dawn brunke

Chinese Medicine, Dr. Andrea and Gidget: Update

Posted by Barbara Techel

Chinese Medicine, Dr. Andrea & Gidget: Update

Gidget getting her second acupuncture session

Today Gidget had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Andrea of Anshen Veterinary Acupuncture. She practices both Western and Chinese medicine. She is working with us to see if we can’t help Gidget with seizures she has had.

You have to look very closely at the photo above to see the needles along Gidget’s spine. Because of her coloring, they almost blend right in!

Gidget didn’t sit as still during this session as she did the first time three weeks ago. Though it could have been because this time we had a morning appointment verses last time we were there mid-afternoon.

But after reviewing everything with Dr. Andrea since our last visit, I’ve decided to try her on some Chinese herbs to see if that will help with the seizures and imbalances she has.

gidget and dr andrea

Gidget with Dr. Andrea

Gidget’s body being out of balance likely a long time since her diagnoses of IVDD before I adopted her, I feel, is definitely something that needs to be considered.

There are so many reasons why seizures can occur.  Oftentimes there is never a distinctive cause found, though I still have a theory with Gidget. But it’s really still a wait and see.

In the meantime, I’ve heard and read many good things about Chinese herbs helping with seizures so I want to give this a shot. I also incorporated a reading with my animal communicator, Dawn. From that reading I’ve incorporated massages I’m giving Gidget twice a day.

This has been an interesting journey to travel. From the beginning, in January, with her first seizure I just didn’t feel right putting her on medication should her seizures continue.

While she has had a total of six so far and two in April, I’m hopeful we are on the right track and she will be seizure free with the different modalities I’m trying.

I’m a believer in treating myself as a whole person when looking at when something is off in my own body and what could be contributing to an imbalance. And I feel the same way with animals.

Dr. Andrea has discussed Gidget’s diet with me, her personality, her habits, her environment, and so much more. All in an effort to try and determine the best way in which to try and help Gidget.

I’m not opposed to medication, but I also want to be sure that is the best and right route specifically for Gidget. While many drugs have come far in not being as toxic when treating for seizures, I have to follow what my gut is telling me right now.

It’s been difficult at times as I don’t want to cause any harm to my sweet girl. But in my heart I truly believe I’m doing the right thing for her for now.

If and when we need to add a drug, well then, I will surely do that.

But treating her as a whole dog is something I’ve leaned into over the years growing stronger in what I believe and being able to express that.

This is, at times, just as much about me as it is about her. I’m learning once again to stand in my truth and have faith I’m doing the right thing.

Meanwhile, in Gidget’s world, she is curled up under her blanket snoring away as I write this post. This is a good thing.

Thank you for subscribing to Joyfulpaws.com

The Animals are Talking!

Posted by Barbara Techel

blue-jayI’ve made more of a conscious decision to pay attention to the messages from all the animals in our world. Though I really believe dog is one of my spirit animals, I also believe all animals have much to teach me.

As I’m opening myself more to this I think I should perhaps change my website/blog name from Joyful Paws to Joyful Paws wings, hooves, etc. GRIN.

The more I understand and read about how animals try to get messages to us, the more I smile in complete wonder. You don’t have to live in a place full of animals around you to pay attention to their messages for you. They can come to you in images you see on TV or in a magazine or book, something you’ve heard, or an animal that appears before you.

Yesterday I posted on my Facebook page an image of Owl and Butterfly together that touched me. In learning to understand all their messages, I  turn to “The Animal Wisdom Tarot” cards by Dawn Brunke and Dr. Steven Farmer’s book, “Animal Spirit Guides.”

When I read about each animal I read and listen carefully to what resonates with me and find my lesson in their offering.

So this morning as I was doing my yoga practice, a bluejay landed in the tree outside my window. I’ve not seen a bluejay in a long, long time. He flitted back and forth for a time being and then flew off.

I smiled and could hardly wait to get done with my practice to hear what message he had for me.

As I picked up Dr. Steven Farmer’s book and began to read, I got tears in my eyes from these thoughts from Bluejay that feel right for me right now:

Rather than just dabbling in the spiritual/metaphysical realm, choose a path to explore and go as far as you can with it.

Whatever the situation that has triggered some fear, attack it boldly and courageously.

You’re feeling threatened or intimidated by someone, particularly someone you see as stronger or more capable that you are.

You have an interest in a number of subjects and want to explore them all to a degree.

Bluejay had other thoughts to offer, but the above resonated with me at this time.

What really fascinates me about being more open to the teachings of all animals is how they really speak to us of where we are at in our lives and what we are working through.

I want to know more, and it’s why I welcome being as open as possible to hearing and understanding what they have to share with me.

We shall see who arrives next to share another teaching with me!

Frankie and the Animal Communicator

Posted by Barbara Techel

Frankie, June 20th, 2012

The day before Frankie’s passing I called my friend, Mary to tell her that I thought I had a very hard decision to make soon in letting Frankie go.  Almost immediately she said, “You need to call Dawn.”

I didn’t expect for her to say that. I said, “Who is Dawn?”

“She’s a friend of mine and she is an animal communicator.”

I’ve had readings done in the past for my chocolate lab, Cassie Jo who passed away in 2005, as well as for my yellow lab, Kylie, so I was familiar with the power of what can be discovered through animal communication.

It didn’t occur to me to do this with Frankie.  What a gift my friend gave me in making this suggestion.

Dawn Brunke  has published several books about animal voices, animals as our guides and animal teachings.

I  called her as soon as I hung up with Mary. When she answered I explained to her that Mary referred me and explained my distress. She was in the middle of a big book production project, but dropped everything to help me. She said, “Send me three recent photos of Frankie, and one recent one of the two of you.  Call me back in an hour.”

As Frankie lay on the ottoman, I sat in my big wicker chair across from her as I dialed the phone an hour later.

Dawns’ soft voice answered, “Hi Barb.”  My voice shaking I said, “Hi Dawn.”

She said, “I want to share with you first what Frankie is telling me to tell you. We can then move into any questions you may have for her.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Frankie told me loud and clear that you two are a team. There is a very deep love between the two of you. Frankie says that there has been an evolution of equality between the two of you. She is reaffirming that what you gave her is equal to what she gave you.”

She continued, “What I’m getting from Frankie is that she was a channel of healing energy for you- that there was much below the surface for you that needed healing.” When Dawn said this it brought me to tears. Nothing could be more true– this is one of Frankie’s biggest gifts to me is helping me heal the feelings of failure and inadequacies I’ve felt about myself over the years.

Dawn said, “How old is Frankie?”

“She will be 13 years old on August 20th.”

“Oh, well she says she feels like she is 17. Meaning she has lived a very full life.” When Dawn said this it actually brought me some comfort. I had so wanted for Frankie to live to be at least 16, 17 or 18.  So in a way, she really did.

Dawn said, “Frankie does not want you to blame yourself for what seems so sudden with her illness.  She has felt this tiredness coming on for a long time, but never showed it to you because she was invested in your feelings.”  Again, the tears ran down my cheeks to think of all this little girl did for me.

“She’s now telling me that she really started to enjoy more the presentations you did together.  She said that you learned to go with the flow and she liked that.  At the beginning you used to be too controlling.”  Wow, that could have not been more true and I couldn’t believe Frankie told Dawn that– no one but Frankie and I would have known this– it was very true and it make me chuckle.  Public speaking is a hard thing to do and I remember how nervous I was at the beginning, and being an organized person to begin with, I was quite controlling, wanting everything to go perfectly. But as I moved into the groove of speaking to audiences, I learned to relax and just be me.

Dawn said, “Frankie says you are a real go-getter and that she often fed off of your high energy.  Frankie stayed longer than she had planned, but that her life was better than she could have ever imagined.”

Dawn also told me that she felt that Frankie gave me a deeper and softening of my heart- helping me to not be so controlling of situations- and deepening my compassion not only for animals, but for people as well.  I must say, that yes, I do agree with that, too.  Frankie taught me all that and more.

Dawn then shared with me that things are winding down with Frankie. Though they were words I feared hearing, I knew it in my heart already in the wee early morning of Wednesday that Frankie was ready to move on.  Every time I’d glance over at Frankie overnight Tuesday, her head was held up, and she did not sleep. It was as if she was not here.  Dawn affirmed that Frankie was floating in and out of being here on earth and wanting to move on.  I clearly sensed that as we moved through the day on Wednesday that she was letting go– I could see it in her eyes. I knew. I just knew.

Dawn said, “I don’t sense a need of urgency in making a decision whether to help Frankie or she may also just go on her own. But what Frankie wants is what is right for you- whatever you need to do.”  Through the tears I knew this, too. There was such an incredibly deep bond between us- how could I have not known?

I thanked Dawn for dropping everything to help me.  She thanked me for allowing her to be a part of Frankie’s journey.

As I hung up the phone I cried like I’ve never cried before— not only out of deep sadness, but also out of realizing how incredibly lucky I was that I traveled the most amazing journey with Frankie.

I’ve often said that I have no doubt that the past six years with Frankie and all we did and learned together was meant to be– even if I do nothing else in my life– this is what I was brought here to do during the time that we did.  And I also know, though my heart felt like it would literally crumble all around me, that I did the right thing for her at the end. We so often fear death, but if we can be present to it and be open to the gifts…. there are many… and I feel so privileged to have witnessed many gifts near the end of Frankie’s earthly journey… and the gifts continue to come.