Etsy For Animals: Teachable Moment: Animal Crackers#comment-form

Etsy For Animals: Teachable Moment: Animal Crackers#comment-form

Be Kind To Animals Week & Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Please remember the animals this week, this month, every day, all year round.  While it's nice to donate to animal charities, don't forget that many things cost nothing to give.  There are many ways to help animals.  Love costs nothing, you can always give love.

Distance Reiki Healing For Pets

This month's Etsy for Animals' Charity of the Month is ARK (Animal Refuge Kansai).  10% of the proceeds from sales in our shop The Animals' Magic  Shop on Etsy will go to them, to help the Tohoku-Pacific quake animals in Japan this month along with another 10% benefitting Patriot Siberian Husky Rescue. 

We're offering 30 days of distance Reiki healing for pets at a special price which also includes a Reiki-charged healing stone to use at home.

Click here if you'd like to learn more about our listing for distance Reiki healing for pets.

Our Sled Dog First Aid Kit, But Mostly Likely It'll Be The Humans Using It!

Part of preparing to run the dogs at the forest is going through their first aid kit - the one that comes with us in the van as opposed to what we have at home.  Everything gets taken out, the box gets scrubbed, expiration dates are checked on meds, supplies are replenished, and an inventory is taken of what needs to be replaced.

One of our most important first aid items is eye wash.  In Southern New England, we usually run on dirt trails using carts. So everyone in back of the lead dogs has the possibility of dirt getting kicked into their faces by the flying paws of the dogs in front of  them, especially if it's raining and muddy. The further back on the team a dog is, the more kickback he or she can get.  This can also happen to the driver, especially if they aren't wearing eye protection. Slanted, deep set husky eyes are designed by nature to protect them and they have a third eyelid too, but if a dog gets dirt or anything else in their eye, we want to be able to flush it out asap.

Another important thing to have in a sled dog first aid kit is a thermometer because sled dogs can overheat, especially if temperatures are above freezing and even if they are below freezing.   Normal body temperature for a dog is around 101.5.  I won't go into details here but suffice to say it's extremely important to prevent overheating from happening in the first place because it can be fatal - the same as when a dog is left in a car during the summer.  

Nicked or split toenails and abraded and cut pads are the most common injuries in sled dogs and are caused by rocks, branches and foreign objects (bottle caps, glass, trash) on the trails, and ice during winter.  So we have peroxide, antibiotic cream, liquid bandaid and dog booties.  The booties aren't in the first aid kit - those are carried in a bag on the cart or sled.  When I take the dog's harnesses off after a run, I check their feet quickly for anything obvious, then I check them carefully again at home at bedtime,  including their toenails and  in between their toes, because sometimes swelling on their pads and toes doesn't show up until later. The dogs love this and greatly appreciate it. I even check the retired dogs' paws so they don't feel left out.

Occasionally a dog will get a bee or hornet sting - not often, but often enough to warrant having benedryl on hand.  I get the kind that's dye free.  Benedryl can be useful for reducing all types of inflammation and is usually calming,  although occasionally it can make certain dogs hyper.  I also have baby aspirin and Bach Rescue Remedy for pain and trauma or stress.

But truthfully, throughout 32 years of running dogs,  I've used the first aid kit much more for humans than for the dogs.  Breaking up fights between overexcited dogs or ones who don't get along can result in accidental bites.  Falling off one's cart or sled and being dragged on one's knees is alway possible because Sled Dog Rule #2  is "Never Let Go".  Working with the equipment, excited dogs, in frigid temperatures and on icy slippery snow all provide endless opportunities for human pain and suffering.  The worst accident I ever saw was when a driver's team ran under one of the big metal gates that are used to close off certain trails.  The cart they were pulling  was too tall to fit under the gate and hit the horzontal metal post at the top of the gate as did the driver's mouth.  Many things in my first aid kit got used that day.

Here's a list of what's in the first aid kit in no particular order:  Face cloth (to provide a clean surface to put other things on), peroxide, thermometer, eye wash, eye wash cup, small blunt tipped scissors, regular big scissors, various tweezers for extracting various things, nail file, Bach Flower Rescue Remedy (for shock and trauma), asprin, Tylenol (This is the only thing listed here that is NOT for dogs because it is poisonous to them! Never give Tylenol to dogs!!!!),  Vaseline, Benedryl,  Pepto tablets, 2 topical antiobiotic ointments for skin, antibiotic eye ointment, bandaids, Q-tips, Gold Bond foot powder, liquid band-aid, regular bandaids, first aid tape, flashlight (for looking in ears, mouths and nostrils), antibiotic hand wipes, flare stick, book of matches (tear off a match, use the torn end to remove things from your eyes like dog fur), self sticking wrap around bandage, Ipecac syrup (for inducing vomiting if a dog eats something that might not fit out the other end), adhesive tape, cotton pads, cotton balls, dental floss, two syringes (for administering liquids or flushing), muzzle, instant heat packs, rubber tubing tourniquet, latex free gloves, and a tiny package of kleenex.

I try to arrange everything in the first aid kit by purpose and to be as visible as possible. When mittenless fingers are freezing they get clumsy and slow, so I also remove any seals ahead of time in order to open bottles and tubes quickly.

 Aside from the first aid kit, we bring paper towels and spray (for cleaning up occasional accidents in the van), clean towels, plastic supermarket bags, bottled water and Gatoraid for electrolyte replacement (for us and in an emergency, for a dog but not to be given regularly). 

Of course, it's impossible to be prepared for everything and the best medicine is prevention! But having this first aid kit, which we've added to and improved over the years, has been a big help many times to us and to others.  The forest is only about 15 minutes from our house but if we were to go away for a weekend with the dogs, more would be added such as antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication, ice packs, and a drip kit to hydrate a dog in an emergency.

I've had use for every single thing in the first aid kit at one time or another.  Some have only been used once and may never be used again, but if needed, they are there. If anyone has anything else they use in their canine first aid kits when they travel with their dogs, I'd love to hear about it!

And in case anyone is wondering, Sled Dog Rule #1 is *The Dogs Come First!*. 

Happy Halloween Message From Sky

Good Morning!

 Sky has something he'd like to say to everyone:

"Today is a good day to hear the animals. A special one might want to talk with you. You'll find the right one if you look around. Maybe it's a new friend for you and you can make each other happy. Today is a good day to pay attention and make a new animal friend is what I'm trying to tell you. I'm not good at saying things to lots of people. I hope you don't think I'm silly but I wanted to tell you this. Oh, you can hear animals every day, they don't just talk one day, but this is a good one. Thank you for listening. Your friend, Sky."

 Sky means spirit animals, someone who wants to help you. You can just look around today and see who shows up, or this is a fun link: Shamanism - Working With Animals

Happy Halloween!  Karen & Sky

Canine Dementia - Behavioral Changes Can Be Mistaken For Old Age - Animal Telepathic Communication With Siberian Husky Jasmine

Love snow!

ANIMAL TELEPATHIC COMMUNICATION WITH JASMINE
Species: Siberian Husky, Female, Age 15
Person: Karen Daley
Date: 10/14/10
Time: 12:07-12:37pm


Background: Jasmine is 15 which is quite old for a husky. She's been acting almost like a person with Dementia at times. She sometimes appears lost or confused, occasionally gets stuck in corners and can't back out, stares into space, walks away while being petted, and gets a far away look in her eyes. Sometimes it seems she doesn't know us. To get to the back door to go outside, she walks a bit then stops, repeating this many times. Jasmine also paces a lot - in the house, and often outside in the yards. Her back end isn't good either and if she stands too long, her hindquarters slowly droop so she's almost seated. She never sits any more - she either stands or lies down. When she was younger, her hips were OFA rated "excellent" but as a preventative for problems, she's been on Glycoflex III to keep her joints lubricated since age 9. She also gets eye drops twice a day to keep her eyes moist, and probiotics twice a day. Her eyes were examined in the spring by a vet opthamologist and are healthy.

I want to find out how her body is feeling, why she's doing the other things and ask her what I can do to make her more comfortable. There's also a new medication called Anipryl that I think might help as her symptoms indicate canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (known as dementia in humans), often misunderstood as inevitable signs of old age. This morning she's acting normal, so it's a good time to talk with her.

Hi Jasmine, it's me Karen. Can you hear me?
I do Karen. I hear you. What would you like to know?

I'm concerned about how you're feeling. Can you tell me how your body feels?

Tired - it feels tired. I'm getting very old. Things are not easy for me any more.

Yes, I can see that. Can you tell me if anything hurts?
My knees hurt and my neck aches sometimes. Mostly my legs - they're just weak and I get stiff when I lay down. I'm sleepy a lot too.

I noticed you have a little bump on the right edge of your belly. Is that bothering you? (It feels like a little fatty tumor, but needs checking.)
No, it doesn't bother me. I don't even know it's there.

Good. What I'm really worried about is that sometimes you seem very far away, like you're not really here, and you seem to be confused. Can you tell me about that?


I have a hard time remembering things and that upsets me. I seem to go somewhere else sometimes and I wonder who I am and what I'm doing here. How I got wherever I am. It goes away though, but it's very disturbing to me. I feel the need to walk then, to try to clear my head.

I see. Would you say this makes you depressed? You look down sometimes.
Yes, I feel depressed because I can't remember what I should. Then I do, and I think how silly I am - how could I forget? Sometimes things look strange to me too - like I should know what they are but I don't remember.

Do you forget who I am and who Richie is sometimes too?
Sometimes you look funny - like I should recognize you but I don't. Then I remember. It's very disturbing. I guess it's my brain.

Yes, that's what it sounds like. (I explain about the medication and ask if she'd like to give it a try.)
Yes, I would like that because I feel I can't do my job here - I have no purpose.



Well, you are very important to us and the other dogs, Jasmine. We love having you with us no matter what you do.
Yes, I know. I'd like that. I'd like to try it.

Ok, we will then. It has to be taken with food in the morning though, so you'll have to make sure to eat (she doesn't always eat her breakfast).
I think I'm eating pretty good. It's better now that it's cool.

While we're talking, can you tell me if you like your new bed? (Jasmine had an accident on her old bed that she really loved but it's been discontinued, so I got her a goose down comforter at a yard sale.)
Yes, I like my new bed. I'd like to use it during the day too. Could I do that? (She uses another bed during the day as she's in and out and it's easier to wash.)


Yes, I'll put it out for you during the day from now on. I'm sorry I couldn't save your old bed after the accident.

That's ok - it was harder for me to get up with that bed anyway. But I did like it. It had a lot of happy memories inside it.


Jasmine on her old falling apart bed that she loved, singing

Yes, it did. Do you still like your walks?
Oh yes, I like my walks very much.

Would you prefer avoiding the hills?
Sometimes I don't mind the hills, some days it's too hard. But I like my walks very much!

I like our walks very much too. I look forward to them and love walking with you!  (I've been trimming Jasmine's toenails almost weekly as they grow very fast. She hates it so I explain why it's necessary and ask if she can cooperate more.)
I understand. I can't help it. I don't like my feet held - they feel trapped and it puts me off blanance. Not that my balance is too good to begin with. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to tip over.

Ok, I just wanted you to know why we have to trim them and that it's to help you walk better. So if you would try to stay calm, it would go a lot faster. Is there anything that you want or need?
I like when you make sure I am clean. I can't clean any more - can't bend my neck that way.

I'm happy to do that for you Jasmine. I hope you know that we love you very much and will do anything we can to help you live. I know some days you aren't well - do you feel like you want to leave your body, or do you still want to live?
Yes, I still want to live. The other dogs need me to teach them things. That's the last thing I can do now is teach and I'd like to do so as long as I can.



Jasmine with Mick as a puppy

We all need you, you're an important part of our family. Hopefully the medicine will help you feel better.
I hope it helps too. If not, we will talk again about alternatives, yes?

Yes. Is there anything else you'd like?
I'm liking softer food now. Softer food is nice. I get thirsty too. It's nice to have enough water. It's a long walk to the water. (I use a small water bucket for indoors which is in a central location in the house - in my office, and it's a small one and in the office because she often bumps into it and knocks it over. But I need to fill it to the top more often throughout the day and tell her I'll make sure to do that.)
Yes, full is best for me so I don't have to bend as far. (She send me a picture of how uncomfortable it feels for her to have to put her face inside the bucket if the water is low, as it makes her feel disoriented and off balance.)

Would you like your food dish raised up also?
Maybe. I don't know. We can try. If you don't mind. I don't want to be a bother.

That's no bother. We can give it a try and see if raising your dish works better for you. Is there anything else you'd like?
No. Just thank you, I'm happy to hear that there's something that might help me, so thank you for getting it for me.

You're welcome Jasmine. Thanks for talking with me and don't forget, we love you very much!

END OF COMMUNICATION

Note:  Jasmine started the Anipryl Saturday morning, 10/23/10,  and showed immediate improvement that day and also today which is Sunday.   It takes 6 weeks to become fully effective and I'm going to keep a log on her progress, watch for any side affects,  and will post updates. 

Animal Telepathic Communication With Great Dane Jagger

ANIMAL TELEPATHIC COMMUNICATION WITH JAGGER

Date: 10/12/10

Time: 4:51 - 5:21pm

Species: Canine, Great Dane, Male, 2 1/2 years old, neutered

Person: Lori P., fostering

Background:  Jagger bit a young boy on his ear/skull resulting in lacerations requiring medical care but not as an emergency. The child was a family friend over to play, it is unclear whether the children and dog were being supervised. Cause of bite was stated as happening suddenly, for no reason. Family has 4 children ages 5-12 with friends in and out and they were worried about reoccurrence. Jagger is currently not eating well and is nervous/afraid. Foster mom Lori has accepted an application from a new family, no children, experienced with Great Danes, with someone home almost always, who Jagger will be meeting tomorrow.  Lori wants Jagger to know the reason he was sent away from his family and that he'll be meeting a new family tomorrow.

Hi Jagger, my name is Karen. I'm a person. Can you hear me?

Yes? A person? How strange. You want me? How did you reach me?

Lori, the person you're staying with, wanted me to talk with you to explain a few things and ask some questions. Do you mind talking with me?

No, I don't mind. Boy, my life sure is a mess now. Totally ****** up if you don't mind my saying so.

That's ok, I understand. Do you know what happened to cause you to leave your home and to be at Lori's?

No, I don't. But I guess it has to do with a little boy. (Sighs) I made a mistake and did the unforgivable, didn't I? They hate me now. And I worked so hard to be loved. Now what? What will happen to me?

Actually, your family still loves you very much and were very sad this happened. They don't hate you, they are just sad and disappointed. But, there will be lots more children in that home in the future, and for a long time, so they worried you would bite another child. It is forbidden for dogs to bite humans, especially children. So Lori has found you another home and she believes it's a good one. (I tell him about the new family and that he will meet them and go home with them tomorrow.)

So soon? I'm just getting used to here! But I could use some quiet I guess.

Yes, some quiet and hopefully an ideal home for you. Can you tell me what caused you to bite that little boy?

I discouraged him when he grabbed my neck.

Can you tell me exactly what happened?

He grabbed my neck and stuck his fingers in my throat. So I bit him to make him stop. I didn't bite him hard. He hurt my throat! I am sensitive there, in that spot in the middle. And he had his teeth showing! I thought he wanted to kill me!

(I ask Jagger to send me pictures of what happened and he does. The boy was sitting down and Jagger started to stand on the boy's legs so he could sniff his head, and the boy pushed him back with his fists, pressing and jabbing Jagger's throat in the soft part in the middle. The boy was struggling to push him back, his teeth were bared and he was saying "get off, get off". Then Jagger bit him.)

Ok, well he wasn't trying to kill you, he was just trying to get you off his legs. You're a big dog and you may have hurt him by standing on his legs. It was just an accident he got your throat - that's the only thing he could reach to push you back. Just an unfortunate accident he caught you there.

Yes, an accident, a misunderstanding. Then there was a big upset. Not good. I got scared. Then I was no longer loved. Do dogs need to put up with that?

Yes, you must avoid biting, especially children. I know you are young, but you must learn to think about things and choose other alternatives, like running away.

I didn't know it was expected. I was very surprised. I suppose there is no going back, no forgiveness?

There is no going back. Your family understands you made a mistake, but they are afraid it will happen again, so they thought a new home would be the best way for them and for you.

Oh, I see. Oh dear. What a bad mistake on my part. It won't happen again I hope. It's hard. For a dog to know what is real when it comes to children. Adults are more clear.

That's true, but you must remember that children sometimes do surprising things and you must avoid biting them. Can you tell me what you like so I can let Lori know and she can tell your new family?

Oh, I like to sit on a rug and watch TV. I like TV. I don't like loud music, but I like nice music. I'm very visual and appreciate interesting things to look at. I don't like a lot of loud noises or screaming, but I don't require perfect quiet either. I also like to know what to expect. A routine. I didn't always get food and water at the same times in my old home and that bothers me. I like food and like to know when I'm going to eat. Is this helping? Is that the kind of things to like that you mean?

Yes, those are the types of things I wanted you to tell me. Is there any particular kind of food that you like?

Well, I just got dog food and sometimes some people food off the floor by accident. But I mostly just know about dog food (he shows me plain kibble). Some variety would be nice I guess. People food smells really good. Some of that might be nice.

Ok, I'll let Lori know. Can you tell me some things that you dislike?

Lots of noise and (frenzied activity - kids running around playing and screaming.). That makes my head spin. Trying to hear a lot of sounds and watch or keep an eye on a lot of things at the same time. I also don't like my neck grabbed. My mother grabbed my neck a few times and it hurt. Means bad boy. I don't want to be a bad boy! I got my neck caught (in something) a few times too. I'm protective of my neck.

Do you mind a collar and a leash?

No. It's jabbing on my neck in that middle part. I can't breath then - that scares me. I'm so tired, I would like to just sleep a long time. This has been a shock to me.

Of course it has, that's understandable. But now you can look forward to meeting your new family and going to live in more quiet home tomorrow.

Ok Karen. I'll gather my courage then and look forward to meeting my new family tomorrow. I hope they like me. I want to love someone. Having a home is important to me.

Yes, a home is important to all of us - a good home. Is there anything you'd like to tell Lori that we didn't talk about?

No, just thanks for helping me.

Is there anything in particular you'd like your new family to know?

No, I guess not. Just that I'm nervous and I hope they like me.

Well they have chosen you from many dogs so they already like you. I hope you are very happy and very loved in your new home. It was a pleasure talking with you and I thank you very much!

 

END OF COMMUNICATION