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ANIMAL CHANNEL
NEWSLETTER
ANITA CURTIS * P O
BOX 182 * GILBERTSVILLE, PA 19525 *
PH: (610) 327-3820
FAX (610) 970-2696 * amicom@aol.com * www.anitacurtis.com
Editorial and Edited by: Anita Curtis /
Written by: Elena
Smith
Winter 2002/2003 Newsletter
Hi
everyone,
By the time you read this newsletter the holidays
will be over. I tell Elena Smith what I would like in the newsletter, she
writes it, and then I check through it to see if I can find any mistakes to
correct. There aren’t many. Elena does a great job!
I asked her to get this issue out early in
December and she put other chores aside and did just that. However, I didn’t
follow through and get it to you. The holidays were depressing to me and I hid
from all responsibility. Christmas is over and the New Year just a couple of
days away as I write this. I had hoped if I ignored them they would just go
away. As I celebrated my special pity party I knew there would be no magic in
my life.
Wrong.
I can see part of my horse pasture from my bedroom
window. The ground slopes down and a line of trees pass through. There is more
field on the other side. The leaves are off the trees now, and snow is on the
ground. Jean was in my office today talking to me and caught sight of some
movement in the trees and in the snowy field behind them. She said, “Deer!” and
we both rushed to the window to watch.
There were about six or eight deer playing tag.
They raced around and around, leaping, kicking, and having a blast. They seemed
to be going in all directions at once at top speed. There were all ages and
sizes. We stood at the window for at least ten minutes in awe of the show and
grateful to be witness to it.
I was able to do my stable chores with a lighter
heart than I’ve had for weeks, and then look forward to working on this
newsletter.
I woke up at 4 a.m. and had a problem getting back
to sleep – very unusual for me. I decided to put the mental picture of the deer
playing into the VCR of my mind and drift back to sleep while I watched. I
relived the scenes of the deer and then the images changed. I saw the
magnificent male cardinal sitting on a snowy branch the other day. I noticed it
then but just thought, “How pretty, “ on my way past the window. I did not stop
to soak up the sheer beauty. The next item on the mental tape was the feeling
of energy I had earlier when I had lunch with friends. I had a chance to savor
the feelings of being with good friends instead of feeling in the dumps. The
next picture was of my son and I giggling over a silly commercial, and the love
and friendship I feel when I’m with him.
Then I heard stirring music from a tape I had listened to recently.
The last vision was seeing myself working and
hearing the words and messages of the animals. What a wonderful gift I have
been given to be able to help those who need it. I am truly blessed.
I don’t just wish you happy holidays – I wish you
magic.
I’ve been busy since the last newsletter. I had
the opportunity to fly to Eugene, Oregon in October and speak at the American
Holistic Veterinary Conference. What a wonderful experience that was! I met
some incredible people, and was delighted at the turnout for my talk. It is so
rewarding to know that there are veterinarians interested in the subject of
animal communications. There were too many years that communications were a
taboo subject for us to bring up at the vets.
About eight or nine years ago Susan
Ajamian’s horse, Ritchie, told us that animal communications would be
commonplace in about ten years. It looks like he was right!
I flew out to the conference with
Stacey Small of Equilite. I took Equilite’s pet essence, Mellow Out Blend
before we got on the plane, as I don’t like to fly. It worked well and Stacey
and I had an uneventful trip out. ‘Uneventful’ is my favorite way to travel. Stacey
and I have been working on other blends of herbs and flower essences for the
animals (and me, if I need them) and have a few bottled and ready to go. Panic Attack for separation anxieties
is ready, and At Your Service for
animals that give service such as therapy animals, guide dogs, and service dogs
who need a boost. It is also for school horses who are going through some
burn-out.
We designed Sibling Rivalry for animals, litter-mates or not, who are not
getting along, or are fighting for a lead position in the household. There are
more to come in the near future: a blend for an animal or person who is
experiencing the loss of a companion, a blend for animals who are disturbed by
spirits, and a blend for animals who have to stay in a kennel. We are working
on a blend for wild animals in captivity, including birds in cages, and a few
others. See HTTP:///.Equilite.com
for more information.
This work has been exciting,
complicating, and spiritually rewarding for both of us. It is also exhausting
at times, but we feel that the good that will come of it is worth it.
The workshop schedule is on page 10
of this newsletter. I look forward to meeting some of you there.
A Second Chance to Say Goodbye, the
book that Marianne Michaels and I co-authored is out now and we have had some
positive feedback from it. Many thanks. It can be ordered from my website or a
call to the office.
Enjoy the newsletter and please keep
in touch.
Anita
VETERINARY
CARE
BREAD DOUGH A NO-NO FOR DOGS AND CATS
As the holidays descend upon us, there'll be many cooks in the
kitchen--but don't spoil your pet by giving him bread dough. According to Jill
A. Richardson, DVM, of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), when
bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in the
stomach. As alcohol is produced during the rising process, the dough expands.
Pets who've eaten bread dough may experience abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting,
disorientation and depression.
"We once had a case in which a Labrador retriever ate several
rolls that the owner had placed on the oven to rise," Richardson recalls.
"The owner didn't think much of this, and was just upset that the dog ate
part of the holiday feast. But a few hours later, the owner noticed that the
dog looked very lethargic. He was resistant to move, uncoordinated and was
retching."
As the dog's symptoms worsened, his owner brought him to an
emergency clinic, which contacted the APCC. Unfortunately, the dog's stomach
was so severely distended by this time that the only option was to surgically
remove the dough; he was also treated for alcohol toxicosis, caused by the
fermentation of the dough. The canine was kept at the clinic for the weekend
and fortunately recovered completely.
Although the Labrador had ingested quite a bit of dough, an animal
needs to eat only a small amount to cause a problem, because bread dough can
rise to many times its size. Please take care not to let Fluffy or Fido in the
kitchen unsupervised when you're baking this holiday season--especially if
you've got a professional chowhound who's always on the lookout for some grub.
CANINE/FELINE HEALTH ALERT: HOLD THE
ONIONS, PLEASE!
Raw, dehydrated, cooked, or powdered -- onions in any form
can be dangerous to your dog or cat, say veterinarians at the ASPCA Animal
Poison Control Center (APCC). Should your pet partake of a toxic dose,
thiosulphate in the onions can cause hemolytic anemia, in which the red blood
cells are spliced and unable to supply enough oxygen. The minimum toxic dose
will vary, depending on the animal's size and sensitivity and the amount and
type of onion ingested, but initial signs of poisoning include vomiting, nausea
and diarrhea, progressing to lethargy, weakness and difficulty breathing. Says
the APCC's Dr. Jill A. Richardson; "Often the pet owner realizes there is
a problem when the damaged red blood cells are eliminated in the pet's urine,
which becomes a bright red color."
Poisoning can occur with repeated ingestion of small amounts of
onion or with a single ingestion, as was the case with two collie mixes from
Philadelphia. The dogs ate some fried onions out of the trashcan on a Friday.
"By Sunday, the dogs' urine was red--from the free hemoglobin released
from ruptured red blood cells," reports Richardson. "At that time the
owner brought them into an emergency clinic, thinking the dogs had urinary
tract infections."
Upon examination and discussion, exposure to onions was confirmed.
The clinic's veterinary staff contacted the APCC for treatment solutions. Says
Richardson, "Our recommendations included administering fluids to protect
the kidneys, a blood transfusion and aggressive nursing care." The dogs
responded well and were released later in the week.
What should you do if you think your animal companion has
accidentally eaten onions? Contact your veterinarian or the APCC's animal
emergency hotline at (888) 4-ANI-HELP for decontamination help.
HEALTH TIPS TO HELP MAKE THE SEASON
BRIGHT FOR PETS
"We see an increased number of calls related to pet poisoning
during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's," says Dr. Steven
Hansen, DVM, director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). Here's
one
holiday list you can check twice to help keep the furry members of
your family happy and healthy:
Season's eatings shouldn't include holiday greenery such as holly,
mistletoe, lilies and amaryllis. While commonly used to deck the halls, they
can make your pet sick if ingested.
Look before you light. Lit candles produce fumes that can be
harmful to birds if inhaled. And don't forget, your pet's wagging tail can
easily knock over a burning candle. Liquid potpourri is also dangerous to pets,
who could ingest it from decorative bowls and simmering pots.
Whoa, Christmas tree! Their branches definitely delight pets,
who've been known to chew on them and whatever decorations may be hanging from
them. Place small, breakable ornaments up high, and keep tinsel and
garland out of your pet's reach, as these can get caught in his
throat. And make sure that pine needles, which can be toxic, don't get eaten.
Keep batteries loose and in packages away from pets. They contain
corrosives that can cause ulceration in your animal companion's mouth, tongue
and gastrointestinal tract if bitten or swallowed.
Shy animals can get stressed with the hustle and bustle of holiday
guests, so make sure there's a quiet room to which your pets can retreat.
If you suspect your pet has gotten into a potentially poisonous
substance, call your veterinarian or the APCC's emergency hotline,
1-888-4-ANI-HELP, for round-the-clock telephone assistance. For more
information on poison prevention, visit APCC online.
PHONE MESSAGE
If you call between 10: 30 am and 4pm,
Eastern, Monday-Friday and get our voice mail, please leave a message. Jean is on a call helping another client and
will call you back as soon as possible.
FRIENDS NOT
FORGOTTEN
