24/08/2023
On traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) food therapy:
Like people, no two dogs are the same. This is why I think it’s important to feed the dog in front of you.
Lizzy’s body has been telling me things lately. I’ve been noticing some rumbling in her tummy, loose stool with undigested food, absence of smell in the stool and a pale tongue with light white coating. What these signs (and knowing what she’s been eating) tell me is that Lizzy is likely experiencing both Yang deficiency as well as beginning Spleen Qi deficiency.
What does that mean? In TCVM foods have a thermal energy. Yang is warm and Yin is cool. Since it’s summer I’ve been feeding Lizzy Yin (cooling) and neutral proteins. Her body is telling me that she is over-consuming cooling foods. Qi is the life force/energy that flows through the body. The spleen in TCVM doesn’t necessarily refer to just the organ. In TCVM the spleen is responsible for digestion, absorption of food and fluids and the production of blood. It’s the foundation of Qi and blood. Therefore, these ‘systems’ are currently deficient in life force/energy in Lizzy’s body.
Of course I use essential oils to support her digestive system, but I knew that I also needed to make some changes to her diet. After all, the base of health is diet. So how do I address this?
- Adding Yang tonics to her diet to add warmth
(chicken, salmon, lamb, venison, kidney, basil, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon etc.)
- Adding Spleen Qi tonics to strengthen Qi
(mackerel, salmon, beef, chicken, pumpkin, mushrooms etc.)
- Adding foods that drain dampness
(mackerel, mushrooms, pumpkin etc.)
I will also temporarily gently cook her food since consuming cold and raw foods is something to avoid with spleen Qi deficiency. And lastly I will apply some Tui Na (Chinese massage) techniques on Spleen acupressure points with diluted warming essential oils, such as Turmeric. Let’s see if this will get her back to being balanced!
So, for dinner tonight:
- Gently cooked chicken complete meal (Yang and Spleen Qi tonic)
- Quail egg (Qi tonic, which I will start cooking as well if symptoms persist)
- Dehydrated salmon flakes as a topper (Yang and spleen Qi tonic)
- Digestive enzymes/vitamins/probiotic whole food supplement
- Mushrooms (spleen Qi tonic and drain damp) & Chinese herbs supplement
- Algae omega-3 oil
- 1dr of pure Frankincense essential oil