🐾 Who’s
Telling the Truth?
— Understanding the
Root Cause of Anal Gland Issues —
This past Sunday, I
attended a series of webinars on holistic pet care. By the end of the day, I
had heard three different answers to one question:
What’s the root cause of anal gland issues in dogs?
Wait—three
different root causes? Isn’t there supposed to be
just one?
Here’s what I
heard:
1.
A leading integrative veterinarian
pointed to the gut.1
2.
My brilliant herbalism teacher focused
on the liver.2
3.
A respected Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) vet emphasized blood flow.3
4.
And of course, conventional vets might
simply say, “Some dogs are just prone to these things.” 🙃
So... who’s right?
Let’s set
aside Option 4 for now—that’s
more of a shoulder shrug than a root cause.
Gut, liver, or blood flow—which
is it?
In holistic medicine, the
answer is: All of them.
Each expert offered
insight through the lens of their own specialty—and all of them were
right.
For example:
- Poor gut health can lead to
inflammation or improper digestion, affecting the anal glands.
- Gut issues may stem from an overburdened liver that’s
struggling to process toxins.
- And blood flow stagnation can
impair liver function and the body’s ability to eliminate waste.
But it doesn’t stop there.
But wait—blood
flow stagnation can be caused by liver congestion… which can lead to gut imbalance. This is just an example. It’s not linear—it’s
intertwined loops. A conversation between systems.
Everything is
Interconnected
While we often crave one
clean, allopathic-style explanation, the reality is far more nuanced. The body—human or
canine—is an intricate system, not a machine with a
single broken part. It’s estimated there are over 3
trillion biochemical reactions happening in the body at any given
time. That’s complexity we can’t
just “simplify” away.
So, What Should
We Do as Dog Guardians?
Support the whole
system.
Not just the gut.
Not just the liver.
Not just the blood flow.
All of it—together.
And the very first step?
Let go of black-and-white thinking. Healing doesn’t come from a
one-size-fits-all fix or a single supplement. It’s a
dance of many systems in harmony.
What Can That
Look Like?
Let’s stay
focused on anal gland issues for now.
1.
Start with your dog’s
comfort.
Work on alleviating any discomfort or pain using warm calendula water and
echinacea. Your dog’s wellbeing—how they feel each
day—must always come first.
2.
Look at their food and supplements.
Are there ingredients that are energetically inappropriate for the specific
dog? Are you unintentionally overloading their system with well-meaning
supplements?
3.
Support the whole dog—gently.
Avoid throwing every possible remedy at once. That can overwhelm the very
systems you're trying to help.
4.
Work seasonally.
Each season naturally supports different organs and rhythms. When you align
care with nature’s cycles, you help your dog’s
body restore itself with less resistance.
Holistic Care
Means Seeing the Whole Picture
And that’s where
true healing begins.
Not sure where to start?
That’s exactly why I’m here.
Let’s
uncover your dog’s unique needs—together, and in a way that feels manageable, heart-centered, and
sustainable.
👇 Click below to begin your pup’s
healing journey.
[Ask a KAHU] [Holistic Assessment] [Beyond-Healing Program]
***********************************************************************
Beyond
Healing
~ Car-Stopping, Infinite
Wellness ~
Renowned herbalist Greg
Tilford once said, “We don’t know
what wellness looks like.”4
At the time, I didn’t either.
When I began my holistic
journey with my girls, I truly believed they were healthy. But through the
generosity and insight of holistic mentors, I slowly realized… they
weren’t. Not even close. My older girl, in particular,
was quietly suffering—aging far too quickly. Looking
back, I see the denial. And I carried the weight of that guilt.
Honestly, my journey
started from that guilt.
But something unexpected
happened.
My girls didn’t
just heal—they began to glow.
There was a lightness, a vibrancy that grew with every season. As we embraced
deeper wellness through seasonal support—using
phytoembryonic therapy, flower essences, and whole, nourishing food—they radiated joy.
And people
noticed.
On our walks, strangers began stopping their cars to compliment them. Some even
called out, “Oh my God, they’re glowing!”
They weren’t just healthy… they
were vibrant. Magnetic.
That’s when I
realized:
Wellness isn’t a finish line. It’s infinite.
Wouldn’t you
love to see your dog get brighter, and brighter,
and brighter still?
There’s nothing like witnessing the radiant energy
shining from a beloved dog who feels deeply well—body,
mind, and spirit.
✨ If you’re ready
to go beyond healing…
If you're curious about the next frontier of wellness…
I’d be
honored to walk that path with you.
[Join Us]
*********************************************************************
References
1.
Becker, Karen, host. “Anal Gland Conditions.” Inside Scoop, Facebook, 27 April 2025, https://www.facebook.com/PlanetPawsMedia/support/?surface=pinned_comments&entrypoint_surface=permalink_iap
2.
Hogan, Rita, host. “Anal Gland Training.” The Canine Herbalist
Advisory, May 2024, https://www.canineherbalism.com/products/communities/v2/canineherbalistadvisory/home
3.
Marsden, Steve, speaker. “Liver Issues in Dogs (and Cats).” Ask De. Steve DVM, Facebook, 27 April, 2025, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1158575954706282
4.
Becker, Karen, and Rodney Habib, hosts. “Essential Oils for Flea & Tick Support.” Inside
Scoop, Facebook, 18 April
2025, https://www.facebook.com/PlanetPawsMedia/support/?surface=pinned_comments&entrypoint_surface=permalink_iap
