Atlantic Veterinary Hospital (AVH) of Marblehead MA is now offering acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for dogs and cats by Jeanie Mossa Kraft L.Ac of Four Paws Acupuncture Combining the best of western veterinary medicine with oriental medicine at Atlantic’s new state of the art facility.

Oriental Medicine Services for Animals include:
Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese Herbal therapy
Nutritional Therapy
Laser Treatment
Tui Na
Bach Flower Remedies

For more information on rates, services or to schedule an acupuncture session at AVH click here

For the best of Western Veterinary Medicine:
Atlantic Veterinary Hospital provides a broad spectrum of diagnostic procedures at their in-house lab and the use of external laboratories. They work closely with all referral hospitals when special diagnostic procedures are required.

The AVH facility includes a well-stocked pharmacy, in-hospital surgery suite, state-of-the-art digital imaging x-ray equipment, in-house ultrasound equipment and ultrasound expertise.

The fully trained staff at AVH closely supervises the hospitalization area for optimal care and attention to your beloved pet. Their commitment is to keep your best friend happy and healthy.

Atlantic Veterinary Hospital is located at
10 Ocean Avenue
Marblehead MA 01945
781.631.8881
For directions click here

Plenty of parking! Handicap ramp for your convenience.

Every once in awhile i come across a client who believes that one or two acupuncture sessions for their dog will cure his ailments. Unfortunately they are not magic needles. It takes a combination of acupuncture, change of diet and perhaps the addition of supplements and/or herbs for more positive results. In most cases it always takes more than one acupuncture session to ease symptoms of a chronic ailment or pain.

Here are a few tips to help speed up results:

* Have patience. A chronic ailment that took years to develop will not magically disappear overnight. There are no instant miracle cures. As one of my favorite professors said “The only thing that is cured, is ham.”

* Follow your practitioner’s advice. There is a reason for the recommendations given for your dog. If you only do one third of the things recommended then expect only one third of the results!

* Make sure your dog’s food or treats does NOT contain wheat, corn or any gluten. These substances exacerbate pain. It takes about 2 weeks for the body to rid of all wheat in the system.

* Continue to give your dog any medication prescribed by the vet. If you have any questions about your dog’s pain medication contact your veterinarian.

* If your dog is taking Chinese herbs please use them as directed every day. Herbs take about a week or so to “kick in”. Being consistent is very important to see positive results.

* Massaging your dog every day helps to relieve pain. If your acupuncturist recommends using a Chinese liniment with the massage it is for the benefit of the dog. Using the liniment every day will ease pain and stiffness.

* Lifestyle changes to help an older dog who may have difficulty walking or standing can be things such as adding carpet runners on hardwood floors or slippery stairs. Using a ramp to get in and out of the car or house may help your dog and your lower back!

* If you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s progress or treatments contact your practitioner. Communication is a vital part of your dog’s recovery process.

One of my favorite spots to nap is on the balcony among the peppermint. It smells so good. And i think it must keep those pesky bugs away. I simply adore it. Of course i am from the South where this plant is revered by proper old ladies who drink tea and mint juleps!

Peppermint has been used medicinally for ages to treat tummy aches, indigestion, breathing and respiratory problems, headache, nausea, fever, stomach and bowel spasms. It is also great for stinky dog breath. My pet human aka Beta-chic chops up a small leaf of peppermint everyday and adds it to my food…. not that i would ever have stinky breath.

The latin name for Peppermint is Herba Mentae Haplocalycis and in Chinese it is called Bo He. It is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine in several herbal formulas. In the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica by Bensky & Gamble, it is listed in the category of Cool, Acrid Herbs That Release the Exterior. (And for all those herb geeks it’s properties are acrid, aromatic and cooling.) Please note that the Materia Medica is the herbal bible memorized by all acupuncture students preparing for licensing boards.

Bo He has several uses such as:
* Treating Wind Heat with symptoms of fever, headache and cough.

* Clears wind heat in the head, eyes and throat. Vents rashes and can even be used in early stages of measles. This of course is for people with measles!

* And it ….. allows constrained Liver qi to flow freely. Something of course only those trained in TCM would understand. But it does sound powerful. Beta-chic seems to think most of those people living in the state of Massachusetts suffer from some strange ailment called liver qi stagnation. I have no idea what she means. Perhaps it is the way they drive? Or the way they are always in a hurry? Maybe the snappishness – is that a word? This is probably why she treats dogs and not people. Liver qi stagnation seems to be an epidemic here in New England according to her. ( And sometimes after a long day of driving she even seems to suffer from it. But of course i would never say that out loud!) Fortunately most dogs do not suffer from this affliction.

So, i am wondering if everyone took the time to enjoy a nice cup of peppermint tea, might they be nicer during this horridly hot weather? Or perhaps they could just add a sprig of peppermint to their ice tea? I am not sure if it would help their driving but we can only hope it does!

Until next blog ….Be nice. Stay cool. And have some peppermint!
Quan Yin

30 Best Blogs to Learn More About Acupuncture

The practice of acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, and millions of people around the world believe it has helped them overcome everything from allergies to back pain. If you’re interested in learning more about the ancient practice of acupuncture, whether for an additional lesson in alternative medicine outside of medical training school or just for your own personal education, then check out these blogs. You’ll find general information on Chinese medicine, news about the benefits of acupuncture and a whole lot more that can lead to a happier, healthier, more well-informed you.” To read more of this article please visit : http://www.medicalcodingcertification.com/blog/2010/30-best-blogs-to-learn-more-about-acupuncture/

]]> http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/08/09/the-barking-oracle-makes-the-top-30-blogs-on-acupuncture/feed/ 1 http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/07/30/needling-the-dog/ http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/07/30/needling-the-dog/#comments Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:41:54 +0000 jeanie http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/?p=1247
Thank you to Amanda McGregor of the Salem News and Gloucester Times!

Canine patients treated with Chinese medicine

By Amanda McGregor Staff Writer
Gloucester Times

Seven-year-old Zack behaved like a model patient, sitting calmly while acupuncture needles were inserted into his back to treat his bad knee.

And while he can’t tell you he is feeling better, the results speak louder than words (or barks), according to Zack’s owner, Katherine McAuliffe.

“This is the only thing that seems to work,” she said.

For nearly two years, Zack — a bearded collie and chocolate Lab mix who goes by the nickname “Wookie” — has received traditional Chinese medicine treatments including acupuncture.

His practitioner, Jeanie Marie Kraft, has been treating dogs around the North Shore for years, and she recently co-authored a book — “The Woof and Warp of Canine Pain” — about treating dog pain with traditional Chinese medicine.

“Most dogs are very receptive,” said Kraft, who lives in Salem and runs Four Paws Acupuncture. “I’ve only had one or two that will stand up and shake the needles out.”

On a recent morning, Kraft drove her blue Volkswagen Beetle detailed with paw prints over to Zach’s house, near Collins Cove in Salem.

She began his treatment by giving him a cookie sprayed with calming flower essences, followed by a massage. Most dogs don’t like to be needled in their paws or into an area with pain, she said, so she uses a laser on some of the acupuncture points.

“You just don’t walk in with a box of needles,” Kraft said. “I sit down with them first. I might give them a cookie or a ball and do a massage. I only do house calls so that I’m in their territory. To them, I’m just the cookie lady.”

To McAuliffe, Kraft is much more than the cookie lady. Several years ago, Zach was diagnosed with arthritis and a possible torn ligament in his rear right knee. The pain was so severe that Zach wasn’t able to stand up after a swim in the ocean or after a round of fetch, McAuliffe said.

“He used to get very expensive injections, but that didn’t do anything — he was still limping,” McAuliffe said. “I tried the vet stuff for a while and dragged him in and he’d hide, but he loves to see Jeanie.”

Since the acupuncture, Zach’s pain seems to have subsided and he is active.

“A dog needs to retrieve — that’s his life,” McAuliffe said.

Following Zach’s acupuncture session, Kraft rubbed him with a strong-smelling Chinese liniment that helps with arthritis and circulation.

She also advises clients on pet nutrition, herbal therapy, Tui Na (a form of massage) and more. She said larger dogs are generally easier to work on, and hyper breeds can be difficult.

“I also changed Zach’s diet because wheat and gluten make any kind of pain worse,” said Kraft, whose husband, Norman, has an acupuncture practice for humans on Front Street in Salem.

Going to the dogs

Kraft didn’t set out to be a dog practitioner, but when she attended acupuncture college in San Diego, she had a change of heart. She said her German shepherd was suffering from hip dysplasia.

Read more of this article at http://www.gloucestertimes.com/lifestyle/x1743688528/Needling-the-dog

]]> http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/07/30/needling-the-dog/feed/ 0 http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/06/11/ceu-class-treating-painful-canine-disorders-with-tcm-in-stock/ http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/06/11/ceu-class-treating-painful-canine-disorders-with-tcm-in-stock/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:07:09 +0000 admin http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/?p=1012 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

]]> http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/06/11/ceu-class-treating-painful-canine-disorders-with-tcm-in-stock/feed/ 0 http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/03/27/taya-the-pitt-bull-on-pins-and-needles/ http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/03/27/taya-the-pitt-bull-on-pins-and-needles/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:13:31 +0000 jeanie http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/?p=906
Taya American Pit Bull Terrier gets Acupuncture

This picture was taken during Taya’s treatment with a blackberry- thus making it difficult to see the needles. During the session, Taya also received a laser treatment, warming infrared heat on her back, knees and elbows and a Tui Na massage with Zheng Gu Shui. (aka stinky herbs which she does not like the smell of!) After her treatment Taya took a nice nap and it was reported that there was snoring too! This is a pit bull with a sense of humor.

Approximately, 4-5 months ago, my 10 year old, American Pit Bull Terrier, Taya injured her back. Since her injury, most days her tail hung down off her back, lifeless. This being the biggest sign of her discomfort and pain but also she would injure herself again and again, simply playing. After many Vet visits and medication our Vet recommended acupuncture.

It’s been 3 weeks and 3 visits since Jeanie Marie began working on my baby. She recommended a change in diet and some Chinese stinky herbs, and I adopted them. For the past two hours, Taya and I have been playing with her toy. Her tail is curled up pointing to the sky and she is peppy and happy like she was before her injury. I’m simply amazed and thankful.”
Michelle M

]]> http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/03/27/taya-the-pitt-bull-on-pins-and-needles/feed/ 0 http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/03/07/k9-acu-doc-diagnosed-with-gou-shen-shi-syndrome/ http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/03/07/k9-acu-doc-diagnosed-with-gou-shen-shi-syndrome/#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:40:41 +0000 jeanie http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/?p=845

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.

]]> http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/03/07/k9-acu-doc-diagnosed-with-gou-shen-shi-syndrome/feed/ 0 http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/01/20/k9-acupuncturist-bit-by-the-mushing-bug/ http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/01/20/k9-acupuncturist-bit-by-the-mushing-bug/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:57:37 +0000 jeanie http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/?p=679

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………

]]> http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2010/01/20/k9-acupuncturist-bit-by-the-mushing-bug/feed/ 3