KALEE - Canine Wellbeing & Education

04/09/2025

Did you know that September is Animal Pain Awareness Month❓

Pain in our dogs is often silent, yet surprisingly common. 80% of behaviour changes are pain related.

Many signs are subtle and easily mistaken for “just getting older.”

🐾 “She’s just slowing down.”
🐾 "He’s sleeping more because he’s old.”

These changes might be age-related… but they might also be signs of discomfort.

Here are some quiet clues your canine friend may be in pain:

⚠️ Decreased activity or enthusiasm
⚠️ Avoiding stairs or jumping into the car
⚠️ Slow to rise after lying down
⚠️ Reduced appetite
⚠️ Licking or over-grooming one area
⚠️ Lameness or limping
⚠️ Lagging behind on walks, or stopping
⚠️ Hiding or withdrawing
⚠️ More clingy

If your dog is showing these signs but otherwise seems well (no vomiting or diarrhoea, or difficulty emptying bowels or bladder), it’s okay to wait for a regular vet appointment. But if they’ve stopped eating entirely a vets visit is required. With regards to drinking, it is a medical emergency if a dog hasn't had any water for 24 hours!

‼️Pain can also change behaviour:

❗Increased irritability or snapping
❗Accidents in the house
❗Withdrawal from touch or play

The good news? Veterinary medicine offers many options for pain relief and comfort care. With botanicals to support. Once the pain is well managed - canine massage, physiotherapy and Zoopharmacognosy can help. It's a multimodal approach.

If you’re noticing any of these signs, trust your instincts. Call your vet or send me a message and book an assessment. Your pet’s comfort matters, and you know them best 💛

Please listen to your dog to spot the early signs of pain and empower yourself to seek help before suffering escalates ❣️

A multimodal approach to pain management is best - combining medication, weight control, physical therapy, along with complementary care.

Reach out to me for support 🙏 [email protected]

04/09/2025

Happy birthday beautiful Shilo, 9years young today - my prince of peace by name and by nature 🐾❤️🐾

You are loved by all who meet you - you have a whole load of fans ( especially John the delivery driver ).

With your soft almond eyes and perfect happy Staffie smile - you're just the best ❣️

My ❤️ and Soul, my Teacher ###

03/09/2025

Introducing:

The Soul Dog Compass Blueprint ©

It is a tender concept for navigating the emotional terrain of pet loss with love, clarity, and connection.

I have created it for guardians of senior and soul-connected dogs, this framework offers gentle support before, during, and after loss. It honours the bond, prepares the heart, and holds space for grieving pets too.

Through four compass points

❤️ Emotional Navigation
💚 Botanical Intuition
🩵 Practical Care & Ritual
🩷 Creative Reflection

You’ll find comfort-focused tools, sensory supports, and soulful prompts to help you move through anticipatory grief, farewell, and remembrance with dignity.

This is not a clinical protocol (everyone grieves differently). It’s a compassionate map for those walking with their animal through aging, transition, and beyond.

Because love doesn’t end, it never does - it evolves. And grief, when held gently, can become a sacred part of the journey.

If you’re preparing, grieving, or supporting a beloved pet through loss, The Soul Dog Compass Blueprint © is here to walk beside you.

The Soul Dog Compass Blueprint © is a work in progress - please watch this space for further insights 🤍🕊️

02/09/2025

Hi all, yesterday evening I did a short botanical session as Monty kept going over to my essential oils - asking for me to get them out.

Monty selected Immortelle and almost immediately wanted to roll in it with full-body engagement. He then chose Garlic.

Both have strong skin-supportive and anti-inflammatory properties, which feels relevant to me as his paw licking and scratching have returned. 💚🐾💚

Not great pics though 😔 sorry

🐾 When using essential oils especially - always consult with a professional animal botanical practitioner 🐾

30/08/2025

Homemade Hydrosol day 💚🐾 in prep for a case study tomorrow 😀

Calendula
Chamomile
Yarrow
Lemon Balm
Ginger

29/08/2025

Awww little man Monty (my mum's boy), one of my case studies for my animal botanical practitioner diploma ❤️🐾❤️

If you would like one of your dogs (or cats) to be a case study please do send me a message 🙏 for more information 🐾

28/08/2025

🌈 Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day: Because Pet Loss Matters ❣️

Today, August 28, is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. It is a day to pause, reflect, and honour the animals who’ve left pawprints on our hearts. It’s a space for stories, photos, and quiet remembering. A space where grief is not rushed, and love is not forgotten.

For me, this day carries deep personal meaning. I became a pet grief counsellor not just because I believe in the power of healing, but because I’ve lived the heartache of loss. Two of my own bereavements were traumatic, and they changed me. They taught me how isolating pet loss can be, how misunderstood, and how deeply it affects our sense of self and others.

That’s why I created Pet Bereavement Matters. Because it does. Because grieving well helps us find meaning in loss and peace within our hearts. Because animals grieve too, and they deserve support just as much as we do.

Loss isn’t always about death. It can be a missing pet, a goodbye forced by circumstance, or the quiet heartbreak of anticipatory grief. Whatever shape your loss takes, you are not alone.

Today, I invite you to please share a memory, light a candle, or simply breathe in the love that still lingers. Let’s honour the companions who changed our lives and hold space for the healing that follows.

With kindness,
Kirstey Anne Lee
Founder, Pet Bereavement Matters 🐾

www.petbereavementmatters.com

KALEE

K=Kindness - Offering a warm and understanding presence can provide immense comfort during the grieving process.

A=Acceptance - Embracing the reality of loss allows us to begin healing and cherish the memories of our beloved pets.

L=Listening - Attentively listening to someone's feelings and experiences helps validate their emotions and support their healing journey.

E=Empathy - Truly understanding and sharing in another's pain helps create a compassionate and supportive environment for healing.

E=Expression - Encouraging the healthy expression of emotions can help release bottled-up feelings and facilitate the healing process.

Pet Bereavement Matters offers compassionate, holistic support for grieving pet owners and their animal companions. Explore counselling, natural remedies, palliative canine massage, and gentle guidance to navigate loss with love, empathy and understanding.

26/08/2025

80% of behaviour changes stem from pain and discomfort - please reach out to me if you think your dog may be in pain. I work closely with kind ethical canine behaviourists.

🐾❤️ 1st Manage the pain (vet diagnosis, massage, physio, zoopharmacognosy)

🐾❤️ 2nd Work on the behaviour (qualified registered kind and ethical behaviourist)

Take a look at this helpful page 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/15LLue3a9u/

26/08/2025

❤️🐾❤️ Today is National Dog Day 😀 but every day is a love letter to the old souls with soft eyes and slower steps (and truly, to all dogs, regardless of age - each one is a teacher in their own special and honest way).

If you're sharing life with a grey muzzle, offer an extra sniff walk, a warm massage, or a moment of quiet togetherness today. ❤️🐾

If you are sharing life with a young dog - offer play, extra interaction - be present with them ❤️🐾

And if you're grieving, know that the love doesn’t end it just changes shape ❤️🐾

Here’s to the dogs who’ve shaped us, healed us, and stayed beside us. Always ❣️

To the senior dogs who show us grace, resilience, and the art of savoring small joys: you are cherished beyond measure. Your comfort is our compass. Your presence, our privilege ❣️

19/08/2025

Why Checking a Dog Walker’s Qualifications Isn’t Just Sensible - It’s Essential❣️

When we hand over the lead to someone else, we’re not just entrusting them with a walk we’re entrusting them with our dog’s wellbeing, safety, and emotional experience. Whether your companion is sprightly or senior, reactive or relaxed, the person walking them becomes a temporary guardian. And that role deserves more than just a casual handshake.

Here’s why checking qualifications matters and what to look for.

1. Dogs Aren’t Just Dogs - They’re Individuals
Every dog has a unique set of needs: physical, emotional, behavioural, and medical. A qualified walker understands how to:

• Read canine body language and respond appropriately
• Adapt pace and route to suit age, stamina, and joint health
• Handle unexpected situations like off-lead dogs, traffic, or sudden weather shifts

For senior, young or brachycephalic dogs, this sensitivity is even more crucial. A rushed walk or a missed cue can lead to pain, stress, or injury or… worse!

2. Health Awareness Can Prevent Harm
A well-trained walker knows what dehydration looks like, how to spot signs of heatstroke, and when a limp is more than just stiffness. They’ll ask about:

• Medications and timing
• Mobility aids or harness preferences
• Emergency contacts and vet protocols

Without this awareness, even a short walk can become risky.

3. Safety Isn’t Just About the Lead - It’s About Judgment
Qualifications often include training in:

• First aid for dogs
• Safe handling techniques
• Risk assessment and route planning

This means they’re not just reacting - they’re anticipating. That’s the difference between a calm detour and a chaotic scramble.

4. Communication Builds Trust
A qualified walker will offer:

• Clear intake processes and consent forms
• Regular updates (photos, notes, or summaries)
• Respectful, trauma-informed communication, especially important for guardians navigating grief or anxiety

You deserve to feel informed, empowered, and reassured not left guessing.

5. Professionalism Reflects Respect
Qualifications signal that someone has invested time, care, and learning into their role. It’s not just a side gig it is a service. Look for:

• Insurance and DBS checks
• Canine behaviour, welfare certifications including dog first aid
• Experience with dogs similar to yours (age, temperament, health status)

And don’t be afraid to ask for references or trial walks. A good walker will welcome your discernment.

Final Thoughts: It’s Okay to Be Protective
Your dog is family. Whether they’re bounding through life or moving gently through their golden years, they deserve a walker who sees them not just the task. Checking qualifications isn’t about being picky it’s about being a guardian.

And if you’re ever unsure what to ask or how to assess a potential walker, I’m here to help you build a checklist that feels aligned with your dog’s needs and your values. If you want to complete a dog first aid workshop whether an owner or dog walker please send me a message.

This blog was written in response to the recent, devastating loss of Shelby, an English Bulldog who died after being walked in extreme heat by a professional dog walker in Bellshill. Her story is a heart-breaking 💔 reminder that qualifications, awareness, and accountability are not optional they are life-saving. May her memory guide us toward safer, more compassionate care of which I am totally passionate about!

19/08/2025

⚠️ Blue Green Algae ⚠️ latest

Parc Cwm Darran and Llangors Lake

Bloomin’ Algae | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology https://share.google/h6kibf5RXwVjV8YnK

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/toxic-warning-two-popular-welsh-32303241?fbclid=IwdGRzaAMRZnhjbGNrAxFmR2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeqN_7orIWBXHUBU-fwXrcXQcdOf9gBCBnF_sp-mAEM-1I1NMwThLXE0d1Ndk_aem_cYdnZM2qoo5ayR5mui4qVw

Dog owners have been warned to take extra care following the detection of algae at a popular walking location

19/08/2025

Titre testing - ensure you don't over vaccinated 💉

Not just got puppies and kittens -

VacciCheck is a simple, reliable blood test that checks your pet’s immunity to core diseases like Parvovirus, Distemper, and Adenovirus (for dogs), and Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus, and Calicivirus (for cats).

For puppies and kittens, VacciCheck can:

🐾Measure MDAs before beginning vaccine series

🐾Verify immunity after completing the vaccine series for puppies and kittens

🐾Reduce unnecessary boosters by ensuring vaccines have worked

🐾Provide peace of mind that your young pet is ready for life’s adventures

Ask your vet about VacciCheck.

VacciCheck https://share.google/PrafEMm3z15KZmlJ9