When your Pet is Sick

Discover how pet owners can take better care of their pets, especially when professional veterinary health care is not immediately available.

By Mark D. Harris

People across the world are growing more and more lonely.[1] We have fewer children and other family members.[2] We have lost confidence in everyone and everything.[3] Hungry for companionship and trust, more of us own (or “parent”) pets, and our pets become more important in our lives.[4] First responders and emergency management personnel know that pet owners will sometimes risk their own lives to save their pets, and such owners are spending more money on their pets than ever before.[5]

But what do you do when your pet gets sick or injured? Too often professional animal health care is not available. America has a severe shortage of veterinarians.[6] Europe needs more veterinarians as well.[7] Veterinarians care for our pets, but also farm animals, zoo animals, and wild animals. They ensure our food safety and perform research into zoonotic and other conditions. Veterinary technologists and technicians are integral parts of the system at all levels, and their numbers are also limited.

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Battlefield Acupuncture

Basic patient information on Battlefield Acupuncture, a medical modality that promises to help patients with pain, mental health issues, and other problems.   

By Mark D. Harris

Where did it come from?

Acupuncture is a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been practiced for centuries. Battlefield acupuncture (BFA) is a variation of auricular acupuncture which was developed in the US Air Force by Dr. Richard Niemtzow. BFA includes dry needling and trigger point acupuncture which are used on other parts of the body outside the ear. Thousands of medical professionals have been trained in BFA.

What is it used for?[1]

  1. Musculoskeletal pain (muscles, bones, and joints)
  2. Migraine headaches
  3. Low back pain
  4. Sore throat
  5. Gallbladder pain
  6. Various other pain sites
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