This will be my first encounter with Fourth of July in Salem, MA. I am not really looking forward to hearing the thunderous boom of fireworks, music and strange crowds of people flocking into the city.

Right now i am still recovering from the strange men and their scary ladders who are painting the house next door all week. .. not to mention the moving balloons tied to the neighbor’s fence. Makes me want to hide in the closet or on the bed with the cats.I have been taking lots of Rescue Remedy, Bach Flowers and melatonin. Today i may even take some valerian. Is all this noise really necessary?

Here are a few recommendations from my pet human on how to help dogs like me on the loudest American holiday.

Wishing you a quiet and safe 4th!

Quan Yin

Fireworks and Your Dog

Dog’s senses are much more acute than ours. Sounds such as fireworks, thunder and loud booming noises can sound threatening and overwhelming to them.

* I always recommend having Bach Flower Rescue Remedy around for any type of stress for humans and pets. Make sure you put a few drops in the water bowl, especially on days that storms are predicted and holidays with fireworks, such as the 4th of July. You can find the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy at Whole Foods, The Vitamin Shoppe and other natural food stores.

* For dogs who have extreme fear during fireworks and thunder storms, try adding a few drops of the Bach Flower Remedies Mimulus and Rock Rose to their water along with the Rescue Remedy.

* Reassure your dog that it is ok. Talk in a soothing voice and massage its ears with a small amount of Rescue Remedy.

* Let your dog hide somewhere inside where he feels safe. Make the spot comfortable for him. It could be his crate, the basement or your bedroom. Don’t leave him outside.

* If possible, leave an air conditioner on in the room the dog is in to provide a cool temperature and white noise.

* Play classical music or natural sounds such as ocean waves to soothe and calm him. Don’t play it too loud though, it could have the opposite effect.

For more information on the Bach Flower remedies visit www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer. – Black Elk

Take a walk on Derby Wharf in Salem with me. Breath in the ocean air. Listen to the sound of the waves lapping and the sea gulls laughing.
Enjoy this beautiful Sunday.
Quan Yin

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.”

Since i have arrived in noisy Salem from TN, i have been a little jumpy. Trucks, tour busses and things with diesel engines seem to terrify me. My pet humans think it is because i was on the transport truck for 3 days from the south to the northeast…. maybe. ….. maybe it is just the booming sound of that engine. The problem is that i now live in a tourist destination city. From April through November tourists pour in and tour busses are everywhere. Just walking to Pickering Wharf- which is now one of my favorite places to check pee-mail and meet other dogs is sometimes overwhelming. Tour busses linger at the House of Seven Gables… running their engines the entire time they are parked. Is that really necessary? It certainly not environmentally friendly!

One of the things that seems to help me is the Bach Flower remedy called Mimulus. My pet humans have been giving me that along with the Bach Flower Rescue remedy. Below is a great article on how to use Mimulus for fears and it is not just for dogs. People can use it too. Any of you humans have a few fears you need to face? Personally i will take the boom of an engine over what most people seem to be scared about. Humans do worry about the oddest things.

As many humans say, “Time heals all wounds”. Perhaps time and these magic flowers will do the trick!
Happy Tails until my next post.
namaste
Quan Yin
From the site www.herbs2000.com

Mimulus
Shyness, timidity, everyday fears of known things.

Fear of crowds, fear of people and of being in the public eye are all characteristics of the Mimulus type, who tends to be shy and timid. As a mood remedy, Mimulus is for anyone who suffers from a fear that can be identified clearly – fear of pain, poverty, spiders, of being killed in an accident, of being burgled etc.

Fear of failure is a Larch indication as it suggests a lack of confidence in one’s ability to succeed; but Mimulus fear of the consequences may be more specific such as fear of what people might say; or fear of having to make the winner’s speech. As this suggests, it is not always easy to draw a clear line between Larch and Mimulus, and they are often given together. The normal way to tell them apart is this: if there is a lack of confidence but no actual anxiety, give Larch alone; if there is a fear of something specific but away from this the person is confident of his or her abilities, then give Mimulus alone.

Animals that need Mimulus as a type remedy are fearful, nervous creatures. They may demonstrate their fear quite openly by shaking or shivering or using other body language when confronted with the thing that frightens them: animals that whimper or hide behind the settee when a stranger enters the house are very likely to be in need of Mimulus.

Animals that are afraid of thunder, fireworks, other animals, or the cracking of wood burning in the grate would all benefit from Mimulus. The remedy should also be considered (as should Centaury and Larch) for animals who find it difficult to assert themselves; but where there is sheer terror, or the fear is not of something specific, other remedies will apply (Rock Rose and Aspen).”

Happy first day of summer! My pet humans bought me a kiddie pool. I am not sure if i love it yet. I think they are more excited about it than i am… especially the woman. (She also bought a thing called a frisbee which confuses me.)

Today it is really hot out, so i may consider amusing them and just sit in the pool. Maybe it will feel good. …then again i am certian i heard the word B-a-t-h. I think those cats could use a bath. Now that would be fun to watch.

It is terribly hot so i may give in…and i just love when they say “Awwwwwwwwww..isn’t she so cute” Humans are so funny.

Here are some tips to keep your dog cool this summer.

1. PLEASE! Never, ever leave your pets in a parked car in the summer, even if you crack the windows or park in the shade. A car temperature can rise to 150F or more in just a few minutes. This is the number one cause of canine heat stroke.

2. Always have plenty of fresh water handy for your pets. Carry a bottle of water and a bowl for your dog when walking him or her on a hot day.

3. Be on the look-out for signs of heatstroke. Symptoms include rapid breathing, a dazed look, very hot skin and twitching muscles. Wrap your pet in a cool, but NOT cold, wet towel. Get them to the vet as soon as possible as heatstroke can be fatal.

4. Be careful not to exercise dogs during the hottest part of the day. Also don’t worry if they are eating less on hot days as it is a normal canine reaction to heat.

5. Putting out a kiddie pool for dogs to cool off and play in on those hot summer days. They are inexpensive and can be found at places like Target, K-Mart, etc.

6. Try to keep your pets indoors during the hottest part of the day, in a room with air conditioning or circulating fans if possible.

7. Short haired dogs or those who have just been shaved are prone to sunburn just like us. Especially early in the summer, try to limit your dog’s exposure to the sun.

Enjoy the summer
Quan Yin
PR Dog of Four Paws Acupuncture

Spread the word to all those you know who use this dog food:
Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food
with the “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, in 5-lb. and 28-lb. bags
because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Meet Quan Yin, our latest staff member of Four Paws Acupuncture and PR dog in charge of Pawsitive Relations. She is also the administrator of this new blog, The Barking Oracle. So many titles for a 55 pound rescue dog.

Quan Yin has a very sweet disposition and an old soul. She is named after the Buddhist Goddess of Compassion Quan Yin, also spelled Kuan Yin or Guan Yin. Quan also means dog in Chinese. click here for more info on Quan Yin

Originally from TN, Quan Yin was abandoned during the floods and was fostered by very kind folks working with the SPCA of TN . Thanks to Sheila Duncan and her organization Trouble Says Be Tough we learned about this sweet girl and decided to adopt her. A month later she was transported up to New England via http://www.petsllc.net The sound of diesel engines still terrify her. She is still adjusting to the noises and smells of Salem with the aid of Bach Flower remedies, melatonin, and with lots and lots of love. Quan Yin is teaching us all to have patience.

This dear girl loves her new feline roomies, especially Nubi wan Kenobi, who is really a dog in a cat’s body (aka the puppy-cat). Our other two cats, Zevo Calamari and Luna miso Poosie tolerate Quan Yin but have yet to cuddle with her. More lessons in patience! Can a cat learn to have patience?

Soon Quan Yin will be writing the canine advice column Ask Quan Yin. If you have any dog related questions please email her at QuanYin at fourpawsacupuncture dot com. It is hard to type with paws so she will only be answering a few questions per month.

Thanks to Quan Yin i will be taking more time off to play and relax. We are working on our new summer schedule for house calls and hoping to have an office by fall of 2010 for all those patients who are out of our travel zone.

We are so grateful to have this new dear girl in our lives. There are so many dogs who need homes. Please consider adopting a rescue dog the next time you consider getting a dog.

For Licensed Acupuncturists and Acupuncture students:

Four Paws Acupuncture is very happy (and relieved) to announce that the NCCAOM approved CEU class “Treating Painful Canine Disorders with TCM” is now available. The recording of the audio portion hit a few technical snags which we would like to blame on Mercury in Retrograde! Thanks to all who have been patiently waiting.

Treating Painful Canine Disorders with TCM CEU/PDA Course includes:

* INCLUDES the book “Woof & Warp of Canine Pain” ($18.95 value)
* 2 audio CD’s.
* Directions, additional materials and CEU/PDA exam.
* Those completing the course receive 3 hours of CEU/PDA credit (NCCAOM).
* NCCAOM provider and course#: ACHB 905-001
Dog not included.
For more information or to order the class visit www.fourpawsacupuncture.com

For those who do not want to take the class please note that the book THE WOOF & WARP OF CANINE PAIN, Treating Dogs With TCM can be purchased separately at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/woof-and-warp-of-canine-pain/10905323

Meet our newest member of the Four Paws Acupuncture staff…Quan Yin! Abandoned during the recent floods in Tennessee, Quan Yin is a 1 year old newfie mix with a sweet disposition. She will be in charge of PR (pawsitive relations) and the spokes-dog for TCM and K9 acupuncture. (Soon she will have her own blog and advice column.)

Quan Yin was fostered by kind folks who work with the SPCA of TN and an organization called Trouble Says Be Tough. Please visit their website for more info and fun products whose proceeds go towards rescuing dogs from kill shelters in TN. Troublesaysbetough

Here are some pics from her arrival on the transport from TN. A big thanks to the folks at Pets LLC Transport for her safe arrival.

Swami Dog-ananda is the patron of all homeless, flea ridden dogs.

In shelters devotees of this Master place a biscuit at his image in hopes of finding a new home. Others chant his mantra….Home Please find me a Hooooooome

. Swami Dog-ananda has stayed in embodiment until all dogs find homes. Go to your local shelter and adopt a dog. Good DOGma…Good Karma.
Find the Swami Dog-ananda Throw Pillow and other pawsitive gifts for dog lovers at The Tao of Dog Galleria