Jamaica Mon

I was finally able to take a much-needed beach vacation, this time to Jamaica! We stayed at the all inclusive resort Riu Montego Bay. We enjoyed every moment of the trip! The sun, beach, food, drinks, and entertainment.  The staff was incredibly friendly, and the entertainment scheduling and performances were fantastic! We even learned some Jamaican dance moves! The worst part of the trip was having to leave so soon.  

Rita Marley's

 Jamaican jerk chicken on the beach 

Local beer at the local craft market 

Must eat: Jerk chicken, curry goat, ackee and saltfish, solomon grundy, callaloo, rice and peas, bammy, dumplings, Jamaican patties

Must drink: Blue mountain coffee, Red Stripe beer, Appleton rum, Rum Cream

Must buy: Bob Marley items, Blue Mountain coffee, Jamaican dolls, wood carvings, oil paintings, calabash wooden bowls, and spices

Fear Free

With the help of one of my technicians, whom I'm extremely thankful for,  I'm in the process of getting fear free certified. Being fear free certified will compliment my interest in holistic medicine.

The modules include fear free transportation to the clinic, reception and waiting areas, exam rooms, procedures, and sedation protocols.  Most people don't realize that the concept of fear free starts at home, before the vet visit. Everyone has a role in making sure the pet feels comfortable: the owner needs to make sure their cat isn't afraid of the carrier, and their pets are secure in the car for the ride; the client service representative makes sure there is adequate time for appointments, especially if the pet needs to be sedated; the technician ensures the exam room is a calm environment, and the vet performs procedures without creating a anxious situation. Some clinics will go the extra mile by providing calming music, pheromone sprays, body wraps, and behavioral medication before the visit.

To find a fear free certified vet near you, visit this website: Fear Free Pets Directory

Five Elements

I've been reading more into Chinese medicine from the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Fundamental Principles book by Huisheng Xie and Vanessa Preast. One of the components I found fascinating is the five elements. They originated from the seasons and a way to explain the natural phenomena. Later this system became the fountain of traditional Chinese medicine practice and the relationship among the body's internal organs.

Wood
This element represents spring time and green, as well as wind. Other characteristics of wood include sour, anger, shouting, germination.

Body parts: liver, eyes, tendons, feet, nails, tears, and sides of the tongue
Personal: dominant, aggressive, competitive, confident, fearless, adaptive, intolerant
Physical: thin body, big eyes, wiry pulse, runs quick, nimble
Unbalanced diseases: aggression, irritability, stressed, liver problems, eye problems, seizures, allergies, hypertension, stroke
Recommended foods for balance: chicken, pig liver, green veggies, carrots, citrus fruits

Fire
This element represents the summer and redness. Other characteristics of fire include south, bitter, joy, laughter, growth, and walking.

Body parts: heart, small intestines, tongue, blood, complexion, tip of the tongue
Personal: Easily excited, friendly and playful, sensitive, noisy and talkative, enjoys attention and physical contact
Physical: Strong body, small head, red face, fast pulse, runs fast
Unbalanced diseases: Hyperactive,high stung, insanity, cardiovascular diseases, ulcers, stroke, sudden death
Recommended foods for balance: pork heart, fish, brown rice, wheat, spinach, celery and mushrooms

Earth
This element represents the late summer harvest and yellow. Other characteristics include center, sweet, thinking, worry, transformation, and sitting.

Body parts: spleen, stomach, mouth, lips, taste, muscles, vomiting, center of the tongue
Personal: mother, laid back, easy going, friendly, sweet, slow moving, humble and kind
Physical: Short, sturdy, big head, prominent musculature, brown hair, thick lips, slow pulse
Unbalanced diseases: Excessive worry, obesity, muscle atrophy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, edema
Recommended foods for balance: rumen, lamb, chicken, ginger, garlic, and sweet potatos

Metal
This element represents the autumn, dryness, and white. It is considered to be light and superficial. Other characteristics iunclude west, pungent, grief, sadness, collection, reclining.

Body parts: lung, large intestines, skin, respiration, coughing, wheezing, and the mid-tip of the tongue
Personal: Aloof, independent, organized, quiet, confident
Physical: broad forehead, big and wide nose, broad chest, good hair coat
Unbalanced diseases: excessive sadness, nasal congestion, upper airway infection, cough, constipation
Recommended foods for balance: eggs, duck, barley, tofu, rice

Water
This element represents the winter, cold, and darkness. Other characteristics include north, salty, fear, storing, and standing.

Body parts: kidney, bladder, bones, hearing, and the rear part of the tongue
Personal: quiet, timid, introverted, solitary, hesitant, fearful, observant
Physical: thin, black hair, deep big eyes, cold intolerance, deep pulse
Unbalanced diseases: withdrawal, fear, kidney and bladder issues, arthritis, premature aging, back pain
Recommended foods for balance: pork kidney, eggs, duck, mussels, sweet potato, and black beans

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine fundamental principles 2nd edition 

The elements are connected to reach other in a certain order, and connected elements can promote or inhibit each other. When the five elements are balanced, the body is healthy.

House Training

When I adopted my new dog, I thought I was adopting a house-trained dog. Perhaps, it's me that needs to remember how to house train a dog. I got extremely lucky when I adopted Anya, that she was already house trained and :knock on wood: has never had an accident in the house, other than when she gets excited and submissive urinates. So I wanted to to take the time to refresh my memory of house training as well as informing new owners of some tips.

Where do you want your dog to go? Some people are ok with their dog using pee-pads in the house, but most people, including me, prefer that their dog goes outside in the grass. Stand with them in the area that you want your dog to use the bathroom give a command. Whether it be "go outside" or "go potty" or whatever works for you. The actual words don't matter, but whatever you decide, you need to be consistent. Consistency is key because dogs like routine.

How to tell you. How do you want your dog to tell you that it needs to go out? Some dogs grab their leash, scratch the door, bark at the door, sit quietly by the door, ring a bell, or sit and stare at you. I would prefer if my dogs rang a bell or sat at the door and barked, but Anya will come, sit, and stare at me. Then when I ask her if she has to go out, she gets really excited. Make sure that you teach and repeat whichever behavior you prefer, each time you take him/her outside. Again, routine.

Setting a schedule. Take your dog out immediately after he/she wakes up, about 20-30 minutes after he/she eats, and before bed. It may take a few minutes before your dog actually uses the bathroom, but be patient. If it takes longer than 10 minutes, then take him/her back inside and try again in another 20-30 minutes. A puppy can hold it for as many hours as they are months old, plus one. So for example a 3 month old puppy, can hold it for four hours.

Crate training. Contain your dog to a small space so that it doesn't have complete roam of the house, especially when you aren't home.  Most dogs don't like to urinate where they sleep, so keeping them confined helps to decrease the chance of making a mess in the house where they shouldn't. I personally like crate training, but others may not.

Reward. When your dog does use the bathroom appropriately, we need to praise like crazy. Either it be a food reward or lots of petting and gushing. Never punish your pet if you don't catch him/her using the bathroom inappropriately. However, you must let your dog know it's unacceptable behavior only if you catch him/her in the act of actively going. A stern "no", is typically enough.

It will be frustrating, especially when it doesn't seem like they are getting it. Just when I think Aurora is getting the hang of it, she will end up urinating in her crate and I get extremely frustrated. However, I know she knows that when she does it, it's wrong because she runs away and tries to hide.  She's adorable and is doing well in all other instances. I just need to be patient, I've only had her two months, and I can't compare her to how fast Anya caught on. We will get there Aurora!

Here's to 33

Thank you to all my family and friends that help me celebrate my birthday. Special thanks to my creative boyfriend with his surprise scavenger hunt, my family for traveling into town, and my work family for going out of their way to make sure I celebrated with some cake when I had to work. Of course, thank you to all the distant friends who reached out over social media or texts as well. I know Facebook helps keep us informed of when everyone's birthday is, but every year I appreciate the two seconds it takes for you to write the simple message to make sure I have a wonderful day. So here's to another year older, maybe another year wiser, but definitely another year of building friendship/relationships, following dreams, creating adventures, and living the best moments. Here's to 33!

"Time humbles you. It humbles you in a way you will never expect and won't think you need and will never see coming.  But it will, just the same. It gives you chances to stand at the top and opportunities to fall. To stand on the stage and to fade into the blur of everybody else. Time teaches you to live the kind of life you ran from once and to dig deeper into the souls of the hearts that walk this earth with you. But mostly, it teaches you to see. To see what matters and what doesn't. When an end is a beginning. And when an end is an end. Darling, you're going to get a bit of it all. You're going to feel like you've got it all handled and you're completely lost. You'll feel like you have it all figure out and also like you have absolutely no idea what you're doing. You're going to change your heart and your eyes and your mind and your style and your footsteps. You're going to fit in and stand out, be loved, and be broken. And I can't promise you how much of each you're going to get, but I can promise you one thing. This world - this world is going to know you were here. Mark my words. You are going to carve your name into time. And it's going to remember."

February celebrations

This past weekend I celebrated my birthday early at Paradise Springs winery with some fabulous friends. Thank you to everyone who came out to relax and enjoy the day (even though some of us weren't feeling so fabulous the next day).

This week is Anya's 3rd Adoptiversary! It's been 3 years since this cutie has come into my life and changed it all for the better. She is always by my side, the biggest cuddler and overall love bug. I don't know what I would do or what my life would look like without you. I'm thrilled that I was able to adopt another dog that she gets along with so well. She's more playful, and hopefully less lonely when I'm gone at work. She will of course always me my first and favorite. Happy gotcha day baby girl!

I've never been a big Valentine's day person. It's a Hallmark holiday and you should be celebrating each other and everyone you love every day, not just one day a year. However, I will give a shout out to my love because he deserves it every single day of the year, not just this week. Thank you for letting me be myself and always trying to put a smile on my face. Love you dear!

Aurora

Introducing the newest addition to my household....Aurora! She's a 1 year old that I adopted from the shelter after I got to know her after she spent some time at my clinic. Even though she still has some training that needs to be done, she's been adjusting so well so far. She loves playing with Anya and is slowly warming up to the idea of cuddling. Anya has already taught her the importance of popcorn nights, how to bark when someone comes to the door, and how to try to chase squirrels. I can't wait for the many more adventures of having two dogs and where life will continue to take us all.