Pet The World

As a respected art and science, animal communication has been around for perhaps 100 years, although most people may have heard of it only recently. An understanding of animal communication–interspecies communication between humans and their pets or other animals–must begin with the understanding that animals, like humans, have personalities and feelings, preferences, opinions, and misperceptions; they think and make choices; they, like us, want to be happy.

What does an animal communicator do? Think of an animal communicator (who will be a “she” here, for simplicity’s sake) as a facilitator or mediator between the human and the animal. She has an intelligent conversation with this sentient being who cannot communicate through human speech–but can communicate nevertheless.

She may be called upon to assist with a variety of situations, including behavioral problems; relationships with people and other pets; stressful situations such as a move, the family going on vacation, or the death of a human companion; or, often, when a pet is lost and her skills are needed to locate it. In this case, if the pet has died, the animal communicator will be able to determine this, too.

Animal communication can occur in person, over the phone, or through e-mail; each animal communicator will have her preferred method, although other variables, such as distance from the client, may factor in. She will need the name, age, species, breed, and description; she may ask for a picture of the animal. Some animal communicators prefer to work with the pet alone, or the human client may play an active part in the communication. The animal communicates through the communicator and back to the human client in pictures, emotions, and words.

Does it work? If you need convincing, I suggest you check out the websites of any number of animal communicators and read the stories and testimonials yourself.

However, says animal communicator Rev. Nedda Wittels, M.A., M.S., on naturalhealthweb.com, “Unfortunately, no telepathic communicator–no person–is one hundred percent accurate all the time in any work. Error can occur because the telepathic connection is weak; because the human client has emotional and/or mental blocks about the situation; because the animal is lying or choosing not to communicate fully; because the meaning of the communication does not fit easily into the backdrop of information available to the human communicator; or because the telepath simply misconstrues the meaning.

Each telepathic communicator brings her own emotional and mental baggage to any session: belief systems, expectations, past experiences and emotions. Being able to drop this baggage and to be a clear channel is an important part of the process of doing the work. The best among us do this on a regular basis, but all telepaths, as all other psychics, do filter the information somewhat through their own perspectives on reality. It is part of being human.”

For example, I heard of one case where a communicator was called upon to find a lost dog. As it turned out, the dog had been killed, but he was reluctant to reveal where he was because he’d run away and gotten into trouble, resulting in his death, and knew he’d been “naughty.”

If you decide to get in touch with an animal communicator, it’s easy to find one; simply do an Internet search for “animal communicator.” You may choose one over another based upon any number of individual preferences, although distance need not be a factor; as I mentioned, most can work long-distance. Of course, an animal communicator does not substitute for veterinary care or obedience training. Have a list of question ready that you’d like to ask; if she charges by the hour, you can be sure to get your most important questions answered within your time frame.

Would you like to become an animal communicator? Anyone with a gift for relating to animals and good listening skills might choose to nurture them and become a certified animal communicator. Begin by searching for workshops and correspondence courses. Then set up your own website and tell us your success stories!

© Lisa J. Lehr 2006

Lisa J. Lehr is a freelance writer and Internet marketer specializing in direct response and marketing collateral. She holds a biology degree and has worked in a variety of fields, including the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, and has a particular interest in health, pets, and conservative issues.

Please visit her blog at http://warmfuzziesanimalrescue.blogspot.com
If you’re looking for a copywriter, go to http://www.justrightcopy.com Just Right Copy–because words sell.

Share This

Zoonoses is the term applied to a grouping of diseases that are transferable from
canine/feline to human. Basically, these diseases fall into three groupings based on
their means of transmission. This also groups these, ideally, in the means of
treatment and control. The three groupings of diseases are as follows -diseases
spread through :1) urine or feces, 2) hair and skin contact, or 3) bites and scratches.

Zoonoses - Spread through Urine or Feces

Hookworms

Hookworms enter the German Shepherd’s body in the area that directly comes in
contact with the feces-contanimated soil. Seen more commonly in the South, these
parasites are unsuited to ideally live in human beings. Traditionally they die after
crawling several inches underneath the surface layer of the skin. Inflammation
usually occurs as a result of these parasites in humans and causes a condition called
“creeping eruption” which may last several weeks or months depending on its
severity.

Leptospirosis

German Shepherd’s may come in contact with this disease through swimming,
drinking, licking their fur, or by eating food contaminated with animal urine. Many
animals may carry this, though rats are most often the culprit.

This zoonoses symptom in humans include flu-like including chills, body aches,
vomiting, fever and headache. Sometimes kidney damage may occur or the
membranes covering the spinal cord or brain may become inflamed. This disease is
not usually fatal though it does make its host miserable for weeks at a time.

Roundworms

If these parasites are swallowed by humans they migrate into the body tissues and
may cause damage, including symptoms of fever and liver enlargement which can
last up to a year in length including symptoms of fever and liver enlargement which
can last up to a year in length.

These parasites are most commonly found in small children (2-4 yrs. of age) who
mistakenly swallow the eggs and become infected. Children playing in an area in
which an animal has defecated in the past, who do not wash their hands after
coming in contact with the eggs and inadvertently sticks their hands into their
mouth are the most common receptors of roundworm. Only rarely fatal, the disease
is traditionally mild though it may be long lasting.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms can easily be ingested by any German Shepherd who swallows a flea
carrying the infected form when biting at or chewing their coat. Children may get it
virtually the same way- minus the coat chewing.

Tapeworm infestation in humans this way is actually quite rare when compared to
infestation from eating undercooked pork or beef.

Toxoplasmosis

Rarely this may cause death in humans since most people develop a resistance to it
during normal exposure. It can cause many types of birth deformities in children
born to mothers who have been infected for the first time without having developed
an immunity before becoming pregnant. Most commonly this is “picked up” through
contact with infected cat feces or in contact with contaminated soil.

Zoonoses - Prevention of Waste Transmitted Diseases

There are a few basic precautions everyone should take to prevent transmission of
any of the above mentioned diseases - zoonoses. First, clean up all pet droppings
and wash your hands each time you any come in contact with contaminated soil. It
is extremely important to teach children these steps. Also, if your German Shepherd
has gone wading or swimming in any water which may have become contaminated
with animal urine, bathe it at once when you return home.

Zoonoses - Spread through Skin/Hair Contact

Fleas

Fleas prefer feeding on your German Shepherd though they will not turn up the
chance of of making an occasional meal on humans as well.

Ringworm

Most commonly found in children (though anyone may be infected), this disease is
caused by a skin/hair eating fungus which first appears on people as a round, red,
scaly area. It grows outward in a circular formation and is the most common fungal
disease currently reported.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Tick borne, this disease or Zoonose can cause symptoms such as fever, chills and
headache though it is not usually fatal. Symptoms may last many weeks and it can
be treated with antibiotics.

Most commonly this disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. Also,
you may become infected while pulling a tick off your German Shepherd. It is best to
wear gloves when removing ticks.

Scabies

The less commonly found version of mange (as opposed to the demodetic version),
this may still cause intense itching, irritation and thickening of the skin. Animal
mange may live in human skin though it cannot reproduce there. Humans have their
own version of the scabies mite.

Zoonoses - Prevention of Skin/Hair Contact Diseases

Overall, proper nutritional care and health of your German Shepherd is the best
defense against the chance of your dog harboring any of these diseases.

Frequent grooming and herbal repellents are good choices in combating most of
these diseases or Zoonoses before they become major. Stress, roaming and contact
with other dogs are the three most common points of transmission among the
previous diseases.

Wash your hands after dog contact and minimize contact with any infected pet until
the problem is cured.

Zoonoses - Diseases Caused by Bites and Scratches

Cat Scratch Fever

Some people will develop a fever, enlarged lymph nodes and malaise near the area
of a bite or scratch from a cat a few weeks after the occurrence. Though not fatal it
can be very uncomfortable and can be followed by complications. Infected cat bites
may become infected with an entirely different bacteria though the symptoms are
similar.

Probably best, is to thoroughly wash an area bitten or scratched by a cat and to
clean it liberally on a frequent basis to prevent, hopefully, infection.

Rabies

Virtually 100% fatal once the clinical symptoms appear, this disease is carried by a
virus transmitted through the saliva of an infected biting animal. Symptoms include
frothing at the mouth, extreme behavioral/personality changes and convulsions
which usually ends in the aggressive, staggering and bleary- eyed condition.

If you happen upon an animal showing any of these disease symptoms, get away
from it as quickly as possible and call your nearest animal control unit. If by chance
you are bitten, try to follow it to where it lives (if it is a stray) so that the proper
officials may capture it for testing. If you do kill it, do not injure the head as this will
be needed for verification. Also, if you are bitten by an animal exhibiting any of the
symptoms above, thoroughly wash out the wound as quickly as possible and contact
your personal physician immediately. Overall, your chances of getting rabies are
rare though you can never be over cautious.

Zoonoses - Prevention of Bite and Scratch Transmitted Diseases

Best advice, keep your German Shepherd in tip-top physical condition through
exercise and proper nutrition to reduce its chances of picking up any diseases or
parasites from less healthy animals. Also, try to minimize your pets contact with
wild animals or sick pets.

The author, a lifelong dog lover and German Shepherd owner, has been a
German Shepherd breeder for over to 15 years. For more information and
articles covering other German Shepherd related topics, feel free to visit:
total-german-shepherd.com

Interested in other purebred dog breeds? Visit: pedigreedpups.com

Share This

So you have a mature pair of discus fish that have shown an interest in each other but there not laying any eggs.

The most important factor in discus breeding in the water quality, make sure it is soft, acidic and clean. If you have this water, your most likely stressing over why there isn’t hundreds of eggs in the tank. If you have discus ready to lay eggs there are a few ways in which you can give them a helping hand.

The first way you can tempt them to lay is to feed a rich diet of frozen bloodworms for about a week. Feed it everyday as well as their other meal. This should condition the female and get her ready to breed. Other foods that are good for breeding discus are white worm, adult brine shrimp and chopped up crab sticks or prawns. Make sure you buy frozen food as there is less chance of disease.

Another way to encourage your discus to breed is by doing a 25% water change but drop the temperature by a couple of degrees of the water going in. This imitates there natural habitat and can trigger spawning. This is a little trick I use on all my young pairs when trying to get them to spawn. Make sure all the pH and hardness is the same making only the temperature different.

The third trick in getting your discus to breed is by separating them for a couple of days before reintroducing them. To do this you can add a tank divider or move the male to another aquarium. Make sure the female gets plenty to eat when the male is away. When you reintroduce the discus just keep a close watch over the next 24 hours as males have known to be aggressive towards the female. They should start the courtship over the next couple of days and hopefully lay eggs after.

There are more ways to encourage your discus to breed as well as many more tips on breeding and caring for discus fish on my site www.discus-fish-secrets.com

Rob owns Discus Fish Secrets website helping begginners and advanced fishkeepers with discus problems including keeping and breeding them. Please visit the site for more information on breeding discus.

Share This