Observing, Shifting... holistic dog care over time

Managing a long-term condition like Vida's cancer is a lesson in observation over time. Watching for and acknowledging the importance of the subtle changes is the foundation of good care.


Dogs don't come to us and tell us about these little changes. We have to look for clues in their behavior, body topography, movement, eating & drinking habits, elimination, fur,etc.

Worried K9 Family Member

When a human family member has a health crisis and goes into a hospital, don't forget the family dog. They experience stress too, magnified by their limited ability to understand all the nuances of the care that's being given. All they know is that the person is being kept in a stressful place, perhaps in pain, and when you come home from a visit they smell it all.

Reduce-Reuse-Recyle

Honest Kitchen shipping boxes having a second life as non-toxic grass killer under our grapevines (after mucho weeding by my intrepid mother).

Recipe for Temporary Tummy Trouble

Vida had a little bit of an upset stomach last night and this morning. Enough to disturb her sleep, but still with good energy. Evidence this morning (mucous coating on some of her poop and vomiting some very sticky white muck) led me to not feed her breakfast, however, and instead I gave her herbal tea, waiting a few hours to offer some food. 


Her tea was chamomile and calendula with honey, served room temperature. I made it just like I'd make it for a person, steeping it covered for about 20 minutes, but then let it cool quite a bit more, stirring in the honey with my fingers. She drank it all, about a cup.

Repurpose/Recycle - Ripping Good Dog Toy

Yep, that was a box. I was just going to toss it into the recycling bin and thought I ought to get one more use out of it.... dog toy! Handed it out and off she went to the back yard. Shaking, ripping, growling... as I followed along picking up the pieces. Less than 10 minutes, but as you can see she looks pretty satisfied with herself. Now time for breakfast! This is the way to start a Sunday morning.

Watching the dog: updates and clues

Vida enjoying a Labor Day Weekend party.

Seeing both the holistic vet and the chiropractor in the same week was a reassuring and educational summary of Vida's current health.