Spring focuses on the liver and the gall bladder. The liver is responsible for over 500 functions but most importantly it helps eliminate toxins and metabolize fats, hormones, vitamins and carbohydrates.
The gallbladder assists the liver and digestive system with breaking down fats and oils, a pertinent part of digestion.
Spring energy moves upward and transitions from cold to warmer temperatures. Supporting the liver and gallbladder is crucial to getting your dog’s energy moving and clearing liver congestion.
Spring Imbalances
Here is a list of the conditions associated with spring:
• eye discharge (especially green)
• allergies
• brittle or weak nails
• weak ligaments and tendons
• spinal conditions
• aggression
• excessive barking
• restlessness
• lick granulomas
• nervousness
• biting of paws or nails
Spring Proteins
Start off with a neutral to slightly cooling base of proteins. A base is a food that you feed more often than others rotating other protein sources for the seasonal period.
Beef or turkey are good base proteins. Chicken, turkey, duck and goat are all quality rotational proteins.
Feed more chicken and goat at the beginning of Spring with duck, beef and turkey towards the end.
Spring Herbs
Spring herbs are always plentiful. Three easy to consider are dandelion, violet and chickweed.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves are diuretic helping cleanse and support the kidneys through urination. Whole dandelion detoxifies the liver and stimulates the digestive system while helping eliminate built up toxins. Dandelion is high in minerals and helps balance your dog’s body as well as nourish the digestive system. You can feed whole chopped added to your dog’s food 3-4 times per week.
Violet (Viola odorata) is an active lymphatic helping stimulate your dog’s lymph system moving stagnant winter energy upward and outward. Violets help dissolve cysts, swellings and fatty tumors. Whole violets are nourishing when added to your dogs food. You can also use a dried violet tea or a violet leaf tincture if fresh violets aren’t available.
Chickweed (Stellaria media) also helps dissolve soft, fatty tumors. It supports lymphatic and systemic detoxification. As a cooling herb, chickweed helps dogs adjust to late Springs warming temperatures. Chickweed is highly nutritious, anti-inflammatory, and lubricating to the joints. It’s nicely paired with dandelion and violet for helping rid the body of toxins while supporting the pathways of elimination.
Spring Vegetables
Choose Spring vegetables for removing toxins and helping support your dog’s liver, kidneys and lymphatic system.
Asparagus excels at bringing down inflammation. It appears early in Spring and has a slightly warming energetic. Asparagus helps support fluid elimination throughout the urinary system and supports the kidneys.
Alfalfa (always use organic sources) as either a whole herb, or in this case a vegetable sprout, can be used whole or as as a meal additive in the form of a cooled tea. Alfalfa is anti-inflammatory, immune-supportive and cleansing. It’s highly nutritious and full of digestive enzymes which help assimilate fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Watercress stimulates digestion and supports the liver as well as the kidneys. It helps remove stagnant blood and stimulates the formation of bile and liver enzymes. Watercress can also help support the heart when the weather starts to heat up.
General Dosage and Feeding Guidelines
If using tinctures for seasonal support, consider using small dosages that helps stimulate healing. Here is a general recommendation:
• 1 drop for every 5 pounds of body weight given twice daily with food. Don’t give for more than 8 weeks. If you have concerns with using small amounts of alcohol, you can use a glycerine based extract. Double the dosage recommendation.
• When giving your dog an herbal tea, steep the fresh or dried herb 20-30 minutes, covered. Let cool and strain. Give 1/2 tsp for every 10 pounds of body weight.
• When feeding a fresh diet, be mindful of organ meat consumption. As a general guideline, no more than 10-15% of your dog’s daily diet should consist of organ meat unless you are trying to heal a specific imbalance.
Working through the seasons is an excellent way to start utilizing a fresh food diet for your dog focused on their specific need for the particular season.
