From Angus With Love

I am never too far from Human Girl, even when she is working. I mean, look what I put up with just to be in her office with her:




See that green bed? Yea, Human Boy bought that for ME...stupid cat! I swear, how did I get stuck with four felines?

Recently my husband and I decided that we wanted to look in to getting an alarm system for our house. We have both gained some pretty nice items such as a large flat screen television (for my husband, of course) and for me a Macbook Pro and some really nice professional camera gear. We have insurance on all of these items but you can really never been to careful when it comes to home safety.

I Googled home safety tips and found several. I also found this site http://www.homesecurity101.com which gave me a lot of good information as well. Did you know that if you have timers on the lights on the front of your home it will deter an intruder because they are not certain if there is really someone home turning on the light or if it is on a timer? All you need to do is create just a little bit of doubt for them and they will choose a different house or possible leave your neighborhood altogether. Another idea I found was to have a fence around the backyard.

Thunderstorms, trips to the vet, and even being left alone can create anxiety in some dogs. Valerian root is a safe and effective herb to use in treating dogs with anxiety, especially for those whose anxiety causes severe irritability and mood changes.

Information

Valerian root is the part of the plant used for medicinal purposes. The root is pressed into fresh juice or is freeze-dried to form powder. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, valerian works by increasing the amount of gamma aminobutyric acid, a chemical found in the brain. This chemical helps to regulate nerve cells and creates a calming effect on anxiety.


Uses

Valerian root is an effective sedative and is used to treat hyperactivity, anxiety, restlessness and even insomnia. This herb works well when given to dogs before and after a situation that makes them nervous, such as a long car ride, a trip to the vet or thunderstorms.


Preparations

This herb comes in several different forms. Tinctures are available in alcohol or alcohol-free bases, while powdered valerian root is sold as a tea or in the form of capsules. Variations of valerian root preparations sometimes contain ingredients other than the herb. Be sure when purchasing valerian root you are getting a preparation safe for use in dogs. A veterinarian can provide you with information on what to avoid.


Administering Valerian Root

To give your dog tinctures of this herb, use a plastic dropper or syringe, and insert it into the mouth of your dog, aiming to get the liquid directly down the throat. If you have the dried form, sprinkle it over small amounts of your dog’s food. Capsules can also be broken apart and the inner powder sprinkled over food. In tea form, brew the tea and allow it to cool before giving it to your dog, either as a drink or poured over his food. Dosages depend on the severity of the anxiety as well as the health and weight of your dog. Consult with a holistic veterinarian to get the proper dosage.


Warnings

This herb can cause digestive upset if used in large dosages. Do not use valerian root in pregnant dogs.

Source

Human Girl came across this picture of me when I was just a puppy. I think this was the first week I was with them.

I have been trying to get my parents to get a computer and clear internet service forever. My parents are in their late 60’s, so they have never used computers much and they are resistant to learning. I have offered help in teaching them the things they will need to know, so I don’t know why they have been so hesitant. I live close to them so I know that we wouldn’t need to email each other, but my sister and her family live in North Dakota and I thought it would be a great way for them to keep in touch.

I think that my nieces and nephews would love to Skype with their grandparents. My parents are happy to come over to my place and let me set up a Skype chat but they are being so stubborn about learning to do it themselves. There are also so many other things they would be able to do, like pay their bills and store their photos.

This year for Christmas I am just going to buy them a desktop so they won’t be able to resist anymore. Hopefully they’ll like it!