WOOD
FIVE ELEMENT THEORY
Knowing the personality of your animal can help to understand why they react to situations a certain way and what diseases they may be predisposed to. In Chinese medicine, each animal has a base personality type. Typically, once their personality is established, the animal remains at its core personality, and is predisposed to the influences of that element. However, as the animal goes through life, the other elements will influence how they react to their environment and can influence and add depth to their personality. Every person and animal have a different set of experiences, we are all individuals after all.
Wood personality animals are generally very confident animals. This is a dog that is not usually afraid of anything and may charge right up to you in greeting or sit next to their owner barking a warning. However, they are often very friendly with people they know, you just have to be approved first. These dogs are very loyal and want to please their owners. They are very driven to win.
These dogs live in the moment and are very aware of their surroundings, which makes them great dogs for agility, hunting and other sports. They are very sensitive to changes in their environment which allows them to react quickly, and they have a natural drive to take charge of a situation and strive to win. Because of their competitive nature these dogs need a job, or they can become destructive.
No matter what breed or size wood dogs tend to be on the thin side, usually being ideal body weight and often seeming a little underweight to their owners. They usually have big eyes, and their thin stature allows for quick, nimble moments making them great competitors and runners.
Predisposition to Disease Conditions for Wood Element
When wood dogs get out of balance, they are prone to irritability and even aggression, as wood’s associated emotion is anger. They may lash out at their owners and other animals they are normally friends with. Although their sensitivity to their environment allows for them to adapt on the fly in competition, at home they need a very stable environment. These dogs do very well in households with routine and consistency. They are easily affected by stress, therefore turmoil in the home or moving to a new home/environment often leads to imbalance.
They are also prone to disorders associated with the wood system. This means they are prone to diseases like:
- Hepatitis (liver disease) or gall bladder stones
- The feet are associated with wood, as they act like the roots of the tree to connect us with the earth. So these animals are predisposed to Pododermatitis, which is irritation of the skin of the feet. The dogs may be licking or chewing their feet.
- Tendons and ligaments may also be affected as these are like the trunk/stems, giving our body structural support. Animals may get bow-tendons, strains, or tears, such as a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee.
- Wood animals are also predisposed to conditions associated with the wind pathogen in Chinese medicine. Wind rattles wood animals like it shakes the leaves of a tree. Wind conditions may manifest as something externally, like itching/allergy issues or more severe disease internally, like seizure disorders.
Using Five Elements for Preventative Medicine for Wood Element
Annual examinations with your integrative Mountain View Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Care veterinarian to evaluate for imbalances in mental and physical health.
Consider liver antioxidants. Talk to your Mountain View Animal Hospital Veterinarian about dosages and when it is appropriate to start this therapy.
Aromatherapy, massage, and acupuncture can be helpful to prevent imbalance of the liver circulation and improve liver blood flow along with helping with seizure control. Since wood constitutions are predisposed to ligament / tendon issues, regular exercise and chiropractic care is beneficial.
If your pet suffers from an ACL (anterior cruciate tear), consider a non-surgical option called Prolozone Therapy. Call Holistic Pet Care 775-853-6002 for more information.
Harmonizing foods for Liver function include chicken or pig liver, green vegetables (spinach, mustard greens, cabbage), carrots and citrus fruits.
Specific herbal therapy may help smooth the Liver Circulation.
We look forward to helping your pet with
individualized and detailed integrative health care.
Mountain View Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Care
