I’m sure you’ve been here before. You’re cranky, stressed, and running around like a “chicken with its head cut off.” You’re wound so tight that you’re exhausting yourself.
You Need to CHILL OUT!
Energetically speaking, the cooling diet actually helps dogs “chill out.” The energetically cooling diet is designed especially for Yin deficient dogs.
For example, Yin-deficient dogs pant, pace, and drink a lot. And, sometimes, they appear a bit agitated.
Kind of like some people you know, right? If your dog displays these symptoms, the energetically cooling diet may help!
Yin Deficiency in Dogs
This is the story of Myrtle, a Yin Deficient dog. Myrtle is a 13-year-old Great Pyrenees.
She was brought to my clinic by a nice middle-aged lady with two kids.
Myrtle drove the family crazy by pacing at night and constantly panting. She also seemed quite agitated.
Before, in her younger years, Myrtle was a pretty easygoing dog. She played heartily with vigor and was the perfect family pet.
However, Myrtle’s panting and pacing became disturbing to the entire family. She also drank excessively and needed to go out to pee all the time.
Upon examination, Myrtle showed classic signs of Yin Deficiency. She had a bright red tongue with very little saliva. In addition, Myrtle panted excessively and felt warm to the touch.
All of the above are classic Yin Deficiency signs in an older, geriatric dog. Remember, all dogs tend to move towards deficiency as they age.
What Is Yin Deficiency in a Dog?
Yin and Yang are Chinese terms used to describe the opposites in the world. Yin is the cool, the night, the female, the passive, the moon, etc. Yang is the opposite. A dog that is Yin Deficient is a dog that is lacking in those things that constitute Yin in a dog’s body.
The classic signs of Yin deficiency in a dog are:
- Bright red tongue
- Cool seeking
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive panting
- Dry skin
- Warm to the touch
The Yin component of the Yin/Yang Theory is cooling. Yin is the moistening and cooling agent of the body. When a deficiency of Yin exists, symptoms of the lack of cooling and moisture factors, like those described above, occur. The TCVM name for this condition is Yin Deficiency. Yin Deficiency is probably the most common deficiency diagnosed in geriatric dogs.
Energetically Cooling Foods for Yin-Deficient Dogs
Use Eastern Food Therapy to cool and help replenish yin. Yin Deficiency (heat caused by a deficiency of the body’s cooling components) is treated by feeding the dog a cooling or neutral diet.
It’s quick and easy to cook at home for your pet!
Energetically Cooling Food Choices
Use Eastern Food Therapy to bring your dog into energetic balance.
A nutritionally balanced canine diet contains:
- 60% – 80% Protein – mostly from meat
- 20% – 40% Carbohydrates – from grains, vegetables, and fruit
- A minimum of 2% fat
Use the list of foods below to create endless delicious recipe combinations for your furry friend!
Mix up the ingredients as needed to create a food that your dog loves.
You can easily track the protein, carbohydrate, and fat ratios in an online food log, such as the ones found on the Fitbit and Livestrong websites.
It is best to stick to all cooling food items, but you may add one neutral item per bach for convenience.
Meats/Protein Source
- Carp (neutral)
- Clam
- Cod
- Crab
- Duck
- Eggs (neutral)
- Goose (neutral)
- Herring (neutral)
- Kidney, pork (neutral)
- Liver, beef (neutral)
- Liver, sheep
- Mackerel (neutral)
- Oyster (neutral)
- Pigeon (neutral)
- Pork (neutral)
- Quail (neutral)
- Rabbit
- Sardine (neutral)
- Tofu
- Turkey
- Tuna (neutral)
- Whitefish (neutral)
- Yogurt
Vegetables/Fruits
- Alfalfa
- Amaranth
- Artichoke (neutral)
- Asparagus (neutral)
- Banana
- Broccoli
- Cabbage (neutral)
- Carrot (neutral)
- Cauliflower (neutral)
- Celery
- Corn (neutral)
- Cucumber
- Dandelion leaf
- Eggplant
- Green beans (neutral)
- Green peas (neutral)
- Lettuce
- Mushroom, button
- Pear
- Potato (neutral)
- Spinach
- Summer squash
- Strawberry
- String Beans
- Swiss Chard
- Tomato
- Watermelon
- Yam (neutral)
Grains/Beans/Starch
- Barley: 1 1/2 cups dried barley +3 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked barley
- Barley sprouts
- Black beans (neutral): 1 1/4 cups dry black beans + 3 3/4 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs black beans
- Black sesame seeds (neutral)
- Broad beans (neutral): 1 3/4 cups dry broad beans + 5 1/4 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs broad beans
- Brown rice: 1 1/4 cups dry brown rice + 2 1/2 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked brown rice
- Buckwheat: 2 1/4 cups dry buckwheat + 4 1/2 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked buckwheat
- Kidney bean (neutral): 1 1/4 cups dry kidney beans + 3 3/4 cups of water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked kidney beans
- Millet: 1 1/3 cups dry millet + 2 2/3 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked millet
- Mung bean: 1 1/4 cups dry mung beans + 3 1/2 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked mung beans
- Peanuts (neutral)
- Red beans (neutral): 1 1/4 cups dry red beans + 3 1/2 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked red beans
- Sesame Seed
- Soybeans (neutral): 1 3/4 cups dry soybeans + 4 1/2 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked soybeans
- Tofu
- Wheat: 1 3/4 cups dry wheat + 4 1/2 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked wheat
- White rice (neutral): 1 1/3 cups dry white rice + 2 1/3 cups water = 1 1/2 lbs cooked white rice
Fats
- Black sesame oil
- Flaxseed oil
- Peanut oil (neutral)
- Sesame oil
- Soybean oil
The Energetically Cooling Dog Food Recipe
Mix and match the ingredients above to create a meal your dog loves!
The basic formula for the homemade dog food recipe is:
- 5 pounds from the “Meat/Proteins” list
- 1 1/2 pounds from the “Fruit/Vegetables” list
- 1 1/2 pounds from the “Grains/Beans/Starch” list
- 1 tablespoon from the “Fats” list
Sample Recipe
To make the recipe at home, you will need:
- 5 pounds of turkey (see “Meats/Protein Source” list above)
- 1.5 pounds of spinach (see “Vegetable/Fruits” list above)
- 1.5 pounds of brown rice (See “Grain/Beans/Starch” list above)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or flaxseed oil (See “Fats” list above)
Directions:
First, debone and chop meat and vegetables.
Next, place all ingredients in crockpot layering:
- Slow-cooking root vegetables on the bottom
- Meat in the middle
- Fast-cooking items on top
Then, top with 1 cup of water.
Afterward, cook on low for 4 hours.
In addition, add the following to your pet’s diet:
- One canine multivitamin per day.
- Calcium supplement 50mg/kg of body weight (22mg/lb of bodyweight) daily. Some other good choices for calcium are eggshell powder or bone meal.
Feeding Schedule:
- Feed roughly 1.5 cups per 25 pounds of body weight twice daily.
- Monitor your pet’s weight. If an undesirable weight loss occurs, please contact your veterinarian immediately so that you can make an adjustment to the feeding/diet plan.
Don’t Have Time to Cook? Order The Food Already Made!
Please consult your veterinarian and use personal judgment when cooking at home for your dog. Even though pet food recalls and the poor quality of some pet foods are a concern, many veterinarians voice concerns over homemade diets. Some vets feel that when fed exclusively, homemade diets may result in vitamin/mineral deficiencies that can adversely affect a pet’s health. If you choose to feed your dog a homemade diet, you must understand and meet your dog’s needs to stay healthy. Please share our recipe with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can advise you on supplements for your pet’s individual situation. Monitor your dog’s health by observing his/her temperament, skin, coat, and waste. If you notice anything strange, contact your veterinarian immediately.
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