Pghpetconnections September 2013

September 2013 • Vol. 2, Issue 1

PetConnections MagazinePittsburgh

September 2013 • Vol. 2, Issue 1

The Human-Animal BondOur Pets AsSpiritual Teachers?Page 4

Family House Polo MatchPage 8

The Body Can Heal ItselfPage 14

Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area

1stanniversary

PPC Celebrates itsFirst Year of Honoring the

Human-Animal Bond

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Take One!

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www.pghpetconnections.com 1September 2013

What’s going on at BCAH…

Wellness Wednesdays:At BelaCoop Animal Hospital your pet’s overall wellness isvery important to us! Here at BCAH we believe in preventativecare. This can become very expensive so we have dedicatedWednesdays to WELLNESS. On Wellness Wednesdays we willbe offering three different types of wellness plans for bothcats and dogs. These wellness plans will be discounted andinclude standard toe nail trims and standard ear cleanings.Please visit our Facebook page or call us to learn more.Call today to schedule your pet’s wellness exam.

The BelaCoop Special:(any day, now through September 30, 2013)• Physical Exam• Complete bloodwork, urinalysis and thyroid check• Fecal examination• Standard toe nail trim

Call today to schedule your pet’sappointment for savings over $120.00.

Puppy classes:Starting September 10, 2013 BCAH will be offering basicpuppy classes. Classes will be held once a week on Tuesdayevenings at 6:15pm and will run for a 4 week period.

Puppies 12 weeks to 6 months of age are welcome. However,they must be current on vaccines. For more informationplease visit us on Facebook or call us today!

Hours:Monday: 8am-6pmTuesday: 8am-6pmWednesday: 10am-7pmThursday: 8am-6pmFriday: 8am-5:30pmSaturday: 8am-12pmSunday: CLOSED

2 ©Pittsburgh PetConnections September 2013

I n Th i s I s sue :The Human-Animal Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Our Pets As Spiritual Teachers?

Event Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Upcoming Pet Events

Press Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .830th Annual Family House Polo Match

Animal Health &Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11Veterinary Anesthesia

Holistic Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15The Body Can Heal Itself; I Want To Go Home

Animal Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16, 21Q& A with Judith Levy; Grab Your Leash…Let’sGo to theWestern PA Humane Society Dog Training

Cat Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-23Cat Grooming Myths; Never EnoughTime, But TimeEnough to Love

Health &Wellness for Guardians . . . . . . . . .26Cold and Flu Season

Special Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-29Hellbender Salamanders in Our Streams?

In Remembrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30-31Pet Memorial Sunday Ceremony

Featured Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Rockin’ Horse Stables

Equine Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-36Out of Balance, part 2; Using a Half Halt to ‘rebalance’a forward horse

Advertiser Locator Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18-19

Mon-Sat: noon to 8 • Thursday: appt. only • Sun: noon to 6


Pittsburgh PetConnections MonthlyPublished By: Pittsburgh PetConnections, LLC.

Pittsburgh PetConnections, LLC. was formed in 2012.Our mission is to publish a high quality, informative and

Human-Animal Bond focused publication.

We support local businesses and also assist local non-profitbusinesses for pets and people, to give back to our great

Pittsburgh communities.

MAGAZINE PUBLICATION STAFF

Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carla MaderChief Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bernadette E. KazmarskiSales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carla Mader, Savannah FlemingDistribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Martin MaderGraphic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Patricia SutkowskiPhotographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kara Jones Photography

ContributingWriters:Our contributing writers have many years ofcombined experience and expertise in the fields of veterinary medicineand the Human-Animal Bond.

ADVERTISING:[email protected] 724-503-8695

Contact: [email protected] Rights Reserved Copyright 2013

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARYVOLUME 2 ISSUE 1!!

PPC Magazine September News: I would like to extend a very warm thank you to all who contributed to making it a verysuccessful first year! ThePPCMagazine staff, Patti Sutkowski, BernadetteKazmarski, Kara Jones, and SavannahFleming haveput inmanyhours of hardwork, dedication andheart. I am especially grateful to this exceptional team! Ourwriters, advertisingsponsors and animal organizations also deserve special thanks for their contributions toPPCMagazine and recognition for thespecial work that they do for people as well as animals.

PPCMagazine is dedicated to our mission of educating people on the benefits of The Human-Animal Bond. Our animalsteach us love, compassion, and trust. They enrich our daily lives and share in our trials and tribulations. PPCMagazine looksforward to offering expanded coverage of local news, events, and also featuring special editions as some of our readers suggested.

We’ll continue to provide outstanding informative articles.We’ll also continue to assist our Pittsburgh area non-profit organizations as a media partner, through ourfeatured directories and feature ads and articles and sponsoring events.

PPCMagazine really enjoys sponsoring and attending every event we can, small and large. I am always very pleased tomeetreaders and their pets and animal organizations. I am honored when I hear that we are making a positive difference in theirliveswithPPCMagazine. OurAugust events includedPaws for theCausewith theWesternPAPoliceBenevolent Foundationand joining Angel Ridge Animal Rescue at theWashington County Fair and their Lucky DogDays Bingo event.

�is Issue: Our September issue features many more local pet events! Please see the event calendar page in this issue on page 5.Ourwebsitewww.pghpetconnection.com/calendar also has an event calendar and additional event listings.We welcome youto upload an event for your organization at no cost and submit your directory listing.

My background of over 25 years as a veterinary technician, veterinary hospital administrator and non-profit founder has ledme to create Pittsburgh PetConnectionsMagazine. My goal is to lead, share and heal through the Human-Animal Bond(HAB). I would like to personally thank all of thank you for picking upPPCMagazine. Take care of yourself, as well as youranimals and be well!

Warmly,

CarlaMaderCEO&PublisherPittsburgh PetConnections, LLC.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Pittsburgh PetConnections MagazineDisclaimer: “The views expressed in PPCMagazine are those of the authors and do notnecessarily reflect the position or policies of Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine. All view points are welcome.”

Please submit any correspondence to: [email protected] check us out on the web & subscribe at: www.pghpetconnections.com

Follow @ PghPetMag onTwitter and “Like” us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/PghPetconnectionsMagazine

Subscribe, Submit, Upload! Submit your businessor rescue organization’s info for a FREE listing on our directory.

No website for your smallhome-based pet or wellness business?Add a Featured Listing on the PPC online Directory for a smallyearly fee and upload photos and detailed info about your business!

Become a Media Partner with PPC Magazine!A Media Partnership with PPC includes:• Ad in print or online (free design)• A Free Featured directory page on our website with yourbusiness info, photos and link to your website

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Angel Ridge Animal Rescue atWashington County Fair


THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BONDSpirituality— how do you define it? I see it as a way of living that

requires a search for who we really are, for the meaning of ourlives, and that honors our connection to a higher power and all thatis. Humans are not the only ones with a spiritual nature. Nature hasa spiritual nature. Every indigenous culture understands that there isa consciousness and spiritual connection that flows through animalsand the earth, just as it does with humans.

Many of us don’t think of our pets as being part of our spiritual path,but I believe they are. They are of a divine essence, and they are alsoa reflection of who we are. If we want to learn more about ourselves,we need only observe our pets. They will show us the joy we canbring to life and the unconditional love all humans are instinctivelycapable of.They can also exhibit our weaknesses, so that wemay gainclarity and overcome them. If you see an issue with your pet, look inthe mirror. Not with judgment and shame, but with gratitude forthe awareness and opportunity to heal.

This is one of the most amazing ways animals are of service tohumans. I’m not speaking of domination, or an entitlement that wehave with animals. Being of service to us is instinctive to them andpart of their consciousness. And isn’t that the highest spiritual state ahuman can aspire to?When one is completely of service to another,he is living a truly spiritual life. People must awaken to this state.Animals are born there. Jesus wasn’t born in a manger because therewas no room at the inn.There was no room at the inn because Jesushad to be born in a manger — humble yet sacred surroundings.

Dr. Susan Wagner is a board certifiedveterinary neurologist whose pioneering workacknowledges the bioenergetic interactionbetween people and animals. She is an advocatefor change in the area of interpersonal violenceand animal cruelty, and works toward agreater understanding surrounding the healthimplications of the human-animal bond.Dr.Wagner is an Adjunct Assistant Professor atTheOhio State University Veterinary College, aLevel IVHealingTouch for Animals practitionerand co-author of Through A Dog’s Ear.

Our Pets AsSpiritual Teachers?

by Dr. SusanWagner

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Eco-friendly birdhouses,windchimes, jewelry from Seattleand Hawaiian artists, landscapeand wildlife photography.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 Oct 1 Oct 2 Oct 3 Oct 4 Oct 5

Sep tember 20 13 P i t t sburgh Pe t Even t Ca l e ndarSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Visit www.pghpetconnections.com for more information.

Chartiers TWPBark in the Park

– see website for detailsFoster Cat Benefit

– see website for details

Longwood atOakmont

Pet Appreciation Affair– see website for details

Beaver Co. H.S.Tails on Trails– see below

CARMAA Seminar– see page 27

Family House Polo– see page 8

Fix ‘Ur Cat Mini Golf– see website for details

WearWoof Fall Fashion Drive Event runs through September 30!– see website for details

Tails on the Trails Pet WalkSunday, September 29, 2013

11 am until 3 pm Rain or ShineBrady’s Run Park Shelter #7

For more information and to register online visit www.tailsonthetrails.org

Food, Games, Contests,Vendors and a whole

lotta fun!Come out, join us and help

the animals.

Guest Master of CeremoniesDAVE CRAWLEY from KDKA

Chartiers CustomPet CremationPet Memorial

– see pages 30-31

The Invisible CatSeminar


Wildbird RecoveryFall Migration

Festival– see website for details

Kopy Kat BenefitDinner


Walk forFarm Animals– see page 29


new to the sport. The opening ceremonies start at 1 pm followed bythe match at 1:30 pm. At half-time, guests will be invited to comeonto the field and stomp the divots to the playing of “PrettyWoman.”At the conclusion of the match, the Family House Cup, Best PlayingPony and the Most Valuable Player awards are handed out at theclosing ceremonies.

The day-long fun kicks off with the on-field vintage car display andactivities in the Children’s Tent, such as face painting, finger castingand games. Spectators can look forward to purchasing wine and foodin the new Sip, Savor & Shop tent featuring NarcisiWinery, Bacardi,Donato’s and SiBA, while browsing boutique shopping booths.

Each year this Pittsburgh tradition attractsmore than 2,000 spectators.FamilyHouse Polo is one of themost successful polo fundraisers in theworld, raising more than $3 million.

Family House and Fifth Third Bank invite all to join them for a funday of sport, activities, entertainment and refreshments while raisingfunds for Pittsburgh’s “HomeAway fromHome.”Formore informationplease call (412) 647-POLO or visit www.familyhouse.org.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 24, 2013) – Dating back to600 BC, polo is one of the world’s oldest sports. It’s acommon game still played often in the U.K and othercountries across the globe, however, a polo match isn’ttypically experienced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thelocal nonprofit FamilyHouse is proud to bring the “sportof kings” to Pittsburgh year after year as one of the largestcharitable polo matches in the country.

On September 7, Fifth Third Bank presents the 30thanniversary Family House Polo Match at HartwoodAcres. Family House is one of the nation’s largesthospital-affiliated hospitality houses. Since its inceptionin 1983, Family House has provided affordable andcomfortable accommodations for patients and theirfamilies who are awaiting medical treatment at one ofPittsburgh’s hospitals. To date, more than 150,000families from every state in the nation and from all pointsaround the globe have stayed at Family House.

The polo festivities begin at 11 amwith tailgating, a silent auction andchildren’s activities. At noon the Howard Hanna Real Estate ServicesVirginia International PoloClub and their competitor, the #1CochranPotomac Polo Club, warm up and demonstrate polo shots for those

PRESS RELEASE30th ANNUAL FAMILY HOUSE POLO MATCHSEPTEMBER 7

Did you knowthat your business

(including non-pet related)can sponsor an ad for anon-profit Rescue group?

Call us at 724-503-8695to find out how you cansupport your favorite local

ANIMAL charity!


OPTIONS FOR PETS THATWILL NOT TAKE THEIR MEDICINE

Many pet owners are able to dose their animals’ medicine in the forms that arealready available, and some are not so lucky. Finding the untouched tablet or capsulearound the house or in the food dish is a common theme among many.One solution we are able to provide is making the oral dose a suspension and concentrating the liquid so that

the smallest amount possible would need to be given at any one time. This works well formany drugs used to treata variety of conditions, for example;methimazole for thyroid, prednisone/prednisolone, a steroid often used in dogsand cats, or enalapril for heart issues. We are able to flavor the liquids chicken, beef, tuna, or liver to make themedicines palatable for your animal.

Another option we offer is the ability to make the medication a transdermal gel, meaning that theprescription would be filled by putting the active ingredients in a topical cream/gel that would be rubbedinto the front inner side of the ear andwould be absorbed through the skin. We recommendwearing glovesor covering your hand with a plastic bag because the medicine could easily be absorbed into theowner’s skin as well. The amount applied is very small and alternating ears is best for absorption. This isa great option for the cats that can easily get away. Some examples of medications that can be formulatedthis way are: methimazole, amitriptyline, Buspar, and tramadol.

We now stock generic Rimadyl.Carprofen is available in 25mg, 75mg,and 100mg tablets. By choosing thegeneric you can save up to 25-30% permonth based on a twice a day dosage.


&ANIMAL HEALTH WELLNESSIam a veterinary anesthesiologist at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialtyand Emergency Center, the only residency trained veterinary

anesthesiologist inWestern Pennsylvania. Right now I am sure you areeither asking yourself, “What in theworld is a veterinary anesthesiologist?I had no idea that specialty existed.” or “Doesn’t every veterinaryhospital have a veterinary anesthesiologist?”

Before I entered the veterinary field, I didn’t think muchabout the process of surgery my beloved pets experienced atour local veterinary clinic in the small city ofDalton,Georgia.I knew that people had a doctorthat performed the surgery and, Iassumed, was also in charge ofmaking sure the patient made itthrough anesthesia and surgery;that is generally how all thecurrent and previously existingmedical dramas portraysurgery on television. Inmostveterinary clinics and hospitalsaround the country that is atrue depiction of how surgery isperformed, but did you everwonder how those veterinarianslearned to perform anesthesia?Every veterinary school in theUnited States has at least one and in most cases multiple veterinaryanesthesiologists that teach veterinary students how to perform thesafest andmost ideal veterinary anesthesia in a variety of animal species.

Youmay ask, “So does that mean, my veterinarian is a surgeon and ananesthesiologist?”The answer is that in general veterinary practice yourveterinarian wearsmany hats andmust have a general knowledge of allfacets of medicine including surgery, anesthesia, dermatology, internalmedicine, and practically any other division of medicine you canimagine. The difference between any specialist, including veterinaryanesthesia, and general practitioners of veterinary medicine are theadditional four years of training required for the opportunity to take anexam for board certification in any of themultiple veterinary specialtiesavailable. Veterinary anesthesiologists, like other veterinary specialists,have a veterinary degree along with a one-year internship and threeyears of residency. A one-year internship allows the veterinarian anopportunity to trainwith a variety of specialists in each department anda residency allows a veterinarian to train with one particular specialtyfor three years so that they may become an expert in their field ofchoice. At the completion of a three-year anesthesia residency the

veterinarian qualifies to take a board certification exam. Anesthesiologistscan practice veterinary anesthesia while waiting to take a boardcertification. Once the board certification exam has been passed thatveterinarian becomes amember/diplomate of the AmericanCollege ofVeterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA).

The AmericanCollege ofVeterinary Anesthesia andAnalgesia is still a relatively new entity as it wasestablished in 1975. Since inception of the ACVAAthe role of the anesthesiologist has continued toevolve due to an increased demand for morespecialized veterinary services for pets by the generalpublic. Historically veterinary anesthesiologists wereemployed strictly by veterinary teaching hospitalsfor the purposes of training veterinary students,veterinary interns, and veterinary residents. Asmoreand more private veterinary referral centers open(hospitals in which multiple veterinary specialistssuch as surgeons, internists, ophthalmologists, etc.

work together), the interest in adding veterinary anesthesiology to thelist of services offered has and will continue to grow. A veterinaryanesthesiologist’s role as amember of the referral center’s team includesbut is not limited to: anesthetic planning for and management of allcases anesthetized, support and education for veterinary techniciansperforming anesthesia throughout the hospital, client education,training of visiting veterinary students, veterinary interns, andveterinary residents, continuing education for local veterinary generalpractitioners, and pain management consultation.

I am sure now you are wondering what happens to your petwhen he/she comes to the hospital for surgery. The morning ofsurgery when you drop your pet off you will be given a shorthistory form to be filled out. I review your pet’s history startingwith the history form, I will then review any bloodworkperformed, and then do a physical exam on your pet. Afterreviewing the patient’s history, previous anesthetic episodes,blood work and physical exam, I sit down with the veterinarytechnician assigned to your pet’s case and we go over the drugsto be used and discuss any complications we expect to see

VeterinaryAnesthesia

by Dr. Dianna Ovbey, DVM, MS,Practice Limited to Veterinary Anesthesia


• Between 1 and 7 years of age• Weight: 50 lbs. or more• Healthy with a gentle temperament• Current with vaccinations• Never had a blood transfusion

• Tested negative for blood-bornediseases (free testing by blood bank)

• Must be on heartworm, flea andtick preventative

• Not pregnant or currently nursing

“Pets Giving Petsthe Gift of Life”

The Rogan Rexford Animal Blood Bank

Please volunteer your dog to be a“Blood Donor Hero”DOGDONOR ELIGIBILITY

Read more aboutThe Rogan Rexford Blood Bank at:www.animalcarefund.org

For questions,or to make an appointmentcall: 412-348-2588

or e-mail:[email protected]

during surgery. The patient is given a medication to calm anyanxiety and relieve any pain prior to surgery. A few minutesafter the medication is given a veterinary technician will placean intravenous catheter; we will use this catheter to administerfluids and any medications needed for surgery. When your pet isready for surgery we will give a drug to induce unconsciousnesswith a short acting intravenous anesthetic and place a breathing(endotracheal) tube into his/her throat so that we can administeroxygen and an inhalant anesthetic. During the period that your pet isanesthetized a veterinary technician is continuously monitoringhis/her: heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, oxygenation,temperature, and depth of breathing. The veterinary technicianassigned to the case records the vitals (the above describedvalues) every five minutes on an anesthetic record. Much likeother referral centers, several of these surgeries are occurring atone time and the anesthesiologist moves throughout the various sur-geries checking the recorded vitals of each patient as surgeryproceeds. If a problem such as low blood pressure (hypotension)occurs during surgery the veterinary technician assigned to thecase will alert the anesthesiologist of the problem so that wemay intervene to correct any issues. When surgery is finished

the inhalant anesthetic is stopped and the patient is allowed torecover with oxygen through the breathing tube for severalminutes until they are awake. When the patient is awake, thebreathing tube is removed and the patient is moved to a recovery wardfor postoperative monitoring and pain management.

Thank you for taking an interest in veterinary anesthesiology. Shouldyour pet ever need surgery at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty andEmergency Center I will be happy to speak with you about his/heranesthesia. I am here to keep your pet safe and comfortable.

Dr. Dianna Ovbey, DVM, MS807 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

412.366.3400 www.pvs-ec.com

&ANIMAL HEALTH WELLNESS


HOLISTIC CAREThe body has an incredible ability to heal itself. If you cut your

finger and do nothing but keep the wound clean, within a weekor so that laceration will be perfectly mended, often without so muchas a scar. Somehow the innate wisdom of the body is able to: first,flush debris outof the woundwith blood, thenclot the bloodand call in whiteblood cells tofight infection,then set up ascaffold for the migration of skin cells over the defect, and finallycomplete the process and stop when everything is just right.

Holistic medicine takes into account the fact that thebody is equippedwith its own pharmacy. Evidence ofthis is seen in the placebo effect. According tomedical statistics, on average 30% of patientswill get better if they take a sugar pill nomatter what their problem is. Pain,depression, high blood pressure, and lowblood pressure can all be remedied with aplacebo. In fact, placebo treatmentshave caused warts to disappear, healedstomach ulcers, increased the activity ofwhite blood cells, and even caused baldmen to grow hair.

Of course, my patients are immune tothe placebo effect. Face it, Fido does notbelieve that acupuncture is going toalleviate his arthritis pain andMissy doesnot think a supplement is going to settleher upset stomach.We consider the placeboeffect to be a case of “mind over matter” butwhat does that really mean? To me it meansthat the body can heal itself if the rightconditions are created. As a holistic vet, I try tocreate the right conditions for the body to heal itself.

The placebo effect can be quite strong as seen in the case ofMr. Wright which is documented in medical texts. He had beendiagnosed with advanced Lymphoma.He had lymph nodes the size oforanges and the nurses drained a gallon of milky, white fluid off hischest every day.He begged his doctor to give him a newmiracle cancercure called krebiozen. The drug was going through clinical trials andunfortunately Mr. Wright did not qualify because only patients whowere expected to live for several more months were included in thestudy. Mr.Wright’s doctors though he’d be dead in a matter of days.

Because of his persistence, Mr. Wright’s doctor acquiesced and gavehim the drug on Friday, expecting to find that he had died by hisMonday morning shift. Instead, Mr. Wright immediately gainedweight and his tumors shrank. He left the hospital ten days afterreceiving the drug.

Two months later, Mr. Wright read a newspaper report that saidkrebiozen was not as good as first though and he started to lose weightand the tumors began to grow. Now this was back in the day whendoctors could do things that today are considered unethical.Mr. Wright’s doctors thought that the placebo effect was involved intheir patient’s cancer recovery.They gave him injections of sterile waterand told him it was a new improved batch of krebiozen. Mr. Wrightonce again gained weight and his tumors shrank.

Unfortunately, he didn’t learn his lesson the first time and twomonthslater he read a news report that said “the AMA declares that krebiozenis worthless against cancer.” On cue, Mr. Wright’s tumors grew andhe died two days later. It is amazing what an organism can do. Howwas Mr.Wright’s body able to cause end stage cancer to disappear for

months at a time?

Other evidence of the body’s ability for healing isfound in themanydocumented cases of spontaneousremission. Spontaneous remission is defined asthe disappearance, complete or incomplete, ofa disease or cancer without medical treatmentor treatment that is considered inadequateto produce the resulting disappearance ofdisease symptoms or tumor.

The “Spontaneous Remission Project” isa collection of such data. It contains3,500 references from800 journalswrittenin 20 languages. This compilation ofinformation includes a person who wasHIV positive who went negative, awoman with metastatic breast cancerwhich resolvedwithout treatment, a personwith a brain aneurysm that magicallydisappeared, and a man with a gunshotwound to his brain who recovered without

treatment. This information on spontaneousremissions can be found at http://noetic.org/

library/publication-books/spontaneous-remission-annotated-bibliography/.

The fact that the body can heal itself is well documented. My goalas a holistic veterinarian is to stimulate the animal’s innate healingpotential. I always recommend natural nutrition and supplements togive the body the raw materials needed to create health. SometimesI realign the spine with chiropractic adjustments to allow proper nervefunction. Other times I tweak the animal’s energy system withacupuncture. And then there are times that I adjust the body chemistrywith herbs. All of these methods gently coax the body’s systems backinto a healthy balance.

The BodyCan Heal

Itself

by Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CVC, CVCH


HOLISTIC CARE

Offering illumination,comfort and clarityfor both you andyour animalfriends.

Renee Takacs, M.A.Intuitive forPeople and Pets

[email protected]

On aWing and a Paw…I Want to GoHome

irritated, and I feel a little weak.I got you over several majorhumps in your life. I plan to stayjust a little longer. I plan torelease out ofmybodynearAugustto be free in spirit. I want togo home.

Upon initial impact, this information felt neutral to me. Afterwardswhen I read my notes (I need to write notes so I can remember theconversation),my emotions started dancing in and out of the fear/trustmode. From that point on, I had to make a conscious practice ofchoosing to return to the trust mode when I mentally or emotionallyfell out of it.

A third vet visit in July 2013 provided evidence confirming Autumn’scommunication. In addition to the thyroid condition, x-rays revealeda substantial, fast-growing mass near her liver and also nodules in herlungs. This finally clarified the liter box habits, weight loss and otheruncomfortable symptoms that we had been observing.

Honoring Autumn’s clear communication, with compassionateassistance on July 26, Autumn gently returned home to spirit. Duringthe procedure, I sawmy parents, both in spirit, lovingly, compassionatelystep forward to welcome Autumn home.

Although I’ve been wading through a deeply saddened heart, it’s amatter of flow and acceptance, isn’t it? We are all invited to flow withthe Creative Force through birth, sustenance, decline and transition.With Autumn’s help, serving asmy friend and teacher, I have deepenedmy own ability to trust, especially when it comes to insight regardinga loved one.

Thank you,my precious AutumnGirl, for your loving presence in ourlives these past seven years. May we all remain open-hearted to newadventures unfolding for you with your returning home to spirit, andnew adventures unfolding for us, who are still walking our path hereon the Earth.

Listening lightly,Renee

Power…love…wisdom… when aligned within us, allow astream of energy and information that reveal honest insights. Trust,courage and a fortified self esteem must be the foundation whenentering into the silence and asking for such insight, especiallyregarding a loved one.

In April 2013my kitty, Autumn, began experiencing noticeable healthproblems which prompted a particularly revealing communication.Autumn’s litter box habits were waffling. In the beginning there werevarious reasons uncovered. There were various remedies applied andchanges made to address the situation. Eventually, a veterinariandiagnosed her with a hyperthyroid condition.

I decided to ask Autumn three questions that I would ask any petclient: “What is most helpful for me to know about your condition?”“Has your purpose been fulfilled here on the Earth?” “Is there any waythat I can help you?”

Autumn’s matter-of-fact yet loving responses were: Stop your worrying.I’m eating when I’m hungry. I’m sleeping when I’m tired. Keepmy routine.Don’t make me miserable with medicines and herbs. My ears feel a little

W E L L N E S S F O R P E O P L E A N D P E T S

LevyJudith


A.Q.ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Q&A with Judith Levy

By Judith Levy M.Ed.,CEHP, RMT

Holistic approach to behavior

Specializing in treating fear and traumain cats and dogs

Judith LevyM,Ed., CEHP, RMT

EducatorFeline and Canine

Behavioral ConsultantCertified Energy Health Practitioner

[email protected]

412.521.5133

Dear Judith,My neighbors have a part Beagle dog that barks constantly when they leavethe apartment.They have tried closing the curtains and have put her in oneof those special, tight fitting shirts, but neither have helped…she will barkfor hours on end. It’s bothering all the neighbors and my cats get restless,yet we hate to tell the landlord because she’s so cute & friendly otherwise.Any other ideas?

There are several possible causes for a dog to bark all day and a behavioralevaluation is necessary to clarify the cause. It is likely though, that this littledog has a mild case of Separation Anxiety.I categorize the severity of SA in 3 levels; mild which for example, is

when a dog barks incessantly while you are away or perhaps pants a greatdeal while you are gone. A dog with a moderate issue may urinate,defecate, bark or salivate so much that her chest is soaked when you gethome. An extreme case usually involves the dog damaging your property.The dog is panicked and triggered using her mouth or paws to vent herextreme anxiety – I have worked with dogs who jumped through closedwindows and who have torn off entire door frames.

As always, I recommend you rule out anymedical or organic cause of theproblem by visiting your veterinarian.

What are some signs that your dog may have separation anxiety?• Follows you everywhere in the house• Becomes anxious or agitated (barks, cries etc.) when you leave the houseto get the mail

• Barks, does damage, urinates or defecates within the first 30minutes ofyou leaving the house

• Seems to get “worried” or more watchful when you start your morningroutine to leave the house

• Urinates or defecates in the house only onMonday or only after you arehome for several days

Why might a dog have separation anxiety?• I feel that in most cases SA starts to develop in the fear imprint periodsor sensitive periods (seven weeks to eight months and again at around14months).When a dog is either left alone toomuch or is alwayswithsomeone and never alone during these periods – it sets them up to havea difficult time being alone.

• A dog who has been in a shelter or has been extremely isolated can havea difficult time being alone once rescued.

• When a resident dog passes away, the remaining canine can suffer fromSA as well.

Tips that may improve a mild case of separation anxiety.• Do notmake a fuss over your dog when you leave the house or when youget home. Spend “close emotional time” away from coming and going.

• UseReiki, BachFlowerRemedies or a calming product from the pet store.• Don’t let your dog follow you everywhere or lay on top of you allevening. Close doors on his face for brief periods and move away if heis always touching you.

• Exercise, exercise, exercise.• Feed a healthy diet. It is worth spending a bit extra to help your dogmaintain balance.

• Purchase interactive toys for stimulation during the day.• Have someone visit and exercise mid-day or come home at lunchtimeto do so.

• Ignore your dog’s demands for attention. If he canmanipulate you andgets what he wants at any given moment, it will be more difficult forhim when you leave.

If you are not able to treat the problem, you can manage the situation.• Leaving your dog with a neighbor is a good management tool.• You can trade pet sitting with a friend.• Start a good leadership programwith your dog. Sometimes right sizingthe pack will give your dog the confidence he needs.

• Using Bach Flower Essences and Reiki can be helpful for mild cases(especially in conjunction with a good exercise program.

• Make sure you feed your dog a healthy diet. You can educate yourselfabout dog food on websites such as TheWhole Dog Journal.

• You can speak with your veterinarian about medication. It is alwaysimportant to then combine a good holistic program if you choosemedication.

The following WILL NOT help your dog get better.1. Crating: If a dog is panicked, crating usuallymakesmatters worse. Yourdog can injure himself. Confining the dog in a small space can increasethe anxiety response as well. If possible, it is better to leave him in a safespace that has some room to move.

2. Punishing: I have had clients tell me that their dog “knows” he didsomething wrong when they come home to a puddle of urine or worse.Your dog can feel your anger and is likely associating with a pastunpleasant experience when he had the same such experience.

3.Getting another pet: I actually do feel that animals generally feel betterwhen in the company of another animal. However, getting another petfor your dog when he is a full blown triggered condition will definitelynot help. It will be more work for you!

Schedule a behavioral consultation if you need help. Waiting is notadvised as anxiety generalizes and the problem will get worse.

Visit Judith Levy’s website @ www.judithlevywellness.com


“DO NOT..DO NOT TRY CHIROPRACTIC, ACUPUNCTUREOR ANY OTHER HOLISTIC METHODS!!!”“Toby injured his neck somehow. He was in pain, hunched over, holding his headdown, and had difficulty moving around. He was seen by a vet three times inthree weeks. Initially Toby was given medication to reduce swelling and managehis pain.We tried that for two weeks and he was still in pain and had to be carriedout to the back yard to go to the bathroommultiple times a day. I took him backto the vet and had to ask for them to do X-rays to rule out tumors or anythingelse that might be causing these problems. The X-rays came back negative. That iswhen the vet proceeded to tell me he suspected a herniated disc. I myself have hadtwo herniated discs at one time so I knew what he was talking about. In talkingabout the suspected problem I mentioned I had rehabbed with chiropractic workand Pilates. The vet instantly said, “DONOT…DONOTTRY CHIROPRAC-

TIC, ACUPUNCTUREOR ANYOTHERHOLISTICMETHODS!!!” He told me he thoughtToby’sonly chance was surgery and if I could not afford it I could apply for a credit card to be used for the surgery.He would send a referral to the specialist and he knew her to be good. I left his office offended and upset withonly two choices. One was surgery and the other was to put myToby to sleep because no way would I lethim suffer any more the way he was. That was until I found Dr. Michael! After one visit there was a pointedchange inToby, after the second visit I tookToby off of all his medications and saw even more changes. Thethird visit left me almost speechless. Toby now looks and acts like a puppy again and not the 8 1/2 year oldhe is. He is currently better than ever!”

Toby most likely had just simply sprained his neck…good thing they didn’t kill him because of it.We didone visit at the Meadowlands Veterinary office andToby was markedly better with no pain, no hunching,no holding head down, no surgery, no meds…just that horrible natural healing that never works.

Whatever you do, DONOT try anything that is simple, natural, has a long, long history of amazing andlong standing results, has zero chance of causing harm or serious side effects, and is extremely cost effective. ;)

DC, CCSP, CVCPDr. Savko works with the following veterinary clinics:

MeadowlandsVeterinary Hospital,Washington, PaSuburban Animal Clinic, Butler, Pa,

DelmontVeterinary Hospital, Delmont, Pa,Fox Run Equine Center, Apollo, Pa

Over 13 yearsexperience

Don’t give up yet, call DrChiroVet!

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ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Did you know that the WesternPA Humane Society offers

obedience training classes for dogsof all sizes, personalities and breeds?Classes are scheduled seven days a week – weekday evenings and all dayweekends. Register for class today atwww.wpahumane.org/training.htmlor contact the Western Pennsylvania Humane Training Department at412-321-4625 extension 224.

Training has beenproven to be important for keeping a dog in the home andbeing included in family activities.Our goal is to provide the training optionsand tools needed for a successful and happy relationship between you andyour dog.

THE BASICS:Just brought a puppyhomeor adopted a dog? Start off on the right pawwithfoundation classes such as puppy preschool, teen time and adult basic. Weoffer beginner classes for specialized groups such as small dogs, greyhoundsand bully- type breeds.

MOVINGBEYOND THEBASICS:After basic class graduation day, don’t stop now – you and your dog cansharpen your skills in advanced courses for puppies and adults. Your dogwants to be a Superdog so keep up the hard work in training.

CONTINUED EDUCATION:The training and commitment in formal classes and practice at home isnecessary before enrolling in accelerated class such as:

CanineGoodCitizen (CGC)CoachingClass: Weoffer classes that prepareyou for the CGC testing. As you work with your dog to teach the skills,you’ll discover the benefits of doggie goodmanners. CGC is recommendedby certain homeowner insurance companies, some rental agencies requireresident dogs to obtainCGC status and is a prerequisite for selected therapydog groups.CGCskills are the foundation for other activities such as therapydog training, agility competition and other performance events. Ourinstructors are certified CGC evaluators and will administer the test aftergraduation day.

TherapyDogPrepCourse: In this sixweek class, you and your dog practicetest exercises that prepare the team for animal assisted therapy work. Youand your dogwill work in a group settingwith emphasis on the importanceof teamwork. In class, youwill learn dog handling skills while exposing yourdog to a variety of scenarios such as odd objects, medical equipment and

unexpected loud noises. The strengths and preferences of you andyour dogwill be identified so thatwemay offer recommendations forplacement in facilities that best ensure safe, enjoyable and successfulanimal assisted therapy experiences. Quarterly, we offer theTherapyDog International test evaluation.

Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.): You and your dog canearn yourBachelor’s (B.A.),Master’s (M.A.), orDoctorate (Ph.D.) byregistering and participating in a C.L.A.S.S. course and evaluation.Successfully completing each C.L.A.S.S. level is like earning anacademic degree in real-life skills with your dog. Our instructors arecertifiedC.L.A.S.S. evaluators andwe offer the test at the end of eachcompleted course.

ALLWORKANDNOPLAY…Our organized classes use a playful and fun approach for enhancing yourrelationship, learning new skills and inspiring you to do more with yourdog. We offer Rally-O (foundation and advanced) classes, Treiball(a dog version of soccer), Nosework Beginnings (scent detection games),Canine Enrichment Games, the Art of Retrieve andmuchmore.

NEEDAREVIEW:Periodically, short session classes are available for brushing up on skills suchas Four on the Floor (no jumping on people), Stay & Recall, Loose LeashWalking and others.

TUTORING:Is your dog the perfect pooch at home but not when you are out walking?Our specialty class for reactive dog is coming this fall. The instructor willassist pet parents with learning calming techniques, improving handlingskills, interpreting canine body language, decreasing stress, increasingconfidence and teaching your dog to react appropriatelywhen seeing anotherdog. This class is packed with valuable tips, techniques, materials andtraining equipment to promote positive interactions.

In addition, specific behavior consultations are available upon request. Ourinstructors havemany years of dog training experience, continued educationlearning and related degrees or certifications. In addition to creating theclassroom curriculum, they can provide solutions for housetraining, cratetraining and other common behaviors.

Our training facility is located on the second floor of theNorthshore shelterat 1101Western Avenue.

Join us this fall – register at http://www.wpahumane.org/basicedu.html.In appreciation of our readers, you can receive a $5.00 discount on yourclass registration by entering the promotion code PghPet2013 at checkout.(Discount is limited to one per customer. Offer expiresOctober 31, 2013.)

For more information about classes or registration, call our trainingdepartment at 412-321-4625 x224.

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DOG TRAINING CLASSESby Dara Krom


CAT CORNERI’m always met with raised eyebrows when I explain what I do for aliving. It seems there are many “myths” being perpetuated about cat

grooming that aren’t entirely true. I’d like to help dispel some of thesemyths for you.

Cats groom themselves: Cats lick themselves. If you licked yourself allover, would you consider yourself clean?When cats “groom” themselves,they are performingmultiple functions: removing dead hair, dandruff,

sebum (naturally occurring oils produced bysebaceous glands in a cats skin), and sometimeseven feces. And we wonder why they throw uphairballs?

Cats hate water: I’ve heard countless stories ofowners being scratched and bitten while trying toput their feisty felines in the tub. I’ve even seenvideos of it on YouTube. Most of them make mecringe. If introduced properly, either at an earlyage or in the right environment with the righttechniques, most cats can adjust very well. I havegroomedwell over 400 cats in the last three years, and only one or twodidn’t handle it well.Many ofmy clients’ phone calls start out with “mycat has never been bathed before,” to which I reply, “There is a firsttime for everything.”

In my experience, I find that if the cat isn’t going to like part of theprocess, it’s going to be the drying. There are two options when itcomes to drying a cat: cage drying or using a high velocity dryer.Thinkof this as a small leaf blower that uses pinpoint air pressure to force thedead hair from a cat’s skin. While this is the best option, it can be a

little bit frightening becauseof the noise it can make. Ifthis happens, I recommenda combination of the twotypes of drying techniques.Unless the cat is a single-coated, Oriental-type breed,it must be dried properlyand fully. The dead cat furcan actually form a type oftight bondwhenmixedwithwater – resulting in matting– if the cat has an excessiveamountofdeadhair,dandruff,or sebum.

Matting is not only unsightly;it can also be quite painful.The hair is tightly bondedand slowly pulls live hairsout of the skin along with

dead hairs. If the area ofmatting is too large ortight, trying to de-matt thecat can also pull live hairsout by the roots, thusinhibiting hair re-growth. Ifa cat is matted, the mosthumane treatment is to shavethe matted area and just to startfresh. Sometimes, this is just a smallarea; sometimes it’s the entire cat. Manythink that the cat will be embarrassed by shaving, but I can’t tell you

howmany ofmy clients have called back to say“my cat has been acting 10 years younger sinceits haircut.”

All cats need to be sedated for grooming: Everytime an animal goes under sedation, there is arisk. In the right environment and in the handsof an experienced groomer, most cats can begroomed quite easily. Although some cats, andeven some dogs, may have severe episodes

of aggressionor anxiety thatrequire sedationfor grooming,this should bereserved for onlythe most severecases and should only be administered under veterinary guidance.

There are all sorts of reasons for cats to be professionally groomed. Forcat lovers who also crave a meticulous house, grooming reducesshedding, dandruff, and hairballs. For older cats suffering frominflammation of the gums or arthritis, grooming substitutes for elderlycats’ decreasing ability to care for themselves. Obese cats may not beable to reach certain areas of their bodies to lick them. Some cats arejust poor groomers and will not allow their owners to groom them.

Inmy experience, a clean cat is a happy cat. Sometimes, cats just needa little help. Unless you have an extensive knowledge of cats, amultitude of costly cat grooming tools including specialized dryers,and a pair of chainmail gloves, you and your cat will both benefit fromthe services of a professional groomer.

So, how do you find a cat groomer? The internet is a great place tostart. Then, call and ask the groomer questions about their servicesand facilities. Some grooming shops will not groom cats. Others willgroom cats right alongside dogs. Some grooming shops have “cat only”hours or days, while a few exclusively groom cats. You need to decidewhat environment would be the most comfortable for your cat andwhat services will benefit you and your cat the most.

by Justine Cosley

Cat GroomingMyths

Clean hair

Dirty hair


CAT CORNER

I’ve rescued and fostered cats for just about 30 years, usually livingwith an average of nine cats including my “permanent collection”,

those whowere never adopted, and fosters, from bottle babies to seniorcitizens. In 2012 I lost Cookie, 20, and Kelly, 19, two of my firstrescues in this house and the last of those old friends, and also the lastin a long line of nearly yearly losses, especially of very old cats. I decidedafter losing Kelly in August I would take a break in fostering, vowingto stay with my family of five rescued black cats until I felt ready torescue, foster or adopt again; my heart truly needed a break.

Stories of cats in need run pastme all day long, every day, as I write andshare my articles for my feline-centered blog, The Creative Cat. Andeven with all the pleas of people and cats in need I’ve been happy tolive with only five cats with no health or behavior issues for the firsttime in decades. In place of fostering I do my best to help otherswho are fostering, posting rescue stories and cats for adoption onThe Creative Cat as well as all the social media available to me, andproviding as much support as I can to those who are out on the streetshands-on rescuing cats and kittens.

But I heard about two cats, 19 and 20 years old, who were living in acage and needed a new home, and for all the other cats and kittensand fosters and hard luck cases that run by me every single dayI couldn’t see a 20-year-old and a 19-year-old being shuffled around incages. I’ve lived with and provided care to far too many geriatric cats,I remember the delicate thinness of their skin, their fragile bones justbeneath it, the sunken hips and cheeks as muscle wastes away, howI sensed they were compensating in so many little ways every day butwith that fire of will burning in their eyes, and I would do anythingthey needed.

I did not want to see these two older cats in this situation. I couldn’timagine, for instance, Cookie and Kelly in this situation at just thesame ages. I had taken in two 15-year-old cats from a situation likethis and though younger they had struggled, and I’d lost one justmonths later. For all these reasons I knew I was better equipped thanmost to help these two.

At their agemost shelters would consider them unadoptable and eitherturn them away, or warn that they’d be put to sleep, and in fact theircaretaker had been advised to just have them euthanized. But I said I’dtake them, sight unseen. It didn’t matter what they looked like, theyneeded a home, and possiblymore than other cats out there appealingto an internet full of humans whomight take them in. Kittens are fun.

Adult cats are a known quantity. Geriatric cats are frightening. Theircondition is unpredictable.They represent the immediate potential forloss and pain.They are walking in the face of death. But they are living,loving creatures and after a long life deserve to live that last time of lifewith love and dignity.

Both were dehydrated and unsteady. I could see that the older cat’seyes had faded from Siamese blue to a greenish gray, which mightindicate jaundice related to renal failure and thought he might nothavemuch time at all. But after a slow start both responded to a quiet,comfortable room, constant food and water, transitional floweressences, and love and affection. Lakota, the Siamese mix, evidenceda confident and friendly personality, while Jojo, the long-haired blackfemale, was friendly but reserved. Lakota began exploring my secondfloor, managing to get up on my bed for a nap and supervising me inmy studio. They weren’t coming face to face with my cats but closeenough to have conversations, but even these grew civil. I began toplan on how to integrate the two.

But after only four weeks, Lakota suddenly began to eat less, then beless active, and quickly declined in a matter of days. A veterinary visitshowed end stage renal failure. We tried a week’s worth of treatmentsto bring back his appetite and provide comfort and he received anacupuncture treatment to help balance his Qi, but he didn’t respondat all.

So was he slowly fading but perked upwhen he came here with amorestable environment and just the excitement of change? A new personto charm and manipulate? A new home to explore? A reason to live alittle longer? Likely so. And we loved every minute of the time weshared. He left this earthly existence behind almost exactly six weeksafter I’d carried him into my home.

Lakota knew his end was near, yet he didn’t fear the new adventureand a new person to love, and why should I, or any of us? When weconsider taking an animal companion into our home and our heart dowe need the assurance of a full lifetime together before we’ll agree toit? Or can we simply love as long as love is there in the flesh, andcontinue on inmemory?We should not forsake the joy of love for thefear of loss. Loss will always come.Not so with love unless we welcomeit despite its risks.

As a creative person I turn my emotions into art, design and writing,and for Lakota I designed a new animal sympathy card which reads,“Never enough time, but time enough to love.”

His lifelong fur friend seems well, missing her friend, but easilyaffectionate. I changed her name from Jojo to Emeraude, befitting alady of some dignified maturity with still-brilliant green eyes. I lookforward to our time together.

by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Never Enough Time,But Time Enough to Love

Phot

o:Be

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E.K

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24 ©Pittsburgh PetConnections September 2013Find us on

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Ifirst started feeding raw in 2001 and at thattime I had to make it or have it shipped to

me from Ohio. Upon telling people what I fedmy dog they either looked at me as if I hadthree heads or they thought I cooked for mydog. Neither of which is the case.

The raw category has grown significantlysince then and continues to do so. Now youcan walk into almost any pet store and finda freezer with many brands and choices. So,why is this topic still heavily debated? Whentalking to customers, I still hear “Won’t mydog or cat get sick from consuming uncookedmeats?” This to me is the power of advertisingclearly at work…. how is it possible to forgetthat cats are obligate carnivores and dogs arefirst carnivores and secondly omnivores. Thenext objection I typically hear is “But theyhave been domesticated.“ Ok so how doesdomestication or the introduction of kibble(less than 100 years ago) change theanatomy of a mammal? And a third commonthought I hear is “it’s gross.” Well, unless you

are a vegetarian I am here totell you it is not gross and isno different than handlingground meat. The form in which most rawfood is sold is already ground formulas, acomplete and balanced combination of meat,bone and organs and even some fruits andveggies. So if you are picturing yourselfhanding a whole chicken carcass to yourdog… get that picture out of your head! Youcan feed body parts if you choose to do sobut you don’t have to.

So, the question is still “What to feed?” Anew customer walking into one of our storeswill see the 5 different categories of pet food:• Raw• Freezedried Raw• Dehydrated Raw• Kibble• Canned

After talking about each category, if acustomer is still perplexed on what to feed,I suggest going home and doing someresearch on the pros and cons of eachcategory and mulling it over… figure outwhat makes sense. If you choose to discussthis topic with your veterinarian you shouldknow that the American Veterinary MedicalAssociation has passed a policy to denounceraw feeding. In other words, your veterinarianwill most likely not support your choice tofeed raw food.

If you like the idea of feeding raw but thebacteria is still worrying you, some of theraw brands are now pasteurized. Theacronym for the process is HPP, HighPressure Pasteurization which eliminatesthe risk of various food-borne pathogens

such asEscherichia coli,Salmonella andListeria. We notonly have that choice toease our minds but also the dehydratedfoods as well. The temperature used in thedehydration process will kill bacteria.

In my opinion, the best way to feed is rawand I honestly will never feed anything butraw. If it doesn’t work for you in one way oranother the best approach is “The morewhole foods they get the better.” A lot oftimes, a combination of 2 or 3 of the aboveworks well. My main point here is you haveoptions, many options and I encourage youto explore them and allow you pet to thriveand not just survive.

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&HEALTH WELLNESS for GUARDIANS

We’re not just any vitamin store...Back to Basics

We carry all natural, food based, excipient-free vitamins,herbs and supplements & personal products.

We also have a variety of herbal teas and local honey from Bedillion Farms.

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• Consultations for the whole family and your pets!

412-343-8156 www.back2basicsinc.comLebanon Shops | 300 Mt. Lebanon Blvd.

Looks like summer is winding down, fall is in the air and school isabout to start for many. With that comes cold and flu season. So

in preparation for the season I would like to discuss how to keep ourimmune systems strong.

One of my favorites is olive leaf extract, andelderberry is also good for children under 6 years ofage and they love the taste of it. Personally, I do too– it reminds me of my youth and homemadeelderberry jelly. Yummy!! Start increasing yourVitamin C, adding garlic capsules for adults andchildren. Oregano is another good choice and ofcourse probiotics to keep the gut healthy.

A new product I have a great interest in is EpiCor.This product is dried yeast fermentate which is acomplex nutrient-rich ingredient comprising fiberproteins,vitamins,minerals,aminoacidsandantioxidants.It is available for both adults and children, and it helpssupport the immune system. It helps protect andbalance themucosal barrier or innate immune systemby activating the Natural Killer cells which are anintegral part of the immune system. It also activatesB cells which support antibody production andcontains antioxidants which further support a healthybody by scavenging free radicals.This product beginsworking in as little as two hours protecting yourimmune system. Follow the recommended dosages.

One does not need to use everything I mentioned.Pick one that suits you or your budget, get startedand stick with it through the winter season. Some likeusing a simple antioxidant formula like ACES byCarlson,OneDaily by Premier Labs (though you cantake more than one),Thai-Go byNature’s Sunshine,Oxygenics by Metagenics or the ones I mentioned above. We have apretty wide variety here at the shoppe.

Remember stress is a huge influence on our bodies, so maybe addingin something for the adrenals and/or a stress formula will be a goodidea. With the children back to school and all their activities Momand Dad are busier than ever. To any teachers out there we know youneed support.We all knowwhat you go through – believeme I do,myfather and my stepmother were school teachers. They are retired nowand enjoying life and have a whole lot less stress.

Drink more water, eatfewer carbs, avoid whitesugar, eat your greens ormake yourself a greendrink daily. If Godmadeit, eat it, if man madeit, don’t. Avoid: GMOfoods, preservatives, foodadditives, food coloring,MSG, processed foodsat all cost!! And makesure your bowels aremoving … if not… allthose toxins are stayingin there. What goes inmust come out… simplephysics!!

Many of you know ormay not know I see yourfamily pet for FREE asthey can take many ofthe same herbs andvitamins we do. If youwant to support theirimmune systems givethem a probiotic on adaily basis or at the veryleast a few times perweek. Animals can getsystemic yeast infectionstoo, which can affect

their sinuses, skin and digestive system. I recently treated a cat for ahorrible rash that would not go away and the vet did not know whatto do for it. So I put it on probiotics and garlic and the rash went awayin 2 days. It was a yeast overgrowth.We also used neem cream to applytopically. Both kitty and parents are happy.

Remember give fish oil to cats, dogs can have fish or flax.They can alsotake vitamins andminerals just like us. Extra can be added if necessary,or if you have adopted an animal who has been starved or neglectedand has poor health. If they have an auto-immune problem likearthritis you can give them extra vitamin E, Glucosamine, Baxyl andYucca. I hope you all enjoy what’s left of the summer!

God Bless, Sharon

Cold and Flu SeasonBy Sharon Satterfield, ND

28

SPECIAL FEATUREThat’s a good thing – a very good thing according to and Tom

Hayes, aquarist of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. It’sgood news for our waterways that an elusive species native to ourregion, nearly absent from our stream ecology for decades, has returnedto creep around under rocks and eat crayfish.

The “Allegheny Alligator” or Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, the Easternhellbender salamander is unique among our native salamanders, muchlarger, growing to an average of 24 inches in length. Found only in theAppalachian corridor, the niche they fill is both as predator and prey,a sort of bridge species between smaller populous bottom-dwellingstream species, especially crayfish, and larger reptiles and amphibianssuch as snakes and turtles.

They inhabit a very specific type of stream with cooler fast-movingwater that contains a good bit of dissolved oxygen, especially with largerocks and riffles over an uneven bottom that keeps the water tossingand moving. That sounds a lot like our mountain streams inWesternPennsylvania, and Hayes has been part of studying and reintroducingthis species in four areas in Western Pennsylvania along with theWestern Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Hellbenders are the largest American salamander and have occupiedthe same habitats since prehistoric times. In captivity they have livedto be 30 years old, and biologists estimate they live to be 30 to 50 yearsold in the wild. They are primarily nocturnal and live most of theirlives underwater. They are solitary except for the fall mating season

when themale hollows out a saucer-shaped depression inthe stream floor in a still area under a rock, guiding fe-males to lay eggs there as he sprays the eggs with sperm.He then drives off any females and incubates the eggs for

up to 75 days depending on the region.

“They are an indicator species, showing the health of a stream,”Hayes explained. “If this species can live there, then it meansa lot of other species are living there as well.”

Hellbenders are “opportunistic” or “ambush” feeders, lying inwait under a rock until something shows up which they canquickly catch.Our local streams have been compromised withindustrial and agricultural runoff and sedimentation pollutingthe streams as well as drainage from abandoned mines, muchof which is so highly acidic that beautiful streams aroundLigonier and Ohiopyle where species such as the hellbendershould live are completely sterile with no life at all in the water.With sedimentation the water is literally muddied so thatwater-dwelling species can’t navigate to feed or breed, and oftenthe floor of the stream and all that lives there is coated withpollutants or particulates, sealing it all off from nutrients andoxygen in the water. Waterways in general have also beenwarming and hellbenders need a cold environment. In theseconditions a salamander the size and habits of a hellbenderwouldn’t survive very long, not only disappearing in its own

right, but also depriving species up the food chain of their ability to sur-vive and reducing their populations as well.

“They also tend to live inmicro-habitats, such as a 500-yard stretch ofa stream, not even the whole stream, because that’s the healthiest areafor them,” Hayes continued, so when their habitat is damaged ordestroyed they often can’t just move on.

Not only are they subject to environmental degradation but for yearsthey were considered vermin and blamed for eating stocked trout,and according to Hayes in the 1930s Pennsylvania aquatic wildlifeauthorities organized hellbender hunts. “They were compared tosnakes, competing with those who wanted to fish, and because theyhad such specific habitat they were easy to find,” Tom said. “Peoplewould go out at night and flip over rocks and just pull them out and

THE PGH ZOO & PPG AQUARIUMKEYSTONE RIVER EXHIBIT

Baby hellbender. Photo: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Hellbender Salamandersin Our Streams?


29

SPECIAL FEATURE

www.pghpetconnections.com

kill them.” A certain number of hellbenders, like many exotic species,are also still collected and sold as pets.

It’s no wonder their populations were so depleted that a 2003 reportof the hellbender in all its Appalachian ranges showed biologistschasing down reports of hellbenders in areas in over a half-dozenstreams in counties in Pennsylvania, but not actually finding anyanimals there when arriving. In all areas the report covered, thepopulations were considered so imperiled thatthe names of the streams are actually blackedout to help protect the salamander from thoseintending to kill or collect them. Even today,Hayes wouldn’t betray where to find thehellbenders he is currently studying.

Now instead of pulling them out and killingthem, biologists are visiting habitat areas yearlyand tagging and microchipping them in theleast disruptive way possible.

“We used to go in there and lift up the rock andpull them out,”Hayes related. “Likemost suchspecies they are covered with slime and while itmakes them hard to handle, the slime is also animportant barrier from disease and pollutantsfor their own health.

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“Now we lift the rock just slightly to see if one is under there, and tapthe hellbender’s tail to make it run into a net we’ve set up for it, andwe handle it in the net,” he explained. They gather basic data such asweight, length and size, gather DNA samples from the tip of the tailand the slime, and get a GPS reading and document water quality andhabitat. At one time they clipped one front toe to show the animalhad already been counted, but now they microchip the salamanderwith the same microchips used for pets in shelters and can scan for amicrochip with each animal they find, registering new data on theanimal with the chip information. If a hellbender is found in a petshop or kept by anyone without a permit, they can also scan for thechip to find out where it came from. And in order to further protectthe species, biologists need a permit for each research trip.

“I would say now that hellbenders are ‘locally abundant’, theirpopulations are healthy,” said Hayes.

And that name? Various sources in biological reports say it’s got to dowith the creature’s unusual physique, that to early settlers it may havelooked like a “creature from Hell” with its lumpy, undulating skin.Though it may be unattractive to us, it looks like the perfect biologicaladaptation for its habitat.

Microchipping a hellbender. Photo: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium


IN REMEMBRANCE

The second Sunday of September isdesignated as Pet Memorial Sunday by

the InternationalAssociation of PetCemeteriesand Crematories, and commemorating thatday is important to Deb Chebatoris ofChartiers Custom Pet Cremation (CCPC).She has hosted a ceremony on this day since2005 dedicated to remembering our animalcompanions for families who have lost a pet.

“Our society does not normally have a ritualto help families transition through the loss ofa pet. This event is an effort to meet thatneed,” said Chebatoris.

Our animal companions havebecomemore respectedmembersof our society, fromrecognizingthat people will not evacuateeven a life-threateningsituation if they can’t taketheir animals to realizingthat a close bond with ananimal can help people healfrom both physical andemotional traumas. Ouranimal companions fill a deepplace in our lives; for childrenthey are sometimes the closestfriend and confidant, for seniors theyare often a singular daily companion. Griefafter the loss of a cherished animal companion needs to be treatedwith respect.

“I am honored to continue hosting this ceremony,” Chebatorissays. “From past years’ thank you notes families have receivedhealing from attending.”

This year’s ceremonyThe ceremony is on Sunday, September 8, 2013 from2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Melrose Cemetery in Bridgeville.

As part of the ceremony, three speakers will discuss our relationshipswith our pets before, during and after their death. Dr. Brad

Carmichael of Pleasant Valley Veterinary Hospital in McMurray PA,will speak on “Our Last Moments Together”, Elizabeth Babcock,LCSW, will speak on “Our Initial Grief Response”, and Bernadette E.Kazmarski, animal artist and writer, will speak on “The Joy of Pets”.These speakers are followed by a reading of “Words of Tribute”

written by pet owners who attend. Chebatorisencourages participants to write a 50-wordtribute to commemorate and remember thelives they shared with their special pets, andhas tips and examples on her website forcomposition.

“Keeping a tribute to your pet to only 50words can be a challenge,” Chebatorisremarks, “but limiting your remembrance to50 words helps you to focus on the essentialelements thatmade your pet special.” Familiesare also encouraged to bring a photo ormemento of their pet to be displayed duringthe ceremony.

Pet Memorial Sunday CeremonyHosted by CCPC


IN REMEMBRANCE

CHARTIERS CUSTOMPET CREMATION

• CremationsPerformed on

Premises• Urns• Memorials• Transport

442 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017Phone answers 24/7 for your convenience.

Hours are by appointment.

www.ccpc.ws (412) 220-7800

“Caring for families wholove their pets.”

Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area

After all the speakers and the readings and thecandle-lighting ceremony, “we release a flock ofwhite doves to symbolize our ability to let go ofour precious companions,” Chebatoris explains.

The gathering will be held under a tent in thecemetery with light refreshments served afterwardas families are invited to share their experienceswith each other and speak to the presenters.

The Tribute ScrollAsa follow-up to the event, attendees are encouragedto offer a photo with their tribute to be includedin the annual “Tribute Scroll”, a slideshow of photos and tributes withoriginal musical accompaniment composed after each Pet MemorialSunday since 2010. Each slideshow is added to her website for familiesto view as a memorial whenever they choose; to see these TributeScrolls, please visit www.ccpc.ws.

Please RSVPFor more information or to RSVP, please visit www.ccpc.ws or callDeb at 412-220-7800 by Friday, September 6. If youwish to composea tribute, please send that by Friday, September 6 as well. The Pet

Memorial Sunday page on the site includes an e-mail address and faxforDeb as well as instructions for composing and sending yourWordsof Tribute.

Also, in order to provide a peaceful environment for all, it is notappropriate to bring live pets to this event.

To read a write-up and see photos of the 2011 Pet Memorial Sundaycelebration, visit the CCPC’s blog “Animus” and read “Pet MemorialSunday 2011”.

Photos: Bernadette E. Kazmarski


FEATURED BUSINESS

Rockin’Horse Stables inCranberry Townshipis family run and will becelebrating its twentieth year inbusiness in 2014. The stableswere founded and are owned bywife and husbandKimberly andAdam Giannamore and offerboarding, professional lessons,quality horse sales, training andsummer camps.

Kimberly Giannamore grew upon a Washington County horsefarm. After their first two daughters were born she and Adam decidedthat they wanted to bring up their daughters in the type ofenvironment Kim had enjoyed, away from the city. Three stables and20 years later, Adam says, they are in a terrific location just a couple ofmiles from the heart of Cranberry Township.

“Now those littlegirls are all grownup and teachinghere at the stable,”hecontinues.Aszia,26, andAinjel, 24,are accomplishedequestrians andalong with theirmother Kim theyenjoypassing their

knowledge along to the stable’s students, and seeing the riders advanceis very rewarding for them, andwhile they want their students to workhard they also remind them to enjoy what they are doing and have funwith it. Their youngest daughter, Lexzy, 14, has already competed atthe AmericanGoldCup and other top horse shows. She has a genuinelove for riding and training the horses as well. “Nowwith the additionof our grandson, two-year-oldDom, the third generation of riders hasbegun,” remarks Adam,who handles building,maintenance and repairat the stables.

Most of the 40 horses who live at the stables are boarders,lesson horses and leases. Most are hunters and jumpers but afew are accomplished eventers as well. Many of the boardersand students compete at equestrian competitions that theGiannamores travel to year round. “Our riders have enjoyeda great deal of success in everything from schooling shows tosome of the biggest shows in the country,” Adam continues.“We are usually easy to find because we are the large groupcheering on our riders and actually having fun, somethingI think far too many riders are missing.”

Adam started the Rockin’Horse summer camp program eightyears ago and that has evolved into a fun-filled week of lastingmemories for the campers. “I never call our camps riding

camps but instead ‘horse-themed summer camps’,” Adam says. Theirunique games, learning activities and adventure activities combinedwith the horse riding sets the Rockin’ Horse camps apart from anyothers. “The 10-year-old insideme assuresme that each year there willbe new fun activities for our kids and that is likely the reason we haveso many repeat campers each year,” Adam remarks. This year’s campswere the biggest camps ever.

Rockin’Horse strives to offer a safe, clean, family-friendly environmentfor both boarders and students. “The best thing about the barn is thatwe are a family run business andKim really cares a great deal about theanimals and would do anything for our boarders. She makes this aspecial place,” Adam says.

“I always tell peoplethat if you’re lookingfor something fun foryourself or your kidsgive us a call and seehow easy it is to getstarted.”

FAMILY BUSINESSROCKIN’ FOR 20 YEARS


Aszia, Lexzy, Adam, Kim & Ainjel


Located just minutes from the heart of Cranberry Twp.Rockin’ Horse Stables is a hunter/jumper facility offering

full care boarding, professional riding lessons, summer campsand quality horse sales.

724-601-4706visit our web-site at

www.rockinhorsestables.com

Rockin’ Horse Stables

Whether you are introducing a child to riding, fulfilling a lifelongdream, renewing an old hobby or just looking for someplace new,

we can help. Contact us and see how easy it is to get started!

Thanks to all of our 2013 camp participantsand families for making this our biggest

and most fun year of summer camps ever.See you next year!!

[email protected]

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In the last issue our topic was flares and balance from a conformationalperspective, but there aremany factors that contribute to hoof shape.

One has to consider the environment, the overall usage and the geneticmakeup of the equine as well.The idea that hooves should be perfectly“symmetrical” is rather ideological and a rarity at best. After dissectinghundreds of cadaver hooves during my workshop training years,I found that many of the boney structures within were anything butsymmetrical. Years of wear, shoeing and trimming practices, injuriesand a plethora of other factors yielded coffin bones that were oftenwider on one side, chipped or broken in areas, andmore often than notasymmetrical in nature. Perhaps you’ve seen a horse that had a“flat side” on both front hooves, most likely medially, and wonderedif maybe your farrier/practitioner could “fix” the hooves tomake themmore aesthetically pleasing? Chances are, if they tried, the horseexperienced lameness and began loading in an unnatural way. So howdoes a horse load?

Heel First LandingForcing a horse to load “heel first” is unnatural. There are manyorganizations, individuals, and veterinarians alike who will insist thisis not only beneficial, but optimal for the equine’s performance. I haveeven had a vet prescribe that I extend the shoe plate beyond the backof the bulbs to ensure the horse load heel first; respectfully I refused andwalked away.Why? Because the equine does not load heel first – wellnot always. They may if they are ambling up the aisle of your barn ata relaxed walk for their trim, and they may during an extended trotreach for the level ground heel first, but more often than not the hoofloads flat. When they climb a hill, they load toe first, when theydescend they load heel first, and when they passage they load the sidefirst and roll the hoof; likewise when they are on uneven terrain theyload whatever hits the ground first and accommodate to regain balancewith each step.What is balance then?

Balance DefinedBalance is defined as a state of equilibriumor equipoise, an even distribution ofweight. Balance is having the right amount– not too much or too little – of anyquality, which leads toharmonyor evenness.Between horse and rider this balancemust be earned through practice, disciplineand repetition. Within the wild horse itcan be observed through natural collectedmovements whereby the head can swingfreely from side to side scanning the

environment as the body remains perfectly under itself. This too isearned, for the horse is naturally short on one side or the other (likebeing right or left handed) and disciplined riding of the domestic horsemust replace what would naturally occur in the wild if they werepermitted free movement over twenty plus miles a day. How does thisapply to hooves? They are the source of the evenness – providing justthe right amount of support where needed to balance the equine formovement.

The hooves are rarely symmetrical. One may be larger or wider thanthe other (i.e. club foot) to compensate for structures above; likewiseone side will extend farther out (flare) to accommodate the weightplaced upon it to find balance. The heels are not always equal either,despitemany claims; they aremerely the same length.What Imean bythis is when viewing the palmer capsule (back of the hoof), one sidemay be slightly higher than the other should you draw an imaginaryline. In last month’s issue I provided a picture of a balanced hoof, andif you look closely you will see that even when I pushed my rightthumb against the outside bulb to raise it the line (in yellow) was notperfectly horizontal.The picture below is of a feral basinmustang takenduring my visit to the BLM in Sparks Nevada. As you can see, thethere is a visible fare, or wider area, on the quarters (sides) of this hoof.This is what we call a “natural flare” and it should not be rasped awayfor aesthetic reasons for it has purpose; it provides balance to the hoof.

The flare is “natural” because it is connected, not separated, from thelamellar junction and median stratum (white line and water line orinner “white” part of the hoof wall).The balance is determined by thecenter structure within, not by the visible appearance of symmetryfrom the outside. There is no “flat plane” visible on the capsule itself,because it is not weight bearing in this position and therefore has noforces applied to expand it as would occur during normal mechanicalfunction. Similarly, the front hooves exhibit slightly more heel length,yet express a lower angle (toe angle) than the hinds.

The coffin bone within the front hooves is more rounded due to itsfunction – balance. The hinds express a more oval shape due to their

propulsion function as well as bal-ance. The hoof wall follows theshape of the bone within; given thisknowledge it thenmakes sense thatthe bones themselves will remodelover time due to use, function,circumstance, and environmentalforces. This is not to say that allhooves are perfectly symmetricalat birth, for genetics also play asignificant part in determiningshape and size of every structurewithin the body.

EQUINE AFFAIRS

By Nancy Frishkorn CHCP, BAOut of Balance (part 2)

BLMmustang natural balance never trimmed.


All Natural Hoof CareNancy FrishkornCHCP-Field Instructor

Liberated HorsemanshipBarefoot Trimming Services

for the Tri-State Area: PA, WV, OH

[email protected]

EQUINE AFFAIRS

This last photo is from a 14 year oldpaint that is “splay footed” or toes outon the front hooves. This hoof had aterrible crack in the coronet regiondue to imbalance and/or injury butwas permitted remodeling throughnatural hoof care; interestingly thequarter crack closed and healedwithout the use of any shoeing device.As you can see, the outer heel (on yourright side in this photo) is slightlylonger than the inside heel, yet thefrog is centered in the capsule. The important thing to look for is thatthe heels are at the widest point of the frog (back of hoof) and they bearweight equally providing a perpendicular line to the center of thecapsule up the bridge and frog apex. The entire story of this horse (myvery own mother’s paint) can be found under the “cracks” tab on mywebsite at www.hooflady.org.

ReferencesBalance - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com. (2013). Retrievedfrom https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/balance

Solar view toed out balanced trim.

Newborn foal has natural balance.

Palmer view balanced natural trim.


EQUINE AFFAIRSIn the previous articles, we discussed the value of training the horseto be relaxed, rhythmic, round in the top line, and straight whenmoving forward. A gymnastically trained horse will use its whole bodywhile carrying a rider andmaintain all of the above-mentioned qualitiesof training. The gymnastic training of the horse, or dressage, will

enhance a horse’sway of moving

and keep the horse balanced, athletic and sound.Training the horse to stretch its back, track straightand stay relaxed and happy throughout its workoutis like yoga for the horse.The horse’s whole body isengaged in the training. Riders do yoga standingand sitting, but horses are trained primarily whilemoving forward.

As discussed last month a horse moving forward does not meanrushing around. It means moving in a rhythmic forward motion thatcan be harnessed by the rider’s aids.Horses are naturally prone tomoveforward, and a trained horse learns to wait for the rider’s command.Riders do not just hop on and giddy up till the horse runs out ofenergy. Although, I am sure some riders think this is a correct and funway to experience a horse. The gymnastically trained horse workswillingly forward from the rider’s leg and then responds to either therider’s seat or rein aid to slow down.The circle is the ‘training wheel oftraining’ whether in a round pen or a twenty meter circle in the arena.Riding on a circle will naturally slow a rushing horse down, but applyinga half halt will accomplish the same objective more immediately andmore effectively.

The half halt slows the horse as compared to a full halt that asks thehorse to stop completely or “whoa.” It is called a half of a halt, or halfhalt, because it is not a full halt. The half halt rebalances a horse thatmay have lost balance and is rushing.Trained horses rarely rush but dooccasionally, and in this case would need a half halt. Of course, it took

lots of half halts and circles to train them not to rush in the first place.Applying a half halt is done with the rider’s outside rein. As the rider’sinside active leg asks the horse to move more forward if need be, theoutside rein then slows the horse. These aids are called the diagonalaids, meaning they work from the inside to the outside through thehorse. The timing of the half halt for an English rider is on the upphase of the posting trot. When the rider is in the down phase of the

posting trot, theinside active legasks the horse tomove forward.

A rider that isnot posting, needs to feel with theseat when the horse’s inside legmoves forward and ask for moreforward if needed, and then halfhalt as the leg moves back. A horseprimarily carries its weight from itsinside hind leg. Thus when therider’s inside ‘active leg’ asks thehorse to stepmore forward then theoutside half halting or ‘supportingrein’ captures this forward movinghorse.The energy is then transferredback to the hindquarter instead ofsending itmore forward.This cycleof signaling the horse is called the“ring of aids” and is why and howa half halt works.

Using the aids to apply a half haltto slow the horse is one way torebalance a horse that rushes. Arider can circle till the horse findsa rhythm, but this could take awhile. Learning to apply a halfhalt, like all riding, is done with

trial and error, but once you feel your horse rebalance and slow froman effective half halt you will have learned how effective it is. Withriding, if you feel it you learn it.

www.CoventryEquestrianCenter.com

When a rider learns to half halt whether from theseat, leg or rein aid to contain the horse’s forwardenergy, a more uphill balance will develop. Thegymnastically trained horse should be able tolengthen its top line (spine) as well as collect.This horse’s top line is coiled or collected but notconstrained.

• Freelance Riding Instructor - for lessons and clinics• Learn to train the horse gymnastically using simplified ridingtechniques to create a more athletic horse & rider communication

• Improve your riding dialog for all disciplines

Call 724-206-9902, or visit www.CoventryEquestrianCenter.com

This horse is taking a full stride and tracking up. As aresult, he is using his top line under the rider’s seat. Therider’s seat or position is not inhibiting this horse inany way. To half halt this long stride she would takeback a little with the outside rein. The horse would thenstep more under his body and up, as opposed to a longerstride. The result of a half halt develops the horse’s abilityto carry more from behind instead of covering ground.

by Kristin Hermann

Using a Half Halt to“rebalance” a forward horse

Dr. Doug Knueven practices anintegrative approach to pet care. He iswell versed in conventional veterinarymedicine and has been licensedsince 1987. He is also certified inacupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine,and chiropractic. He is a member ofthe American Holistic VeterinaryMedical Association and has advancedtraining in natural nutrition, massagetherapy, homeopathy and a host ofother alternative therapies.

At Beaver Animal Clinic, Dr. Doug offers a fullrange of options for the treatment of disease andthe maintenance of health. Western medicinetends to focus on fighting disease while holisticmedicine strives to strengthen the body. Thesetwo goals are not necessarily mutually exclusive.An integrative practitioner works with the bestof what these two philosophies have to offerpicking and choosing from the full menu ofoptions to put together a treatment plan thatis ideal for the individual pet and her caregiver.

Dr. Ingrid Rhinehart earned herveterinary degree in 2011 from CornellUniversity. During her time in veterinaryschool, she focused on such things asbringing veterinary medicine to low-incomefamilies, helping people cope with the lossof a pet by volunteering on the Pet LossHotline, organizing community educationevents and helping to bring holistic andcomplementary medicine to the college andthe veterinary students. She is a CertifiedVeterinary Acupuncturist and looksforward to expanding her training inintegrative modalities.She shares her life with her husband and

their three fabulous Great Danes (Aurora,Lucky and Harry), one smart and sassyDoberman (Ace), and a very entertainingHermann’s tortoise (Scooter).

BEAVER ANIMAL CLINICWe at Beaver Animal Clinic believe

in the power of caring.Caring for our patients as our own pets.Caring for our clients as our friends.Caring for each other as our family.

Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 9-8; Fri. 9-5Sat. 9-3; Sun. Closed

357 State Avenue | Beaver, PA 15009724-774-8047

www.facebook.com/BeaverAnimalClinic

• Full Service Animal Clinic• Preventive Health Care• General Surgery• Radiology• Dentistry• Holistic Care• Acupuncture• Vaccine & Vaccine Counseling• Nutrition Counseling& Natural Raw Diets

• Chiropractic• Chinese Herbal Medicine• Therapeutic Laser• Healing Touch &Massage Therapy

Holistic andConventional Care:

Dr. DougThe Holistic Vet

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Pghpetconnections September 2013