Heat Stroke for Dogs

I recently talked to a pet owner who caused Heat
Stroke in his dog by throwing a ball.
It was hot and humid ( in Southern Ontario)
His dog is a mixed Northern Breed, who has some
difficulty cooling himself down.

BUT…
it happened fast..in less than 30 minutes. His dog collapsed, so he NEEDED to act quick. Fortunately this wise pet owner has a copy of Pet First Aid Secrets, and knew WHAT to do.

You can grab your copy here: http://www.petfirstaidsecrets.com

Here is WHAT you need to know:
———-
SIGNS
———-
The signs depend upon the extent of heat stroke. In the early stages, your pet will pant rapidly, have thick, ropy saliva, and have bright red gums.   His body temperature will be between 104 to 106 Fahrenheit. As the body temperature climbs above 106, your pet will go into shock with subsequent organ shutdown.

He will have Pale gums, be weak and dizzy, with vomiting and diarrhea.
The brain becomes affected and he may seizure or fall into a coma. In this case he requires immediate, life saving veterinary intervention.

———-
CAUSES
———-
Being in a hot car. Never leave your pet in a parked car in sunlight. The car heats up to be like a sauna even on mild days.  Excessive exercise on a hot day. Minimize exercise in the heat of the day. Avoid exercising your dog in unusually hot or humid conditions especially at the start of summer. Most heat stroke cases are seen at the start of summer.

————–
SOLUTIONS
————–
AWAY FROM THE HEAT. Remove your pet from the hot environment. Get him out of the car and away from the sun.

TO THE VET ASAP. If you suspect severe heat stroke and your pet has collapsed, then get your pet immediate veterinary care. In this case, the organs may be shutting down and he needs specialized care to survive. While in transit it is important to continue to apply cool wet towels to the back of the neck WHAT’S THE TEMP? Use a rectal thermometer and find your pet’s exact temperature. If it is 104 or higher, then he has heat stroke, and you need to take action.

COOL DOWN. Run cold water over the back of your pet’s head. Place cold packs wrapped in towels between the back legs, on the belly and in the
arm pits. Wet towels can be used instead. You can use a garden hose to run the water over the back of his head.

ALCOHOL SOLUTION. Rubbing alcohol will also speed up heat loss- it can be applied to the belly and groin and cool as it evaporates. Liberally spread it on the skin… the most important thing is reducing the temperature
in a controlled way.

DON’T IMMERSE IN COLD WATER. This treatment does bring your pet’s temperature down but tends to overcorrect it and then your pet may be seriously unwell, cold and wet.

By Dr. Andrew Jones, http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com/course

Doctors Recommend Adding Statins to Fast Food

“You want statins with that?”
Could you be hearing that phrase uttered at a McDonald’s near you?
If a group of British cardiologists has their way, every Quarter Pounder, Big Mac, milkshake, and order of fries will be sprinkled with the drug.

Because, you know, people aren’t going to make healthy choices for themselves, so might as well let some drugs do the work of “neutralizing the risk” of cardiovascular disease that’s brought on by bad eating habits.

Am I going crazy? Is this something that real doctors actually came up with as a viable option for combating heart disease?

You know, we all thought the whole “statins for everyone!” proposal was nutso, but this is pure insanity. I keep hoping it’s all some elaborate joke, set up to point out the ridiculous downward spiral we’re on with this philosophy of drugging everything and everyone.

But from what I can tell, it’s a real proposal. One of the doctors pointed out that “harmful condiments” are provided free, but that people think “this one simple, potentially protective additive would be crazy to add.”

Well, I guess it makes sense to people who don’t consider statins harmful — I’m not one of those people.

The recommendation is based on a study in which researchers compared the increase in risk of heart disease associated with a fast-food meal and the reduction in risk provided by statins. They determined that statin use is powerful enough to offset the increased risk of downing a Quarter Pounder with cheese washed down with a small milkshake.

But did they ever discuss anything like diabetes, kidney failure, cataracts, liver damage, muscle weakness, or any of the other horrible risks associated with those “protective” statins?

Of course not — they’re so blinded by the “miracle” of modern medicine that they don’t think twice about putting statins on the menu right next to the McNuggets sauce options.

There has been some speculation that the whole thing is a bit of a joke. The abstract for the study doesn’t lend itself to that theory, though — nor does, you know, the fact that it was published in a respectable medical journal.

I’m sorry, but there isn’t an “easy fix” for everything. There’s no workaround for eating calorie-, chemical-, and fat-laden junk food.

We can’t just do whatever we want and take a magic pill to counteract the ill effects of bad decisions.  And it’s shameful that doctors are supporting that very line of thinking.

Thanks to Christine O’Brien for brining this to our attention!  http://www.wrightnewsletter.com

Protect Your Pet from Theft

From parking lots to pet stores and even backyards, dog thefts are on the rise. Thefts range from tiny puppies being stuffed into purses at pet stores to, most recently, purebred pets being snatched from cars in parking lots and shelters.
The AKC offers the following advice to prevent your “best friend” from being a target of a crime:

At Home
Don’t let your dog off-leash or unattended in your yard. Keeping your dog close to you reduces the likelihood it will wander off and catch the attention of thieves. A Saint Bernard that had wandered away from his owner in Nebraska was snatched up right off the road.

Breeders need to be aware of home visits by potential puppy buyers. From Yorkies in Los Angeles to Bulldogs in Connecticut, thieves posing as would be “puppy buyers” have visited breeder homes to snatch dogs, while other homes have been burglarized when the owner was away.

On the Road
Never leave your dog in an unattended car, even if it’s locked.  Don’t tie your dog outside a store. This popular practice among city dwelling dog owners can be a recipe for disaster. Reports have surfaced of such thefts in Manhattan.

Be vigilant. Always remain aware of your surroundings when entering or leaving any dog-friendly establishments.

Recovery
Protect your dog with microchip identification. Collars and tags can be removed so make sure you have permanent ID with a microchip. Keep contact information current with your recovery service provider. For more information and to enroll your pet in a 24 hour recovery service visit http://www.akccar.org/.

If you suspect your dog has been stolen. Immediately call the police / animal controland pet shelters in the area your pet was last seen.

Have fliers with a recent photo ready to go if your dog goes missing. Keep a photo of your dog in your wallet or on an easily accessible web account so that you can distribute it immediately if your pet goes missing.

Information provided by the American Kennel Club, http://www.akc.org/enewsletter/yourakc/2010/safety/theft.cfm

A Dressage Rider’s Challenge and Discovery Process

This is an unusual post but I think you’ll enjoy it – and I know that all sport horse competitors can relate! It’s the story of a young woman’s journey with her horse through their dressage competitions.

You may know that I help people struggling with all kinds of training, behavior and health problems, but this is the type of situation I love working with the most because it’s so much fun (and easy) to help riders break through so they can advance to the next level!

Your Assignment: Read her story. Can you spot at least 10 things she’s doing wrong? What would you tell her? Be sure and leave your comments below!

If I worked with her, I would help her better understand her horse and what is going wrong, and what to do to get back on track quickly and easily. And, once we get to the root of the problem, they’ll get their confidence and joy back.

Riding Dressage is a true joy, for you and your horse – when it’s done right. And it’s a frustrating nightmare when it’s not.

Horses are sensitive, intuitive beings who communicate honestly from their hearts, doing the best they can with what you give them to work with.

Did you know they can see what’s in your mind’s eye and feel what you’re feeling? It has been proven many times that they respond very well to telepathic cues from their riders, and that the mental and energetic information is what makes the verbal, seat, leg and hand cues make sense.

I teach my clients how to fine tune their riding skills and open the channels of communication.

It’s amazing what we can learn when we know how to ask our Master Equine Teachers directly for their feedback and assistance.

Her Story:

“This year, I knew I was going to do well at the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) regional championships. But then again, I have known it before. A couple of years ago, my horse, Giovanni, was 6, and we were going First Level. We had won most of our classes with some good scores in the high 60s, so I thought I’d continue that trend at the championships. When we got to NEDA, the horse felt great and we won a few classes before the big day. But when I got into the ring for The Championship, I got tense and tight and, well, need I say more? We ended up just out of the ribbons.

But, that wasn’t the part that haunted me. Why, when it mattered the most, would I clamp up like that? What was the trick to staying calm and relaxed when under stress, when the ante is upped, when there’s a lot at stake?

The next year at Second Level I actually didn’t think we were winning material for the championships. In fact, I debated whether we should go at all. The season itself had been fine. We had won some classes, and we had gotten some good scores in the high 60s, but never in the qualifying class, Second Level-4. We had just barely qualified, and I knew we weren’t solidly Second Level. Together with my trainer, we decided that if we qualified we should go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The championship class went OK, not great, and we were seventh out of 14. A little lackluster, but that was no surprise. I went home, licked my wounds, and told myself that next year would be better.

My horse needed to get stronger, so that he could really engage and carry himself, and I needed to learn how to ride him that way. We had a good winter working on building muscle and confidence. We varied his work to keep him interested. In addition to his usual work, we did ground work. He learned how to longe, using two longe lines–one leading from the bridle on the off side and the other around his rump. I hacked him around the perimeter of fields, we worked over cavallettis and sometimes we jumped. He was going better and better. When my trainer would ride him, I would marvel at how wonderful he looked, carrying himself like an FEI horse in the making.

Then spring and summer came. We only went to a couple of shows but we did well. We won some classes with respectable scores in Second Level-4. He was feeling smooth, soft, round, powerful. People told me he looked great. Everything was lining up. Best of all, I could stay relaxed in the show ring.

Preparing for the championship test, there was only one movement that kept me awake at night. I had to be really careful of the medium canter left. If I wasn’t, if I didn’t keep him really honest on the outside rein and keep him coming with my inside leg, he could throw in a flying change. And the turn on the haunches could be a little dicey, too. Sometimes my trainer was amazed at how good they were, and other times she would yell about half halts and activity and just get beside herself with what was or wasn’t happening.

My favorite part of the test is the shoulder in to renvers. I used to think it was impossibly hard, but it began to feel easy and even graceful. The canter serpentine with the simple changes every time we crossed the centerline were “in the bag,” we nailed those. He floated down to the walk like a snowflake. My centerlines are good too, usually 8s. If only I could do the whole test in straight lines.

Well, there was one other tiny problem I was worried about: My medium trot needed to be better. It needed to cover more ground, and without a whip I was going to be at a real disadvantage. I’ve already told you about the medium canter left that I had to ride conservatively or else I’d get the change for sure, but the one to the right wasn’t bad because I can actually half halt on the left rein.

With all these problems, you may be saying it’s amazing she thought she could do well. But schooling at home and at the shows we went to, there were times when everything came together. If I could get him active and swinging up into my hand in the warm-up and then stay calm myself, we could put in a decent test.

The big day came, and somehow, in spite of all my promises to myself, tension crept into my ride, into my body, down my arms and into the horse. David Collins, who sees these things, told me later that the horse looked tense and as if he didn’t understand what was being asked of him.

You’ve probably guessed that the test went pretty much the way I’d feared, but with a few unforeseen things thrown in. I had wound my horse up so much in the warm-up that even though he still felt behind my leg, he threw in a few trot steps in the downward transition from canter to walk. Because I locked up in various parts of my body, I made him come behind the vertical in the shoulder in and renvers, and he lost tempo, so even my “in the bag” moves weren’t their normal selves. There was no flying change in the medium canter left, but no real medium canter either. Right was better.

Basically, when I dropped the whip at A, that was the beginning of the end. I managed to trot energetically down the centerline, halted square and grew roots, which I tried to shake for the rest of the test. We ended up with a 60 percent from all three judges and solidly in the middle of the pack. Disappointing doesn’t even begin to cover it. We can do so much better than that.

So we certainly did not come home covered in glory, as my British friend used to say. Now what? What am I to think? Have we really made no progress this last year? This sent me into a tailspin. Not about the horse–he’s fine, it’s all me. He only goes the way he’s ridden. He’s an extremely honest horse who responds to the aids the way they are given. I wondered if I was the right rider for him. I wanted to be realistic with myself. So it was time to pull the boat out of the water and take a good look at the bottom in broad daylight.

Dressage is a thinking sport to some degree, and I keep trying to analyze what went wrong. I know we made progress last year, and just because things weren’t at their best at one show, it doesn’t cancel out all the good. For instance, he still has all that good muscle we put on. I still have our blue ribbons and tests to prove it.

I’ve decided that, for better or worse, I’m his rider. I love to ride him, and I want to learn how to ride him better. Even though dressage can be frustrating, I’m pretty much addicted. I feel lucky to have such a passion for something. This is the process. Do I enjoy it? Yes, I do.”

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One thing this dressage competitor has going for her is her love of the game and her horse. She has faith in her horse and is on the right track by understanding that the issue lies in her, and that her horse is simply mirroring her. She’s got some work to do on herself.

I’m confident that if she chose to work with me, that they’d be in the ribbons next year! And have a blast doing it.

If you’re having trouble with your horse, can’t seem to advance in your sport, or have lost the joy of riding and competing, contact me. I can help.

10 Relationship Trends That Must Be Stopped…

If there’s one common question we hear from people who have ended their relationships (or their partners ended them), it’s this…

“Is there anything I could have done differently to save my relationship?”

We’ve discovered that it’s not what you do at the last minute when your relationship’s in big trouble that makes
a difference…

It’s what you both do along the way to keep creating the relationship that you want that keeps it alive and healthy.

With that in mind, we’ve noticed some disturbing trends in relationships that can and do lead to their end.

Here are 10 trends that must be stopped if you want to keep your relationship growing deeper and more connected…

Trend #1 That MUST Be Stopped:

1. Texting while having dinner or in a conversation with someone you love.
While we love technology, we also know about being present, truly present, when you’re with someone you love. And texting or scrolling through your IPhone while your loved one is talking is not being present.

In fact, this shows your loved one that the other person or topic is more important to you than he or she is. You might argue the point, but the fact is you are sending the message, sometimes over and over, with your actions. And actions speak louder than words.

Trend # 2. Flirting with people other than your partner.

Whether it’s on Facebook with someone you graduated with or a co-worker, what you might call innocent flirting can get out of hand pretty quickly. You can end up confiding in this other person more than you do your partner. You can end up spending a lot more of your thoughts on the other person than you do on your partner.This is certainly a recipe for relationship disaster.

If you find that you’re nurturing a relationship outside your main relationship to a greater depth than you are with your partner, stop and get conscious of what you’re doing. Take responsibility for where your flirting could be heading.

Trend # 3. One or both people “talk on eggshells.”

When one person is afraid to be truthful and holds back part of himself or herself, there’s no chance intimacy and connection can grow. You might think that holding back so you don’t hurt the other person’s feelings or not “rock the boat” is keeping the peace.

The problem is that these feelings don’t go away and they eventually come out in ways that are not very pleasant. There are ways to say it and still keep your connection.

Trend # 4….  Bitching and complaining about your partner with friends, family or co-workers.

While it can feel really good to get something your partner did off your chest while you’re talking with a sympathetic friend, it can do damage to your relationship if that’s ALL you do about it. Bitching and moaning keeps you in the victim mode and doesn’t help your situation. We’re not saying that sometimes you can get good insights when you talk with a friend, but be sure that that is your intention instead of wanting validation that you’re right.
And be sure that you address the problem with your partner so the two of you can understand one another.

Trend # 5. Not spending enough time together.

If there’s one thing we preach it’s that in order for your relationship to stay alive and filled with passion, you have to spend time together. You can’t keep putting everything else in your life before your relationship and expect that it will survive, let alone thrive. Get your priorities straight and live accordingly even if you think it’s impossible right now.

Trend # 6. Making reality shows more important than your reality.

The latest trend for television seems to be reality shows and it wouldn’t be that way if we all didn’t fill our hours watching them. Now there’s certainly nothing wrong with vegging out in front of the television–and nothing wrong
with reality shows. But when these shows become more important to you than you living your life, then there’s a problem. If you find yourself caring more about the Jersey Shore women or the contestants on “So You Think You Can Dance,” “American Idol” or Susie’s favorite “Dancing With The Stars” than you do about the people in your life…

Get a grip and start living in your life.

Trend # 7… How predominant the “blame game” is.

We’ve always blamed each other from the dawn of existence. It’s just human nature to point the finger outward at the other person when things don’t go according to how we think they should. Even though blame is normal and natural, the only thing it does is separate the two of you and create resentment that just doesn’t go away.

How do you stop the “blame game”? You just stop. You go on a no-blame diet even if the other person doesn’t. You just don’t allow yourself to blame. This doesn’t mean you’re a doormat. It just means that you’re going to opento connection and finding creative ways to resolve your differences.

Trend # 8 That MUST Be Stopped….

Deciding on divorce before discussion. Most people mull over divorce for many years before they actually take steps toward it. Sometimes they mull it over so thoroughly in their minds, they don’t give the partner clues that they aren’t happy. We encourage you to be proactive in making your relationship what you want it to be–and include your partner in making it better–before it’s too late.

Our “Should You Stay or Should You Go?” at http://www.stayorgo.com has been used by couples to help them get clear about what they each want and whether they want to move forward together or not. When people make this decision alone, it’s usually gone too far and the relationship’s beyond repair. Get help before it’s too late if this describes you.

Trend # 9… Allowing passion and connection to die.

We believe passion doesn’t have to die, no matter how old the relationship or the two people are–if that’s what they want. There can certainly be an ebb and flow to passion in a relationship as the two people move through various life stages–children, care of elderly parents, job changes, changes in physical body and health.

But through all this, no matter what happens or doesn’t happen in the bedroom, keeping some consistent element of intimate connection is essential to the health of the relationship. Now of course this varies for each couple, but what we know for sure is that if you’ve been neglecting this aspect of your life, start paying it some attention.

And Finally…

# 10. Dishonoring and Disrespecting each other.

Over the years studying relationships, we’ve witnessed a very disturbing trend that drives a wedge between the two people. That trend is when one or both people– in trying to be cute, funny or for whatever reason– tear down or make fun of the other person in public.

The person who is the object of ridicule, even though it may be done as “kidding,” feels dishonored, not supported and not respected– and just plain embarrassed. While ridicule and poking fun at someone might be funny on an “open mic” stage, it’s not funny in real life. If you’ve used this as a way to relate to others, stop and get conscious of how this might feel to them. If you’ve been the object of this kind of treatment, tell your partner that you don’t feel respected.

Our wish for you is long, healthy relationships and we invite you to not be part of perpetuating these 10 trends that kill relationships.

Many thanks to Susie and Otto Collins, http://www.collinspartners.com/

What Listening to Your Cat Can Tell You

Additionally, cats are natural healers.  Did you know that their purring resonates at a vibration that can heal the human body?  And, cats know when something is amiss in your body as well.  It is important to pay attention to whether your cat sits or curls up next to you in the same place repeatedly and if they begin to purr.

Cats also let you know in their own subtle way if something if wrong with them.  Learning to communicate with your cats on a daily basis could actually save either your own life or theirs.

In the Swim: Dog Water Safety

There’s nothing like a refreshing swim in a pool, ocean or even the nearby swimming hole to cool yourself off and really get into summertime swing of things, not to mention give yourself a decent aerobic workout. But when you decide to take a dip, do you leave your dog at home? Perhaps you should reconsider, and bring him along. If you do, though, be prepared to teach him how to swim.

“Some dogs don’t know how to swim,” explains Kelly Armstrong, a trainer who teaches doggie swimming lessons every summer at Camp Gone to the Dogs in Marlboro and Stowe, Vermont. “They will only paddle with their front legs. When this happens, their rear sinks, they become totally vertical and increasingly frantic, and can actually drown.” In addition, some breeds have bodies designed for swimming, while others are built in ways that make swimming more of a challenge.

That said, almost any dog can be taught to at least tolerate the water, and often to really enjoy it. Here’s how to help yours do so safely:

No sink or swim. “Definitely do not just throw your dog into the water,” warns Armstrong. “Dogs can drown. Be positive and don’t be frustrated if your dog doesn’t seem to enjoy the water as much as you’d like him to.”

Make it a group effort. Some dogs will go into a pool, pond or other water body without hesitation the very first time they see one, but many others need a little help from their friends. “For some dogs, just letting them play in a gently sloping pond or pool with steps with dogs that love to swim is all it takes,” says Armstrong. “Other dogs will follow their owner into the water with encouragement, food or toys.”

Float his boat. Dense-bodied, short-legged dogs such as Pugs and Bulldogs may have trouble staying afloat. For these breeds and any other dog who’s floatationally challenged, a life jacket can help. “Quality canine life jackets provide greater visibility, greater buoyancy and a means to control or lift a dog out of the water in an emergency,” says Deborah Lee Miller-Riley, an instructor who teaches swimming and water sports to dogs and their people in Monroe, Connecticut. Life jackets are also important if you and your dog are boating; if he goes overboard unexpectedly, the handle atop the jacket will help you hoist him out of the water.

Help him out. A dog may have a great time swimming in a pool but be unable to figure out how to leave that pool. Grab his life jacket handle or direct him to the pool steps or ramp so that he can make his exit. And no matter where he’s swimming, watch for signs that he’s getting tired, such as heavier breathing or increased splashing while paddling.
Hose him down. Remember how your hair and skin feel if you don’t rinse chlorinated water or salt water off your hair and skin after a swim? Your dog’s coat and skin may feel equally icky — dry, gummy hair and irritated skin — if pool or ocean water dries on them. After every dip in the pool or splash session in the ocean, rinse your dog thoroughly and towel him as dry as possible.

Ever since Susan McCullough introduced her Golden Retriever, Allie, to the joys of swimming, they both hit the water whenever they get the chance. They live in Vienna, Virginia.

This information was brought to us by Susan McCullough

Common Cat Supplement Questions

There are two common Cat Supplement questions:

Is it NATURAL? Does Holistic MATTER?

YES and YES.

As a concerned cat owner, you should be avoiding as many ’un-natural’  ingredients as possible.

Here is what you should be looking for in a Quality, natural supplement:

1.  In choosing a natural supplement, ensure that none of these are on the label:

* No wheat,
* No Soy,
* No Dairy,
* No Sugar,
* No Artificial Ingredients,
* No additives
* and NO fillers.

2.  The ingredients should be derived from Natural Sources- if you can’t pronounce them, then they probably are NOT natural. Some of the more common Natural ingredients, include Vitamins, Minerals, Flax, Fish Oil, Amino Acids- plus both naturally derived animal and plant related components. This includes ingredients such as Herbs, Mushrooms, Colostrum, Glucosamine, and Digestive enzymes.

3.Ensure that the supplement is NATURALLY preserved. Vitamin E and being ‘air tight’ is the preservative of choice. AVOID BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin.

4. Natural flavor and color- If the supplement is chemically flavored or colored DON’T use it.

Here is a List of the NATURAL Ingredients:

Complete Vitamin Blend and Complete Mineral Blend

JOINT SUPPORT BLEND
* Glucosamine HC l
* Chondoitin Sulfate
* MSM (methylsulfonyl methane)

PREBIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS BLEND
* Fructooligosaccharides
* L. acidophilus
* L. Bifidum
* B. Longum,
* L. Rhamnosus
* S. Thermophilus
* B. Brevis
* L. Bulgaricus

KEY AMINO ACIDS BLEND
* l-lysine
* l-methionine
* l-arginine
* l-taurine

KEY IMMUNE PROTECTIVE BLEND
* Bovine colostrum
* Inositol hexaphosphate
* Aloe vera
* Maiitake

Information provided by the staff of http://www.thecatsupplement.com

Study Explores How Horses View the World

On the trail, in the dressage arena, at the racetrack, on the cross-country train–wherever horses may be, we’ve all seen it: the “Spook”–that sudden, bolting reaction of shock so particular to our equine friends. It might be because some animal runs up, or some object is blown in by the wind, taking the horse by surprise. But sometimes it’s just something you’re sure they’ve seen many times before–so why spook about it now? New research at the Aptos, California-based Equine Research Foundation (ERF) now has answers to that question.

According to Evelyn B. Hanggi, MS, PhD, co-director of the ERF, one theory about spooking is that objects appear different to horses when viewed from various angles. Hence, a mailbox, a sign, or a pile of bars could take on new characteristics when viewed from another side. “What we wanted to know was whether the horses could understand that the parts equal the whole,” she said.

Hanggi believed they could. “If not, they would spend much of their time spooking and running away from everything,” she said.

To test her theory, she established an experiment in which horses were trained through positive reinforcement to select one of two toys: a lizard rather than a dinosaur; a mower instead of a wheelbarrow; and a tractor instead of a truck. Initially these objects were always placed in the same position. But once the horses were well-trained, Hanggi started rotating the objects to see if they could still identify the “correct” choice. Positions included backward, sideways, and upside-down.

The results indicated that, overall, the horses immediately recognized the objects from many novel viewpoints, although results varied from one horse to another, and some rotations were more difficult to recognize than others, Hanggi said. Specifically, they performed best when the objects were upright instead of upside down.

“This suggests that the horses were using specific, familiar features that they learned initially in the training, when making their decisions,” said Hanggi. “Their ability to perform correctly appears to be crucially linked to being allowed to observe and learn about the objects first.”

The results suggest that horses that are allowed to look around and discover, whether under saddle or at rest, will be more apt to recognize objects from different angles later and might be less likely to react adversely to them, she said.

Prior ERF research has already disproved another possible explanation for spooking: the theory that horses do not recognize objects with one eye that they had previously seen earlier with the other eye only, Hanggi said.

Brought to you by several contributing authors associated with http://www.thehorse.com

Kneading: Why Do Cats Do That?

Kneading is the very distinct gentle pummeling action most cats do with their paws on the chests of their people and upon soft surfaces around the house.

Kneading or “milk threading” as it’s often referred to is an endearing leftover from kittenhood. When a kitten is nursing, it typically kneads its paws against the mother both to encourage milk flow and to enjoy the comforting feeling of being close to mom.

Adult cats still find deep comfort in mimicking and possibly remembering this early nurturing. Some suggest kneading is also a way for a cat to deposit its personal scent around their territory because they have scent glands in the pads of their front paws. That makes you part of their territory!

Brought to you by the cat loving staff at http://www.catsexclusive.com