Proactive Observation

Being a pet parent is quite a responsibility….a long-term one, especially when raising a dog from a puppy to senior canine.  Every dog deserves owners who are dedicated to their health and well-being. We can all play an active role in aiding a long, healthy life by the choices we make for them.  It is unfortunate that so many (myself included in the past) have been brain-washed by the big corporate dog food industry and ill-trained practitioners. Lifespans can be as long as 15 to 20 years, and especially to those who start with a young dog, this time allows a great opportunity to be of most benefit, as it is important to start off on the right paw!  There is a challenge to adopting an older dog, and especially when little or nothing is known of the dog’s past care.  However, that being said, immediate focus to detail such as behaviors and nutrition need to be of utmost consideration because these can communicate a wealth of information to issues that need to be addressed…and some quite quickly.

My (human) nutritional background spans almost three decades.  In that time I have read and been exposed to a lot of health and nutrition information.  Throughout those years, I have learned much by personal application, and a lot through assisting family, friends and co-workers, how to sift through the vast and overwhelming hype to find out what really works.  My conclusion has long been, that which nature provides for us is far superior to what man formulates.  Creation has no need to compete with man, because what is provided is very good, it’s been around a long time.  There is no need to build or add on to it.  There is no greed involved, as monetary compensation means nothing, but to man it will always be about the profit possibilities. Once you can rid yourself of that mindset, the sooner you can reap the benefits of natural remedies not only for yourself, but for your dog as well. It is necessary to take charge of this area, and not leave it to someone else who feels you are not capable of knowing how to feed your dog.  Personally, that ruffles my feathers to think they believe I’m not smart enough! It’s not the rocket science propaganda that is so prevalent in the public eye.

There are two things specifically I have been reading about lately, and I am very excited to learn more and really delve into so I can share this information with my blog readers.  I have said before that you need to monitor your dog.  Know what is normal so when something isn’t, you recognize it.  It doesn’t pay to be passive.  Realizing an issue promptly can be a literal life-saver to your dog.  The sooner a problem is realized, the better prognosis for true healing.  I recall many years ago reading a couple articles about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  At that time it just wasn’t something I felt I needed to pursue.  Now, with my continuing studies on canine nutrition, I am reading more about holistic alternatives.  This is an area I have long felt is the right direction.  There are times when ‘western medicine’, such as antibiotics and surgery are necessary.  This should not and does not have to be the norm.  Simply treating symptoms does not get to the origin of the problem; in fact, many times it makes it worse, not mentioning numerous and sometimes life-threatening side effects.  Prescription drugs contain ingredients that man has formulated; elements that are toxic to our bodies.  This in turn causes other issues and thus a viscous cycle of more and more intruders invading us that our systems view as harmful, setting in motion an overwhelming response which triggers more and so on and so on.  It can get to a point of no return…the body becomes so overcome, it shuts down.

Herbs and natural remedies are more gentle and compatible with the biological rhythms of our bodies.  In this area, our canine companions are no different than we are.  They too require this approach, as this is what they would experience in the wild.  Yes, we have domesticated these creatures and brought them into our toxic world, and they simply cannot survive under these extreme, unnatural conditions. Don’t let anyone tell you any different, because it’s simply not possible.  Our unhealthy practices are causing them to develop diseases that they should never have to deal with.  It is our responsibility to bring them back into balance by doing what is right.  TCM, along with implementing the five element theory and kinesiology to detect allergies, will greatly enhance their lives.  Our pets for most of us are family, we need to be proactive proponents for them.  Watch your dog…he’s trying to tell you something.  Are you listening?