As Harvest of Healing, I never gave thought to the health-related work I do extending to the furry family members many love and adore. Like many health-related reports I release involving humans, the information I share in this article is solely from experience, observation and gathering information from friends and a google search or two.
The past month brought some changes to my household through the purchase of an adorable puppy. Puppies were put on pause for a few years while I tended to health issues of my own, but at last, the day came in mid-June when this new family member with four paws and an abundance of fluffy, polar-like hair moved in.
On this mid-June day assigned for picking up the pup, the car ride home from the breeder’s ranch sparked my attention as this new little furry friend barked and squirmed the entire 45 minutes to her new home, my home. Any puppy I had prior would curl up and find comfort on a lap during the ride. Not this little lady. Why was this puppy unable to relax? New people? New surroundings? That would be the logical thought.
The next 3-4 days were spent with a groggy, somewhat tired appearing puppy that seemed to frequently need to “take care of business.” Yes, puppies require frequent trips to the outdoors for a potty break, but this little lady was more frequent than the frequent that is accepted. I chalked this up to the vaccines and dewormer given to the puppy the evening prior to her moving to her new home. Puppy also had little interest in the kibble that was served to her at breakfast and dinner. This was odd. I served the same food the breeder fed all her dogs and puppies which came highly recommended by the breeder. I cooked some bone broth and beef liver to add to the kibble, which seemed to peak the little lady’s interest in mealtime.
Next came her strong determination to eat rocks. Being adamant about it is a mild description and being the Pup Mom I am, I dug many rocks out of her little mouth. I finally gave up walking her along paths that contained a significant number of rocks. Hard to do when you live on acreage! Why do dogs eat rocks anyway? Nervousness? On their own, rocks do not smell or have any appetizing taste. I never owned a dog that ate rocks as though they were a delicious snack!
Days 5-10 seemed somewhat puppy-like with brief episodes of periodic napping, the desire to chew anything and everything, outdoors for potty break, and chew some more routine. Her ability to nap seemed a little out of sorts. She would rest in one position for 15 minutes or so, then switch her position within the laundry room or her play area and rest for an additional 15-20 minutes. This would go on for an hour or so. All the while I’m wondering what happened to the reported 16-18 hours of sleep during a day puppies are to enjoy? She seemed a bit fidgety.
The tile floor became a favorite spot to her. Having a thick coat, it is no wonder the cool tile felt good to her. This little lady has a body temperature that demands cool air, ice cubes and anything else that is cold. I noticed her belly would have periods of feeling excessively warm, almost hot. Yes, puppies are warm, but at times her little belly seemed to be a little out of the normal “warm” for a puppy. A few things can spike an internal heat that may not register as an elevated temperature, like the body putting in extra work to remove an allergen or other foreign substance. Whatever the case, she would lay over the HVAC vent to capture the cool air on her belly.
By day 14 it was time to meet the new veterinarian and receive the second round of parvo and distemper. I now understand there are 4 rounds of puppy vaccines strongly encouraged, including a COVID vaccine, which my little lady had previously under the direction of the breeder. I don’t recall giving any previously owned puppy this many vaccinations. No, the earth was not plagued with COVID then but the number of influenza, cough, etc. vaccines that are given has grown. Has pet health declined so much that we need to keep adding vaccinations? Something has gone wrong if we do. I declined the kennel cough vaccine for my little lady in response to a few concerns I have about pumping a living creature full of too much toxic information all at once. That afternoon puppy slept. I was in hopes she was sleeping the experience off.
Here’s a good place to insert how a toxic environment, including those that can be generated within doggy daycares, shelters and clinics where pets are held in kennels or confined areas for hours at a time, are prime targets for viruses. When sufficient fresh air circulation is lacking, the exhale and essence emitting from the bodies of animals collects into what I call charged clouds. These electrically charged clouds (like static electricity) eventually produce influenzas or other viruses, possibly making their way through central heat or air systems. When a pet is stressed or has an aggressive personality, fear or anxiety, the essence from those emotions (trauma) radiates from their body and their breath and will cluster together forming the charged cloud. This same type of thing happens when there are numerous people in a restricted area. You end up with toxic air. Airplanes are a prime example. Fresh air from an open window is key. Air that is pushed through an HVAC system picks up static electricity and can actually accelerate a toxic air issue.
Day 15, and lasting through day 24, this puppy turned into a hyper-active monster. She was not satisfied with her chew toys, and a rawhide would only do at times. She began chewing the stone on the fireplace and snapping at my hands, feet or whatever other body part was close by when a more suitable chewing option was encouraged. Attitude had taken hold! Fits of barking were not uncommon, particularly during car rides and her mealtime, constant scratching or rubbing against the wall from ear to hip, and one eye began to turn red. By this point, the alarm inside me was going off. I began the allowable dosage by weight of Benadryl and talked to some friends who have dogs with allergies. There are more people that own pets with allergies than you might think. How did this happen?
After collecting information, I implemented a food transition regimen to remove all chicken and egg from her diet. After all, chicken eggs are used in the manufacturing of some vaccines. Eggs are a protein; cells are made with proteins and here you have a cycle of vaccine influenced cells that trigger an immune response when chicken or eggs are consumed. Interesting.
The kibble the puppy was eating since time of weaning was strongly encouraged by the breeder, that same kibble puppy had turned her nose up to prior to adding beef broth and beef liver. Puppy was trying to tell me something about the food; she wasn’t just a picky eater. This same food is what the moms and pops of the pups eat daily. Some main ingredients in this food are chicken meal, fresh chicken, chicken fat, chicken liver and whole eggs. Again, an interesting point given the fact that some vaccinations are made with the use of eggs.
If your furry family member is challenged with barking, scratching, biting or snipping, swollen or red eyes, nervousness, anxiety, etc. it is likely that their immune system is responding to a food or the environment due to excess stimulation the immune system received through vaccines when they were a puppy. Yes, residue from vaccines can be inherited through DNA which elevates any risk of reactions to vaccinations, including anxiety.
The next 7 days were spent eliminating all forms of chicken and introducing beef and salmon. Within 4 days of the transition period the symptoms were 40-50% improved and there was no longer a need for Benedryl. By day 7 of the transition, I had a puppy with a new personality. We are still working on some barking issues, although by the date of this web post they are greatly improved. Barking in my little lady’s case was a learned behavior from the adult dogs receiving a reward when barking (barking when there is food being prepared) and being driven to a vet clinic to receive vaccines (barking during car rides). Dogs are not stupid and when they bark or cower it can be a reaction to an activity or environment that is creating stress, or anticipation of a harmful situation due to past experiences. When a pet becomes anxious or stressed going to or during a visit to a veterinary clinic, something traumatic has taken place in a similar environment.
An over-active immune system causes disruption in the normal histamine response and the pathways or chemical conversions histamine controls. The nervous system becomes disturbed, and you are now on the road to seeking out a remedy to calm your pet. An over-active immune system is the root of autoimmune issues one would see in thyroid issues or lupus. The immune system begins attacking the body it resides in. Vaccinations may attempt or in some cases succeed in protecting from certain microorganisms or viruses, but now the pet has an entirely new set of problems that often result in costly prescription medications or veterinary care, and professional level pet training.
My childhood and early adult years were spent in a farming community where I witnessed many a dog live to well over 15 years, including one dog my dad had that we lost count of her years thinking she must have been at least 20 years old. All these well-aged dogs received a simple rabies vaccination, that’s it. Point? Dogs that have fresh air, space to run and play and are not shut in a crowded kennel or crate for numerous hours lead a healthier life, without vaccinations. Placing numerous dogs in a limited space causes energies to collect that result in a toxic environment for the dog and likely the people caring for them. As my dad would say, “everything in moderation.” This “everything” would include the marketed products that are touted for being a benefit to health, pets and people alike.
As a voice for the K9s and felines, please take caution when you are deciding whether your furry family member requires the long list of vaccines that are often strongly encouraged. Remember, those who push the product receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of that product. The companies that make and sell vaccinations drive their product through fear-based advertising and data.
To breeders, I throw out the request that all vaccinations be delayed until a puppy is safe in their new home at 8-10 weeks. Stress is being compiled with stress when a puppy is introduced to vaccinations at 4 or 6 weeks and then moves to a new home at 8 or 10 weeks. Momma dog provides antibodies to her puppies and any concern of infection on the part of a breeder may be in part due to the number of dogs confined in a small area. Dogs need space and proper air circulation to avoid infections. When the environment is healthy for a dog, cat or any other pet, the chances of infection are greatly reduced.
May our furry family members enjoy healthy living and a long life!
Jill
Harvest of Healing, LLC
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IZAUH 61®
