KALEE - Canine Wellbeing & Education

14/09/2025

Just taught a canine first aid workshop to Sue, Linda, and Sam from WoofabilityWorld Please do stop by and take a look particularly at their website. Lots of special offers and helpful advice!

No pics unfortunately from today as I always forget 😔

Thanks for the warm welcome guys and meeting your gorgeous rescue pups!

WOOFABILITY – So they can live their best lives

So they can live their best lives

13/09/2025

Homemade Seasonal Fruit Leathers 😀

Hawthorn Berries
Pears
Apples
Strawberries

Shilo and Monty ❤️🐾❤️ loved them - SUCCESS a huge hit!

They taste 😋 yummy

❤️ Hawthorn brings quiet strength, supporting the heart with its ancient wisdom.
❤️ Strawberries offer brightness and antioxidant joy.
💚 Apples ground us in comfort and familiarity.
💚 Pears soften the blend with cooling hydration and gentle sweetness.

I call them Berry Gentle: Heart & Harvest Fruit Leathers.

12/09/2025

Had a great day today studying a CPD (continuing professional development) with the wonderful Sabrina Farina from Equilibrium Osteopathy International.

I studied lymphatic drainage many years ago as a practicing advanced remedial therapeutic massage therapist (humans) and sports therapist - this took it to a new level, and will only enhance my work with our gorgeous canine companions!

This will complement beautifully the canine oncology massage course that I completed last year ❤️🐾❤️

Forever learning, forever growing, we can never know enough but I'm trying lol ...

10/09/2025

As September is Animal Pain Awareness Month I thought I'd share my experience with my boy Shilo ❤️ please read my blog post below 👇

🐾🐾 The Path to Empowered Care 🐾🐾

Pain doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it tucks itself beneath a tail, hides behind quiet eyes, or settles into the silence where play used to live. I learned this the hard way before I became a canine wellness practitioner, before KALEE existed, before I understood how deeply dogs communicate with subtle signs.

🐾 The First Signs: Something Wasn't Right

Shilo, my Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was still a pup when I noticed the change. A few months after neutering, he stopped initiating play. Walks became a struggle. His tail tucked tightly beneath him, and his spark dimmed. His back legs appeared weak to me, though every vet visit ended with reassurance: “His muscle tone is good. Nothing’s wrong.”

But I knew differently...

🐾 The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

At age five, I pushed for x-rays. The results were devastating: severe bilateral stifle arthritis - arthritis in both knees. I was beside myself. I thought his life was over.

But pain wasn’t the end of our story. It was the beginning of a new kind of listening.

💚 Learning to Heal: Becoming a Canine Bodywork Professional

I studied. I learned. I became a canine bodywork professional - not just for Shilo, but for every dog whose pain goes unnoticed. His care became a tapestry of:

❤️ Weight management
❤️ Home adaptations (rugs, ramps, soft landings)
❤️ Massage and targeted exercises
❤️ Infra-red therapy
❤️ Botanical self-selection through Zoopharmacognosy
❤️ Nutrition

Today, Shilo is nine. He’s off all painkillers. He chooses his own plant medicines. He greets the world with happy Staffie smiles and a tail that wags freely.

❣️ What I Wish I’d Known

🐾 Pain isn’t always loud.
🐾 Guardians do know their dogs.
🐾 Muscle tone doesn’t equal comfort.
🐾 Advocacy matters especially when the signs are subtle.
🐾 Healing is possible, even when the diagnosis feels heavy.

❣️ For the Guardian Who’s Wondering

If your dog has changed, slowed down, withdrawn, stopped seeking joy - please trust that whisper. You don’t need to wait for a limp or a yelp. Pain can be quiet, but your love is loud. Let it guide you.

🫶 A Note from me 🫶

If Shilo’s story resonates with you, if you’ve ever felt dismissed, uncertain, or quietly desperate to understand your dog’s pain - I see you. KALEE was born from this very place: a longing to offer comfort-focused care that listens deeply and acts gently.

I now support senior dogs and grieving guardians through integrative wellness consults, resources, and seasonal enrichment. Whether you're navigating pain, loss, or simply seeking clarity, you're welcome here.

Please reach out 🙏 to me

A pic of my beautiful boy Shilo aka Prince of Peace & Baby Bear ❤️🐾❤️

10/09/2025

🌿 What Is Innate Botanical Selection in Dogs?

A gentle introduction from a nearly-qualified practitioner - soon to be fully qualified 😀💚

Yippee!

When we talk about botanical self-selection in animals, we’re often referring to a process where the animal chooses herbs, oils, or plant extracts based on instinct. But there’s a deeper layer to this work one that’s intuitive, relational, and rooted in both biology, science and trust. It is innate botanical selection.

As a canine massage and wellness practitioner (as you know), and soon-to-be qualified innate animal botanical practitioner, I’ve come to see this process not just as a method but as a conversation. One where the dog leads, and we listen.

🐾 What Does “Innate” Really Mean?

“Innate” speaks to what’s already within the animal. It’s the quiet intelligence that guides a dog to sniff a particular leaf, linger near a certain flower, or turn away from a scent that doesn’t serve them. It’s not learned it’s lived. And when we create space for that instinct to speak, we begin to witness something extraordinary: the dog choosing what they need, not what we think they need.

However this isn’t about offering a random tray of herbs and hoping for the best. It’s about understanding the plant’s properties, the dog’s emotional and physical state/needs, and the subtle cues that guide selection. It’s science and art. Chemistry and connection.

🌸 Why It Matters in Practice

Dogs (all animals) often carry needs that aren’t fully visible. Botanical self-selection allows them to express those needs through scent, taste, and energetic response. When offered with intention, herbs can support:

💚 Emotional regulation (e.g. Linden for heart-soothing)
💚 Musculoskeletal comfort (e.g. Meadowsweet for joint support)
💚 Nervous system balance (e.g. Chamomile for gentle calming)
💚 Seasonal transitions (e.g. Cleavers in spring for lymphatic flow)

But the key is how we offer. Too many choices, or offerings made without context, can overwhelm the dog’s sensory system (Dogs have 300million scent receptors we have just 5million). That’s why I work with a framework that blends botanical knowledge with quiet observation, emotional safety, and respect for the dog’s autonomy.

🌿 What This Looks Like in My Work

In my practice at KALEE, I often begin with massage or enrichment to help the dog settle. Then, I introduce botanicals slowly in pairs and sequencing, with space to explore. I watch for signs of interest, aversion, or subtle shifts in posture and breath. Sometimes a dog will lean in, lick, or linger. Other times, they’ll walk away. Both are valid. Both are communication.

I also consider the season, the dog’s history, and their emotional landscape. A grieving dog in winter may respond differently than a playful senior in spring. That’s the beauty of innate selection it’s never static. It’s alive.

Final Thoughts 🐾

Innate botanical selection is not a trend it’s a return to trust. It asks us to slow down, to listen, and to honour the dog’s wisdom. As I move toward full qualification, I’m more convinced than ever that this work is not just therapeutic it’s relational. It’s about creating comfort, clarity, and choice.

Throughout history animals have self-medicated - they know - the dogs nose knows!

If you’re curious about how this might support your dog, I’d love to share more. Keep an eye out for future blogs and how herbs can help your dog 🐕.

This is gentle work, but it’s powerful. And it begins with one simple question:

What is your dog trying to tell you?

04/09/2025

Did you know that September is Animal Pain Awareness Month❓

Pain in our dogs is often silent, yet surprisingly common. 80% of behaviour changes are pain related.

Many signs are subtle and easily mistaken for “just getting older.”

🐾 “She’s just slowing down.”
🐾 "He’s sleeping more because he’s old.”

These changes might be age-related… but they might also be signs of discomfort.

Here are some quiet clues your canine friend may be in pain:

⚠️ Decreased activity or enthusiasm
⚠️ Avoiding stairs or jumping into the car
⚠️ Slow to rise after lying down
⚠️ Reduced appetite
⚠️ Licking or over-grooming one area
⚠️ Lameness or limping
⚠️ Lagging behind on walks, or stopping
⚠️ Hiding or withdrawing
⚠️ More clingy

If your dog is showing these signs but otherwise seems well (no vomiting or diarrhoea, or difficulty emptying bowels or bladder), it’s okay to wait for a regular vet appointment. But if they’ve stopped eating entirely a vets visit is required. With regards to drinking, it is a medical emergency if a dog hasn't had any water for 24 hours!

‼️Pain can also change behaviour:

❗Increased irritability or snapping
❗Accidents in the house
❗Withdrawal from touch or play

The good news? Veterinary medicine offers many options for pain relief and comfort care. With botanicals to support. Once the pain is well managed - canine massage, physiotherapy and Zoopharmacognosy can help. It's a multimodal approach.

If you’re noticing any of these signs, trust your instincts. Call your vet or send me a message and book an assessment. Your pet’s comfort matters, and you know them best 💛

Please listen to your dog to spot the early signs of pain and empower yourself to seek help before suffering escalates ❣️

A multimodal approach to pain management is best - combining medication, weight control, physical therapy, along with complementary care.

Reach out to me for support 🙏 [email protected]

04/09/2025

Happy birthday beautiful Shilo, 9years young today - my prince of peace by name and by nature 🐾❤️🐾

You are loved by all who meet you - you have a whole load of fans ( especially John the delivery driver ).

With your soft almond eyes and perfect happy Staffie smile - you're just the best ❣️

My ❤️ and Soul, my Teacher ###

03/09/2025

Introducing:

The Soul Dog Compass Blueprint ©

It is a tender concept for navigating the emotional terrain of pet loss with love, clarity, and connection.

I have created it for guardians of senior and soul-connected dogs, this framework offers gentle support before, during, and after loss. It honours the bond, prepares the heart, and holds space for grieving pets too.

Through four compass points

❤️ Emotional Navigation
💚 Botanical Intuition
🩵 Practical Care & Ritual
🩷 Creative Reflection

You’ll find comfort-focused tools, sensory supports, and soulful prompts to help you move through anticipatory grief, farewell, and remembrance with dignity.

This is not a clinical protocol (everyone grieves differently). It’s a compassionate map for those walking with their animal through aging, transition, and beyond.

Because love doesn’t end, it never does - it evolves. And grief, when held gently, can become a sacred part of the journey.

If you’re preparing, grieving, or supporting a beloved pet through loss, The Soul Dog Compass Blueprint © is here to walk beside you.

The Soul Dog Compass Blueprint © is a work in progress - please watch this space for further insights 🤍🕊️

02/09/2025

Hi all, yesterday evening I did a short botanical session as Monty kept going over to my essential oils - asking for me to get them out.

Monty selected Immortelle and almost immediately wanted to roll in it with full-body engagement. He then chose Garlic.

Both have strong skin-supportive and anti-inflammatory properties, which feels relevant to me as his paw licking and scratching have returned. 💚🐾💚

Not great pics though 😔 sorry

🐾 When using essential oils especially - always consult with a professional animal botanical practitioner 🐾

30/08/2025

Homemade Hydrosol day 💚🐾 in prep for a case study tomorrow 😀

Calendula
Chamomile
Yarrow
Lemon Balm
Ginger