I love Boston Terrier dogs. I have had several of them, mostly rescues, in my life. There is one in particular that I have had a unique relationship with. His name is Malachi and I got him for Mother’s Day in 2006 when he was barely 8 weeks old. He had severe GI distress when I got him. It turned out to be a whip worm infection that eluded us for weeks. After receiving medication to eliminate the worms he appeared OK. However, as he got older, he started to manifest different skin conditions from hives to staff infections, itchy skin, spots of hair loss, and more. After many trips to the vet and trying various medications and special dog food formulas it was apparent nothing worked on a permanent basis. Applying my own background in holistic healing, I decided to start him on dog friendly probiotics and a digestive enzyme formula. His skin improved but there were still unresolved issues. Next, I decided to replace his processed dog food with home cooked, human grade food. His skin cleared up, his gut healed, and he had more energy than I could handle at times! To this day his skin and GI tract have been normal and no further medical intervention has been needed. In his old age, his digestion is still strong and working well. Reflection 1: Fresh, whole foods combined with probiotics and digestive enzymes are great medicine for the body.
Because of his high energy he has had a few major mishaps in his life. The worst one was this past January when he had a neurological event and fell headfirst onto the carpet. He was diagnosed with “old dog disease.” As a result of the fall he scraped his cornea, but no one noticed it in time. It wasn’t until an eye ulcer became visible to the naked eye. The eye drops prescribed did not help and the ulcer turned into a major hole that perforated all the way through his cornea. I was advised to euthanize him because there was a strong chance his eye would rupture. Instead, I took him to an ophthalmologist who changed his eye drops because a culture showed the bacteria in his eye was resistant to the drops he was originally given. The doctor also strongly advised me to have his eye removed to save his life. At this point Malachi was 15 years old and I was not going to put him through that kind of traumatic surgery. I started using a serum made from animal’s blood and another antibiotic eye drop from the dr., both of which I administered into his injured eye 6 times a day. Hie eye started to respond favorably and after a few months the hole was completely healed!
Reflection 2: The body has the ability to heal from almost anything given the right support.
For those of you who have had dogs, you remember the days when you were feeling under the weather or had a bad day and your dog would come up to you, give you licks, and then curl up in your lap. They just love you up no matter what you are feeling. They don’t care if you speak to them or play with them. They instinctively know you need love. They are not conditional and never ask you to love them back. Malachi was one of those dogs who was always there for me in the most challenging of times. The love and joy he brought to me was limitless. He would come to me with his tennis ball and nudge me to go outside and play with him no matter what kind of day I was having. I would always take time to play with him and when we were done and went back inside, I noticed I always felt calmer and refreshed. When I would drive long distances in an RV he would insist on sitting in my lap. I always felt his love and peaceful energy radiating from him, helping me feel more relaxed and less anxious regardless of what I was encountering on the road. He has always been there with limitless love for me.
Reflection 3: Love can heal all things.
Now my dear sweet dog Malachi is almost 16 and will soon be crossing the rainbow bridge. I know I only have a few more weeks or maybe a month left with him. He is manifesting several conditions that come with old age and yet his spirit is as strong as ever. He loves to rest in my lap or lay under my desk on the floor and nap when I am working. While his care can be exhausting at times, he has made me realize something on a very deep level.
Reflection 4: Every day is a gift.
How we spend it is what matters the most. It is not about accomplishing and achieving but rather the state of being we choose to reside in.
This leads into Reflection 5: It is our state of being, not doing that contributes to our soul ’s growth. Our thoughts, words, and actions either add love and light to our lives, or they can feed the darkness and negativity that exists.
It is the love and light we radiate in our state of being that heals and transforms.
Malachi has long surpassed the normal age range of his breed and yet he is still here with me, with several physical disabilities, loving me and staying close to my side. But now more than ever it is time for me to give back to him. He has been an amazing companion and the best buddy I could have ever asked for. He is the one who needs all the love and compassion I can give. I realize his days are numbered and so does he. He just wants to be with me. In his state of being, he is all love. This brings me to Reflection 6: Giving is more important than receiving.
In the spirit of giving this Thanksgiving season, I am giving back to Malachi all the love and attention he has given me throughout the years we have been together. At the end of the day that is all that really matters. And I know that the more love I give the more I have to give because I keep going deeper into the wellspring of my own heart which has no bottom.
May you reach deeper into your own heart and give freely of your love and light to others. The world needs it more than ever and you will be blessed with more love in return.
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