Our health and our pets

Have you ever noticed your pet adjusting their energy to you when you don’t feel well? Suddenly your energetic pup seems happy to have a day spent inside napping? In our house we have been seeing this a lot lately. We have been on a health journey in our household. Both my husband and I. And with that some days are better than others. But we have been fascinated without our Young boy Fenrir adapts to us. Since he was a pup we knew he was very in tune with us. We actually even started training for him to be my husband’s service dog due to his health issues. But when life got crazy that got put on hold. Even so he continues to amaze us with how in tune he is. My husband’s health issues can take him out for days at a time unfortunately. And mine can to once a month for me. Every other day, Fenrir needs to be outside and exercised for a minimum of half an hour. An hour is better though. On the days when we are down though, he suddenly becomes the biggest cuddly bug and only needs to be touching us and he is content.

Have you ever experienced this with a pet? I have been fascinated by this recently. The ways our pets mirror us and read into what is going on. Whether we don’t feel well, or are grieving, etc. They are such amazing creatures. Even the other day when there was a death in the family our cats began following us from room to room and wanting cuddles excessively which cheered both my husband and I up.

With all this in mind I have been thinking about the ways in which I can pay more attention to them and make sure they are at their best. Health issues can take a journey for both us and our pets. Thankfully our pets do very well over all health wise. Haha struggles with her tummy a bit and is in beginning stages for kidney disease but we feed her well and supplement her to keep her feeling her best as long as possible. But I often think when I am trying a new treatment or supplement for myself, I wonder if this could work for my animals or if they even need it?

I like to try and find pet friendly options after something works well for me. But even more often I am researching them first and then start to wonder if I could benefit from something. From books to podcasts I like to search for things that make me feel better and them. I know I am not the only one who does this. From my instagram feed to my suggested purchases across most apps, I receive suggestions for everyone and their new supplement/product for people and/or pets. I listen to multiple podcasts with their experts and scientists. Or a person who has solved all their health issues with this crazy new diet/idea/regiment/food. And Oftentimes I am excited. I think this might finally be it! This may finally be the thing that makes us feel better! Often it works for awhile, and then it stops. I have tried doctors, supplements, regiments, machines, diets. And there have been a few times I have even felt better for years. But it always seems to come back. At this point I am willing to try a heck of a lot to make my husband, animals, and I feel our best. Within reason of course.

Our first thing we aim for is as natural as possible whenever possible. We use supplements over pharmaceuticals. We eat mostly food we make at home. This month we are currently on the paleo diet to start up the new year right. Our pets all eat raw food so they don’t get as much processed food, though we do supplement with kibble and canned food on occasion. Again as natural as possible whenever possible but life happens and we aren’t perfect. I have noticed feeling much better on the diet this month as has my husband which we are enjoying. But there are times on this journey that I feel incredibly defeated. And so does my husband. We watch our friend order food we can’t eat because of our issues and we get jealous. We see people going on vacations and wish we could but know we have to be aware of what doctors visits we have coming up and how much those will cost. We want to feel better so we can experience life. We both are chronically fatigued from our health troubles. But we try to make time for fun with friends and the great outdoors. I know there are other young people struggling with the same issues. From what I see on the internet these days it appears more and more all the time and that upsets me. I want everyone to be able to live a full and happy life and not feeling well is a big hindrance to that. I wonder if our journeys towards health could help anyone, or their pet. I am hoping to start sharing more on here both sides of that journey. While this is a page for my dog massage business. It is named Palms TO Paws. So I hope that anyone out there reading may indulge my curiosities and pursuits of health for both. And who knows maybe looking at both could help even more than focusing on one. Hope you all are well. From my family, palms to paws to yours, lots of love.