January 31, 2019

Mining the gold from shit situations

So one day when BT was about 4 months old, we were playing tug on the back lawn and she leapt for the toy, missed and landed on her side. I don’t know if you know this, but Shepherds tend to scream when they get a fright. Well, she screamed and held up her left front leg. I massaged her and comforted her and then she was fine.

During the first trip down south to Bridgetown she was also lame on her front left leg. She was also lame during a tracking training session.

Now, when I say lame, I mean a tiny head bob when she trots. My Husband couldn’t notice but I can because I am observant (it’s my job). I have also spent 20 years watching dogs move and can see when something is not quite right (helpful for my Bowen practice!).

I knew inside myself that it wasn’t her elbow (Shepherd’s are prone to elbow dysplasia). I had a feeling that it was growing pains and that her shoulders needed strengthening.

I took her to my Vet who suggested x-rays which we did and then he sent those x-rays to a specialist. Long story short, there was some areas of concern that the specialist picked up, so we booked to see him.

Well, in the mean time the limping moved to the right front leg. We went along to the specialist appointment and he assessed her and ruled out elbow dysplasia and is leaning towards panosteitis (growing pains). Husband and I drank a lot of booze that night in celebration 😊

I have experienced a broad spectrum of emotions since we brought our beloved Bellatrix home. Firstly, I was excited and so ready to be in love all over again, despite just saying goodbye to Chanel my Poodle, a few months before BT’s birth. The process wasn’t the same as with Chanel, it was/is much different.

Then when we discovered some issues with unknown dogs I went into a tailspin of panic, dread and stress which is actually continuing to this day (to a much lesser degree). As a pet professional, I am very aware that my dogs are a reflection of my skills. Walking with a German Shepherd who barks and lunges at other dogs is not a great advertisement and my stress certainly feeds hers. My Husband just walks her up to every dog that they come across and there are never any issues, I defer to his superior dog handling skills in this area! *I do no defer to his dog handling skills in feeding her for barking at him while we eat and many other naughty things he does but they love each other so who cares?!

To consider having another dog with structural issues was very upsetting for me. Chanel had some body challenges (back problems, knee problems) and spent much of her life in pain. But then I remember that her attitude was this: fuck pain. Don’t worry about that shit. Have a nice time, surround yourself with people that you love and celebrate every day. Man, that Poodle was absolutely amazing in every way.

So, after moving through panic, dread, sadness I got back to acceptance and then I set the intention for the foreseeable future to be one of acceptance. Not just with the Shepherd’s possible elbow dysplasia but with everything. What we resist, persists. Thanks BT <3

I knew that Bellatrix did not have ED. I knew in my heart that this was the case, but I deferred to my wonderful Vet because he’s a Vet. I know now that he was being thorough and cautious, and this is why I trust him to care for my dogs. *I couldn’t imagine telling my Vet that I knew my dog didn’t have ED because my intuition told me so. However, he would probably not be as weirded out as I think.

However, what a lesson to keep in mind about intuition. Even if we make calls about the mental or physical health of our dogs, I am not suggesting negating taking them to their Vet. I am just reminding you of your intuitive power and ability as you are the one who knows them best! You are the one who lives with them and loves and cares for them.

So, I must thank Bellatrix Leonie De Niet for limping so that I could go on this mini journey and learn many lessons from it.

I learnt:

• metaphysical reasons for elbow problems
• the emotions that are linked with elbows (please go look, it is VERY interesting)
• why disease often appears to teach us something or many things
• ACCEPTANCE
• that my Vet is awesome
• that the specialist Vet (Rivergum) is also awesome
• that my family are a great support to me (special thanks to fellow weirdo Rachel who always knows just what to say)
• that Bellatrix is such a magical dog
• that Chanel was and still is a teacher for me

I love my dogs. I don’t want to think where I would be without them. Dogs are the best!