No matter how professional and knowledgeable your dog trainers, animal behaviorists or your veterinarians are, you probably know and understand your pet the best. Some of you may even claim there is a spiritual bond between you and your pets that words can't describe. They are more than animals to you. They are part of your life, or even part of you!

If you're such a person, then the book I'm going to introduce today may be your kind of book. It certainly moved me deeply.

It's The Cowboy and His Elephant: The Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Malcolm MacPherson.

If you're only dog or cat owners, the story of an elephant may not necessarily interest you; I felt that way myself until I opened the book. Now that I have finished reading it, I feel different. The story moved me so much I look at animals (beyond my cat and dog) in a different way now.

The elephant and human relationship described in the book clearly illustrates how animals can respond to your love. They never forget about you, no matter how far apart they are from you.

It's a heart-warming story. I just wanted to share the book with animal lovers like you today!

I tend to make physical health through nutrition a top priority. Without proper nutrition, how can an animal survive in the first place anyway?

But at the same time, I try to remember that "everything works together" (yes, it's the concept of a holistic approach) to reach health in a true sense. Nutrition, after all, is one of many steps toward optimum health in pets as well as humans. Exercise, rest, food, play time, good air and water, no chemicals, sanitary and peaceful living conditions -- all of these things are important together for our pets, I'm sure.

In regards to "emotional health", I found a paragraph in the book Dr. Jensen's Guide to Better Bowel Care by Dr. Bernard Jensen (this book is for humans, not for pets, but it's a very educational book if your approach to health is natural and preventive...) that assures how emotions can affect peristalsis (bowel movements) in pets as well as humans. Let me quote the paragraph for you.

"Fear and anxiety can have profound effects, for the tensed colon may respond with diarrhea or constipation as the nerve impulses carry the message of fright to the bowel. The bowel remains affected until the apprehension or fear subsides. One study that included X-rays of dogs and cats clearly showed the effects and associations of certain emotions on the nervous system and the colon. The dogs, placed in unfamiliar surroundings, ceased to have peristalsis in the colon for several hours. When the cats' tails were pinched, peristalsis ceased until the cats were once again contented. On the other hand, battlefront surgeons are familiar with the loss of bladder and bowel control experienced by soldiers exposed to the stress and terror of battle conditions. Peristalsis can be triggered as well as halted by emotionally impacting events."

Are your pets happy and content? Giving lots of love and attention to your pets may be another step towards their good health!

This is vacation season. Many pet owners (such as yourself) take their pets with them on the road.

Some pets get carsick, unfortunately, and you may wonder what you can do to avoid this situation -- or at least make your pet feel better while you drive.

Here are some tips that might help:


Things to do at home before leaving:

• Discuss your concerns with your veterinarian in advance.


• Avoid feeding your pets right before you leave. If you want to feed them, make sure they've fininshed eating at least three hours earlier.


• Don't let your pets drink a large amount of water right before getting into the car.


• Make sure your pets have been to the potty.

Things to do once you get on the road:

• Set aside some extra time to stop your car and let your pets get some fresh air as often as possible.


• Distract your pets with their favorite toys during the drive.


• If you usually have an air freshener in the car, try not using it. (Some pets may be sensitive to the artificial fragrance.)


• Don't let your pets see you worry. Behave as if nothing is bothering you. Show them driving is a fun activity. (It is even better to do positive association practice several months in advance, starting by short-distance fun driving with your pets regularly.)


• If they throw up, don't punish them. You don't want them to associate driving with a negative thing.

These are small tips you can try. If you think your pets may get terribly carsick, you should consult your veterinarian before you start your vacation.

I hope you and your precious pets will have a nice vacation!