This section was initially focused on handling and grooming but as Leo got recently diagnosed with arthritis I decided to add a section on how to help your dog through physiotherapy and massage. But I want to show other dog owners a more holistic approach. This section will talk about TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine).
This will include things such as acupuncture but also identify your dog’s element (Fire, Wood, Earth, Metal, Water). This will help you to better understand your pup and also will help you to adjust his or her nutrition best adapted to their element.I am going to add videos on how I make life easier for Leo with massages, heat therapy, acupressure and last but not least house modification and daily adaptations to fit his new needs.

On the handling side, because throughout their life your dog will have to go to the vet it is a great idea to touch your pet the way your veterinarian will do. Teaching your dog to be handled will help as well for grooming (see section dedicated to it). If your dog is used to being touched or set on their side or back, any coming experience requiring this will be less stressful.

We all have experienced a bark after the doorbell, and hiding under the bed after thunder or a chasing after a squirrel. Desensitizing can really improve or make your pooch’s life safer. Additionally that will block a lot of potential stress for you four legged friend.  We don’t want our dog to cross a road because they saw something on the other side. These videos will help you to desensitize your dog and help improve their impulse control.

I recently discovered TCVM because Leo, who was diagnosed with arthritis on the wrist, didn’t seem to get really comfortable just on anti-inflammatory drug (carprofen). So I started to check online and ask around and I happened to be introduced to a Vet (Dr. Donna Hein, DVM, MS (TCVM)) and before to do anything with Leo she asked me all these questions to determine what was Leo’s element. Long story short after this was figured out she asked me what I was feeding him and according to his element, Earth, Dr. Hein asked me to replace the chicken by turkey and to add sardines. It can sounds weird, but here the idea behind it.

In TCVM food is not just about calories and nutritions facts it’s about energetic properties, and each food has different energetic properties. The three energy level are Warming/Neutral/Cooling
For example, Leo is Earth, dogs with Earth constitution or “Hot” energy will benefit from cooling food to balance their system. Chicken or Lamb are considered Warming or Hot, but Turkey (often mistaken as Warming) is considered Cool. Dr Hein also recommended white fish and rabbit.