Parvo attacks the dog’s intestines and typically causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, resulting in weight loss and possible death. Dozens of dogs have died from it this winter — 23 in Michigan in the last two weeks alone — and many more are possibly infected.

Even Oprah, who just ten days ago showed off her two new cocker spaniel puppies, Ivan and Sadie, has already had one of the pups succumb to the illness while the other is currently being treated as she hadn’t yet received her second immunization.

One theory suggests that the reason the illness is spreading so quickly is because fewer pet owners are able to afford the vaccinations. Vets suggest keeping unvaccinated puppies away from other dogs and puppies, and when walking your dog be aware of dog feces on the ground, especially now that snow is melting and exposing waste that wasn’t cleaned up earlier.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

New Outbreak of Parvo Announced

Resolution – “A statement of intent, a vow.”

Resolute – “Firm, unyielding, determined.”

Resolve – “To make a firm decision to do something.”

Oh – that’s right! I get it! Other than the fact that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, it’s all about will power, right? You can stop anytime you want to… except tonight is New Year’s Eve??? Gotta throw just one more good one, don’t ya?

Well then, I pray you make it and we’ll be here when you come straggling in tomorrow, or the next day or… perhaps you’ll be the one who won’t straggle in. We’ll see you in the paper.

Oh well… NEXT!

“To spend too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an opportunity to live and be happy.”

Post from: Blisstree

Resolution My A**

How many of us enjoy telling others that consuming alcohol caused them to break out in handcuffs? I bet we have thousands of similar sayings.

From Dr. Silkworth;

Alcoholism as a Manifestation of Allergy

“Alcoholism is considered by many physicians a chronic condition that gradually unfolds itself to a dismal end. They feel that it is a state of mind and advise these patients that it is up to them to discontinue their accustomed drug, which it is assumed they can do by merely making up their minds to do so. Proper attention is not given to the psychological problem as well as the physical condition of these people.”

Gradually?

State of Mind? Discontinue by merely making up their minds to do so?

Drug?

Somebody’s jerkin’ someone around eh?

“It is our purpose to show that there is a type of alcoholism characterized by a definite symptomatology and a fixed diagnosis indicative of a constant and specific pathology; in short, that true alcoholism is a manifestation of allergy. If the arguments adduced appear to upset traditional ideas on the subject, it is because the major points of diagnostic importance as well as the fundamental basis of the physical and mental alterations that occur in the victims, have not heretofore been correlated or analyzed with the same interest that attaches to other conditions that are no more serious but elicit more sympathy. As the result of observations of numerous cases at Towns Hospital, New York City, over a period of years, clinical constants have been derived and data have been accumulated which indicate that the subject must be considered from the constitutional and serological point of view.”

A manifestation of allergy?

Upset traditional ideas? (break out the violins)

Other conditions that are no more serious but elicit more sympathy? Say What?

“We may set it down as a fundamental proposition that alcoholism is not a habit. Second, drunkenness and alcoholism are not synonymous. Intoxication with alcohol, as commonly observed, is a purely superficial manifestation of no diagnostic importance whatever in itself; nor is the desire to take a drink, which is common to many.”

Now, isn’t that damn well interesting? Drunkenness and alcoholism are not synonymous?

Shucks… I’m still powerless.

Post from: Blisstree

I Break Out In Spots

“Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., is introducing legislation that portrays addiction as a preventable, treatable brain disease.”

Ya’ think?

“Eliminating word abuse takes away the notion that it’s willful misconduct. It’s inappropriate to term this ‘abuse.’ Ten percent of [the] population [are] unknowingly vulnerable to alcoholism when they drink. They can’t be held to be immoral for developing that illness.”

Word Abuse?

OMG – catch this! >>> “People think of an addict as a bum or a homeless person,” said Cynthia Moreno, executive director of the Association for Addiction Professionals. “Over 70 percent of drug addicts hold down very responsible jobs, have homes, and 2.3 children. They’re your average person.

Cynthia may have been talking to too many “functional” alkies or addicts.

Aw geez – it’s still all about will power, or control. Listen to this from Sally Satel, a psychiatrist at the Oasis Clinic in Washington, D.C.;

“I feel uncomfortable with calling it a brain disease. It’s not a constructive public health message. Of course drugs affect the brain, otherwise why would people use them? I’ve never met a clinician who treats people like if they have a brain tumor. Not one treatment requires brain surgery,” Satel said. “But that language can imply to the public that it’s a hopeless situation, when, in fact, all treatments expect a person to take control of things themselves. All doctors expect people to martial their free will.”

Yeah – everyone go out and “martial your free will” into not drinking or drugging. Yeah, that’s the ticket…

Post from: Blisstree

Preventable Treatable Brain Disease?