Summer 1998

Greetings! Time has been like the wind and flown through here since the last publication. There have been a few transitions in my family. The Matriarch (my grandmother) of my family, Mildred, left this world in September after a short illness. We are blessed with her beautiful rose bushes for our memorial garden at the center. Eric, my beloved red headed prince (Irish Setter/Golden Retriever) departed with our help in April has had joined the rest of our departed family under the grandfather oak. Please send love and light to my dad, Henry, who is now on renal dialysis after a congestive heart problem. Families are very important and I feel that all my clients are my extended family. Thank you for the support and love over the last couple of months. I appreciate all the cards and prayers.

We are establishing a memorial gardens at the Center. This will incorporate gift plants and a beautiful bench. Thank to Ann Hudson and Suzanne Phillips for their donation of the bench in memory of Dr. Ruth Tyree. We will be adding memorial stones and all suggestions are welcome.

I am very proud to take part in the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association Annual Congress. We have prepared a whole day of lectures and labs on acupuncture. Thanks to Precise pet food, who is sponsoring a speaker, Dr. Robert Schafer from St. Louis, Missouri, on Wei Syndrome and Trigger point therapy. Veterinary Economics (a national magazine) has features LTAC in the cover story "Chasing human medicine." In addition, Rodale Press is publishing a book on natural health for dogs and cats. Our doctors have been interviewed and are featured in the publication. All the Center's doctors teach holistic medicine to vets and lay people alike We are spreading the work. Our schedules are flexible to help accommodate the teaching schedules. Thanks for your understanding.

The Center is working on incorporating a therapy pool for rehabilitation for geriatric and injured dogs. We hope to have this installed by the Fall. Swimming is the best exercise because there is no weight bearing on the joints. The pool will help complete our holistic center and expand our services.

The summer is here and the living is easy. We are out in the sun playing and swimming. Injuries can happen very fast, and learning some basic first aid techniques is important. This issue is devoted to first aid at home. The Humane Society has a great book, Pet First Aid. We have copies for sale at the front desk at the Center.

In addition to normal first aid procedures, acupuncture has a number of points used as emergency points. These points can be used in an emergency to help with shock and breathing. The two most common points are located in the central tarsal pads of the hind foot, in the middle of the pad. Pressure is placed on the center of the pad, or on the base of the pad with pressure directed toward the center. The other point is located in the base of the nose. The point is in the intersection of the "T" formed below the nose, in the filtrum (space between the nose and the lip). These points have been shown to help resuscitate the heart and start breathing. Do not use these points along, but you can incorporate them in your first aid protocols.

Thank you for our continued support of the Center. We constantly strive to improve services and care for you loved one.

Love and Light.