Heal Thy Pets

The theme for the magazine this month is retreats.

There are many ways to create retreats at home and our animals often encourage us to take mini-retreats to nurture ourselves along with them.

They help us laugh and take life a little more lightly, as today's column may do for you.

Everyone benefits when you share your stories of your animals. Please send examples of how you play with your animals and if the play energizes or relaxes you. I am always open to your questions about health or sharing wonderful healings. The 10th person to respond this month will get a free audio tape by Dr. Chambreau. email to webmaster2@saskworld.com.

ANIMAL HEALTH QUIZ: (Answers are at the end of the column.)

• What are the 5 keys to improving health for our animals?
• T or F? The best food for animals is the most highly processed.
• Are dogs and cats designed to eat a lot of carbohydrates?

HUMOR: Have you heard that God created Cat to be a companion to Adam? Then Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the Supreme Being. And Adam learned humility. And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved. And Cat did not care one way or the other.

SPA TALES: "Desperately in need of something to dry my tears, I looked in the fridge for more to eat. Then I saw the kittens playing with abandon. They were chasing their own tails and each other's tail with many leaps and twirls and pouncing. I sat in a comfortable chair, laughed and finally remembered to breathe. I remembered that I loved rubbing my own feet and pulled out the nail clippers, too. By the time their tail play had ceased, I was nurturing myself in many ways and recovered by the next day."

Beach play is wonderful with dogs. Have you just returned from an August beach trip? Many of my clients pick beaches where they can take their dogs, summer or winter. All the ingredients are there for a wonderful resort vacation - sun, sand, food and lots of love and play. Remember to take your trusty flea comb in case even your healthy dog gets a few fleas. Having your canine companion with you will remind you to take water to the beach, not go out when it is too hot and swim only if it is safe, so you both will have the best resort vacation.

If you want to have a quiet vacation abroad with animals all around, there is a British animal shelter whose B&B would be perfect. The Littleborough retirement home takes in old or deserted and injured animals, which cannot find a place in society. The sanctuary is in quiet surroundings, an ideal setting for artists, astronomers or those just seeking a little peace. Well-behaved pet dogs are welcome. It is in Lancashire, England.

Type "Bed and Breakfast with your pet" into google.com for many other vacations to have with your animals in lovely settings.

BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR A HEALTHY ANIMAL

One of the five keys to health is providing the best environment for your special animal. As you read about the different retreat options in this issue, you select only what fits your needs. The same is true for the day-to-day life of your animals. Each animal is different and may need an environment different than you planned. There is no right answer; only the search for the best answer, just as no one resort fits all. Some horses love to race. Others, while appearing to enjoy racing, are sick frequently. Some dogs, even when very healthy, are basically couch potatoes and like a moderate walk or a short spell of ball chasing. To require this dog to go on 20-mile hikes every weekend may cause physical problems, even if mentally the dog goes to please you. A cat who really wants to be an outside cat may need you to play for longer times and more actively than one who is content with the indoor, more sedentary life. Maybe you will need to build a screened-in porch in your 12th floor condominium to have a healthy cat. Even when we do not have the perfect environment for our animals, we can try to do our best by stopping and thinking about what they need. Some may need a heating pad (especially older animals), while others need a ceiling fan. Some love music or TV, others do not care.

ANSWERS TO QUIZ

• Feed the best diet; Vaccinate the least; Treat the underlying energy problems, not merely eliminate current symptoms;
• Know the possible outcomes of treatment;
• Provide the best environment for that individual animal.
• False. Just as with people, the best food is the least processed, most consciously raised vegetables and meat for ingredients.
• No. Only animals with rows of grinding teeth and long digestive tracts can process carbohydrates.

By Christina Chambreau

- 19 - Edition 14, August 2003