http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss http://www.earthclinic.com/template_img/logo.jpg http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss Interesting tips to improve the quality of life in cats and dogs on Earth Clinic, Your Source for Natural Cures! Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:29:46 EDT en-us http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=FRONTYARD_36570 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss1 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:13:07 EST [WARNING!] Deirdre from Atlanta, Ga writes: "This is a plea to all dog owners to please not leave your dog in your front yard, even if he/she has an electric collar/fence. I live in the Atlanta suburbs and another dog in our neighborhood, a beautiful white bulldog, was stolen last week out his front yard. I was out walking our dogs and encountered the family in their SUV, calling for their dog. They told me he had disappeared from their front yard, which he never left. The next day I saw that they had posted signs everywhere. I hope they find him. I am very saddened when I hear about people leaving dogs in their yards because I know for a fact that dogs get stolen from their yards quite often. I had a roommate years ago in Los Angeles whose beautiful siberian husky was stolen from the front yard of my roommate's rental house. There is a happy ending to this story. He recovered the dog a year later when his jeep was stopped at a light in downtown LA and heard a dog howling nearby. A friend in the car said, hey that sounds just like Pierman! So my roommate pulled over, jumped out of his jeep and ran around the corner to find his dog sitting with a homeless person. The dog apparently recognized the sound of his owner's car a block away and started howling. The poor dog was in very poor health after a year on the streets and had developed an eating disorder. But how amazing that he was reunited with his owner! So this is my plea to all pet owners to please be very careful when you leave your dog outside. Microchipping is a great idea in case the dog is stolen or runs away, but better to always supervise your beloved canine friends. Thanks for reading... " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=PR_32752 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss2 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:54:28 EDT Kelly from Cincy, Oh writes: "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE when you share a remedy for pets INCLUDE MEASUREMENTS. It is vital as they cannot speak and rely on us not to unintentionally use incorrect doseages. even natural remedies can be harsh if not administered properly. THANKS." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=TEETH_31514 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss3 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:42:51 EDT Janielam from Blackfoot, Id, USA writes: "I used one of those battery operated toothbrushes to brush my dog's teeth. It worked amazingingly well! You can really get to those hard to reach back places in the dog's mouth." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=VASECTOMY_30124 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss4 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:46:19 EDT Mistie Harris from Augusta, GA writes: "vasectomy for male dogs!!! If your only goal is to prevent your male dog from fathering puppies, please consider this as an alternative to castration. Yes, castration reduces "issues" related to having testosterone (roaming, having a sex drive, possible prostate cancer, etc). But at least he would be intact and still able to have sex. Sex is very healthy (and enjoyable!!:-) )for humans - so why not for dogs? Shop around for vets who are willing to do it. I'm not sure if I can put this website address - but for more info go to http://www.dolittler.com/2008/2/25/pet.vet.dog.cat.neuter.castration.vasectomy.veterinary.html The vet from this website states: "Sure, neutering will typically rid you of the roaming, the pee-peeing over any available surface, freaky behavior around bitches in heat, and the triple terror of testicular tumors, perineal hernias and prostatic enlargement. Yet sometimes owners want just the reproductive issue addressed, thank you very much. But the jury has spoken-for now, anyway. The veterinary establishment is loath to relinquish its recommendation that full castration (neutering) is the end all and be all when it comes to canine sterilization. Indeed, vasectomies are so rare that I recall being laughed at by my professor in my Principles of Surgery lecture when I asked whether anyone was performing this technique in lieu of castration. That was fourteen years ago when I was still stupid enough to slink back into my seat and make myself invisible after such an oratory "fiasco." Now that I've wisely shed such inhibitions, I can proudly proclaim: Vasectomies are surgical procedures, too! They have a place in vet medicine along with the unrecommended (but still sometimes necessary) anal gland-ectomy and feline thyroidectomy. Yes, sometimes they are indicated. Given the new wave of discussions on the potentially dubious medical benefits of castration, it seems reasonable to look to vasectomies as a sound solution for those in doubt as to whether a normal neuter is best for their dog. Today's patient was a perfect example: A young, fit Frisbee dog, this Border mix was all muscle. His owner wanted to ensure his "safety" around her friends' breeding bitches for a couple more years of competition on full testosterone overdrive. She'd read about vasectomies online and immediately knew "Rolf" needed one. It just made sense. "No problem-I'll do it." (Though I've never had cause to do one before.)Afterwards, I had to wonder: Why haven't I ever been asked about this before now? Though it's an easy surgery (far less painful than a routine castration, with fewer complications, to boot), it's clear that we vets have serious power over what procedures become accepted as the norm. Yet as science advances, as it inexorably does, what was laughed at by a gray-haired professor over a decade ago may just be the most responsible thing I might advocate ten years from now. " Think about it.....would you want your man castrated just so that he would not roam??? Not me. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=ALR_29789 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss5 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:12:38 EDT [YEA] Tickertin from Richmond, VA writes: "How to Easily Dose your Cat: I tried the ACV and read with smiles the struggles to get the cats to drink. I have had cats for over thirty years and here is an easy method. I THOROUGHLY washed a small clear tube in which water soluable hair product had come in. (you can use conditioner or shampoo, clear is best and nothing oily to be SURE you can clean it out). Mine is a small one ounce squeeze tube that a sample of hair gel came in. Squeeze the sides in and draw into the tube the dose of ACV (mine was 1/2 tsp. fill rest with water. Lay cat on back in your lap and place tube to side and back of mouth and squeeze gently. They swallow by reflex if you don't put too much it all goes down. Squeeze too hard and they can cough it back out (but some still goes in). Clear tube is important so you can measure how much you are giving them so as not to over/under dose. My vet told me this years ago, cats have to swallow when you hold them this way and put the liquid in this way, and I have done it for years." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=PO_29130 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss6 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:12:02 EDT [QUESTION] Christa from Ft. Campbell, Ky writes: "does anybody know of a natural remedy to get rid of odor in carpet? I have cleaned and cleaned the carpet where my Lab urinated, but the smell remains....uhg." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=PILLTIPS_29013 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss7 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:09:25 EDT [YEA] Sue from Marion, IL writes: "A friend of mine told me of an easy method to get my dog to swallow pills and capsules. Her method is to wrap the pill or capsule in cream cheese. I tried this by first giving my pets a small wad of cream cheese with no pill inside it. They loved it and stood there waiting for more. When I wrapped a pill inside, they took it the same way - EVERY TIME!!! And it never gets stuck in their mouth like the peanut butter. I have three dogs - a tiny toy poodle, a pug/chihuahua mix, and a border collie/lab mix - and it works for all three of them." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=4TH_25206 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss8 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT [WARNING!] Karen from Minneapolis, Minnesota writes: "Please Please spread the word : Dogs and Fireworks. Please don't bring your dogs around fireworks, dogs love to retrieve. A Friend of mine lost his dog this way, he will never forgive himself. Leave pets home and safe. Tell your friends please. Karen" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=VET_23795 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss9 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT Carla from Belmont, NC writes: "I took my dog to the vet and they ended up keeping him overnight so they could keep an eye on him well the vet bill was $500.00 dollars so when I picked him up I asked them does somebody stay here all night long at the vets office they told me NO, not knowing why I was asking they said "why do you ask' so I told them "I don't understand WHY you would keep him overnight and charge me an enormously amount of hard earned money when I know he would of been more comfortable in his own environment.AND it would NOT of cost me ANYTHING." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=SHEDDINGDOGS_23675 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss10 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST [QUESTION] Will from Albany, NY writes: "Long Hair Shedding dogs that knows no boundary: Thanks for your time I am eager for your response! I have two labs retrievers which never fail to share their shedding hair leaving gobs of deposits all over the house. I learned to brush them and manage their shedding hair several times a week but was never able to manage my anxiety of shedding hair on the carpet. I have one rug in the house that they insist on using at will, after always leaving a healthy deposit of hair behind them. So i bought them their own rugs in addition to their own beds to no avail. Is there a harmless substance or remedy that I can apply to my carpet that will discourage them from using it. Thanks again! W-" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=LAWN_22726 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss11 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST Linda from St. Paul, MN writes: "Fix for lawn spots from dog urine: We were going to be hosting an event at our home in about a month and wanted the yard to look good. Since we adopted a female Boxer (we had a male already) I noticed many yellow patches in the lawn. My ex-husband told me that he gave his dogs one hotdog (the cheap kind) each day and had no problems with his yard. I am an organic, natural foods type person, so I dismissed this. However, I was getting desperate because no matter how fast I patched the lawn, new spots would appear. I bought the cheapest hotdogs at the store and the dogs loved them! After one week, there were no more spots!! I kept it up until the event was over and then quit giving them hotdogs. The dogs were disappointed, but I don't think hotdogs are good for them (I would never eat them). But it did work! " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=PRODUCTS_21193 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss12 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST [WARNING!] Katie Aymin from San Diego, USA writes: "When you ever go to the pet store to get shampoo or something else for your pet, make sure it does not have any chemicals. If you do not know what things are bad that are on the ingredient list most of them are hard to pronounce so if you see something be sure to look in up on the internet or in some books. These chemicals usually do not work or work for only a short time or increase the discomfort of your pet. Also to new pet owners, before you use a remedy always make sure your pet is not allergic to any of the ingredients." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=VACUUM_18590 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss13 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST [YEA] Bee from Va Beach, VA writes: "We have 2 dogs who shed a lot all throughout the year. Anyone who has dogs that shed know how smelly the vacuum cleaner can get from their fur! Well I finally figured out the perfect remedy. Before I start to vacuum I suck about a few cloves into the vacuum cleaner after crushing them into pieces with my shoe. The air smells like cloves, not smelly dog, for hours afterwards! You don't have add new cloves every time you vacuum, just after you clean out the bag/filter. I can't believe I didn't think of this before. Sigh. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=CATS_16060 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss14 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Margaret from Upper Darby, PA writes: "RE: Holding down a cat: An easy, friendly way to hold a cat so that you don't get shredded during care is to toss a quillt over their back, as they are unsuspecting, then wrap them up in your arms and hold them like a baby. you can hold them with one hand and give care with the other. Have all your supplies on a table beforehand, so you can easily grab them with your one hand. Eventually your cat will know that when you do this he/she does not need to be scared. My cat no longer needs to be wrapped up when I cut her nails. She growls quietly, but is never violent. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=TREADMILL_13008 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss15 Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Jonna from Los Angeles writes: "I wrote back in January about taking my new rescue, a bordie collie/chow mix to the dog park. I was inspired to update my post after going to the dog park this afternoon and talking to a woman there who had put her 10 year chow mix to sleep not long ago because she had gotten too aggressive at the dog park (i.e., attacking other dogs). I think it is such a shame that people put their troubled dogs to sleep without exhausting all options first. Well, I too had to stop taking my rescue to the dog park because he too started attacking other dogs - I guess it's the chow in him? In case you were wondering, spraying him with a water bottle stopped working -- he just ran away from me whenever he saw it coming and continued to pounce on other dogs coming through the gate. I tried to put a muzzle on him but he started hyperventilating after about 5 minutes from not being able to hang his mouth open and pant. So I exhausted all my options for dog park, short of electric collar shock, which I refuse to do. I decided to get him on the treadmill, after watching it on the Dog Whisperer time and time again. For those of you who are thinking about exercising your dogs this way, it's a great idea! I got a used treadmill on Craig's list for $125. Be careful that you do your research about name brands before you buy a used one... a guy on Craig's list tried to sell me a cheapo treadmill for $450 (bought new for the same price) but backed off when I asked him to send me the exact model #. Anyway, this is how I trained my dog on the treadmill: I first got him up on the treadmill and rewarded him with a super yummy cookie. I let him do this a few times before actually turning on the machine, that way he associates the treadmill with delicious food. Then I stood above him, with a short leash hooked into his collar and put the machine on the lowest setting. He slid backwards after first, but I pulled him forward by grabbing behind his front legs. I basically guarded him carefully but I didn't want to pull on his neck too much -- I think that's a bad idea overall (to yank on his neck, that is). Slowly I notched up the speed. I gave him a little piece of jerk turkey treat every 2-3 minutes. He got up to a fast trot within the first 3 sessions. After 3 weeks of me standing over him, guarding him so that he wouldn't slip backwards, I decided that off leash was the way to go. So then I stood in front of the machine with my hand on the dial in case he started going off the back end. He jumped off at first, but got back on at my urging. It took approx 10 minutes to get him trained to trot off leash, much to my amazement. I now do about 10-20 minutes with him every day or two, but I have to watch because if he's on it too long, one of his pads gets raw. If that happens, I give him a day of rest and cut back on the time the next session. I still give him pieces of cookie every few minutes. That's a must! It's been remarkable because even though he goes on walks every day (2-3 miles), it still wasn't enough exercise. Now he is soooooo much calmer. Had I decided not to keep him and sent him to city shelter, I do think they would have put him to sleep, considering him to be too much of a high maintenance dog for most people. He has turned into the most amazing dog and I am very blessed to have him. As a final note of warning. I do NOT think it is a good idea to tie your dog up by his neck on the treadmill and leave the room. I also think the strain on their necks from the collar/leash when they get tired and start lagging on the treadmill is a very bad thing. I wish the Dog Whisperer show would really drive this home. We should monitor our dogs on the treadmill every second that they are on it. My two cents. Hope it's helpful! " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=EARSTIPSGAUGE_11893 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss16 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Carrie from Riverside, CT writes: "I noticed as my dog has aged (he\'s now 14) that he gets cold quite easily. That said, I never bath him in the winter months because he has a hard time warming up afterwards and shivers for hours. This winter I realized that a good way to guage his body temperature was by feeling the tips of his ears. When he\'s internally cold, his ear tips are cold. He will start to shiver if I don\'t warm them (the ears) up. I can also warm him considerably simply by massaging along his spine, up and down. I also give him a good scratch over his entire body since that too warms him up. His ears get nice and toasty by the time I am finished and he has a satisfied glow!" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=HOMEOPATHYFORSADNESS_11894 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss17 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Kathleen from NY, NY writes: "re: pets and sadness/fear. I\'ve been studying and using homeopathy for 15 years now with great success. I have also been studying and using it on my pets for about 4 years now. Many homeopathic cures for people work well at smaller doses for pets. For example: in grieving/depressed pets use ignatia for grief. It can be dissolved in their drinking water or put into their food. I used in for my 2 dogs and cat when my twin sons left for college and the pets all exhibited signs of depression and loss. There are also now many books on the subject as well out there. And more and more alternative sites for pets are popping up to purchase homeopathic remedies on the internet all the time. We need to take care of them the way they take care of us with their unconditional love. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=HEATINGPAD_11895 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss18 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST [YEA] Michael from Concord, Ohio writes: "I have a five yr. old Jack Russell. He has had surgery on one of his rear legs years ago due to defect in his knee joint. Over the years the best thing other than drugs for the vet to stop the pain and o comfort him was Heat. We moved from Cold Ohio to Naples, Fl. for a few years and he was like a pup again. Laying in the sun and that really helped him a lot. Now due to work we have had to move back to Ohio and the winter is really starting to take it tole on him. Instead of keeping him on meds from the vet we place a heating pad in his bed during the day and really helps him. Believe me, three or four hour of that and he is good to go. Other home made cures other than a good diet just are not going to made much difference. You got a just try the heating pad. It\'s cheap and it works." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=USEASPRAYBOTTLE_11896 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss19 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST [YEA] Jonna from Los Angeles writes: "I recently rescued a young border collie/chow mix and have been taking him to the dog parks every other day along with my other 2 dogs. He was most likely kept in a crate most of his life because he doesn't know how to walk on a leash nor socialize with other dogs. At first he just barked at the other dogs entering the park, but a few weeks ago he started to wait at the gate and literally pounced on dogs entering the park and nip at their ears, causing a complete ruckus! I stopped this aggressive behavior by carrying a spray bottle filled with water set to a thin but powerful stream (like a water gun)... every time I see that obsessed look as a dog is approaching the gate from the parking lot I say "NO, back off" and then spray him water on his face (doesn't hurt, just shocks him). It has also been very helpful when other dogs get into a fight. A few squirts and the dogs break apart. I highly suggest people carry a spray bottle or a water gun with them at the dog park. Just be careful you don't spray other dogs with it unless it's a bad fight you are breaking up -- the owners might get pissed off!" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=MOLASSESFORDOGS_11897 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss20 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Archie from West Covina, Cal writes: "Dogs Sad after Owner Passes are CURED!!! Well for 8 solid months Ive been taking care of 2 older dogs who are deaply saddend by the passing of there owner and very good friend of mine. These 2 did nothing but mope around depressed! They needed something soon before they would die of depression. I found out the Healing power that mollasses has given me and thought ..maybe it could help these 2 dogs.???So, I poured some on there dog food ,and,was amazed they ate it. In less than 1 day these dogs turned had turned completely around!!!They started playing & barking and to this day (2 months later)they are high spirited and ALIVE !!! Im only a Maytag Repairman & I came up with there cure of dog sadness." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=NIGHTLIGHTS_11898 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss21 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] GS from Reston, VA writes: "A tip for your aging pet section. My 13 year old g. shephard mutt started to lose his eyesight and hearing recently. This in turn caused him to be disoriented at night -- with a hint of dementia! As soon as I got into bed and turned off the light, my dog would get up from his bed (at the base of my bed) and wander around the house looking for me. Well, one night he tripped down the stairs because it was so dark. Enough was enough. The next day I went to Home Depot and purchased 2 nightlights, one for the hallway and one for the bottom of the stairs. Now there is enough light peaking into the bedroom that he no longer gets up disoriented. Hope this helps someone! GS. P.S. I really liked your comment about the hard wood floors and aging dogs. I totally agree. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=UNDERSTANDINGSOUNDSDOGS_11899 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss22 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Bee from Philadelphia, PA writes: "I have a tip to go on your quality of life pet page. Years ago I read an interview with Siegfried and Roy and how the tigers communicate by exhaling sharply through their noses. I wondered at the time of the interview whether it was the same with dogs and then promptly forgot about it. Then recently when I was asking my dog if he wanted to go for a walk, I heard him do a quick and almost inaudible exhale through his nose. It was very subtle but there it was. My ears perked up and I started to listen to his sounds more carefully. Ha hah. Well, now I hear him doing it all the time! -- when he walks into a room and sees me there he\'ll do it, when I ask him if he\'s hungry he does it. I take him to the dog park in my area and sure enough the other dogs are communicating through their noses to one another and their owners. Dogs really do have a unique system of communicating... subtle and wondrous! Just wanted to share it with all of your dog lovers on the website and Cesar Milan too if he\'s reading." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=FEEDYOURDOGS_11900 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss23 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Marguerite from Wrightwood, CA writes: "Hi. We are definitely on the same page re:Canine walks. I have 8 dogs and I hike with them every day. It really is the best part of my day and they are happy, healthy, well-behaved companions to be with because they get this exercise. Another tip I would contribute is feeding your pets as close to what they would eat in the wild as possible. They need all the digestive enzymes and nutrients in raw foods and , and I'm sorry, I do not care what kind of dog food it is, it is just not the same. Have you ever heard of a coyote with cancer or hip dysplasia? My dogs love salads, raw chicken livers, beef marrow bones, etc. My third tip is to learn how to live in the now from your animals. Makes life so much more fun!" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=4TH_25207 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss24 [WARNING!] Earth Clinic from writes: "In the USA, the 4th of July and New Year's Eve are without a doubt the 2 blackest days in a dog's life each year. Emergency Services like 911 and animal shelters dread these two nights (as well as Halloween, when black cats are stolen & sacrificed by cults). We have heard many horror stories of dogs getting terrified by the sound of exploding fireworks, clawing their way out of the yard, only to escape onto a busy street and get hit by a car. Thousands of dogs die needlessly every 4th of July and New Year's Eve. What a tragedy. If your dog has sound sensitivities (i.e., terrified of thunder), please consider keeping him or her inside once it gets dark on any holiday where there will be exploding fireworks. Do not trust your dog to be okay out in the yard! Simple Solution for Sensitive Pets: We suggest you close the windows and drown out noises to the outside with loud fans or another kind of white noise. Speaking of white noise, you can buy an excellent cd for $10 on ebay.com called, yep, "White Noise" that will give you over an hour of waterfall-ish sound. Put the CD on "repeat" and you're good to go. While the CD might give you a headache, it is an excellent solution for pets who are terrified of loud and sudden noises. It's a must in our household! " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.html&name=HF_25208 /Pets/tips_for_pet_owners.rss25 [WARNING!] Earth Clinic from writes: "Stairs without carpeting can be especially dangerous too. Canines with hip weakness can and do slip down stairs, causing moderate to severe injury. You might consider buying a strip of thin carpeting, cutting the carpet into pieces, applying a do-it-yourself edging kit, and simply stapling each piece of carpet onto your hardwood stairs. We suggest you also have a stable piece of carpeting at the bottom of a staircase since dogs can just as easily slip at the bottom as the top. You might also keep this in mind when you are about to move into a new apartment or home. Does the building have steep stairs that the dog will enter and exit from? If so, think of your strategy before you move in. It might not be an issue when your canine friend is young, but it certainly will be as they age. "