EPISODE 010:

The Freedom Experience

See

Pet Selfies!

Care free selfies of your fur babies. We can’t get enough!

See more

Hear

Freedom Sounds Like…

We hit the streets & prep for fireworks. Dr. Lim gives freedom from pain & anxiety.

Hear more

Smell

The Sneaky Freedom Thief

Discomfort from allergies is no fun. This will help.

Smell more

Taste

RW & B… Freedom Cubes

Yep. We’re making ice cubes, folks. Festive, fun, flavorful.

Taste more

Touch

The Gentle Touch

Dr. Lim shares a simple safe acupressure point to encourage calm and relaxation.

Touch more

6th Sense

Happy Birthday, Cancer!

Cancer energy is nurturing, intuitive, and emotionally sensitive.

Sense more

Your Q&A

Ask Dr. Kevin Anything!

Your questions answered, including… fireworks, summer fun, and…

Ask more

This month, in the spirit of a very special birthday (Happy 250th bday, USA!), we’re celebrating a feeling.

Freedom.

While humans often think of freedom as “doing whatever we want,” our pets teach us something different.

Freedom often comes from feeling safe, healthy, loved, and understood. There’s a visible abandon from worry to a state of free fall JOY – be it at full speed, full intensity, or don’t-even-think-of-trying-to-move-me-from-this-comfy-spot moments.

Watch a dog sprint across a field at full speed – focused glee, ears and tongue flapping, heart pounding, deciding if there’s a viable destination, or a quick pivot for uninhibited zoomies.

Watch a cat investigate a cardboard box as though it contains state secrets. Time stands still – and so does the tail – before the calculated pounce.

Watch a senior pet move at the perfect pace that reminds us all to slow down and be grateful for this moment.

Watch a rescue animal realize they are finally home, finding their first new favorite spot to finally relax and settle into.

Freedom is the presence of possibility.

The freedom to run.
To play.
To explore.
To heal.
To trust.
To be fully yourself.

And perhaps the greatest freedom of all: to love and be loved without condition.

This month, we’ll explore freedom in all its forms, from relieving pain and anxiety (hello, fireworks!), to navigating summer adventures safely, to creating lives where the animals in our care feel secure enough to become exactly who they are meant to be.

Let’s dive in with total abandon.

Hear

The PAWDCAST:

Freedom Sounds Like...

010 PAWDCAST - Fireworks & Pain Relief- (run time: 22 mins)


This month, Palms & Paws hits the streets and asks pet parents a simple question:

“How do you handle the Fourth of July with your pets?”

The answers range from thoughtful to clever to “we all sleep in the bathtub together” levels of commitment.

As it turns out, pet parents are wonderfully resourceful when helping their pets feel safe. While you probably already know this, it’s ever-so-nice to know you’re not alone.

We also sit down with one of our favorite humans, Dr. Lim.
Many of you know Eggnog’s story. After his life-changing injury, Dr. Lim performed the amputation surgery that helped begin his remarkable recovery. If you’ve ever watched Eggnog zoom around and completely forget he’s missing a leg, you’ve seen freedom in action.

Today, Dr. Lim helps dogs and cats find freedom from pain, anxiety, inflammation, and mobility challenges through acupuncture and integrative medicine.

It’s a fascinating conversation about healing, resilience, and the remarkable ways animals adapt.

Dr. Kevin prepares us with practical tips for navigating fireworks, loud sounds, crowds, and holiday gatherings, so that everyone can celebrate freedom, including your pets.

Ready, set, listen.

 

Have a story or sound bite to share?
Submit it here & we may feature it next month!

Submit Your Pet Sound Bite

See

Your Pet Selfies

 📸  Say Freeeeeedom!

What does freedom look like for your pet?

Send us your favorite pet selfies enjoying summer adventures, quiet moments, family vacations, or simply being delightfully themselves.

We love your photos… like, we’re crazy about them. They’re the BEST. And… is it Tuxedo Cat month? Wow!

Click on each image to view full size

Submit your pet selfie to be featured next month!

Submit Your Pet Selfie

Smell

Seasonal Allergies:
The Sneaky Freedom Thief

One of the sneakiest ways freedom disappears is through discomfort.

The kind that makes your eyes itch.
The kind that makes your nose run.
The kind that quietly steals your attention from everything else you’d rather be doing.

Dogs and cats experience seasonal allergies too.
As temperatures rise and plants bloom, some pets may develop:
• watery or puffy eyes
• sneezing
• itchy skin
• increased licking or scratching
• coughing, or changes in breathing

Because pets are incredibly stoic, these signs can be easy to miss.

You know your pet family the best, and you are often the first to notice any changes. If your dog or cat seems a little less playful, a little less comfortable, or simply not quite themselves, it’s worth checking in with your veterinarian.

The good news?

Many allergy symptoms can often be managed successfully. And a comfortable pet is much more interested in doing important summer things.

Like chasing tennis balls.
Or supervising window activity.
Or chasing tennis balls while supervising window activity.

As Dr. Kevin reminds us, pets don’t experience the placebo effect. If they feel better, you’ll know it!

Dog noseDog nose

Taste

RW&B Freedom Cubes

Red, White & Blue Freedom Cubes

That’s right. We’re making ice cubes, folks.

Simple. Refreshing. Summer approved.
These colorful frozen treats are a fun (and sometimes ridiculous) way to add enrichment to your pet’s day while helping them stay cool.

Sure, we started with the obvious red, white, and blue theme… but cucumbers snuck in there because they are gosh darn refreshing and both dogs and cats can enjoy a nicely peeled slice of cucumber every now and again.

Click here to download your Palms & Paws recipe.

 

RW&B Freedom Cubes (for Cats & Dogs)
 Ingredients:

Ingredients:

Organic Watermelon
Organic Banana
Organic Blueberries
Organic peeled Cucumber
Water

You’ll need:
1 ice cube tray

Instructions:

  1. Ask your human to grab an ice tray and fill with fresh water.
  2. Wash blueberries. Wash, peel, and thinly slice the cucumber. Peel and thinly slice the banana and watermelon.
  3. Place 1-3 small pieces of each ingredient into its own cube compartment or create festive combinations.
  4. Freeze until solid.
  5. Add one or two cubes to your pet’s water bowl on a hot summer day.
  6. Be completely entertained by how much fun a single ice cube can be for your dog and cat. Enjoy!

That’s it.

Sometimes the simplest recipes become the favorites.

As always, moderation is key. Always consult your primary care veterinarian if your pet has food sensitivities or allergies.

Touch

Freedom from Pain

Palms & Paws

Sometimes freedom of anxiety begins with something as subtle as a gentle touch.

This month, Dr. Lim joins us to share a simple acupressure point that many pet parents can safely try at home to encourage calm and relaxation.

The point is located at the very top of the head, between the ears.

The key word here is gentle.

Simply offer calm, consistent touch. You may find a gentle stroke here with your thumb is particularly pleasing to your pet.

Your pet will tell you if they’re interested. Or not. The key is to listen. Finding just the right amount of touch to bring your pet peace is a conversation – and it can change from day to day.

One of the beautiful things animals teach us is that trust cannot be rushed.

Follow their lead. With permission, let your gentle calming touch massage the face around the eyes and cheeks. Feel your cat or dog relax into your hands. Feel how safe, comforted, and free they feel. Ironically, you may notice your own heart rate will slow down. You will feel relaxed, safe. Free. A direct mirror of the love you offer your cat or dog.

Science and biology are pretty cool, aren’t they?

6th Sense

Pet-o-Scope

Happy Birthday!
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Cancer energy is nurturing, intuitive, emotionally sensitive, and deeply attached to home and family.

Cancer Dogs
Cancer dogs form profound emotional bonds with their people. They are often highly attuned to mood changes and naturally protective of those they love. These dogs thrive on closeness, reassurance, and routine. Harsh energy affects them deeply, while gentle encouragement helps them flourish. They often become the emotional heartbeat of a household, quietly checking on everyone and wanting the whole family together.

Cancer Cats
Cancer cats are deeply sensitive to their environment and tend to bond intensely with a small circle of trusted humans. They may appear independent at first, but beneath that is a strong need for emotional safety and familiarity. These cats often love cozy spaces, quiet routines, and meaningful one-on-one connection. When they trust you fully, their affection feels incredibly personal and sincere.

Download your Cancer Pet-o-Scope card and add it to your growing collection.
(It’s fun to color in!)

AKA
(Ask Dr. Kevin Anything)

Ask Dr. Kevin!
Ask Your Q

 

Thank you for submitting your questions! Dr. Kevin, our head Palms & Paws veterinarian, is here to answer them – big and small – from both humans & pets.

Q: “How do I know if pavement is too hot for my dog?”

Dr. Kevin:
Pavement is one of those things that fools all of us.

We feel the air.
Our dogs feel the ground.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too hot to walk your dog, we wrote an entire article that will help:

👉 Read: Hot Pavement & The 7-Second Rule
Your dog’s paws will thank you. (So will your cat’s by the way!)

Q: “My dog is terrified of fireworks. What can I do?”

Dr. Kevin: First, know you’re not alone. Many pets struggle with loud sounds. Exercise your dog earlier in the day, create a safe quiet space indoors, close windows and curtains, and consider calming music or white noise.

Most importantly, stay calm yourself.

Our pets often look to us to decide whether something is safe.
If your pet experiences significant anxiety, talk with your veterinarian. There may be additional options that can help them feel more comfortable.

👉 Read: Seeing Fireworks Through Your Pets’ Eyes

Fourth of July Palms & Paws

Q: “I’d love to help animals. Is volunteering at a shelter actually useful?”

Dr. Kevin: Absolutely.

Shelters need walkers, cuddlers, cleaners, photographers, event volunteers, foster families, and kind humans willing to show up.

If you’ve ever considered volunteering, this is your sign.

👉 Read: Finding Your Forever Friend

You may change a life.
Possibly your own.

Paw it Forward

Thank you for being part of a community where people and pets flourish. We’re so glad you’re here!
Receive your gift!Know a pet lover in your life who deserves a unique gift?
Give them the gift of sharing Palms & Paws with them.

Freedom looks different to every pet. Sometimes it’s a full-speed sprint across a field. Sometimes it’s relief from pain. Sometimes it’s the confidence to explore. Sometimes it’s the safety of knowing exactly where home is. And sometimes it’s simply the freedom to rest beside the people who love you.

Thank you for creating that kind of freedom for the animals in your care.

Tails wagging.
Hearts full.
Onward we go.

Love,
The entire Palms & Paws Pawsse

Please share this with someone who loves pets as much as you do!

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Palms & Paws, LLC

❤️ Next month, we celebrate all things August ❤️
(Dogs days of summer & cat naps)

Sit, stay, and sniff around.

 

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