resources for inner peace, health and healing
caring for our animals june 2011
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june 2011
animals
caring for our
6-7 Be the change you want to see in your dog BY LISA SELLMAN
16-17 Use essential oils to improve with your pet’s health and wellness BY MARY STOFFEL
10-12 I followed the scent to get a new leash on life BY ROSE ANN HEISEL
18-19 Spark plug of the dog pack dies suddenly BY LENA SWANSON
14-15 Keep your pet manicuredpedicured, without the polish! BY ANN NEUBAUER, CVT
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caring for our animals
BY LISA SELLMAN
Be the change you want to see in your dog
M
ANY
YEARS
ago
aggressive towards other dogs, and had
store for his dog food. She was not close
when I began train-
started biting Sarah. My first thought—
with her family and she was laid off at
ing dogs, I was very
once I scanned the destroyed furniture,
that time from her IT job. I knew that
focused
canine
woodwork, and shades—was obviously
Turbo was more than a dog for her. He
behavior and little on
this dog is way too much for her to han-
was her tie to her deceased boyfriend, her
working with the human owner. The
dle and she should not keep him.
connection to the outside world, and he
group classes that I taught at the time
Turbo was her boyfriend’s dog who
was her protector from a world that was
were successful enough and I did not
had committed suicide about 18 months
not easy. She had taken him to classes
get too involved in the owner’s concerns.
before. It had been very difficult for
until instructors told her she could not
This changed four years ago with a cli-
Sarah who also suffers from depression.
come back or worse, had told her to euth-
ent named Sarah and Turbo, her pitbull.
Turbo kept her going by making her get
anize him.
Turbo had snapped at some neighbor
out of the house, if for nothing else than
children and he was unruly on leash,
to take him to the bathroom or go to the
on
Saving Sarah By Saving Turbo
I knew I had to save Turbo for Sar-
ah’s sake. I still remember how sad and ashamed she was with Turbo’s aggressive behavior. While she talked about Turbo, one element was missing, and that was joy. Joy in life, joy in having a dog, and joy in the possibilities of her future. She lacked the confidence of knowing that there is good in the world and that her life is turning out exactly as it should be and that this experience with Turbo was the perfect opportunity for her to develop confidence in her own abilities to train her dog.
Continued Page 8...
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“I am walking Cassie, the Golden Doodle, with a harness to keep all tension off her neck which is very important. She calmly walks beside me with a loose leash, no stress or anxiety on the walk. This is very important. If your dog is anxious on walks then the walks are not doing what they should be doing for you and the dog. It should be a harmonious experience,� said Sellman.
june 2011
7
caring for our animals Be the Change Continued...
I knew instinctually that Turbo
was not an aggressive dog. He was a misunderstood dog that felt frustration and he needed an outlet. That first afternoon was all about Sarah and Turbo having fun together. Instead of me teaching Sarah to do this or that with her dog, I let Turbo teach both of us what he needed. Mostly, he just needed Sarah to smile again. The paradigm shift of putting Turbo as the teacher allowed Sarah to honor her dog as the smart and beautiful dog that he was and continues to be today. The change that Sarah needed that day was to feel confidant in her own skills as a dog owner. There was nothing wrong with Turbo and Sarah was not a failure. He only
Dogs: A Gift We Give Ourselves
When we face a challenge in
life, ask yourself, what is this challenge teaching me? Dogs are such a blessing because they are always ready to teach us what is most important for us to learn at this moment. Compassion, patience, understanding, and loyalty are all lessons our dogs are here to teach but we must slow down in order to comprehend the message.
A thought came into my mind
while enjoying a morning stroll with my dog: “Dogs are a gift we give ourselves. They remember how we used to be and hold the possibility that we will remember one day, also.”
had misguided energy which was easily changed into games and making
Lisa Sellman is the owner of Aloha
learning fun. With that attitude, he
Pet Care & Dog Training, one of
went on to be able to walk calmly on
the most respected professional dog
leash after a few lessons and no lon-
training and professional pet care
ger was snapping at Sarah or neigh-
companies in Minneapolis. Learn
borhood children.
more at http://www.alohapetcare.us/
Top: “This particular dog is a chewer and I am massaging her mouth and gum line; chewing is a way for dogs to calm themselves. If she was a human, she may be a two-pack a day smoker or have other bad habits such as overeating or biting her nails. The mouth on mammals is connected to the limbic system which is the term for our emotional system in the brain. By massaging her gums and the area under her nose in a gentle way, calms her down and she enjoys the feeling. Her owner announced that she did not chew up anything in the house all weekend. I showed the owner how she can help her dog by doing these simple techniques on her dog.” Bottom: “Massaging a paw helps a dog to understand boundaries. Working with dogs’ paws releases tension and helps them relax—the same as reflexology with humans.”
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june 2011
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caring for our animals
BY ROSE ANN HEISEL
I followed the scent to get a new leash on life
P
EOPLE OVER time have cre-
unique paths, and are directly respon-
reaching his full potential. I have learned
ated a harmonious connection
sible for showing us things we may fail
to appreciate being in the moment as he
and a fondness for dogs and
to notice about the world we share with
sniffs his way into being a creative and a
cats! Our ever-faithful com-
them. My cat companions constantly
happy creature that thrives on every new
panions help shape and define
remind me of how things were before we
change around him. With his keen sense
the world we share with them.
had technological gadgets. I find myself
of smell and his strong mental focus he
In ancient Egypt cats were very
watching how they find joy naturally. The
is way ahead of me taking big strides to
sacred animals. Bast was the Egyptian god-
tiniest lacewing dragonflies can go unno-
move out and explore at the far reaches of
dess with the head of a cat and a body of a
ticed until you see a cat staring it down.
my extended lead.
human and was the protectress of women,
The cat sits in quietness and is completely
children, and domesticated cats. The black
fulfilled in the moment of doing what it
encourage me to enjoy the exercise and
jackal-headed Anubis was a guide taking
was meant to do.
welcome me to take part in the hunt of
people into the afterlife.
While exercising my dog, I spend
new opportunities that they have been see-
quality time enjoying the journey down
ing all along. This has brought about some
PETS FIND JOY NATURALLY
the wooded trail while my dog follows
serious contemplation by me on the ques-
many scents and is living authentically
tion of am I really fulfilling my own mis-
Pets are excellent at guiding us on
All my dogs have this capacity to
sion in life or simply living through my dog? BEING INSPIRED TO CHANGE
I was starting to feel the inspiration
to make a big change.
This big change came about in my
own business. I took my ordinary dog grooming business and turned it into an outdoor grooming spa. I had the feeling of being reborn with this new business attitude.
Outside I am surrounded by flower
gardens and potted lavender. I creatively provide aromatherapy in my specialized dog grooming spa, with the pure intent
10 www.esswellness.com
Above: The perfect summer cool down, then off to the dog show for Marcella. Left: My favorite client Brie begins her bubble bath Photos by: Jerry Westby
of providing relaxing grooming rituals
and is now outside, on the back patio. My
for my beloved dog (and cat) clients.
fragrant pet shampoos have made things
interesting as different butterflies are
My portable bath tub and groom-
ing table has left the confines of my home
drawn to our bathing area.
Continued Page 12... june 2011
11
caring for our animals New Leash on Life Continued...
Brie and Sophie have fun as part of the outdoor grooming spa experience
Water run off from the bathtub is used
My new adventure may not make
tures watch closely because they just
to water my surrounding flower gardens.
the news, but it has created more aware-
may have a happy tail to tell. There is a
Dogs are dried partly by the sunny warm
ness to me of what a significant role dogs
good chance they will have something
breezes and partly with a dryer. In a lot of
have in our lives. And in my life this
to bark about.
ways, my outdoor grooming spa is giving
business adventure is exactly what I have
back to nature. The loose dog hair flies
been sniffing around for.
Rose Ann Heisel has worked in the pet
off into the air and is eagerly picked up
Some of us may dress dogs up in
industry for over 25 years. She currently
by birds in hot pursuit of nest building.
fur-trimmed designer coats or fancy jew-
is a pet stylist with more than 22 years
With a blue sky over head and a
eled collars but I believe that dogs can
experience. She loves grooming dogs and
dog in the bath tub it becomes my turn
be happy and content without these frills
dog showing. In her free time she enjoys
to be in my element and fulfilled in the
because their spirit of curiosity in their
writing with the help of her cat Ting
moment. I am fulfilling my own mission
noses let them take the lead and simply
Ting. People interested in ideas for creat-
in life of being a pet stylist with a new
be a dog, and our best friend.
ing their own outdoor grooming spa can
leash on doing business.
contact Rose Ann at heiselplac@aol.com.
12 www.esswellness.com
When you meet these special crea-
june 2011
13
caring for our animals
Keep your pet manicured-pedi without the polish!
C
LICK, CLICK, click,
WHY DOGS NEED TRIMMED NAILS
click… Fido must be
walking
the
ficult time rolling forward off her feet. Long
kitchen tile. It’s good to
nails limit the active range of motion in a dog’s
know where he is, but
toes, and affect the angulation of their wrists,
that clicking means some-
ankles, elbows, knees, shoulders, and hips.
across
A dog with long nails has a more dif-
thing else, too: Fido needs a nail trim! Now!
Trimmed nails aren’t just for aesthet-
quently—before you hear them clicking
ics. Dogs really do benefit from having
on the linoleum—is a good way to keep
shorter nails. Shorter nails mean fitter feet
a dog fit on his feet and prevent toenail
and an easier load on the joints.
injury, arthritis, and even lameness.
Your vet does more than give shots!
14 www.esswellness.com
Getting a dog’s nails trimmed fre-
GET PROFESSIONALS TO GROOM WHEN YOU CAN’T
Veterinary staff and groomers should
be able to give your dog a nail trim if you are not comfortable doing so yourself. At Minnetonka Animal Hospital, we do what we call a chiropractic nail trim. We trim the hard part of the nail away back at several angles, to expose the quick without making it bleed. The dog then walks happily away—quicks painlessly exposed so
BY ANN NEUBAUER, CVT
icured, that they can recede. Over time, with fre-
the nail trim experience. If she still won’t
quent trimming (about every two to three
accept her nail trim, bring her in to your
weeks), Fido’s nails are easily maintained at
veterinarian or groomer and ask that they
a shorter, healthier length.
trim the nails as short as safely possible.
Several products are on the market
And don’t forget the dewclaws! If
to help dog owners trim their pets’ nails.
your dog has dewclaws (those short toes
Grinding tools, filing tools, trimmers
on the insides of the feet that don’t touch
resembling wire cutters, and trimmers
the ground when they are standing), it’s
with sliding blades are among the most
important to keep them short as they
easily found. No tool is necessarily better
may get snagged if they grow too long.
than another, but people like vet techs and
groomers do have their favorites. It’s a mat-
short and nick the dog, and he bleeds?
ter of which tool the user—and the dog—
Apply a dab of styptic powder to the
are most comfortable with.
bleed. Styptic powder is made to stop
DOGS WHO HATE A TRIM
But, what if Fifi hates having her
nails trimmed? If you can start handling Fifi’s toes in a calm manner, with no trimmers in sight, and praise her for letting you touch her nails, then do so, and do it frequently. This will help desensitize her to
What if you accidentally trim too
those nicks from bleeding, and is available at pet supply stores where nail trimmers are sold. If you are in a pinch, corn
starch can also stop the bleeding in nicked
Ann Neubauer is a certified veterinary tech-
nail quicks.
nician and canine rehabilitation assistant
So, please, to keep your dog sure-
at Minnetonka Animal Hospital, where she
footed, handle her toes, listen for clicking,
has been doing chiropractic nail trims for six
and get those nails trimmed!
years. http://www.minnetonkaanimal.com
june 2011
15
caring for our animals
Use essential oils to improve yo pet’s health and wellness
W
HY USE essential
animal is a little different so you need to
• Purification: Very useful for control-
oils? How do they
observe carefully how the animal responds
ling external parasites such as fleas, ticks
work? An essential
to the treatment and use common sense
and mosquitoes. Mix with water and spray
oil is the life-blood
and good judgment. The most important
the coat and legs. Also more effective than
of the plant and as
thing is to make certain that the oils used
using iodine or hydrogen peroxide for
such, the animals recognize it as a source
are pure and free of chemicals, solvents and
washing and cleansing wounds.
of wellness. Animals instinctively know
adulterants so you are not introducing tox-
• Valor: Assists in self-confidence and
what oils to inhale and when they have had
ins into the animal’s system.
assertiveness. This is a very empowering
enough. When their need has been satis-
Let the animal smell the oil before
blend and is most effective when used daily
fied they simply refuse to have anything
applying it. Put two drops in the palm
to boost self-esteem. Also helps chiroprac-
more to do with the oil at all. An added
of your hand, rub your hands together,
tic adjustments stabilize when applied
bonus is that the oils are compatible with
and apply to the feet, chest, or ears of the
directly on the spot.
most other complementary therapies.
animal.
• R.C.: Ideal for respiratory and urinary tract support. Also used on bone spurs.
ANIMALS MORE SENSITIVE TO OILS THAN HUMANS
ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS THAT MAY HELP YOUR ANIMAL
Essential oils have been used very
• Peace & Calming: For the animal (and
in healing muscle, tendon and ligament
successfully on animals and people since
person) troubled with stress, fear and anxi-
injuries. Apply directly to the painful
biblical times. Animals are even more
ety; For the animal that is timid, shy or
area, Relieve It first, then PanAway. Note:
sensitive to the effects of the oils than
fearful; For the animal (and person) that
Do not apply PanAway to open wounds
humans. If you have never used oils with
experiences sensory overload.
because it will sting and traumatize the
your animal before, the best way to start is
• Lavender: Very calming for both people
animal. Instead use Helichrysum and Bal-
by applying the oil to the hooves or feet, on
and animals. Also used for tissue regen-
sam Fir to reduce bleeding and pain.
the tips of the ears, or by simply letting the
eration and desensitizing wounds. Helpful
animal sniff the oil from the bottle. Just
when used during training sessions.
straight from the bottle but you may want
a few drops can be sprinkled on the chest
• Melrose: Use for skin irritations with
to start with a diluted solution. You can
or spine and massaged into the skin. For
Thieves. Provides respiratory support when
dilute the oils with Young Living pure car-
applying to open wounds or hard-to-reach
used with R.C. and Raven. Very good for
rier oil or pure olive oil, or just smelling the
areas, it helps to dilute the oil in a spray
disinfecting and cleaning wounds.
oils may be sufficient. Standard dilution is
bottle with very pure olive oil and spray
• Thieves: To reduce inflammation, infec-
1 to 3 drops of essential oil to ½ tsp. carrier
directly on location. There is no right or
tion and bacteria. To prevent proudflesh
oil. Be very careful to avoid putting oil in
wrong way to apply essential oils. Every
when promoting tissue regeneration.
the animal’s or person’s nose, eyes or ears.
16 www.esswellness.com
PanAway & Relieve It: Relief for
arthritis pain and discomfort. Helpful
Bigger animals can usually use the oils
BY MARY STOFFEL
our
Each animal or person will react
individually to the oils so you will have to experiment to find the right combination for the desired results. Mary Stoffel’s mission is to facilitate communication and understanding between people and their animal companions through classes, lectures and personal consultations. She is an AvatarepcŽ Master, a professional animal communicator and a shamanic p ra c t i t i o n e r. www.humanimal.com, w w w. p r a c t i c a l s h a m a n i s m . c o m www.avatarepcmn.com. For more information: mlstoffel@innovatord.com or 763-444-8146.
Above: Mary Stoffel with Maddie. Left: Young Living Essential Oils can alleviate pet health issues.
june 2011
17
caring for our animals
Spark plug of the dog pack dies suddenly
C
LAIRE WAS my Olym-
them. No actual evidence of a diagnosis
dog drugs and they weren’t even work-
pian. In spite of her
and then death 20 hours later.
ing! My friend who is a vet called to see
tough beginnings as a
how we were doing and offered to make a
breeding female in a hor-
IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST
home visit and do the check up. I looked at
rific puppy mill in North
That night at the emergency clinic I
Claire and told my vet friend I thought we
Dakota she was in magnificent physical
tried so hard to digest the new informa-
could skip the recheck. That we needed to
shape due to daily, off-leash walks. An
tion; the fact that Claire had cancer and
euthanize instead. Had I just said that?
uber intelligent alpha bitch, she led with
I was making the decision not to treat her
an iron fist that had marshmallow fingers.
but to keep her comfortable with steroids
friends know about her passing—a very
She was in charge of the pack and watched
and fluids overnight and then bring her
short eulogy to a life cut way too short.
over and protected us at every turn. Claire
home in the morning for a few days of bor-
kept the energy flowing for her more senior
rowed time. We didn’t even achieve that
pack, the effervescent 4th of July sparkler
pack mates and cried for joy at the drop of
goal. Claire did come home in the morn-
who lightened any life she touched.”
a squeaky toy. She was my girl.
ing. The entire dog family rode along in
As the snow melted this spring she
the car to pick her up. They were all so
slowed down one Wednesday. I figured she
happy to see each other. The dog pack was
had eaten something funky at the park.
reunited, if only for a few hours.
By Friday she couldn’t hide not feeling
well any longer and I got some remedies
minute by minute, that the steroids were
at the holistic vet. By Sunday we were at
not performing their magic and that
the emergency clinic with a high fever and
without intravenous fluid therapy Claire’s
weakness.
massive fever of the previous evening was
returning. I had been instructed to bring
Then the news: full of cancer, as in
Home again it was abundantly clear,
Lymphoma.
her into my regular vet for a recheck that
In complete shock I wracked my
afternoon but it suddenly occurred to me
brain, scanning for clues, any memories
that we were looking at a life ending rather
of Claire acting differently, slowing down,
than a check up. How could this be hap-
anything that could have warned of the
pening so fast? What about the few days
cancer growing inside her. I couldn’t think
or even a week of steroid bliss so we could
of anything, only a few errant thoughts or
take one more walk at the off-leash park?
details that had no real importance unless
What about a final visit to the beloved
I would haphazardly assign something to
river? I had actually chosen to give my
18 www.esswellness.com
This is part of what I wrote to let my
“She was the spark plug of the dog
BY LENA SWANSON
Claire—an alpha dog who led with an iron fist with marshmallow fingers
Lena Swanson has been a full-time
for the past nine years. Her holistic
journeying classes. Lena has been featured
professional animal communicator, sha-
healthcare practice focuses on achieving
on television and radio and is available
manic healer, past life regression facilita-
and maintaining wellness for both people
as a speaker for conferences and special
tor, Reiki master, and consultant in the
and animals. She also teaches a variety
events. See www.lenaswanson.com or call
use of flower essences and essential oils
of animal communication and shamanic
651.206.0644 for more information. june 2011
19
20 www.esswellness.com