2010 June | AnimalTalk Blog, Val Heart & Friends, Animal Communication Tips & Animal Care

Manâ€™s Best Friend or Beer Belly Buddy?

Jun 292010

Reprinted with permission by Steve Kiges,Â http://www.theunreasonablelife.com

I was listening to a health show on the radio the other day and the host was interviewing a veterinarian on dog diseases and their prevention. He mentioned that one of the biggest problems for our pets is obesity. He went on to talk about a special canine weight loss diet; how nutritious it is and how your pet wonâ€™t be hungry or even know they are on a diet.

I found this quite amazing and almost humorous because if he would not have mentioned the words â€œpetâ€ or, â€œdogâ€ I would have sworn he was talking about human obesity and some miracle diet program that he was endorsing.

What is so interesting to me is that while the reasons for obesity are complex, there are some similar components in both humans and animals. The main aspect being family obesity and the emotional use of food for showing love and bonding.

Now please understand, I grew up in the perfect model of the obese family and in no way am blaming anyone that may be reading this. We all do the best we can in the moment and my writing is to raise awareness and not point blame. As a matter of fact, blame would only lead to an increase of bad feelings and not to an open curiosity which gives us the possibility of change.

In my family, food was used as a treat, for entertainment, for a symbol of love and when withheld, a symbol of punishment. This process is something I have had to work on continuously to not replicate with my own family.

When I see an obese dog or cat in addition to feeling badly for the animal, I am curious about its story… How is food used to communicate with this animal?… What are the motives of the owners? I have been at times flabbergasted, seeing animal owners laughing at their obese animal or putting the reason for the obesity on the animal…… something like ….â€Scruffyâ€ just canâ€™t stop eating. When I hear this I think, “Are you trying to tell me that while youâ€™re away at work ‘Scruffy’ is in the kitchen baking goodies or at night sneaking down and finishing off that apple pie in the fridge?”

My wife and I have been dog owners for the last 20 years, the last dog being a blond lab, so I understand that almost irresistible urge to show friendship and love with food. However, just like a parent/child food relationship, the owner/pet relationship carries responsibilities. Because of this, I monitor my use of food in my communication very carefully.

I do not suggest abstinence (no treats) unless that is something that works for you. If you do have an obese animal what I do suggest is awareness and asking yourself what is your motivation in over-feeding your animal…. , and how else could you show your love in a more healthy way? An extra walk, snuggle or play time?

For information on food addictions and becoming one of the 5% that keep lost weight off for life, visit: http://www.theunreasonablelife.com

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Strange Cat Behavior Demystified

Cat Talk No Responses »

Jun 182010

Scenario: You’re walking down the hall, in your own little world, when suddenly a flying, foot-snagging cat grabs a hold of your ankle and takes a bite. “But he was purring away on the couch a few minutes ago,” you think to yourself. “What happened?”

Explanation: Chances are your Persian cat or other cat is simply practicing skills he would normally use in the wild, such as: stalking, chasing, swatting, clawing, and biting. He may draw his ears back, twitch his tail, freeze in a low crouch before pouncing, and/or wrap his front paws around your hand or foot in an attempt to bite. These are all body postures, Persian cat or other breeds, large and small, show when searching for and catching prey.

Despite your kitty’s playful intentions, they can result in scratches, bites that don’t break the skin, or serious injury (scratches and bites that break the skin and become infected). The most common play aggressors are cats less than two years of age, those living in a one-cat household, andÂ Persian cat and all otherÂ cats spending 8-10 hours a day home alone.

Playful “attacks” commonly occur when unsuspecting owners round a corner, come down the stairs, or toss around under a blanket. These attacks can often be distinguished from aggressive encounters by a sideways hop or pounce, an arched back, a half open mouth, or silence (the absence of hissing, growling, or spitting).

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Respiratory Disease In Foals

Horse Talk No Responses »

Jun 182010

When I came across this article by Dr. Fairfield Bain, DVM, I thought it brilliant, and I wanted to share it with those of you who are fellow horse lovers!

Question: What is the first thing I look for to tell if my foal has a respiratory problem, and what are the best things to do to prevent pneumonia and other problems from happening in the first place?

Answer by Dr. Baine: Â The most important signs of respiratory disease in neonatal foals are an increased respiratory rate (breathing hard), occasionally a cough, sometimes discharge from the nose, and fever. Some of the foals might be weak and have a difficult time getting up. These signs will all vary depending on the severity of the respiratory problem.

When a foal is born, you should run your finger along the roof of his mouth to check and see if the foal has a cleft palate. That congenital abnormality can cause the foal to get milk in its trachea and result in aspiration pneumonia. Some of these foals will have milk running out of their nose, another warning sign that pneumonia might occur.

Premature foals are at greater risk because they have poor lung development. You might notice that they have poor rib cage excursions, or their rib cage does not move in and out as well as that of a normal foal. Along with this goes poor expansion of the alveoli in the lung.

Poor colostrum absorption in any foal can lead to respiratory disease. The respiratory system can be a primary site of septicemia (caused by bacterial toxins in the blood).

With orphan foals or foals being fed on a bottle, make sure that the foal has a good suckle reflex and keep the bottle below eye level of the foal. This will help prevent milk from running down into his trachea and possibly causing aspiration pneumonia.

Older foals have the same clinical signs as neonates–difficulty breathing, coughing, nasal discharge, and fever. With any age foal, it’s time to call in your veterinarian if you see the foal is having difficulty breathing and/or is coughing and has a fever.

The normal foal’s respiratory rate is about 30-40 breaths per minute, although in hot weather it can go up to 60-80 breaths per minute in a normal foal. Also, if the foal has a discharge from its nostrils you should have him examined by your veterinarian. Remember to check his oral membranes–they should be bright pink. If they are discolored, it might be a sign of poor oxygenation.

In all cases, diagnosis is made by listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, and occasionally with X rays and ultrasound examination. Sometimes in young foals it is difficult to hear abnormalities because they normally have loud lung sounds. With the X rays or ultrasound, we are looking for consolidation or abscesses in the lungs. In severely affected young foals we might check their arterial blood gases. This measures the lung function–how well the oxygen and carbon dioxide are being exchanged. That’s usually only done with cases severe enough to be hospitalized.

One of the main causes of respiratory disease is the bacterium Rhodococcus equi. There are many other bacterial agents that can cause respiratory disease, including Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Streptococcus equi, as well as Escherichia coli and Salmonella.

Preventing respiratory problems in foals starts before they are born with routine vaccination programs for pregnant mares. This is extremely important to protect young foals from equine viral rhinopneumonitis. It is also important to make sure the foal nurses well so that you know he got the antibodies from the mare in the colostrum. With older foals, make sure they are on a good vaccination program to help prevent viral infections.

In areas where Rhodococcus is a problem–and it can be endemic on some farms–avoid over use of congregating areas where dust builds up. That is a prime area for the transmission of Rhodococcus.

It should go without saying that a clean environment for the foals is extremely important. Make sure that stalls are kept as clean as possible because dust and ammonia can injure the cells lining the respiratory tract of a foal and cause decreased clearance for debris.

(Article retrieved from: Â www.thehorse.com)

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Sunscreen Lies, Truths and Recommendations

Health Issues 1 Response »

Jun 182010

My good friend, Beverly Meyer (from the Diet and Health Center), was listening recently to a radio show on skin cancer. Â She was so upset by what she heard that she knew she had to write an article about this, and I agreed with her and wanted to share it with you.

The speakers were completely focused on blocking the sun’s rays as THE cause of and protection for skin cancer. Â They never discussed the very toxic and disturbing studies on sunblock use, and they never discussed the dangers of hydrogenated oils (trans fats) in the diet, and chemicals in skin care products and in our food and water as additional known causes of skin cancer.

From a naturopathic point of view, hydrogenated oils in fast foods, baked goods, chips, salad dressings, cereals, margarine, fried foods and more, poison the skin cells that use our natural cholesterol to react with the sun to form Vitamin D. Â Yet another reason to never eat these oils again!

Let’s talk about sunscreens a bit.

First of all, our modern obsession with skin cancer and skin aging is/was unknown to traditional farmers and hunters who spend their lives outside, or to our grandparents’ generation who farmed and ranched (before hydrogenated oils and toxic skin care products became ubiquitous).

Humans turn brown in the sun by producing melanin to protect the skin. Humans evolving in equatorial climates developed dark skin. Â Those who then migrated to cooler climates with less direct sun have light skin. Â So, our skin understands sunlight and knows how to handle it.

But if you have light skin and want to be outside for hours in the sun, what do you do?

The FIRST line of defense is shade, hats, and clothing. Â And limiting the length of sun exposure so you do not burn. Avoid direct overhead sun at all times, if possible. Â Having a tan will help protect you from burning. Moisturize with chemical-free oils and lotions (such as Aubrey or Weleda) to feed the skin after sun exposure.

Secondly, if sunscreens must be used, research by the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org ) says to choose “mineral” sunscreens over “chemical” sunscreens. The “mineral” sunscreens will usually use that term right on the label. More on this in a minute…

Here are some facts about sunscreens:

1). Â Sunscreens prevent sunburn, but beyond that, surprisingly little is known about their safety or efficacy. Â They do NOT protect against radiation damage.

2). Â There is NO consensus on whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer. Â The FDA said in 2007 that “The FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps to prevent skin cancer”.

3). Â There is some evidence that sunscreen use may actually INCREASE the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Â Why? Â Perhaps because we stay in the sun’s radiation longer, or the free radicals released in sunscreen chemicals break down in sunlight, playing a role in “poisoning” the skin.

4). Â There is no proof whatsoever that SPF’s over 50 are of increased value. Â Indeed, SPF 15 is all we really need and can utilize. Â The rest is just marketing.

5). Â Sun screens block Vitamin D, one of the most important of all Vitamins. Â We are supposed to get 15 minutes daily of unblocked sun, full body. Â But who is doing that? Â So, for most of us, getting a little sun may mean the difference between breast cancer, osteoporosis, asthma, depression, colon cancer, or, healthy old age.

6). Â Topical Vitamin A reacts to sunlight and forms compounds that may increase development of skin cancer. Â 40% of all sunscreens have retinyl palmitate in them and should NOT be used. (It’s OK if your skin lotions and night moisturizers have Vitamin A – just don’t sit in the sun with them).

7). Â Both UV radiation and many common sunscreen ingredients generate free radicals that damage DNA and skin cells, accelerate aging, and CAUSE skin cancer. Â An effective sunscreen PREVENTS more damage than it causes, but sunscreens are far better at preventing burn than limiting free radical damage. Â If you use too little screen, or apply it too infrequently (reapply every two hours or as label directs), it can cause MORE free radical damage than UV rays on the bare skin. Â Tanning beds are prime offenders as they use focused ionizing radiation.

8). Â So we have 3 choices. Â First, take your sun when the sun is not directly overhead. Â Add a hat, light clothing, shoes, and some shade. Â If you are to get direct sun, cover what you can, and choose your sunscreen carefully.

Secondly, the best screens use Zinc or Titanium as mineral blockers to prevent the sun entering your skin. Â They are stable in the sun (which “chemical” sunscreens are not), they don’t penetrate the skin and move toxic substances into the body, and they offer UVA protection (which “chemical” screens do not).

The best brands, according to the Environmental Working Group, include Badger, California Baby, Jason, Kabana, Loving Naturals, and Soleo Organics. Â I would try Whole Foods, SunHarvest, or the Internet for these.

Thirdly, chemical screens can be extremely dangerous and I do not recommend them to anyone. Â Your body absorbs these man-made chemicals and, as said above, they may actually do harm to the skin. Â I know they do harm to your liver!

That being said, the best chemical brand is Coppertone, especially these particular products: Â Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15; Oil-Free Lotion SPF 15; and Sport Sunblock SPF 15.

9). Â Last but not least. Â Change ALL your skin care products to organic, natural, chemical- free goods with no parabens, no SLS, no colors, fragrances, or five syllable words! Â Anything you put on your skin goes into your body.

If it’s not good enough to eat with a fork, don’t put it on your skin…

If you would like to join Beverly Meyer’s newsletter list please visit www.dietandhealthcenter.info

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Gluten Sensitivity in Dogs

Dog Talk 1 Response »

Jun 042010

Gluten Sensitivity in Dogs

Gluten allergy, medically described as celiac disease, is a fairly common food allergy in canines.

It can develop at any point in a dog’s life and manifests a variety of symptoms, including skin and bowel problems. After diagnosis, a lifelong change in diet is usually required to treat the condition.

But what is GLUTEN?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and many other flours that’s often added to commercial pet food.

Dogs, like humans and other animals, can develop a sensitivity or allergy to it if through repeat exposure or as an acute reaction to a single exposure.

Gluten allergy causes the inflammation and destruction of the interior of the small intestine, thus preventing nutrients and vitamins from being properly absorbed.

Moreover, gluten irritates the large intestine, causing colitis, which results in bowel problems.

Food allergies at large account for about 10 percent of dog allergies.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms of gluten allergy include itchy, flaky, and subsequently irritated skin as well as upset bowels.

Other symptoms include hypertension, weight loss, lack of energy and changes in behavior.

In the past, the only way to diagnose a food allergy was to replace the existing diet with one containing none of the same ingredients.

Today, a simple blood test can indicate an allergy, although the exclusion diet is still widely employed.

WHAT TO DO?

As such, foods explicitly labeled gluten free or homemade meals are the best option for dogs with gluten allergy.

A true allergy cannot but cured, thus the allergen must be removed from the animal’s diet and avoided.

A lifelong food can gradually become an irritant or even an allergy over time, thus making initial diagnosis difficult.

While a homemade food is the best option for pet owners, there are many varieties of gluten-free diets, although getting a dog to change foods can be difficult.

Other common food allergies in dogs include corn, soya, preservatives, beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs and fish.

Shandra Baker, author of Dog Food Dangers, shares with us today some vital information on how your dog can be suffering with gluten allergies and what you can do about it.

Gluten allergy, medically described as celiac disease, is a fairly common food allergy in Chihuahua as well as any other canine. Â It can develop at any point in a dog’s life and manifests a variety of symptoms, including skin and bowel problems.

After diagnosis, a lifelong change in diet is usually required to treat the condition.

But what is GLUTEN?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and many other flours that’s often added to commercial pet food. Chihuahuas andÂ otherÂ dogs, like humans and other animals, can develop a sensitivity or allergy to it if through repeat exposure or as an acute reaction to a single exposure.

Gluten allergy causes the inflammation and destruction of the interior of the small intestine, thus preventing nutrients and vitamins from being properly absorbed. Â Moreover, gluten irritates the large intestine, causing colitis, which results in bowel problems. Food allergies at large account for about 10 percent of dog allergies.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms of gluten allergy include itchy, flaky, and subsequently irritated skin as well as upset bowels. Â Other symptoms include hypertension, weight loss, lack of energy and changes in behavior. In the past, the only way to diagnose a food allergy was to replace the existing diet with one containing none of the same ingredients. Today, a simple blood test can indicate an allergy, although the exclusion diet is still widely employed.

WHAT TO DO?

Gluten is ubiquitous in processed pet food and treats and is sometimes omitted from listing on ingredient labels because of its implicit presence in other substances (this includes wheat, cereals and products of animal or vegetable origin). As such, foods explicitly labeled gluten free or homemade meals are the best option for dogs with gluten allergy.

A true allergy cannot but cured, thus the allergen must be removed from the animal’s diet and avoided. A lifelong food can gradually become an irritant or even an allergy over time, thus making initial diagnosis difficult. While a homemade food is the best option for pet owners, there are many varieties of gluten-free diets, although getting a Chihuahua to change foods can be difficult.

Other common food allergies in dogs include corn, soya, preservatives, beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs and fish.

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Can You Teach a Cat Tricks?

Cat Talk 1 Response »

Jun 042010

Who says you can’t teach a cat tricks? Believe it or not, any cat or Siamese cat can learn almost any trick that a dog can learn. It just takes a little time, patience and communication. Today, we’ll focus on the most basic commands – sitting and standing.

What You Need:

* Your cat before mealtime

* A quiet area where your cat is comfortable

* A table for your cat

* A specific command (in this case, the words “sit” or “stand”), preceded by your cat’s name

* Your positive signal (a clicker, or an upbeat word such as “yes”)

* Your cat’s reward (favorite food or special treats)

Teaching Your Cat to Sit

1. Gently put your Siamese catÂ on the table at the edge nearest to you, and pet her so she is comfortable.

2. Show your cat the reward, then give the command “Fluffy, sit” and move the reward back and over her head.

3. As she tips her head back to follow the food, she will naturally sit to keep her balance. When she sits, hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “sit, good sit”. Immediately give her the treat.

4. Eventually your cat should respond to the command “sit” without you having to dangle food over her head.

5. Once your cat has learned the behavior, you no longer need to place the cat on the table to sit.

In the beginning, if your Siamese cat does not sit on her own, you may gently press down on her hindquarters. Then hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “sit, good sit.” Be gentle and patient. If she resists, try again another time. It’s always better to have her sit on her own.

Teaching Your Cat to Stand

Standing is one of the simplest tricks you can teach your cat, as they often assume the position naturally. Your goal is to have your cat stand up on her haunches when you give the command “up” while you hold the reward above her.

Training Steps

1. Put your cat on the table at the edge nearest to you, and pet her so she is comfortable.

2. Show her the reward, then give the command “Fluffy, up” while you hold the food directly above her (but not close enough that she can grab it).

3. When she stands on her hind legs or haunches and reaches for the food, hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “up, good up.” Immediately give her the treat.

4. Eventually your cat should respond to the command “up” without you having to hold the food above her.

5. Once your cat has learned the behavior, you no longer need to place the cat on a table to sit up.

For those who may not think it’s kosher to teach a Siamese cat tricks, remember this. Training is all about learning how to communicate and work together, like in every good relationship.

Above all, training should be fun for you — and fun for your feline friend too. Now, go teach your kitty some new tricks!

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Want to use my articles in your blog, ezine, or website? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Val Heart is called The Real Dr Doolittle™ and teaches animal lovers how to connect and communicate from the heart. She specializes in resolving behavior, training, performance, health problems, euthanasia decisions. Free AnimalTalk QuickStart Course (value $79), The Real Dr Doolittle™ (podcast) Show now on iTunes! (210) 863-7928, email: contactval@valheart.com visit http://www.valheart.com

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4 Words That Silently Kill Relationships

Health Issues No Responses »

Jun 042010

It has been my experience that a great amount of the stress that occurs in a home/family situation comes from a lack of trust, or an inability to communicate effectively. Â Your animals are ALWAYS directly affected by this type of stress. Â Consequently, your animals may form behavior issues in an effort to deal with the stress in the home.

When I read this article by Susie and Otto Collins I thought that they did a wonderful job of boiling the core message of mistrust into some simple to understand statements. Â And, they give some great tips on how to overcome mistrust in your relationships.

By Susie and Otto Collins

There are four words that almost NO one actually says out loud but millions of men and women sure think this about their spouse or partner.

What’s underneath these four words can literally suck the life and passion out of an otherwise good relationship. That’s why we say these four words are silent relationship killers. We know this sounds dramatic and we know what you’re probably thinking…

If they’re almost never spoken, how do they kill relationships? Good question. Glad you asked.

They kill relationships because they represent the predominant thought one person has for another–and what isn’t spoken can be just as powerful or even more so than what is spoken.

What are these 4 dangerous words?

They are, “I don’t trust you.”

Before you think all we’re talking about is what happens because of an affair, infidelity or one or both partners cheating on each other…

We’ll tell you that you certainly might feel like that if you’ve been lied to or cheated on but there’s much more to it when it comes to those four little words…

“I don’t trust you…”

What we’re talking about is taking you a little deeper into the whole idea of trust in an intimate relationship. The idea of “I don’t trust you” and a lack of trust can play out in a million different ways in a relationship.

For example…

*I don’t trust you to bring home your share of the money to pay our bills.â€

*I don’t trust that you’ll be home on time for dinner as you said you would.â€

*I don’t trust that you’ll not spend us into debt.â€

*I don’t trust that you’ll watch the kids the way I do.â€

*I don’t trust that you’ll do the laundry and not ruin my shirts.â€

*I don’t trust that you’ll be open to making love with me tonight.â€

*I don’t trust that you’ll be honest with me.â€

You get the idea…

And if you’re honest with yourself, you can recognize where you’ve had those thoughts over and over about the person you love–we certainly have. While these thoughts of “I don’t trust you” are pretty normal, it’s important for you to become aware of them because of how they can negatively impact your relationship.

Early in our relationship, Otto would tell Susie every now and then that she didn’t trust him in certain ways. She denied it, but it turned out that when she really looked at her thoughts, it was true.

She didn’t trust him in certain ways that had nothing to do with him cheating. But her mistrust could have driven a huge wedge between the two of us if we hadn’t talked it out.

If mistrust becomes your predominant thought about your partner, you’re automatically building walls between the two of you. The other person feels your doubt and can withdraw or become angry, leaving the two of you with a lot that’s left that’s unsaid. And these walls affect your communication, your openness to intimacy, and whether your love grows or dies.

One of the agreements the two of us made at the beginning of our relationship was that if we were upset with something that the other had said or done, we would talk first with him or her and not first with people outside our relationship. That wasn’t always the case in our previous relationships and we paid the price of disconnection and the eventual end of those relationships. We didn’t trust that our previous partners would listen to what we had to say and that we could calmly talk about whatever we needed to–so we talked to other people instead of our partners.

So, what do you do if you have the thought that you don’t trust the other person to do or not do whatever it is that’s your issue–and you have good reason for your mistrust? You may have had that experience with this person in the past and you can’t turn your back on the idea that it will probably happen again. Or your lack of trust might have nothing to do with your partner, but rather experiences you’ve had in past relationships and as you were growing up.

How can you stop saying to yourself “I don’t trust you” when you really don’t trust him or her? If you’ve identified some places in your relationship and in yourself where you don’t trust and you don’t want to continue to allow this mistrust to come between the two of you–even something very small…

1. Identify what and who you really don’t trust. Look within for the real issues of your mistrust which may have started long before your current partner.

Take out pen and paper and write the words “I don’t trust you because…” and then keep writing anything that comes into your mind. Just keep writing and see what comes up.

2. Identify the source of your trust problem. If it turns out that you need to do some forgiving of someone in your past, remember that you are forgiving for YOU and not condoning what the person did–assuming that you are no longer being subjected to those actions anymore.

Actively choosing to no longer be tied to these wrongs that were done to you can be extremely freeing. You may need the help of a qualified therapist or coach to support you in this process.

3. In order to start trusting another person, you have to get in your mind what he or she has to do to become trustable to you. So start making your list and be specific.

4. Be courageous and talk with your partner about what’s been holding you back and ways you’ve been mistrusting him or her. Create some agreements and plans to move from mistrust even if it’s about something very insignificant.

One of issues of trust for us has been keeping our home straightened up, especially with Otto’s 21 year old son living with us. One of the “Magic Words” phrases that we use is “Tell me your plan for _______.”

Instead of worrying about whether whatever is in question will be put away or not., this phrase opens up communication instead of resentment.

Our suggestion to you is to make sure you don’t allow hidden mistrust to silently kill your love for each other. Take action and bring more love into your life.

If you would like to learn more about their Relationship Trust Turnaround program please visit http://budurl.com/k2k4

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Quick Tips for People Suffering from Allergies to Animals

Uncategorized No Responses »

Jun 042010

Having allergies doesn’t mean you have to give up your pet right away. Â There are a number of solutions that can be attempted first.

*Rather than giving the animal free run of the house, restrict them to only certain rooms or increase the amount of time they spend outside.

*Make sure that the litter box is out of the way.

*Make the bedroom of the affected person completely off limits to the dog or cat.

*Run HEPA air filters and clean your home, especially carpets, often.

* Have the person with allergies avoid as much contact with the animal as possible, assuming there are other family members who can still love on and play with the animal.

* Give the animal frequent baths to remove dander, dust, pollen, dirt and spores, which are likely the cause of the allergy.

If these tips don’t work, you may have to entertain the idea of allergy shots, or simply having another type of animal in the house that doesn’t have dander, mold spores or other allergens.

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Relationship Between Autistic Boy and Horse is One of Healing

Horse Talk 1 Response »

Jun 032010

How far would you travel to heal someone you love? An intensely personal yet epic spiritual journey, THE HORSE BOY follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia, in a desperate attempt to treat his condition with shamanic healing.

A complex condition that can dramatically affect social interaction and communication skills, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability today. After two-year-old Rowan Isaacson was diagnosed with autism, he ceased speaking, retreated into himself for hours at a time, and often screamed inconsolably for no apparent reason. Rupert Isaacson, a writer and former horse trainer, and his wife Kristin Neff, a psychologist.

Then they discovered that Rowan has a profound affinity for animals, particularly horses. When Rupert began to ride with Rowan every day, Rowan began to talk again and engage with the outside world. Was there a place on the planet that combined horses, ponies and healing? There was â€” Mongolia, the country where the horse was first domesticated, and where shamanism is the state religion. What if we were to take Rowan there, thought Rupert, and ride on horseback from shaman to shaman? What would happen?

THE HORSE BOY is a magical expedition from the wild open steppe to the sacred Lake Sharga. As the family sets off on a quest for a possible cure, Rupert and Kristin find their son is accepted â€” even treasured â€” for his differences. By telling one familyâ€™s extraordinary story, the film gives a voice to the thousands of families who are living with autism every day. As Rupert and Kristin struggle to make sense of their childâ€™s autism, and find healing for him and themselves in this unlikeliest of places, Rowan makes dramatic leaps forward, astonishing both his parents.

I hope you get as much hope and inspiration from this film as I did. Â Enjoy!

target=”_blank”>http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/horse-boy/film.html

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Recipe for Dog Treats

Uncategorized No Responses »

Jun 032010

What you need:

10 cups organic rye flour

6 cups organic barley flour

8 ounces organic apple puree

2 tablespoons organic cinnamon

6 cups of water – may vary a bit depending on weather

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and lightly grease cookie tray.

2. Mix all ingredients together, roll out to desired thickness, cut into bone shape biscuit, cookie shape, vegetable or shape of your choice. Place on lightly greased tray. For a shiny biscuit, brush with an egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 teaspoon of water)

3. Place in pre-heated 325 degree oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on how thick or thin you roll out the dough.

4. Cool thoroughly and store in cookie jar, no refrigeration needed. Thoroughly baked, they store for a very long time and usually last for a full year.

Yield is about 5 pounds of treats. Number of treats vary, depending on the size and shape you cut them. The whole house smells great while you are baking these!

Enjoy!

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