TOW #25; Dog Yoga by Jilly Gagnon

Goals:

1) Make stronger word choices

      2) Try not to repeat words so frequently  

      3) Tie body topics to thesis

            As the saying goes: A dog is a man’s best friend; and man will do anything to keep their best friend happy and healthy. When it comes to medical treatments for dogs, more and more owners are trying to avoid using drugs. Alternatives for medicine include dog yoga (doga), pup-lates, acupuncture, and animal detoxes. In the article, Yogi Doggie by Jilly Gagnon, human connections, quotes, and statistics are used to inform dog lovers everywhere about alternatives health options for their beloved dogs.

            In the article, many alternatives are elaborated on; and most of the alternatives are very similar to human activities. The author mentions doga, pup-lates, acupuncture, and a detoxe. All of these alternatives are alternatives used by humans. When dog owners see a medical option that is similar to a task them have performed themselves, they may see it as a fun way to better their puppy’s life.  These alternatives are useful information to any owner who is not a fan of putting their pet on medications.

            To give dog lovers more information on the topic, Gagnon quotes multiples sources. One source in particular was a veterinarian named Louise Murray. Her take on the alternatives are more negative and hesitant. She believes that most of the options have not been fully tested for effectiveness. But if an owner does choose to try out one of the alternatives they should be done by a professional or with a veterinarian. Murray’s view gives readers a fresh view on whether or not to use alternative medial treatments for their dogs.

            Another element that informed readers was the part of the piece that displayed the costs of the alternative treatments.  A doga class can be as expensive as $25 a class and acupuncture can be as high as $120 a session. The price of the alternatives gives readers another factor to consider while learning about these medical options. Most of these alternatives tend to run on the more expensive side.

            Although a little disorganized, Gagnon did a solid job showing her readers the pros and cons of alternative medical treatments for dogs, while also informing the dog lover about how each alternative works. Man’s best friend is living the life.

http://www.newsweek.com/2014/05/02/dog-yoga-248520.html