I've had my dog Zorro for ten years, he'll be eleven in November. Zorro is a striking black and tan Shepherd mix with one blue eye, the other one was recently removed because of a cyst that was causing him severe discomfort.
Zorro before he got sick
A few months after his eye operation, Zorro started to lose his appetite and was frequently throwing up his food. His weight dropped dramatically and he had trouble walking. I took him to the vet and they discovered an infection under his right front paw. His pads were cracked on both front paws.
The vet bandaged his paw and prescribed antibiotics. He took a blood test, Zorro's Amylase and Lipase levels were elevated. These enzymes are responsible for digesting carbohydrates and fats in the body. The vet suggested we do an MRI to see if there was a tumor in Zorro's pancreas. I decided not to go this route. The vet was very concerned about Zorro's 13lb weight loss. He told me 'once you get his weight back up we can give him pain killers and steroids for his hips'. I didn't feel good about giving Zorro drugs, especially steroids, but agreed he needed to gain weight.
I started giving Zorro all the foods I knew he loved in order to get him to eat. Sausages, raw beef, raw eggs, roast turkey, chicken, cat food I even gave him slices of bread. His health got worse, he had no energy and he could barely get up. I thought he was dying and seriously began to consider putting him down. The thought of this made me extremely sad and I didn't know how I would cope. The negative things I'd heard people say about Zorro filled my head:
Zorro, sick as a dog
- Big dogs like Zorro don't make it past eleven years.
- Dogs like Zorro get hip dysplasia.
- It's all downhill since his eye was removed.
That evening I went out for dinner and ran into a friend. I told her about Zorro. She told me the essential oils she had used for her digestive problems and suggested I give him enzymes. She inspired me to be pro active instead of giving up on Zorro. That evening I researched Zorro's symptoms online and came to the conclusion that he was suffering from pancreatitis. The foods I had been giving him in an attempt to fatten him up were actually causing him harm, contributing to his condition. What I needed to do was to give his inflamed pancreas a rest by fasting him for 24 hrs. He needed to be fed raw meat and vegetables (absolutely no kibble, grains or cooked fatty foods). Another close friend of mine gave me some enzymes and packets of frozen raw dog food. I already had good quality probiotics.
Confident I knew what was wrong with Zorro I gave him a raindrop session (a combination of essential oils applied to his spine) to help him detox, and I applied geranium and peppermint oil to his belly to ease the pain from the inflammation.
In the morning I did a remote healing for him with the wand (an energetic healing tool). As my imagination took me inside his body to his pancreas, I realized I needed to make relationship with this vital organ:
Wonderful pancreas you are so magnificent, I am so sorry you are overwhelmed, I honor the incredible job you do in continually working to break down food in Zorro's belly, I misunderstood you and made things very difficult for you. I see you are in trouble, I am so sorry. Mighty pancreas, I honor the importance and function you provide in Zorro's body and support you in being healthy, you are incredible, I love you, you are so loved.
Zorro on the mend
It was time for Zorro's first meal, I hid the enzymes and probiotics in the meat and slowly hand fed him until he'd had enough. The next morning I noticed a significant change in him. He was alert with more energy. Even though his paws still hurt he had the strength to get himself up. I started feeling hopeful and abandoned any more thoughts of putting him down. I ordered wraps and a miracle salve to heal the cracks in his pads. In the meantime I applied coconut oil and lip balm to all of his paws.
It's three days since Zorro has taken a turn for the better. His appetite has increased and he seems pain free in his belly. I write this for anyone who may have a dog who is suffering like Zorro, to give you hope that with the correct diet and care this condition can be cured.