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Holistic Wellness
By Jo-Anne Jinselli Often a sick patient is offered limited medical options for treatment of disease. For example, since older patients may not be able to stand up to the harsh cancer-fighting chemicals used in traditional western medicine, a cancer diagnosis for an older dog may result in recommendations of either uncertain surgery or euthanasia. However, holistic medicine is becoming a beacon of hope for many in search of wellness. Holistic medicine incorporates a whole-body approach to health rather than isolating and treating just a specific illness. According to the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, holistic veterinary medicine means, “taking in the whole picture of the patient--the environment, disease pattern, and relationship of pet with owner--and developing a treatment protocol using a wide range of therapies for healing the patient”. The primary difference is traditional-medicine practitioners test to determine the cause of an ailment and use surgery and/or pharmacology to manage or cure the disease. Holistic practitioners approach the patient with a whole-body view, taking into consideration the symptoms, the disease, the cause, the lifestyle, and the individual dog. It’s a more natural, noninvasive approach that encompasses the body, mind and spirit of a patient. In place of –and at times in addition to-pharmacology, holistic vets have a wide range of healing options, such as Chinese herbs, aromatherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, diet changes and more. Holistic treatment supports and encourages the body to heal itself; the downside is that it takes more time to work. That’s one reason why many dog owners decide to use both an Eastern and a Western veterinarian. For example, a dog undergoing traditional cancer treatment like chemo and surgery may also see a holistic vet as a form of supplemental care, such as for easing side effects, strengthening the immune system, and restoring overall health. In addition, more and more holistic veterinarians are using a combined approach of both traditional and holistic medicine, eliminating the need for seeing two separate vets. The use of holistic and homeopathic treatments has had some truly dramatic success, and patients tend to remain in remission much longer than patients with just conventional western treatment. One example is the story of Shasta, a German shepherd adopted by Shirley of Los Angeles, California. Shirley adopted Shasta when the dog was about two years old and already in very poor health, suffering from a long list of ailments. Among her health issues were chronic diarrhea, skin disorders, emaciation, eye and nasal discharge, and perpetually inflamed ears with massive wax discharge. A few weeks after taking her in, Shasta developed myositis of the jaw bones, an auto immune disease causing inflammation of the muscles surrounding the jaw bones. The painful disease made it nearly impossible for Shasta to eat, bark or even yawn. At that point the conventional veterinarian treating Shasta advised Shirley to euthanize the dog, because her immune system was failing and there was nothing more that could be done. It was then that Shirley decided to try the holistic approach, using homeopathic remedies such as arnica (derived from the Daisy family of plants), ruta graveolens, and rhus tox (another plant-derived homeopathic remedy). Shasta showed improvement in some areas very quickly, and was able to eat with little pain within a week. In other areas it took time for her body to heal and her immune system to regain optimal health, but within a few months the diarrhea stopped, the eye, ear and nasal discharges stopped, and Shasta began to gain weight. Her coat grew full and lustrous and she became physically active. Although she suffered other serious conditions over the years, homeopathic therapies cured her each time, including a frightening bout with paralysis. Rather than being euthanized at only two years old, Shasta went on to live to the age of twelve and a half.* Doctors who practice holistic medicine do point out certain misconceptions that need to be corrected: 1. Anything natural is safe. Not necessarily the case, say holistic veterinarians; herbal and homeopathic medicines must be used with the same caution and respect as pharmaceuticals, because both can elicit powerful reactions and responses within the body. 2. Holistic medicine is a fast cure-all. Holistic healing takes time; early results can be subtle as the body is encouraged to heal and support itself. And like all other forms of treatment, nothing is 100 % guaranteed to work for every patient. 3. Western medicine is wrong and inferior. Many holistic veterinarians believe western medical methods are useful in the prevention of certain deadly diseases through vaccines, antibiotics and surgery. Countless pet owners are drawn to this whole-picture approach, and find the methods used in Holistic medicine gentler and more conducive to stress alleviation in the animal. It appears to be a fast-growing movement gaining popularity among pet owners and veterinarians alike. “Holistic (or integrative or complementary) veterinary medicine is the examination and diagnosis of an animal, considering all aspects of the animal’s life and employing all of the practitioner’s senses as well as the combination of conventional or alternative (or complementary) modalities of treatment… Holistic medicine, by its very nature, is humane to the core. The wholeness of its scope will set up a lifestyle for the animal that is most appropriate. The techniques used in holistic medicine are gentle, minimally invasive, and incorporate patient well-being and stress reduction. Holistic thinking is centered on love, empathy and respect.” --American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, www.ahvma.org To find a holistic veterinarian in your area, visit the American Holistic Veterinarian Medical Association website at http://ahvma.org where you can search the referral directory. *To learn more about Shasta, Shirley, and homeopathic therapy, visit www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com The Ugly Truth about Pet Shop Puppies
By Jo-Anne Jinselli I confess I can never resist looking at the adorable puppies for sale at pet stores, in the mall, or even in boxes outside the supermarket. I love dogs, and seeing them just fills my heart! And that is the reason they are marketed that way; to tug at your heart. However, you should be aware of the ugly world you’re supporting when you purchase a puppy from these places. If you have a soft spot for animals in your heart, you’ll find the following facts about puppy mills shocking and horrifying. I doubt anyone who loves animals would really choose to be a party to this cruel, inhumane business. So- what is a puppy mill? A puppy mill is a facility that mass-produces dogs for sale. Unlike quality breeders who breed for the love and improvement of the breed, puppy mills breed only for profit. Because profit is their motivation, the entire process is designed to be as cost-effective as possible. Therefore there is minimal concern for the welfare of the breed animals or the quality of the puppies. In many instances the dogs are contained in cages, often stacked, and often for their entire lives. Grooming is ignored, and conditions are filthy and inhumane. Females are kept pregnant constantly with little or no veterinary care. Oftentimes smaller breeds need surgery to deliver their puppies, but this is expensive so they don’t get it. The result is an agonizing death for the mother. Genetic Defects, Congenital Disease & Infectious Diseases Unlike with quality breeders, there is very rarely a health examination performed prior to breeding in a puppy mill. Breeding dogs are not screened for the genetic disorders common among their breed. Pedigrees are not evaluated to determine which dogs are likely to produce superior offspring. The only requirement for breeding in these facilities is a male and a female dog. As a result, many of the puppies born have genetic defects and congenital disorders that will follow them for the rest of their lives, and their individual owners will face some hefty vet bills. Pups produced in these facilities are generally of poor quality and ill health. Malnutrition is rampant, resulting in weak, undernourished pups. Serious disorders and diseases are much higher among puppy mill dogs than among quality breeders. Some of the most common are patella luxation, hip dysplasia, heart disorders, mange, undescended testicles, chronic upper respiratory disease, allergies and eye disease. Since puppy mills frequently fail to properly worm and vaccinate their dogs, infectious diseases are extremely common. These diseases include canine distemper, canine parvovirus, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis, intestinal parasites, kennel cough, and mange. In many instances the puppies will display a combination of these health problems. Puppies are usually taken from their mothers and littermates much too soon, typically by 4-6 weeks, in order to allow time for shipping them across the country. Being isolated at this stage means they miss out on the critical socialization period, when puppies learn about bite inhibition and how to understand and use body language with other dogs. Missing out on this vital learning period is a major contributing factor for future behavior problems. Furthermore, the puppies are not handled, loved, or socialized at all in their little lives, which results in serious issues with training, temperament, undesirable personality traits and genetic health problems. Puppy Mill Living Conditions These poor animals live in deplorable housing conditions. In many cases they spend their lives on wire flooring, which causes painful sores and wounds on their feet. Cages are too small to allow adult dogs to stand or move around. Workers come by periodically and spray down the cages with forceful water hoses while the dogs are still inside, often causing terrible injuries to the animals such as an eye being torn out. The lack of exercise causes both physical and emotional health problems. Due to the lack of proper vaccinations and treatment, the animals commonly suffer from infestations of fleas, heartworm, ticks and intestinal parasites. These problems and health issues among puppy mill dogs are not exceptions, but in fact are very typical in the great majority of cases. What if the Pet Store Claims They Don’t Use Puppy Mill Sources? Many pet stores appear to be clean, friendly shops and claim to sell healthy pups with papers from quality private breeders. The fact is reputable breeders DO NOT sell their puppies to pet shops. Claims by the pet store that their pups are “purebred” are frequently substantiated with shady paperwork and points of origin. It’s not unusual for their documents to contain forged information, errors, and listed breed parents that are actually mixes. So you are not really guaranteed at all that the puppy is purebred, despite a hefty price tag. Remember - a puppy purchased from a pet store is almost certainly produced by a puppy mill source. If the pet store can’t sell the pups while they are still young and adorable, it becomes an inventory problem. As anyone who has worked in retail knows, old inventory must be moved out to make room for new. Oftentimes the puppies are either killed or sold to research laboratories as experimental test subjects. If you think you are doing a good thing by purchasing a pet shop puppy in order to save it, think again. Every time someone does this, the poor mothers at the puppy mills suffer, because the horrible cycle of abuse and suffering continues. Please refuse to be a partner to this cruel industry; instead turn to rescue groups, shelters or quality private breeders for your new puppy. |
Akita Planet Mission Statement
By Jo-Anne Jinselli Akita Planet Magazine is our special corner of the world where Akita owners, breeders, handlers, trainers, and Akita admirers come together. Akita Planet was created to educate, assist and stimulate communication among Akita owners and fanciers. Our mission is to share our love and knowledge of the Akita breed with others, to promote better understanding of the breed among the public, to foster and support the general welfare of the breed, and to correct public misconceptions about the Akita. We also support all Akita rescues, and we sponsor periodic fundraiser events for various rescue groups. Akita Planet is dedicated to the advancement of the breed. We encourage the sharing of stories, advice, photos and anecdotes from our readers. We hope you enjoy spending time here at our little corner of the Planet! Uzbekistan
By Jo-Anne Jinselli Uzbekistan, the epitome of ancient Oriental mystery and beauty, is a spectacular part of the Central Asia tour. The abundance of captivating historical sites in the ancient cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara, combined with the natural environmental beauty and the stunning picturesque scenery make your tour of Central Asia a truly unique and fascinating travel experience. In this region there is an abundance of museums housing fascinating archaeological and anthropological finds. On the walking tour along the famous Great Silk Road, you can actually walk in the footsteps of Marco Polo, Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. Experience the thrill of stepping through a portal into the past to the very beginning of human civilization. The ancient architecture is of such profound beauty that words fail to adequately describe it. The magnificent sight of sky-blue domes, intricate white and teal tile ornamentation and delicate, detailed engraving will take your breath away. Uzbekistan boasts influences of several oriental cultures, and an aura of mystery and romance is embodied everywhere. A land of legends, Uzbekistan tour guides regale visitors with marvelous tales that evoke images of fortresses and castles, maidens in bejeweled gowns, and warriors riding into battle with swords and knives clashing. Over the centuries various foreign invaders have attacked and conquered these lands causing terrible destruction. Yet every time the cities of this region have risen up from the ashes and reclaimed their former power and glory. Such is the spirit of Central Asia - subjugated but not destroyed; devastated, but never eradicated from the face of the earth. . Once you have experienced the magic of a Central Asia tour, you will be forever enchanted. Maxum Wax Hair Removal
By Jo-Anne Jinselli Why bother shaving your legs with messy foam and slippery, sharp razors that cause bloody nicks? You can have smooth, sexy skin using Maxum wax hair removal. Maxum provides a longer-lasting, silkier result so you won’t have to deal with prickly stubble that grows back every couple of days. Our hair removal products have a fresh, pleasant scent and leave you feeling luxuriously smooth, sleek and carefree for weeks. Try Maxum wax hair removal once and you’ll never go back to razors. The Beach
Summer- soft sky flows blue and cloudless Streaming above a blue-grey sea Red-hot sunrays pierce my closed eyelids Wild winds whip and tangle my hair And scent the air with salty sea spray Soaring seagulls swoop and dive As they glide on wind currents Their calls mingle with the rolling rumble of waves My skin soaked with blazing sunshine from above White- hot sand under my blanket cradles me Surrounded by Nature’s lullaby I am enticed into slumber on the shore. ©Jo-Anne Jinselli 2016 Spring Song
Wind-whipped cotton clouds drift across A peaceful cerulean sky April breeze shakes showers of cherry blossoms From graceful tree branches The petals fall and float like pink snowflakes Birds chirp sweetly in nests, feathers falling as they preen Windblown wildflowers toss jewel-colored heads As dappled sunlight dances on grass of kelly green Refreshed and renewed, my heart swells to silently sing In harmony with nature’s symphony of spring. ©Jo-Anne Jinselli 2019 |