Horses Are Spirit Driven

Wonderful quote from trainer Carolyn Resnick:

"A horse can recognize a horse lover. People who are full of joy, or strongly sad, or who have a spiritual connection to nature are like magnets to horses. The more heart you have for life, the stronger the connection you have to share. Horses are mostly spirit-driven and are drawn to people who are drawn to them."

Reisa Stone: Clean Your Pet's Teeth

Whoops, got sidetracked. A couple of blog posts inbetween my starting to discuss home pet grooming.

Dogs and cats need their teeth cleaned regularly. Once a week is good, three times a week is ideal. Further down, I'll teach you how.

I'm always seeking the pet's point of view. In communications, animals tell me that having their mouths touched is an intimate act, and can be quite threatening. Because most pets cannot use their paws/hooves as fingers, their mouth is a tool and a weapon! 

 Imagine if your hands were tied behind your back, and you had to do everything with your mouth. How would you react if someone pried open your mouth, and began fiddling? 

Now imagine that people acted as if they didn't hear you when you spoke, and did things to you without your consent. If you were not fed, you couldn't obtain food with your hands. You had to grab with your mouth. You use your mouth to clean your babies. If someone took your babies away from you and you growled or snapped, you were reprimanded. 

Dogs take great pride in biting, as do horses. They use their mouths as mutual grooming tools, and as boundary signals. When they consent to play with us while keeping their teeth "masked," they're doing so consciously, and with great consideration for our fragile skin! 

I form explicit agreements with animals regarding this. I love when a horse grooms me by swirling her lips in my hair. But first, I get her agreement she will keep her teeth closed.

Respect your pet's absolute right to be sensitive about his or her mouth. 

Always explain what you're doing, and why.

Horses' teeth are supposed to look green, brown and huge. I know, it's a shock. They're gorgeous and graceful in every respect, then they open their mouths... 

Horses do need a dental "float" annually. That means a qualified person (usually your vet) uses a file to rasp down any sharp edges. Their teeth can wear unevenly and cause pain. Bits wear down teeth to the point that this was a major identifier to archaeologists that horses were domesticated in my home country of Ukraine. 

Sore, cracked or uneven teeth can cause lameness, as a horse will carry their head awkwardly trying to soothe the pain. This affects stance and gait. 

Make sure the person you hire to do this is fully qualified. Dental work on horses is not simple, and may require sedation. If you decide to hire a non-vet, get references.

Rabbits' and guinea pigs' teeth are "open rooted." They grow continuously, and do not need cleaning. They need things to chew. Rabbits do best with pine cones and apple wood branches---make sure no pesticide has been applied. Guinea pigs', hamsters' and rats' teeth are usually fine with hard food and veggies. Check anyway, especially if you obtained your pet from someone else. People feed all kinds of strange things. Your pet may also have had trauma from being dropped, hit, or being in a fight. This can certainly affect their teeth.

If a rabbit's or guinea pig's teeth overgrow, you need a vet to clip them. They can overgrow to the point they pierce your pet's cheeks, and/or cause them to stop eating.

Birds, of course, do not have teeth. But an overgrown beak can cause them to starve. Keep them trimmed with a cuttle bone in the cage. If you rescue a bird with an overgrown beak, it is imperative they see a vet ASAP. Bird metabolism is so high, they can drop dead within 48 hours if they don't eat. Some people believe putting gravel in a cup or the bottom of the cage trims their beaks. Nope. This is for a different purpose.

To clean a dog's teeth: If fed from puppyhood, raw meaty beef bones can keep their teeth clean. If teeth are already plaque-ridden, you'll have to manually clean. 

Dog biscuits and dry food do not do the job, despite the advertising. Letting a pet's teeth accumulate tartar can cause:

-bad breath

-gum disease

-heart disease from bacteria migrating through the system

-significant vet bills and stress on their bodies from cleaning under anesthesia

As always, tell them what's going to happen. Dip a piece of clean gauze in dog toothpaste, and rub in a circular motion. You can even start with just beef broth and your fingers, to get them loving the idea. Make it fun and pleasurable, like a gum massage. 

Do not use human toothpaste, as pets will not rinse and spit. You can also use baking soda mixed with beef broth to form a paste.

Over time as your dog relaxes with teeth cleaning, introduce a very soft toothbrush. Some pet stores have specialty ones, but I use a child's brush. 

Once your dog has accepted the above, buy a plaque dental tool. This is a metal device that scrapes the plaque very well. Make sure to get the back teeth, as these are usually the dirtiest. Brush teeth after scraping.

Cats love tuna water or broth, and will usually cooperate with you offering your fingers dipped in "fish sauce." Move on to a tuna broth gum massage, then gauze. Be patient. This may take several sessions, even weeks of time. 

There's fish flavour kitty toothpaste, too. Or make a paste with fish broth and baking soda.

For any pet: never force. Count every little step forward as big progress.

Foster pride in clean teeth, the same way you would in a child. Again remembering how vital a tool they consider their mouths, tell them their sparkling white teeth look nice, and are very sharp and intimidating. Thank them for allowing you to touch their mouths. 

A little understanding and respect goes a long way.

Kind regards,

Raisa Stone

Animal Communicator
www.reisastone.com

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Copyright 2013 Raisa Stone. All rights reserved. If you wish to reprint material from this blog, contact Raisa Stone. Must be reprinted in entirety with all links and credit intact.

Reisa Stone: Grooming the Short Haired House Pet

First and most important, tell your pet you're going to groom her. Explain that it will feel good, and it will feel even better as time goes on.

Assemble your grooming tools. You need: a soft bristle brush----please, no wire brushes---a soft white cloth, cotton pads (makeup removers), extra virgin olive oil, a dental scaler and a soft toothbrush. For cleaning teeth, you can use baking soda, or a specialty pet toothpaste. Do teeth last, and have treats handy to take away the taste of the soda.

Nail clipping is a subject for another time.

Let your pet sniff the tools, and explain each one. Many people simply start applying a strange object to an animal's body, then are surprised when they get a negative reaction. How would you feel in your pet's place?

Start by brushing gently on your pet's neck and back, always along the lay of the hair. Brushing against the lay hurts, and serves only to break healthy hair and create more shedding. 

Use the brush near her eyes and genitals once she is obviously comfortable with the brush on less sensitive areas. You don't want a sudden movement to poke your pet, and make them reluctant to be groomed. Talk to her, tell her what a good girl she is. You can also tell your pet they will be swallowing less hair from now on when they clean themselves  :-D

Finish your brushing session by wiping your pet from head to tail with a soft flannel cloth. I use white, as it shows me anything I may have missed. If for example, you see tiny dark spots (flea poop), you can at least catch the fleas before they become a bigger problem.

To clean ears: dip the cotton pad in extra virgin olive oil. OO is a skin nutrient with no toxic properties. I highly discourage using petroleum-based products such as Vaseline or baby oil. Gently swab inside the ear only as far as you can see. Take a clean pad, dip it in oil, and squeeze a couple of drops into the ear canal. Do not probe. Over the next 2-3 days, excess wax and dirt will float to where you can easily swab  it with a pad. Do not use Q-Tips. A sudden head shake (common when cleaning ears) can cause injury to the ear drum.

If there is an obvious excess of dark wax, and particularly if the ear smells bad and/or your pet has been scratching, you may need to see the vet. Ear mites or an infection can cause these symptoms.

Again, keep explaining to your pet what you are doing, and why. Since all animals clean themselves and groom each other naturally, they will understand the concept.

Keep at it, persistently and lovingly. Do not show any impatience. Never restrain and force. If your pet is reactive to certain areas being touched, use it as an opportunity to understand and empathize with their sensitivities. If you are not your pet's first home, you never know what may have happened to them. This is one of the areas Animal Communication can really help.

Eventually, your pet will look forward to being groomed. They simply need to connect the sometimes uncomfortable process with feeling better. As I said in my initial post, grooming is an intense bonding experience. 

In my next blog post, I'll discuss dental scaling and brushing.  Horse grooming is its own topic. I'm an old "A" circuit show groom, so I may even bore you with tips and tricks  :-D

Re: long haired pets. It's really best to have a groomer show you how to groom them. If they've developed mats, for example, this can require expert assistance.

With great love to you and your pet,

Raisa Stone

Animal Communicator

www.reisastone.com

Reisa Stone: Why Bother Grooming Your Pet?

What's the point of grooming your pet? 

For long haired pet, the answer is obvious. It doesn't take long for their coats to become a tangled, matted mess that attracts dirt and foreign objects. Skin infections lurk beneath, and accumulated body fluids can create an almost unbearable odour.

Your long haired pet may or may not require professional grooming. If you're diligent with daily detangling and brushing, they may be just fine. But let a few days go by...

Why groom short haired or any pets? There are a number of reasons:

-To distribute skin oil through the coat, which keeps it beautifully shiny
-To run your hands over your pet daily, catching bumps, bruises, heat, swelling, ticks or burrs before they can turn into something nasty. There are cases where cancer or an ingrowing foreign object did not have to result in a miserable death, if it had been caught early with routine inspection
-Grooming is a bonding ritual throughout the animal kingdom. The act itself draws the two of you closer, and may prevent or even solve some problem behaviors
-It contributes to muscle and skin tone. Skin is the largest organ of the body. Grooming helps keep it healthy
-To create a feeling of well being in both of you. Physical touch releases endorphins, the "feel good chemical," in both pets and humans
-To brush away loose hair that otherwise ends up on your clothes and furniture
-To clean debris that causes irritation to delicate tissues, such as eyes, nose and genitals. Imagine having something in your eye, and not being able to work it out.

Enjoy your daily grooming session. Make it a special time for you and your pet!

By the way, if you're wondering if there's more you can do for rescues and shelter pets: Groom them! They may have never received this type of attention in their lives.

In a future blog post, I'll discuss grooming tools and methods.

Kind regards,
Raisa Stone
Expert Animal Communicator
www.reisastone.com

To receive the complimentary Animal Soul Newsletter, with informative articles about animal care, communication and training, visit my website.


Copyright 2013 Raisa Stone. All rights reserved. If you wish to reprint material from this blog, contact Raisa Stone. Must be reprinted in entirety with all links and credit intact.

Email Alert!

A few of you who've requested to be on my mailing list have had your emails bounce. You've missed out on a free report, Five Things Your Pet Wants You to Know, and Animal Communication events. 

Please whitelist my domain in your email program, and let me know when you've done so. I'm happy to resend the report. Domain: www.reisastone.com

Please note that subscribing to this blog does not put you on my mailing list. Blogger retains your address. If you use Hotmail, please consider opening an account with another service. Hotmail hasn't upgraded their system for years. They don't want you to know that, so they don't inform you when your emails get bounced.

Thank you for your kind attention. I don't want you missing out on Animal Communication materials. Please contact me ASAP if you haven't received them. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Yours in the love of animals,
Reisa Mary Stone
Animal Communicator

Reisa Stone: Pet Expo was Greaaaaaat!

Thank you, everyone who came out to Vancouver Pet Expo, and attended my Talking With Animals seminar. I had a full house. Participants received answers to their questions about Animal Communication and behavior. They learned an exercise to make a profound heart connection and receive a message from a pet. 

After doing this meditation, two brave souls walked up to the front and briefly communicated with others' pets from photos. It was amazing. these people were 70-90% accurate in the information they received from the pets! Thank you, Alex and April  :-D

I met Exhibitors in the fields of training, nutrition, cool pet products (including hand tooled leather collars), and many rescues. I'd planned to meet every Exhibitor plus attend at least one or two seminars. 

Buuuuuut, I was sidetracked by a conversation with a rescued Cockatiel. She had a yellow punk hairdo, which I admired. She hopped on my hand and looked me straight in the eye as she spontaneously told me the tale of woe that had caused her to be rescued, and we discussed her lingering behavioral issues. I think her guardian was quite startled by the information from the little tweeter. 

I was so inspired by the Expo, I immediately wrote a report called, Five Things Your Pet Wants You to Know. Please contact me through my website for your free copy. 

I'd like to apologize for a misunderstanding. I've heard from people who were disappointed not to receive my mail outs. Subscribing to this blog, does not put you on my mailing list.  If you wish to be informed of Animal Communication events, newsletters, free reports on pet-related topics, etc., you must use a Contact form on my website.  

When you submit your message, please white list my domain name, www.reisastone.com, in your email program. This ensures my messages will not be sent to Spam.

All my best to you and your pet,

Raisa Stone

Animal Communicator

www.reisastone.com

Reisa Stone: Communicate With Your Pet, Part 3

Less than 48 hours till my Talking With Animals seminar at Vancouver Pet Expo! Details at the bottom of this post. If you can make it, we'll be doing a fun and profound exercise to help you connect with a pet. Here is one I won't be covering in a hectic atmosphere like an expo, as it can be quite time consuming. I walk you through this in private workshops. 

You can do this on your own, or take turns guiding a friend.

Sit or lie down. Breath deeply. Let your limbs relax, and your jaw drop open. 

Imagine yourself at the top of a flight of stairs. Start walking down, still breathing deeply. Count the stairs: 1, 2, 3....

You'll know when you've reached the bottom.

At the bottom of the stairs is a door. Open the door, and you will find yourself in a particular landscape. It may be a forest, a desert, or a completely unfamiliar setting.

Take your time acclimating to this place. Breath in its scents, feel the air temperature, the surface beneath your feet.

As you walk forward, you sense an animal presence. Invite him or her to come forward. This is the pet that most needs to communicate with you. He or she may be alive or in the spirit world, they may be temporarily elsewhere or permanently rehomed. 

You may be surprised by which pet it turns out to be. Accept their presence. This is who you are to connect with at this time. 

This pet has something to tell you. Your job is to simply listen. Invite them to speak with you whenever they feel the need. Ask them questions. Do not scold. 

If you feel you need forgiveness for a misunderstanding, ask them and wait for a response. As most of us have muddled through life not hearing animals when they speak (I'm not perfect, either), I've found this to be powerful and vital part of the exercise. 

When their message has been delivered, thank them for the communication.

This is one way to establish and maintain connections with spirit animals, and also create a closer bond with one in the physical. If you connect with a pet in the spirit world, don't be surprised if they visit you again, even unbidden. I'll discuss this phenomena further in future.

When your pet indicates its time for them to leave, thank them. Walk towards the door, and walk up the staircase. Let yourself come gradually out of your very relaxed state.

To solidify your experience, journal it. 

This exercise may seem quite short in reading. In a workshop, I would talk you through it in a way that gives everyone ample time for each section. We would further share what we had experienced. In total, this exercise done conscientiously and thoroughly, takes anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. 

Read the first post in the Communicate With Your Pet series.

Animal Communication learning materials are available on my website. 

Kind regards,

Raisa Stone

Animal Communicator

www.reisastone.com

Painting: Quite a Deal, Thoroughbred stallion by Reisa Stone. You can buy Dealer on products at my Zazzle.ca store, SpiritHorses.

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