The Dog Who Taught Me to Listen
How One Itchy Little Puggle Became My Greatest Teacher
Like so many itchy dogs, Dixon was prescribed Apoquel while I was working in a conventional veterinary hospital.
It was brand new to the market at that time and I’m not going to lie, it worked.
His itching improved, his skin looked better, and for about a year he took it every single day. At the time, I didn’t question it. I trusted the professionals around me, and I was grateful to see him feeling more comfortable.
Before I left the veterinary practice, I had stocked up on his medication so I wouldn’t run out right away. But around that same time, something else was happening…
I discovered the work of Rodney Habib who had been collaborating with Dr. Karen Becker and I began reading about nutrition, inflammation, the microbiome - etc holistic care, and for the first time I started asking why Dixon’s body was reacting instead of only asking how to stop the itching.
So I made the decision to wean him off Apoquel but I wasn’t prepared for what happened next as within weeks, Dixon’s body exploded with inflammation. His face, paws, and skin became so swollen that he looked like a mini elephant. Watching him suffer was heartbreaking!
Looking back now, I realize I was trying everything — but I still hadn’t found what his body truly needed. A local canine nutritionist had recommended a supplement containing numerous herbs and while his intentions were good, in hindsight it simply wasn’t the right fit for Dixon.
I then explored ozone therapy prescribed by a local vet, both internally and topically. We worked on healing his gut while I asked endless questions and kept searching for answers. Then something unexpected happened.
A friend of a friend referred me to an animal communicator. Whether or not animal communication resonates with you, I can only tell you what happened in our journey.
She said, “He keeps saying, ‘Mom, remember that base mix you had me try with rabbit? I know it’s expensive for your budget, but I really liked that. Can we try it again?’”
Immediately I knew exactly what she was talking about.
Months earlier, I had briefly fed him a sample of Dr Harvey’s Paradigm base mix with some raw rabbit but never moved forward with it because of the cost.
So I listened, I put him back on rabbit and within days, I had my dog back!
His energy returned. His skin settled. His eyes were bright again.
It wasn’t magic… it was the beginning of understanding what his body had been trying to communicate with me all along.
Why I Chose a Different Path
My story isn’t meant to shame anyone whose dog takes a prescription or a vet who prescribes it. For many dogs, they do provide meaningful relief from relentless itching and improve quality of life but for me, after everything Dixon and I experienced, they DO NOT align with how I approach chronic disease.
Prescription medications like Apoquel and Cytopoint are designed to interrupt the itch pathway. They help manage symptoms, but they don’t necessarily identify why a dog is experiencing chronic inflammation in the first place.
For me, that “why” became far more important than simply stopping the scratching. I wanted to know:
What was driving his immune system?
Was his gut healthy?
Was food contributing?
Were environmental factors involved?
Could Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) offer perspective?
Rabbit Changed More Than His Diet
That curiosity changed everything for us. One of the first things I learned through TCVM was that rabbit is considered a cooling protein. For Dixon, it appeared to be exactly what his inflamed body needed. Eventually though, I learned another valuable lesson…
There is no perfect protein forever!
I kept him on rabbit longer than he probably needed because I was afraid to change what was working. Ironically, that taught me that healing isn’t about finding one miracle food for life. It’s about paying attention!
Listening, adjusting and rotating proteins appropriately.
Supporting the body instead of assuming yesterday’s solution will always be today’s solution. Our dogs change and so do their nutritional needs.
Dixon Was My Greatest Teacher
He lived to be 18 years old and during his lifetime he overcame far more than allergies. He lived through vestibular disease. He battled dental disease. He faced countless health challenges including Dementia at the end that many people would have assumed I kept him alive too long. Yet he continued to walk, eat, and live his life.
Every single challenge pushed me to learn more, question more, and become a better advocate—not just for him, but for every dog I’ve cared for since.
I don’t believe there is one protocol that fits every dog or that there’s one perfect food. What I do believe is that our dogs deserve to find the root cause, not a band aid.
Because sometimes healing doesn’t begin with another prescription.
Sometimes it begins with listening!
P.S. this article shares my personal experience with Dixon and is not intended as medical advice. Every dog is different, and treatment decisions should be made in collaboration with your veterinarian’s medical opinion.