Originally published August 17 2008
Monitor Your Pet's Litter Box or Back Yard Deposits for Clues to Their Health
by Susan Thixton
(NaturalNews) As much 'fun' as it is to clean the litter box or pick up the 'land mines' in the back yard, the clean up provides you with an opportunity to monitor your pet's health. The trick is to first learn what normal elimination behavior is, and then any changes in normal are an early alert to a possible problem.
I used to own a kennel in Louisville, KY that kept upwards of 40 animals every day. Let me tell you, when you are cleaning up after 40 or so dogs every day, you find some interesting things in what you pick up. The most amazing thing I found was a regular size, completely in tact Popsicle stick. Ouch! And I always found brightly colored remains from dogs that had snacked on crayons.
The cleanup provides you with all sorts of information. As my dog kennel experience proves, you can learn what your pet is having for their in-between-meal snacks. Busy lifestyles often prevent dog and cat owners from knowing exactly what their pet might snack on. Finding popsicle sticks, crayons, or anything else in the 'deposit' gives you information of what needs to be removed from their access around the house. And learning what you need to keep them away from could save you an expensive vet bill and possibly their life. A popsicle stick or swallowed ribbon can easily puncture the intestinal wall or become entangled and cause a dangerous obstruction. An obstruction not caught early can kill your pet. Monitor what is normally 'deposited' in the yard or litter box each day; any variation of the normal activity can be an early warning sign of a problem. The point is to know what is normal elimination for your pet.
If the above didn't give you enough encouragement to monitor what comes out of the back end of your pet, let me give you a little more. In this scary time of pet food recalls, tainted ingredients from China, sick/diseased slaughter animals processed into pet food, and so on -- regular litter box and back yard clean up could alert you to bad dog food or cat food. The body -- pet body and human body -- is a wonderful thing. Something bad goes in, often times the body knows to quickly get rid of the 'stuff' by any means possible. Loose stools could be a minor tummy ache or it could prove to be an early warning sign of a problem.
Get over the yucky attitude to cleaning up after your dog or cat. There's a great deal of information to be learned 'there'. It could prove to be a life saver!
Wishing you and your pet the best,
Susan Thixton
About the author
Susan Thixton has an international pet people following providing dog and cat lovers a trusted source for pet food and pet food ingredient information. She's been called courageous, perseverant, even "the Caped Crusader for Pets" for her 16 year study of pet food. Susan Thixton is the author of hundreds of pet industry articles and the 2006 released book Truth About Pet Food (currently being updated for a second edition). She developed and publishes the pet product consumer magazine Petsumer Report and is a frequent speaker and radio guest all over the U.S. and Canada with more than 70 appearances in the last 2 years.
If you are looking for straight forward pet food information that can have an almost immediate impact on your pet's health - subscribe to the free newsletter, and subscribe to Petsumer Report to see reviews of close to 700 dog and cat foods and treats (adding 40+ each month). Susan Thixton's 'truth' will help you find a safer, healthier dog or cat food that could add years to your pet's life. http://www.TruthAboutPetFood.com
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