Join the Planet Dog Foundation to Fund Canine Search Teams in Haiti

Here is a message from Planet Dog:

Dear Friends:

The Planet Dog Foundation specializes in grant funding for programs that work with dogs to help people in need. Nowhere is there more need to help people in crisis than in Haiti. Search dog teams are working around the clock in Port-au-Prince and beyond to locate survivors and dangerous materials in the rubble.

PDF will be making an emergency donation to the National Disaster Search Dog Rescue to support the efforts of their teams currently active in Haiti. Their teams train rigorously for years, so they can immediately mobilize in times of unthinkable disasters like this one.

If you have not yet given, or would like to offer additional support to fund the work of life-saving dogs in the rescue efforts, please make a donation to the Planet Dog Foundation by Monday, February 8. Your donation will be matched by PDF, and then our donation to the Search Dog Foundation will be matched by Joanne Woodward Newman, of Newman’s Own, and the Newman Foundation – so your gift will be QUADRUPLED!

You can make a donation at the Planet Dog Company Store at 211 Marginal Way in Portland, or mail your donation to PDF, 49 York Street, Portland, ME 04101. When sending by mail please note that it is a gift for the Matching Grant Program for Haiti.

PDF will match all pledges up to $1,500 and send a donation to the Search Dog Foundation on Wednesday, February 10. The Newman Foundation will match the PDF gift on February 15. You contribute $20. PDF sends $40. Newman contributes an additional $40 = $80 to SDF – your contribution go FOUR times as far.

To learn more about the work of these incredible dogs, and see daily updates on their successes on the ground in Haiti, visit http://www.searchdogfoundation.org/98/html/1-2_haiti.html

Thank you very much for considering a donation in support of this amazing example of how dogs are helping people in need. Please pass this along to all of your dog loving friends.

Kristen Smith
Executive Director

New Patient Special at Four Paws Acupuncture ! We will donate 10% of the fee for your dog’s first acupuncture session to this fund.

Oriental medicine is a very broad and complete system of holistic healthcare. Acupuncture is the most famous technique, but it also includes other modalities such as herbal medicine, tui na massage, cupping and moxabustion.

Moxibustion is the process of burning the herb Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris), over specific acupuncture points and channels. When treating dogs I use a moxa stick, which resembles a large cigar. It is lit and held about an inch or more away from the dog’s fur above the point or area to be treated.

Moxa is used to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and chi. It is especially effective relieving pain made worse by cold damp weather.

Dogs usually respond in a positive way to a moxa session. There are a few who do not like the smell or the smoke. … and sometimes their owners do not either!

The one unfortunate side effect of burning moxa during a house call is that it also smells very similar to an illegal substance once very popular in the sixties! The smell does not last a long time and can be eliminated quickly if there is an air filter in the home or if a few scented candles are lit during or after the session.

The smell of moxa may give this therapy a stinky reputation but the positive results are worth it!
If you would like to learn more about Traditional Chinese therapies used for people visit www.MyAcuDoc.com

If you or your dog are experiencing movement problems or pain, or you are just interested in preventative health, try acupuncture!

Acupuncture is a time-tested clinically effective solution to the stresses and health problems of you and your pets in our modern times. The effects of acupuncture and herbal therapy are gentle yet very effective for a wide range of health problems, and it is a cost-effective method to regain and maintain the health of your pet.

Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls. Gift certificates are available for house calls or nutritional/herbal consultations for your dog. For more information please visit
FourPawsAcupuncture.com

Dogs…does your pet human need an acupuncture treatment? Gift Certificates are now available at The Acupuncture Center of Salem for acupuncture and/or herbal therapy. Visit the website at www.MyAcuDoc.com for more information.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday Season,

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is observed annually on October 24. It is designed to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine

To learn more about the theories and history of oriental medicine visit www.www.aaaomonline.org

For more information on how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help humans stay healthy visit www.myacudoc.com. Visit the Four Paws Acupuncture website to see how Traditional Chinese Medicine is used for dogs.

Four Paws Acupuncture Clients receive 30% off your first acupuncture visit with Norm Kraft at the Acupuncture Center of Salem. Offer expires November 20, 2009

This E-How Article has some excellent tips for caring for your tripawd. I have included some tips from a TCM perspective.

How to Care for a Three Legged (Tripod) Dog
By Melissa Maroff
eHow Contributing Writer

* Stay close to your dog for a few days after the surgery while he adjusts. After that it’s a good idea to always monitor or assist your dog on stairs and be ready to give a boost in and out of cars (depending on the ease of access).

* Exercise your tripod dog regularly; walking is good, but remember not to push since she’ll be moving a little slower. Swimming (canine hydrotherapy) is the best exercise for a tripod dog.

* Keep your dog’s skin and pads clean and free of infection. If your dog has cracked pads (which tripods are more prone to), apply bag balm, Vaseline or other products that speed up healing.

* Feed your tripod dog a healthy diet and maintain a proper weight. An overweight dog will have to work harder to support himself.

* Keep your tripod dog’s nails trimmed. Long nails can inhibit movement. ”

Four Paws Acupuncture:

* Acupuncture can help your tripawd recovery from surgery. It relieves pain, increases circulation and reduces stress. It is also beneficial for dogs who also suffer from arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia or knee aliments.

* Make sure your dog is not eating any dog foods that contain by-products, fillers, wheat, corn or soy. Organic free range meats are best, especially for those diagnosed with cancer.

* Give your dog a relaxing massage. Take special care to massage the opposite limbs and any area he may be experiencing pain.

* Play calming music while you are away to help your dog relax.

Four Paws Acupuncture makes veterinary acupuncture house-calls on the North Shore of MA. fourpawsacupuncture.com

It is beginning to get a little chilly here in New England. If your dog suffers from arthritis symptoms made worse with the cold damp weather proper nutrition can make a big difference in your dog’s health, along with Traditional Chinese medicinals and acupuncture.

My dog patients all seem to love the Cinna-bone treats made by Solid Gold. I love that they are organic and that they contain no wheat. Wheat has been proven to exacerbate arthritic pain and also aggravate allergies. Cinnamon is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to relieve the painful symptoms of arthritis.

Ingredients:
New and improved formulation – Barley, Spelt Canola Oil, Rolled Oats, Cinnamon, Lamb, Fish, Flax Meal, Garlic and Sea Vegetation

To find a local store that carries Solid Gold please visit their website.
solidgoldhealth.com If you are in the Salem MA area you can find them at The Barking Cat.

Treating Hip Dysplasia with Acupuncture

Canine hip dysplasia, is an abnormal development of the ball-in-socket joint that makes up the hip. In a dysplastic hip, the ball which is the head of the femur, or thighbone, and the socket known as the acetabulum, do not fit together properly. Therefore when the dog bears its weight on the joint, it leads to painful and damaging friction.

Kobe is a feisty 5 year old Collie mix who was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and arthritis in the winter of 2007. He is a very active dog who had been training in agility and free-style dancing. He is also a therapy dog.

Kobe’s owner began to notice that he was limping and seemed to be in pain after his training sessions. Conventional medicine was not easing his symptoms so she turned to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Kobe began his acupuncture sessions in late winter of 2008. In addition to acupuncture, we changed his diet to a better brand of dog food which did not contain any wheat, corn or soy. These ingredients can exacerbate pain and allergies.

A few supplements such as Halo’s Hip Hip Hooray was added to his regime as well. A Chinese herbal liniment was used in conjunction with Tui Na (a form of Chinese massage). The liniment helped to ease his pain and reduced inflammation which seemed to be worse on cold damp days. Kobe seemed to enjoy his massage after each session.

After his third acupuncture session Kobe chased a rabbit and after his sixth session, Kobe was able to return to his Freestyle dance class. His owner said “He still has a bad day every now and then, but those sad, pain filled eyes are gone and my happy, loving therapy dog Kobe is back!”

To read more about Kobe and other dogs who have been helped with Traditional Chinese Medicine, visit the Four Paws Acupuncture Happy Dogs page!

To learn more how TCM and acupuncture can help hip dysplasia and arthritis visit:
www.squidoo.com/canine-arthritis-acupuncture

Meet one of my dearest patients, Belle, a 12 year old German Shepherd diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy (DM)and arthritis.

This sweet dog is a pleasure to be around. She is intelligent, gentle and responds very well to her acupuncture sessions. After each session I do a form of Chinese massage called Tui Na with an herbal Chinese liniment on her back, hips, knees and elbows. Most dogs like the massage with the herbs, but some hate the smell! Belle is very tolerant and knows it makes her feel good.

Belle is fortunate to have such a loving owner who feeds her cooked chicken or lamb along with a high quality organic dog food, which is free of wheat, corn, soy and fillers. Wheat is known to exacerbate arthritis and auto-immune disorders.

Belle will begin aqua-therapy this week in hopes that it will help her get some exercise and build muscle mass.

We will keep you posted on Belle’s progress. Please keep her in your good thoughts.

To learn more about DM please visit the Four Paws Acupuncture lens www.squidoo.com/canine-DM-acupuncture

The Golden Retriever is one of my favorite dogs to work with. They have an easy going disposition and are usually very happy dogs. They are cooperative during acupuncture sessions, love to be massaged and are very food driven.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Golden Retriever is a breed of dog, historically developed as a gundog to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game during hunting. As such they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and an instinctive love of water. Their intelligence and versatility sees them employed in a variety of roles including illegal drug detection, search and rescue, as hunting dogs and as guide dogs. Its friendly, eager-to-please and patient demeanor has made it one of the most popular family dogs (by registration) in the world.

The temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the breed and is described in the standard as “kindly, friendly and confident”. They are not “one man dogs” and are generally equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed and as such is considered a serious fault. Nor should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous. The typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please

Health
The median life span for Golden Retrievers is approximately 10 to 12 years. They do very well in small living areas of at least 500 sq. feet. While the breed is recognized for its vitality, many retrievers are susceptible to specific ailments. A responsible breeder will proactively minimize the risk of illness by having the health of dogs in breeding pairs professionally assessed and selected on the basis of complementary traits.

Breeding Golden Retrievers can be profitable for puppy mills and backyard breeders. As a result of careless breeding for profit, Goldens are prone to genetic disorders and other diseases. Hip dysplasia is very common in the breed; when buying a puppy in the US the parents should be examined by the OFA or by PennHIP for hip disease.”

Most of the Goldens I treat with TCM and acupuncture suffer from arthritis and hip or elbow dysplasia. A change of diet along with regular acupuncture treatments and supplements such as fish oil are very beneficial to keeping these wonderful dogs healthy and happy in their old age.

Darla Rewers
Seattle Alternative Veterinary Care Examiner

Acupuncture works well on animals. Dogs, cats, horses, cows, and other critters generally do not resent the needles, although they do feel them.

Often the skin will move and have small muscle spasms where the needles are inserted. Dogs may initially pant more or be more attentive immediately after acupuncture needles are inserted. Then they relax once the effects start.

Many animal patients become so relaxed during a treatment that they may take a nap, and some even snore because they become so relaxed. Occasionally, an animal may be too sensitive to needles (this happens in human patients as well) but respond well to acupressure or subtle qi gong tui na energetic massage techniques alone.

Acupuncture can be used on exotics, such as birds, snakes, lizards, and rabbits. Organic livestock benefit from acupuncture as an alternative to antibiotic or hormone use.

Most commonly acupuncture is requested for pain relief for arthritis, degenerative joint disease, seizures, slipped disks in the spine, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and skin allergies.

Acupuncture has been affirmed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1997 as a valid therapy for pain, cystitis (bladder inflammation), nausea, to treat side effects from chemotherapy and radiation, diarrhea, IBS, and much more. The NIH put out this consensus statement after evaluating over 7000 articles published on acupuncture.

Acupuncture works through complex nerve interrelationships throughout the body. The acupuncture points themselves are areas of higher electrical conductance and lower electrical resistance, which can be measured with an ohmmeter. Acupuncture improves blood and lymphatic (immune system) circulation, reduces painful muscle spasms, causes release of the body’s natural pain-relievers, and causes relaxation. All of this helps the body to be able to do more maintenance and repair, instead of being in a state of anxiety or pain. Hormone cascades and internal medicine effects are also achievable through acupuncture—so even though the needles are small, the results are more than just skin-deep.”