November 2020 - DanielleL

How To Find A Certified Electrician

Electrics: The Basics

Designing and installing a new electrical system in your home is one of the more complicated elements of the overall building project. Most renovators, faced either with historic electrics untouched since the era of Bakelite’s dominance (if not before) or, perhaps worse, ‘improved’ and amended over years of previous owners’ marginal projects (closed off faceplates and switches that don’t work being classic signs) will also be keen to bring things up to date.

For those of us who didn’t listen much in physics classes, the world of electrics can be quite scary and for most, the services of an electrician are essential. However, it is critical to approach the specification of a new electrical system with a few key bits of knowledge, such as:

How an electrical system works, the rules regarding electrical work, and what you would like it to do.

Information on systems that go beyond the basics.

Typical cost expectations.

Electrics is one of the more dangerous elements of a home construction project. Each year, on average, 10 people die and 750 people are seriously injured as a result of electrical work — so approach any attempts at DIY seriously

The Basics

Electrical systems start with, and from, the meter, which belongs to the electricity board. From there it goes to your consumer unit (also known as a distribution board or fuse board) which has a main switch, and to the lifesaver RCD (Residual Current Device), and then it feeds all the circuits in your house via a miniature circuit breaker — MCB (fuse).

RCDs really are lifesavers: they trip out on leakage, not overload, meaning they cut off the flow of electricity automatically when they sense a ‘leakage’ – or imbalance – of electric current from a circuit. Whatever’s going into the circuit, carried on the live and neutral wires, must remain balanced as it flows through and returns — or the RCD will trip.

A guide to the electrical safety certificate

Nobody likes a dodgy landlord: someone happy to charge their tenants rent, but cutting corners when it comes to maintaining their property, leaving it below standard and in disrepair – because, after all, they don’t have to live there.

government has introduced a number of measures in recent years to reduce this kind of behaviour – for example, landlords can no longer look after the deposit themselves, in case they pocket the lot should a dispute arise. Also, landlords need health and safety checks to ensure all the basics meet certain standards; in terms of electrics, that means acquiring an electrical safety certificate.

The Electrical Safety Council is the governing body that writes the necessary guidelines. It also publishes helpful literature, such as The Landlord’s Guide to Electrical Safety. By applying the guidelines and earning a certificate, this is proof for tenants that all the electrics within a property are of a good standard and safe to use upon moving in.

The certificate is a requirement by law and, if asked by the authorities, a landlord must be able to produce the paperwork within seven days. Regular checking of the electrics is recommended, but only a legal requirement in certain properties.

Sockets and appliances

An assessment for a landlord’s electrical safety certificate makes the distinction between fixed installations – wiring, switches, sockets, light fittings – and appliances, including TVs, refrigerators and toasters. Any appliances provided by the landlord must be included in these checks, to ensure they work and that there’s no risk of injury. They must also carry at least a CE marking: the manufacturer’s claim it meets EU standards.

Electrician

How to become an electrician

You can get into this job through:

a college course

an apprenticeship

applying directly

College

You can take a Level 2 and 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation, which may help you to find a trainee position with a company.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Direct Application

You may be able to move into electrical installation work if you’ve got experience and relevant qualifications from a related industry, for example building services or electrical engineering.

Skills and knowledge

You’ll need:

the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools

knowledge of building and construction

maths knowledge for understanding technical plans

to be thorough and pay attention to detail

problem-solving skills

the ability to use your initiative

the ability to work well with your hands and use equipment safely

customer service skills for working with colleagues and clients

to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day-to-day tasks

Your work will depend on what type of electrician you are, for example:

installation electrician – install power systems, lighting, fire protection, security and data networks in buildings

maintenance electrician – check electrical systems to make sure they’re working correctly and safely

electrotechnical panel builder – make and install control panels that operate electrical systems in buildings, like heating or alarms

machine repair and rewind electrician – fix and maintain electrical motors and transformers found in industrial equipment

highway systems electrician – install and maintain street lighting and traffic management systems

How to Become an Electrician: Career Guide

It doesn’t matter what your situation may be, or what occupation you may have, you need the power to perform your day-to-day functions. Because electricity is such a vital utility to have for all of us, this puts electricians in high demand; so much of the world depends on them daily.

Electrician – Job Description

The term Electrician is referring to the occupation of an individual in which they perform work on electrical equipment around our homes and neighborhood. This can entail installing new electrical boxes or replacing parts in your current one, upgrading or maintaining these boxes or other vital pieces of electrical equipment.

Because of the nature of the work that is being performed, electricians should know the ins and outs of power, lighting, and electrical control systems. Every job that an electrician performs will require looking at the specific blueprints from the city for that particular property, understanding where everything is located and what needs to be done, and then to physically perform the necessary actions on the electrical box and other electrical equipment.

Some electricians are more skilled in specific areas, and as such will specialize in those. For instance, one electrician may be skilled in highway electrical systems while another may be more suited to perform work on residential properties.

it is also important to learn all that you can to diversify your skillset; this will make it easier for you to go from job to job without fear of not knowing how to perform a specific action or work on a specific piece of electrical equipment.

Duties

Plan electrical systems for new buildings and future developments

Fully read and understand blueprints, diagrams, and technical documents to perform the job correctly

Set up and install electrical systems such as wiring and lighting; making sure that these are up to code for new and old buildings

Form and connect electrical circuits

Complete both the installation as well as the future maintenance of electrical panels and products. This can include the act of inspecting said products; such as circuit breakers and transformers

Maintain the desired functions of electrical products; this includes, but is not limited to repairing, replacing, and upgrading outdated and malfunctioning equipment.

Installation and maintenance electrician

Install, maintain and repair electrical systems in industrial, commercial and domestic environments

An installation and maintenance electrician installs, maintains and repairs electrical equipment and systems, from switchboards to renewable energy technologies, in industrial, commercial and domestic environments. As an apprentice, you may also contribute to the design of electrical systems. You’ll be able to set out jobs from drawings and specifications to the requisition of the necessary installation materials.

During this apprenticeship, you’ll specialise in one of two occupations: installation, as in working on the installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of low voltage (less than 1000v) electrical and electronic devices and appliances; or maintenance, where you’ll maintain electrical and electronic installations. In this role, your duties will include the supervision of the equipment, its maintenance and necessary repairs.

Home Inspection 101 For The Home Buyer

TIPS FOR SELLERS BEFORE A HOME INSPECTION

Selling your beautiful home comes with a host of chores, tasks and steps that all go towards getting it ready to move. Most of the things you do are geared towards making your home appealing to a buyer, but what about after you’ve got that offer?

Once you’ve got an interested buyer, they will want to have a home inspector take a look at your property. What should you do to sure that the process goes smoothly? In this guide, we’ll discuss eight of our top tips for sellers before home inspections. A home inspection isn’t something many potential buyers skip. Here are some tips to make the process smoother.

THINK ABOUT CURB APPEAL

We’re sure your Realtor told you how important curb appeal is. Making that first impression is huge when a buyer arrives. But a different kind of curb appeal can make your home’s inspection a breeze.

Make sure there is 4-6 inches of clearance between the siding and any landscaping materials.

Cut back any vegetation to ensure about a foot of clearance between it and the house.

Visually inspect the siding and trim, if you see any damage, go ahead and have it repaired beforehand.

Repair missing caulking and trim and fix any exposed nail heads.

Check the operation of any exterior doors, locks and deadbolts. If you see a gap, have it filled properly.

Remove any stored items that are kept against the side of the house.

CHECK YOUR ROOF & GUTTERS

receives its fair share of rain and wind, so making sure that your roof and gutters are in good working order is a huge priority for buyers. Make sure to:

Clean the roof of any debris with a blower or pressure washer.

Repair any damage and replace any missing elements correctly. Temporary fixes like mastic or caulk will be noted as a defect.

Clean the gutters thoroughly

Ensure the downspouts and other drains are free of obstruction and are flowing properly. Also, make sure the run off isn’t pooling next to the house.

Home Inspection Tips for First Time House Buyers

First time buyers who put a contract on a house are doing something very exciting. It is your first home, and you are about to take part in the American dream! But as soon as you submit the contract, you should order a home inspection. A home inspection is essential to ensure that the home is in good condition, and that you are not going to have some unpleasant surprises down the road that cost you a lot of money. But not every home inspection is the same. To ensure that you get a good home inspection that tells you everything you need to know about your new home

Research the Home Inspector

Home inspections are great but they are only as good as the inspector doing the work. Too many home buyers and sellers just take whatever the name is of an inspector that they find or is recommended. If you are going to pay several hundred dollars for a home inspection, you want the inspection to be done right.

Some important questions to ask the inspector are:

How many years have you been inspecting homes?

How many home inspections have you done in the last five years?

What type of certifications and training do you have?

What did you do for a living before you were a home inspector? It is good if the inspector was involved in contracting or the building trades.

Attend the Inspection

You may not have to attend the home inspection, but you should. Just reading the inspection report is not usually enough to give you the complete picture. If you do not actually see the inspection going on, you may not have as good an understanding of potential home problems. Some home inspectors will actually turn down inspections because the potential buyer or seller is not there or does not want to be there. A good inspection can take several hours, so you should put aside plenty of time for this essential job. The results of the inspection can tell you whether you should really buy the home or should consider another, so showing up is important.

Read the Inspection Report

If you pay $400 for a home inspection, it is not going to do you much good if you do not read the report! You should spend at least 30 minutes going over the report, ideally with the inspector available for any questions or clarifications. It will help if the inspector uses very clear and concise language in the report. A good inspection report will state in simple language anything that is wrong with the home, and what is needed to fix it.

A home inspection checklist for buyers

Having an offer accepted on your dream house may seem like cause for celebration, but you’re not done just yet. You’ll need to get that home and its property inspected before you can pop the bubbly, and there are plenty of problems that could be hiding. This isn’t about peeling paint, which will be both obvious and pretty easy to fix, but about big ticket items that can affect the livability of the property.

Oil tank

If you’re buying a house that is heated using oil and intend keep it that way, this might not be a big deal. However, if the house is heated with gas, the home might once have been heated by oil and you should find out if there is an oil tank on the property.

HVAC system

“A standard home inspector will confirm that a home’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system (HVAC) is functional at the time of inspection, but will make no guarantee that it will keep working once you purchase the home,”

Roof

Roof problems are responsible for 39 percent of homeowners insurance claims, according to Trulia. “Find out how old the roof is and if there are any issues,”

Structural integrity of the chimney

“Chimneys can be a very costly enterprise,” says. Your inspector should look for signs of damage to the chimney lining on the inside, faults in the masonry around the chimney, and corrosion

Home Seller’s Guide to Home Inspections

Home sales are almost always contingent upon passing a home inspection. Though inspections typically occur after a buyer’s offer is accepted, there are several advantages to having your property inspected before you even put it on the market.

Get a Pre-Listing Home Inspection

No home is without faults, even those that are freshly built, so it’s important for you as the seller to understand that your home will likely have a few problem areas.

For example most commonly, home inspectors cite issues like chipping paint, threadbare carpets and extremely hot attics, all of which often go unnoticed by the sellers who’ve lived there for some time.

With the exception (perhaps) of the overheated attic, these minor cosmetic flaws can be fixed easily and at a relatively low price. Major issues, however, arise when an inspector discovers cracks in a home’s foundation, faulty plumbing, problems with heating and ventilation and bad electrical wiring.

Prior to your pre-market inspection, check your property for any indications of damage such as staining under kitchen and bathroom sinks, buckled or sloping floors and charred or discolored wall outlets.

What You Should Expect from a Home Inspection

If you’re buying a new home, then sooner or later you’ll need to have a home inspection done. While not usually required, obtaining a home inspection is common practice in real estate and is almost entirely done for the benefit of the purchaser, even if they’re paying for it out of their own pocket.

A home inspector is a qualified person who will take a detailed look at your home and alert you to any safety hazards, hidden damage, and the expected life span of various mechanical appliances throughout the home. A house inspection may give you some negotiating power to reduce the price or request repairs of any identified issues before continuing with the sale.

What to expect during a home inspection

A house inspection is a routine process during which a home inspector takes a look at the house. Once you are under contract on a home, you’re ready to hire a home inspector. Based on what the home inspector finds, you can decide to back out of the contract without a penalty, or you can proceed with negotiations.

Meeting your home inspector at the property.

It’s always a good idea to meet your home inspector at the subject property. This way you can get to know them and ask them any questions. After the inspection, the home inspector can talk you through any issues that he/she uncovered while going through the house.

Your home inspector should inspect every nook and cranny.

A good home inspector will check out every part of your house. They’ll go in the attic. They’ll go into the basement. They’ll check every door and window, and even the roof. The home inspector will also run your water to check for potential plumbing issues. A home inspection will typically last two to three hours or more — depending on the size of the home.

The Secret Of Successfully Acquiring An Accountant Practice With Little Out Of Pocket Expense

How Is Being Accountable Important to an Employer?

In the business world, accountability and ethics go hand in hand. In fact, accountability is often included as a core aspect of a company’s code of ethics. As an employee, accountability means the willingness to answer for your actions. By taking responsibility, you send a powerful message to your employer about your character.

Shows Responsibility

When you display accountability, you show your boss that you are a mature and responsible individual on whom he can depend. This makes him feel secure. He does not want an employee who refuses to own her conduct. For example, your boss may assign you to an important project, and it takes you longer than you expected to finish it. He checks on your progress, and you explain that you are still working on it. A more accountable action would be not to wait for him to inquire about your progress. Instead, go to him before the project runs late. Explain the delay and give him an estimate of when the work will be complete.

Saves Time and Money

When an employee fails to take accountability, time is wasted as those involved try to locate the problem. This time is better spent working instead of playing detective. If you are assigned to a team of four, and three team members work to move the project forward while the remaining member slacks off, the project may not be completed on time. If the irresponsible employee refuses to take accountability, more time is lost as your manager investigates to identify the problem. The employee’s refusal to be accountable results in wasted time, and ultimately, money.

Promotes Trust and Integrity

Trust and integrity are integral to forging strong business relationships. Your accountability shows that you have integrity and that you can be trusted. If your boss does not trust you, this may manifest itself in various ways, such as micromanaging or anxiety because he fears you will slip up. If you are accountable, his doubts about your ability to do the work are removed and he no longer feels the need to supervise you as closely.

Displays Effective Leadership

In the workplace, employees and managers are held accountable for their behaviors. A manager who takes accountability and leads by example is an effective leader that employees will follow.

Strengthens Ethical Decision Making

Customers stay loyal when they trust your communications and are confident that you have their best interests at heart. This is a major win for your employer because it enhances the company’s revenue and reputation. When all levels of the organization are educated on the company’s stance on ethics and accountability, all employees are aware of the values and principles that must be followed. When faced with decision making, they know that making the ethical choice is expected of them.

Why Do We Need Accountability?

There are numerous benefits when accountability is being implemented, four of the most crucial benefits are:

Accelerate Performance

Accountability evokes a sense of concern about your workflow. This also makes you more attentive to the smaller details of your assignment/s, whatever they may be. Due to extended attention you put into a task, your end result is perfect – something you feel confident in. Your confidence in your plan, or strategy, can easily be the deciding factor to overcome any obstacle. Solve every problem and complete your job with the best outcome.

Sets up for Milestones

Accountability helps you understand your ability. It helps you track how close you are to reaching your goals, and allows you to keep track of the steps you must take before becoming stronger in a field while setting milestones for the future.

Accountability enables you to define what success feels like and set milestones to measure your progress along the way. You gradually step up to perfection.

Makes You Consistent

When you start doing something, many distractions steal your focus from achieving your initial goal. Many people fall for these temptations, ultimately losing sight of their goals and going astray from their primary objectives. Accountability will hold your hand, and prevent you from giving in to these temptations.

Keeps You Happy

When you are on the road to success, every milestone brings you happiness along with a sense of accomplishment. You feel as though a weight has been lifted from your back. You feel stronger and valorous. This makes your future experiences even richer and more pleasant.

How to Improve Accountability?

First of all, as a leader, it’s your job to understand what makes each of your employees motivated enough to complete a job with efficiency. Every employee has a distinct drive. They are motivated in different ways. One way may work for one employee while being completely useless for another.

It’s your job to find out what maximises the motivation for each of your employees, then use this information to position them for success. Some effective ways to improve accountability include:

Setting Expectations

Setting your expectations is crucial to measure performance and to also hold your employees accountable. When you set an expectation, they work towards reaching and overcoming it. People are always motivated by a challenge. Therefore, it’s a psychological way to set up a challenge which creates a window for motivation to jump in and also overcome a set target.

Provide Performance Feedback

It’s very important to provide your employee with actionable and regular feedback – both positive and negative. Positive feedback creates a sense of accomplishment in the employee and further improves their ability so they work harder to achieve their goals.

The constant contact they have with their superiors will strengthen their sense of being valued within the workplace. Factors like timeliness, attendance, day-off requests and efficiency at work should be used in the flow of performance feedback.

Establish a culture of trust

By establishing freedom at work, you can improve workplace efficiency and also accountability. This applies majorly on the present generation of work force. A survey concluded that the present generation of millennials feels more motivated to work when they are empowered to control and set up their own schedules of work. Also, allowing your employees authority over their work schedule is the first and initial step in having them take ownership of their work.

Accountability results in stronger adherence to compliance.

Accountability is crucial when it comes to employees being compliant with both established and new company guidelines, laws, regulations, and standards. People who understand the consequences of failing to adhere to specific guidelines are more likely to follow them, and entire teams that feel the weight of those standards will work together to meet them.

When members of an organization are held responsible for their actions, it creates a healthier, happier, and safer working environment where everyone can focus on work instead of dealing with colleagues’ inappropriate actions or behavior. This also can reduce the number of potential lawsuits or fines your company could be faced with.

Balancing Accountability and Autonomy

Earlier I mentioned the need to monitor employee productivity, but the idea is important enough to expand upon it. Just how do you track someone’s productivity? Do you monitor their every action, making sure they’re always on-task and getting results?

I wouldn’t advise it. Being on top of your employees like that is a recipe for disaster, and is likely to cause even more distrust in the workplace. No one wants to be micromanaged. Plus, the second you have to leave on business they’re back to their old habits. So it really doesn’t fix anything.

The key to accountability is to passively track work without being overbearing. Have employees create to-do lists (whether they write them down or you implement a software solution) for the things they’re directly responsible for. Then leave them alone. Autonomy can be a productivity booster in the right situation, and accountability means nothing without it.

When you’re micromanaging that’s not accountability. Part of accountability is responsibility. Let them make mistakes. If they’re slacking, give them feedback on it. If their lack of work is a consistent problem, that’s when you address it.

Accountability matters because not having it means no one can be held responsible. Creating accountability, then, is about creating a culture where people value responsibility, and where people understand that accountability involves a certain degree of autonomy. Accountability is important, but when implementing it into your workplace, make sure you’re giving employees as much as you’re asking from them.

What Is Necessary In Veterinarian Services

Reasons Why You Should Choose A Holistic Veterinarian

They practice holistic medicine. Holistic medicine is a way of treating a patient by using natural methods such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine and diet, to treat the whole patient. Holistic veterinarians not only look at symptoms like a regular veterinarian would, but also look at diet, the environment, stress, genetics and past history. With this all this information they can treat the whole problem, not just fix the complaint.

The treatments they use are more natural. The types of treatments used are safe and natural substances such as herbs, vitamins, homeopathics and even foods. They are safer for the animal, the animals respond well to them, and they have little to no side effects.

They are very knowledgeable. Not only has your holistic veterinarian gone through the traditional medical training that a regular veterinarian goes through, they have also gone through additional training and certification in things such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and herbal medicine.

They practice complementary medicine. Most holistic veterinarians provide treatments and therapies that are a complement to what your regular veterinarian is doing. They can also use traditional diagnostic tests such as lab work and x-rays to help formulate a diagnosis. Occasionally holistic vets will recommend surgery or drugs in combination with the natural therapies, if they think that will be the best form of treatment for your pet.

Your pet is going to live longer and feel better! While holistic medicine can treat many different conditions, its main focus is in preventive medicine and keeping the body healthy and in balance. All this will make for a happier, healthier, less stressed pet!

How to find a holistic veterinarian that utilizes a natural approach

Choosing a vet is hard, especially if you want to find holistic veterinarian that utilizes a natural or integrative approach.

Although it can take more work and time than it does to find a conventional vet, if you do your homework and think through what you are truly looking for before you start your vet search, you can find a clinic and practitioner that will provide your pet with care you feel confident about for the pet’s entire lifetime – and that’s huge.

So what is the best approach to finding a holistic veterinarian that really clicks with you and your pet? Follow the steps below.

Think through the following factors and decide what you prefer/need in each category.

Cost

You need to think through cost in the short term and long term.

On the one hand, going to a holistic veterinarian can save you money in the long run because you are treating the whole dog and looking at the root cause of any issues, not just treating the symptoms.

You may pay more in the short term for appointment fees and supplements, but your dog may avoid larger more expensive problems down the road like surgery or prescription medications.

On the flip side, you may simply not be able to afford certain vets: I’ve been to vets that had prohibitive appointment fees, and when they investigated an issue, wanted to run every test in the book to find out what was going on.

At that point in my life, I just couldn’t afford what they recommended. In that case, I opted to go to a vet that was conventional, but was open to trying more natural things, I just had to do the research and talk to him about it.

He also respected my choices to vaccinate certain dogs less frequently because of health challenges they were facing – that was a huge factor for me.

It’s hard, but you have to find a balance. In general, you get what you pay for, but not always – sometimes you get more, sometimes you get less.

Expertise

Think about what type of holistic medicine you want to have access to, and investigate if the vet office you are considering offers it.

Different holistic vets specialize in different modalities, so know what each office you are considering offers. Examples of different specialties include:

Homeopathy
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (acupuncture, herbs, and foods)
Herbal Medicines
Flower Essences
Osteopathy
Chiropractic
Nutrition/Nutritional Support
Reiki
Tellington Touch

Philosophy

You want to have an idea of what your philosophy is and what you are looking for in your vet’s philosophy.

Holistic vets range from integrative (using both conventional and holistic treatments) to having a narrow specialty (for example only homeopathic or only Chinese medicine), to really off the beaten path of what we’re used to.

For example, at one point in my life I tried a natural practitioner who said she could tell what my dog was trying to say to me and wanted me to say reaffirming things to my dog to help him heal.

This was so, and I mean SO, beyond my comfort zone it wasn’t even on the same PAGE as the rest of my comfort zone.

This type of approach made me extremely uncomfortable – so not a good match for me – but a good learning experience on doing your homework before making appointments.

Choosing the Right Holistic Veterinarian

When I was searching for a holistic veterinarian, I started with referrals. I asked friends and people on Facebook who they liked in the area. There was one veterinarian who received loads of high praise, and I fell in love with him when I took Rodrigo to see him. However, the distance was too much, and it didn’t work out in the long run.

So I was on the hunt again, and I learned three things:

Some holistic vets aren’t familiar with or condone raw feeding as a diet option.
Some holistic vets still promote regular, unnecessary vaccinations.
Some holistic vets are expensive when compared to traditional vets.

So what is holistic veterinary medicine and what can it do?

Holistic is derived from the word whole, and refers to the treatment of the whole organism, rather than the treatment of individual body parts, or the removal of symptoms. Conventional or Western medicine tends to concentrate more on the removal of symptoms. Holistic veterinary medicine encompasses many modalities, including conventional medicine where it is required or appropriate. Modalities such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbalism or nutrition are better referred to as complementary rather than alternative, as they can complement more traditional methods not just be last resort alternatives. It is required that the practitioner treating animals with whatever holistic method be first and foremost a licensed veterinarian. This is because veterinarians are rigorously trained in the diagnosis of disease and the practice of veterinary medicine and can determine the best approach for an individual patient. For example a broken leg often requires surgical intervention, although homeopathic remedies can subsequently be used to increase healing, and decrease pain and inflammation. This is an example of true complementary medicine, where the best of all worlds is available. Holistic veterinary medicine includes many modalities and the following is a brief overview of the most commonly used .

NUTRITION

The key to good health and a healthy body is directly related to what is put into that body, and this applies to both animals and people. Good nutrition is the basis of a healthy pet. It is essential to feed as healthy a diet as you can. Many commercial pet foods include by-products and also chemicals that are known to have serious side effects. By-products include chicken heads and legs, tumors, diseased organs, and many other things that are not considered good for human consumption. If you wouldn’t eat it why should your pet? Chemicals to avoid include BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin, as well as any artificial coloring or flavoring. Ideally a natural home prepared diet is a lot healthier, providing that an appropriate vitamin and mineral supplement is added. With cats it is essential to add the essential amino acid taurine to their diet, as lack of this can lead to blindness. Foods that are good to feed include natural whole grains, such as brown rice, organic vegetables, and meats such as chicken, beef or rabbit. There are many good books that suggest detailed diets and some suggestions are given below. If it is not possible to prepare a diet then a good quality commercial pet food should be considered. Look for a food that is preserved naturally and keep away from artificial additives or by-products. Read the labels, and don’t just look at the bag, as this can sometimes be misleading. Many good natural pet foods are available, but even so it is good to add some natural foods in with the pet food, such as some left over vegetables or meat. Try and give as natural a food as possible and your pet will start to look and feel more healthy, vibrant and energetic.

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of treatment that most people have heard something about. It is based upon the concept that the body has meridians, or energy lines, running along it, and when the body is out of balance the energy lines are blocked or deficient in some way. The use of needles at appropriate acupuncture points will rebalance or redirect this energy and balance the body. The acupuncture points have been mapped over thousands of years by the Chinese and now have even been identified with modern scientific techniques. Some of the effects of acupuncture include pain relief, a strong sense of well-being, decreased inflammation and increased blood flow to the area being treated. By appropriate use of acupuncture, conditions such as hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc collapse, arthritis and nerve damage can be treated successfully. Additional benefits can include longevity and this refers to an increase in both the quality and quantity of life. Many old dogs treated with acupuncture live longer than average and enjoy less arthritis and increased energy and it is a joy to watch them respond. Acupuncture certainly offers a viable alternative to the use of pain killers and steroids, as well as surgery and has few, if any side effects when used appropriately.

HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that was developed in Germany by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the late eighteenth century. It is based on the Greek words meaning similar suffering and the concept that a substance that causes a symptom in a healthy patient will treat that same symptom in a sick patient. A single homeopathic remedy is chosen to treat the whole animal, including their mental, emotional and physical symptoms. This is in contrast to conventional or allopathic medicine where symptoms are suppressed or removed by the use of drugs such as antibiotics or pain killers. Of course there are certain life threatening situations where antibiotics are essential, but homeopathy actually stimulates the body to heal itself, and strengthens the immune system, and consequently leaves the body in a better state of health than before it became sick. It can treat many conditions effectively, and it is said that there are no incurable disease, just incurable patients. What this means is that many diseases can be treated, which conventional medicine cannot cure, but some patients are so sick and suppressed that they will never be truly cured, though they may be helped and given some comfort. People and animals that are treated all their life with homeopathy are overall healthier and live longer, because their immune system is continually being strengthened and challenged rather than suppressed and weakened.