Coming Soon!!!! "Dogs Aren't Men" the audiobook

I am happy to announce that the audiobook version of "Dogs Aren't Men" is currently in production. I am very excited about the narrator Rebecca Roberts. Yes, the main character in the book and the narrator have the same first name!

The audiobook is expected to be available for purchase through Amazon and Audible on Oct 1st!



BOOK DESCRIPTION:


A contemporary romance.

Rebecca Miller is a gifted veterinarian with an extraordinary understanding of animal behavior. She is leading a fulfilling life as the owner and operator of the Animal Friends Veterinary Clinic. Ever since her 30th birthday, her mother has made it her mission to help Rebecca find a man, get married, and give her grandchildren. But Rebecca doesn’t see the need for a man in her life. She has her dog, Captain, and that’s all the companionship she needs. However, her world changes the day she literally runs into Derrick Peterson, a gorgeously handsome ER doctor.

Derrick’s experiences with women have taught him that they are vain, silly, and untrustworthy. He keeps his relationships with them brief and superficial. However, he finds himself being irresistibly drawn to Rebecca. She’s smart, witty, compassionate, and very different from the women he usually encounters. Will Rebecca be the one to break down the wall he’s spent a lifetime building around his heart?



http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Arent-Men-ebook/dp/B00DBZ1FL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377216632&sr=8-1&keywords=billi+tiner

Pet Health Tip #21- Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is (unfortunately) a common problem during the hot summer months, especially when temperatures soar into the 100's.  Two of the most important things you can do to protect your dog from the heat are to make sure your dog has lots of shade and plenty of water.  It is easy to forget how fast water can evaporate in extreme heat, so make sure you re-fill the water dishes often.

Outdoor dogs with thick coats of fur, even if it is relatively short, should be shaved.  The thick fur is just like you wearing your winter coat out in the heat!  Another great idea is to add water misters to their pen to act as an air conditioner.  And lastly, do not leave your dog in a vehicle, even if the windows are cracked!

Symptoms of heat stroke include: Excessive panting; recumbency (lying on side); pale mucous membranes (gums and inside of cheeks); and unresponsiveness.

Emergency treatments: It imperative to get the dog's temperature down as quickly as possible.  Heat stroke dog temperatures can rise above 105 degrees.  The best thing you can do is get your dog to a veterinarian, so he can be started on IV fluids and the vet can work on lowering the dog's temperature.  However, if you are unable to get to a vet clinic, there are some treatments you can try.  First of all, you don't want to lower the temperature too quickly.  One of the best ways to lower a dog’s temperatures is to pour rubbing alcohol along his spine.  Rubbing alcohol evaporates more quickly than water, thus acting as a coolant.  Also, a room temperature water enema works well.  You don't want to use cold water as the dog's temperature is already well above room temperature and cold water would be too much of a shock to the dog's system.

Even with proper treatment, a heat stroke victim's chances of survival are minimal. So, the best treatment is prevention.  Please be aware of our four-legged friends during the warm summer months and do what you can to keep them safe and comfortable.

Pet Health Tip #20- Cystitis (bladder infection)

Cystitis refers to inflammation of the bladder wall.  Several underlying medical issues can cause cystitis.  The most common cause of cystitis is a bacterial infection.  This is especially true for female dogs and cats.  Bacterial infections in dogs and cats happen the same way they do in people, and pets will show similar symptoms.  These symptoms include: increased frequency of urination, straining to void the bladder, and blood in the urine.  Antibiotics are used to treat bladder infections.

Bladder stones (uroliths) can also cause cystitis.  Bladder stones are mineral deposits that form into rock-like substances.  These stones can be as large as golf balls!  The symptoms are exactly the same as with bladder infections.  Occasionally, a small stone may become trapped in a male dog’s or cat’s urethra causing a blockage.  This is a serious condition that requires emergency treatment.

During the early stages of stone development, the pet will have crystals in the urine.  Dogs may or may not develop symptoms of cystitis during the crystal phase.  Cats will typically start to show symptoms during this phase.  As I stated earlier, these crystals and stones are caused by mineral deposits.  These deposits are created by the urine either being too acidic or too alkaline.  The treatment is a change in diet, which will either raise or lower the pH of the urine.  Some bladder stones will dissolve in response to the diet change.  However, surgery is usually needed to remove the stones.

A less common cause of cystitis is a bladder tumor.  These usually develop in older female dogs. The tumors are typically benign.

There are other less common causes of cystitis.  All causes create the same symptoms.  Therefore, if your pet is showing symptoms of cystitis, you should take him or her to a veterinarian in order to get an accurate diagnosis.

Pet Health Tip #19- Hairballs

Hairballs are caused by a cat swallowing hair when it grooms itself.  Most of the hair is passed through the intestinal tract.  However, some of the hair stays in the stomach and aggregates into a hairball.  Young kittens don’t typically have hairball issues for two reasons.  First, they don’t lose much hair when they groom, and therefore, they don’t swallow much hair.  Second, their digestive tract is more active and moves the hair through more easily.  As cats age, they tend to shed more hair; thus causing them to swallow more hair.  Also, they are unable to pass the hair through their digestive tract as efficiently.  As a consequence, the hair sits in the stomach and aggregates into a hairball.  The hairball irritates the stomach causing the cat to retch.  Typically, the cat is able to successfully rid itself of the hairball by vomiting it up.

Hairballs are a normal part of a cat’s life.  They don’t usually cause many problems, other than to the owner who has to clean up the mess.  However, on rare occasions, a hairball will sit in a cat’s stomach so long that it hardens.  This can cause blockage and can become life-threatening.  Again, this is a rare occurrence, but one to be aware of.

So, what can you do about hairballs?  There are some hairball remedy products available.  These products work by binding up the hair and increasing the digestive tract activity to aid in passing the hairball.  They work well and I recommend using them for geriatric cats who have reoccurring issues with hairballs.

4 Star Review of "Heart of a Hero" plus Book Giveaway

Author Bio:

“Dr. Billi Tiner has been a veterinarian for over 10 years. She lives with her husband, two children, three dogs, and three cats in Missouri. Dr. Tiner is a sports enthusiast and avid reader. She also enjoys spending time outdoors gardening and hiking. Dr. Tiner has written four middle-grader books: Welcome Home, Heart of a Hero, Friends for Life, and The Rescue Team. She uses her experiences as a veterinarian as inspiration for her books.”

I was lucky enough to receive “Heart of a Hero” from the author Billi Tiner for review. Lady is an Irish Setter living on an Ohio Farm in the 1940′s with her doggie family. Then Carl comes to the area and works on the farm where she is at. Sh falls in love with Carl and stays at his side. Soon Carl’s work is done and has to go. Lady is given to Carl. Her and Carl have a lot of fun together but the time eventually comes and Carl has to go to war. A letter comes informing Lady and Carl’s father that he died serving his country. Lady is then enlisted in a training program in the military (the USMC) to become a dog messenger. Lady is very brave. She is put in many dangerous hard situations but rises to the occasion as a hero. She finds herself protecting and helping others. After being injured she is discharged from the service along with her handler. Eventually her handler must go back to war after he decides to re-enlist in the USMC. Like most veterans Lady suffers from PTSD but eventually Lady finds her home.

“Heart of a Hero” is a heart warming story is directed at middle grade kids. Its a story of courage, loyalty, unconditional love, and adventure. It was very touching and I think many dog lovers as well as people who know people in the military would love this book.

You can purchase ”Heart of a Hero” here on Amazon for $2.99 kindle edition.

Would I recommend this book? Yes because I loved “Heart of a Hero”. As a fellow veteran I could relate coming home and trying to figure our where exactly home was while at the same time adapting to a different environment after war. I too lost loved ones to war. This story was very touching to me. I loved it. A very courageous theme.

I give this wonderful book four stars!

WIN IT!

The prize: 1 lucky Women’s Intuition reader will win a copy of one of the following children’s books of their choice from Billi Tiner (the author).

• Heart of a Hero
• Welcome Home
• Friends for Life
• The Rescue Team

To enter the giveaway visit: Women's Intuition

Pet Health Tip #18- Feline Aids

"Feline Aids" is caused by a virus; specifically, the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).  FIV causes symptoms in cats that are very similar to the symptoms that HIV causes in people.  It basically destroys the cat's immune system, causing them to be much more susceptible to infections.  Most of the time, the first indication a cat has FIV is that it has an infection that seems to be causing the cat to be more ill than it should.  An example would be a wound that won’t heal.  Another example would be an upper respiratory infection that just won’t go away.

FIV is transmitted from cat to cat through an exchange between the saliva of an infected cat and the bloodstream of a non-infected cat.  Most typically, this is through a bite wound.  The virus then hides in the cat for up to six years before emerging and attacking the immune system.  So, there are a lot of cats who have FIV, but are not showing any symptoms.  Because it is usually transmitted through bite wounds, FIV occurs most commonly in stray cats and the occasional indoor/outdoor cat.

The most full-proof way to protect the cat from contracting FIV is to keep the cat indoors.  That way they are never exposed to cats who have FIV.  Also, since it is transmitted through a bite, if your cat is only going into its own yard, then you don't really need to worry.  However, there are vaccines available for cats who do go outside and tend to wander.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) causes symptoms similar to FIV and is transmitted much more easily.  It can be transmitted from an infected cat's saliva to a non-infected cat through the mucus membranes (lining in the mouth, nose, and eyes).  Therefore, it can be transmitted by one cat simply hissing and spitting on another or through sharing a water dish, etc.  Therefore, if your cat is going to go outside, then I highly recommend that you have them vaccinated against FeLV.

A simple blood test is used to diagnose FIV and FeLV.  If you are going to bring a new cat into your home, I highly recommend you have her tested first.  That way you will know what you are dealing with.  Like I said, the cat can have the virus for years and not show any symptoms, so if they test positive, then you have to measure their expected life span and the risk to your other cats.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for either virus.  However, many FeLV or FIV positive cats live long, happy lives.  If you have a cat that is positive for either virus, then it is imperative they remain indoor cats to prevent them from exposing other cats to infection.

Only Trick in the Book's 4 Star Review of "Dogs Aren't Men"

Synopsis:Rebecca Miller is a gifted veterinarian with an extraordinary understanding of animal behavior. She is leading a fulfilling life as the owner and operator of the Animal Friends Veterinary Clinic. Ever since her 30th birthday, her mother has made it her mission to help Rebecca find a man, get married, and give her grandchildren. But Rebecca doesn’t see the need for a man in her life. She has her dog, Captain, and that’s all the companionship she needs. However, her world changes the day she literally runs into Derrick Peterson, a gorgeously handsome ER doctor.

Derrick’s experiences with women have taught him that they are vain, silly, and untrustworthy. He keeps his relationships with them brief and superficial. However, he finds himself being irresistibly drawn to Rebecca. She’s smart, witty, compassionate, and very different from the women he usually encounters. Will Rebecca be the one to break down the wall he’s spent a lifetime building around his heart?

My Review:

"Dogs Aren't Men" is a very clean romance that is fast paced and easily read. While Rebecca and Co. seem to have the worst luck (and a lot of clever coincidence), the story is romantic and feels pretty true to life. Ms. Tiner does a nice job of balancing the fact with fiction. You can tell she is writing of something she is passionate about but she doesn't over do it. Career knowledge aside, the love story comes first and foremost.

There is a well-written connection between Derrick and Rebecca as well as plenty of plot. What made this book so enjoyable for me was that it has a realistic execution of how a relationship begins between two strong-willed characters. "Dogs Aren't Men" had me turning page after page to see what would happen next, and how Rebecca and Derrick would bring themselves together.

While this book didn't change my life, it is certainly deserving of four stars. I wish the ending would have given us a little bit more. Because Ms. Tiner kept the tension building, on multiple levels, we don't get to see Rebecca and Derrick happily together for very long. I certainly was sad to see their story end as it was really sweet once there.

Ms. Tiner presents a great contemporary romance, and if she keeps at it, I'd love to continue following her books. I hope others don't judge this book based on it's not so intriguing cover and try it on for themselves.

Rating: * * * * *

Hotness Level: Cool - Mild - Warm - Hot - Humid - Smokin

Triggers: Romance, Professionals, Clean

(I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Click to Visit Only Trick in the Book




click image to buy now!