DOG PAMPERING TO THE EXTREME I recently met with up with my aunt that currently lives in Hong Kong. She was in San Diego for a conference, so we met for a nice dinner to catch up. During our conversation, she inquired about how our online doggy boutique was doing. I mentioned that business was great, and I couldn’t complain about doing something I love. On that note, she went on to mention the craze in Asia over pampering dogs and spoiling them with amenities that one would usually spoil themselves with. She mentioned that day spas for dogs were springing up everywhere throughout Hong Kong. Anywhere from doggy massages to doggy pedicures and even acupuncture! When I heard her mentioning acupuncture, I knew I heard it all. As ridiculous as this may sound to some people, it’s no surprise to me as more and more people see their dogs as their little babies rather than just the family pet. Dogs are now referred to as people’s “children”, “best friends”, and even “soul mates”! I can only agree, as we see our dogs as our “Little Babies” and the love of our lives. We spoil them and try to provide only the very best for our little furry friends. So why not treat them to a nice massage or some acupuncture treatments. They provide us with unconditional love that rivals nothing else. With that said, I decided to conduct some research about this new craze going on Asia and in some parts of the United States. The biggest craze is happening in Japan, where the number of pet dogs now out number the amount of children under the age of 13! These doggy day spas are springing up everywhere throughout Asia. Originating from Japan, the rest of Asia and America are suddenly getting into the business of extreme doggy pampering. One such hotel in Japan, the Wanwan hotel, located on the Izu peninsula, offers special dog massage classes. Here, the owner accompanies the dog and learns techniques to properly massage their dog. If the owner is too busy to massage their pet themselves, there are salons across Asia that offer special dog massages. Next, we come to acupuncture. Acupuncture is the Chinese belief that the body stores an internal energy known as Chi. This Chi flows freely throughout the body through certain paths known as meridians. When these meridians become blocked for whatever reason, the Chinese believe that stimulating certain points on the body through the use of tiny needles will un-block these paths and regain the normal flow of Chi. Some people also believe that dogs contain this Chi, and through acupuncture, can relieve a wide variety of problems ranging from chronic respiratory conditions (10) to immune mediated disorders (14). http://www.acupuncture.com/animals/dog.htm. As dogs age, people are trying alternative techniques to relieve their pets of certain pains that come along with aging. Some people are convinced that acupuncture is a great alternative to taking medicine for the relief of sore muscles and ligament pain that are induced by old age. Although acupuncture is not a traditional technique for treating animals, there are some Veterinarians that offer this service for dogs and other animals alike. Who knows, if the current method you are using to treat your dog isn’t working, perhaps a few acupuncture treatments might do the trick. All in all, people these days are taking puppy pampering to a whole other level. Those days of just giving your dog a treat as a reward are long gone. Now, we must treat them to massages and days at the local day spa! Ok, I know not everyone will be taking their dogs to a masseuse tomorrow, but we should embrace the presence of our little babies everyday. After all, who else can match the unconditional love that your dog gives you each and everyday of their lives. The above article is just an opinion of the author. Always consult your veterinarian before pursuing any acupuncture or massage treatments for your dog.