On 4 July, my beloved dog turned 19 years old.
Over the past year, he has been a source of support during my breast cancer treatment, sharing the ups and downs of my health with me, and we have cherished each day together.
To commemorate his 19th birthday, I have just submitted an application for the Long-Lived Animal Award to the Japan Society for Animal Welfare.
Here I am sharing my comments to the questionnaire about the tips of longevity provided in the application form, along with some additional details.
Q: Has your pet ever had any major illnesses or injuries?
(My comment) Currently, he is visually impaired and often trips, but he is otherwise in good health.
He has experienced mild strokes, epilepsy, haematuria, and glaucoma. There were also times when he lost his appetite.
(Additional notes) I noticed that whenever my dog was unwell, I myself was also going through a stressful period at the same time.
Some years ago, when he suddenly started experiencing haematuria, I myself experienced an unexpected emotional shock a few days later the blood was found in the urine.
I have heard of the correlation between emotional shocks and the onset of the illness, and thinking back, I feel it would have been the direct cause of the onset of breast cancer.
I wondered if my dog had somehow sensed what was about to happen to me.
Haematuria continued intermittently, and as my own stress levels decreased, the blood gradually stopped appearing.
Last year there was a time when he suddenly lost his appetite during the time I was hesitating about undergoing radiation therapy.
After receiving a spiritual therapy I decided to take in order to break the deadlock, the direction for post-treatment (travelling to Australia to learning craniosacral therapy) became clear, and I decided to undergo treatment with that as my hope.
As I regained my hope, his appetite gradually recovered.
There was also a period when his appetite gradually declined after finishing the radiation therapy.
At that time, I was feeling tired and had a cough, and was diagnosed with mild pneumonia as a side effect of radiation therapy.
I visited the Mitake Shrine in Ome City, Tokyo, where pet owners are welcomed to pray for their pets, hoping for his recovery.
It is located in Mount Mitake and by climbing the steep path to the Shrine twice, enjoying walking in the forest, my respiratory function improved, and he recovered his health as well.
Q: What are your pet's favourite things or items?
(My comment) Eating, sleeping, and massage.
(Additional note) Although I wrote ‘massage' above, it actually refers to Animal Reiki and the Aura-Soma Beamer Light Pen.
He seems to perceive energy - when I am using the Beamer Light Pen for myself, he often wakes up or comes closer to me sensing the energy.
Q: Please tell us about the things you consciously do on a daily basis.
(My comment) To feeding him regularly considering nutrition. Regular grooming and massage in the evening with love.
In addition, I make an effort to ensure my own stress does not affect him.
(Additional note) For meals, I have chosen several types of dry food made with organic or grain-free ingredients.
After blood appeared in the urine, I switched to a low-protein kidney diet food, and currently serve moistened food with toppings like fruit or vegetables.
I also put a few drops of Mount Fuji Flower Essence “Life Force” and tissue salts that promote the absorption of 12 minerals into the food.
Before bedtime, I perform Animal Reiki, which lasts about 10 to 30 minutes according to his condition.
If I am tired or stressed, he resists Reiki, so I prioritise managing my own stress and in such cases I try not to spend a lot of time with him and go to bed as early as possible.
Q: Are there any current challenges in caring for your dog?
(My comment) His legs have weakened, and he needs assistance with eating, but since he eats willingly, it’s not a major issue.
(Additional note) When eating, his front legs lack the strength to brace himself, causing the legs to splay out gradually, so I support his body.
Whenever I find his hind legs lack strength, I train him with movements similar to Cross Crawl of Brain Gym. (Please refer to the video below.)
Q: Finally, what does your pet mean to you?
(My comment) A family member, making us smile and filled with joy.
(Additional note) He is my mentor in Animal Reiki. He patiently, and sometimes sternly (by growling), has taught me what energy healing is.
At first, even when I was tired, I tried to do Reiki as much as I could, thinking it would help him.
However, watching him dislike my such attitude has made me change my approach as a therapist.
I learned that the most important thing is to align myself to be a conduit through which energy flows, and in order to do so, it is important to stay fit and keep the quality of my energy.
With that being said, there are times in life when stress is unavoidable.
My wish is that pet owners have an opportunity to receive a therapy for themselves, pets have an opportunity to receive Animal Reiki, and it would be great many people will be able to do energy healing for their pets in oneness.
With my wish in heart, I have started offering a free online Animal Reiki session. Please find more information below.