posted September 08, 2003 12:10 PM         

Rabies (like some other so-called contagions) is a medical throwback to vampire myths.

posted September 10, 2003 09:28 AM         

On the other hand, the damaging effects of the rabies shot is well-documented.

posted November 20, 2003 03:02 AM         

I just happened across these posts..and I gotta gotta comment......

A) Randall, you got your wish.......LOL

B) In my state, the first case of human rabies in 35 years occurred......and they cant figure out where the guy GOT it from.

HAHAHAHHA... just the irony. The guy is fine, i am not laughing at his misfortune.

Sorry I have a twisted sense of humor. BTW I am totally against vaccinations. And, I have never heard of ANYONE in the military getting away with no vaccines. If you did, GREAT! I don't doubt anyones words, but I used to live in a town (in CO, not far from Cripple Creek, imagine that) with 4 military installations and not one person had ever managed to get away with it.

posted November 20, 2003 08:40 AM         

Another irritant is the push here for heartworm meds. There`s never been a reported case here yet the vets hammer on you so hard to medicate. They charge an exorbant price for the product which contains Ivomectin. Ivomectin is in horse wormer at about $10 a tube and one tube can worm (ALL worms) a dog for a year and 1/2. Think the vet will tell you that? Humph

Prevention is the KEY and it can be done naturally and with common sense!!!

juniperb

posted December 10, 2003 05:14 PM         

To bring up the ADD stuff again...My little brother is 8 and he's been 'diagnosed' with it for a couple years now. And he's a Leo too.
This topic interests and frustrates me extremely because I also think that medicating it is simply trying to solve a problem by creating another problem. He was in and out of kindergarten after a couple weeks because my mom wouldn't medicate him and then the same thing happened the next year with 1st grade, both times my mother trying to homeschool him but not having any success because she didn't have the patience to deal with him. She was against the idea of medication as well. She's an older mom, had him when she was 39, so she just doesn't have the energy she used to (whereas my little bro is really highstrung and active.) and she struggles herself with depression. This is the third year of trying to get Sky into school and since he's getting so old, my mother doesn't want him to be left too far behind and doesn't know what else to do, so now they have begun the meds. At the same time, she herself has gotten on anti-depressants and just for good measure, my frequently depressed 19 year old sister went on them too!
I really think that it is a myriad of things that contribute to Sky's inability sit still and concentrate on one thing. The vaccines, a diet high in refined sugar and refined foods with preservatives and artificial ingredients, too much t.v. and video games from a very young age a not being read to enough in the first three years. Emotional stuff too..like a father figure that isn't around enough cause he's a workaholic.
This is of great distress to me. I love sky in a special way..it's almost more maternal than sisterly. It's because I was 17 when he was born (I attended the birth) and lived at home for much of his early years.
I don't really know what I can do to help though. I tell my mother what I think some of the causes are and no matter how gently and lovingly I try to say it, she ends up feeling like a bad mom for not having the willpower to change his diet because he's so subborn now. She's frustrated because much of it is in the past and it's beyond her control to change. I'm often at a loss for what to suggest, other than trying to feed him a better diet and reduce the t.v. time- both of which she hasn't been able to stick to because she can't handle his tantrums when he's denied such things.
*sigh*

I find myself just pushing it aside and ignoring the problem because..I live a couple thousand miles away and I don't know what else to do. Except learn from it and do my best to raise my 2 year old son as best I can. Which I know isn't perfect but is simply as best I know and can manage whilst still doing the things I need to take care of myself. I am regularly freaked out by the idea of my son turning out with the same issue to grapple with.
*knocks on wood*
Thank Goddess that he doesn't show any signs of having difficulty concentrating. Contrary rather, he's shown exceptional ability for his age in that regard.

posted December 11, 2003 12:40 PM         

Also, like you, I believe that our diets contribute largely to our sense of well-being, and a diet rich in sugars and processed foods can be debilitating. Also, I know there is a lot of disagreement over this, but if he is consuming aspartame, that too can contribute hugely to his problems. I've been told by natural doctors that it's the equivalent of feeding children alcohol, though worse.

I'm a big fan of Dr. Richard Shulze, a naturopathic doctor in CA. He no longer sees patients (the goverment won't allow it), but he still helps them heal themselves, with tons of literature and serious products. I think he might have done one of his newsletters on ADD in the past year or so, and if I can find it I'll be happy to send it on to you, if you like. I just hope I have it...

It's hard to be a mom, I sympathize with yours...we are bombarded constantly with advertisements for food and false promises for quick happiness. It's a lot of pressure when a child doesn't understand the difference between what's healthy, and what looks good on TV.

Hmmm, if memory serves wasn't there some research indicating that the children responsible for Columbine were on mood enhancing medication? Please--if my memory is incorrect on that, I apologize in advance!

Harpyr, that you care, is a beginning.
I hope others here have some advice for you.

posted December 30, 2003 12:15 PM         

Anyway, I put him on Wellness pet food and keep him indoors as much as possible. Once every few weeks he escapes out the front door.

His moods are cyclical, just unpredictable. They last a few days and then are gone. The other day I didn't want to expend any more energy to calm him down so I opened the window and let the cold air in. He enjoyed sitting by the window and looking outside, but eventually realized that it was too cold to do the things he wants to do (like scream). So he calmed down and huddled into a little ball.

I dunno. I take it one day at a time and love the best I can. I know he would not be an easy cat for others to happily adopt once they first try to approach him. It's been two years since he's lived in my flat, 6 months under my personal care and sleeping in my room. The regular hours and feedings have been successful thus far. The only other thing that works is staring at him in the eye and having firm resolve not to let him destroy anything he wants.

posted December 30, 2003 12:36 PM         

Would you say these are anxiety attacks or just aggressive out bursts? If I knew, I could recommend the proper treatment for Willard.

Let me know!

juniperb

posted December 30, 2003 01:00 PM         

what is rescue remedy and how do you use it?

is an anxiety attack when there is fear or worry?

willard still pulls the fur off his lower back. the bald area is 5 inches long and 2 inches wide. he definitely has no fleas. he does this when nobody is looking.

he is the most fearless creature alive on our block. he goes into people's houses through open windows and fights with other cats. on saturday he went into the flat below us and fought with Rilo. even though a BIG HUSKY dog lives there now. we had to get the landlord to unlock the front door to get him out. he then escaped through a hole into the basement. we had to use his wicker carrier basket and catnip as lure to get him off a 5.6 foot high pile of dirt.

nobody except me can pet him longer than 20 seconds b/c he will twist his head and snap his jaws.

a lot of times he demands to go out into the hall. so i let him, but then he starts yowling. i have to take him back inside, and then the whole cycle starts again with demanding to go out.

he is not afraid of strangers. strangers are afraid of him . . . as deceptively cute and cuddly as he looks.

willard just isn't the type of cat you can pick up and hug, b/c he will sink his claws into a shoulder, or nip at a wrist.

:-/ sorry for the rant. i'm just at my wits end and am hoping that when we move into our own apartment next year, a lot of his "stuff" will go away.

posted December 30, 2003 01:12 PM         

juniperb

posted December 30, 2003 03:16 PM         

juniperb

posted December 30, 2003 07:32 PM         

I wish I had some advice but I've no experience with a cat like Willard...I'll bet juniperb has some good suggestions, though.

posted December 31, 2003 10:03 AM         

I have made an online order for the flower essences formula Juniperb has prescribed. They should be here in a few days.