It feels like spring and i want a dog. I want one now. I should join a 12 step program for dog-aholics. It is overwhelming and it is all i can think about. It has been so long since i had my own dog. When i lived in San Diego i had three German Shepherds, Nina, her son Merlin and his wife Liberty. All passed away before i left the west coast. My heart tugs every time is see a shepherd. I can spot one from a distance. More than once i have almost wrecked my car gazing at a shepherd walking down the street.

I know that there is a dog in my near future- but my inner child is having a hard time being patient for that right rescue dog to appear. Yes, this next dog will come from a rescue group or shelter unless Rin Tin Tin knocks at our door or the Monks of New Skete call and say “Congratulations! You just won a New Skete Shepherd!”. There are too many dogs who need homes and i do not want a designer dog. And i promised my husband and 3 cats i would wait until April or May to begin searching for that dog.

This dog also must meet criteria set my family and myself. He or she must get along with all 3 cats and not try to eat them. He/she must be a big dog, not a small lap dog. And if possible this new dog will be trained as a therapy dog. The reality is when the time is right the dog appears. They pick us. But….oh the anticipation of who will choose us?

The sun was out this weekend with a heat wave of 55 degrees. The urge to roll in the grass was unbearable. It was wet, so i showed restraint. … And i really did not want to embarrass my husband anymore than usual. He is quite patient with my dog obsession. (well actually its an animal obsession but our small apartment will not allow us to have a horse, pig or elephant.) More than once Salem residents have approached me with “Oh.. you’re that Dog Lady.” ( I am sure they were all kind or scared enough not to say “Oh, You’re that crazy dog lady.)

My husband Norm, also an acupuncturist has recently diagnosed me with Gou Shen Shi Syndrome translated as Dog Mind Excess. (Gou is Chinese for dog. The rest is TCM speak.) The symptoms of Gou Shen Shi Syndrome usually appear around the same time as spring fever. It is estimated that 30% of most people suffer from chronic Dog Mind Excess.

TCM Signs and Symptoms of Gou Shen Shi Syndrom

Tongue: long and dry from panting like a dog
Pulse: Big and fast from over excitement

Symptoms include:
* Obsession with dogs.
* Identification of good sticks. (Size matters.)
* Running after other dogs to greet and play with.
* Sticking head out the window during car rides. (I don’t usually do this one.)
* Heightened sense of smell. (I can smell smoke coming from the next town.)
* Scratching fleas – real or imaginary
(Last week i had to throw away my “dog coat”, the coat i wore making house calls because it had fleas. It took me a few days to realize that it was the coat that had fleas, thus the reason i had flea bites on my arms. My family is grateful that they were not attacked by the coat fleas…. and they were not imaginary fleas.)
* Ogling the Planet Dog toys at WholeFoods. (guilty)
* Drooling on cool leashes and collars at the local pet shop. (Drooling is such an ugly word.)
* Thumping rear leg when happy.
* The urge to bite when annoyed. (no comment!)
* The urge to howl along with other dogs. (why not?)
* Exhibiting symptoms of dog ailments such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, knee problems and lower back pain. (all of the above)
* Subscribing to dog magazines, watching dog movies and surfing pet finder for dogs to adopt. (it beats shopping for designer clothes.)
* Stalking neighborhood dog owners when they walk their dogs. (Some no longer make eye contact with me.)
* Carrying dog treats in car, purse and pockets at all times when possible. (mandatory)
* Knowing all the dogs’ names in the neighborhood but not their owner’s. (guilty)
* Chasing loose dogs down the street in hopes of capturing them before they are hit by a car. (I now have a leash in my car for this purpose.)
* Reprimanding other irresponsible dog owners for leaving their dogs in cars on hot days with the windows rolled up, leaving their dogs outside during frigid temperatures while they are shopping and those who allow their dogs to be unleashed on a busy street. (Probably how i earned the Crazy Dog Lady title!)

So i ask… what Traditional Chinese herbal formula does one take for Gou Shen Shi Syndrome?

I think the cure is a dog.

Valentines Day is just around the corner…..dare to be different this year! Here are just a few of items from the Tao of Dog collection.
To see more unique art on clothing and gifts for the home or office please visit the Tao of Dog Galleria

This Peace Love Paws zen design is one of Planet Calamari’s most recent additions of canine art. A unique gift for all those zen inspired pet lovers.

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.

What is the sound of one paw clapping? All dogs are Zen masters!

To see art inspired by acupuncture, meditation, peace and absurd ideas please visit the Planet Calamari online shoppe

Well I have to admit that I am totally smitten with the idea of having a team of huskies and a sled.

The mushing bug bit me during the Myopia Sled Dog Races. Not sure if there is a cure for it. The AMA does not recognize it as a disease. The symptoms include nonstop talking about sled dogs along with the sound of happy dogs screaming oaaawooowww Let’sGooooooooooahhhhhooooooooo repeating in my head on a continuous loop over and over. It certainly beats having one of those silly Paul McCartney tunes stuck in the brain waves. The urge to buy unfashionable snow gear and a wicker sled consumes me. I no longer care about hat hair.

Western Medicine would only prescribe medication, usually used for those who suffer from delusions and suggest a therapist. Traditional Chinese Medicine would probably diagnose this as shen
disturbance and prescribe one of the more stinky herbal concoctions to anchor shen, calm the heart, and induce gagging fits. (Perhaps this sled dog syndrome has caused perhaps a bit too much joy… not something I have been familiar with lately.) So, I am not sure if I really want this new bug to go away.

At the event, there were a variety of unexpected dog breeds pulling sleds and skiers. Contrary to what I expected, not all were huskies. It was so refreshing to see several hound-dog teams (not to mention the howling of excited hounds!). Can you imagine the sound from a team of baying beagles? If only….

These dogs were having so much fun and all appeared to be taken very good care of. They loved being sled dogs….LOVED it. This was a major concern of mine before attending the races. I was so relieved to see that the dogs seemed to be in good health and so happy. Maybe this is due to the fact that these races are for fun, and not for profit like the Iditarod.

Thanks to the Boston Snow Dog folks for posting YouTubes and being a part of this event.

Until I actually manifest a team of dogs, my latest obsession is learning as much as I can about these dogs and the races. Here are a
few tidbits from Wikipedia:

Sled dogs, known also as sleightman dogs, sledge dogs, or sleddogs are types of dogs that are used to pull a wheel-less vehicle on runners (a
sled or sleigh) over snow or ice, by means of harnesses and lines.

Several distinct dog breeds are in common use as sled dogs, althoughany medium-sized breed may be used to pull a sled. Purebred sled dog breeds range from the well-known Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute to rarer breeds such as the Mackenzie River Husky or the Canadian Eskimo Dog (Canadian Inuit Dog). Dog drivers, however, have a long
history of using other breeds or crossbreds as sled dogs. In the days of the Gold Rush in The Yukon, mongrel teams were the rule, but there were also teams of Foxhounds and Staghounds. Today the unregistered hybridized Alaskan husky is preferred for dogsled racing, along with a variety of crossbreds, the German Shorthaired Pointer often being
chosen as the basis for crossbreeding. From 1988 through 1991, a team of Standard Poodles competed in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Sled Dog Breeds
Alaskan Husky
Alaskan Malamute
Canadian Eskimo Dog
Chinook
Eurohound
Greenland Dog
Greyster
Labrador Husky
Mackenzie River Husky
Northern Inuit Dog
Sakhalin Husky
Samoyed
Seppala Siberian Sleddog
Siberian Husky
Tamaskan Dog
Utonagan ”

More to follow………

We added a new page to the Four Paws Acupuncture website with pictures of happy dog patients. To see more of the Four Paws Pack “ Click here! We will be adding more soon. If your dog would like to be posted on our page please email us a photograph.

Four Paws Acupuncture makes K9 acupuncture house calls on the North Shore of MA. www.fourpawsacupuncture.com

If you missed the MSDR this weekend in Hamilton MA the kind folks at Boston Snow dogs have put together a video! It’s the next best thing to being there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIC2f-If7VY&feature=player_embedded”

This was a blast to see. There were so many different breeds of dogs having fun on the courses. If only we could have recorded the happy screams of those dogs waiting their turn to run.

Congrats to all those who participated in the Myopia Dogsled Races in Hamilton MA, a New England Sled Dog Club, Inc. Event. A special thanks to all who volunteered to make this day a success. For more info visit www.myopiasleddograces.com

This recipe is a variation on the original pupsicles made by Belle & Jack’s pet human. This is a healthier alternative to the Frosty Paws dog ice cream sold at many stores.

During this hot humid weather i have been giving my dog patients a pupsicle made from chicken soup which is frozen inside plastic containers with lids.The dogs seem to love just licking on these as if they were eating a popsicle. It keeps them occupied during their sessions too. Some dogs will try to take the frozen block out of the container once it has melted a bit. You can put it in their food bowl.

Make sure your dog is supervised while eating these. Some dogs, especially food obsessed labs will like to try to put the entire container in their mouth! You may want to break up the frozen block into smaller pieces for those dogs.

You can add other ingredients to this. I cook like my Italian grandmothers, which means i do not like to measure things. Since i tend to burn things left unattended, using a medium sized crock pot is the easiest method for me. If you use a larger crock pot add a bit more of each of these ingredients.

Add about 2 of the 32 oz.containers of organic chicken broth to the crock pot.
Add about 5-8 peeled then shredded carrots.
Add 2-4 stalks of finely chopped celery
About 2 tablespoons of dry parsley if you have it. (Very good for stinky dog breath)
Add 3-4 pieces of free range frozen or fresh boneless chicken. You can add more chicken if you like.

Mix it up as best as you can. Put the lid on and cook on low for about 7 hours or on high for about 4. Mix the soup during the day and try to break up the chicken.

Let it cool for about 45 minutes. Then spoon the mixture into tupperware type plastic containers. Put the lids on securely. Turn upside down and place in freezer. This way the chicken will freeze at the top of the container. Let freeze over night. Allow the container to thaw for about 10 minutes to make it easier for the dog to lick.

Do not give this frozen pupsicle to your dog during cold weather!

Meet Clyde, a 10 year old Chocolate Lab who ruptured a disc in 2008 and paralyzed his rear quarters. Clyde had surgery however he still drags his leg. He receives acupuncture and also goes for aqua therapy on a regular basis. He is one of the sweetest patients I treat. He is so cooperative and allows me to needle any points needed and lets me follow up with a stinky Chinese herbal liniment massage. Such a good boy! You can read more about Clyde on Happy Dog Page

Labs have a tendency to be food driven and can gain weight very quickly. They also love to swim. His owners put up a pool in their yard just for him. Now he can swim everyday weather permitting and get the exercise he needs. Clyde is a very happy boy thanks to his owners. How many dogs can say they have their own pool?

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. Bruschi the English Mastiff, recommends 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, Wal-Mart, 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.