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South Bay Accent - Aug/Sep 2015

66 South Bay Accent CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: COURTESY OF CANINE THERAPEUTICS; COURTESY OF ZOOM ROOM; SHUTTERSTOCK HHOOLUINSTDISC As more people turn to holistic and integrative health therapies for their own healing, they are adopting a similar attitude toward canine treatments. Physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and herbal cures now are available for those dogs that need extra special care due to illness or injury or senior dogs needing a little TLC to regain some puppy playfulness. Dr. Lina McCain, of Pathways, which specializes in acupuncture and herbal therapy, says she helps many dogs, especially in concert with traditional veterinary medicine. And she’s found that dogs are remarkably accepting about acupuncture needles. “They are a lot more cooperative than owners think they will be,” McCain remarks. Eri Suzaki of Canine Therapeutics believes that pet massage isn’t a luxury; instead, she thinks that it is a key to maintenance and preventative care, just as with people. Her clients often hope that a session will bring a little more spring in their older or injured dog’s steps the next day. Scout’s House in Menlo Park is a doggie rehab center with an impressive list of treatments that includes hydrotherapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, acupuncture and veterinary orthopedic manipulation, low-level laser therapy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. “The thing about rehab therapy is it helps animals recover more quickly and more completely,” says Scout’s House founder Lisa Stahr. GYM RATS Dogs that get lots of activity are less likely to experience behavioral and health problems. And active dogs can help their humans become a little—or in some cases a lot—healthier, too. Shared activities have gone way beyond fetch or tossing a Frisbee. Today you and your dog have shared activity options such as agility training, which teams up two- and four-legged pals to run and jump through a timed obstacle course. “It’s a team sport that is good for you, good for the dog and a whole lot of fun. It’s one big game,” says Fetch Sam owner Susanne Cohen. “Truly what I train people to do is play with their dog.” The Zoom Room in Campbell and Belmont also offers agility training, along with “Puplates” and “urban herding,” which is sometimes referred to as “Treibball.” Pup-lates uses gym equipment similar to that found in your local human workout spot. Urban herding is a relatively new sport that uses large exercise balls instead of sheep. At the Pooch Hotel in Sunnyvale, dogs can go swimming, walk a treadmill or play with a trainer. And, of course, who wouldn’t want to top off a particularly strenuous session with a rubdown? POOCH COUTURE An estimated $350 million was spent on Halloween pet costumes last year, but some owners don’t need a holiday in order to splurge. Gussied Up Dog Boutique in Willow Glen has a large selection of doggie fashions and costumes ranging from cute dresses for pretty Pomeranians to T-shirts and camo gear for rough-and-tumble bulldogs. For sports fans, there are jerseys representing every Bay Area professional team, including a particularly adorable San Jose Sharks costume. The store also carries collars and leashes in every hue. Okashi Barkery in Campbell features unique hand-crafted fashions by local seamstresses and knitters. If your dog is more of a minimalist in the clothing department, it can still stand out from the crowd with beautifully created collars, leashes and tags that are more like jewelry than utilitarian gear. The Bay Area has a number of top-notch artisan companies selling these types of accessories online: Paco Collars, Bija Collars, and Sirius Republic are among them. Canine Therapeutics Zoom Room


South Bay Accent - Aug/Sep 2015
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