The Dog Cancer Survival Guide (71 page)

“When we got the diagnosis of splenic hemangiosarcoma for our golden doodle Ellie, I dove into learning as much as possible about any and every treatment option. I already had experience with the power of prayer, meditation and visualization but I had never heard of Reiki (a form of light-touch/energy therapy). I was so intrigued. There was just something about it that sounded so powerfully comforting. Now, thanks to Ellie, I am a Reiki teacher and practitioner - for pets and people. All of my dogs benefit from Reiki treatments with increased relaxation and decreased pain & stress. I hear the same reports from people. My elderly arthritic dog has a way of nestling into my hands whenever he wants a Reiki session - he and Ellie used to share Reiki sessions together and their moods and bodies always seemed lighter afterward. One of the greatest gifts I received from Reiki was its calming effects when it was finally time for Ellie to cross-over. In the midst of that very difficult decision, the presence of positive Reiki energy helped me know I was doing all I could for Ellie’s wellbeing. Reiki also helps me know that Ellie and I continue to be connected in energy and spirit.”

– Sarah N. Bertsch, Hudson, Wisconsin

Benefits of dog meditation are not just emotional closeness, calm thinking and a relaxed mind. Meditating with your dog, being present with each other can help your dog feel calm, relaxed and connected to you. Many dogs will get a life quality boost from this practice. See
page 26
for a simple dog meditation.

Though it may sound “new age” to some, visualizing what you want to happen is not just a “far-out” concept. It’s a technique used by elite athletes, NASA astronauts and other top performers, to maintain their mental muscles. A mental rehearsal can train your brain to help achieve a desired outcome in real life.

Basketball stars, like Michael Jordan, often imagine a basketball going through the hoop, even before they take the shot. Interestingly, elite coaches train their clients to use positive visuals, even in the face of failure. For example, if the basketball misses the hoop, the player re-visualizes the shot and imagines it going in the hoop. This prepares the mind for success the next time.

“Zia is a Labrador Retriever — her litter was bred to be working/competing dogs. So, after she recovered from having her lung removed at 5 months — I was able to slowly start training her again and she was able to compete (much to the surprise of her veterinarians at Texas A&M — that did her surgery). She is a high energy dog that has been training and competing all her life. I still take her with me when we train dogs — which would be her “play date”. She is also walked on a daily basis, and I still do (as Dr. Dressler calls it) manageable training challenges. I want her to feel as if she is still part of the world of retrieving that she is used to. I want her to never feel like she is left out of anything. She thoroughly enjoys herself daily.”

- Sheril Allen, Austin, Texas

So what can you visualize for your dog? Pick something that feels good to you and don’t limit yourself. Perhaps your desire is for your dog’s pain to be eased, for a good life quality or that your dog will beat the odds. Whatever it is, spend some time imagining what your desire would look like, then see it, actually happening. Add any sounds, smells, or textures that make the visualization even more real. Remember to imagine what it feels like to actually have this.

Just like a child playing with sand, you can make this as real as possible. Allow the feelings of success, peace and joy to carry you away a little. This is how the world’s top performers make their lives what they want them to be, and it can’t hurt to try. Your dog can pick up on your good feelings, even if she doesn’t understand why you feel good.

Some people have trouble with this. They feel like it’s fake to imagine something good. If you just can’t get yourself to feel good and believe in what you want to have happen, ease up on yourself and visualize something that still feels good, but is more attainable. If imagining your dog as painfree doesn’t work, perhaps imagining his feeling more ease when he sleeps will do the trick. Being realistic is prudent and sensible; sometimes, however, we get tangled up in negatives and our dogs might pick them up. Allowing ourselves to focus on the good things can also be prudent and sensible. The point of this exercise is not to lie, just to practice feeling more positive states of emotion. If this exercise doesn’t work for you, that’s OK; there are plenty of other ways to get your dog and yourself to feel good.

If visualization seemed weird to you, then using intercessory prayer for your dog might seem really bizarre. Please, bear with me.

“I take my dog along to do most of the daily chores around the farm. This gets him out and exercising and offers him time to play with the other animals. He is very “social” and loves all other creatures. In addition he seems to respond to being able to “help out” and we chat about what needs to be done and our plans for the day. He plays nicely with the neighbor dogs and enjoys rubbing noses with the horses. I see so much more energy and expression when other animals are involved. He also gets lots of praise and encouragement during this time. Now the word CHORES is not a dirty words at all. He runs to the door in anticipation and I actually look forward to that time now - it is a win win for everyone!!!”

– Holly Rydman, Olympia, Washington