From a chance encounter to an irreplaceable habit: Days with my beloved dog and "Wanko Dashi"

My journey with "Wanko Dashi" began when Sera was diagnosed with a heart tumor.
A tumor had developed in her aorta, and we were told that surgery was not an option.

As I desperately searched for anything I could do to help, I came across the idea that homemade dashi could help flush toxins from the body. That’s when I began making dashi myself.

To be honest, it wasn’t easy to keep it up.I
t took time and effort, and maintaining consistent quality was difficult.
Even so, I was driven by one thought—I wanted to do everything I could for Sera.

After her long battle, Sera passed away.
I still regret that I wasn’t able to be with her at home in her final moments.

I kept asking myself, “Why did I leave her at the hospital back then?” and blamed myself over and over again.
There were times when I couldn’t come to terms with it and struggled to move forward.

Then, Luna—who was in her senior years—began to experience a decline in kidney function, and the veterinarian advised me, “Make sure she drinks plenty of fluids.”

I wanted to give her something more than just water—something that could truly support her health, even in a small way.
With that feeling in my heart, I began searching once again for a better solution.

And that’s when I discovered "Wanko Dashi."
I still remember picking it up in surprise, thinking, “Wait—there’s dashi made just for dogs?”

The moment I saw the word “yakuzen,” I felt, “This is exactly what I had been searching for.”

When I tried it with Luna right there, she drank it happily.
The sense of relief I felt in that moment is something I will never forget.

The past, when I desperately made dashi for Sera, and the present, where I strive to protect Luna’s health—
it felt as though those two moments had finally come together as one.

Meeting "Wanko Dashi" was not just an encounter with a product for me—it was a meaningful turning point that helped me find the strength to move forward once again.

1. Smart ways to support hydration
   What began during Luna’s senior years has now become a daily habit for Karen and Yui—one that supports their future.
   I want to care for their health while they are still full of energy.
   With that in mind, I incorporate it into their daily meals.
   Since they don’t naturally drink much water, I serve "Wanko Dashi" together with functional milk or goat milk alongside their morning and evening meals.
2. How to store
   We freeze the prepared dashi in ice cube trays so we can use only what we need.
   Even on busy days, this ease of use makes it simple to continue without any strain.
3. Making the most of dashi leftovers
   After use, we dry the leftover dashi ingredients and sprinkle them over their food as a topping.
   Since they’re packed with nutrients, we make sure to use them fully without any waste.
   As we continued this routine, we also noticed an unexpected change.
   Our dogs have very little tartar buildup.
   It may be because drinking the soup after meals naturally helps rinse their mouths.