Jazzy - Acupuncture
Jazzy Arnold is a very special patient here at Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital. She has one of the most beautiful and serene faces you will ever see, with a personality to match. She is such a joy that when she is here the word spreads fast and almost every staff member manages to visit with her.
Jazzy was bred at a very young age and had a difficult early life. She was either abandoned, lost or ran away. No one knows where she came from. Jazzy was picked up on the streets and ended up in the animal shelter. She was very sick and diagnosed with kennel cough. Usually the shelter is unable to keep any dog with kennel cough but they could not bear to lose her. The shelter personnel contacted the local Stockton S.P.C.A. who agreed to take her in. The day Jazzy’s luck changed was the day the S.P.C.A. put her picture up on www.PetFinder.com. Her soon-to-be new family immediately contacted the S.P.C.A. and arranged to meet Jazzy. It was instant love. However, her new family could not bring her home yet and expose their other pets to kennel cough. For three long months her new mom traveled to Stockton to take Jazzy out for walks and picnics three times a week. It was very hard on both of them to separate after each visit, but they made it through and finally Jazzy came home to a wonderful new life.
Later, Jazzy began to experience epileptic seizures. She was treated with a standard medical protocol. However, Dr. Juergens felt that Jazzy was a great candidate for combining both Western and Eastern medicines and recommended that she begin acupuncture therapy.
Acupuncture is rooted in the Eastern philosophy of medicine, a holistic approach based on treating the entire body as a united whole. Every part of the body is considered inter-related. It is a proactive approach to medicine that emphasizes the maintenance of health at all times. This differs from Western medicine which more often tends to treat a specific problem after it surfaces. Dr. Juergens believes many patients can achieve the best results and stay in optimum health by utilizing both philosophies.
Dr. Juergens completed an accredited acupuncture course at the Chi Institute at the University of Florida. According to Chinese medicine the body’s energy, or chi, must be in balance to maintain good health. If there is an excess or deficiency in the body’s chi then illness can occur. Acupuncture rebalances the chi by either generating or releasing energy. Acupuncture is used as a therapy for many conditions including osteoarthritis and allergies.
Jazzy has responded very well to her treatment plan using a combination of Eastern and Western medicines. The number of seizures has reduced dramatically since she began her acupuncture therapy. Her mom says she has much more energy since starting her treatment. Jazzy has taught her mom something, too. She said, “I was thinking that if I can take Jazzy for acupuncture, I should also take care of myself and have acupuncture for my migraines. I started just this week. This is what Jazzy’s life’s lesson is to me.”