Town & Country Vet Clinic - December 2019

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

817.380.3935

TOWNANDCOUNTRYVETCLINIC.NET

913 Robert’s Cut Off Rd. | River Oaks, TX 76114

Inside

What’s the Best White Elephant Gift?

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Win a Louis Vuitton Bag for Christmas!

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Could You Tell if Your Pet Was Suffering Chronic Pain?

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Homemade Gingerbread Dog Treats

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Peyo the Therapy Horse

Horsing Around Meet a Different Kind of Therapy Animal

Horses have been loyal and useful companions to humans for centuries. But unbeknownst to many who fear these long-legged, 1,000-plus-pound mammals, horses are also naturally intuitive and extremely sensitive to the moods of people around them. These traits make them excellent therapy animals for those with autism, cerebral palsy, chronic illnesses, and PTSD, among many more. In fact, there are dedicated horse-riding camps geared toward chronically ill children and adults all over the world. However, riding horses isn’t the only way to benefit from equine therapy; horses are also fantastic comfort animals that can relieve anxiety and promote a positive environment for bedridden patients — as long as the doorway is big enough. Meet Peyo, the 14-year-old “love stallion” from Dijon, France, who is cheering up chronically ill patients one nuzzle at a time. This accomplished artistic dressage competitor accompanies his owner, Hassen Bouchakour, on visits to hospitals and nursing homes, bringing joy with every clop of his hooves.

keen sense for patients who are truly suffering, and though his handler is always nearby, Peyo often chooses which rooms to enter of his own volition.

Having a horse in a hospital room may not sound very sanitary, but Peyo goes through a strict grooming regimen to be deemed

hygienic enough to be around patients. His hooves are greased, his mane and tail are braided, and his entire body is rubbed down with antibacterial lotion before being covered by a blanket. Before Peyo became a therapy horse, he was almost put up for sale by Bouchakour, who had a hard time wrangling Peyo’s fiery personality. But, over time, when they traveled to shows and competitions together, Bouchakour noticed the horse was drawn to the injured and disabled and would instantly calm at their touch. “It is one of the most pure, honest, and sweet things,” Bouchakour says. “They like each other very much without asking for anything else.”

Patients suffering from all manner of ailments blossom when Peyo comes to visit, laughing and smiling while being nudged by his soft nose. He seems to have a

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Treating Your Pets Like Family

TOWNANDCOUNTRYVETCLINIC.NET

817.380.3935

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