?

By Lisa Fields
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM

Have you made any healthy lifestyle changes lately? Maybe you’ve shifted your diet, or started practicing yoga, going to the chiropractor, or getting acupuncture treatments.

Might these same practices keep your pet in better health, too?

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More veterinarians than ever are practicing holistic medicine today. Holistic vets look at a pet's overall health from a whole-body perspective and use traditional and alternative therapies. They rely on lab tests and prescription drugs, but also on acupuncture, massage, and herbal remedies to keep pets healthy. They encourage changes in pets' diets and lifestyles to help ward off illnesses like obesity, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.

“As a doctor, I want any tool that's going to work. Having more tools in my tool kit has made a huge difference,” says Barbara Royal, DVM, president of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

Here are some of the alternative treatments available for your dog or cat:

Acupuncture

A certified acupuncturist uses thin needles to relieve pain and pressure throughout your pet's body. Pets with back pain, arthritis, muscle spasms, a limp, or other musculoskeletal problems may benefit from this treatment.

“Although acupuncture has been around for 5,000 years, only in the last 10 to 20 years has the scientific community been able to see why this works,” says Claude D. Grosjean, a small animal veterinarian who practices integrative medicine in Southampton, NY. “There's very good research, a lot of it done in China.”

Chiropractic Treatments

Chiropractors make adjustments to the spine. Pets with neck or back problems can benefit from these treatments, just like people do. But for pets, you won’t hear cracking. There's not as much aggressive force used. “It's a gentle procedure, and it can make a great difference on the alignment of the spine,” Royal says.

Massage

Massage can improve blood circulation, reduce swelling, and help with anxiety issues. “Pets like it,” says Grosjean, who practices Tui-Na, a traditional Chinese form of massage. 

“It's a powerful therapy tool,” Royal says, “but you need someone trained in animal massage -- that's what makes the difference.”

Aromatherapy

The pleasant scents of natural oils can help pets relieve stress.

“Scent is so important in an animal's life,” Royal says. “It can change the way your brain functions, whether you're feeling alarm or discomfort.”

Because pets have a more sensitive sense of smell, ask your veterinarian for advice before trying aromatherapy.

“Pets can smell over 20 times better than we can,” Royal says. “You don't need the whole room to smell like lavender to calm them down; you don't want to overwhelm them.”

Nutrition

A better diet can improve overall health, reduce inflammation and ease symptoms of chronic diseases like arthritis.

Because dogs and cats are carnivores, the higher the protein percentage they take in, the better. Carbohydrate-rich kibble food usually isn't best for their diets. Royal recommends avoiding pet food containing corn, wheat, soy, or peanut butter. “Once you eliminate those, you're in a better tier of nutrition,” she says.  Talk to your vet before making a food change, though.

Herbs

Herbs can help calm pets. Some holistic vets prescribe the herbs chamomile, kava, or valerian to soothe animals. They may recommend complex combinations of 5 to 20 herbs that are made specifically for your pet.

“It's not a good idea to just go on the Internet, find an herbal formula, and give it to your pet,” Grosjean says. “You choose the wrong formula, you're going to make the situation a lot worse.”

source : Should you consider holistic medicine for your pet?

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5 Easy Makeup Steps to Look like You’re Not Wearing Any

Some days you want your makeup to look natural and not too “done” – at a low-key work lunch, during morning carpool, or when you’re wearing a really fancy outfit, for example.

But going bare-faced is probably not what you had in mind! With the right products and techniques, you can make the most of your natural beauty without wearing a ton of makeup.

STEP 1: Prep the Palette

Great makeup always starts with fresh skin. To fool them into thinking your luminous skin is nature’s gift, start by washing, toning, and moisturizing your face.

“Also, drink lots of water to plump the skin from the inside,” says Pittsburgh-based makeup artist Patty Bell. Skin cells are made of mostly water, and if you're dehydrated, your skin will look and feel dry, too.

Bonus tip: Don’t skimp on sunscreen just because you’re going for lighter makeup. The best choice is a lightweight, oil-free sunscreen with at least SPF 30.

STEP 2: Step Off Base

Skip the heavy foundation and even out your skin with a healthy dose of sheer color from a tinted moisturizer or BB cream.

“Applying your makeup with your fingers or makeup sponges instead of brushes will also create a more natural look,” says Mary Schook, a New York esthetician and makeup artist. Use freshly washed fingertips! Next, finish by applying translucent powder -- but only where you need it, mostly around the forehead, nose, and chin.

Bonus tip: Use a light-reflecting concealer pen on dark or red areas -- around your nose, under your eyes, on your chin. Light-reflecting concealers hide small-to-moderate imperfections without caking up.

STEP 3: Fake a Natural Flush

Work with the tones in your skin. Find a creamy blush that matches your skin’s natural flush, like after you exercise.

Or you can use your lip tone as a guide. In general, powder pinks work for fair skin tones, peachy pinks work for medium skin, and brownish pinks work for darker skin.

“Blend a dot of the blush into areas where the sun would fall on your face -- apples of your cheeks, chin, forehead, and bridge of nose,” Schook says. 

Bonus tip: For the most natural-looking flush, avoid makeup with a lot of shimmer or sparkle, which comes off as overdone. Pat the blush onto your cheeks and other areas, and then blend outward. You could also use the same cream blush on your lips.

source : 5 Easy Makeup Steps to Look like You’re Not Wearing Any

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