Published in Ki Awareness Magazine, November 2010

Animals are intuitive.  They sense our pain and they are in tune with our emotions.  Have you ever had a stomach ache and found your furry friend lying across your stomach to soothe your pain?  Animals are sensitive and our issues can play a part in determining the health and well being of our furry best friend.

Our pets will often mirror our own personal issues.   Our pets are our teachers.  When your pet is ill, it is often very insightful to take a look at what is going on inside ourselves.  Do you have unresolved issues?  Stress at home or your workplace?  Sometimes these issues are buried so deep that they are in our subconscious and we are not even aware of them. 

Just as a baby will cry when her mother is feeling stressed and overwhelmed, our pets can pick up on our emotions as well.  This unbalanced energy can cause emotional upset and illness in you and in your pet.   Your emotional issues, if not resolved, can create physical and emotional conditions within you and your pets.  By becoming aware, and beginning to deal with these issues by changing your thought patterns, you can play an integral role in the process of healing your pet. 

Every living thing has life force energy.  If this life force energy is blocked, it will result in physical, mental or emotional upset, injury or illness.  Reiki practitioners are attuned to this energy to enable them to guide it and to facilitate healing.  During a Reiki treatment, the pet controls the amount of healing energy they wish to receive and then Reiki flows to where it is needed most. 

Reiki is a Japanese holistic energy healing system that is thousands of years old.  It is gentle, non-invasive and provides powerful results for the body, mind and spirit.  The practitioner sets an intention to facilitate the healing process of the client and allows Reiki to flow.  A subtle energy flows from the hands of the practitioner into the client, and it’s this life force energy that creates the healing effect.  Reiki can be done either with hands-on, hands slightly above, from a distance, or a combination of these methods so that the pet is comfortable with the treatment.

Reiki helps with anxiety and fearfulness in our pets, it balances the pet’s energy, reduces stress and promotes relaxation.  A feeling of overall wellbeing is experienced in the pet as toxic energy is cleared.  Animals who have been physically or emotionally abused benefit from regular Reiki treatments as layers of past trauma are peeled away one layer at a time.  Separation anxiety, lack of appetite and homesickness in boarding dogs, phobias, injuries and ailments are all issues where pets can benefit from Reiki.  Pets will benefit from Reiki for virtually every situation as Reiki heals at all levels (mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually).  When it’s an animal’s time to cross over, Reiki will ease any pain and discomfort in your pet and make the transition more peaceful for the pet and the person. 

Although Reiki is a very powerful and effective treatment, it is not a replacement for veterinary care.   Reiki is a complimentary treatment.  A Reiki practitioner does not diagnose or prescribe.   As with any modality, healing takes time.  The body has the ability to heal itself and Reiki helps facilitate this.   Sometimes several sessions are needed to get to the root of the issue. 

To download this article click the following link:  Ki_Awareness_Magazine_Nov-Jan_2011-Pet Reiki

For a free download of the November 2010 issue of Ki Awareness Magazine click the following link:  Ki_Awareness_Magazine_Nov-Jan_2011

With all the health problems affecting our furry-little-loved-ones these days, most pet owners would do anything in their power to ensure Fido or Mittens live healthy, happy, long lives.

Here is one tip that could add years to their lives.

Our animals are over-vaccinated – plain and simple. We never seem to question why dogs and cats need so many needles every year.

With every annual check-up, Fido and Mittens receive their shots and are sent home – all the while, we could be doing more harm than good.

Click on this link for information and facts about the dangers of vaccinations:

A study of more than 1,000 cats and 1,000 dogs in the United Kingdom by Canine Health Concern in March 2001 showed a 1 in 10 risk of adverse reaction from vaccines!

Instead of immediately going for the needle, consider asking your Veterinarian about a titre test. This is a simple blood test that will test the antibodies in your pets blood. If the titres are good, then Fido doesn’t need the needle.

Always make sure you discuss these issues thoroughly with your Vet to ensure you are making the best informed decisions for your pets.

Visit Brandon’s blog at http://www.canadianpetconnection.com/blog

Canadian Pet Connection is a family owned and operated business. They specialize in healthier, chemical free pet foods and provide the highest level of personalized attentive service.   Visit them at http://www.canadianpetconnection.com

Paws for Wellness – Energy Healing for your pets

McCann’s Training

Hospital Tour

Raffles

Giveaways

Bake Sale

2423 Trafalgar Road, Oakville

For more info call 905-257-5267

Please join us on Saturday, September 25th in Oakville and learn how Reiki Energy Healing can help your pets.  Win a free energy healing session for your pet and pick up some complimentary treats for your pets.

See you there!

For more information about Paws for Wellness, please visit www.pawsforwellness.ca

Top Summer Tips – By Cesar Millan, www.cesarsway.com

With record temperatures around the country, it is important to keep your dogs in mind when it comes to keeping cool. Here are Cesar’s Top 10 Tips for beating the summer heat!

1.) Exercise your dog early in the morning or late at night. Since these are the cooler parts of the day, this will make the walk more comfortable for both you and your dog. I’m a believer in vigorous exercise for healthy dogs, but this is the time of year to back off on exercise intensity.

2.) Use doggie boots. You can find these at your local pet supply store. If you can’t walk your dog during the early and later hours of the day, this is a good way of protecting him. Heat rises from the ground, especially on surfaces like cement and asphalt, and dogs absorb and release heat through their feet. Just like boots prevent the dog from absorbing the cold in the winter, they also isolate heat.

3.) Watch for signs of dehydration. Dogs can’t sweat. They cool off by panting, so an overheated dog will drool excessively. It will become lethargic, its eyes will be bloodshot, and it may appear a little pale. If you lift its skin, it will take longer than usual for the skin to fall back into place.

4.) Keep your dog hydrated! Different dogs have different needs when battling the heat. Keep in mind that darker coats absorb more heat than lighter coats. Also, overweight dogs are at higher risk for dehydration. Carry a bottle of water when going on a walk with your dog. Better yet have your dog carry it for you in a backpack or a vest! The water in the bottles will keep the dog cooler and also give the dog a sense of purpose.

5.) Find innovative ways to cool your dog. Don’t have air conditioning? No problem! Find a spot in the shade and set up a kiddie pool. Lay down a wet towel for your dog to lie on. Or simply set up a fan in front of a pan of ice. At the Dog Psychology Center, we have sprinklers that spray the dogs with a gentle mist of water.

6.) Dogs cool from the bottom up.. Make sure to spray the paws and stomach, not just the top of the dog, when spraying it with water. A wet towel does more good on the bottom of your dog than when laid on the top of its coat.

7.) Let your dog dig! Your dog may resort to finding his own way to avoid the heat. Dog in nature dig their dens not out of frustration but to find food, hide, give birth–or keep cool! If it’s possible, locate a shady area where it’s okay for your dog to dig.

8.) Let your dog check the weather. Dogs don’t have the Weather Channel, so they don’t know why they are being denied a long walk for the day. Allow your dog to step outside and feel for itself that it is too hot, too wet, or too cold to go on a long walk. Instinctually, the dog will understand that it has to shorten its walk, or simply come back inside where it’s safe.

9.) Never leave your dog in a parked car. The car retains more heat than an open area, even if it is in the shade. Plus, a dog may get overexcited in the car due to passersby or panic from claustrophobia, making dehydration more likely. On longer trips, make sure you have water for the dog and keep the AC running.

10.) Use hot weather as an excuse to swim more often! The best activity you can do in summertime or hot weather is swimming. Instead of walking the dog, take the dog on a swim! If you hold on and allow your dog to take you around the pool, it becomes a powerful bonding experience for the two of you, similar to the walk.

Clears toxic energy from the pet and increases overall wellbeing

Helps animals who have been physically or emotionally abused

Decreases pain, anxiety and fearfulness

Eases the transition of a pet into a new home

Complements both conventional and alternative medicine

And more….

By appointment only.

Visit www.pawsforwellness.ca for further information.

Please contact Kathy at 905-484-4325 to book your appointments. 

To book your appointment with Kathy at The Rising Sun, please contact The Rising Sun at 905-884-3362.

C.O.P.E. is a registered charity that raises and trains service dogs for people who have a mobility disability.  C.O.P.E. stands for “Canine Opportunity, People Empowerment”.  In the High School Assistance Dog Program, youth are matched with C.O.P.E. puppies and taught how to care for and train them on over 90 service commands.  It’s inspiring to watch these students, listen to their stories, challenges and how they’ve overcome so many difficulties.  It is not difficult to see the strong bond that develops between the youth trainer and the dog. 

The dogs keep the kids engaged, interested and motivated to learn and it makes learning a fun and empowering experience.  These kids turn their lives around through the C.O.P.E. program.   There is an incredible success rate of 97%. 

Parents keep hearing what their kids can’t do.  With this program, the kids easily demonstrate what they can do. 

Click Learning to COPE to read the full story ~ Learning to COPE, by Kathy Bilous