Healing Happens
Our pets possess incredible biological resilience. When provided with an appropriate diet, clear communication and a suitable environment, their bodies are designed to thrive. However, because they are constantly exposed to environmental stressors, they rely on us for protection.
Several internal systems work in harmony to maintain homeostasis:
Immunity: The immune system identifies and neutralizes pathogens like bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Detoxification: Systems of elimination work to expel toxins.
Recovery: Wounds will heal, bones can mend and fur grows back.
Adaptation: If a diet is deficient, the body triggers cravings to signal its needs. In extreme cases, it will prioritize vital functions by drawing minerals from bones or proteins from muscle until nutrient levels are replenished.
When the body is not at optimal health, these processes struggle. We can support these systems in various ways.
What Harms Health
We must remain forever vigilant, by recognizing the obstacles that will challenge your pets' health. They show up as obvious hazards or discrete burdens, slowly and quietly assaulting the body as a constant exposure.
- Household: Cleaning products, houseplants, electrical cords, window blinds, small ingestible objects, garbage cans, etc.
- Garage:: Antifreeze, motor oil and other fluids. Pool chemicals and random objects like metal shavings, broken glass, and sharp metals.
- Yard Hazards- Chemicals like fertilizer, herbicides, and rodenticides. Items like barbed wire, holes in the ground, and objects capable of falling.
- Pesticides- These may be used in the home or around the yard but, don't forget the ones used on or in your pet.
Identifying obstacles and removing them is the first step. Removing an offending toxin or discontinuing exposure to stress will be a major step to promote healing. Sometimes these offenders are what you least expect. I will help you identify them and discuss ways to eliminate or mitigate their presence. In some situations the obstacle cannot be removed but, working together, we can make efforts to avoid their affects.
What Builds Health
- Nourishment: Choosing whole, nourishing ingredients and avoiding the damaging effects of heavy processing. This gives your pet the best chance at acquiring the raw materials necessary to facilitate the countless physiological processes happening inside the body at any given moment.
- Emotional Wellness: Understanding what taxes mental well-being and setting healthy boundaries through clear communication. By demonstrating structured leadership, you become a trusted figure to your pet, capable of making the best decisions for the family unit.
- Redirected Instincts: We respect animal instincts. When an animal is expected to behave a certain way in a human world, "animal instincts" can look like bad behavior. These behaviors should not necessarily be halted, but rather redirected in a way that satisfies their desires while appeasing ours. Just as we wouldn't take the crayons away from a child drawing on a wall—but instead direct them to a coloring book—we communicate that the behavior is allowed in a way that suits the environment.
- Active Enrichment Both mental and physical health are nurtured here. Through sniffing, sociali engagement, play, and even rest, we ensure your pet’s mind is as fit as their body. The benefits of enrichment stave off illnesses caused by the stress of a stagnant environment.
All of this may seem daunting, but I am here to guide you as you begin the journey of exploring your options. I offer small, manageable steps and comprehensive planning to turn your goals into a reality
It is my experience, caregivers leave their veterinary appointment, without full confidence as to their roll in supportive care. Often, they forego continued instruction or have not directly been offered this instruction. I vow to provide you exceptional support as you support your pet,