The cold weather is upon us. Dogs who have arthritis and other painful syndromes can sometimes feel worse on damp cold days. Here are a few tips to help your dog stay warm and comfortable.

* Add runners or carpets on hardwood floors to make it warmer and easier for your dog to walk on.
* Add runners on wooden stairs.
* Leave your heat on at about 60-65 degrees during the day for your pets.
* Keep your dog’s bed away from drafty doorways or windows.
* Add a blanket to your dog’s bed.
* Dogs with shorter hair may need to wear a jacket outdoors or fleece coat indoors on brutally cold days.
* Make sure your dog has plenty of water. Dogs can get dehydrated during the winter.
* Add a pinch of cinnamon to your dog’s food. Cinnamon warms the joints and is used to treat arthritis in Chinese herbal medicine.

Recipe for Cinnamon Meatballs for Dogs

Here is a recipe for your dog with warming cinnamon. Please do not add onion to this recipe as onion is toxic for dogs.

1/4 cup of shredded carrots (optional)
3 tablespoons of fresh or dry parsley (Great for stinky dog breath.)
1 teaspon of salt
1 egg
1/2 pound of free range/ organic chicken or turkey
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine all the ingredients into a large bowl. Mix well. Form into meatballs and bake for about 25 minutes.

Let cool before serving. 4 medium sized meatballs with a side of cooked green beans, carrots or sweet potato makes a delicious meal for your best friend!

Our dogs and cats are part of the family, so it is only natural to want to share the holidays with them. Here are a few tips to keep your pets safe and happy this Thanksgiving Day:

* It is OK to treat your dog or cat to a home-cooked turkey dinner. Just make sure it is free of bones which may splinter and get lodged in the intestines. Dogs and cats can also choke on small bones.

* If you are having guests, please ask them not to feed your dog table scraps, chocolate, grapes or raisins.

* Avoid feeding your pets turkey skin, mashed potatoes, heavy gravy and butter. These foods are very rich and fatty and may cause Bloat.

* Have a safe room where your pets can hide and relax away from children or obnoxious guests if needed!

* Take your dog for a walk if the excitement in the house is too loud. It will help you both digest your meal.

* Play relaxing music in the background to create a peaceful atmosphere for both pets and humans.

* Add 3-4 drops of Rescue Remedy in your pet’s water to keep them calm.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving Holiday from all of us at Four Paws Acupuncture.

Four Paws Acupuncture will be closed on Thursday Thanksgiving Day 11/25/10hrough Sunday 11/28/10. All calls and emails will be returned late on Monday 11/29/10.

Halloween can be a spooky time for pets. Strange noises, unfamiliar trick or treaters and dangerous candy. Here are a few ideas to keep your pets safe during Halloween.

1. Halloween candy, especially chocolate, can be harmful or even deadly for your pets. To help keep your pets out of the candy bowl, try to have a few extra pet treats around the house for your furry friends. After all, it’s a Trick or Treat night for them, too, and it’s only polite to have treats for your pet.

2. Candy wrappers, tin foil and small toys can get stuck in your pets digestive tract and may require an quick and expensive trip to the vet. Some dogs will eat anything that’s laying around the house, so be sure to keep an eye on what falls to the floor.

3. Thinking of Trick or Treating with your pet? In many places, Halloween night is not a safe night for any of your animals to be out. Here in Salem, Massachusetts, Halloween night means thousands of noisy and costumed visitors filling the streets: quite a confusing spectacle, and far too loud for a dog’s or cat’s sensitive ears. Try keeping your pets indoors for the evening and reward them with a special treat.

4. If your pets are sensitive to noise, loud rapping on the door and noisy children may rattle them. Add some Rescue Remedy to their water for the evening, and play soothing music for them. You may want to set them up in a room that is away from the commotion for the evening.

5. Finally, remember to keep your pets (and their tails) away from burning candles and jack-o-lanterns. There is nothing spookier for you or your animal than a tail on fire.

With these safeguards, your night of ghosts, goblins and costumed children can be safe and fun for everyone.

Happy Halloween!

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

Quercetin is a wonderful supplement for dogs or humans suffering from allergies or asthma. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid (or flavonoid), which is a type pigment found in almost all herbs, fruits, and vegetables. It is also an antioxidant. a natural anti-histamine, and anti-inflammatory supplement

Research has shown that Quercetin’s antihistamine action may help to relieve allergy symptoms and asthma symptoms. Quercetin helps treat allergies by blocking the secretion of histamine in the body. Histamine is what causes inflammation and swelling. The symptoms of a histamine reaction can be stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, itchy or red skin, runny eyes and more. The anti-inflammatory properties may help to reduce pain from disorders such as arthritis.

Quercetin supplements are also available in concentrated powders and tablet or capsule form. It is often packaged with bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapple), another substance that has been found useful for treatment of allergies and inflammation, which is thought to increase the absorption of Quercetin.

I personally use the Solaray Brand since it has bromelain in the formula. The Solaray formula comes in capsules, which makes it is easy to break one apart and sprinkle on your dog’s food. For more information on dosages for dogs please read Do the Math

You can find Quercetin at most natural food stores or online.

Valentines Day is a sweet day for people, but can be very dangerous to your furry loved ones. Leaving out candy, ribbon, flowers and other gifts may end in an emergency visit to your local veterinary hospital.

Treat your dog this Valentine’s day with safe and healthy snacks such as carrots, apples or wheat-free dog cookies.

Here is a list of substances to keep out of reach from Fido. If your dog consumes any of these, please call your veterinarian immediately.

Chocolate
Macadamia nuts
Alcohol
Tylenol
Yeast dough
Coffee grounds, beans & tea
Raisins and grapes
Moldy/spoiled foods
Pear pips, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core pips
Rhubarb leaves

The holidays are a great time to celebrate with food and festivities. Dogs love a good holiday treat too. Here is a safe recipe to include him in the fun!

Holiday Meatballs for Dogs (and people!)
You will need:
One pound of ground free range turkey or chicken

1/4 cup of shredded carrots (optional)
3 tablespoons of fresh or dried parsley (great for dog breath)
1 teaspoon of salt
1/8 cup of parmesan cheese
1 egg

DO NOT ADD ONION! Onions are toxic for dogs.

Heat oven to 375
Line a large baking sheet with non-stick foil

Combine all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix until blended.

Form into meatballs and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool before serving to your dog!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our dogs and cats are part of the family, so it is only natural to want to share the holidays with them.
• It is OK to treat your dog to a home-cooked turkey dinner. (see recipe below.) Just make sure it is free of bones which may splinter and get lodged in the intestines. Dogs can also choke on small bones.

Here are a few more tips to keep your pets safe and happy this Thanksgiving Day:

• If you are having guests, please ask them not to feed your dog table scraps, chocolate, grapes or raisins.

• Avoid feeding your pets turkey skin, mashed potatoes, heavy gravy and butter. These foods are very rich and fatty and may cause Bloat.

• Have a safe room where your pets can hide and relax away from children or obnoxious guests if needed!

• Take your dog for a walk if the excitement in the house is too loud. It will help you both digest your meal.

• Play relaxing music in the background to create a peaceful atmosphere for both pets and humans.

• Add 3-4 drops of Rescue Remedy in your pet’s water to keep them calm.

Here is an easy recipe from Maria, owner of Nikki, a feisty 9 year old schnauzer who is fortunate to eat an owner who cooks for her on a regular basis!

Nikki’s Grateful Oats Recipe for Dogs

Boil two cups water, add one cup of quick cooking rolled oats, remove from heat, cover and passively cook for 45 min. Boil ground turkey or ground chicken about two cups drain and cool.

Steam either green beans, baby carrots or sweet potatoes with a couple cloves of fresh garlic so they are soft, let cool. Add a sprig of parsley for good breath and serve in your favorite holiday dog bowl.

The holidays are just around the corner! Fox’s Flower Boxes is the pet-friendly, eco-friendly business that can help your make your house festive, inside and out! Utilizing organic materials, Fox’s Flower Boxes can create arrangements for your holiday table or mantle.

Dress up that drab planter outside with seasonal greens, berries and dried elements to welcome your holiday guests!

Fox’s Flower Boxes offers the following services:
• Pet gardens (catnip, edible grasses and peppermint)
• Seasonal plantings; annuals and perennials
• Outdoor winter flower boxes using evergreens, berries
• Wreaths, garlands, tree decoration
• Residences and businesses
• Landscaping for smaller, pocket gardens
• Maintenance for indoor plants
• Floral and dried arrangements
• Garden maintenance
• Free consultation

Mention this ad and receive 10% off your first Fox’s Flower Boxes project!

For more information, please visit or email lisa@foxsfloweboxes.com

Are there tumble-weeds of dog hair rolling through your house? Cobwebs? Cat hair carpeting the couch? Have the in-laws invited themselves over for the holiday? Don’t panic. Call Green Clean of Salem!

For all those living in Salem MA, Green Clean offers a supreme eco-loving home cleaning that specializes in pet hair and dust removal via their mega HEPA Kirby vacuums. All products are 100% plant, no dyes or perfumes to irritate you or your pets.

Nothing in their recycled plastic spray bottles is tested on animals. …EVER!
Gift Certificates are available at Crunchy Granola Baby on Washington St Salem MA.

Has your dog had a recent Four Paws Acupuncture treatment? Let Green Clean know about your experience and receive 10% off your first Green Clean.

Visit the Green Clean website: www.greencleansalem.com