All About Animal Massage

All About Animal Massage

Massage and bodywork can contribute significantly to your animal’s ease of movement, health, and quality of life. In addition to reducing muscle soreness, deepening your relationship, and providing well-deserved pampering, massage can also:

• Boost the immune system
• Improve the quality and symmetry of movement
• Support better joint health and function
• Promote earlier detection of stresses and strains

• Stimulate circulation for greater health of all tissues
• Help reduce risk, severity, and frequency of injuries
• Improve athletic agility and coordination
• Reduce the effects of stress
• Minimize restrictions caused by old scar tissue
• Reduce or eliminate adhesions, knots, and other restrictions
• Improve skeletal alignment for more efficient movement
• Release endorphins (natural pain killers)
• Lower blood pressure
• Improve digestion

Do you know how to massage your horse?

Give a listen to this podcast by Megan Ayrault, author of the 

Horse Lover's Guide to massage.

http://allaboutequinemassage.com/2010/04/06/listening-with-your-hands-podcast/

Animals can adapt to change if it is done gradually and patiently.

Animals need time to adjust to changes.  With TLC and consistant gradual changes they will usually do fine.  Be patient.

Payson Roundup

Animals need time to adjust to change
Chandra Cushman

October 22, 2010

Here at the Humane Society of Central Arizona, we experience change on a daily basis. The change we see here, though, is positive. It sometimes is not something we notice until a few months have passed; it’s slow change.

Like when a young dog comes in and is so afraid we have to carry him from the car back to the kennel. Then, a few months later, it’s like we are working with a completely different dog.

As time goes by, these fearful dogs begin to trust and love us. They make great strides with manners, socialization and showing their love and appreciation. I’ve had previous adopters tell me that the shelter animal they’ve adopted showed them more affection than previous animals from their past that they bought from a pet store or purchased from a breeder.

Some animals need some time to adjust to the new change in their life after being adopted. With some, shelter life is all they’ve ever known. That’s why the benefits always outweigh the struggles when it comes to adopting a shelter animal. So let me ask you this: Is it time for a positive change in your life?

Many of you know of the newest addition to our family here at the Humane Society of Central Arizona. Her name is Sarah Hock and she is our new executive director. I wanted to sit down with Sarah and ask her some questions that were fun and would help you get a better feel of who she is. So, here we go!

Q: If you could be a dog, what kind would you be?

A: “I wouldn’t, I would be a cat. Cats are intelligent, independent and mischievous.”

Q: What are your immediate and long-term goals for HSCAZ?

A: “My immediate goal is to serve all animals in HSCAZ’s care to the best of our ability. My long-term goal is to do more education and outreach programs in the community in regards to preventative health care, pet responsibilities and the joys of adopting a shelter animal.”

Q: What makes you proud to be part of the family here at HSCAZ?

A: “The opportunity to work with such dedicated staff and volunteers here at HSCAZ.”

Q: What are your favorite music bands?

A: “Jackson Brown, David Bowie, The Pixies and The Constantines.”

Q: How many animals do you have?

A: “I have six cats, all are rescues. The latest addition is a kitten I bottle-fed from just 2 days old.”

Q: What is a common misconception about shelter animals?

A: “That if they are in the shelter system, there must be something wrong with them. We have plenty of healthy, happy animals that have simply had the misfortune of losing their home.”

Q: Aimes is our featured pet of the week. What do you think the ideal home for him would be?

A: “A patient, understanding home that will be willing to work with him. Someone who understands where he came from. Preferably a home with other dogs so he can play and continue to learn how to be a dog.”

AIMES

Aimes came in to the shelter on May 4, 2010. He was a nervous wreck and had to be carried from the car to the kennels in back because he refused to walk on a leash. He was shaking in fear, so thin his ribs were showing and covered in dirt and poop. His future didn’t look too bright, but we wanted to give him a chance.

After just a few days he started to come to the front of the kennel, showing interest in us. I remember washing him off to get rid of all the dirt and seeing that he was actually white underneath, not brown.

We slowly gained Aimes’ trust. With each day that went by we saw more and more progression with him. We had to put a harness on him to get him to go on walks because he refused to walk with just a leash and collar. Our dedicated volunteers were patient while they taught him how to walk on a leash; he probably never had before he came here.

Aimes really started to perk up once he got to go to the play yard and play with the other dogs. He was a little confused at first, not knowing how to play or interact with other dogs, but he sure got the hang of it quick.

Aimes is now house-trained and does well with all dogs and even children. We have taken him to mobile adoption events in the Valley and he does just fine in public. Since he is a Harrier hound mix, his nose tends to lead him while he is on walks and in the yard, so a decent-sized yard and plenty of activity is something he will definitely need.

Watching some of these animals come in and do a complete 180 is something we take pride in. If they can do it for us, they can certainly do it for you, just give it time. Remember, change is good.

Come down and meet our adoptable animals at 812 S. McLane Road. October is the American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Dog Month®. For one more week, all dog adoption fees are just $25 at the Humane Society of Central Arizona. We have a special discount fee for our senior animals and our Lonely Hearts Club members of just $15. Adult cats are $50 and kittens are $70.

Don’t forget to vote for us every day during the Holiday Shelter Challenge at www.theanimalrescuesite.com!

Originally published at: http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2010/oct/22/animals-need-time-adjust-change/

Early Detection of Symptoms of Cushings Disease

I know I am guilty of hoping a symptom will go away on its own, and sometimes wait too long until the problem becomes difficult to treat.  Dr. Becker recommends proactive action to keep the symptoms of Cushings disease to a minimum....

Needless to say, identifying pre-Cushing’s syndrome early – or at least ensuring that your pet has a reduced likelihood of acquiring Cushing’s disease – is, hands down, the best approach.

My recommendation is for you to be proactive and check your pet’s ALP on an annual basis. Address it if you notice that the ALP is climbing. Do a screening test, a UCC, or CIALP to determine if your pet is indeed overproducing cortisol. Through this, you’re better able to manage the condition before your pet has fully developed Cushing’s disease, which is pretty difficult to manage.

Always remember that you shouldn’t ignore symptoms. If your dogs have consistent (even minor) symptoms, then it’s absolutely worth investigating endocrine or adrenal disease as a contributing factor to why your pet has symptoms that are concerning for you.

Cushings disease may be hard to identify

Sometimes a few symptoms are hard to follow to the true source of problems.  This explanation of Cushings disease is very thorough and understandable.  I hope it is helpful but not relevant to your own pet.  I found it at Dr Mercola's website: 

Hi, this is Dr. Karen Becker, and today we’re going to discuss Cushing’s disease. This is the first of a three-part series.

Cushing’s disease was originally diagnosed by Dr. Harvey Cushing in 1932, hence the name. I prefer the correct title of what’s happening to this syndrome: hyperadrenocorticism, which is a bigger much more descriptive word. It means “hyper” or too much, “adreno” referring to the adrenal gland, and “cortisol” or what exactly the syndrome dictates. It’s too much adrenal release of the hormone cortisol.

What Cortisol Does to Your Pet’s Body

Cortisol is your pet’s “fight or flight” hormone. It is designed to be released by your pet’s adrenal glands in very small amounts. When there’s an up-regulation of cortisol demand, your pet can begin producing cortisol in high amounts. This can be toxic to the body.

Cortisol is a very important hormone, it’s part of your pet’s fight-or-flight response, and cortisol is designed to be released in small amounts from the adrenal glands when the body perceives stress. Ultimately speaking, the end result of cortisol release is glucose release from the liver.

Glucose, being sugar, is what provides energy to the muscle cells so that your pet is able to escape a bear, or for a kitten to run up a tree when chased by a dog. It helps your pets ready their bodies either to address confrontation or be able to get away in a life-threatening situation. That’s the big reason why pets release cortisol.

However, cortisol influences a whole host of other biochemical parameters. It influences the body in a whole host of negative ways. Cortisol is also linked to regulation of blood pressure. It can negatively influence electrolyte balance. It is immunosuppressive, so it can negatively impact your pet’s immune system in the long term. It has a negative interaction between bone and fat metabolism.

Needless to say, we’re thankful that cortisol is in our pets’ bodies in small amounts. The goal is to help your pets not over secrete cortisol, which becomes a toxic situation.

Chronic cortisol release translates to chronic signs of stress in your pet. Keep in mind there’s no such thing as good or bad stress for your pet. It’s all stress, so your pet is having the samephysiologic response whether you’re dropping them off at the groomer, they’ve been hit by a truck, they’re all excited that your serving them steak for your birthday dinner, there’s divorce or a new dog in the family, they have a large wound, or they’re dealing with the inflammation of cancer or allergic response. Those are all the same stress.

If you’re thinking, “My pet doesn’t really have stress. I’m moving from place to place, and he travels with me all the time in a brand-new environment,” then that’s still considered a type of stress on your pet’s body.

Dental care

It is important to maintain good dental care for more reasons than good breath.  Decayed teeth or infected gums carry bacteria.  This bacteria can lodge in the valves of the heart, making them less able to function properly!
Brush your dog's teeth daily or at least weekly, with a sponge dipped in hydrogen peroxide.  Also helpful: hard dog biscuits or sterilized cow hooves.  Some dogs will chew a raw carrot, thus massaging their gums and gaining useful vitamins at the same time!

New home for hemopet

Hemopet, the first and only national non-profit animal blood bank, and its laboratory diagnostic division, Hemolife, have relocated to a custom built, expanded new facility in Garden Grove, California. The new 20,000 square foot facility houses Hemopet's animal blood bank, the Hemolife laboratory, large living quarters for donor greyhounds, consultation and office space as well as an expanded conference room for professional veterinary and community seminars.  Robert Woods, D.V.M, offers on-site complementary veterinary therapies including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, hemeopathy, homtoxicology, nutraceutical therapy and flower essence therapy.  hemopet.org  source: Animal Wellness