K9 NOSE WORK

In my August 2009 issue of THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL, there is an interesting article about a new sport called K9 Nose Work or Fun Nose Work. This sport is the brainchild of three dog trainers who are experienced in training detection dogs for narcotics and explosives. It is a great activity for dogs who are shy and reactive around people and other dogs. It is also ideal for owners looking for a sport that is less physically demanding on their dogs.

In the beginning, dogs are encouraged to "find" a toy hidden in a box. Later the toy is hidden in a box among other boxes. Training progresses to where dogs are trained to an essential oil such as clove, anise, or birch. As the dogs become more proficient, the scent is hidden in more difficult locations such as the trunk of a car.

K9 Nose Work is currently exploding on the west coast, but new trainers and instructors are being certified as instructors, and the sport is slowly reaching into other parts of the United States. For more information, check out the K9 Nose Work website.
http://k9nosework.com/

And here is a video clip from YouTube showing several dogs doing nose work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE2yYq6wN38

Do you think you and YOUR dog would enjoy K9 Nose Work?

THINKING DOGS

When my father was teaching Audio-Visual Education at Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University), one of his classes was about the thinking process. He used to take our sixteen pound mixed breed dog Ginger to class. He put Ginger through her repertoire of tricks and then asked the students whether the dog was thinking or responding to conditioning (training). Not only did the students love Ginger, they were actively involved in discussing whether dogs think -- in the process it made them evaluate what thinking really is and to relate it to humans. Once a teacher begins to understand the cognitive process and abstract thinking, it enables them to be better teachers and reach more students who have different styles of thinking and learning. It was one of the best classes he taught.

Remembering this, I found the following article fascinating. I have long believed that many animals do have the ability to think and reason as demonstrated by the crows in yesterday's entry. I happen to be blessed with a wonderfully intelligent dog who has a large vocabulary and also the ability to problem solve. Smart dogs can be a challenge to train; they keep you on your toes constantly! Just like a smart kid!

Dogs and 2-Year-Olds on Same Mental Plane
By Amanda GardnerHealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) --

According to accumulating research, the beloved family dog is really a toddler with a snout and tail."Dogs basically have the developmental abilities equivalent to a human 2-year-old," said dog expert Stanley Coren, who was scheduled to present recent canine research developments at the American Psychological Association annual meeting this week in Toronto.

The average dog can learn 165 words, although "super dog" Rico, a border collie, could understand 200 spoken words. Experts think some dogs can learn up to 250 words.
Dogs can count up to four or five and can correct you if you can't add one plus one.

One dog apparently learned to "read." Coren recounted the case of the canine who was able to "deliver" mail addressed to two girls, one with a short name and one with a long name. Although the owner thought the dog was actually reading, it turns out the canine was gauging the length of the name, not the individual characters, enabling him to deliver the mail to the right person.
Different breeds of dog differ in their intelligence, with border collies topping the list for working (instinctive) and obedience intelligence. The next six smartest are poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Dobermans, Shetland sheepdogs and Labrador retrievers. (The third type of dog smarts is adaptive or problem-solving ability.)

"There are two extreme viewpoints when we talk about dogs," said Coren, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and author of numerous books on dogs including How to Speak Dog and How Dogs Think. "Some tend to think of dogs as if they are little human beings with fur coats. The other extreme is to think of dogs as if they're unthinking but programmable robots. My little beagle would then be a beagle-shaped bag, a biological equivalent of transistors and gears. The truth of the matter is somewhere in between."
More and more, scientists are realizing that dogs can think and solve problems in ways previously thought to belong only to humans and higher primates.

Indeed, one recent study also found that dogs were like 24-month-old children, at least when it comes to figuring out where humans have hidden a treat.

Like 2-year-olds, dogs can experience fear, anger, happiness and disgust (perhaps at a human's sub-par math skills), but not guilt. Humans don't feel guilt until about age 4, Coren said.
That doesn't mean they can't make humans feel guilty. That desolate look when a dog's human leaves the house is probably legitimate. "Dogs are pack animals," Coren explained. Dogs apparently can ponder the meaning of "dog," in a way. According to Coren, they do have a consciousness of self, though not as complex as that of humans.

They also recognize differences among beings and are cognizant of others' variable viewpoints and talents. And they dream, as demonstrated through movements they make while they're asleep. Dogs can figure out how to get to the couch before you do and how to operate a latch or other simple mechanism. They can also deceive other dogs. Not to mention people.

Coren has both a beagle (ranked seventh from the bottom in obedience intelligence) and a cat. The cat is fed on the counter so the beagle can't interfere with feline meal-time. One time, though, the beagle started scrabbling around, digging at the kitchen floor. "I was quite confused," Coren recalls. "He looked around and continued again, then he looked up at me. I finally got down on my hands and knees and he immediately jumped onto my back and onto the counter. He decided his psychologist father could be used as a ladder."

"This presentation asks and answers some very deep questions about if, and then how, dogs might think," said Bonnie Beaver, a professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. "[But] there is always the possibility that generalizations do not quite fit the data or that the original data may have been weak. Serious students of dogs are advised to go back to original studies, lovers of dogs should view this with interest and leave a little room for doubts."

AESOP'S FABLE MAY BE TRUE!

BIRD EXPERIMENT SHOWS AESOP'S FABLE MAY BE TRUE
By MALCOLM RITTER, AP Science Writer Thursday, Aug 6, 2009

NEW YORK – From the goose that laid the golden egg to the race between the tortoise and the hare, Aesop's fables are known for teaching moral lessons rather than literally being true. But a new study says at least one such tale might really have happened.

It's the fable about a thirsty crow. The bird comes across a pitcher with the water level too low for him to reach. The crow raises the water level by dropping stones into the pitcher. (Moral: Little by little does the trick, or in other retellings, necessity is the mother of invention.)
Now, scientists report that some relatives of crows called rooks used the same stone-dropping strategy to get at a floating worm. Results of experiments with three birds were published online Thursday by the journal Current Biology.

Rooks, like crows, had already been shown to use tools in previous experiments.
Christopher Bird of Cambridge University and a colleague exposed the rooks to a 6-inch-tall clear plastic tube containing water, with a worm on its surface. The birds used the stone-dropping trick spontaneously and appeared to estimate how many stones they would need. They learned quickly that larger stones work better.

In an accompanying commentary, Alex Taylor and Russell Gray of the University of Auckland in New Zealand noted that in an earlier experiment, the same birds had dropped a single stone into a tube to get food released at the bottom. So maybe they were just following that strategy again when they saw the tube in the new experiment, the scientists suggested.
But Bird's paper argued there's more to it: The rooks dropped multiple stones rather than just one before reaching for the worm, and they reached for it at the top of the tube rather than checking the bottom.

The researchers also said Aesop's crow might have actually been a rook, since both kinds of birds were called crows in the past.

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Crows are one of my favorite birds, ever since the day I watched a pair of crows playing in the snow when I lived on the farm. Out my kitchen window I could see the horse pastures. The pasture directly behind my apartment was sloping. There was snow on the ground, and I was enjoying the beautiful scenery when I suddenly realized that there was a method to what the crows were doing. At first it just looked like they were hopping around, but suddenly I saw one crow belly-flop and slide down the slope as if he were sledding. When he stopped, he walked up the slope to belly-flop again and slide down the slope. The companion crow was doing the same thing, and they looked like a couple of kids enjoying a snow day. I was so amazed at what I was observing, I watched until they got bored and flew off to find something else to do. In a later conversation with my friend Sally who is an ornithologist, I learned that crows and other corvids are highly intelligent. I also learned that the Blue Jay is a cousin to the crow.

Here are a few video clips I think you will enjoy that illustrate the intelligence of crows.

Bait Fishing Crow

Intelligent Crow

SUNDAY'S MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPH

Last week's mystery photograph was enjoyed by all who participated, so I thought it would be fun to post another one today. Leave your guess in the comments, and share any thoughts that led you to your guess. I am thinking of making this a weekly Sunday feature.

CHASING FULL MOONRISES

On Tuesday, August 4th, I was on my way home from Agility Class (dog, that is -- I am no longer agile), and the full moon was rising orange in the sky -- almost looked like an October moon. It was getting dark, and I had the good fortune to have my camera in the car with my 70 to 300m zoom lens on. I pulled over, and proceeded to take a number of shots, all on different camera settings. I also took some with my camera steadied on the rear view mirror . Here is my best shot with true color -- like the sunset, this moonrise photo is unretouched. Remember, if you want to see the larger image, you can click on the photograph.

CHASING SUNSETS

On his blog Jon Katz referred to chasing sunsets. I never really thought about chasing sunsets because I figured when you see a great sunset, you would just photograph it. However, the other evening I was out and had my camera with me. I saw this beautiful sunset, and I chased it. I followed it until I got to a spot that offered an unobstructed view of the sunset but with some landscaping to add interest to the photograph. And I was lucky! I under exposed the shot for dramatic orange color, and this is an unretouched phtograph, unlike yesterday's photos in Manipulated Photography. The real thing is always far superior, in my opinion.

MANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY

I am planning to enter photographs in the local Grange Fair next week "IF" I can get the enlargements in time. Normally the fair runs the third week in August, but this year it is running a week earlier which I just discovered yesterday. So that means I have to try to get a rush on enlargements at the camera store.

One of the categories is PHOTO SHOP which accepts photographs that have been manipulated. There is a Photo Shop division in both color and black and white. These are the two photos that I decided to get creative with, and my end results.

I am just a novice with photo software, but my interest has been piqued.

Even though this is a black and white photograph I was able to manipulate the contrast and balance. It is some kind of bud or seed pod.

I love the end result of this one. I took this close-up after a storm. It is a beautiful photo unretouched, but I was able to make it much more dramatic. The rain drops stand out even more vividly. What I think is particularly neat is that the greens remained fairly constant which keeps it from looking garish.

EARTH BEARS SCARS

EARTH BEARS SCARS OF HUMAN DESTRUCTION

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSB19689?sp=true
Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:25pm EDT
By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., July 26 (Reuters) - A Canadian astronaut aboard the International Space Station said on Sunday it looks like Earth's ice caps have melted a bit since he was last in orbit 12 years ago.

Bob Thrisk, who is two months into a planned six-month stay aboard the station, said he is mostly in awe when he looks out the window, particularly at the sliver of atmosphere wrapped around the planet.

"It's a very thin veil of atmosphere around the Earth that keeps us alive," Thrisk said during an in-flight news conference. "Most of the time when I look out the window I'm in awe. But there are some effects of the human destruction of the Earth as well."

"This is probably just a perception, but I just have the feeling that the glaciers are melting, the snow capping the mountains is less than it was 12 years ago when I saw it last time," Thrisk said. "That saddens me a little bit."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is an interesting video from the Globaloneness site. It is titled Permaculture 101, and permaculture expert Penny Livingston-Stark shows how natural systems can teach us better design practices. Learning to work with the earth not only creates a healthier environment, it also nourishes the people who live in it.

http://www.globalonenessproject.org/videos/permaculture101?gclid=CJqoxs_m-JsCFeFM5Qod0Rtp-g

PUPPY FIX

My friend Wendi is a serious hobby breeder of English Labrador Retrievers. The other day she invited me to go with her to pick up three 7 week old puppies that were whelped by a female she co-owns for breeding. The litter had two black and two yellow puppies. The family that owns the dam kept one of the yellow pups. Here is the bunch in an old Radio Flyer wagon.

This little black pup was in the soccer goal net, looking like he was waiting for the ball.

It was a hot day, and the pups would lie down in the shade to take a break, but pretty soon they were up and running around again.

There was lots of shade under the wagon too. I love this shot. I entered this one in the Dog.Com Cutest Dog Contest. I would appreciate your votes -- you can vote once a day -- follow this link to vote, and THANK YOU for your support.
http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=F9902EF5A4142FEC288DCFD60B7D3BFB

Resting in the grass and gathering energy for the next burst of activity.

Where is everyone?

TRUTH

Time to tell the truth and reveal the mystery photograph posted yesterday. I was under a metal bridge looking upward. The entire bridge is metal and crosses the Neshaminy Creek where Hannah and I were enjoying quiet time beside the water. Rick and Cindy guessed correctly.

"Truth is one, sages call it by various names."
-Rig Veda (Hindu)

What do you think are other names for TRUTH? I would love to hear your thoughts. Poet Emily Dickinson believes that BEAUTY is another name for TRUTH. I love this poem of hers.

I died for Beauty— but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining room—
He questioned softly “Why I failed?"
“For Beauty”, I replied—
“And I— for Truth—
Themself are One—
We Brethren, are”, He said—
And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night—
We talked between the Rooms—
Until the Moss had reached our lips—
And covered up—
our names.
(Emily Dickinson)

MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPH

I thought it would be fun to occasionally post a MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPH I've taken. What is this? Leave your guess in the comments, and explain why this is your guess.

TAMANEND WALK

Last evening I decided to take Hannah and go for a walk in Tamanend after a very heavy rain. Tamanend is about two miles from our house, and it is a very beautiful, natural park. As I drove in, I spotted these deer foraging in the brush. I rolled down my window and shot these pictures from my car. **HINT: If you would like to see larger images of these photographs, click on each picture.

There was a fawn with them. I think this is a beautiful pose.

A short distance away there were other deer and this fawn. I liked this shot as the deer disappeared behind the tree.

As I proceeded into the park, I saw this groundhog. Hannah got very excited and was barking. She wanted OUT of the car! I would have loved to take a few more photos of Mr. Groundhog with different camera settings, but he took off.

As we were walking, I noticed this tangle of root hairs from a vine on a tree. It was heavy with moisture drops, and I got an incredible picture. I LOVE this! It kind of reminds me of Christmas lights.

As I was driving home, the sun was setting. I drove to an open space so I could experiment with sunset shots. I shut down the exposure to get some dramatic color.

HANNAH WITH GRACE

Hannah has a new friend, and her name is Grace. She is a 10 week old Labrador puppy. You can see how Grace 'adores' Hannah.

Hannah is very patient with her. Grace loves to climb on Hannah and chew her fur. She thinks she is very brave playing with this big dog.

But Hannah has a few tricks of her own up her collar. She knows where the nearest mud hole is, and mud is a favorite Lab thing! Hannah took off, and Grace followed her. Pretty soon Grace was muddy and wet and happy. Happier than her owner.....

Grace thought her new coat of mud made her look regal. She sat like a queen.

And here she is thinking about going back for another mud bath.

THE HOUSE WITH NOBODY IN IT

When I was a little girl my father used to recite poetry to me while we were driving in the car. He was an English professor and loved literature. My favorite poem at that time was "The House With Nobody In It," by Joyce Kilmer who is best known for his poem, "Trees." Like most children who would say, "Daddy, tell me a story," I always asked for this poem. I heard it so often I memorized it myself. Over the years I've forgotten the lines, but it is still one of my favorites and always brings back wonderful memories of my Dad.

THE HOUSE WITH NOBODY IN IT
by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

WHENEVER I walk to Suffern along the Erie track
I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black.
I suppose I've passed it a hundred times, but I always stop for a minute
And look at the house, the tragic house, the house with nobody in it.

I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things;
That they hold the talk of spirits, their mirth and sorrowings.
I know this house isn't haunted, and I wish it were, I do;
For it wouldn't be so lonely if it had a ghost or two.

This house on the road to Suffern needs a dozen panes of glass,
And somebody ought to weed the walk and take a scythe to the grass.
It needs new paint and shingles, and the vines should be trimmed and tied;
But what it needs the most of all is some people living inside.

If I had a lot of money and all my debts were paid
I'd put a gang of men to work with brush and saw and spade.
I'd buy that place and fix it up the way it used to be
And I'd find some people who wanted a home and give it to them free.

Now, a new house standing empty, with staring window and door,
Looks idle, perhaps, and foolish, like a hat on its block in the store.
But there's nothing mournful about it; it cannot be sad and lone
For the lack of something within it that it has never known.

But a house that has done what a house should do, a house that has sheltered life,
That has put its loving wooden arms around a man and his wife,
A house that has echoed a baby's laugh and held up his stumbling feet,
Is the saddest sight, when it's left alone, that ever your eyes could meet.

So whenever I go to Suffern along the Erie track
I never go by the empty house without stopping and looking back,
Yet it hurts me to look at the crumbling roof and the shutters fallen apart,
For I can't help thinking the poor old house is a house with a broken heart.

PINK POODLE CLOTH

Tucked into the back of my closet is a pink poodlecloth jumper. Do you remember when poodlecloth was popular -- are you old enough?

This jumper was a Christmas present from my mother in the 1960's; I think I was about 15 years old at the time. After we had opened all our presents, my mom told me there was another gift for me upstairs. I went up and found this beautiful jumper hanging on my bedroom door. At that time it was complemented by a pale pink blouse with a sash at the neckline -- it could be wrapped to form a turtleneck, or tied in a fashionable bow.

I fell in love with the color and the texture of the fabric. It was soft and curly and so comfortable to wear. It was my favorite article of clothing for years, and when it became too small for me, I could never part with it. To this day I cannot part with it.

If you do the math, you will realize that this pink poodlecloth jumper is over 45 years old, and it still looks as beautiful as it did on that Christmas Eve.

So why is it still hanging in the back of my closet? I'm not even sure I know the answer, but I do know that I just love that pink poodlecloth jumper.

WEB VET -- "DOGA"

A wonderful web site that provides a vast amount of information about pet health. There are educational articles, videos, access to their blog, and a place to submit questions to a vet. Take time to explore it and bookmark it for future reference.

http://www.webvet.com/main/index2

One of the articles posted under the wholistic care link is about YOGA FOR DOGS. What an interesting concept! Gave me a few chuckles too....

YOGA FOR DOGS
By Howard Wolinsky for WebVet

Yoga isn't just for people anymore - it's for dogs, too. Doggy yoga - Doga - is a great way for you to exercise with your pet. With soothing Enya tunes playing in the background, Marnie Pomeroy gracefully goes through "downward facing dog,'' a classic yoga posture that mimics the natural stretch dogs take every time they get up.

Pomeroy is not doing the exercises alone. To varying degrees her yoga partner, Hailey, joins in the breathing and stretching exercises. Pomeroy rocks with Hailey in her arms. She uses Hailey as a yoga prop to move through her position. Sometimes, Hailey takes a break, lying on the exercise mat.

Hailey is a special yoga partner: She's Pomeroy's dog, a shepherd mix.
The twosome is among a dozen other human-dog teams attending a free monthly Paws & Flow "doggie yoga'' class at the Lakeshore Athletic Club at the Illinois Center in Chicago.Club general manager Roberta Duguid, who has a half dozen rescue dogs, and exercise instructor Becky Solomon, who brings her littermate Chihuahuas to class, developed the class three years ago.

"We were looking for a way to help dogs socialize with each other and to encourage interactions between busy owners and their dogs. We thought we'd do it once. But it was such a huge hit that we hold doggie yoga every month,'' Duguid said. Solomon, an exercise instructor for 18 years, said, "I was always into dog training; I just kind of made it up myself.''

DOGA CATCHING ON

The idea has been spreading around the country. Classes, sometimes called "doga,'' rhyming with yoga, are being held in New York, California and elsewhere around the country.
There's the book "Doga: Yoga For Dogs'' by Jennifer Brilliant and William Berloni. And the Bodhi Store in Venice, Calif., and online at http://www.bodhitoys.com/, offers toys for yogi doggies, such as the "Om ball,'' which when bounced plays a recording of the om chant recorded by yogi Bhagavan Das.

Solomon said dogs can't really do yoga, other than the downward and upward dog. But she says that the goal is to give them some exercise and to socialize. She said owners also learn how to relax their dogs with massages. "The class is mostly for the people and a little bit of the yoga for the dogs. There's only so much you can do with the dogs because they come in so many different sizes and temperaments." The class gathers in a circle on mats. The group starts off with breathing exercises. "The dogs are so in tune with our energy. We create a calm energy in the room and see how the dogs respond,'' said Solomon, who teaches people spinning, muscle conditioning and dance.

STRETCHING WITH DOGGIES
During doggie yoga, owners go through stretches and try to put their dogs into some yoga poses. "You practice deep breathing. You make your movements slow. Nothing is fast. Nothing is loud,'' Solomon said. The group does stretches that stretch both humans and dogs. "For instance, you'll be standing with the dog in front of you, you take a deep breath, and you do a forward fold. You bring your hands underneath the dog and you gently pull them up as you're pulling yourself down." Not that all the dogs cooperate. Sometimes, they just wander through the exercise studio during the 45-minute class.

CHAOS MIXED WITH FUN
While he was lying on his back doing a stretch with Bart, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, in his arms, Steve Maza was visited by a Chihuahua and a West Highland terrier. The dogs sniffed Maza and Bart. "Sometimes, it seems like a lot of chaos. But it's a lot of fun. The massage techniques are very useful,'' Maza said.

The class finishes with playtime when dogs receive treats and toys and run around the studio. A table in the studio contains treats, water bottles, bowls and some Frisbees. There is also a disinfectant and a roll of paper for clean-ups. "Sometimes, the kids get a little excited,'' Solomon said. Debra Watkins said the class gives her miniature long-haired dachshund, Marlow, an unusual English Cream, a chance to socialize with other dogs and to bond with her and her husband, Dave. Solomon said dogs become pals and seek each other out during the sessions.

Ernie Ward, DVM, of Calabash, N.C., recently observed a doga class in California. "There's not a lot of workout for the dogs in doggie yoga,'' said Ward, a personal trainer of people and an Ironman triathlon competitor. "But I am in favor of anything that gets humans and the dogs to interact more. Doggie yoga is great for that.''

Reviewed by Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS and John A. Bukowski, DVM, MPH, PhD
All content on WebVet is reviewed annually by Vets to guarantee its timeliness and accuracy.

ACUPUNCTURE FOR PETS

ACUPUNCTURE GOES MAINSTREAM FOR PETS

By Marilyn Soltis for WebVet

Acupuncture for pets is becoming increasingly common. When Dr. Heidi Goss, DVM, was young, she watched her veterinarian uncle use acupuncture on patients that did not respond well to Western medical treatments.

Veterinary medicine has evolved dramatically in a relatively short time. "Just 20 years ago we didn't give animals post-op pain relief. Now the demand for high-quality care for animals has progressed tremendously,'' Goss said. Now an integrative vet herself, Goss primarily practices Western medicine at the Quail Hollow Animal Hospital in Wesley Chapel, Fla., but turns to ancient Eastern practices when she doesn't get results.

Speaking at the 2008 American Animal Hospital Association convention in Tampa, Fla., Goss said she frequently uses acupuncture to improve the quality of life in her geriatric patients. It is particularly useful for enhancing strength in the hindquarters, she said. Acupuncture lessens pain and provides "more mobility, more energy and a better appetite,'' she said.To the uninitiated, the insertion of needles into pets might seem painful or dangerous, but a well-trained veterinary acupuncturist can quickly gain the patient's trust. As many human patients have discovered, acupuncture might look painful but it usually is not and can bring about pain relief and relaxation.

Goss personally attests to acupuncture effectiveness partly because of successful treatments of her own dog, Andie, a female Chow that is deaf. The treatments increased Andie's energy and well-being to the point where Goss has to run after her into the woods when the dog is chasing deer around the property.

Before approaching her patients, Goss prepares herself by breathing, relaxing and getting centered. "If I go in there wound up like a clock they won't tolerate the needle,'' she said. "It's all energy medicine because you're a conduit passing healing energy. You can also pass nervous anxiety. I usually like the owners to stay in the room, but if they are very anxious I'll send them out,'' suggesting they take a break.

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body to release blockages and restore the flow of qi (pronounced "chee''), the vital energy or life force that can enable animals to heal themselves. "Dry needles'' (therapy with the needle itself) are frequently used, but another technique is electro stimulation, also known as electro acupuncture, when a mild electrical charge is conducted through the needles.

The treatment is not limited to dogs. "You can do acupuncture on reptiles, birds, hamsters - any species,'' Goss said. It is especially beneficial for pain control in cats. "There are not a lot of pain meds for cats, and it's more challenging to get pain control in a cat. Acupuncture is one thing we can offer that's safe,'' Goss said.

In fact, acupuncture treatments have been documented back to the year 659 B.C. in China in the earliest veterinary acupuncture book, Bole's Canon of Veterinary Acupuncture.

Acupuncture can be used for a long list of ailments including arthritis, kidney disease, liver disease and "upset in the head,'' Goss said. It's not unusual for her to receive client requests for acupuncture rather than psychopharmacological treatments.

According to publications by the Chi Institute in Fla., a school that offers the certificate of Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, clinical trials demonstrate that acupuncture is effective for the following:
~Musculoskeletal problems, including osteoarthritis

~Back pain and disc problems

~Gastrointestinal disorders, including vomiting, constipation, colic, gastric ulcers and diarrhea.
~Neurological disorders, including seizure, facial and radial nerve paralysis.
~Chronic conditions, including asthma, coughing, skin problems, geriatric weakness,

behavior problems, renal failure and Cushing's disease.

Acupuncture can also be used for disease prevention and performance enhancement.As East meets West in veterinary care, the range of options is expanding to improve overall pet health.
Reviewed by Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS and John A. Bukowski, DVM, MPH, PhD

AFTER THE RAIN

A very dear friend of mine who was my 11th grade English and Public Speaking teacher struggled for several years caring for her husband who was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. As she watched his memory fade and mourned the loss of her friend and companion, she wrote about him and her thoughts about the thief of the mind called Alzheimer's.

When I posted the title and these pictures, I was suddenly reminded of the poem she wrote called "After The Rain."

AFTER THE RAIN

After days of hearing dripping rain,
I awake to the birds' serenade

beyond the closed shade --

lifted, warm sunshine

hastens in,

chastens me to begin

to live again,

reminding me that bloom and song

so transient,

like me,

will soon be gone.

(DRJ)

LAKE WALK

Hannah and I took a wonderful walk around the lake about 2 miles from our home. She can't wait to get in the water! The joys of a Lab!
There are many beautiful wildflowers. I loved the blue of this one, but I don't know its name.

There are shaded, natural trails. It is a great place to walk because Hannah can go off leash. We rarely see anyone else. I subscribe to the philosophy that dogs need time off leash in safe places. Dogs need to be dogs.

I was experimenting with my camera, and I liked the clarity and reflection in this photo. I underexposed the shot to add some drama.

This is one view of the lake. I used to ride around this lake when I lived on the farm which bordered it. I could easily spend nearly two hours on horseback. Bliss!

Hannah suddenly heard something and was looking everwhere. It was mother duck with four babies enjoying the water.

This is another shot where I underexposed to get the silhouette and catch the color and sky reflection on the water.

I thought the moss was gorgeous, and I managed to capture the actual color. The moss was growing entirely around the tree. I thought moss only grew on the east side?

I attempted to capture the sunlight and shadows on the trees but maintain depth of field so that the lake was also in focus. I was thrilled with this result.

"It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility." (Rachel Carson)

DR. ANDREW JONES, DVM, SPEAKS

I was reading a canine blog and was linked to yet another vet who is questioning the wisdom of traditional allopathic veterinary medicine. As we all know, human allopathic medicine tends to make people sicker, and the same is being proven with some traditional veterinary care. Read what Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM, learned after losing his young dog.

It seemed ironic that I should come across this the same day I posted Dr. Jean Dodds' vaccination protocol. I checked this information on Snopes and Hoaxbuster before posting it and did not find any references to false information.

I am sometimes reluctant to post controversial information that departs from the norm, but that is the only way we can start to consider embracing new ideas.

Dear Fellow Pet Lover,

If you're not ready to make some simple changes to the way you provide veterinary care to your pet, beginning today... your dog or cat could become seriously ill and live a "shortened" life! Here is how I know. My dog died young, only 8 years old. He was a specimen of health, given a ton of attention, exercised three times a day, fed only Veterinary approved food, and given all his vaccines...

Hoochie passed away in my arms from a massive tumor bleed at 12:02pm on April 12, 2003 - the saddest day of my life. I asked myself... why? I thought that he was incredibly healthy.

But I later discovered I may have contributed to his death, because I believed ONLY in conventional veterinary medicine. You see, I am a Veterinarian. I'm Dr. Andrew Jones, and I have practiced Veterinary Medicine for over a decade. Over the past 17 years I have treated thousands of pets for a variety of problems, and I currently own the Nelson Animal Hospital in Nelson BC, Canada.

Today, I'm going to explain why conventional veterinary medicine is harming your pet and step-by-step what you must do to prevent it. "Regular" veterinary care has lost its effectiveness over the years, and in some cases is causing illness in our pets.

Although alternative pet health care has grown, the simple truth is that Veterinarians have STRONGLY discouraged pet owners from treating their pets outside of the vet clinic. The entire pet health industry has a vested interest in discrediting alternative medicines which can safely, naturally, and effectively allow pet owners to care for their pets at home.

STOP AND READ THIS!
Slowly, I began to notice something unusual about Hoochie. He just wasn't the same. He was reluctant to go for his morning dog walk, which was always the highlight of his day. I dismissed it as him feeling a bit off or maybe a touch of arthritis... but it didn't pass. In fact, it got worse.

I eventually did a blood test on Hoochie, thinking that he had a tooth infection. However, much to my horror, I quickly found out that he had a spleen tumor. I performed surgery on Hoochie right away, and removed the tumor. But it was too late - the cancer had already spread to his liver, and I knew that very soon, he would die. How did an apparently healthy mixed breed dog die so young?

I did all the "right" things - or so I thought. After grieving, I came to realize that I had played a role in him dying at too young of an age. I came to question exactly what I did to my own pet and what was I doing to other people's pets. Eventually, I realized the obvious - that most Veterinarians (including me as well, at the time) are just not "getting it" - that in the process of trying to heal pets through technological advances, we are actually making them sicker.

There are 3 mistakes that I made that contributed to Hoochie's early death...are you making these same mistakes with your own dog or cat?

Mistake #1:Vaccines - Given Every Year
I gave Hoochie his combination of vaccines every year until he died. I advised pet owners to vaccinate their pets yearly, so I gave my own dog the same vaccines. The vaccines likely contributed to him developing spleen cancer. "Recent vaccinations with single or combination modified live virus (MLV) vaccines are increasingly recognized contributors to immune-mediated blood diseases, bone marrow failure, organ dysfunction and cancer."

Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM, one of the world's foremost experts in canine vaccine reactions.

Mistake #2: Diet -
Hoochie was fed a veterinary approved food exclusively, yet he developed spleen cancer at the age of 8, and died shortly after. The "Bright Minds" in the pet food industry have created unwell pets, producing increasing incidences of diabetes, cancer, and allergies. Remember the Pet Food Recall of 2007? This is the trust that we place in pet food companies... we assume that our pets' food is safe, that the 'powers that be have our pets' best interest at heart. In the case of those companies, that is definitely not the case. The food that Hoochie ate was filled with chemical preservatives. The unnatural preservatives played a role in the cancer. "BHA and BHT are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some European countries. Ethoxyquin is suspected of causing cancer, and that propylene glycol, another common pet food ingredient, causes the destruction of red blood cells."

Dr. Wendell O. Belfield, author of How to Have a Healthier Dog.

Mistake #3:Conventional Medication -

He was on anti-inflammatories. Hoochie was showing signs of arthritis, so I had been giving him a conventional veterinary medication. He responded to the medication, but it likely played a role in damaging his organs, making him susceptible to cancer. These are also known as Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs. Here is what Dr Stephen Sundlof of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has to say about them... "NSAIDs carry a risk of side effects, or adverse reactions. Most adverse reactions are mild, but some may be serious, especially if the drugs are not used according to labeled directions. Some reactions result in permanent damage or even death. It's important for pet owners to be aware of the risks and benefits of all drugs, including NSAIDs, so that they can make informed decisions about their pets' health care," says Sundlof. "Owners who give their dog NSAIDs need to know the side effects to watch for that indicate their pet needs medical attention. The most common side effects from NSAIDs include vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, lethargy, and diarrhea. Serious side effects include gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, perforations, kidney damage, and liver problems.

Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

A very popular NSAID is Rimadyl. It has resulted in all the above reported side-effects. In fact it was first created as a human anti-inflammatory product, but due to the incidence of serious liver side effects in clinical trials, it was pulled from the human market. The drug company, Pfizer, then brought it back to life in the pet industry. It has caused a huge number of serious side effects in pets, including death. Here is what Chris Adams of the Wall Street Journal had to say... "Since Rimadyl's 1997 launch, the FDA has received reports of about 1,000 dogs that died or were put to sleep and 7,000 more that had bad reactions after taking the drug, records and official estimates indicate. The FDA says such events are significantly underreported."

Chris Adams, Wall Street Journal

I, a knowledgeable veterinarian with over 15 years of experience, contributed to my pet's death.
I came to question exactly why I believed in utilizing only "conventional" veterinary medicine to heal pets. I questioned all the "scholarly information" that I had been taught in veterinary school. I did some deep soul searching... WHY did this happen?

It happened because I didn't question modern veterinary medicine, and I gave Hoochie harmful medication. I fed him "veterinary approved" food, and I injected his body yearly with cancer inducing vaccines. WHO was to blame?

I gave him the medication, the vaccines and the carcinogenic food. Yes, my profession, the large drug companies, and the food companies played a role. But, I should have known better.

HOW can I prevent this from happening again to another pet? From the anger, the pain and the despair, a switch happened. I began to read, to research, to discuss with other colleagues the pitfalls of the current state of modern veterinary practice, and I wrote a book. I spent thousands of hours exploring ways for pet owners to administer first aid, improve behavior problems, and even treat illnesses using readily available household products. I began using my "newer" style of medicine in my practice, and my patients benefited tremendously from this research.

July 23, 2009
Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM