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Devotee of dogs and cats. I love to spend time caring for them, taking them for walks in the woods, laughing at their antics, watching the way they communicate between themselves and with my cat MO.
I provide kennel-free doggie daycare in my home and have a fenced in area of approximately 4,000 square feet. Other services that I provide are hourly dog walking on or off-leash, depending on the dog, and inhouse petsitting. My doggie clients get tons of cuddles, some healthy treats, a clean, dog friendly environment and lots of socialization. I share moments of your dogs day via texts or email as I believe it's important for you to know what kind of day we are having!
I am studying to become a Small Animal Acupressurist and have completed the majority of the courses and exams. I am certified in Small Animal First Aid and would be happy to provide references.
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that moves and balances chi and blood by use of pressure applied at specific acupoints along the meridian system. Used to release muscular pain and tension, and increase circulation as well as treat a variety of ailments and conditions by balancing vital substances.
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Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Brief History
Acupressure, like acupuncture and moxibustion, is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). There is evidence that bian stones, four to six inch, cone-shaped “needles,” were used for therapeutic purposes during ancient times, approximately 10,000 years ago. Primitive stone knives were used for incising abscesses and bloodletting for therapeutic purposes during ancient times as well.
Chinese legend attribute the systematic codification of acupressure and acupuncture to Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, who reigned during the third millennium BC. The Neijing, or The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, is still used today as a basic text offering general prescriptions for a long and healthy life. It discusses the value of balance in relation to universal laws and the living body. In a modern translation of the Neijing by Maoshing Ni, Ph. D. the following passage gives a good summary of the text:
Health and Well-being can be achieved only be remaining centered in spirit, guarding against the squandering of energy, promoting the constant flow of qi and blood, maintaining harmonious balance of yin and yang, adapting to the changing seasonal and yearly macrocosmic influences, and nourishing one’s self preventively. This is the way to a long and happy life.
There is evidence that veterinary acupressure/acupuncture has been practiced consistently since 2000-3000 BC. In China and other eastern countries their civilizations were so highly dependent on livestock for their livelihood and dogs for military protection that they used the ancient healing arts to maintain the health of their animals. It was a matter of survival. The practice of acupressure/acupuncture was closely allied with the human form of TCM in ancient times and continues to be in modern day.
TCM View of the Body
TCM is based on thousands of years of clinical observation. Practitioners have been collecting and categorizing medical information to establish a coherent and comprehensive body of knowledge concerning the energetics and physiology of the body. TCM is empirical in nature and offers the practitioner a wealth of information and resources for healthcare.
The body, either canine, feline, or human, is seen as an energetic entity that must be in balance within itself and its environment. Everything is highly inter-related. For the body to have a harmonious flow of Chi (i.e., life-force energy) and blood, all internal and external factors must be in balance. The animal’s emotional state will have as much influence on his health as the strength of his heart of four limbs.
The TCM practitioner considers a vast range of influences that can impact the animal’s health. For instance, using The Four Examinations for assessment purposes, the practitioner gathers and evaluates as much information as possible; current physical and emotional condition, the quality and quantity of food; the animal’s discipline or work; the amount of exercise and rest; how much exposure to the natural environment such as sun, wind, and rain; social interactions; past history; the health of the animal’s bitch and sire; current season preferences, and on and on.
Pattern of Disharmony
Health is seen as a dynamic balance of internal physical and emotional energetic functions interacting with external environmental factors in complete synchronicity. If this harmonious balance is disrupted in some way, illness can occur. An example would be: it is autumn, the animal has a discharge from his nose, appears to be lethargic, is demonstrating a lack of interest in being with his companions. The indicators, along with a host of other information, taken together describe a Pattern of Disharmony. This pattern indicates that there is something energetically out of balance or these indicators would not be present.
Yin-Yang Theory
The TCM practitioner uses a number of assessment “tools” to discern patterns. The practitioner must assess, “the synchronous occurrence of the different phenomena that form a particular pattern.” The first and most basic concept that underlies all of Chines Medicine is the Yin and Yang Theory. This theory gives the practitioner a method of systematically classifying information. In Chapter 5 of the Book of Plain Questions, one of the ancient texts, it states: “Yin and Yang are the laws of heaven and earth, the great framework of everything, the parents of change, the root and beginning of life and death…”
Information provided by: Tallgrass Acupressure Institute www.animalacupressure.com
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