This case study of a dog with arthritis comes from Aileen D’Angelo, founder and owner of Hoof, Paw & Claw in Northborough, Massachusetts. Aileen is a Reiki Master and teacher and has been practicing Reiki since 1996. She is also an animal communicator and a certified Canine Trigger Point Myotherapist.
A member of the Animal Wellness Association, a a Registered Reiki Teacher and Practitioner (RMT) with the International Association of Reiki Professionals and a graduate of Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Aileen got inspired to start doing this type of work by her dog George, a greyhound she adopted in 1994.
Today, Aileen’s family includes the dog Bridgit (a Katrina survivor), the two adopted cats Dragon and Squeaker, and the yellow-naped Amazon parrot Zoobie.
Aileen teaches workshops in Reiki and animal communication, and she also holds clinics the second Friday of each month at Especially for Pets in Westborough, MA.
Case Study: Treating Tug’s Arthritis
I first met Tug, a 10 year old mini bull terrier, in 2006 and his Mom asked me to do some Reiki for him to help with the beginnings of arthritis and some pain in his feet. Our first sessions together were in person and he took to it immediately. After his initial excitement our first time he settled down on the dog bed with his back legs stretched out behind him and soaked up the energy everywhere I touched. Within ten minutes he was fast asleep and snoring to beat the band.
A day later his Mom called me to let me know he had slept for several hours after the session and when he awoke he was full of energy and wanting to play. The effects of the session stayed with him for over a week with him having more energy, flexibility and acting less painful.
Since that first meeting Tug and I work together on a regular basis with more frequent sessions (distance and in person) during the colder months when he is more painful and less often during the warmer times of year. His Mom reports that during our distance sessions he insists on being snuggled in her lap while we work and that she can tell as soon as we have finished as he gets up, stretches and then heads to the kitchen for a snack (he always seems to be hungry after a session).
For more about Reiki, and other case studies, check out the “Offering Reiki To Sheep” and “Alternative Healing Modality: Reiki” (about feral cats) posts.
