The Well Oiled K9

09/02/2026

🐾 Coastal dog parents — hurricane prep includes the DOGS.

Living here, we all know how quickly “we’re watching the storm” can turn into “we may need to leave.”

Before we're staring at spaghetti models and fighting over the last case of water at Publix 😂, take a few minutes to make sure your dog's evacuation plan is ready too.

A few things I keep on my list:
🐾 Current ID tags + updated microchip information
🐾 Leash, harness and an extra set
🐾 Food and water for several days
🐾 Medications + supplements your dog can't suddenly go without
🐾 Copies/photos of vaccination and medical records
🐾 Recent photos of your dog in case you become separated
🐾 Crate/carrier if you may need one at a hotel or shelter
🐾 Bowls, p**p bags, bedding and a familiar comfort item
🐾 A list of pet-friendly places you could actually go — before you need one

And one people sometimes forget: if your dog is anxious, reactive, elderly, medically fragile or doesn't travel well, plan for THAT dog. An evacuation is stressful enough without discovering during the emergency that your dog won't get into the car or cannot settle in a hotel.

I put together my full Emergency Evacuation Plan for Dogs here, including what I recommend keeping in the go-bag:
Emergency Evacuation Plan for Your Dog — The Well Oiled K9

https://welloiledk9.com/health/evacuation-plans-for-your-dog

Save it now. Hopefully we won't need it. 🌀

08/23/2026

Intuition and Healing: The Things We Somehow Know

I've been told there were healers in my family generations ago. Not doctors in the formal sense, but the people who knew which plants to gather, which herbs to use, what to put on a wound, and what to do when someone was sick or injured. I don't know their names, I don't know exactly what they knew, and unfortunately there is no handwritten family remedy book tucked away somewhere for me to inherit.

What I do have are stories. And as I've gotten older, and as my own work has taken me deeper into nutrition, herbs, essential oils, Reiki, muscle testing, animal communication, energy work and natural healing, I've wondered more than once whether some part of this was always going to find me.

htttps://welloiledk9.com/danas-take/intuition-healing

08/19/2026

When people ask how Howie and Huey lived beyond 20, I still do not have one simple answer.

They did not come to me after I had already learned everything I know now. They grew alongside my own education. I changed their food, their vaccine schedules, their environment and the way I supported their bodies as I learned more.

They ate raw food for years. They moved to gently cooked food when that became more appropriate. They received seasonal support, Raindrop, essential oils, mushrooms, CBD, PEMF, herbs and more individualized care as their bodies aged.

When Howie showed early signs of kidney disease, I did not ignore it. I changed his food, supported the kidneys more directly and completed a cleanse. When that problem no longer appeared to be active, I did not continue treating him as a kidney-disease patient forever. I returned to supporting the body that had responded.

It was never one product, one protocol or one lucky ingredient. It was countless small decisions, along with the willingness to change those decisions as I learned more and as the dogs changed.

Mostly, it was paying attention.

They did not live long lives because I constantly treated them for diseases they did not have. They also did not live long lives because I waited for their bodies to fail before offering support.

Their health was built gradually, through thousands of ordinary choices.

I cannot guarantee another 20-year-old dog. But I can hope. I do it because I want Poppy to have the strongest body, the best quality of life and the greatest number of healthy years available to her.

I will continue preparing for the storm. I will maintain the house and keep the tools we may need nearby. I will not replace every window because it might someday break.

But when something does break, I will not confuse preparation with repair.

I will change the plan.

I'd love to help you with your plans, strategies and decisions. Reach out to me today!

Read More about What My 20-Year Old Dachshunds Taught Me about Proactive Health

https://welloiledk9.com/danas-take/what-my-20-year-old-dachshunds-taught-me-about-proactive-health

08/14/2026

“I have no fear of essential oils. In fact, I have the fear of not having them with my pets.”

—Dr. Barb Fox, Holistic Veterinarian

Essential oils may be one of the most misunderstood tools in natural dog wellness.

Pet parents are frequently told that oils are dangerous, that certain oils must never be used around dogs, or that having a cat in the home means they cannot use oils at all. Yet those same families may regularly use fragranced plug-ins, chemical cleaners, lawn products, flea and tick chemicals, and synthetic air fresheners without questioning what their animals are inhaling or absorbing.

That contradiction is one reason I invited holistic veterinarian Dr. Barb Fox to have this conversation with me.

We talk about why oil quality matters, what adulteration means, why dilution does not make an oil ineffective, and why more is definitely not better. We also discuss introducing oils through inhalation, choosing carrier oils, building a small first-aid collection, using oils around cats, and incorporating them alongside conventional veterinary care.

One of my favorite moments comes near the end, when Dr. Barb says:

“I have no fear of essential oils. In fact, I have the fear of not having them with my pets.”

That is exactly how I feel.

I would not be without essential oils for my own dogs—but I also want pet parents to learn rather than simply grab a random bottle from Amazon and start experimenting.

Watch our full conversation for a practical, candid discussion about moving past fear and using essential oils with greater confidence and common sense.

Watch My Video With Dr. Barb (link in comments)

08/13/2026

I didn’t start out as a Young Living superfan. I bought the starter kit out of obligation at a presentation about grave robbers (fact), stuck it in a closet for over a year, and thought NingXia Red sounded a little too close to voodoo juice. 😅 But once I started learning, using the products in my own home, and seeing how they fit into life with dogs, everything changed. For me, Young Living is about far more than oils. It’s about better products, a healthier home, real education, and tools I genuinely use for myself and my dogs. If you’ve ever wondered why I recommend it, I wrote the full story here:

https://welloiledk9.com/danas-take/young-living-for-dog-moms

And if the MLM gives you pause -- it did me too. But you can just be a shopper & learner! No requirements.

08/04/2026

🐾 Chicken. Rice. Peas. Carrots. It’s homemade, with love… but is it balanced?

I say this all the time:

Something fresh is better than nothing fresh.

And I absolutely believe that.

Add the egg. Add the sardines. Add some fresh vegetables. Add a spoonful of real food to that kibble bowl.

But somewhere along the way, that message has gotten a little twisted.

“Something fresh is better than nothing fresh” was intended to help you improve a processed diet — not to suggest that a few fresh ingredients automatically make a complete homemade diet.

If you leave the kibble behind completely, the rules change.

Chicken, rice, peas, and carrots may be fresh. Your dog may love it. It may look a whole lot better in the bowl.

But it is not a nutritionally complete long-term diet.

And if this is what you’re feeding right now, I’m not here to make you feel bad about it.

Most dog moms who start cooking for their dogs are doing it because they love them and they’re trying to do better.

They’re reading labels. They’re questioning what’s in the bag. They’re trying to help with allergies, seizures, behavior, digestive issues, inflammation, or just give their dog a healthier life.

You’re trying.

You may have simply been given incomplete information.

Good intentions can still leave nutritional gaps, and those gaps are fixable.

That’s where I want to help.

Once fresh food becomes the whole diet, we need to look at calcium and phosphorus, vitamins, trace minerals, essential fatty acids, organ meats and nutrient-dense foods, protein variety, and whether the overall recipe is actually meeting your dog’s needs.

And we absolutely need to talk about omega-3s — specifically EPA and DHA.

Throwing a little fish oil into the bowl isn’t necessarily enough.

For a healthy dog, we may be looking at nutritional maintenance. But when I’m working with a dog dealing with chronic inflammation, allergies, seizures, cognitive changes, joint disease, or certain behavioral concerns, I may be looking for a therapeutic amount of EPA and DHA, not simply enough to check the “contains omega-3” box.

And here’s the uncomfortable part for those of us who strongly believe in fresh food:

An unbalanced homemade diet can actually provide a poorer nutrient balance than a commercial kibble.

No, I haven’t suddenly become the president of the kibble fan club. 😂

Kibble may contain ingredients I don’t love. It may rely heavily on synthetic vitamins and minerals. It may be highly processed.

But those vitamins and minerals are still being added to create a defined nutrient profile.

When you remove that food and replace it with chicken, rice, peas, and carrots, you also remove those added nutrients.

You can’t assume the grocery-store ingredients replaced them.

And nutritional deficiencies don’t always show up right away.

Your dog can appear to do beautifully on an unbalanced homemade diet for months while nutritional gaps are slowly building in the background.

I’m all for leaving kibble behind.

But when we do it, we need to finish the job.

If you’re feeding homemade food — whether you created the recipe yourself, found it online, got it from a Facebook group, or slowly turned your dog’s favorite topper into their entire meal — have the recipe reviewed.

That’s exactly why I offer Recipe Reviews.

We can look at what you’re already feeding, identify what’s missing or out of balance, and make practical changes without turning feeding your dog into a second full-time job.

You’re already putting in the effort because you love your dog.

Now we make sure the bowl actually supports everything you’re trying to accomplish.

Keep feeding fresh.

Just make sure we’re feeding it well.

Something fresh is better than nothing fresh when we’re improving the bowl.

When fresh becomes the whole bowl, it needs to be balanced.

🐾 Eat Better. Feel Better. Live Longer.

Ask me about Recipe Reviews.

— Dana
The WellOiledK9

08/03/2026

I’m working on a new Dana’s Take article about dogs who are technically “being treated,” but are still not really getting better.

That the plan you're on doesn't feel right -- like there ought to be something more.

I’m especially interested in hearing from pet parents who have dealt with unresolved GI issues, pancreatitis, IVDD and chronic pain, seizures, unexplained weight or muscle loss, senior decline, poor appetite, repeated vomiting, or a dog who just kept getting a little weaker despite doing everything you were told to do.

As the dog mom -- you knew something was off and yet didn't quite know where to go for help or what to do.

If you’ve been through something like this and would be willing to share your experience with me for the article, I’d love to hear what happened, what you were told, what you tried, and whether anything finally changed the trajectory.

Pet Pros -- would love to hear from you too!

08/03/2026

I recently had an interview with a fitness trainer. Before we even spoke, I had already received seven emails and about six text messages reminding me to show up for the appointment. Apparently, one confirmation was not enough. Neither were two, three, or twelve. Trust your people much?

I had a bad feeling about the whole thing the day before, but I tried to keep an open mind. I wanted help. More specifically, I wanted someone who could help me safely return to exercise after a health crisis that nearly took me out and wrecked my nervous system and my stamina.

When the appointment began, the trainer asked whether I had a pen while holding one up to the camera. Then he asked whether I had paper while displaying a sheet of it for me.

For a moment, I wondered whether I had accidentally enrolled in kindergarten.

He told me to write down three words: fitness, nutrition, and accountability. Then he asked about my primary goal.

I explained that I wanted to rebuild my strength and endurance. I want to be able to travel and trust that I can walk wherever I need to go. I want to know I could walk to the grocery store and back if necessary. More importantly, I want to feel confident that if I were ever stranded or one of my dogs needed help, I would have enough physical strength and stamina to handle the situation.

My goal was not a particular number on the scale or a body that resembled one of the photos used in a fitness advertisement. I wanted to feel capable again. I wanted to rebuild trust in my body after a frightening health experience.

I told him about the health issue, but he glossed over it and moved on.

Next, he asked about my weight, even though I had already provided it on the intake form. Then he showed me a series of body photos and asked which one looked most like me.

That was when I stopped him.

A good dog wellness plan should fit the dog, the dog mom, and the budget. Learn why customized support, realistic priorities, and early wins matter more than forcing every dog into the same program.

07/30/2026

Tonight at 6pm ET
Thank you to those of you who shared -- it's not to late to invite others with a simple Share!

Join use for a live Q&A -- you bring the questions -- I give you some pointers. This NOT 1:1 consulting -- just Q&A.

I'll stay on until the queue is empty or 8pm which ever comes first, so join early. I apologize in advance if you come late and we're already ended.

I'm adding the zoom link in comments as some of you could not receive email from my page.

07/30/2026

I wouldn’t be without essential oils when one of my dogs is dealing with a health issue. In fact, it's part of our daily life - proactively.

From stress, discomfort, and digestive upset to skin concerns, immune support, recovery, and senior wellness, essential oils are often among the first tools I reach for.

Have you considered adding them to your dog’s wellness toolbox?

In this video, Dr. Barb Fox and I talk about why so many dog moms are nervous about using essential oils—and how the right education and support can help you move past that fear and use this powerful modality with confidence.

Jump to about the 6-minute mark to dive right into that conversation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We7hB9QNAxo&t=62s

Thinking about getting started with essential oils? Comment OILS below for information about my self-paced class, education, and ongoing support.