Things are getting back to normal, so odds are there will be lots of fireworks this year So have a game plan ready to go.

Basic things:
Here are some simple ways to help you and your pooch (and kitty) stay safe during 4th of July festivities.

KEEP PETS INDOORS
Keep your pets in a safe, enclosed room, preferably one without windows. If you’re having guests over wear masks , consider keeping pets in a room that’s off-limits to guests, with plenty of water and food.

CREATE A CALMING ENVIRONMENT
Surround pets with their favorite toys and other familiar objects. Sometimes the smell of an article of clothing from your laundry can help comfort them. Play soothing music and keep the room as quiet as possible by closing doors, windows, and blinds, create ambient noise ie turn up the tv and play music a bit louder to drown out the fireworks.

KEEP AWAY FROM FIREWORKS
Even if your pet doesn’t seem obviously upset by fireworks, they can still cause harm to pets. Avoid potential burns, injuries, or possible ingestion by keeping all pets out of the vicinity of fireworks.

UPDATE IDENTIFICATION
The biggest risk of all this 4th of July is that pets will get loose and become lost. Even if a pet is secured inside, the sound of fireworks can cause them to panic – sometimes even breaking through glass windows. Make sure your pets are microchipped and wearing identification tags with your current address and phone .

PREVENTATIVE  MEASURES:
Thunder shirts are good tool to use for calming and creating a sense of safety for your pet. Essential Oils  and rescue remedy may also be helpful

There are also some great calming points to use before the big day during and afterwards. If you can start these about a week before and do them in once a day and maybe twice on the 4th;  it may help keep your pets from getting really worked up. You can use these on  cats as well ( if they will let you)l

Hold points lightly  with your finger or thumb you don’t’ need a lot of pressure for this  to work use the same pressure that you would use to touch your eyelid. If  they yawn or licks their lips or does the deep breathing and sighing  you are doing a great job

GV20 dorsal midline between the ears there is usually a bump where the point is..revives consciousness clears brain calms mind

GB20  Right behind the skull or occipital bone one finger off the cervical spine on either side in the divots. Also a good relaxation point good point to ease over thinking. Pulls the energy down from the head releases built up heat

GV17  Right behind the skull in between the GB 20 points. Little divot under the bump. Great point to disperse energy and creates calm.

HT7 PE7 In the depression between the tendon and the ligament it is a natural depression and pretty easy to find just above the bend in the wrist. Your fingers will slide in the groove on either side. Hold bold sides that is actually 2 points Ht7 and Pe7 this clears the mind and calms the spirit great relaxation point  pulls heat out of the head…

ST36 Find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee  This point serves double duty it calms the mind and helps with anxiety, worry and any kind of stress that  produce  anxiety . It is also a great immune point and supports the immune system in case it has been over stressed

KI3 BL60 Top of the hock thin skin your fingers will slide into it on either side it is kind of like our Achilles this is actually two points KI3 and BL60 KI3 In TCM fear is housed in the kidneys so it will help alleviate unnecessary fear.  BL 60 is called the aspirin point and is good one to help with any kind of pain or irritation in the body

Also there are some essential oil recipes  you can try on your dog. Make sure they like the smell of the oils you choose, If they don’t it won’t help them relax.

For your cat Feliway or calming homeopaths or bach flowers may help or

CBD can be a good add for either dogs or cats. Pet Releaf is a great brand 3rd party tested and they have lots of dosing options .

If you have any questions please feel free to email us at Info@reikiforallcreatures.com Also if you do try these points please let us know if there was a change.

The post Is The 4th Of July Stressful For Your Pup? If So Here Are A Few Tips, Points And Essential Oils That May Help appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

This is a long one but worth the read. The links from Dr. Becker offer a lot of insight into DCM and other heart based issues. 

Keeping your dogs heart healthy is very similar to what you would do to keep your own heart healthy. Good diet , exercise,  good oral care,low stress environment and lots of playtime  are great ways to maintain your pups heart health.

Heart disease in canines can be congenital (hereditary), but the vast majority of cases (95 percent) are acquired. It is typically a condition of middle-aged and older dogs, and involves either the heart muscle itself, or the valves of the heart.

Common heart disorders in dogs include:

· Valvular disease- Heart valve problems are the most common type of canine heart disease. The valves of the heart weaken with age and begin to leak when the heart muscle pumps.

· Heart Worm Disease– Mosquitoes are the carriers. The worms take up residence in the heart and cause disease.

· Myocarditis – an inflammation of the heart caused by infection (usually bacterial). Myocarditis both weakens and enlarges the heart muscle.

· Pericardial disease, in which the protective sac around a dog’s heart fills with liquid, interfering with the normal beating mechanism.

· Arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat brought on by a problem with the body’s electrical control system.

Interestingly, one of the most common reasons for heart disease in humans, blocked arteries, is rare in dogs. Unfortunately, heart problems in dogs are relatively common. A heart murmur can be caused by abnormal blood flow within the heart, usually involving the heart valves. Murmurs can also be caused by problems in communication between the left and right sides of the heart. Murmurs can be present at birth (congenital). They can also be acquired due to disease or the aging process.

Heart murmurs in puppies tend to be pretty innocent… but with older dogs it should be looked into. Heart issues can be difficult to detect but there are some signs that should not be ignored

· Coughing that does not go away after 4 to 5 days

· Blue or Bluish appearing tongue ( this is serious so vet  asap.)

· Loss of appetite

· Fatigue, weakness, loss of stamina, decreased exercise endurance

·Too fast or too slow heart beat; increased respiratory effort, including increased respiratory rate

·Heart rate depending on size of dog.. little guys beat faster 60-140 beats per minute

· Breaths per minute you can count these but make sure your pup is at rest 10-35 per  minute the full up/down motion is considered one breath.

Certain breeds are more prone to heart problems:

Breed Heart Condition

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Dachshund, Small breeds Acquired mitral valve disease

Bull Terrier, Rottweiler Congenital mitral valve disease

Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Labrador Retriever Myocardial failure

Cocker and English Springer Spaniels, German Shepherd, Maltese, Poodle Patent ductus arteriosus

Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, English Bulldog, Mastiff, Miniature Schnauzer, Samoyed, West Highland White TerrierPulmonary stenosis

Boxer, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Newfoundland, Rottweiler Subvalvular aortic stenosis

Labrador Retriever Congenital tricuspid valve disease

English Springer Spaniel Ventricular septal defect

The good news is, if your pup is diagnosed with any if the above in most cases there is a lot you can do to keep them happy and healthy.

Diet and supplements play a big role in your dogs heart health, along with good dental health.  In Recent months a lot has been said about grain free kibble causing DCM. This has turned out to be inaccurate. Most  Kibble itself does not provide adequate protein or Taurine. So if you feed kibble there are many things you can do to supplement or add human grade protein to your pups diet. This is really important for their health and longevity

.. This article by Dr Becker is a very important read … Here are some excerpts and a link below 

_{Protein deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy}

_{DCM is multifactorial, meaning it has multiple causes. Genetics and nutrition both play a role, and the nutrition component is also multifactorial. For example, the lectins and other anti-nutrients in grain-free kibble may be contributors. In addition, toxic levels of metals (iron, copper and cobalt) have been linked to DCM in humans.}3,4

However, the elephant in the room is protein deficiency, which when coupled with high levels of certain minerals causes DCM in humans that is reversible with added protein in the diet.5,6,7 From the 2016 study cited:

“… [H]ypothesis is consistent with observations in animal models, which showed no cardiomyopathy with cobalt exposure alone but a severe cardiomyopathy when cobalt exposure was preceded by protein deficiency …”8

For pets, AAFCO sets minimum mineral requirements, but not maximums, and some companies may supply excessive synthetic nutrients via the premixes used across multiple formulations. This is one reason I suggest rotating proteins and brands often.

How pet foods become protein-deficient

All pet food contains three sources of calories and nutrients: fat, protein and carbohydrates, which occur in varying amounts depending on the formula. It’s the amount of each of these components that means the difference between health and disease, and also defines how species-appropriate the food is.

1.Excessive carbohydrates — In the vast majority of dry pet foods on the market, excessive amounts of carbs offset animal protein, which creates amino acid deficiencies. Canned food usually has fewer carbs that kibble, which is why over 90% of the DCM reports have involved dogs on dry versus canned diets. Additionally, if a pet parent feeds a lower volume of food than their pet requires (for example, to a dog who needs to lose weight), this reduces critical amino acid intake from meat-based protein even further.

In my opinion, vegan diets, high-carbohydrate diets (e.g., most grain-free kibble), high-fiber diets (weight loss formulas) and low protein diets (“senior” formulas) can also predispose dogs to nutritionally mediated DCM over time. These diets lack sufficient meat-based protein, coupled with excess minerals and the digestion and absorption issues created by significant alteration of nutrients during processing.

2.Excessive fat — In the case of raw diets, if they’re poorly formulated, excessive fat can offset animal protein. Raw lamb diets (lamb is high in fat) have been implicated in a few cases of DCM. When I formulate homemade pet diets for clients, it’s extremely challenging to meet minimum amino acid requirements using any meat that’s less than 80% lean (which means the meat contains 20% fat).

Lean meat is expensive, so some fresh pet food producers use fatty meats and add additional animal fat to their formulas as well, creating fresh meat-based diets that are grossly deficient in amino acids because all that fat offsets the protein in the meat. This is also why high-ratio ketogenic diets can’t be fed to dogs indefinitely — They’re deficient in amino acids and can create protein deficiency-related disease, if fed long-term.

Unbalanced prey model diets have also caused DCM in cats.9 Remember, domesticated animals (in this case, prey animals) do not contain the same macronutrients as their wild counterparts.

For more information on click on the link below

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2019/08/05/nutritionally-related-dilated-cardiomyopathy-in-dogs.aspx

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/10/22/pet-heart-disease.aspx

There are also some great acupressure points that can also help if your dog has been diagnosed, or can be used as preventative  to keep the heart strong and functional especially if your dog is on the list above.

PE6 Inside of the front limb  between the tendons three cun above the crease in the wrist ( transverse carpal crease)

HT 7 PE7 in the depression between the tendon and the ligament it is a natural depression and pretty easy to find just above the bend in the wrist. Your fingers will slide in the groove on either side. Hold both sides that is actually 2 points Ht7 and Pe7

CV17 ventral midline 4th intercostal space  caudal border of the elbows

LIV3  between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal  (back legs)

KI 27    found between the sternum and the first rib and 2nd rib two cun off the ventral midline

The post February Is National Heart Month… So Here Are Some Good Points And Information For You And Your Pup… Have A Happy Healthy Heart Month​ appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

So Thanksgiving is almost here , even though it may be a little smaller or held outside this year we still want to keep our pets safe. The Holidays are an amazing time of year lots of family and friends and of course food. So to keep your pups tummy free from indigestion or worse; here are a few great tips from  Pet MD and Dogster.com

http://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/care/five-thanksgiving-tips-for-the-dog-owner

http:/www.dogster.com/dog-food/thanksgiving-safety-tips-for-dog-owners

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/thanksgiving-pet-safety.aspx

In addition to those tips plan ahead and set some ground rules for your pup and your guests.

Dogs have these amazingly sad eyes that they use specifically for letting your guests know how much they would love anything on their plate. Obviously you never feed them so… If your dog is going to mingle with the guests it is best to set ground rules let your guests know not to feed your pup and explain what can happen.

Aside from the mess you will have to clean up later there is also a chance that all those little table tidbits could cause a trip to the vet and some long term issues.

Make an announcement before dinner keep it light but serious, especially if you have non dog people or elderly guests. One of my friends actually put up signs and had little table tents that said please do not feed the dog. She also had a t-shirt made that said do not feed the animals. Now this sounds extreme but the year before her pup was overfed by a few unnamed guests and ended up with a pretty serious case of pancreatitis It was scary and not cheap.

Thankfully her pooch is doing ok but still has to be very careful about what she eats.

So enjoy the holidays in moderation and just in case you or your pup has a mild tummy upset I have attached just one point to use it is a good one and deals with constipation diarrhea and vomiting oh my… so just in case here you go.

Oh and Cat people keep an eye on your counters during prep . Cats tend not to beg they just take things   ST36  works for them as well

ST 36 find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee

The post Thanksgiving Is Almost Here… Need A Game Plan To Keep Your Pups Tummy Safe And Happy ? Here You Go … appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

So it is Halloween once again, always  a fun holiday and a great excuse to dress up your favorite fur kids

So to make sure everyone has a safe, fun and relaxing Halloween here are few tips from RFAC, along with some good links  from the ASPCA and PetMD

Pet parents with furry foodies  this one is for you 

Ok so we all know that chocolate is not good for dogs and cats, as well as raisins and  macadamia nuts,  especially if they are covered in chocolate.

Milk chocolate not as toxic as dark or bakers chocolate but will cause tummy upset. If you have a 90lb lab who ingests one or two mini snickers probably not a huge emergency but just keep an eye on him or her.

On the other hand, if you have a little chihuahua who does the same that may  be a problem, based on weight of the dog to chocolate ratio. Either way give your vet or Pet ER  a call just to make sure you know what to look for, or go in just to be safe.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is potentially lethal. But the real danger lies with dark chocolate. Merck warns that deaths have been reported with theobromine doses as low as 115 milligrams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight.

While uncooked  pumpkins and corn are not toxic to dogs  if they eat too much of either they will have a tummy ache so here are some good points to help with that

• tummy upset

POINTS FOR TUMMY UPSET

LI4 Lu11 is on either side of the dew claw of the front paw. lightly move your finger in a circular motion

LI11 in the outside or lateral crease of the elbow

ST 36 find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee

SP6   2 fingers above the medial malleolus or ankle bone this point is on the bone so just follow it up two finger widths on the inside of the back leg.

LIV3 between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal balances out the liver

Scaredy Cats and Dogs

For the scaredy cats and dogs it is important that they are in a nice quiet calm place. A bedroom or quiet room away from the front door is a great idea also make sure there are no open windows or ways to escape. Lots of pets get really scared with all the commotion so it is best to keep them away from all that.  

There are some great calming points that you can start using    about a week out from the big night. These should help alleviate the initial panic.

For dogs not cats some essentials oils can help; lavender or peace and calming, Copaiba and frankincense are good choices .. Be sure to introduce gradually over the course of a week  let them sniff the oils and see which ones they like . If they have a preference you can diffuse the oil in their room or put a few drops on your hands and try petting them from back of the head to the tail. If diffusing make sure there is another room they can go to in case it becomes too much..  A Thundershirt  or rescue remedy is always good to have on hand.

“For cats rescue remedy is great but be cautious with  certain essential oils as they can be   toxic to cats The ones mentioned above should be ok, but use the same introductory procedure and see if your cat likes them if yes great and if not then rescue remedy or bach flowers would be great  “Cats are not as well-equipped to metabolize essential oil components because they lack the liver enzyme glucuronyl transferase  http://felinewellness.com/aromatherapy-for-cats/

For the Canine and Feline Fashionistas

So if you have a pet that loves to dress up and greet everyone at the door to show off their amazing costume Halloween is the best holiday ever 

Here are a few tips just to be safe

1. Obvious tip I am sure allof you know this but ….As cute as your costume is and I ‘ve seen some amazing ones…be sure it does not constrict your pets movement, hearing or site and most important.. make sure it does not constrict movement or ability to breathe bark or meow

2. Be sure to try on costumes before the big night. This allows your pet to get used the costume and have fun  If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.

3. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

So have a safe happy and healthy halloween..

For more info see the links below

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/halloween-safety-tips

http://www.petmd.com/dog/seasonal/evr_multi_halloween_safety_tips

The post Boo It’s That Time Again.. So Here Are A Few Tips To Make Sure Your Halloween Is Safe And Not Scary appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

Does Your Pet Have A Fear Based Issue That Does Not Make Sense? It May Be Pre-Programmed In His Or Her DNA

So this is interesting… Sometimes it is really hard to figure out why your pup is terrified of something  that other dogs are not  even concerned about.

Why are  some dogs are scared of fireworks or loud noises and others are not even bothered. How come  some dogs love the water and others are sure “it is going to kill them”. It turns out that fear or lack there of may have been passed down from their parents or possibly even their grandparents.

New research from Emory University School of Medicine, in Atlanta, has shown that it is possible for some information to be inherited biologically through chemical changes that occur in DNA. During the tests they learned that that mice can pass on learned information about traumatic or stressful experiences – in this case a fear of the smell of cherry blossom – to subsequent generations.

According to the Telegraph, Dr Brian Dias, from the department of psychiatry at Emory University, said: ”From a translational perspective, our results allow us to appreciate how the experiences of a parent, before even conceiving offspring, markedly influence both structure and function in the nervous system of subsequent generations.

Another good example of this is children who are afraid of dogs that have never had a bad encounter with one. People usually surmise that one of the parents are afraid, which is true;but according to this study, that fear may already be programmed into the child’s DNA. So it runs deep and then is    re- enforced by the parents actions…

Rescue dogs who are fearful most likely have had a bad experience but their mom or dad may have had something happen as well that is programmed into their DNA ….so just something to consider

In TCM ( Traditional Chinese Medicine) Fear is housed in the kidneys and to make it even more interesting the kidneys house prenatal chi or in western speak genetics, so it all kind of ties together and is a solid clue to help solve the fear puzzle.

Here are are two points that may help with fear based issues both Kidney points….

KI3 top of the hock thin skin your fingers will slide into it on the inside of the back leg KI3  is a source point good for the kidneys which house original or prenatal chi. Fear is also housed in the Kidneys so this is a good point to dispel that.

KI 27   found between the sternum and the first rib and 2nd rib two fingers off the ventral midline good point for immune mediated disorders  brings up and releases old issues, great calming and release point do this after KI3

Full Article below 

Phobias may be memories passed down in genes from ancestors

Memories may be passed down through generations in DNA in a process that may be the underlying cause of phobias

Strands of DNA Photo: ALAMY

By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent

6:00PM GMT 01 Dec 2013

Memories can be passed down to later generations through genetic switches that allow offspring to inherit the experience of their ancestors, according to new research that may explain how phobias can develop.

Scientists have long assumed that memories and learned experiences built up during a lifetime must be passed on by teaching later generations or through personal experience.

However, new research has shown that it is possible for some information to be inherited biologically through chemical changes that occur in DNA.

Researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine, in Atlanta, found that mice can pass on learned information about traumatic or stressful experiences – in this case a fear of the smell of cherry blossom – to subsequent generations.

The results may help to explain why people suffer from seemingly irrational phobias – it may be based on the inherited experiences of their ancestors.

So a fear of spiders may in fact be an inherited defence mechanism laid down in a families genes by an ancestors’ frightening encounter with an arachnid.

Dr Brian Dias, from the department of psychiatry at Emory University, said: “We have begun to explore an underappreciated influence on adult behaviour – ancestral experience before conception.

“From a translational perspective, our results allow us to appreciate how the experiences of a parent, before even conceiving offspring, markedly influence both structure and function in the nervous system of subsequent generations.

“Such a phenomenon may contribute to the etiology and potential intergenerational transmission of risk for neuropsychiatric disorders such as phobias, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

In the study, which is published in the journal of Nature Neuroscience, the researchers trained mice to fear the smell of cherry blossom using electric shocks before allowing them to breed.

The offspring produced showed fearful responses to the odour of cherry blossom compared to a neutral odour, despite never having encountered them before.

The following generation also showed the same behaviour. This effect continued even if the mice had been fathered through artificial insemination.

The researchers found the brains of the trained mice and their offspring showed structural changes in areas used to detect the odour.

The DNA of the animals also carried chemical changes, known as epigenetic methylation, on the gene responsible for detecting the odour.

This suggests that experiences are somehow transferred from the brain into the genome, allowing them to be passed on to later generations.

The researchers now hope to carry out further work to understand how the information comes to be stored on the DNA in the first place.

They also want to explore whether similar effects can be seen in the genes of humans.

Professor Marcus Pembrey, a paediatric geneticist at University College London, said the work provided “compelling evidence” for the biological transmission of memory.

He added: “It addresses constitutional fearfulness that is highly relevant to phobias, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders, plus the controversial subject of transmission of the ‘memory’ of ancestral experience down the generations.

“It is high time public health researchers took human transgenerational responses seriously.

“I suspect we will not understand the rise in neuropsychiatric disorders or obesity, diabetes and metabolic disruptions generally without taking a multigenerational approach.”

Professor Wolf Reik, head of epigenetics at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, said, however, further work was needed before such results could be applied to humans.

He said: “These types of results are encouraging as they suggest that transgenerational inheritance exists and is mediated by epigenetics, but more careful mechanistic study of animal models is needed before extrapolating such findings to humans.”

It comes as another study in mice has shown that their ability to remember can be effected by the presence of immune system factors in their mother’s milk

Dr Miklos Toth, from Weill Cornell Medical College, found that chemokines carried in a mother’s milk caused changes in the brains of their offspring, affecting their memory in later life.

The post Does Your Pet Have A Fear Based Issue That Does Not Make Sense? It May Be Pre-Programmed In His Or Her DNA appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

Chronic inflammation is involved in a variety of disease processes. Inflammation is part of the body’s natural response to injuries, but if the condition persists it can lead to further damage.

Auto Immune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis  Lupus, IBD,  Type 2 Diabetes and  even something as simple as allergies are all part of chronic inflammation. According to the study below  manual Acupuncture  at ST36 reduced inflammation.

The study is interesting as it explains how ST36 works to downgrade TNF in the body. So if you or your pup  have a chronic inflammation issue ST36 may be a good add to your wellness plan .ST36 is an amazing point. If you follow this blog you can see how often it is used and for many different purposes.  Just put ST36 in the search bar and see what comes up..

Point and Article Below

ST36 find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee

Anti-inflammatory Acupuncture

Acupuncture reduces inflammation and researchers have discovered how it works. In a laboratory controlled scientific investigation, a key biological marker has been identified, quantified, and directly correlated with the application of acupuncture. Acupuncture successfully down regulates a pro-inflammatory biochemical (tumor necrosis factor alpha), which results in anti-inflammatory responses. In addition, the researchers have mapped the neural pathways by which acupuncture signaling stimulates anti-inflammatory effects.

Researchers in Korea have identified a mechanism by which acupuncture stimulation at the acupoint ST36 (Zusanli) has an anti-inflammatory effect. By downregulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), acupuncture relieves systemic inflammation. By testing the effects that a splenic neurectomy and vagotomy have on TNF-α levels in the spleen and the brain, Lim et al. found that the anti-inflammatory effects of ST36 (Zusanli) rely on the vagus nerve pathway. Both manual acupuncture stimulation (MAC) and electroacupuncture (EAC) induce c-Fos protein generation. However, only manual acupuncture stimulation has the effect of downregulating TNF-α; electroacupuncture has the opposite effect when applied to ST36.

Chronic inflammation is involved in a variety of disease processes. Inflammation is part of the body’s natural response to injuries, but if the condition persists it can lead to further damage. There are a number of factors related to chronic inflammation, including TNF-α. As an endogenous pyrogen, TNF-α is primarily involved in the regulation of immune cells. It is able to induce fever, inflammation, apoptosis, inhibit tumor growth, and inhibit virus replication. However, its dysregulation is implicated in the processes of a number of diseases including major depression, cancer, psoriasis, Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The researchers in this study used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce TNF-α production in lab mice. Next, they performed a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA analysis, which “showed that TNF-α mRNA was highly induced in the spleen following LPS administration and was downregulated by MAC.”

The researchers also gave the mice either a splenic neurectomy or a vagotomy to discern which nerve pathway was responsible for transmitting the anti-inflammatory responses induced by the acupuncture treatments. They found that the TNF-α levels decreased with MAC but were re-elevated in mice with a splenic neurectomy and vagotomy, suggesting that “TNF-α induced in the spleen and the serum after LPS administration may be modulated by AS [acupuncture stimulation].” Another trial showed that CNQX (AMPA receptor blocker) and PPADS (selective purinergic antagonist) — which both inhibit the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) — also decreased splenic TNF-α, which implies the direct involvement of the vagus nerve in the modulation of TNF-α.

The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve best known for innervating the viscera. However, “growing bodies of evidence indicate that vagus nerve activity is important not only for homeostatic regulation of internal organs but also for the regulation of pathologic inflammatory reactions; thus, the vagus nerve acts as a bridge between the neural and immune systems. Notably, VNS can activate the a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on the macrophages in the spleen.”

The cholinergic response, mediated by the vagus nerve, directly controls a proinflammatory response by way of the inflammatory reflex. Several inflammatory diseases are regulated by the ‘cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex,’ including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, previous research finds that insulin resistance is caused by chronic inflammation resulting from immune and metabolic dysregulation; in addition, a decrease in vagus nerve activity is correlated with obesity. “Selective cholinergic activation within the efferent vagus nerve-mediated arm of the inflammatory reflex can suppress obesity-associated inflammation and reverse metabolic complications. These findings raise the intriguing possibility that dysregulation of vagus nerve-mediated signaling might contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity and its related comorbidities.”

Obesity has reached epidemic levels in many countries and is a precursor for many chronic diseases, including diabetes. Chronic inflammation is “a critical step in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cholinergic mechanisms within the inflammatory reflex have, in the past 2 years, been implicated in attenuating obesity-related inflammation and metabolic complications. This knowledge has led to the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of obesity-related disorders.”

References

HD Lim et al., “Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture Stimulation via the Vagus Nerve,” PloS one. 11, no. 3 (March 19, 2016), accessed February 3, 2017, pp 4-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26991319

Valentin A. Pavlov and Kevin J. Tracey, The Vagus Nerve and the Inflammatory Reflex—linking Immunity and Metabolism, 8, no. 12, accessed February 3, 2017, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082307/

Yun-Kyoung Yim et al., Electro-Acupuncture at Acupoint ST36 Reduces Inflammation and Regulates Immune Activity in Collagen-Induced Arthritic Mice, 4, no. 1 (August 18, 2006), accessed February 3, 2017, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1810363/

Lin, Lili, Nikola Skakavac, Xiaoyang Lin, Dong Lin, Mia C. Borlongan, Cesar V. Borlongan, and Chuanhai Cao. “Acupuncture-induced analgesia: the role of microglial inhibition.” Cell transplantation 25, no. 4 (2016): 621-628.

Zhang, Ruixin, Lixing Lao, Ke Ren, and Brian M. Berman. “Mechanisms of acupuncture–electroacupuncture on persistent pain.” The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 120, no. 2 (2014): 482-503.Edit

The post Chronic Inflammation Can Cause A Lot of Damage To Your Pet’s Body and Yours. The Acupuncture Point ST36, Helps To Alleviate Chronic Inflammation appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

Skeletal Fluorosis is a painful, debilitating disease caused by a build up of fluoride in the body. Early stages are marked by stiffness and painful joints, mimicking arthritis. Later stages are defined by “severe deformities as the ligaments of the neck and vertebrae calcify (harden), muscle tissue wastes away, and movement becomes more and more limited.” according to Elizabeth Renter of Natural Society

Most patients suffering from skeletal Fluorosis show side effects from the high fluorine dose such as ruptures of the stomach lining and nausea.^[8]Fluorine can also damage the thyroid gland leading to hyperparatthyroidism, the uncontrolled secretion of parathyroid hormones.

These hormones regulate calcium concentration in the body. An elevated parathyroid hormone concentration results in a depletion of calcium in bone structures and thus a higher calcium concentration in the blood. As a result, bone flexibility decreases making the bone more amenable to fractures.^[9]n

Flouride is cumulative in the body, it is found in our drinking water and in most commercial pet foods.  So keep an eye on your pooch especially if they are older and have been drinking tap water their whole life.  If your pet  is starting to get  a little stiffer and not as mobile this may be one of the reasons.    It is always recommended to see your vet to discuss.  In some cases eliminating Fluoride from your pets diet may improve their symptoms.

For more information click on the links below…Happy Drinking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeletal_fluorosis

If your pet is getting a little stiff or has arthritis here are some good points to try.

Bai Hui At the lumbar sacral space or the universal spot on dogs there is a little dip and it is right before the tail meets the lumbar spine;   this is a great point for lower back and hip and leg stiffness and pain and a great calming and connecting point

BL 40 Right behind the knee use in conjunction with Bai Hui on both legs This is the master point for hip and back benefits low back hip and strengthens stifles. Also benefits the hip and knee joint pain

ST 36 find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee  This point serves double duty good point for lower back pain It is also a great immune point

GB34 Between the head of thetibia and head of the fibula on the lateral side of the back leg down from the kneecapThe point is found on the lateral aspect of the hind limb between the head of the tibia and fibula you can feel a space between the two bones and there will be a stop where the bones meet and a little depression that your finger will fall into.GB34 it is the influential point for tendons and ligaments  and is the sister meridian of the liver. helps strengthen his tendons and ligaments in hind legs also helps with blood flow.

Bl 60 Ki3  top of the hock thin skin your fingers will slide into it on either side it is kind of like our Achilles this is actually two points Ki3 and BL60 K3 is a source point good for the kidneys which house original chi this will tonify source chi helps with circulation and Arthritis. Kidney’s Sister Meridian is the Bladder so that is helpful as well BL 60 is called the aspirin point and is good one to help with pain and stiffness in body .

Sp6   3 cun above the medial malleolus or ankle bone this point is on the bone so just follow it up two finger widths on the  inside of the back leg. This is a great point to increase blood flow. It also reduces inflammation

Liv3  between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal balances out the liver and also a great point for detox and  tendons and ligaments  

Liv2 medial aspect of the 2nd digit distal to the metatarsal phalangial joint Relieves liver fire, Dispels wind, calms agitation

The post Is Your Dog’s Water Causing Arthritis Like Symptoms? appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

Really Interesting study, on what acupuncture or acupressure can do in the body. These three points allow for better endurance and stamina in healthy athletic pets.

They also help senior pets with diminished Yang, which most have.

These points will also work on humans so if you and your pet do long runs or hikes give these a try, or if you and your horse do endurance rides or races try these points and see what you notice.

Research demonstrates that acupuncture prevents fatigue and enhances athletic endurance. Scientists measured the effects of three acupuncture points on the swimming task ability and liver mitochondrial function of laboratory rats in a highly controlled investigation.

The results revealed that the normal control group and model group had significantly shorter swimming exhaustion times than the acupuncture group, which demonstrated objective improvements in athletic endurance.

The acupuncture group also demonstrated improvements in liver mitochondrial-respiratory function with a significantly lower oxygen consumption rate than the normal control and model groups.

The acupuncture group also demonstrated significant improvements in the liver mitochondrial respiratory control rate (RCR) and the ratio of phosphorus to oxygen (P/O).

The researchers measured additional interesting findings. They compared acupuncture point prescriptions. Group 1 received electroacupuncture at CV4 (Guanyuan) and ST36 (Zusanli) plus manual acupuncture stimulation at GV20 (Baihui). Group 2 received electroacupuncture at CV3 (Zhongji) and SP9 (Yinlinquan) and manual acupuncture stimulation at Yintang (EX-HN3). Group 1 demonstrated significantly better scores than group 2 thereby demonstrating that the CV4, ST36, GV20 acupuncture point prescription has markedly greater anti-fatigue effects.

GV20 Dorsal midline level with front of ear canal for Dogs

GV20 Highest part of the poll just in front of the Nuchal crest for Horses

CV4 Ventral midline 3cun caudal to the umbilicus  ( cun) is a  TCM measurement

Horse width of last rib is one cun  Canine  elbow to ankle is 12 cun /half it and half it again is approx 1 cun

ST36 find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee

For full study see below

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1201-acupuncture-lowers-fatigue-ups-endurance-new-research

The post Three Points Can Help Your Agility Dog, Your Endurance Horse and Your Senior Pets appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

Things may be a little different this 4th but odds are there will still be fireworks home made or otherwise. So have a game plan ready to go

Basic things:
Here are some simple ways to help you and your pooch (and kitty) stay safe during 4th of July festivities.

KEEP PETS INDOORS
Keep your pets in a safe, enclosed room, preferably one without windows. If you’re having guests over wear masks , consider keeping pets in a room that’s off-limits to guests, with plenty of water and food.

CREATE A CALMING ENVIRONMENT
Surround pets with their favorite toys and other familiar objects. Sometimes the smell of an article of clothing from your laundry can help comfort them. Play soothing music and keep the room as quiet as possible by closing doors, windows, and blinds, create ambient noise ie turn up the tv and play music a bit louder to drown out the fireworks.

KEEP AWAY FROM FIREWORKS
Even if your pet doesn’t seem obviously upset by fireworks, they can still cause harm to pets. Avoid potential burns, injuries, or possible ingestion by keeping all pets out of the vicinity of fireworks.

UPDATE IDENTIFICATION
The biggest risk of all this 4th of July is that pets will get loose and become lost. Even if a pet is secured inside, the sound of fireworks can cause them to panic – sometimes even breaking through glass windows. Make sure your pets are microchipped and wearing identification tags with your current address and phone .

PREVENTATIVE  MEASURES:
Thunder shirts are good tool to use for calming and creating a sense of safety for your pet. Essential Oils  and rescue remedy may also be helpful

There are also some great calming points to use before the big day during and afterwards. If you can start these about a week before and do them in once a day and maybe twice on the 4th;  it may help keep your pets from getting really worked up. You can use these on  cats as well ( if they will let you)l

Hold points lightly  with your finger or thumb you don’t’ need a lot of pressure for this  to work use the same pressure that you would use to touch your eyelid. If  they yawn or licks their lips or does the deep breathing and sighing  you are doing a great job

GV20 dorsal midline between the ears there is usually a bump where the point is..revives consciousness clears brain calms mind

GB20  Right behind the skull or occipital bone one finger off the cervical spine on either side in the divots. Also a good relaxation point good point to ease over thinking. Pulls the energy down from the head releases built up heat

GV17  Right behind the skull in between the GB 20 points. Little divot under the bump. Great point to disperse energy and creates calm.

HT7 PE7 In the depression between the tendon and the ligament it is a natural depression and pretty easy to find just above the bend in the wrist. Your fingers will slide in the groove on either side. Hold bold sides that is actually 2 points Ht7 and Pe7 this clears the mind and calms the spirit great relaxation point  pulls heat out of the head…

ST36 Find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee  This point serves double duty it calms the mind and helps with anxiety, worry and any kind of stress that  produce  anxiety . It is also a great immune point and supports the immune system in case it has been over stressed

KI3 BL60 Top of the hock thin skin your fingers will slide into it on either side it is kind of like our Achilles this is actually two points KI3 and BL60 KI3 In TCM fear is housed in the kidneys so it will help alleviate unnecessary fear.  BL 60 is called the aspirin point and is good one to help with any kind of pain or irritation in the body

Also there are some essential oil recipes  you can try on your dog. Make sure they like the smell of the oils you choose, If they don’t it won’t help them relax.

For your cat Feliway or calming homeopaths or bach flowers may help or

CBD can be a good add for either dogs or cats. Pet Releaf is a great brand 3rd party tested and they have lots of dosing options .

If you have any questions please feel free to email us at Info@reikiforallcreatures.com Also if you do try these points please let us know if there was a change.

The post Is The 4th Of July Stressful For Your Pup? If So Here Are A Few Tips, Points And Essential Oils That May Help appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.

So it is Summer, and you and your pup are going to go hiking, walking, running and having all sorts of fun adventures. Just be sure to keep your furry  friend cool and avoid over heating as that can have very serious results.  If your pups temperature hits 103 or higher you may have an emergency situation on your hands.

Heat stroke is an emergency and requires immediate treatment. Because dogs do not sweat (except to a minor degree through their foot pads), they do not tolerate high environmental temperatures as well as humans do. Dogs depend upon panting to exchange warm air for cool air. But when air temperature is close to body temperature, cooling by panting is not an efficient process.

• Common situations that can set the stage for heat stroke in dogs include:
• Being left in a car in hot weather
• Exercising strenuously in hot, humid weather
• Being a brachycephalic breed, especially a Bulldog, Pug, or Pekingese
• Suffering from a heart or lung disease that interferes with efficient breathing
• Being confined on concrete or asphalt surfaces
• Being confined without shade and fresh water in hot weather
• Having a history of heat stroke

To avoid this be sure to pay close attention to your dog, watch for excessive panting and pay close attention to  the color of your dogs tongue. If your dogs tongue is bright red slow down and cool him off ASAP. Always be sure to have lots of water on hand to make sure you and your pup are well hydrated

Here is a list of dogs breeds that are more susceptible to heat stroke based on structure, coat and breeding.

Brachycephalic breeds:

These dogs have the “pushed in faces” on relatively-broader heads. They have an elongated soft palate in the throat along with narrowed nostrils. Breeds include:

1. Boston Terriers

2. Boxers

3. Bulldogs, especially the English Bulldogs

4. Pekinese

5. Pugs

6. Shih Tzu

Double-Coated Breeds include:

1. Akitas

2. Chow Chows

3. Collies

4. Huskies

5. Poms

6. Samoyeds

7. Shelties

Dogs Bred for Cold Climates (with some overlap with double-coated dogs):

1. Akitas

2. American Eskimo Dogs

3. Anatolian Shepherds

4. Bearded Collies

5. Bernese Mountain Dogs

6. Bouvier des Flandres

7. Golden Retrievers

8. Great Pyrenees

9. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

10. Huskies

11. Irish Wolfhounds

12. Malamutes

13. Newfoundlands

14. Norwegian Elkhounds

15. Old English Sheepdogs

16. Samoyeds

17. Shibu Inus

also if your pup is obese, has a medical condition ie laryngeal paralysis, or is a senior  that can also make them more susceptible, so exercise them in the early morning or after it cools down in the evening if it is hot outside..

If heat stroke does occur cool your pup down as much as possible and get him or her to the Vet ASAP

Click on the link for additional tips and cautions. Stay cool out there….

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/heat-stroke-dehydration-dogs

Here are a few points to keep your pet cool…. or use on the way to the vet in case your pup overheats

GB 20 Right behind the skull or occipital bone one finger off the cervical spine on either side in the divots. Pulls the energy down from the head. Cools heat

GV 17 Right behind the skull in between the GB 20 points. Little divot under the bump. Great point to disperse energy and create calm.

LI4 is on the medial side where the dew claw would be  just hold on to it lightly for a bit or lightly move your fingers in a circular motion clears heat master for face and mouth

TH4  Find the wrist and it is on the carpal bones it feels a little mushy towards the outside of the wrist or carpus. Balances regulates  heat in the body

LI11 in the outside or lateral crease of the elbow.  opens  surfaces clears heat

On the way to the vet points 

Th1 lateral side of 4th digit front paws at the nail bed clears heat can also revive if collapses

LI1  On the medial or inside of the 2nd digit of the front paw at the nail bed. Clears lung heat revives consciousness

PE9 lateral side of 3rd digit front paws at the nail bed clears heat can also revive if collapses

The post Summer is Here, And It is Going To Be A Hot One… Do You Know The Signs Of Heatstroke, And What To Do If It Happens To Your Pup? appeared first on Wellness For All Creatures.