■ Feed your pet only commercially prepared pet foods; never feed raw meat or
unpasteurized milk.
■ Do not allow birds to fly free in your home; you must avoid their droppings.General Hygiene
■ Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating, smoking, or attending
to open wounds.
■ Keep your cat off all kitchen surfaces. If not possible, be sure to wipe down,
with a gentle disinfectant, any surface where you may place your food.
■ Do not allow your dog to drink out of the toilet because it is a place of many
germs.
■ Tr y to avoid contact with your pet’s bodily fluids. Gloves and a breathing
mask should be worn for clean up including cleaning a litter box, aquarium,
or bird cage.312 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
INTERACTING WITH YOUR PET
When you are feeling tense or anxious and if you have a dog or a cat to whom you are
attached, try this:
■ Note your physical and emotional signs of tension: Are your hands clenched? Is
your body trembling? Are you restlessness? Are you unable to relax? Do you have a
mouth dry, stomach upset, or breathing rapidly? Are you unable to concentrate?
Are your worrying? You can also have a friend take your pulse and blood pressure.
■ Do something with your pet for at least 20 minutes, for example, play, groom, or
talk.
■ Have your friend take your pulse and blood pressure again and compare the results
to those taken prior to the interaction. Then conduct another self-assessment.
What, if anything, has changed?