What You Can Learn from Animal Planet

Do you need to have the best satellite TV provider in order to receive the Animal Planet Network? Well let’s see—it’s offered by both cable and satellite services so I would say the answer is no. But you do need cable or satellite to watch it.

Your Kids Are Going To Watch TV Any Ways…

They might as well watch something educational and enjoyable. If you’re considering satellite TV for your home, you can genuinely feel good about it where your kids are concerned. There are any numbers of educational and enjoyable programming and networks available through satellite TV. Animal Planet is one of those networks. Though some images displayed may be a little brutal for both kids and adults alike; they are true to life and part of the balance of nature (and also unfortunately a sickening display of how humans sometimes treat animals). This channel covers everything from river monsters to wild animals and pets; it basically runs the gamut.

Are There Other Animal Channels or Shows?

The beauty of satellite TV is that it brings so many channels and shows to so many homes. Animal planet is probably one of the best channels to tune into if you’re interested in animals but the National Geographic channel frequently has shows about animals as well. Some of the best or favorite shows about animals are as follows: Animal Advocate Television; It’s Me Or The Dog; Animal Miracles; Dog Whisperer; Faithful Friends; Dogs With Jobs; E-Vet Interns; Wishbone; Breed All About It; That’s My Baby; and K-9 to 5. These shows air on various channels but chances are that if you’re going with any kind of satellite TV or cable provider you should be able to find them.

Whether you choose to watch Animal Planet or some other channel having something to do with animals, be sure to share the experience with the kids whenever possible. Children need to grow up understanding the lives and needs of animals all the way from those in the wild to our beloved companions.

Sourcing Pet Medicines

We all love our pets but they can be expensive especially when they encounter medical issues that require prescription medication. Thankfully help is available and you can now buy affordably medication for your pets online.

Where to Shop Online

One of the best places to shop online for pet medication is via the Canadian Pharmacy. Due to the CIPA any pet owner can have confidence that they will be able to purchase the highest quality medications for the most affordable prices.
Not only can you buy pet medications online you can also buy Plavix from Canada and a variety of other prescription medications as well too.

Before Buying Medication Online, Do This

• Always make sure that you’re purchasing medication that’s prescribed by your doctor or, if you’re purchasing medication for your pet, make sure that you possess a prescription from their veterinarian.
• Read the fine print of the online pharmacy website that you choose just so you know how long it will take that Pharmacy to ship the medication to your house.
• Choose an auto-refill option to reduce the risk of running out of your medication and then going through the painful process of having to wait for it to be refilled.

Truffles the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

In late January of 2007, my Pembroke Welsh Corgi bitch, Truffles, injured her neck by some unknown method, and as a result could not bear weight on her left front leg.  Truffles was prescribed six weeks of crate rest, prednisone, and pain killers, but the treatment that most facilitated her recovery was the acupuncture and Chinese herbs prescribed by her holistic vet, Dr. Tracy Lord.  Truffles continues to this day to see Dr. Lord for acupuncture, chiropractic and other holistic treatments.  Truffles recovered fully and returned to tracking in the late spring of 2007.

On Sunday, August 2, 2009, at the Tracking Club of Maine’s Variable Surface Tracking Test, held at Colby College in Waterville, ME, Truffles, now age 10, passed on Track 3 under judges Ed Presnall and Mary Thompson, to earn her VST title and with it the title of Champion Tracker (CT). To earn this title a dog must obtain all three AKC tracking titles–Tracking Dog (TD), Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) and Variable Surface Tracking (VST). The CT title says to the world that she has demonstrated proficiency in following human scent in open fields, over obstacles and at age, and in urban conditions including through parking lots, sidewalks and around buildings.  Truffles’ track was 657 yards long, 3 hours 10 minutes old, and it took her 31 minutes to complete.

Truffles is now CT Heronsway Harbor Sweets, CDX, VST, AX, AXJ, VCX.  She will be seeing Dr. Lord on Wednesday, as usual.

Michele Gillette, Hanover, VA

Holistic Veterinary Medicine

What is holistic veterinary medicine?

Holistic medicine is a term that means different things to different people. I call myself a holistic practitioner and by that I mean to convey two different things. First is that I look at the whole of the animal and work to come to a treatment plan that will benefit my entire patient and not just address one presenting complaint. Secondly, I will use the whole of medicine to come up with the best treatment plan possible.

Many veterinarians use different terms to convey this same or a similar sentiment. Alternative veterinary medicine, complimentary veterinary medicine, integrative veterinary medicine are but some of the different terms you may come across. I could use any of them comfortably but I feel that holistic medicine best conveys my attitude toward medicine.

Many of my patients come to me from conventional practices and are already involved with a treatment plan. Arthritis cases are on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, seizure cases on phenobarbital, neurologic and cancer cases have often been prescribed steroids. And I do not feel that these animals have necessarily been done a disservice or that the conventional medications are even a big problem. My ultimate goal in practice is to improve the quality of life of my patients, and if that means steroids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, seizure medication or the like- they should have them. Western medicine is not the enemy. It is, however, but one of the many branches of medicine, and in many cases, it does not have all of the answers.

I will not typically pull animals off of previously prescribed medications when they come to me. This is assuming that what is presently prescribed is actually improving the overall quality of the patients lives. In such cases, I will often begin by adding in supplements, herbals, spinal manipulation, acupuncture, and/or homotoxicology remedies; and addressing diet and lifestyle issues in an effort to further improvements or decrease the dependence on the conventional medications. It is only after we see gains, or I feel that an animal is stabilized with the complementary modalities that I will talk to clients and often their regular veterianarians about reassessing the need for conventional medications.

The modalities chosen to achieve this end can depend on the presenting condition of concern, the patients overall condition and energy, owners constraints, and animal temperament. Some animals have conditions that would likely benefit greatly from acupuncture or manipulation, but the animal is not one who will do well with repeated visits to the veterinary office. Others will not take supplements/medications from their owners at home which limits choices of treatments to compliment the in hands on therapies. All cases have their challenges, but ultimately I need to be able to look each animal in the eye and feel confident that what I am doing is a part of a treatment plan aimed at health.

We must always remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of life that makes it so precious.

What is VetLord? Holistic Health Care for Pets.

VetLord.org is a site dedicated to the health and well-being of our furry loved ones. Dr. Tracy Lord D.V.M. has introduced many of us to a whole new world of veterinary medicine and holistic health care for our pets. Her knowledge of Eastern and Western medicine opens up many possibilities for treatment that we didn’t have before finding her.

Those of us that bring our four-legged family members to see Dr. Lord are very excited she’s decided to contribute to this site. I hope all of you find VetLord.org useful and encouraging.

Be sure to seek a qualified Veterinary professional if your pet is in need of treatment. Dr. Lord is unable to offer treatment or advise without seeing patients directly. Do not attempt to treat or diagnose your pets based on what you read here or anywhere, find a qualified professional.

Thanks Dr. Lord for sharing your unique knowledge with all of us!