Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Cat - Natural Cures for Constipation

Natural cures for constipation require a combination of lifestyle and dietary changes. Unlike medicinal and other treatment methods, natural cures are simple and easy to practice, and also have less negative side effects. Often these natural cures enable one to completely eliminate infrequent and mild constipation.

Dietary changes include consuming fibers which are present in raw fruit (like bananas, apples, papaya, grapes and oranges) and vegetables, whole grains and pulses, and drinking plenty of water (minimum 8 glasses per day). Avoid alcohol, highly processed/junk foods and caffeine as they cause dehydration. Avoid drugs as much as you can.

Guava with seeds, due to its roughness, can give relief to constipation. Giving bran cereal to infants and children can help in safeguarding them from constipation. Drinking of milk with extra sugar or honey can also help in elders. Daily exercises are important in preventing constipation. You do not need to exercise vigorously; walking 30 to 40 minutes daily will be enough.

There are many natural laxatives available in the market to cure constipation. These laxatives make the bowel wall muscles relax, and reduce anxiety and tension. They also enhance liver and gall bladder functioning, and promote bile flow, which improves digestion of food.

The use of herbs, which was once practiced only by tribes and some cultures over the world, is becoming more and more popular in natural constipation treatments. Most of these herbs have laxative properties, which promote digestion and act as a liver tonic. The most used herbs are Aloe Vera, Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) and Passiflora species. These herbs can be used for both chronic and occasional constipation. Almost all of them do not have any side effect.

Herbal products from these herbs are available in tablet forms as well. Each tablet includes a definite amount of high quality fresh herbs. Thus you can change your dosage according to the state of the constipation. Most of these tablets can be used in conjunction with digestion tonics.

Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affiliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious? .

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely

Cat - Cat Health Dangers When Vaccinated

Cat health is important. When we have a new pet in the house, most of us know that a full set of vaccinations is the first need for a new kitten. We ourselves receive many vaccinations as children against many diseases and illnesses.

However, some veterinarians are beginning to take a stand against the rate at which we vaccinate dog and cat species and consider vaccines dangerous to the animal's health.

In the past, felines were vaccinated against distemper and rabies. Slowly, more vaccines for cat health have been added to the list. Individuals are often afraid that if their pet doesn't receive its vaccinations, it may contract a fatal disease.

Some feline diseases can be transmitted to humans. However, it's interesting to note that the rate of disease in cats has increased over time regardless of these vaccinations. Many veterinarians are noting that our pets aren't as healthy as in times past and that the cats' lifespan is shorter.

Today, many veterinarians skilled in cat health suggest shots for distemper in felines, Chlamydia, and one to prevent an upper respiratory infection known as rhinotracheitis, to name but a few. All of these vaccines are repeated year after year for the lifespan of your cat. Are our cats getting too much of what we believe to be a good thing? Think about it.

Would you want to be vaccinated for chicken pox every year of your life? One would think there would be some adverse effects from too much vaccination. Reports show that most of the illnesses that veterinarians deal with on a daily basis have roots in over-vaccination. Homeopathy has a term for this: Vaccinosis.

In Celeste Yarnall's book Cat Care, Naturally, Dr. Jeff Levy, DVM explains the evolution of new diseases that stem from vaccinosis: "I believe that feline leukemia evolved because of vaccination for panleukopenia. Then with the vaccination for feline leukemia, the cat just came up with a different disease, FIV (Feline AIDS).

You can see this in vaccinated cats that later turn up with all the symptoms of feline leukemia but still test negative. The disease is coming from the cat, and each subsequent incarnation that is necessitated by vaccination."

Allopathic medicine and the greed of the pharmaceutical industry are as harmful to our pets as it is to us. The same companies who are selling the vaccines fund the schools that are training new veterinarians. Only a handful of veterinarians are brave enough to dare to step outside those boundaries and practice holistic medicine on animals.

Over the years, humans have suffered as well from over-vaccination. Leukemia, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and many other diseases are a result of the negative effects of vaccination.

Yarnell also quotes studies of the smallpox vaccine in humans as having been harmful. She claims, "Smallpox (along with other infectious diseases, including diphtheria and scarlet fever) declined with sanitation reforms instituted in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

Government health records from all over the world showed that, during the most intensive periods of vaccination, the incidence and death rate attributed to smallpox increased, though these statistics were actually on the decline when vaccination began."

So what are we as pet owners supposed to do? Rely on your veterinarian's advice regarding cat health because veterinarians are the professionals and should know what they're doing. If your cat is an indoor cat, then you may be safe in only getting the initial shots when your cat is a kitten.

If your cat is an outdoor cat and encounters other cats often, then you might consider a little more protection. Alternatively, you could find a veterinarian who practices holistic medicine and find out what alternatives are available to help your cat live a healthier and longer life.