How to describe your missing cat

Without looking at your cat, can you say what colour eyes he has? If your cat has white on his paws, which paws are white? What colour collar does he wear?

You may not think knowing these things is important, after all your cat is on your lap right now as you read this, but what if your cat got lost? Knowing what your cat looks like is important to helping you find a lost cat.

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Toxic plants for dogs

Reposting a relevant article from 2014!

I try to finish up my work by at least 12:30 every day so that I can have an hour or so to myself to clear my head before I fetch my children from school. I decided on a particular occasion to turn on the television, and ended up watching Bondi Vet.

As you know I am animal crazy so when I came across this information the first thing I thought of was “AH BLOG – IT!”

Now this was something that I never even knew about myself and when I posted a facebook status about it, my friends had also learned something new.

Dog lovers know very well how their four paws love chewing things and can more than often get themselves into a spot of trouble. The dog that was brought into Bondi Vet was no different. The lady vet injected the lab to induce nausea and get some idea of what was in her stomach. To cut a long story short – and a cat snickering at a dog getting an enema; it was discovered that doggy dearest ingested some seeds off a Brunfelsia bush. Brunfelsia – better known as Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Who would have guessed that the sweet scented and pretty bush was toxic to dogs?

Who even knew that the bush had seed pods?

I learned quite a bit upon further research.

Crazy cat ladies and horsey people take note: Brunfelsia is not only toxic to dogs, but also cats and horses. If ingested, according to the programme I was watching; the toxicity causes damage to the animal in question’s brain.

This is what I found while researching:

Yesterday Today and Tomorrow:

The leaves are alternate and simple, with shapes generally elliptic to ovate. The flowers are large and tubular, with five broad petals. Typical habitat is light woodland and thickets. The cultivated plant is commonly called “yesterday, today, and tomorrow” due to its colour changes.

Scientific Name: Brunfelsia species

Family: Solanaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Cats and Horses

Toxic Principles: Brunfelsamidine

Clinical Signs: Tremors, seizures (for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, hypersalivation, lethargy, in coordination,difficulty walking, walking drunk, and a lot of coughing. On the Onderstepoort pdf it states that if you suspect your dog to have ingested the Burnfelsia that you seek medical assistance immediately.

The following plants are also toxic to dogs and cats in South Africa: The following info is from:

Authors: Botha CJ, et al. Show all Journal

J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2009 Jun;80(2):63-74.

Affiliation

Abstract

Plant poisoning occurs less commonly in dogs and cats than in hJ S Afr Vet Assoc. 2009 erbivorous livestock, but numerous cases have been documented worldwide, most of them caused by common and internationally widely cultivated ornamental garden and house plants. Few cases of poisoning of cats and dogs have been reported in southern Africa, but many of the plants that have caused poisoning in these species elsewhere are widely available in the subregion and are briefly reviewed in terms of toxic principles, toxicity, species affected, clinical signs, and prognosis. The list includes Melia azedarach (syringa), Brunfelsia spp. (yesterday, today and tomorrow), Datura stramonium (jimsonweed, stinkblaar), a wide variety of lilies and lily-like plants, cycads, plants that contain soluble oxalates, plants containing cardiac glycosides and other cardiotoxins and euphorbias (Euphorbia pulcherrima, E. tirucalli). Poisoning by plant products such as macadamia nuts, onions and garlic, grapes and raisins, cannabis (marijuana, dagga) or hashish and castor oil seed or seedcake is also discussed. Many of the poisonings are not usually fatal, but others frequently result in death unless rapid action is taken by the owner and the veterinarian, underlining the importance of awareness of the poisonous potential of a number of familiar plants.

PMID 19831265 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

I then came across the following information which gives a broader knowledge of the toxic plants in question.

Ceriman (Monstera deliciosa) or delicious monster: This is a very common plant in many gardens. This creeping vine is native to the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico, south to Colombia. This member of the arum family is an epiphyte with aerial roots. It has large, leathery, glossy, heart-shaped, green leaves and the plant may grow to a height of 20m.

Symptoms of ingestion: This plant’s leaves, roots and stems have been known to irritate the throat of dogs when chewed as the plant releases insoluble calcium oxalates that inflames the mouth, tongue and lips. It causes excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty in swallowing.

Inkberry (Cestrum laevigatum): A tree or shrub-like plant that grows to between 6-15m high in coastal regions. They are also found in areas of the Free State and the Mpumalanga provinces where they usually grow to a height of 1-2 m. Their leaves of are about 50mm wide, ranging in colour from dark to light-green. The leaves are easily bruised, emitting an unpleasant odour. The flowers are small, sweet smelling, greenish-yellow, tubular and about 5-25mm long. The flowers grow in clusters from the tips of the branches. Berries are also found on the plants that ripen to a deep purple-black colour and size 10 mm x 5mm.

Symptoms of ingestion: Include salivation, lacrimation, sunken and staring eyes, arched back, abdominal pain (restlessness, grinding of the teeth, groaning, kicking at abdomen, etc.), weakness, muscle tremors, staggering gait, incoordination, aggression, constipation, frequent urination and icterus. The course is often rapid, and some animals are found dead.

Bird of Paradise Flower (Strelitzia reginae): The leaves are big and range from about 10-80 cm broad and 30-200 cm long, similar to a banana leaf in appearance but with a longer petiole, and arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage. The flowers are produced in a horizontal inflorescence emerging from a stout spathe.

Symptoms of ingestion: Will include mild nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. These symptoms will be caused by ingestion of mainly the fruit and seeds.

Round-leafed Navel-wort (Cotyledon orbiculata): The leaves from this plant contain a bufanolide called cotyledontoxin that is toxic to sheep, goats, horses, cattle, poultry, and dogs, causing a condition known as cotyledonosis. The Navel-wort is a fleshy shrub with woody branches. The leaves are grey to bright green in colour, with a red rim and are usually covered with a waxy layer on the surface. Attractive red to orange tubular, drooping flowers form on a long stalk.

Symptoms of ingestion: Cotyledonosis is poisoning caused by southern Africa plants. Signs include paralysis of tongue and lower jaw, excessive drooling, abdominal pain, convulsions and then death within a few hours. Dogs and cats are normally affected through secondary poisoning that as they eat infected meat.

Lantana (Lancamara): tana This plant is an exotic shrub considered by many people to be an ornamental plant. This plant grows mainly in the moist eastern parts of South Africa. The small trumpet-shaped, yellow to orange, red and mauve to white flowers grow from the stems in big dense clusters, usually with flowers of two different colours occurring in one cluster. Small black berries also grow from the plant and are enjoyed by birds that spread the seeds.

Symptoms of ingestion: Photosensitivity resulting from damage primarily to the liver parenchyma. Signs of ingestion include anorexia, severe depression, icterus and photosensitivity.

Clivia (Clivia miniata): A flower plant native to southern Africa. They are herbaceous, evergreen plants with green strap-like leaves. Individual flowers are more or less bell-shaped occurring in umbels on the stalk above the foliage. Colours typically range from yellow, through orange to red.

Symptoms of ingestion: Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea. Ingestions of large amounts can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.

Common toxic plants, fruits and nuts.
The next list of plants, fruits and nuts are not deadly to your dog but if they ingest too much it could lead to some nasty veterinary bills.

Fruit stonespips:, seeds and pips: Be careful of any seeds, stones and pips of most fruits. Fruit pips are generally very high in oils and may contain harmful chemicals e.g. a form of cyanide in apple seeds. All pips and seeds may cause respiratory difficulties such as strenuous-breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Grapes: In large quantities can be toxic to dogs as they may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

Hops: Excessive panting, elevated heart rate, seizures and may result in death.

Macadamia and walnuts: Will cause vomiting, hypothermia, abdominal pain, tremors and lethargy.

However pistachios and peanuts are not considered toxic but they have a high fat and oil content that in high doses can be harmful.

Mushrooms: Not all mushrooms are toxic but with so many varieties its best to err on the side of caution. They can have a wide range of symptoms on dogs such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tearing, hallucinations, defecation, liver failure, seizures, drooling, urination, kidney failure, heart damage, hyperactivity and in extreme cases, death.

Onions: Are toxic to dogs.

Potatoes: Potato leaves and stems can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary-systems.

Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum): May cause staggering, trembling, breathing difficulties, weakness, diarrhea, increased water intake and urinating, and in extreme cases death.

According to Life is a Garden, a marketing initiative of the South Africa Nursery Association, the following plants are harmful to pets:

For dogs Ficus, daffodils, cotton lavender, March lilies, irises, English ivy, almonds, lilies of the valley, poinsettia, wisteria, hydrangea, jasmine, philodendrons, yuccas, elephant’s ears, sword lilies, and alpine violets.

For cats Azaleas, chrysanthemums, daffodils, hydrangeas, irises, ivy, marigolds, wisteria, pennyroyal, periwinkles, foxgloves, impatiens, morning glory, amaryllis, mistletoe, philodendron, oleander, elephant’s ears, flax, and kalanchoe.

how to train kids – dog preparedness

A couple of times in a year you hear in the news about how a dog viciously attacked a child or how some unsuspecting kid was bitten by a dangerous dog.

String – a danger to cats

This is an article of mine published in Paw Print Magazine:

When reading the following article don’t start thinking of abolishing all string type toys from your house.
String type toys are still great fun for kitties, they just need to be packed away once assisted play is over.
and…
You can consider yourself a more educated slave.

Leaving Cats with string toys does not mix, despite the popular image of cats playing happily with string!

While string may seem harmless, the big danger is after it is ingested and making its way down the intestinal tract. This is a condition known as a linear foreign body.

Where Do “Foreign Bodies” Get Stuck?

The digestive tract is essentially a long tube, passing food from the mouth, down the oesophagus, into the stomach, through the lengthy small intestine, then forming stool in the colon and out the rectum.

It generally takes ingesta (all that is swallowed) from 10-24 hours to move through the entire digestive tract. Some objects, however, can actually remain in the stomach for longer periods of time, even months.

When objects are too large to pass, they usually obstruct at the stomach outflow or within the small intestine itself. With linear foreign bodies, the continual movement of the intestinal tract can literally bunch the intestines into an accordion-like mass. String-like objects can also “gather up” during intestinal peristalsis (wavelike muscular contractions) and shred delicate tissues like the intestinal tract.

If the foreign body has managed to move to the colon, it will probably successfully pass. But, defecating a sharp object may prove painful and may even need veterinary assistance.
Never pull protruding objects from your pet’s rectum or throat. If it is still lodged inside, you can cause serious damage to the internal tissues.

The first signs seen are:
there may be part of the string visible from the mouth, under the tongue or protruding form the anus. There are other medical signs that kitty has swallowed a foreign object too.:

Clinical signs may include any of the following:

vomiting or dry heaves
anorexia or decreased appetite

straining to defecate or diarrhea

painful abdomen

fever

depression

dehydration (due to vomiting)

Definition: Pronunciation Key: Lin-ee-er For-ehn Bod-y

A linear foreign body is any sting-like object ingested (or partially ingested) that causes gastrointestinal obstruction. String, ribbon, thread (often with needle attached), plastic, rubber bands, Easter grass and tinsel are common linear foreign bodies.

This type of obstruction can be life-threatening very quickly. Both cats and dogs can suffer from this, although as one could guess, it is much more common in cats.

Why do cats eat odd things? (A condition called pica.)
Reasons vary, but can be related to stress, boredom, attention seeking behaviour, play behaviour, or to the simple fact that the item tastes/smells good to the cat.

Safe toys for kitties:

Fake mice: Catnip pillows and mice: ( some are sold with glued on eyes etc which are a choking hazard)

Ping Pong Balls: Drop a ping pong ball in a box and let kitty enjoy

Empty Plastic Bags: although this one makes me nervous and I watch closely. I find cutting off the handles is a good precaution.

Use a torch to act as fast-moving prey. Cats can chase the beam for ages and they may even stalk it.

Make a self-serve treat toy. Put some dry cat food or cat treats inside an uncapped plastic cold drink bottle.

Old plush toys can be fun too.

Just remember – toys with string need to be packed away after assisted play.

Source: https://infinity8eight.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/string-a-danger-to-cats/

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Contact me via 8ight page
Or 8ightinfinity@gmail.com
To book your appointment.
This way we avoid the “other” inboxes.
Hope you have a beautiful day.
💙
Love, light, purrs and wags
Di
xoxo

Having a pet benefits kids

Children can benefit from having a pet in your home!

Whilst having a pet in your home is a very big responsibility for you and your child, bringing an animal into your life can have enormous benefits. Those who truly love and care for their pet can reap the rewards of a loving, trusting and faithful companion as well as numerous health benefits.

Your anxiety affects your pets—some helpful info

If you follow my animal communication posts you would have read that your anxiety affects your pets. Sometimes, when stress becomes out of hand in a household, pets have been found to run away to escape the tension.

I asked a very special friend of mine, to write a few tips to help guardians manage their anxiety.

This is what she has to say

A lot of people are natural empaths, and even if you are not an empath, you’ve no doubt had a moment or a few moments in your life when you’ve been able to pick up on someone else’s energy.

Believe it or not, it is no different when it comes pets. They experience happiness, sadness and contentment, just like humans do. The only obvious difference is they don’t express it the same way as we do.

Our pets have amazing abilities to be able to pick up when their humans are feeling sad or emotional. Unfortunately, this can start to rub off on them, especially if you are going through a particularly rough patch in your life.

So how can you ensure that your stress and anxiety doesn’t affect your pets?

The answer is pretty simple: You need to start projecting a more calmer vibe within your surroundings and that of your pets. They’ll pick up on that, helping both of you to feel more calmer.

Once, when I was going through a particularly rough time, my little fox terrier was very on edge and it was only because he is very attached to me and was picking up on my energy.

An animal communicator suggested to me that I take an old stocking and fill it with fresh lavender flowers and hang it above his bed – that way, the smell was be there but not so ‘in his face’ as would be with rubbing lavender oil on his blanket, so that he wouldn’t want to lie in his bed.

So that is what I did for him. I hung the stocking above his bed, and concentrated on decreasing my stress – and viola – I started to notice that he wasn’t as highly strung as he had been.

But today, let’s focus on you. What can you do to minimise your stress, so that both you and your pet can benefit.

Below are some of my favourite hacks for reducing anxiety:

– Watch cartoons: This is not a very used hack as I have discovered, and I can’t understand why because it works so well! Think of a child, think of yourself as a child. I know I used to sit with my cereal bowl watching all my favourite cartoons. Why does this work so well? Cartoons are innocent, they childish, they nourish our inner child, they’re silly, they’re fun. The whol cartoon world is very different from reality – that is why they work so well – they are a break from the real world!

– The 5 sense breath: This is a breath that I devised myself, taking inspiration from others out there. It’s objective is to completely focus and be mindful on your breath using your 5 senses. Do 5 deep breaths and with each breath that you take, Feel the breath, see the breath, smell the breath, hear the breath and taste the breath. It is an incredible exercise to do.

– Make a picture book: I have two of these and I started my first one when I decided that I wanted to reduce the negativity in my life. All you need is a notebook ( I used an A4 size) scissors, glue and various pictures that you have cut out of magazines, or printed out, even photographs, but the pictures should be things that inspire you and make you feel happy. I put pictures of gardens, beautiful houses, animals, nature and inspiring words in my books

– Do child activities: Much like watching cartoons, I really push this tip as much as I can because it works. We all have an inner child within us that needs attention and by doing these activities which are meant for children, it works amazingly well for anxiety as well. I highly recommend swinging on on of the swings at the playground, colouring in and watching a movie intended for children. Sometimes I even go through a box with all my old things in it and it reminds me of when I was a child. You could fly a kite, run through a sprinkler or roll on the grass even. It sounds silly but it’s a valuable tool in helping to decrease anxiety. The ever popular adult colouring in was adopted by many people and has proved very useful in helping many people manage their anxiety better.

– Divert your thinking: As cliqued as it sounds, you cannot go wrong with the good old fashioned ‘think positive’ so focus on 3-5 things each day that you are grateful for and voice them out loud. You could even keep a journal and write them down. I do this at night. Focusing on my blessings has changed my whole outlook on my life and has brought me much peace and abundance.

Mel Bonthuys is a mental health advocate, author and blogger.
She uses her past experiences with her own diagnosis of anxiety and panic disorder to help people recover from it and be truly happy again!

You can follow her on

instagram

facebook 

or view her website My Anxiety Companion

Reasons for barking dogs

If you are a member of local community groups more than often you find a post or two where neighbours are complaining about dogs barking all night long.

Sometimes the dogs bark at every little thing during the day too.

What I’ve found is that when the question arises, asking what to do to curb ongoing barking, not many people have suggestions that will help the barking dog.

So the fact of the matter is that some breeds do bark more than others but it’s not the only factor. Sometimes the most laid back breeds will bark too. My point is that when your dog barks a lot – you need to take the time to assess the reasons why he or she is barking.

We have to remember that barking is one type of vocal communication that dogs use, and it can mean different things depending on the situation. Here are some reasons why dogs bark:

Territorial/Protective: When a person or an animal comes into an area your dog considers his territory that often triggers excessive barking. As the threat gets closer, the barking often gets louder. Your dog will look alert and even aggressive during this type of barking.

Alarm/Fear: Some dogs bark at any noise or object that catches their attention or startles them. This can happen anywhere, not just in their home territory.

Boredom/Loneliness: Dogs left alone for long periods, whether in the house or in the yard, can become bored or sad and often will bark because they are unhappy.

Greeting/Play: Dogs often bark when greeting people or other animals. It’s usually a happy bark, accompanied with tail wags and sometimes jumping.

Attention Seeking: Dogs often bark when they want something, such as going outside, playing, or getting a treat.

Separation Anxiety/Compulsive Barking: Dogs with separation anxiety often bark excessively when left alone. They also usually exhibit other symptoms as well, such as pacing, destructiveness, depression, and inappropriate elimination. Compulsive barkers seem to bark just to hear the sound of their voices. They also often make repetitive movements as well, such as running in circles or along a fence.

Here’s how to help the barkers:

Getting your dog to bark less will take time, work, practice, and consistency. It won’t happen overnight, but with proper techniques and patience, you can see progress.

Shouting stimulates your dog to bark more because he thinks you’re joining in. So the first rule is to speak calmly and firmly, but don’t yell.

Most dogs don’t know what you want when you’re yelling at them to “shut up.” So train your dog to understand the word “Quiet!”

* To stop a dog from going into a barking frenzy every time you come home or the doorbell rings, you’ll need to teach him to do something else. One way is to train your dog to go to a spot and stay there when the door opens. It’s best if they can see the door,

but not be too close to it. Pick a spot and practice getting your dog to go there and stay, but don’t touch the door yet. Use lots of treats and praise, making it a game.

Once your pet is doing this reliably, start opening the door while he’s in his spot.

Once you can open the door and your dog will stay in his spot, have someone actually come in the door. Of course your dog will break from the spot at first, but with time and practice, he’ll learn to stay in his spot when the door opens and guests come in.

* If your dog is barking to get your attention, it’s best, at night, to be calm and to redirect their attention, then to give them positive attention when they don’t react. Some behaviourists say that ignoring them is best when they’re behaving badly and acknowledging them calmly and quietly when they’ve stopped. This isn’t really going to help your neighbours though. Especially at night.

Some quality time, or perhaps some fun training sessions can help you in giving positive attention, and will help your dog along the way to learning good manners.

Never reward barking. If your dog barks when he wants water, and you fill the dish, you’ve taught him to bark to get what he wants. If he barks to go outside, it’s the same. So teach him to ring a bell you tied to the door handle to go out. Bang the water dish before filling it, and maybe he’ll start pushing it with his nose to make the same noise. Find ways for your dog to communicate without barking.

If he barks and you see his dish is empty, wait a few minutes, go do something else, then fill it, so he won’t know his barking was effective.

Remember not to scold your pet. For a dog, that’s still considered attention. The key is to

ignore your dog and what he wants, until he stops barking.

* Dogs that bark out of boredom or frustration generally don’t have enough physical or mental stimulation.  Helping them can be as simple as ensuring they get regular exercise and a fun play session with you. Dogs enjoy a variety of toys so why not try something new every now and again or try to teach your dog a new trick. Think about it. It can be fun for both of you. Do a little extra research on the breed of dog you have. This info can inspire your new toys or games you play together.

Perhaps you could introduce a treat dispensing toy for the days when you are busier. Just be sure to check that it is the right size and material for your dog.

* Separation anxiety barking, whining or howling most often occurs when guardians aren’t home. These dogs need help with their coping skills when left alone. To help ease this type of barking. Try to let your dog spend short periods of time both inside and outside alone while you’re home. The main point is to help them feel positive about being alone. So introducing treats at times that your dog is going to be alone is a positive step. Perhaps fill some hooves with peanut butter and store them in the fridge. On hot days give your dog a treat when you go out. From a communication perspective, try to remain as calm as possible and tell yourself that your dog will be fine. This little exercise will help you and them!

Separation anxiety can be treated medically or via a homeopathic route so do ask your vet for your options.

* Dogs that bark at your boundary wall are generally distracted by noises such as a neighbour, a person walking past the house, etc., and they can continue their barking well after the distraction has gone.

This type of bark shouldn’t be ignored – instead distract your dog. If you know your dog’s going to react, interrupt them by saying their name and calling them to you. When your dog responds before barking, give him a few treats. This way they get a reward for not reacting. So when you aren’t home they will react less to the postman or other daily passers-by.

Because this type of barking is often motivated by fear or a perceived threat to their territory or people, it can be lessened by limiting what your dog sees. If he’s in a fenced yard, use solid wood instead of chain fencing. Indoors, limit access to windows and doors or cover them with an opaque film.

* There’s an old belief that for security reasons dogs should sleep outside. If they sleep indoors, they tend to behave better and are far better at alerting you to security threats. Not only this, being inside and spending time with you beats boredom, and curbs barking. From a communication perspective they feel your “energy” and know when bed time is. So activities that include barking should cease!

It’s also safer, because dogs left alone outside can face theft, escapes, poisoning,

harassment, and other dangers.

Don’t forget to give loads of positive attention for being quiet.

Your neighbour that perhaps complains can become your biggest ally as they can give you clues as to why your dogs are barking while you are not home. So try to make the best of your relationship. Explain to them what you are trying to do – this way you can help your dog’s effectively.

Some medical problems can cause excessive barking, from bee stings to brain disease to ongoing pain. It’s always a good idea to have a pet checked by a veterinarian to be sure there’s no medical reason for a problem.

Contact me via 8ight page
Or 8ightinfinity@gmail.com
To book your appointment.
This way we avoid the “other” inboxes.
Hope you have a beautiful day.
💙

Love, light, purrs and wags
Di
xoxo

new pet introductions, behaviour, health, missing pet trackings

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Missing pets – what to do: from a communication point of view

About two weeks ago I designed a special pdf document to help guardians find their missing pets.

I believe that if guardians are armed with the right information and a fast response they can find their missing pets before they get to the point of requesting a communication.

A few guardians replied asking me to add some information from a communication point of view.

So in this article I’ll discuss the communication side of missing pets with you.

This information is a worthwhile read for all guardians, whether your pet is missing or not.

Why do pets go missing?

Pets go missing for many reasons:

1. They go missing due to reasons beyond a guardian’s control:

• A garden service perhaps left the gate open and Rover took the opportunity to escape.
• Perhaps Rover decided to chase Kitty and now both are lost.
• Storms and fireworks. Even when guardians do everything possible to keep their pets safe, accidents still happen and pets go missing.
• Burglaries fit into this category too.

2. I find especially with cats that they do tend to explore the neighbourhood. When they do this, they do actually intend on returning home.
In this instance outside factors prevent them from returning home like:

• Genuinely getting lost, and being unable to find their way home;
• Being spooked or frightened, for example, by a dog or snake. In this instance both cats and dogs will either run further or hide. It’s their natural flight or fright response taking control.

3. If a pet is not neutered, he may go wandering to find female pets in heat. Pheromones are no joke! A male can smell a female approximately 2 kilometres away! This is one of the reasons why I am pro sterilisation.

4. Sadly in today’s fast paced society people tend to forget that they need to take time out for themselves and their pets.

• This is where boredom becomes a factor in animals going missing.
• Pets are extremely sensitive to what communicators call “changes in energy”. An example of this is when guardians become stressed. When we are more anxious than usual the peaceful vibe at home changes. Pets pick up on this and leave because the “energy” is too much for them to cope with.
• Arguments between guardians caused by stress can also see pets going missing.

5. New relationships are sometimes difficult for pets to navigate too!

• Pets go missing because their guardians have adopted a new pet, or because there is a new pet in the neighbourhood that they are not happy about.
• When guardians have new relationships, pets may go missing because of new dynamics in play.

6. Emotional, mental or physical abuse:

• Pets are very sensitive to abuse. Domestic violence is a huge factor for pets going missing.
• It is very important to ensure that your cleaning lady and children for example know how to handle pets with care and consideration.

7. Moving house:

I have written a series of articles about moving house. It is important to prepare your pets but also to ensure that they are kept safe on moving day.

8. Grief:

• When a human crosses over.
• When a furry family member crosses the rainbow bridge.
• When another furry family member has gone missing, pets experience grief and the increased stress levels of guardians, and they go missing too.

9. Old or sick animals may leave to die peacefully on their own.

What to do when your pet is missing:

1. Tips I have published under missing pet information:

• Who to contact
• Behaviour tips for dogs and cats
• How to create missing posters

2. Tips from a communication point of view:

Stay calm:

The most difficult factor communication wise is to try and remain calm.

Because our pets communicate with us telepathically through our thoughts, feelings, and “energy”, they can sense us even when we are physically on the other side of the planet. So while it is the most difficult point, it is also the most important.

• The best way you can do this is to focus on a positive outcome. Visualise yourself reunited with your pet.
• Try not to focus on the “what ifs”. If you do happen to think of a “what if” situation, change your thoughts, so that it has a positive outcome.

Protection:

• I ask in prayer that the animal kingdom, and guardian angels, keep missing pets safe. This is an awesome way to keep your anxiety levels lower while searching for your missing pet.
• When you think of your pet imagine them safe and protected.
• Some communicators suggest you visualise your pet in a bubble of white light. I find that this can actually hinder them from returning. Pets communicate telepathically so I suggest to rather visualise them sitting in a bubble of pink light. Pink is a sign of love and instead of blocking their telepathic senses it encourages them to safely return home.

Messages of safety:

If you have a knowledge of communication and are helping to guide your pet home, instead of focusing on the negatives like busy roads, vicious dogs, for example, rather focus on routes that would be safe for them to take.

This technique helps you work positively, and not focusing on your anxiety.

Build their confidence

If your pet was chased and is likely hiding and afraid to come out, or if they left sue to flight or fright response, try to build their confidence. Once again, you can visualise them returning home safely, or even speak out loud telling them that it is okay to come out of hiding and that you will be there for them. This is also a nice anxiety relief technique.

When working with a communicator:

1. I suggest working with only 1 communicator.

There are many reasons for this:

• Animals connect with their humans telepathically.
• Communicators connect with animals telepathically. So when there are too many communicators, it becomes a “too many cooks spoil the broth” situation.

2. That being said, I do on occasion, work together with other communicators. If 2 communicators are working together for the pet and are working on mutual points to assist the pet and guardian, this is absolutely fine! This would have to be done in private though to avoid the extra interference in the telepathy airwaves.

3. I find when tracking communications are done on social media groups and too many people communicate – drama usually takes over, or of course there’s the “too many cooks” situation. This is what we don’t want. Drama means added anxiety for guardians and this blocks the telepathic airwaves. Guardians need to focus on constructive information to assist them in finding their lost pet.

4. Communication is energy work so it is not doable at the drop of a hat, in most cases, deep concentration, meditation is required.

5. Continuous and repeated messages can hamper the communication. So try to focus on what the communicator is explaining and try to think of questions to ask that can elaborate on what they are communicating.

6. Communication requests should come directly from the guardian of the pet. Strangers do not have a connection to that animal’s energy. This is what telepathic communication relies on.

7. Due to your pets anxiety of being missing the messages they send may not always come out in perfect order. So when searching, try to keep all communication tips in mind.

Contact me via 8ight page
Or 8ightinfinity@gmail.com
To book your appointment.
This way we avoid the “other” inboxes.
Hope you have a beautiful day.
💙
Love, light, purrs and wags
Di
xoxonew pet introductions, behaviour, health, missing pet trackings

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My new e-book – Healing the grief of pet loss

June 13, 2018

I am so excited to say that I have released my new e-book.

I wrote “Healing the grief of pet loss”, to help pet guardians when their beloved pets cross the rainbow bridge.

I can say without reservation that the grief that accompanies pet loss is no different from that of losing a cherished friend or special member of the family.

While this has changed somewhat in our culture over the last 20 years or so, pet loss is still one of those disenfranchised losses, in that it is not socially validated, publicly mourned or supported (with a funeral or wake, for example), so there may be no encouragement to acknowledge and honour the important role the animal played in a person’s life, and little if any support as the bereaved animal lover comes to terms with the reality of loss.

So I decided to write this book, to let pet guardians know that they aren’t alone. So that they know they aren’t crazy and so that through this info they can find some healing through the very tumultuous time of grief.

Grief assistance

Due to the release of my e-book, I have updated pricing for my grief assistance sessions to include a copy of my book for those who would like a copy.

As many of my Facebook followers know, I do online candle lighting ceremonies, as per guardian’s request. I find that the support and kindness received by guardians on line assists them on their healing journey. If you would like to request a candle lighting ceremony please do contact me.

I have written three other e-books:
“My Story – Why I chose animals”: ISBN 978-0-620-76236-6(pdf) ISBN 978-0-620-76237-3(e-pub)
Is an autobiography written as both a healing journey and as justice that was not received in the court. I decided to publish my e-book to show fellow South Africans that there is a correlation between domestic violence and animal abuse.

Due to requests from people wishing to know more about communicating with their animals I wrote a further two books
“how to communicate with your animals” ISBN 978-0-620-76405-6 and
“Encouraging animal healing” ISBN 978-0-9947198-0-5.

To buy your copy or for requesting copies for media review kindly view

http://8ightinfinity.wixsite.com/8ightinfinity8ight

Or contact 8ightinfinity@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InfiniteEight8/

Instagram: 8ightinfinity

Contact me via 8ight page
Or 8ightinfinity@gmail.com
To book your appointment.
This way we avoid the “other” inboxes.
Hope you have a beautiful day.
💙
Love, light, purrs and wags
Di
xoxonew pet introductions, behaviour, health, missing pet trackings

please click on the share button keeping all images, links, and information in tact

Training your cat the right way

Many of you know of my boy Stig.

You’ve followed him through his trials and tribulations and my attempt at adding some humour to our household kitty interactions.

So I recently noted some Stigly behaviours that I did not quite like. I realised very quickly where they stemmed from. Yes, I have realised that I messed up. I will have to make alternate plans should a situation like this arise again.

Look, not one of us is perfect. What is important is that when we realise that there is an issue, that we do our best to fix it.