Yesterday marked one month since Gidget has had a seizure. To go a whole month is a small, but significant victory. She had two in April and her last one was May 11th. I feel hopeful we are on the right track.
I wanted to take this opportunity to share what I’ve learned so far. I’m not suggesting others do what I’ve done. A big lesson for me through this so far has been really paying attention to not only my own intuition, but trying tot listen to what it is that Gidget needs to help her feel better.
Something also important for me is that not every dog is the same – they are all different – just like people are. What may work for one, may not work for another. While this can be scary and frustrating because you want to do the right thing and never cause your pet pain or distress, it has been a lesson in trying to really pay attention.
For Gidget, I think a number of factors have played into her seizures. Am I 100% sure yet? Nope – but after lots of reading and research and discussions with Dr. Andrea who practices both traditional and Chinese medicine, I feel like I’m looking at Gidget as a whole. I feel closer to understanding how to hopefully prevent them for her — and again, not what may be right for another dog — but what is right for her at this time.
When her seizures began in January, I began keeping a journal and notes of time they happened and for how long. I also really thought about what I’d done differently in her routine/diet since they began.
This led me to discontinue a product I was giving her with an ingredient that may have not done well in her body. I’m still not comfortable in sharing what that is because again, every dog is different, just like every person – so some dogs may not react as Gidget did. It’s also possible her system just could no longer handle this ingredient – it happens with people – so why not dogs, right?
But I couldn’t ignore the strong intuition that awoke me early one morning a few months ago urging me to check out the ingredients in this particular product. This led me down a path of research and seeking out a vet that practiced holistic and Chinese medicine, and also looking at Gidget’s diet and her individual body and habits.
I’m also reevaluating vaccines for her. One thing I did know when I adopted her is that she is vaccine sensitive. Vaccinating is a huge controversial subject, but again, I think we have to do our own research, talk with our vets, and look at our own dogs as individuals — and do what we feel is best in our hearts.
I also incorporated what I believe in, and that is, working with an animal communicator. From that reading, I incorporated massage for Gidget to try and help remove what we felt was stuck energy from a previous injury or possibly because of her IVDD.
Do I necessarily know how to do massage for animals? Nope. But my animal communicator, Dawn encouraged me to tune into what we all innately know if we just take the time to listen and go with what feels natural. I can say massage time with Gidget has not only been beneficial to her, but to me, too.
I also changed Gidget’s diet slowly, but surely to grain free and choosing more cooling foods for her based on her Chinese medicine diagnoses. And I’ve also incorporated Chinese herbs as well.
I’ll certainly feel so much better once I can say three, four, five, six months down the line that she hasn’t had any seizures. But for now, I’m very hopeful what I’m doing is right for her. Only time will tell.
And you know, that’s the thing too – time. Not giving into fear and trusting what we feel is the right thing to do. And often that takes time to let it all play out.
And lastly, but most importantly, there is one thing I’ve been giving her a heavy dose of — and that is — love.
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