By Nicole Pajer

As the popularity of new age treatments grows, people are looking for alternative methods not just for themselves but for their dogs, too. Because our fans have expressed an interest in natural treatment options, we've asked three experts in the fields of massage therapy, Reiki and acupuncture to give us their opinion of each.

Canine Massage Therapy

Giving your dog a massage can help him in a number of ways. A massage is very calming, releases stress, and can help your dog to relax and unleash tensions, which may otherwise lead to aggressionand hyperactivity. Massages ease aching muscles—which is important for active dogs—and also help to restore mobility and flexibility. Canine massages stimulate blood circulation, increase oxygen flow, and help flush out toxins and waste, which can be useful for overweight and obese dogs.

According to Heidi Pike, massage therapist with Massage Envy, the frequency of how often dogs need massages depends on factors such as a dog’s healthand living environment. “I recommend that dogs in urban areas get more massages due to the stress of living in that environment,” says Pike. Pike also explains that small dogs can especially benefit from neck massages as they are often straining their necks to look up at their owners and sights that are above their eye level.

Dog Reiki

Reiki, a Japanese holistic energy healing technique, is beneficial for all types of dogs. During a session, a Reiki Master will place their hands gently on a dog’s body in various positions. Dogs typically enter a deep state of relaxation and often fall asleep on the table during a treatment.

When Reiki is practiced on healthy dogs, it can help to enhance relaxation, maintain energetic balance, and promote an overall sense of well-being. In dogs that are injured, suffering from old age, or have been recently rescued from a shelter, Reiki can be used to help diminish anxiety, fear, and to provide a sense of comfort. Reiki sessions can also complement conventional and alterative canine healing as they help to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and work to maximize results from treatments such as acupuncture.

Amanda Stratt, a Reiki Master at LA Reiki, has a variety of canine clients. “Dogs communicate first with their energy. I've noticed they are open and receptive to energy healing. I've worked on Dogs who have been in pain, have had chronic conditions, new injuries... or maybe they come to see me because they have something psychological going on, where there's an imbalance in energy and the goal is to get their energy fully balanced and harmonized.” According to Stratt, many of these issues can be brought into balance in one to three sessions.

Dog Acupuncture

Canine acupuncture is a healing technique that involves the insertion of tiny metallic needles into acupuncture points that are associated with specific internal organs and body functions. The procedure is based upon traditional Chinese medicine practices, which work to strengthen and stimulate the body’s adaptive –homeostatic mechanisms and treat a variety of diseases and conditions.

Acupuncture can be used to mitigate the symptoms of a variety of ailments such as gastrointestinal, neurological, respiratory, musculoskeletal, reproductive, urinary, and dermatologic; and disorders such as pneumonia, asthma, chronic degenerative joint disease, and incontinence. It can also be useful in providing relief from allergies and arthritis and can help to lessen pain associated with injuries and old age.

Despite the fact that the treatment involves needles, acupuncture is not painful to dogs. Needles involved in the procedure are a mere fraction of the size of normal hypodermic needles. Most dogs appreciate the treatment so much that they relax and eventually fall asleep during a session.

New age canine treatments can help manage a dog’s pain, keep them relaxed and promote their overall well-being. Next time your dog is injured or under the weather, consider discussing one of the above procedures with your veterinarian.

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Dog Bites 101: Why Bites Happen and How to Prevent Them

By Dr. Kristy Conn

Approximately four and a half million people are bitten by dogs in the United States every year and one fifth of them end up needing medical attention for their wounds. Children are the most common victims with half of bite wound victims being under the age of thirteen. Children are much more likely to be severely injured due to their small size and not being aware of how one should act around a dog. Most dog bites occur while interacting with familiar dogs thus the need to educate people and their children on how to avoid dog bites. It is important to understand that any dog has the capacity to bite and that by understanding the common reasons why dogs bite it is possible to prevent them.

5 Main Reasons Dogs Bite

1. Dog Possessiveness. Protection of property is a common issue and “property” in this case can be anything from toy, food, territory or even a human being. Guard dogs and herding breeds tend to be the worst offenders but this behavior can arise in any dog. Start training early to minimize this kind of possessive behavior. Teaching the “Leave it” command works well in preventing toy aggression. Food aggression can be avoided by teaching your dog to wait while you put their food down. Teach them to sit or lie down and then remove their food and then put it back. Approach the food bowl and occasionally add treats to the food so they understand that someone approaching the bowl is not a bad thing. Teach children not to bother dogs that are eating or enjoying a treat such as a bone.

2. Dog fear. Fear is usually directed towards strangers such as veterinarians and postal workers or in unfamiliar situations. Never approach an unfamiliar dog and teach your children to do the same. Fear bites can occur when a dog is startled at home therefore teach children never to sneak up on a dog or bother a sleeping dog. Early socialization is important so that the young dog is exposed to many different people, animals and situations minimizing the risk of a phobia developing. For example, make your first visit to the vet a simple social visit to get a feel for the clinic and meet the veterinary staff. Leave some treats and a note in the mailbox asking your postal worker to give a treat to your puppy.

3. Dog Pain. Pain can cause the friendliest dog to bite. If your dog has hip dysplasia, severe otitis or any chronic injury, instruct your children to stay away from the sore areas and be gentle handling the dog. If your dog becomes snippy for no reason consider pain as a possible cause and schedule an appointment with your regular veterinarian for a physical.

4. Maternal Instincts. The most well trained dog can become a biter when she has puppies. Be aware of and respect the maternal instinct around a bitch that has whelped recently. Teach children not to approach a young puppy around the mother and use caution yourself when handling puppies. Make sure the mother and puppies have a place where they can feel safe with minimal distraction.

5. Prey Drive. Another instinct to be aware of and is sometimes triggered by running or cycling past a dog resulting in a chase. Be aware of your environment if you are jogging or cycling and if you see a roaming dog try to avoid crossing paths. If a dog does give chase then the best things to do is stop moving and stand tall facing the dog. Be aware of the dog but do not make eye contact which can be seen as a challenge by the dog. They may come up and sniff you but will eventually find you uninteresting and move on to find something else. If a dog knocks you over then curl up in a ball protecting your face hands and neck and be still. Teach children to do the same and set up a mock “stray dog” drill.

Dog Bite Warning Signs

Knowing the common triggers that cause dog bites will empower you to avoid these situations. Dog bites are always preceded by behavior that an astute observer can use as a warning and then take steps to reduce the dog’s stress or fear. Ears are typically pinned back, the fur along their back may stand up and you may be able to see the whites of their eyes. Yawning is not an attempt by the dog to appear casual but to show off their teeth and should be considered a warning sign as well. Non-social “stand-offish” behavior such as freezing in response to a touch or look followed by direct intense eye contact back from the dog is another clear sign that he may bite.

Dog Bite Prevention

Dog bite prevention begins at home with your own dog by being a responsible dog owner. If you do not intend to breed your dog then having them spayed or neutered will help decrease the risk of bite related behaviors. exercise and play with your dog on a regular basis to reinforce the human-animal bond and to expend excess energy that might otherwise be directed towards nervous energy. However, avoid aggressive games such as wrestling and tug of war which can lead to dominance issues. Train your dog well, they should know the basic commands such as sit, stay, come and leave it. Don’t allow your dog to roam free where they can be a danger to other people. Do try to socialize your dog and expose him to many different people and situations but take care not to overwhelm him. Keep your vaccinations up to date for a worst case scenario. In most states a dog can be destroyed if they bite someone and they are not up to date on vaccines. Seek professional help from your veterinarian if your dog shows any signs of aggression. If you have children take the time to educate them on how to act around dogs, what to watch for and what to do if a dog attacks.

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