Thomas' Tails Summer 2006 Newsletter

31 E. Crystal Lake Ave. Crystal Lake, IL 60014

(815) 477-1002 http://www.thomastails.com

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!!!

Warmer weather has finally arrived to stay in the Midwest! We are all looking forward to a season of hiking, swimming, ball playing and BBQ's with our animal companions. Unfortunately, we will not be alone. Thousands of fleas and ticks, as well as various other unwanted guests will be along for the ride. It appears we are in for a very severe season of fleas and ticks, as already evidenced by many of you, possibly due to the lack of a hard and long frost this past winter.

Thomas Tails has several natural products to help combat the ongoing flea and tick war. New products include:

• Springtime's Bug Off Garlic, both in powder and chewable pill form. Garlic is a known deterrent to many insects, including fleas and ticks, by making the blood unpalatable to the parasites. It does take several weeks of feeding the garlic supplement to your dog for it to be entirely effective, so if this is a product of choice for you, start NOW to include it in your dog's diet
• Buck Mountain Herbal Gold is an organic parasite dust for fleas/ticks, flies, lice, mites and mosquitos containing neem, organic yarrow and diatomaceous earth. This product is dusted onto the dog and brushed into the fur (for dogs with longer fur).
• Quantum Herbal's 100% Coat Conditioning Spray (formerly Flea and Tick Repellent renamed but with same ingredients) containing erigeron, capeput and rose geranium oils and concentrates of St. John's Wort, Wormwood, Black Walnut, Neem and Rue. (Safe for cats and dogs.)
• Nature-Cide's Pet Insect Repellant, which is 100% deet free to repel fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitos and much more, containing essential oils of Cedar and Cinnamon. (Safe for cats and dogs.)
• Animal Botanicals Flea Fighter, containing herbal extracts of garlic, pennyroyal, wormwood, yellow dock, alfalfa, nettles and kelp with flower essences for emotional balance. This is a mixture to be given to the animal directly by drops in the mouth. (Safe for cats and dogs))
• Ark Naturals: we have both the Neem Protect Spray and Neem Protect Shampoo. Both products contain neem and citronella and assist in repelling insects as well as conditioning the skin and coat. (Safe for cats and dogs.)
• We do have Tick Twisters in stock. They come in packages of two (one smaller and one larger) and work extremely well at removing the entire tick without detaching the head.

Please remember that if you have applied any of these natural repellants to your dog, the products will need to be re-applied if the dog goes swimming or gets soaked in the rain.

In a recent article by Dr. Martin Goldstein, V.M.D., and Susan J. Goldstein reported

They receive daily inquiries at their Healing Center for Animals regarding flea and tick products, particularly Advantage, Front Line, Program and the like. Although the manufacturers claim to have clinical proof that these formulations are safe and have no long-range side effects, there is no way of knowing that chemicals are not being absorbed in low levels by your dog or cat and accumulating in their tissues, contributing to the onset of disease years from now.

We, at Thomas Tails, are in total agreement with the Goldstein's belief that true health and wellness are your objectives in the care of your dog(s) and/or cat(s). While pesticides are more convenient for humans, please take the time to educate yourself about foods, supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies. As the Goldstein's stated in their article, Ã’this approach is applicable to all health care decisions we make concerning our animals, regardless of the category, be it fleas and ticks, foods, supplements, vaccines, medications, or anything else. Food- and plant-derived substances are healthy substitutes for chemical-based products. However, many people question whether they are strong enough to control fleas and ticks.

The Goldstein's put forth this barbecue scenario

You have no doubt been to a cookout where some of the guests are chewed alive by mosquitoes while other are left alone. There's a nutritional reason for this, and it has to do with the strength of each person's immune system and the levels of B complex, zinc, selenium, and antioxidants in the body and bloodstream. A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM AND HIGH NUTRIENT LEVELS HELP REPEL INSECTS.
Biting Back Fleas, Robert S. Goldstein, V.M.D., and Susan J. Goldstein, from Alternative Pet Care, Alternative Medicine of the Advances Journal (2005).

HERBS AND NUTRITION

On Tuesday, May 2, 2006, Greg Tilford, author of Herbs for Pets, presented a three-hour seminar (sponsored by Thomas Tails and Companion Foods) at McHenry County College. While Mr. Tilford's primary focus was discussing herbs and their role in keeping our pets health, he also discussed in depth the importance of good, balanced nutrition. Whether you are feeding kibble (dry), canned or raw, it is essential that you feed the best you can to your animal(s) to build their immune systems and keep them in good health.

As a result of his strong belief in proper nutrition and natural healing, interest in nature and experience with herbs, he formulated many natural herbal products now sold under the name of Animal Apawthecary, and developed digestive enzymes and other nutritional products in their Animal Essential line. Mr. Tilford stressed the importance of proper nutrition, supplementation and exercise in addition to adding herbs to your pet's daily regimen.

Animal Apawthecary products are available at Thomas Tails. These include the following herbal blends:

• Alfalfa/Yucca Blend for chronic inflammation in dogs and cats, usually in conjunction with EFA and glucosamine supplements.
• Constitutional Blend to detoxify the bond and aid in the elimination of waste.
• Dandelion/Milk Thistle to stimulate and protect liver function.
• Detox Blend to gently assist the body in correcting chronic skin problems and other imbalances related to liver imbalance.
• Ginger-Mint helps relieve stomach upset which may be due to indigestion, excess gas, nervous stomach or travel sickness.
• Goldenseal-Echinacea to boost the immune system and fight infection, especially of the mouth and intestinal tract.
• Hawthorne Plus for circulatory support. Pets may benefit from the antioxidant and strengthening of these herbs.
• Licorice which aids respiratory, digestive and endocrine systems.
• OL Immune to boost immune system and provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity without compromising digestive flora. Used in low-grade infections.
• Phytomucil used to relieve symptoms of constipation, diarrhea and various forms of gastrointestinal inflammation. Also used for coughs.
• Senior Blend to strengthen functions in the nervous, digestive, circulatory and immune systems of older dogs and cats. Often used as a tonic in animals with diminished kidney function.
• Spring Tonic to aid in relieving seasonal allergies.
• Tinkle Tonic to soothe, lubricate, fight infection and reduce inflammation in the urinary tract and to aid with the removal of urinary crystals.
• Tranquility Blend to safely calm dogs, cats and other animals during acute episodes of anxiety, such as those encountered during car rides, thunderstorms, visit to the groomer, etc., without diminish alertness.
• Vitality Blend to boost immunity and improve the body's response to stress. Used for working dogs, show animals, old and debilitated animals, and as a preventative prior to boarding.

NEW PRODUCTS AT THOMAS TAILS!

Thomas Tails is proud to announce the following new products which have been added in our store:

• Animal Apawthecary/Animal Essentials
• Spring Time Blend for use in combating spring allergies in dogs and cats
• Milk Thistle to assist in liver function
• Springtime Supplements
• Bug Off Garlic powder and chewable pill form
• C-Complex
• Fresh Factors
• Longevity
• Bravo Frozen Raw Dog Food
• J.J. Fudd's
• Frozen Raw Dog Food
• Frozen Raw Duck Necks
• Raw Advantage Frozen Raw Food
• Wild Kitty Frozen Raw Cat Food

A TAIL WAGGING OFFER FROM THOMAS TAILS!!!

Mention this newsletter when you next visit Thomas Tails and receive 10% off on your entire purchase. Come in soon! This offer will expire June 30, 2006.