Is Your Dog A Wood Dog?
Supporting the Liver, Gallbladder, and Emotions in Spring
(Wood Element Season: February 4–April 17)
Take The 5 Element Theory Quiz For Your Dog
Spring brings growth, movement, and rising energy—and in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), it belongs to the season of Wood.
Wood governs the Liver and Gallbladder, which influence not only physical movement but also emotional flexibility and resilience.
Some dogs embrace this season with enthusiasm… others become irritable, inflamed, or emotionally reactive. Let’s explore how to help your Wood dog stay balanced, calm, and healthy this spring.
The Personality of a Wood Dog
Wood dogs tend to be:
Bold, driven, and full of leadership energy
High-energy thinkers who need both mental and physical stimulation
Strong-willed and sometimes a bit bossy (“the house runs on their terms!”)
Quick to frustration or outbursts when out of balance
These are your go-getters—but when Wood is stagnant or overheated, their energy can boil over.
Signs of Imbalance in the Wood Element
When Wood energy is stuck, overheated, or deficient, you may see:
ACL tears or ligament injuries
Liver or gallbladder disease
Nail, paw pad, or anal sac problems
Yeasty skin infections (ears, eyes, groin, underarms, tail)
Red, inflamed skin or frequent panting (even when cool)
Seizures (considered “internal Wind” in TCVM)
Sleep disturbances—especially waking between 1am–3am (Liver time)
Spring is the season of Wind—which can stir up seizures, skin flare-ups, and behavioral instability in Wood dogs.
Nourish the Liver with Cooling, Detoxifying Foods
Wood generates Fire—so Wood dogs often run warm. You may notice:
Seeking cool floors
Overheating easily
Signs of internal inflammation or irritability
Support the Liver and Gallbladder with cooling, nourishing, and balancing foods:
Dark leafy greens: Kale, collards, dandelion, spinach
Cruciferous veggies: Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
Blood tonics: Sardines, egg, turmeric, ginger
Organ meats: Liver (5–10% of the diet), which supports “like supports like” in TCVM
Need help choosing the right kind of liver based on your dog’s elemental needs? Just ask.
Spring = Wind = Itchiness & Seizures
In TCVM, Spring’s Wind energy can trigger:
More seizures (due to Liver Qi stagnation or Liver Blood deficiency)
Increased itchiness, scratching, sneezing, and runny eyes
This is where seasonal nutrition, herbs, and homeopathy shine in easing inflammation and restoring balance.
📌 Want deeper support? Let’s talk about it. Seizures dogs should be managed cautiously.
Essential Oils to Support the Wood Element
Essential oils can help calm, cool, and detoxify Wood dogs. My go-to oils include:
Cooling & Detoxifying: Ledum, grapefruit, lemon, lime, eucalyptus
Calming & Grounding: Ylang ylang, lavender, spearmint, chamomile, rose
Balancing: Peppermint, petitgrain, palmarosa, sandalwood, thyme, patchouli
Always use high-quality oils and dilute properly. Not sure how? I can guide you.
Let’s Help Your Wood Dog Stay Balanced
If your dog is showing signs of aggression, inflammation, allergies, or seizures—these may be clues that their Wood Element is out of balance.
Together, we can create a nutrition and behavior plan to:
Support the Liver and Gallbladder
Calm the nervous system
Improve physical and emotional balance
🗣️ Let’s bring more harmony into your dog’s world—naturally.
Statements in this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Educational content only. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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