Fall and spring are my favorite time of year in Ohio. Terri, being from Oklahoma, enjoys summer. We agree that we don’t enjoy winter unless there is snow on the ground, a fire in the fireplace, and a good book in hand.Fall is a time of life for Nature – for plants and minerals, and for animals. We have a house and barn full of beings in the fall cycle of their lives, although some of us (Terri, Ben, and Rohan) are in early fall while the rest of us are a little further along. What this means for all of us is dealing with how aging effects us – both as humans with aging bodies, and as humans who live with aging animals. We also deal with this quite a bit in our business, talking with clients whose animals are older and facing health challenges. We wanted to share with you some of the positive steps we have taken with our own geriatric animals, ourselves, and what we have recommended to our clients.We have learned that dis-ease or physical imbalance begins with imbalance in the energetic system. Healing Touch, Reiki, massage, craniosacral therapy, or other modalities that work with the physical/energetic body connection all seem to have that common thread. Carol Komitor, founder of Healing Touch for Animals (HTA) and the Komitor Healing Method, has created a wonderful diagram that shows exactly how energy work translates into physical healing. The diagram is based on the physiological response cycle that begins with the relaxation response. As a biology major, this just plain makes sense to me.What we have learned is that if we work with our own energy system or the energy system of an animal, we can bring it into balance. In essence, we set the stage for the body to heal itself more quickly and efficiently. Terri and I receive regular chiropractic adjustment, cranial sacral therapy, and Alexander Technique Lessons. We also have our animals adjusted chiropractically about every six months, and do energy work with them as routinely as possible. We may not do a full Healing Touch for Animals session with them each time. For example, if I’m standing waiting for Rusty to finish his food, I’ll do an HTA bridging technique to balance him, or use the ultrasound technique on his arthritic joints, or run energy from his solar plexus to his belly button to facilitate better digestion. Before the blacksmith comes, we do the Bridging and Grounding/Focusing technique to get Rohan settled. We use energy work to facilitate healing and balance. We have found this to be very important in working with the aging process … it’s like preventative maintenance for the body. Energy modalities are not a substitute for qualified medical and veterinary care, however. Please consult your doctor/vet first to insure that traditional medical treatment is not required.The other thing that’s very tough about living with geriatric animals is that we get very concerned about when they will pass, what they can and cannot do with their physical limitations, and how we will cope when they do leave us. We’ve spoken with several geriatric dogs and cats who feel that they can no longer perform their jobs. They feel depressed, embarrassed, and feel that they may no longer be valued or wanted by their humans. For example, we talked with a dog recently whose job was to watch the house for his family. His eyesight and hearing is failing. The family brought in a new young pup in to keep him company. He felt as though this puppy was going to replace him, and that his family was going to “make him leave”. This was, of course, not true at all. His family brought the pup in because they though he was lonely, and that he would enjoy the company of another dog. We worked with the dog to help him understand that his main job was to be a loving companion and friend to his family, and that he could teach the pup how to watch the house.In summary, if you are living with an older animal, we suggest the following:
- regular vet checkups
- regular chiropractic adjustments
- energy work (we offer HTA, as do other qualified practitioners in the area)
- remind your animal that you value them most as a loving companion and friend
- enjoy your time with them – make sure you take at least 5 minutes every day to spend focused time together
- exercise as their physical limitations permit – a short walk would probably do you and your animal a world of good. If they can’t walk, put them in a wagon or stroller and take them for a walk that way.
Fall is a time to slow down and appreciate the beauty and richness of life!
