Raw Pet Digest August/September 2016 by rawpetdigest

August/September 2016

RAWPET DIGEST

IN THIS ISSUE: -M assag e t h er ap y f o r an i m al s -W h o l e h eal t h i n t h e i n d o o r cat -W h at d o w e m ean b y " f i x " ? -Ho w t o h el p a ch o k i n g d o g -A n d m u ch m o r e! Grubat, a Maine Coon, looking regal. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

Raw Pet Digest Editor-in-chief: Kristin Clark Technical editor: Dr. Jeannie (Jeannette) Thomason

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Our mission at Raw Pet Digest is to share information that supports natural health with a broad audience to help improve the lives of our carnivore pets. We believe that only the body is capable of achieving and maintaining true health, but we also believe that there are many things that we can do to help support the body in its quest to maintain balance (health). Raw Pet Digest aims to help educate and inform you about those things so that you can help your pet live a long life and thrive naturally.

DISCLAIMER: All information contained in Raw Pet Digest is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prevent, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body or pets, and the author(s), publisher, and contributors accept no responsibility for such use. Anyone or their pets suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult with their physician or veterinarian. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, all views expressed herein by those being interviewed or featured are their own views and do not necessarily represent the views of Raw Pet Digest. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author(s) and Editor-in-Chief. The articles herein are for educational purposes only. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader.

Lycan, Merlin, Midge, and Pansy. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

FEATURESAND COLUMNS Letter from the Editor - 4 Maintaining Whole-body Health in the Indoor Cat - 5 You've Gotta Start Somewhere - 10 Massage Therapy for Animals - 15 The Breaking Point - 20 My True Joy - 25 Essential Oils to Have on Hand - 27 The Heimlich Maneuver and Your Dog - 31

Daiquiri the kitten playing. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

What do We Really Mean by Fix? - 34 Spotlight on Health: Wolf Creek Ranch - 38 Languages of Love: Lessons from My Dog - 41

Barkley relaxing on the couch. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

Letter fromtheEditor Here in Southern California, summer is definitely in full swing. Our local temperatures have regularly been over 100Â° Fahrenheit, with no real relief in sight. But summer doesn?t just bring spiking temperatures. Summer's longer days give us the opportunity to get out and enjoy the world around us. Whether it?s a morning walk, playing at the beach, going for a bike ride, hiking, or setting out on a trail run or a jog through the neighborhoods, the longer days and the beauty of summer naturally lend to outdoor activities. And who better to share these moments with than our beloved pets? Of course, you should always be mindful and if it?s too hot outside, leave your pet at home where they can be cool, but weather permitting, take them out with you to soak up the sun and get some exercise. If you have a cat, you can use a harness and leash to make sure that they are safe, and then let them walk and sniff, or play with a toy. If you have a dog, take them along with you while you get some fresh air and exercise, in whatever form you most enjoy. Exercise? the second law of health? is so important for mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, and it?s always more fun with a buddy. I recently read an article about a man who was dangerously overweight. Doctors told him that if he didn?t change his habits, he was in serious risk of dying. He went out and adopted a dog, wanting

Kristin with Cleo, Motley, Elle, and Barkley. Photo credit: Adam Gilbert

companionship, unconditional love, and motivation to get outside and get moving. The dog he rescued was older and on the heavier side, and together they started walking. Over time, they both lost weight, and as their bond deepened, they gained a new zest for life. I love hearing about things like this, because they are reminders that when we start to follow the laws of health and connect with others, no matter what species, we can live our best lives and thrive. We do this by starting somewhere. Anywhere. We explore this more in the article You Gotta Start Somewhere, so whether it's getting out and moving more, or changing eating habits, take a baby step today to live a better, more optimal life. This issue contains a mix of practical information? for example, how to keep your indoor cat optimally healthy or help your dog if he or she is choking? as well as articles that, I hope, will deepen your understanding about reaching and maintaining true and lasting vitality, both for you and your pet. Thank you for reading! -Kristin

MAINTAININGWHOLE-BODYHEALTH INTHEINDOORCAT

Grubat, a Maine Coon. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

There are few things more fascinating than watching your cat gracefully explore a meadow or crouch all aquiver in preparation for a pounce. The beauty of the sun shining off her fur and the powerful play of her muscles as she swiftly leaps and pivots to make the catch can be breathtaking. Unfortunately, outdoor living contains too many dangers for most cat owners to allow their beloved pets the freedom to roam. Pests like fleas and ticks abound, and predators like coyotes and hawks can be deadly. In more urban areas, there are dogs, cars, and worse. To protect our cats, we must bring them inside. But doing so incurs responsibilities beyond simply providing food, water, and litter boxes. Cats are born to hunt, to chase, pounce, run, and climb. That need to move doesn?t vanish when they no longer have the space to do so. They are also born for vigilance, the awareness of their status as both predator and prey, and they have a need for avenues of escape and places in which to hide.

Food, Wat er, and Lit t er Boxes First and most important, cats should be provided with a raw, animal-based diet. Nutrition is the basic foundation for all aspects of health and cats, as obligate carnivores, are built to utilize the tissue, bones, and organs of their prey to grow, repair, and maintain every system in their bodies. There are many commercial raw blends available, but home-preparing is less expensive and offers complete control over the mix and quality of ingredients. For optimal health, feed frankenprey or whole prey diets. The process of scissoring and chomping through flesh, tendons, and bones cleans the teeth and promotes dental health by increasing blood flow to the oral cavity. The requirement to ?work? to eat also offers psychological benefits by satisfying part of the cat?s predatory nature.

It is vital for their overall health and happiness that we create an indoor environment that recognizes and addresses these and other innate, natural needs.

Kittens Sherlock and Watson. Photo credit: Jillian Mury

Cats should be fed on shallow bowls or plates that won?t hinder sensitive whiskers, spaced as far apart as possible to reduce tension (Editor?s note: For more about whisker stress in cats, see the April/May 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest). Crate-training for meals is advisable, as it will keep the food contained, prevent more aggressive cats from eating their housemates?portions, and allow shyer cats the quiet and security they need to finish their meals completely. Try to feed at least three meals a day? if you can manage four, so much the better? and serve them in a quiet area that minimizes the chance for disturbances. Cats don?t like to eat near their water, so fresh water should be provided away from the feeding area. Of course, bowls should be cleaned and refilled daily, and filtered water is generally healthier than tap. Feral cats instinctively eliminate far from food and water sources to reduce the likelihood of attracting predators, so litter boxes should be placed well away from food and water dishes, and in fairly quiet areas to decrease feelings of vulnerability. Some cats have well-defined preferences in their litter box habits and will not use a dirty box, or will want one box for urinating and one for feces. To accommodate these preferences, provide one box per cat, plus one, and scoop them daily. Very large, uncovered boxes allow cats to dig around, eliminate, and bury in a more natural manner.

Pl ay Without avenues for burning off hunting energy, indoor cats can become frustrated, anxious, or even aggressive. Companions are a good first step. Cats are not the strictly solitary creatures they are so often portrayed to be and owning two or three allows them to engage in social and play activities such as mutual grooming, chasing, and wrestling. Catnip mice, crinkle balls, and other small toys can be scattered around the house and hidden inside paper bags and boxes for the cats to ?hunt? and bat around. Rotating these toys keeps the interest high. Daily interactive play sessions using wands, laser lights, and other similar toys should be routine. Schedule these games for the same time every day and aim for dusk and dawn when the cats? natural hunting instincts are in high gear. Drag, dart, and hide the ?prey? to fully engage the cats? hunting behaviors. At the end of each session, toss the cats a treat or a catnip-filled toy to provoke in them the satisfaction that accompanies a successful hunt. Clicker-training cats is a great way to challenge and stimulate their intellect. It can be used to teach them tricks as well as to redirect their attention from unwanted behaviors to more acceptable alternatives.

Exceptionally adventuresome and confident cats can also be taught to walk on a leash or treadmill, participate in cat agility games, or become certified therapy cats. Environment While cats are not solitary animals, they are territorial. Providing adequate space, especially vertically, is important. Cats like climbing and lounging on high perches, which allows them to observe their territory from an area of security, but their height preferences are variable. Cat trees and wall shelves with perches at different heights allow for personal preferences, changing moods, and multiple ?prime? locations; just make sure they?re sturdy enough to take a cat hitting them at a full run. Cats need scratching posts for claw sharpening, stretching, and scent marking? instinctual, daily behaviors that will be exercised upon your furniture if suitable alternatives are not

provided. These posts, too, should be sturdy, as well as of sufficient height to allow the cats to reach above their heads. A variety of materials can be used, but sisal rope and cardboard are favored. Cat trees often have sisal-wrapped posts, making them attractive multi-purpose options, and adding a few horizontal cardboard scratching pads will give cats a nice, wide variety of choices. Cats like to be where their people are, so place the cat trees, shelves, and scratching posts in high-traffic areas. Screened-in porches and outdoor enclosures make great additions to the cats? environment, allowing them a safe way to enjoy the outdoor experience. Saf et y And speaking of safety, cats need a safe zone, a place to which they can escape and expect to be free from children, dogs, and even other cats if possible. Teach your children that when the cat is occupying this space? a particular shelf or room, for instance? she is not to be disturbed. Ensure that cat trees, wall shelves, and litter boxes are set up to allow an exit route should one cat try to trap another. Routine is also important for cats. Try to schedule activities involving them at the same time every day, and keep to as much of a household routine as you can.

Dexter, a Bengal cat. Photo credit: Jamie and Allen Reitz

Be aware that any change in their environment is going to affect them and try to make unavoidable changes slowly. Stress can come in less tangible forms as well. Cats have more sensitive hearing than we do, especially at higher ranges. Construction in the neighborhood, yelling, and loud music can upset them. Their sense of smell is more sensitive than ours, too, and cleaning solutions, air fresheners, candles, and other commonly-used chemicals can cause distress and anxiety. Don?t let your cats lick you if you have lotion on your skin, and before cranking up the TV for the Sunday game or lighting that cigar, think about the potential impact on your cats and find a way to mitigate it.

Gimlet, a beautiful kitten, displaying curiosity about his environment. Photo credit: Jillian Mury

Love Above all, love your cats. Though they have a reputation for independence and an aloof manner, they are actually sensitive, intelligent creatures who will respond to your affections with affection of their own. Spend time observing them; learn their body language, their boundaries and their needs, and respect them. Taking these steps to recognize and provide for their natural behavior patterns will ensure your indoor cats remain balanced, healthy, and happy, just the way you want them. -By Tracy Dion Tracy Dion is a writer and feline care and behavior consultant, specializing in nutrition and feeding a species-appropriate diet. She has worked with rescue and shelter organizations rescuing and socializing cats, dogs, birds, rats, and reptiles for many years, but her focus for the last decade has been on cats. She is dedicated to improving their health and welfare through owner education, and is passionate about improving the owner/animal bond through increased understanding of natural feline behaviors and needs. She is a professional member of the Cat Writers? Association and past Editor of Raw Instincts Magazine, as well as the mind behind CatCentric.org. Her articles have been published by the Feline Nutrition Education Society, the online magazines Raw Instincts and Catnip Chronicles, the American Council for Animal Naturopathy, and more.

YOU'VEGOTTASTART SOMEWHERE

Grubat and Daiquiri cuddling. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

?If you don?t st art somewhere, you?re never going t o get anywhere.? -Bob Marl ey I recently came across this wonderful quote, and my eyes lit up. The truth in this quote is profound and, at the same time, so extraordinarily simple. It?s similar to the quote ?A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,? but I like it even more because it puts the action? and the responsibility? right smack dab on the person who wants to get somewhere. In naturopathy, we understand and teach that each person is responsible for their own health, their own life, and their own decisions. This responsibility flows down to being responsible for your own pet?s (or pets?) lives and health as well. So often, as we?ve discussed before, we put the responsibility for our pet?s health on someone else? a veterinarian, for example? but there is no way that they can know our pets better than we ourselves do. And since ultimately it is the body that must heal itself (which it does by balancing and strengthening itself throughout that individual?s life), the daily decisions we make about what our pets eat, what sort of water they drink, the exercise they get, how and where they sleep, and the mental and emotional state that they live in and around are truly what lend to vitality or the loss of such. But as with everything, there is a balance in naturopathy. So, although we are responsible for our pet?s welfare, nature also allows us to support them in achieving optimal wellness over time.

That balance over time is vital, and when we truly understand it, we can release the fear and resulting paralysis that often accompany changing what we?ve ?always done? for something new. All naturopathy asks is that you start somewhere. When we really start thinking about the list of things that we can and should do to improve our pet?s vitality, it can get really overwhelming. Changing the diet, removing toxins in the house and yard, changing the exercise routine, changing the water, and figuring out what supplements might be needed (if any) can be intense. And, of course, you must pay attention to your pet?s needs, because what they need one day may be different from what they need

Barkley, a Border Collie mix, with a whole prey chicken. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

IFYOUDON'TSTART SOMEWHERE,YOU'RENEVER GOINGTOGETANYWHERE. -BOBMARLEY A w alk in g pat h in Spain . Ph ot o cr edit : M ar di Lin an e

another day. Take, for example, how much you feed. You may feed them a certain amount (a pound, for example) each day, and then after a few months, notice that they are gaining a bit of weight. So you must adjust. And then, after a month or so, you may notice that they are losing some weight. So you adjust again. It?s not cut and dry. It requires attention. And paying attention to our pets like this is something that many of us are out of the habit of doing. But it is required, for optimal vitality. So, we start somewhere.

throughout so much America; see the article The Importance of Clean, Pure Water in the August/ September 2015 issue of Raw Pet Digest for more information). My personality is such that when I make a decision, I tend to move quickly, so I made these transitions in a relatively short amount of time, but I still did them step by step. It was too much to try and do all at once. Another woman that I know and respect told me recently that she started by removing pesticides from her dogs? environment. She then addressed the food and the rest of it. Again, it was done in stages, at a pace that she was comfortable with and I myself started with changing the diet. able to sustain. Once I was comfortable with that, I My point is that, when it comes to changing started turning my attention to how you?ve been doing something, no matter eliminating the toxins. We already had a how excited you are about it, it can be decent exercise routine, but I also overwhelming. We?ve all been there, whether addressed the water (making sure that it be about our pet?s lifestyle or something they got clean, pure, filtered water, so I else. It?s fine to take your time when wasn?t exposing them to the chemicals changing everything? do things as you can do routinely introduced to tap water them, and eventually you?ll get there. If you need help, help is available. For example, if you?re looking for help with switching your pet to a diet that?s appropriate for their particular species, you can find a certified animal naturopath to assist (go to the American Council of Animal Naturopathy's website for a list of certified naturopaths). If you?re looking for help removing toxins from your home, you can find lots of great alternatives on the internet, or talk to a certified animal naturopath. You can also just start making the changes yourself, one at a time, as you are able. I don?t know anyone who has changed every single thing in a single day. Obviously, the impact you have Knox, an English Mastiff. Photo credit: Jennifer Lee

will depend on how quickly you start your pet on a regimen designed for optimal wellness, but doing something? anything? will help. What?s truly important, as Bob Marley says, is that you start somewhere. It tends to have a snowball effect, because once you

gain confidence, you tend to move at a faster pace. But what?s truly important isn?t the pace at which you move, it?s that you?re moving at all. So start somewhere? start anywhere. Your pet will be all the better for it, and as you make more and more changes, they will thrive. -By Kristin Clark

Dexter and Daisy, Bengal cats. Photo credit: Jamie and Allen Reitz

MASSAGETHERAPYFORANIMALS Editor's note: This article by Nick Scott (co-founder of the Ojai School of Canine Massage) discusses a great technique to help you relieve your dog's pain and discomfort using trigger point therapy. If you want to learn other massage techniques, they offer a great DVD about massage therapy. See the Advertisements section for more information. For the animal caretaker, petting their pets has become synonymous with pet massage. While petting is a form of massage for animals, massage therapy done by a professional is much different. There are many types of massage modalities. Most of the massage modalities that are used to treat humans have been adapted to working with animals. Each modality of massage has a set of effects on the various systems of the body. Some massage modalities work on the energy systems of the body. Acupressure massage, for example, works with the energy channels and points along the energy channels. The aim of acupressure is to restore balance to the various organ systems of the body through various massage methods. A list of the various acupressure massage strokes and their actions can be found here.

Note that a professional massage therapist who specializes in acupressure should be skilled in the theory of traditional Chinese veterinary methods and would need to master all of these massage methods. Trigger point t herapy The purpose of writing this article is to give you, the animal caretaker, a simple massage method that will reduce and hopefully eliminate pain when your animal companion is experiencing discomfort. One of the most effective massage techniques for eliminating pain is trigger point therapy. A trigger point is a hypersensitive

A dog getting a massage. Photo credit: Nick Scott

area in a muscle, tendon, organ, or bone that, when stimulated, refers pain to a distant area. When activated, trigger points will cause radiating pain. Trigger points develop when a muscle, bone, tendon, or organ has been damaged. The damage could come from an external event such as surgery or an accident. It could also have been triggered by internal events such as repetitive stress or overuse of the tissues involved. Most animals, as do humans, develop trigger points which cause pain as they get older. How can we find these trigger points so that we can use a simple massage technique to eliminate them? Trigger points can be found by lightly stroking the body while remaining aware of what you are feeling with your fingertips and palms. You will be looking for one or more of the

following signs: -

Abnormal heat in an area Hypersensitivity to touch in the area Muscle twitching Abnormal coldness Hardened muscles Ropey muscles Pulsing spots Swollen tissue

Abnormal heat will be present when the muscle is in spasm. As the muscle fibers overwork, metabolic waste will build up and this waste will fill the overloaded space between the muscle tissues. Swelling in the muscle tissues will be present, and heat will arise from the increased metabolic activity. If overuse of the muscle becomes chronic, the swelling in the area will stimulate pain receptors in that area. These pain signals will set up a

Massaging a dog. Photo credit: Nick Scott King, an American Bully, enjoying a raw meaty bone. Photo credit: Kim Bloomer

pain-spasm cycle that will continue until the cause of the pain is eliminated. While examining the animal they may try to ?nose? you away from the area, pull away from the approaching touch, or look at you to let you know you are approaching a painful spot. When the local blood circulation is overwhelmed, metabolic waste from the cellular metabolism will build up and the tissue will become hardened. Over a period of time the tissue will become dehydrated as the local blood circulation is impeded. The tissues will now feel stringy or ropey, much like beef jerky. In the beginning of the development of the trigger point, the area will pulse and feel hot and swollen. As the trigger point becomes increasingly chronic, the tissue might lose blood circulation and will feel empty, cold, hardened, and ropey. A scientific hypothesis of trigger points can be viewed at this link. Fortunately for us, the method for eliminating trigger points is easy to master. We can use a method called ischemic compression. Ischemia means lack of blood. Ischemic compression is done with our thumbs or a fingertip. We can do ischemic compression everywhere on the body except for areas where the nerves are close to the bones and have no muscle overlaying them. These areas are on the inside of the legs and run from the knee and elbow to the body on both sets of limbs. You can find these lines on yourself by tracing the empty spaces between the muscles on the upper parts of the limbs.

The nerves are very close to the knee and the elbow so don?t press hard in these areas. If you are not confident with your palpation skills and not sure if you are on a trigger point, you can cover every square inch of the muscle that you think is in pain. Some signs of pain to look for are: -

Limping or reluctance to place weight on a joint Head hanging down to redistribute weight off of a painful hip or painful hind limbs Gnawing or scratching a painful area a lot to diffuse the pain Refusing to let you touch the painful area or displaying a withdrawal response.

How t o do t rigger point t herapy Find a comfortable place for you and your animal companion to do the massage. Small animals can be massaged on your lap. Larger animals can be massaged on their, or your, bed. Make sure you have plenty of room to change your position as you move around the animal while massaging them. Take a few deep breaths to center yourself. This will also encourage the animal to take a deep breath with you. Scan the body with a light, slow, petting touch and look for the signs of pain or trigger point activity. After you have scanned the entire body, place your thumb tip over the area you want to massage and slowly sink into the tissue. Do not press too hard or too quickly. If you feel that you have to press hard, stop and back up a little. Hold the pressure for 5?10 seconds 17

and slowly release. You might feel the point you are pressing on twitch and spasm. If this happens, maintain the pressure until the spasm has stopped. Slowly glide along the muscle to the next spot. It is a good idea to slightly overlap spots with your pressure. You will be pressing the muscle against the underlying bone. This will shut off the blood supply to the area and spread the muscle cells away from each other. Shutting off the blood supply will also create a back pressure in the local arterial vessels. As you slowly release the pressure, blood will rush back into the local tissues. This will supply heat to the tissues as well. Backed-up waste products will be able to be removed by the venous return vessels because you

A small dog getting a massage. Photo credit: Nick Scott

have created more space between the tissues. You will also have broken down the clumped-up metabolic waste. The tissue will feel softer and more fluid and will be reddened due to the increased blood circulation. Venous and lymph drainage will improve and the pressure on the nervous system pain receptors will be reduced. It is hard to convey through words what a massage stroke looks like, so I have shared a video with you (on the next page) that should help you to learn how to apply this method of massage to your animal companion. You can apply this method all over the body in a one-hour session, or take 5?10 minutes to work on one painful area. You should wait for a few days to apply this method again over the same area. Give the body a chance to rest and heal up after the treatment. Typically humans say that the area that has been massaged or worked on feels a little achy and tender the next day, but by day two the pain and tenderness is gone and they feel a big reduction in pain. Remember that Rome was not built in a day. Pain often takes years to develop, so be patient but persistent when massaging your animal companion. If the animal moves away from the treatment, then this method of massage might not be the best type of massage for them. Try to explore and find out what works for them. Many older dogs benefit from trigger point therapy, but some will not be able to 18

tolerate the pressure. Take little steps with older dogs. Do not ?overtreat? them! Like you, the animal will have a preference of pressure and methods of touch. Here are some modalities of massage that work well with dogs: -

TTouch Myofascial Release Watsu Acupressure Reiki Touch for Health Jin Shin Do Shiatsu Orthobionomy Therapeutic Stretching

Here is a short video on how to do trigger point massage. Have fun massaging your animal companion. You will find that the strength of your bond will become stronger with massage. Your sensitivity will increase. Your mind will become more peaceful as you spread your focus and awareness from yourself onto another living being. Joy and compassion will naturally arise within your heart. -By Nick Scott Nick is the co-founder and instructor at the Ojai School of Canine Massage. He graduated in 1986 from Desert Institute of the Healing Arts, one of the premier massage schools in the nation. In 2001, he designed 200 hours of California BPPE-approved small animal massage programming and began training animal massage therapists to become professional animal massage therapists.

Motley relaxing in one of his favorite chairs. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

THEBREAKINGPOINT

Trees in winter. Photo credit: Milton Clark

Over the past few years, many people have asked me why they should switch their dog or cat to a species-appropriate diet when their pet seems healthy. No diseases, no skin allergies, no lethargy? everything seems good. So why change? Granted, when we?re in the habit of scooping some kibble into a bowl and then moving on, it may seem foolish to go through the transition process and upend the whole routine when everything appears fine on the surface. It?s not as convenient as just doing what we?ve been doing all along, and we often wonder if it's really that important. When I have conversations about this with people (who, by and large, have their pet's

A coyote. Photo credit: Milton Clark

best interests in mind, but are confused about what ?the best? really is), I often share with them the idea of the ?breaking point.? Each dog or cat has what I?ve come to think of as the ?breaking point.? Think of a rubber band? it will stretch and stretch, but eventually, it will snap. Perhaps it has been stretched too far, or perhaps it was just stretched regularly over a long period of time. It?s different for every rubber band, but all of them have a point where they will snap and break. It?s the same for our pets. We can?t know, just by looking at them, what their particular breaking point is. Will it come after many years of eating processed food? Or will it happen much sooner, while they?re still in what should be the prime of life?

The problem is that, both with rubber bands and our pets, by the time the damage shows on the outside, the inside is already adversely affected. By the time the rubber band snaps, it?s already been made weaker by microscopic tears and stretches that we don?t notice until it snaps completely. Similarly, by the time the hot spots appear on your dog, or your cat gets kidney disease, or diabetes crops up, or your pet?s teeth show a buildup of plaque and tartar, the internal damage has already made an impact. As we have discussed before in Raw Pet Digest, processed pet food is not a source of nutrition for your dog or cat. Between the ingredients used and the processing itself, it actually becomes a source of toxicity, no matter how much it cost or how ?premium? it claims to be. Processed pet food is often cooked, which renders the protein unusable (or significantly less usable) by

your pet?s body. Think of it this way: imagine that you are planning to build a wall, and you have all the blocks laid out, ready to stack up and form the wall. Then, imagine that someone comes along and smashes the blocks with a sledgehammer. The blocks are still there, but not in any form that will allow you to build the wall, and even if you manage to piece the blocks back together, they are weak and won?t provide any real strength or support to the structure. Because the blocks are broken and smashed, you isolate them and put them aside, and eventually you throw them away. The same thing happens with amino acids that have had their bonds destroyed in the cooking process. The body can?t use them to form strong proteins, so it isolates them and sets them aside. However, if they just sit in the body they become a source of toxicity, so they must be dealt with: the body must

Enzo, an Alaskan Malamute. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

eliminate them. The problem comes when we continually flood our pets? bodies with these toxic and fundamentally unusable proteins (and this is part of the reason why, no matter what the marketing departments at pet food companies tell you, no processed food will ever be a source of health for your pet). Their systems go into overdrive to shed out the toxins that their bodies are encountering on an almost-constant basis. Raw, species-appropriate diets, however, are highly usable by your pet. Protein sources like rabbit, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, beef, egg, and sardines? all readily available protein sources? are packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin B (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (Folate and Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, calcium, copper, iodine, iron,

Midge, a Redbone Coonhound; Lycan, a Belgian Malinois;

magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc. These vitamins and minerals support and promote a myriad of essential functions in your pet?s body. Things like probiotics, enzymes, chondroitin, and glucosamine are found in raw, species-appropriate foods, such as raw green tripe, chicken, and eggs. Your dog or cat is able to use the nutrients in species-appropriate foods, and because the foods are raw, synthetic vitamins don?t have to be added (as they are to processed food) in an attempt to replace what was lost in the processing. Is it any wonder that pets fed a processed diet eventually reach a point where their bodies are so overloaded with toxins and starved for essential bioavailable nutrients that they begin to present with issues that get progressively worse, until eventually their bodies shut down altogether? Pets that are fed a species-appropriate diet, on the other hand, are able to pull every bit of nutrition out of their food possible, and they aren't flooded with more toxins. I sometimes think of pets fed a processed food diet as taking two steps backward for every step they take forward. Eventually, it catches up to them. So, whether your pet appears healthy on the outside or not, if they are being fed a processed food diet, they aren?t in optimal balance. Think about when you get a cold or the flu. You were actually sick before you presented with full-blown symptoms, it just took a while to catch up to you.

and Merlin, an American Pit Bull Terrier, enjoying the great outdoors. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

Same for our pets. The good news? This is absolutely something we can influence and control by making appropriate choices when it comes to their nutrition. If you?re hesitating about switching your pet to a species-appropriate raw food diet because you feel like they are healthy and it seems inconvenient to start doing something different when there doesn?t seem to be any cause, I would invite you to look more closely at whether or not your pet is truly healthy. Look at their coat, and their eyes, and their body condition. Take a look at their teeth and smell their breath. Notice whether they have an odor or not. Pay attention to their

poop? the smell, the amount, the consistency. Are they hyperactive, or are they lethargic? How mentally present and alert are they? If they?re a bit older (7, 8, 9? even 10 or 11!) do they seem like they?re in their prime still, or are they slowing down? All of these are indicators of their overall health, and worth paying attention to. The species-appropriate diet supports your pet so that it can live an optimal life. It?s never too late to start, and if you have been feeding kibble, it is better to start as soon as possible, before the little issues that you can?t see snowball and become big? and maybe even insurmountable? issues. -By Kristin Clark

Dexter and Daisy, Bengal cats, playing. Photo credit: Jamie and Allen Reitz

MYTRUE JOY

Truejoyresultswhenwe becomeawareof our connectednesstoeverything. - Paul Pearsall

Beau t if u l plan t s an d f low er s. Ph ot o cr edit : M ilt on Clar k

This is our third issue with a specific appreciation page, and I am loving it! While slightly different each time, this page is, in my opinion, one of the most important in Raw Pet Digest. I hope that it inspires you to take a moment to think about what and who you are grateful for in your own life. For me, it?s a wonderful reminder to take some time and really focus on all the people and things in my life for which I am grateful. It is a time to pause, even when things are hectic, and remember the connection that we share with each other, with our pets, and with every living thing on the earth. As Paul Pearsall said, ?True joy results when we become aware of our connectedness to everything.? And how true that is, for when we recognize our connection with everything, we realize that we are never alone. Jack Kornfield once said that, ?Nirvana manifests as ease, as love, as connectedness, as generosity, as clarity, as unshakable freedom.?

Wild flowers in a field. Photo credit: Milton Clark

When we understand that we are connected, we can experience a more profound love for all other life, and this is true bliss. Albert Schweitzer said, ?At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.? In this article, I would like to give a special thanks to the people who have helped me keep my light bright amidst all the intensity of the past few months. In particular, Adam Gilbert, Tracy Covington, Katrina Gallegos, Kelly Ablard, DeShea Rushing, Mardi Linane, Milton Clark, Cindy Grayson, Devin Nelson, Peg Clark, Carrie Davis, Kim Bloomer, Chiara Marrapodi, and Jeannie Thomason have helped me find laughter, strength, and joy despite feeling stressed and overwhelmed. And, my pets? Barkley, Cleo, Elle, Gryphon, and Motley? have all been there for me, every day, with unconditional love. They remind me why I do what I do and help me stay joyful as I move along this new path. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all of you. Your willingness to give your pet the best life possible fills me with joy. I feel so much gratitude to be part of your journey, and it is my sincere hope that the information you find in Raw Pet Digest gives you practical information about how to do that, and also inspires you to continue to search for ways to improve your pet?s life (and your own) in a natural, holistic way. -By Kristin Clark 26

ESSENTIALOILSTOHAVEONHAND In the June/ July 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest, we talked a bit about using herbs for pets. In this issue, as part of our ongoing exploration of natural alternatives to conventional ?treatments,? I want to take a look at a few essential oils that can be very useful to keep on hand. We covered essential oils in some detail in the June/ July 2015 issue of Raw Pet Digest, but as a quick refresher, remember that essential oils are oils that are distilled from the liquids found in all parts of a plant, not just the flowers. It also includes the leaves, stems, roots, seeds, bark, and so on. Also? and this is very

Wildflowers. Photo credit: Milton Clark

important to keep in mind? remember that essential oils do not, in and of themselves, heal anything. We have a tendency to view things in this day and age from an allopathic, or conventional, perspective. We view the suppression of symptoms as ?healing.? So, if you get sick and go to a doctor, frequently they prescribe some sort of ?treatment? to address your symptoms, rather than guiding you in how to address the root cause of the issue and bring yourself back into balance. Essential oils, though, don?t work like this. As I?ve mentioned before, you wouldn?t, for example, use lavender oil to ?heal? your dog?s allergy symptoms. What you could do, however, is use it in conjunction with a

species-appropriate raw food diet, supplements, plenty of exercise, clean water, and sunshine, to calm your dog?s overactive immune system. This approach addresses the root cause of the symptoms? the overactive immune system? and once the root cause is addressed, the symptoms disappear. This is a very important, albeit subtle, distinction. The oil itself does not act like a pill, and it?s not appropriate to use it with the mindset of ?a pill for every ill.? It acts with the body to help rebalance the immune system and promote vitality and wellness. Essential Oils in Animal Care, by Sarah Reagan, Kim Bloomer, and Jeanette Thomason, is an excellent reference for anyone who wants to use essential oils for their pet, be it a dog, cat, horse, or bird. In the book, the authors point out that essential oils have the ?capability to enhance, support, boost, and improve the body?s own natural defenses so that it can heal itself.? This is a fundamental truth in natural health? only the body possesses the ability to heal itself and maintain that health. In our understanding of holistic health, we know that all parts must function together to achieve health and balance. This means that the physical, mental, and emotional aspects must all be healthy and balanced. When we use essential oils, this becomes important even in such subtle ways as remembering that our intention plays a significant role in the efficacy of the treatment. When using essential oils with your pets, remember to focus on vitality and balance rather than, for example, fighting the disease or illness. The so-called disease or illness is simply the body?s way of ridding itself of toxins, and is a

sign that something is out of balance. It is not something to fight against; actually, when you view it this way, your pet may pick up on your negative emotions, which can depress their immune system and make it more difficult for the oil to do its work and for the body to heal itself. When you use essential oils, make sure that they are pure, therapeutic grade, and that they don?t possess any fillers. I use Young Living oils exclusively in my house and with my pets. While Young Living is not the only essential oil company out there, they are at the forefront of the industry and provide exceptional quality oils. They are able to do this through their ?Seed to Seal? guarantee: they control the entire process and ensure that their oils are all pure and organic. Young Living owns its own farms, and the land has never been contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals. They use certified organic seeds. They harvest the plants when the oil yield for that plant is highest. They also own their own distilleries, which means that they control the distilling process and can ensure that the best practices of distilling are followed. They also test each batch of oil and will reject any batch that does not meet quality control standards. In this article, I want to talk about a couple of oils that you might find useful to have on hand for a variety of situations. The first oil I want to discuss is Cistus. 28

Cist us Cistus, also known as Labdanum and Rock Rose, is steam distilled from the leaves and branches of the Cistus plant. It is thought to have antiviral, antibacterial, antihemorrhagic, and

Cistsus flowers. ÂŠ Inavanhateren | Dreamstime.com

anti-inflammatory properties, as well as helping to spark the immune system and support the sympathetic nervous system. The scent of cistus has been known to be calming, but at the same time it can lift spirits. The scent can be strong, so you may want to distill it if you decide to use it. In general, I don?t tend to diffuse cistus, but I do use it in cases where I need to help support the body if there is a bit of bleeding. For example, one of our dogs, Motley, was running, caught his foot in something, and ripped one of his toenails off. Because it was bleeding and I wanted to make sure that his body had a bit of extra support while dealing with that

trauma, I used cistus essential oil on the affected toe. I dropped a drop or two on the area where his toenail had been from a height of about 6 inches away. It didn?t cause him any discomfort that I could see (unlike something like hydrogen peroxide would have), and it gave his body some extra support to help stop the bleeding and support the cell regeneration. In a relatively short period of time, his toenail grew back, looking completely normal. I didn?t worry if he licked the cistus oil, nor did I try to manually rub it into the area. I simply dropped a drop or two on his toe every day or so for a bit to give his body and immune system a little extra support. I have also used it as additional support if a nail is cut too close and the quick bleeds. Lemon I decided to include lemon essential oil in this discussion because it is such a versatile oil. It is an antiseptic, so it can be incredibly beneficial if you are looking for natural alternatives to toxic cleaning products. In addition to being incredibly versatile when it comes to cleaning, researchers have studied it for its antitumoral properties (it?s between 59% and 73% limonene, which has been studied as a way to combat tumor growth). It can also help to improve microcirculation, is believed to help increase white blood cells, and may help to increase thought clarity when 29

inhaled. It has been used extensively in many cultures when circulatory problems, parasites, digestive issues, and urinary tract infections are present. I frequently diffuse or inhale lemon because the scent is so pleasing. It is a citrus oil, so do your research and use caution if using it around cats. Interestingly, lemon essential oil is made by cold pressing the rind. According to Essential Oils Desk Reference (6th edition), it takes approximately 3,000 lemons to make one kilogram (approximately 2.2 pounds) of oil.

Lemons. ÂŠ Viorel Dudau | Dreamstime.com

Myrrh Myrrh essential oil is steam distilled from the gum/ resin of the Commiphora myrrh tree. It has been used to support the body when diabetes, fungal infections, tooth and gum infections, skin conditions, and so on are present. I have used it as a single oil as well as in blends. Some people have noted that it seems to

dissuade fleas and ticks, which is another benefit if you?re going to be in a place where they?re a problem and you?re concerned about your pet attracting any. It can assist the body in rebalancing when hot spots are present, which can make it especially helpful for animals that are prone to such (bearing in mind, of course, that the oil should be used in conjunction with the proper regimen as a boost to the body?s own internal abilities to heal? the oil can?t heal anything in and of itself).

Myrrh tree. ÂŠ Vladimir Melnik | Dreamstime.com

These are just a few of the oils that I have found very helpful to keep on hand. We will look at other oils in further issues of Raw Pet Digest, to give you more information about natural alternatives you can use when looking to promote optimal vitality in your pet. -By Kristin Clark

THEHEIMLICHMANEUVER ANDYOURDOG

Bar k ley en joyin g t h e su n sh in e in t h e back yar d. Ph ot o cr edit : Adam Gilber t

It?s scary to think about, but sometimes dogs choke on things. When that occurs, it?s important to know what to do. Knowledge allows you to stay calm in an emergency and do what is necessary to help your dog. If your dog starts choking or has difficulty breathing, do the following basic steps: -

Take a secure hold of the dog and open its mouth and look at the back of its throat. If you can see the object causing the choking, remove it. Preferably, have a helper assist you in holding the dog?s mouth open while you remove the object. That way you?ll have a better view into the dog?s throat and can remove the object rather than accidentally pushing it further down the throat. If you can?t see the object or it?s blocking the airway, don?t try to pull the object out. With the dog?s forelegs planted on the ground, hold his hind legs in the air with his head hanging down. If you have a small dog, pick him up and hold him by the hips with his head handing down. Sometimes, this technique will simply cause the object to drop out. Otherwise, you will have to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. Although the Heimlich Maneuver can be performed with the dog lying sideways or in a standing position, I?d recommend the latter one as it?s more effective. The steps are very similar for either method.

1. With your dog standing, elevate his hind legs slightly and hold them between your knees or shins. 2. Place one hand just below the last rib and another hand on his back. Press the stomach in one fluid motion. Squeeze about 4 to 5 times rapidly or until the object is coughed out. 3. Double-check if the object is completely dislodged. 4. If there is still part of the object jammed inside his throat, strike between his shoulder blades sharply with an open palm and repeat step 2. If the dog is a toy breed or small enough, you may pick up the dog and hold its back against your stomach with his or her head up and feet hanging down. Then put your fist under their ribcage, feeling for the little hollow area just under the ribs. Covering your fist with your other hand, push inward and upward quickly in a strong thrusting fashion 3 to 5 times and then check the dog's mouth for the object. If the object does not come up and your dog is no longer breathing, you will have to perform artificial respiration while having someone drive you and your dog to a veterinarian, IMMEDIATELY. -By Dr. Jeannie Thomason These instructions, and the image on the next page, are reprinted with permission from Dr. Jeannie Thomason.

WHATDOWEREALLYMEANBYFIX?

Motley, a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno mix. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

I recently saw a Facebook post about a dog with hot spots. The person who wrote the post was bemoaning the fact that her dog had hot spots again, but ended on what she undoubtedly thought was an optimistic note. ?No need to worry!?, she said. ?We took her [the dog] back to the

vet, and it?s nothing that antibiotics and cream can?t fix!? When I saw that, it made me pause for a minute. She was talking about her dog's chronic hot spots, and then she said that antibiotics and cream would fix the issue.

Merriam-Webster.com gives the simple definition of ?fix? as: -

to make (something) whole or able to work properly again: to repair (something) to deal with or correct (a problem)

But in this case, is that what the antibiotics and creams are doing? I think it's so important to explore this, because I find that, as a society, we often see a problem in our pets (or even ourselves, but let?s just stick with the pets for this one) and we attempt to ?fix? the problem by making the symptoms go away. Dog has hot spot. Vet prescribes antibiotics and cream. Hot spot disappears. Dog is fixed. Or is it? So much of what we believe is based on our five senses? what we can touch, taste, see, smell, and hear. Our senses are based in the reptilian brain, and we rely on them to give us information about our environment and the world around us. We?ve evolved to understand our environment based on what we can see, or touch, or hear? so if we no longer see a hot spot, then our five senses and our reptilian brain tell us that the problem must be fixed. No symptom = no problem, and no problem = health. There?s a flaw in this logic, though, and it becomes apparent when we step back and look at the cycle that so many of our pets undergo, almost as a matter of routine. Let?s stay with the hot spot example. To fix the hot spot, the dog is given antibiotics and some sort of cream.

The antibiotics that are prescribed are broad-spectrum, which means they kill all the bacteria? "good" and "bad"? indiscriminately. Unfortunately, as just noted, this really does include the ?good? bacteria. However, bacteria don?t come back into the system at equal rates, and in fact, the ?bad? bacteria come back much more quickly than the good. In fact, the good often can?t gain a foothold because they are outcompeted by the bad. So, now we have an imbalance. And the cream? It's often only palliative, which means that perhaps it helps to suppress the itching or the pain, but it doesn?t get at the root of what was causing the hot spot. Imbalances occur for a reason. Those reasons can be varied, but they don?t randomly appear. There is a cause and an effect. So, in the case of our dog with the hot spot (or dogs with diabetes, or poor oral health, or weight problems, or pancreatitis, or skin allergies, or cancer, or any of a myriad of other issues that we see in our dogs every single day), there was a reason that the issue occurred? a cause. By giving the antibiotics, are we addressing that cause? Does wiping out all the bacteria actually address that root cause? Because if the cause of hot spots was normal bacteria, then every single dog would have hot spots, because every single dog has bacteria. No? what it boils down to is that there is an imbalance somewhere. Perhaps there are too many ?bad? bacteria. But in that case, does introducing antibiotics? which leads to more imbalances because the ?bad? bacteria 35

come back faster than the ?good? and edge the good out? address the root cause, or exacerbate it? If it truly fixed the issue, then once a dog got hot spots and was given antibiotics and a cream, they would never experience another hot spot again. But that?s generally not the case. As the Facebook post said, the dog had hot spots ?again,? and they had to take her back to the vet. She?s been to the vet before, and she?s been for this same reason. So clearly, when we compare the results against our dictionary definition of fix, we see that the so-called ?fix? provided by the cream and the antibiotic didn?t repair the issue, correct the problem, or make the body able to work properly again. So how is it a fix? I know the particular dog in our example, and while not fed kibble, she is fed a diet that consists of lots of vegetables and fruits, raw and cooked meat, a very small amount of bone, and sometimes even rice. She receives monthly doses of flea/ tick preventives, gets a monthly heartworm preventive, and is vaccinated regularly. The dog?s body is in a state of imbalance. Vegetables, fruits, and rice are not appropriate for a carnivore. They are not designed to eat a diet of cooked meat, and they certainly shouldn?t be given cooked bones. Couple all of that with the fact that the dog regularly has poison (in the form of the preventives) applied topically and internally, and is vaccinated regularly (and therefore has to deal with an unnatural assault upon the immune system, along with the toxic

additions to the vaccine themselves), and you see that the hot spots are a sign that the body is completely out of balance. The skin is an eliminative organ, and the hot spots are a sign that the body is trying to eliminate toxins. The skin is erupting with toxins, but the owner's answer? the ?fix?? is to throw the system out of balance even more by wiping out all the bacteria, including the beneficial bacteria, throughout the body. When I first saw that post, I started thinking about what we now mean when we say that a particular medication fixed our dog. For so many people, as I said before, it means that the symptoms were, for the time being, suppressed. However, if you are seeking true and optimal wellness, a fix actually means that the root cause was addressed. The symptoms go away because there?s no longer anything causing them, and the body remains in a state of balance. To truly address the hot spots, then, the body must be allowed to rid itself of the toxins without having more introduced. That means that the diet must be cleaned up. It should be

Grubat, a Maine Coon cat, in his cat tree. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

appropriate for a carnivore. The constant barrage of poisons, both internal and external, must stop. The body must be given a chance to move through the detox, or healing response, without additional conventional ?treatments? that would throw it out of balance more. And the good bacteria must be supported with probiotics so that they can once again thrive and keep the ?bad? bacteria balanced (which, not incidentally, means that they no longer cause problems and are no longer ?bad?). That is what it takes to truly ?fix? the issue. This is true for all of the issues that we see in our pets today. Sometimes it only takes a few small tweaks to help the body come back into balance and thereby remove the root cause of the issue. Sometimes it requires a complete overhaul. But no matter what, the true solution is not to suppress the symptoms. Just because the symptoms go away doesn?t mean that the issue is gone, and if the symptoms come back, or other issues crop up, this becomes very clear. I live in an area that is populated with rattlesnakes. A family friend of mine that has horses and rides all over the hills around here (and who I have ridden with often) recently told me that more and more, she?s coming

across rattlesnakes that don?t rattle. While she didn?t know why this was, her best guess was that there are so many people around here who kill rattlesnakes that rattle. When the snakes are quiet, people don?t notice them as readily, and therefore they don?t kill them. The problem, of course, is that even though the snake doesn?t rattle, it?s still there, and it?s still dangerous, but unfortunately, now it doesn?t give a warning. The same thing is true of the health issues we see in our pets. When the body gives a warning sign that something is out of balance? like hot spots? and we suppress those symptoms, the issue isn?t gone. It may have gotten quiet, like the rattlesnakes that my friend comes across these days, but it can still have a hugely negative impact. I for one would much rather know when the body is out of balance while there?s still time to fix it, rather than having a serious issue strike suddenly with no warning, like a rattlesnake that doesn?t rattle before it lashes out. I?d rather assist the body in truly fixing the problem, and to do that, I use symptoms as road maps to help determine whether the body is in true and optimal balance. Ultimately, when it comes to the health of your pet, ask yourself whether you are truly fixing the problem, or just suppressing it until it becomes worse? -By Kristin Clark 37

SPOTLIGHTONHEALTH:WOLFCREEKRANCH In this issue?s Spotlight on Health, it is my absolute delight to introduce you to Wolf Creek Ranch. Wolf Creek Ranch has natural organic health care products, for pets, people, and plants. One of the reasons we decided to highlight Wolf Creek Ranch in this issue is because, as a company, they follow naturopathic principles in supporting animals, people, and plants in achieving and maintaining maximum vitality. By that, I mean that they promote species-appropriate nutrition, exercise, plenty of sunshine and fresh air, and of course lots of love. I am really excited to feature them, especially since so many of you are interested in natural alternatives to conventional treatments. Wolf Creek Ranch is an incredible resource for finding those types of products, and their wide selection makes it easier to find everything you might need, while being assured of reliability and high quality. The people at Wolf Creek Ranch understand that true, optimal health can only come from supporting the whole individual, body/ mind/ spirit. They know that the conventional approaches to caring for our animals, ourselves, and the planet fall far short when it comes to true vitality, because all they do is suppress symptoms, often while simultaneously introducing toxicity into the body. These conventional

approaches do not support the immune system or help the body maintain or achieve harmony, and so they can never be more than Band-Aids to whatever issue is presenting as a sign that something is out of balance. Wolf Creek Ranch offers high-quality products, all in one place, that are designed to lend additional support wherever needed. These products, of course, don?t heal the body, but they can support the body in healing itself. One product I was particularly interested in discussing with the founder and president of Wolf Creek Ranch was CBD oil (also

Barkley, a Border Collie mix. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

called hemp oil by some manufacturers). CBD oil is something we will be exploring more in a future issue, but I was particularly interested in talking about it with her because I recently read an article in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (JAHVMA) that said that many pet owners (both dog and cat owners) found that CBD oil helped their pets with pain, anxiety, sleep, and inflammation, among other things. Wolf Creek Ranch offers Bluebird Botanicals, a high-quality, human-grade version of hemp oil. The founder told me that she and her staff have used it personally as a support for their animals that are experiencing pain or anxiety, with great success, and their customers are also reporting on its benefits. The founder of Wolf Creek Ranch also said that Paxxin is a wonderful product that can offer incredible support for puppies that are going through parvo. An organic herbal blend, Paxxin contains peppermint, spearmint, chamomile flowers, plantain leaf, echinacea, colloidal silver, rose hips, garlic, goldenseal root, Oregon grape root, hibiscus flowers, yarrow, alcohol, and distilled water. These herbs help spark the immune system, ease digestive upset, and perk up the appetite. Paxxin can also be helpful for puppies that have been exposed to parvo but aren?t showing symptoms.

Remember, it?s not about symptom suppression, but rather about assisting the body with addressing the root cause, so if a puppy has been exposed, it?s a good idea to support the immune system however possible. Some people have also reported that it helps with distemper, giardia, vomiting, corona virus, and more. When I asked her about other products that she or her customers have found especially helpful and effective, she also mentioned Heartworm Free and Flea Free. Heartworm Free is a great example of a natural alternative to conventional ?treatments?? in this case, the harsh, conventional treatment for heartworms. Heartworm Free kills heartworms, but it does it slowly, which gives the immune system a chance to safely eliminate heartworms from the body. It can also assist with heartworm prevention, eliminating the need for toxic, conventional heartworm ?preventives.? In fact, 100% of the dogs that were used in a 4-year study of Heartworm Free?s ability to aid the body in resisting heartworms tested negative every single month for heartworm. Like Paxxin, it is an organic herbal remedy. Flea Free is a dietary supplement that can be added to food and water, and helps to protect against all types of blood-sucking insects. This can be especially helpful if you have an animal that you are in the process of 39

transitioning to a species-appropriate diet, or one that needs a bit of extra immune system support. It?s also helpful if you live in an area where there are lots of fleas and other blood-sucking insects. Because it doesn?t contain any chemicals, preservatives, or artificial flavorings, it is safe to give dogs and cats (unlike the conventional flea and tick preventives). Along with these great products, you can also get colloidal silver, diatomaceous earth, and colostrum, along with things that support animals that are experiencing kidney disease, urinary tract infections, ear infections, kennel cough, arthritis, inflammation, and much more. Remember, while these issues all speak to something being out of balance, if you have addressed the regimen (in other words, you are

feeding an appropriate diet; giving clean, pure water; and making sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and adequate fresh air, sunshine, and rest) and the issues are still there, it often means that the immune system needs a bit of extra support. The products at Wolf Creek Ranch provide this type of support for a wide variety of issues. As I mentioned, I am so excited to share Wolf Creek Ranch with those of you that may not have heard of them. You can find them at www.wolfcreekranch.net. I would suggest that you take some time to explore the site and see all that they have to offer. As you continue to move along the journey of helping your pet, and yourself, thrive and live an optimal life, you may find that their products are a great way to assist in that.

Daiquiri the kitten lounging on her cat tree bed. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

-By Kristin Clark

THELANGUAGESOFLOVE: LESSONSFROMMYDOG Elle, a Lhasa Apso mix. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

One of the things I love most about animals is that every single one of them has the capacity to teach us something. In this issue, I want to talk about one of the lessons that our wonderful dog Elle has taught me. Elle, a 4-year-old Lhasa Apso mix, is one of those dogs that seems to always have a bounce in her step, a twinkle in her eye, and a smile in her heart. Most dogs I know are happy, but Elle takes it to another level (unless she's getting her picture taken? then she gets very, very serious). She has an incredible knack for finding the fun in any situation, and the look on her face when she?s inviting you to play a game always elicits a smile in return. Elle is a born peacekeeper, and is highly intuitive when it comes to sensing when someone? dog or human? is feeling a bit down. She always seems to know when a game will cheer someone up, or when quiet companionship is needed. She?s not what I would call a lap dog, but she has a tender way of being that at once comforts and soothes. My boyfriend, Adam, got Elle from a local shelter when she was 3 months old. He started taking her to the dog park, letting her explore and learn how to relate to dogs of all sizes, ages, and dispositions. She is one of the best socialized dogs I?ve ever seen, and many is the time that I?ve seen Elle at the dog park, leading a game of chase with so many dogs involved that it?s a blur. She is inclusive, and she seems to know instinctively how to draw dogs out of their shells. She hasn?t quite managed to

figure out how to get our cat, Gryphon, to play, but I am confident that she?ll crack the code someday. Elle leads by example, and that?s how she taught me a valuable lesson (one that I'm still learning). Two different situations will illustrate what I mean. After my dog Guenivere (Gwinnie) passed away, I was broken-hearted. Gwinnie was one of the most loving dogs I?ve ever known, and her loss left me reeling. One afternoon, several weeks after she was gone, I was sitting on the bed, feeling absolutely bereft. Gwinnie was the one who had always given me silent comfort when I was feeling lonely or sad, and now Gwinnie was gone, and her loss, along with the thought that I wouldn?t know that

Elle is one of the most observant and expressive dogs I've ever met. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

gentle, unconditional, loving companionship in quite that way again, was so hard to bear. Suddenly, I felt a gentle pressure against my leg. I looked down, and saw Elle leaning against my leg. She was, quite literally, leaning? she would have fallen over if I had moved my leg. She was gazing up at me and wagging her tail in a slow, steady rhythm. I reached my arm down, and she nuzzled her face into my hand. And she stayed there until I moved, her weight against my leg a tangible symbol that she would be by my side, supporting me, for as long as I needed. She was only a year and half or so at the time, and generally very high energy, but she knew instinctively that what I needed was gentle love, not a game, and she offered me that unconditionally. The gift she gave me that day was incredible. I have been fortunate enough to be able to witness firsthand how, with finesse and uncanny insight, she offers the gift of unconditional love to other creatures that need it. For example, when we first adopted

Barkley snuggling with Elle. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

Motley, he was suspicious of other dogs, and it was clear that he had never learned how to play. He would growl and snap if another dog came close, and if one touched him, he would erupt. The other dogs gave him a wide berth for the most part, but Elle took it upon herself to teach him that he could have friendships with other dogs. It started slowly? she would come up to him and then lay down so that he didn?t feel vulnerable (he?s shorter and lighter than she is). She got closer and closer, and would sometimes come up and play bow and then dash away. At first, he just stood there and growled, but eventually, he started to run after her. She would let him chase her, moving slower than her usual speed because at that point, he couldn?t keep up with her. When he caught her, she would fall down on the ground and roll over, tail wagging, with a big smile on her face. Once he got used to the concept of play chasing, she started to wrestle with him a bit, always being mindful of his limits. She refused to be put off by his posturing, but she never pushed him to the point where he actually felt cornered. Eventually, after a few months, the two of them were playing together daily, and Motley was able to start learning how to transfer those skills to other dogs. When he and Barkley started playing together, Elle would stay close by, watching. If it got rough, she would bounce in between the two of them in a playful way, defusing the situation, and then step back when they were calmer and let them play again. 43

I havebeenfortunateenoughtobeabletowitness firsthandhow,withfinesseanduncannyinsight, Elleoffersthegift of unconditional lovetoother creaturesthat needit. -KristinClark

It was skillful and amazing to witness, but it was no surprise. She?s an amazing dog. So what is the lesson for me in all of this? Elle taught me that tuning in to what another being is feeling, and understanding where they?re at, is absolutely imperative if you are going to reach them. She also taught me the value of paying attention to what others need. This sounds simple, but it?s so profound. How many of us do things for others because they?re things we want, or because we?ve been told that?s what we?re supposed to do? Gary Chapman wrote a book called The Five Love Languages, and it touches on this. We all have a primary ?love language,? and we tend to try to show our love to those around us using our primary love language. If, for example, our primary love language is gifts, we feel we?ve received love from another when they give us gifts. If the person we?re expressing love to, though, has a primary love language of words of affirmation, giving them gifts doesn?t have the same impact for them as it would for us. So many of us, though, default to showing our love based on our own love language, and then we are confused when it isn?t received in the depth or way we intended. Elle, though, doesn?t do that. She observes what the dog, or person, needs and wants, and then gives it to them. She was able to show Motley love, friendship, and inclusion in a pack through play in a way that he could receive. After Gwinnie died, she was able to give me comfort in exactly the way that I needed it most. If she weren?t aware of that, she probably would have

Elle. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

approached me, and the situation, much differently? perhaps with an invitation to play a game, which is her favorite thing to do. But she sensed that wasn?t what I needed, and she was able to selflessly give me what I needed. Same with Motley. She restrained her own normal way of playing until he was able to understand that she was a friend and could accept full play. I?ve seen her do this countless times with other dogs and people? watching them, gauging what they need, and then providing that to the best of her ability. Elle has taught me, and continues to show me, how to be better. She embodies a way to really touch those around us in a way that?s more about them than ourselves. She has an empathy that is 45

rare and wonderful, and I am inspired each day by her. She is at my feet right now as I write this, quietly sleeping. I know that if I needed her and woke her up, she would immediately assess the situation and move to give me

whatever she thought I needed. She epitomizes selflessness and unconditional love. I treasure her, and each day, I strive to be that much more like her.

Elle out on the deck, getting ready to help us repot several plants. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

-By Kristin Clark