Friday, Red began a series of acupuncture treatments at the Cambridge Valley Veterinary Service with Dr. Suzanne Fariello and Cassandra Conety assisting. Dr. Fariello is exploring what some people call alternative veterinary care but I consider well proven medicine – acupuncture is much older than Western medicine, and there is much science behind it.

Red is getting older and slowing down a bit, but he is healthy and active, and I wish to keep him that way. In the past year, since his lameness and back injury, I have embarked into what is a new world for me preventative care. Red has had laser treatments, massage, and now four weeks of acupuncture.

We are shifting more and more to intense and effective dog therapy work and I want to do everything possible to keep Red limber and healthy. Dr. Fariello talked to me about Red for a half an hour and then she inserted the needles. He was uncomfortable with one pin – this in a leg we didn’t realize was sore, perhaps from arthritis, common to older border collies who have worked all of their lives.

Red is nine years old, not that old for a border collie, but we are switching him to senior food. I think I might start feeding Fate nuclear fuel, she never tires.

We’ll do four sessions and then see where we are. Red seemed a bit tired when he came home, but otherwise normal. The goal is to keep him limber and keep his blood circulating freely. Dr. Fariello is new to acupunture, but her clients and their dogs are eager to find out more about it.

None of my previous border collies have made it to nine years, I want Red to go another nine. He gives comfort and pleasure to many people.