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May 2012

Like the blind leading the blind, I am amazed how many people will take advice from everyone except the very people who are trained and active in a particular field. Perhaps because there might be a fee attached to getting expert advice, people don’t take this route, but as the adage goes, you get what you pay for.

I don’t know how many times after a buyer or seller has given me their authoritative analysis of the real estate market, I find out the source of their information came from the plumber that fixed their drain yesterday or their cousin who drives bus, or the lady at the drycleaners. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not down on relatives, bus drivers, and drycleaners giving a little friendly advice if they think they know something but please don’t make serious decisions based on information that may not be accurate or at the least, is incomplete.

Everybody’s an expert these days! Because of the proliferation of information on the internet and other sources, some people think knowing a few things is all they need to know. However, anything to do with a subject like buying and selling real estate has become very complex. The problem is most people don’t know what they don’t know.

A word of advice: if you’re a professional, stick to giving advice about your area of expertise. One couple who asked me to sell their property had a price in mind because their accountant told them what he thought it was worth. Did he inspect the home? Did he do a market analysis and home evaluation? I doubt it. He may have known a few things about the home but his knowledge of the specifics and the big picture, made it clear he didn’t know enough. This couple was quite distraught when they realized later that the home actually wasn’t worth what their accountant said it was worth. They had mistakenly made plans based on his advice… advice given outside of his area of expertise.

I know of a neighbor who bought another neighbor’s house. I guess he thought he knew enough about home values without getting a Realtor® involved but in my estimation, he paid about $35,000.00 too much. Great for the seller, not so great for the buyer.

To quote Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, “always hire up”. In other words, always hire people who are more knowledgeable than you are in any given field. Hire people who are trained, experienced and active in their field. If you need insurance advice, talk to an insurance broker. If you need real estate advice, talk to a Realtor®.

Expert advice may come at a price but it can save you a ton of money and grief.

Valerie Edwards
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Ph: 250-477-9947
Email: valerie@valerieedwards.com
Website: www.valerieedwards.com

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May 2012

There is a tremendous interest in holistic approaches to both human and animal health care these days. We were introduced to this form of medicine over a decade ago. The thing we have realized is that though holistic practices are valuable, they do not always supply the answers. We have come to appreciate that there is a balance between using natural health care and conventional western medicine.

Integrative veterinary medicine is a blend of natural, holistic approaches to animal health combined with the best of conventional veterinary medicine.

What does this mean for our patients? We emphasize the most natural methods to prevent disease in our furry friends. This means optimizing diet, minimizing vaccines and medications, and using preventive medicine.

If a pet becomes ill, we do a comprehensive conventional medical examination, and sometimes add blood tests or radiographs to reach a diagnosis. Treatment may consist of conventional medications as well as holistic approaches to help the animal heal more quickly.

For instance, if your pet develops a bacterial skin infection, the conventional approach would be to administer an antibiotic. We can certainly do this. However, suppose the pet reacts poorly to antibiotics or the owner wants to tackle the problem from a natural perspective. In this case, we may use frequency-specific laser therapy to ward off the infection, other methods to boost the immune system, or address the underlying cause by identifying an allergy to foods.

If we have an arthritic dog or cat, we have a range of therapies at our disposal. This could include laser, VOM, Cartrophen injections, and anti-inflammatories depending on the severity of the condition and how we think the pet will best respond.

“The Good Doctor simply awakens the physician within.” By Albert Schweitzer

This quote describes what we are doing when we use the laser and VOM. We are stimulating the body to heal. Both forms of treatment entice the body to repair itself.

We also practice preventive medicine. A balanced, integrative approach to animal health care includes good nutrition and exercise. This does more to maintain health than anything else.

If you would like a consultation to find out how we can optimize the health in your four-legged friend, please call the hospital for an appointment.

If you are interested in learning more about integrative health, please visit the websites listed below.

What is Integrative Medicine?

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/alternative-medicine-integrative-medicine

Exploring Integrative Veterinary Practice

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-palmquist-dvm/discovering-integrative-v_b_599944.html

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April 2012

When you purchase a puppy, you have to plan for the future. With luck, you and your companion will share at least the next 15 years together. Because this time with our four-legged friends is so important, we need them to start out healthy and stay healthy.

To ensure your companion is as healthy as possible, there are two things that you should do as a caregiver. First you need to select a puppy free of disease and deformities, and then you must strive to maintain the health and mental well-being of your companion with consistent exercise, optimal nutrition, and preventive health care.

Healthy puppies are available from several sources. If you desire a purebred dog, make sure you choose a breed that will fit your family’s lifestyle. Do your research before making a decision. Once you know what breed you want, seek out a reputable breeder. Breed organizations can assist you in making a good choice. If you are not particular if your pup is purebred or not, your local SPCA will be a good source. Besides gaining a new companion, you will also be saving a life when you adopt a pup from a shelter.

Once you have acquired your new puppy, your first outing should be to your veterinary hospital. It is important to have your new puppy examined soon after you get him, but don’t make that trip on the first day. In most cases, it is better to wait a day or two so that you will have answers to your veterinarian’s questions about appetite, activity, drinking, and bowel movements. If there is a problem stewing, it will likely surface in these first days.

Vaccinations are in the forefront of every new puppy owner’s mind. How old should a pup be when he gets his first set of vaccinations? What diseases should pups be vaccinated against? There are no concrete answers to these questions. Your veterinarian is the best source for information on vaccinations because she will know which infections are a concern in your area and she will follow an established protocol that she trusts.

Infectious diseases are a real risk to puppies making their first appearances in the doggie world. The foremost question in the minds of most new puppy owners is “When can I take my new baby out to play with other dogs?” Every veterinarian has a story about the newly acquired puppy that went to the park before it was fully vaccinated. On this “happy” outing, the puppy contracted parvovirus. Though most puppies survive this severe viral infection with expensive intensive care, a few will die.

Puppies should not be out and about until they have had a complete vaccination series. Protection from the common infectious diseases cannot be assured until two weeks after the last set of vaccinations. It may be safe to let your pup visit the old dog next door who never goes to the park and is fully vaccinated, but ask your veterinarian before you do it.

Deworming your pup is also an important part of a preventive health program because puppies can get roundworms from their mothers. Your pup should be dewormed several times during the first four months of his life. Once he reaches adulthood, most veterinarians suggest checking your dog’s stool (a fecal sample) for parasites or deworming him at least once a year. We do not have a problem with heartworm in our area so don’t worry about that parasite.

Feeding your pup can be as easy as opening a bag of food, or as complicated as preparing a balanced meal from scratch at home. Some puppies do better with meal feeding while others are comfortable with free choice feeding. Most new puppy owners are content to feed a premium food that is designed for growth (your veterinarian or breeder can make some suggestions about brands). Though these diets are normally fed through the first year of life, puppies that are putting on fat rather than growing should be switched to an adult food at a younger age.

Most owners, like most parents, are concerned about bringing up their “baby” correctly. It is important to choose a pup with the right temperament for your family, but just as important, to do the right things at the right age to turn him into a perfect companion.

Read and research about how to handle your pup before he arrives, and once he is there, start shaping his behaviour immediately. Informal training at home until four or five months of age should be followed by formal obedience classes. Your veterinarian can offer a wealth of information on puppy behaviour.

The decision to have your dog “altered” is a personal one. If you leave your dog intact, you must contend with your bitch when she comes into heat and put up with your male wanting to roam. If you want to breed your dog for the fun of it – think again. Raising puppies requires a serious commitment even when everything goes smoothly. The usual age for spaying and neutering is about six months. Most females have their first heat after seven months of age (and much later in the larger breeds). They should be spayed before this happens.

Does spaying and neutering promote obesity? Veterinarians see both intact and sterilized dogs that are overweight. There is an indirect link between the hormone changes associated with sterilization and weight gain, but the primary cause of obesity is overfeeding.

Because dogs age much faster than people, general health will also decline more rapidly. This means that regular annual checkups are critical. When your veterinarian gives your dog an annual physical, she will check his eyes and ears, listen to his heart and lungs, and feel his abdomen for irregularities. Your dog’s hair will be examined for general health and parasites and his skin will be checked for scaling and abnormalities. Lumps and bumps on or under the skin will also be palpated.

Finally, your dog’s teeth will be examined. Over 2/3 of dogs three years or older have dental disease. Occasionally, your dog may need to be anesthetized to have his teeth cleaned and polished. Caring for your dog’s teeth by brushing them regularly at home can negate or delay the need for this procedure.

As dogs age, their susceptibility to tumours, kidney and liver disease, along with common ailments such as arthritis increases rapidly. Because many of these diseases can be helped if they are caught early, senior checkups are recommended. These obviously include a physical examination, but blood tests and heart evaluations are also important tools to help make an early diagnosis.

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April 2012

Decades ago I bought Viet Nam war veteran Tim O’Brien’s book The Things They Carried because I was intrigued by the title. I was a teenager in the 70’s and had always been moved by what young soldiers had gone through.

The title resonates with me now as I am a 52 year old psychologist with aging parents. Having done a workshop recently on the topic of family dynamics and caring for parents, and having an increasing number of clients who are struggling with this difficult mix of emotions and logistics, I am more keenly aware of how the issues which may emerge at these crossroads are highly impacted by the relationships we had with our parents prior to the challenges that come with their aging.

Aging involves a series of conversations and decisions, losses and grief. Our parents are overwhelmed with a swirl of questions that sometimes all crash in at the same point in time:

• Can I still drive?
• Can we stay in this home?
• Who do I call who lives close by when there is a sudden crisis?
• Who will make sure we have sufficient ongoing funds to afford quality care?
• What does that care look like?

Each of these conversations is laden with a huge pool of emotion, a lot of which may be fuelled by the sense the parent may have that their identity and self-determination is being attacked. They justifiably may be wondering but afraid to voice: Am I able to be limited in some areas (e.g. driving) without being robbed of a sense of competence in all areas?’ Ultimately, even if some decisions make total sense to the adult children, the elderly parent is going through a lot of losses and ideally just wants their former life back. Issues of trust may arise: Who will tell me the truth with compassion and kindness, with my best interests at heart rather than what is most expedient? Quick and expedient fixes don’t always take into account the great sense of loss on this road for parents and adult children alike.

Some relationships may be un-muddled and uncomplicated. We can be thankful when there is not a question in either the parent’s or adult child’s mind that the best path, given all options, will be pursued. Other relationships are less clear. Unresolved struggles (pre-dating this aging season) will very likely become magnified now:

• Was there a favored child (now adult)?
• Is there trust between parties?
• Is there an imbalance in responsibilities assumed by the adult children?

For some families these are real and potent issues, not wisely or easily ignored.

The Things they Carried represents to me what we bring to our current relationships with our parents, our children, our siblings, even our friendships. It can be very beneficial to recognize and explore these dynamics more fully.

Questions which may be helpful to ask ourselves are:

• What is my identity in my relationship with my parents?
• How am I able to be supportive of them in a way that is kind and has integrity regardless of past conflicts or rules or possible hurts?
• Are the challenges presented by caring for aging parents the catalysts needed to address what has previously been left buried and unresolved but which may now need some clarity and healing?

I have sat in both chairs, as counselor and client, and can attest to the value of seeking professional counsel on unresolved issues before heading into serious conversations. At the very least it sheds light on feelings surrounding our experiences; further to that it gives clarity to what may be felt deeply but is not wise to say out loud. In fact, the wisest course might be that nothing deep-rooted is ever voiced directly with our parent. We want to act and speak and show up as if there is no cloud between us. If this is the path we choose, then it will become important for us to have an avenue to off-load any frustration or residual pain. Even a few sessions can be helpful to get a clearer sense of what is the best next step.

There is another book title that caught my attention years ago which captures a guiding principle in these times: What Remains. Am I able to get the support and input I need so that I am left with minimal regrets? Is it possible there may even be gratitude in remembering my parents likely did their best in their context? Ideally what remains is the awareness I also did my best with what I was given; I was able to honor my parents and myself.

Cathy Sakiyama, M.Ed.
Non-resident Psychologist
www.cathysakiyama.com

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