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Client communication is a priority as a range of options may be presented. It is of utmost importance that our clients make an educated decision as to which path they are comfortable pursuing within their care and financial constraints.

Our intention is to get to the root of the problem, taking into consideration many factors, as well as supporting your animal's health by providing the most effective and least invasive treatment plan possible.

Arthritis in Animals As our pets age they may suffer from arthritis. It can be a painful condition and is usually noticeable as a stiff gait first thing in the morning (often worse in cold weather), which improves with a bit of exercise or movement. Arthritis describes inflammation in a joint and may be attributable to many factors. It is generally a progressive condition, but we can do a great deal to slow the course of the disease and make your pet a lot more comfortable for the rest of his/her days. It is very important to keep your pet’s weight under control. Carrying around extra baggage is a huge burden on the joints and lightening their load will help them to function better and cut down on their pain. Ensuring that your pet eats good quality food with optimal amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, which are natural anti-inflammatories, helps them to maintain a good weight and joint health. Supplementing their diet with omega 3’s (found in flax oil and cold water fish) is a fabulous aid to supporting joint function and just making this change can make a noticeable difference. Next on the list and clinically proven to help are chondroprotective (joint protecting) agents called polysulphated glucosaminoglycans (P-Gags). These are naturally occurring substances found in green lipped mussel extract, shark cartilage and other sources. There are many supplements available but as with all supplements it is important to remember that they aren’t all created equal, some work better than others and may be more appropriate for your animal than others. There is also an injectable form of P-gags that can be used alone or in conjunction with the above, it too can work wonders. Another invaluable nutrient, from grapeseed or pinebark extract, are proanthocyanidins. They act as powerful anti-oxidants which assist joint function and well-being. Massage of the tight muscles trying to compensate for the pain is very helpful as these are frequently tired and sore. Gentle massage is loved by most animals and helps to stimulate circulation. Gentle, low impact exercise, such as swimming or walks on the beach, is of vital importance to help keep supporting muscles strong and contribute to general well-being. In addition to all of these are alternative and complementary therapy options such as homeopathy and herbal medicine, acupuncture, the Neurological Integration System (NIS) and hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as well as musculo-skeletal therapies such as chiropractics and Bowen therapy, which have proven to be very valuable aids. For optimal results these are best used by an experienced practitioner working in conjunction with your vet to tailor make a program to suit your animal’s needs. When none of these changes are making enough of a difference we make use of painkillers such as Non Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which may occasionally have side effects, to ease pain. With a comprehensive treatment plan, a great deal of quality can be added to your pet’s life. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Cancer in Animals Cancer in our pets, as with us humans, is a fairly common occurrence nowadays. There are many factors which contribute to this increasing trend including poor nutrition, genetics, pollution in our environment and infections, to name but a few. Cancer develops when a cell begins to grow and divide out of control and isn’t stopped and contained by the immune system. The cell can be from any part of the body, and each type behaves in a characteristic way, either growing quickly and spreading rapidly (malignant) or growing slowly and not spreading (benign). For example, dogs can develop a type of bone cancer which grows rapidly and then spreads to the lungs which is very life threatening, while cats with white noses and ears are prone to developing skin cancer in these areas which occasionally spreads to other organs but if caught early can be well controlled. Older animals often develop skin lumps which are benign and as long as these lumps don’t bother them, they can be left alone. A diagnosis is made by having various samples analyzed including small amounts of fluid drawn from a lump (fine needle aspirate), tissue samples cut out (biopsy) and blood samples. After a diagnosis is reached, the conventional approach is to remove as much of the cancer from the body as possible. This is done in a variety of ways including surgery, cryotherapy (freezing), radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Depending on how benign the cancer is and the stage that it’s at, these techniques can be successful but underlying issues that may have allowed the cancer to develop in the first place need to be addressed. From a holistic point of view we recognize the multifactorial nature of cancer. The development of this serious condition reflects that the body has been damaged and the immune system has failed to recognize and stop the cancer process from progressing. In order to allow for the greatest possibility of cure, it is of utmost importance to address the underlying cause. The whole picture needs to be examined and the animal’s immune system boosted and supported by making use of various therapies, many of which have a large body of scientific evidence behind them. The three main areas that are targeted to allow for the resolution of cancer are: 1.    Disabling cancer cells 2.    Support of cellular and organ function 3.    Detoxification Some of the incredible tools that are we use include, but are not limited to: Nutritional Medicine, NIS (Neurological Integration System), Oxygen therapy, Homotoxicology, Homeopathy and Herbal Medicine. Marrying the conventional approach with complementary therapies frequently brings about excellent results. Tailor making a program for each individual animal to best suit their needs as well as the needs of their owners adds tremendously to the animal’s quality of life and gives their owners peace of mind. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Care of your Aged Animal As animals age, their ability to maintain health and vitality becomes limited and growing old gracefully can be a challenge! An older animal in the wild becomes slower, less able to hunt or graze, and keep up with their peers. Subsequently their condition deteriorates further and the natural cycle is that they do not survive for very long. Keeping animals outside of their natural environment places the responsibility upon our shoulders to ensure that their care and maintenance is of a high enough standard to allow for quality of life. A great contributing factor to the aging process is free-radical damage. Free radicals are produced by the body’s natural metabolic processes through various chemical reactions or they might be introduced into the body as toxins from food or environmental sources. The damage they cause to cells may be equated to the sparks that are thrown off a fire which eat away at the carpet in front of the fireplace. The cumulative result of this “wear and tear” is usually obvious later on in life as degenerative changes such as organ failures, joint damage, sensory losses of vision and hearing and the development of dis-ease such as cancer. Anti-oxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which are found in nutritious foods and in various nutritional supplements, act as free radical scavengers and help to limit the damage caused as well as help to aid in repair. It therefore follows that, in addition to tender loving care, a well balanced diet full of optimal amounts of nutrients with low levels of chemicals and preservatives is an incredibly valuable factor in maintaining your animal’s quality of life and to support their immune systems, which are often compromised in older animals. Dental care is also of utmost importance to assist in nutrient availability, especially in our equine friends. As the winter months roll in, older animals’ circulation and their ability to thermoregulate and keep themselves warm may be limited. In addition to this, problems such as arthritis and incontinence are more obvious and animals are less inclined to move around stopping regular wear of their nails which can grow long enough to put strain on their nail beds or even grow inward into their pads which is extremely painful. Their decreased flexibility also makes it difficult for them to groom themselves, especially if they are obese, leading to knotted coats which are uncomfortable and also harbour parasites such as fleas. Warm and comfortable bedding will go a long way to keeping them comfortable and regular, gentle exercise as well as massage will alleviate tension in their muscles. Some dogs and cats require their nails to be trimmed every six to eight weeks and their coats to be regularly brushed. When it is no longer possible to preserve an animals’ quality of life, it becomes necessary to consider euthanasia as it is the quality of their life rather than the quantity which is of utmost importance. This can be a difficult decision but is often a kind release from the pain and discomfort that some aged animals ultimately suffer from and I’m convinced that there’s a special place for animals in heaven! [ SAVE AS PDF ]

First Aid, Handy Complementary Tools Our preference is to have user friendly, safe and effective tools on hand to complement conventional therapies or that we may recommend to our clients to have as part of their first aid kits at home. Emergency Essence (Australian Bush Flower Essences) or Rescue Remedy (Bach Flower Essences) or *Biopet Relax: a couple of drops may be applied to the inside of the lip every five minutes until the animal is stable or settled. Generally this works well and it is also often useful for the animal owner to have some too! **Traumeel: A complex homeopathic/low dose herbal remedy available in tablets, drops, gel and injectable ampoules. It has powerful inflammatory modulating effects assisting hugely in bringing down swelling, stopping bruising, relieving pain and speeding up healing generally. Vitamin C: a remarkable and safe all rounder helping to combat infection and assist wound healing often with dramatic results. It is a very useful support in cases of poisoning where it assists detoxification. In very high doses, generally beyond what is available from oral dosage, and therefore needs to be supplied by intravenous infusion, it has anti-cancer properties making it a superb natural chemotherapy agent. Use 250mg per 5 kg animal weight twice a day. *Biopet Immune Support and **Heel’s Echinacea compositum or Engystol are excellent to boost the immune system and prevent infectious disease from developing and progressing. *Biopet Digestion or **Heel’s Nux Vomica Homaccord are very useful to assist with digestive upsets. Slippery Elm powder is a particularly helpful internal poultice to help soothe and heal the inflamed gastro-intestinal lining. Use 20-40 mg of dried slippery elm per kilogram three times a day mixed in water or food. Alternately mix 1 teaspoon of powder in 1 cup of water and give kittens ¼ teaspoon, cats and small dogs 1 teaspoon, medium dogs 30 – 60 ml and large dogs 90 – 120 ml 3 times daily. Aloe Vera Gel: Very soothing for skin rashes and fantastic to help stop hot spots from progressing. Calendula: used topically it’s very effective at aiding the healing of skin and is also very useful to help stop bleeding. Manuka honey has profound anti-bacterial properties and helps to provide the ideal environment to assist with wound healing and may be applied as a poultice. TAO Gel: Ozonated gel which has profound anti-microbial affects and is an incredible support to the healing process. * The Biopet range has been developed by a New Zealand Vet and has very useful complex homeopathic remedies for a variety of conditions. ** The Heel range encompasses many homeopathic/low dose herbal remedies in tablet, drop, gel and injectable ampoule formulation. Heel is a German company who pride themselves in producing excellent remedies that prove to be as good if not better than various drugs in terms of safety and efficacy in scientific trials. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

First Aid, Understanding the Signs & Symptoms An astute animal owner knows when their animal is compromised and will often be able to associate an earlier experience with this insight e.g. the dog that has eaten a rotting carcass and is off their food and vomiting or the cat that was heard in a cat fight the night before and is now limping. Having a good working knowledge of what signs to look for to determine if your animal’s health is at risk is a very helpful investment. By observing your animal’s vital signs (breathing rate and depth, colour of mucous membranes, heart rate and temperature) regularly when they are healthy will help you to detect an abnormality. Subtle signs of illness might include a quiet or depressed demeanour, poor appetite, heavy eyes and a dull coat. Other more obvious indications of dis-ease include rapid or difficult breathing, elevated or depressed pulse or heart rate, collapse, pale or bright red colour of the gums, difficulty walking or severe lameness, yelping out in pain, sudden bloating of the abdomen, severe vomiting and diarrhoea as well as blood loss. Some of these signs and symptoms are fleeting and pass quickly while others persist and might indicate a serious underlying problem. Always have Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence on hand, and if the animal isn’t settling, seek veterinary advice. There are a number of basic diagnostic tools to apply that will help you and your vet or vet nurse to assess how urgent veterinary input is in any given situation. Heavy or rapid breathing are important indicators of pain or distress. Especially if the animal’s gums are blue or purple with abnormal breathing, they aren’t getting enough oxygen and they are likely to have damage to the respiratory system which might be in their lungs, circulation or red blood cells not transporting enough oxygen around. If they’re having difficulty inhaling, the problem is probably in the upper airway but if it is difficulty exhaling then the lower airway is likely to be dis-eased or damaged. Pale gum colour might indicate shock or anaemia and red gums will indicate severe congestion or septicaemia. A very valuable tool to indicate good circulation and hydration status is called the capillary refill time (CRT). Identify a part of the gum which is pink, ideally above the canine teeth. Use a thumb to press it briefly with some light pressure. It will momentarily turn white and should turn pink again within two seconds. If this time is delayed beyond this then there is likely to be a serious problem. An animal’s core temperature is another valuable tool used to assess their status. A low temperature indicates poor circulation while a slightly high temperature may be an indicator of pain and a severely elevated temperature is likely to indicate major infection. The heart rate is influenced by most of these factors and will be elevated with high temperature, rapid breathing and pain or stress. A persistently elevated or depressed heart rate with none of the above influences requires further investigation. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

First Aid for Your Animal in an Emergency Having an understanding of useful tools to apply to support an acute crisis or emergency, until veterinary attention is obtained can make a huge difference to the outcome in a critically injured animal. The most important question to answer is “Is the animal stable?”. This means that they are breathing regularly and normally and the colour of their mucous membranes (gums in mouth, some animals have black areas of pigment making it difficult to assess) are pink, they are conscious and responsive, there’s no major pain or discomfort and there is no significant blood loss. An unstable animal who doesn’t meet one or more of these criteria is very likely to need immediate care. Ideally phone ahead to the vet with an outline of the situation so they’re prepared and no time is wasted. When an animal is unconscious or gasping and battling to breathe and their mucous membrane colour is white, purple or blue, check that their airway is clear. Pull their tongue forward out of their mouth and look for any obstruction such as a foreign object or vomit and clear it away or hold their head downward to help fluid to drain out. If they are not breathing after you have cleared their airway then attempt to perform “mouth to nose” resuscitation by closing their mouth and breathing into their nostrils with just enough air to make their chest rise. Allow the air to be released and repeat every 10 seconds in larger dogs, and every 5 seconds in cats and small dogs. An animal which is battling to breathe, despite a clear airway, is best positioned lying on their chest to allow their lungs to expand as easily as possible. The next priority is to feel or listen for a heartbeat on the left side of the animal’s chest, just behind their elbow. If there is no heartbeat then position the animal on its side and begin to massage the heart by compressing it with gentle but firm pressure on either side of the ribcage rhythmically between breaths. Check for a heartbeat every minute and stop compressions once the heart has resumed beating. There are three very useful acupuncture points to which you can apply pressure with your finger nail or a blunt object to assist with resuscitation. These points are in the middle of the nasal plane in line with the bottom of the nostrils, the tip of the tail and the middle of the main pad of the hind feet. If there is an obvious site of bleeding, apply pressure with a dressing or tourniquet. For an obvious fracture, use a splint such as a stick or block of wood bandaged on to stabilize the limb and in the case of a suspected back injury, transport the animal on a solid stretcher to prevent movement. Keep the animal warm and dose Emergency Essence or Rescue Remedy. A couple of drops may be applied to the inside of the lip every five minutes until the animal is stable. Generally this works well and it is also often useful for the owner to have some too! [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Flea Control, A Holistic Perpective Fleas can be extremely harmful parasites. Not only do they cause a tremendous amount of irritation to their hosts but they are also responsible for flea allergy dermatitis, the transmission of other parasites such as tapeworm and Haemobartonella (outside of New Zealand, there are a number of other parasites they transmit) and they are capable of infesting young animals so severely that the amount of blood which they suck leaves these animals anaemic. Fleas have evolved with their hosts for thousands and thousands of years and as with all parasites, it is virtually impossible to completely eradicate them. However, in any given population of animals, some individuals will have a greater flea burden than others indicating that some animals have qualities that make them less hospitable to these parasites. Some of these tendencies are genetic but an excessive flea burden is often an indication that an animal has a weakened immune system. A healthy animal in a healthy and suitable environment (some breeds are not suited to the hot and humid climates in which they live) is unlikely to have an excessive parasite burden. From a Holistic point of view we question why the fleas are present on a specific individual and endeavour to re-establish balance so that natural harmony is restored and there isn’t an overpopulation of fleas. There are a number of ways to reduce flea numbers. Firstly supporting your pet’s immune system with good nutrition will go a long way to making them less tasty to fleas. Vitamin B’s and garlic in particular are wonderful aids but be cautious with garlic as it can be toxic in excess to dogs and cats. Various herbs, essential oils and a citrus wash can be used externally as flea repellents and regular flea combing will help to monitor flea numbers and reduce them further. Sometimes these gentle methods are not enough to deter fleas and the animal may benefit from other supportive therapies or might need the assistance of stronger commercial products which are exceptionally effective at killing fleas and have their place helping to preserve the quality of life of our pets. Some of these products are more toxic than others so use your discretion and seek your vet’s advice with which one to use. Typically the number of fleas on any dog or cat is only the tip of the ice berg reflecting a much greater flea population in the animal’s environment of both adult and immature fleas. Therefore addressing the environment is a very important component of flea control. Cedar, eucalyptus or pennyroyal oils on dogs’ bedding may be used to deter fleas but are toxic if ingested. Immature fleas can be destroyed by regularly hanging pet bedding out in the sunshine, thoroughly vacuuming carpets on a regular basis and sprinkling them with borax or diatomaceous earth afterwards. By using a holistic approach to manage both animals and their environment, and by respecting natural principles, animals can be kept flea free and healthy. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Gastro-intestinal Upsets, What to do As with any dis-ease, a gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) upset is the body’s way of saying that something is wrong. With vomiting and diarrhea, it’s generally nature’s way of cleansing out or ridding itself of something that is causing irritation or upset. Vomiting occurs when the disturbance is in the upper GIT, while diarrhea develops when it’s in the lower GIT. There a number of reasons for GIT disturbances, some due to longer term (chronic) problems such as food intolerances, inflammatory bowel disease, worms, organ failures and others which occur more suddenly (acute) such as toxins or poison exposure, something being stuck such as a hairball, various infections both bacterial and viral, rotten food being eaten or even simple things such as stress or a sudden diet change, especially common in young kittens. If your dog or cat is still relatively bright and the vomiting or diarrhea is not profuse, it may be possible to help to support their body and let it run its course. If your animal is collapsed, vomiting profusely, has blood coming out or is straining unsuccessfully then seek the advice of your vet as soon as possible. Practical management of a GIT upset involves giving the GIT a rest, ensuring that the animal has sufficient fluids and salts, supporting the GIT to help toxins pass though and to allow for repair. If this does not work then there is likely to be a more complex underlying issue and further diagnostics or treatment would be warranted. First and foremost ensure that your animal has sufficient fluid, with plenty of fresh water to prevent dehydration, as well as electrolytes (salts) and glucose which is especially important in very young animals whose glucose levels plummet very quickly. This can be in the form of a broth created by boiling up meat, rice and vegetables or a mixture of 4 cups of warm water and ¼ cup honey. In animals that aren’t drinking, this can be dripped in with a dropper or syringed in carefully by placing small amounts on the animals tongue and allowing it to swallow while it’s sitting or lying upright. Slippery elm powder, kaolin and bismuth are wonderful internal poultices to help soothe and heal the inflamed GIT lining. Use 20-40mg of dried slippery elm per kilogram three times a day mixed in water or food. Alternately mix 1 teaspoon of powder in 1 cup of water and give kittens ¼ teaspoon, cats and small dogs 1 teaspoon, medium dogs 30 – 60ml and large dogs 90 – 120ml 3 times daily. In adult animals allow 24 hours before giving any food to give the GIT a rest. Young pups and kittens require food much sooner; giving them a 4 – 12 hour fast depending on their condition should be sufficient. Commence with bland food such as boiled lean chicken, egg, cottage cheese and pasta or rice feeding 4 – 6 smaller meals through the day. Do this for 3 days and then gradually re-introduce their normal food. Adding oat bran and probiotics from unsweetened acidophilus/lactobacillus yoghurt or commercial formulations will help to normalize bacterial flora in the GIT and minimize overgrowth of the “bad bugs”. Activated charcoal might also be useful if there are toxins present either from poisons or produced from the overgrowth of certain bacteria. Use 2 grams per kilogram daily. Various homeopathics are also often useful and are best used under the guidance of a homeopath. Use either complex remedies or individual 30C potencies 4 hourly for 3 doses and if there’s no change then another remedy is usually indicated. In very acute cases, dose more frequently and then decrease the frequency to effect. Useful remedies are Nux Vomica for occasional vomiting, Arsenicum for vomiting and diarrhea where the animal is thirsty and Merc Cor for acute diarrhea. In chronic conditions such as IBD, aloe vera juice is also beneficial to help improve digestion and normalize GIT function however ensure that it is not preserved with sodium benzoate or benzoic acid which is toxic to cats. A dose of 1ml per 5 kilograms daily is good support but be aware that it can also have a slight laxative effect. For the management of longer term problems various nutritional programmes including optimal amounts of nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, as well as regular treatments with therapies such as NIS (Neurological Integration System), Acupuncture, homeopathy, Bowen therapy, etc. can help to make a marked difference [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Holistic Vet Care Following An Accident Some of our most challenging cases are those that we encounter in a serious emergency. They require quick thinking, elegant action and masterful communication with the animal’s owner to succinctly explain the situation, gather enough information to help treat the animal effectively and to delicately handle the owner’s emotion, which might be extreme at times. The immediate priority is stabilizing our patient. We ensure that they have an open airway, regular respiratory rate; their heart is beating rhythmically and regularly, their circulation isn’t compromised, by excessive bleeding or shock for example, and that they are not seizuring. Various treatments are employed at this stage to aid with the above and support the animal. These might include intravenous fluids, drugs to support or control vital signs, positioning the animal appropriately, dosing specific homeopathic remedies, applying acupuncture and even various energy modalities such as Reiki. Once we have a stable patient, and if it’s not obvious from the above examination, obtaining a diagnosis is the next important step. Often after an accident radiographs are very useful to identify fractures or other mechanical defects which might require specific surgical treatments. Other diagnostic tools might include running blood tests, analysing urine samples and muscle testing which can give an indication which areas need to be addressed. A treatment plan is then devised, oriented at supporting the animal to ensure that healing takes place as quickly, comfortably and effectively as possible within the care and financial constraints of the owner. This allows for the integration of many diverse modalities. To illustrate a case, I’d like to introduce you to “Fubu”, a friendly and exuberant 5 year old Boxer cross who impacted at high speed into a bank while chasing a possum leaving her unconscious and paralysed. She was stabilised with intravenous fluids and dosed with pain killers and high doses of anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C and Proanthocyanidins as well as Vitamin B’s to help to support her nervous system. Complex homeopathics as well as Arnica and Hypericum were used in addition to Emergency Essence. We began therapy with NIS (Neurological Integration System), a highly effective and gentle way of re-establishing balance in the body. Radiographs were taken and revealed no fractures of her spine. Fubu also underwent several sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy which allowed for a high concentration of oxygen to be available through her body. This had profound anti-inflammatory effects on her spinal cord and encouraged accelerated healing. Gradually Fubu showed improvement and after a few days she could again stand with the help of her extremely dedicated owner! Fubu’s owner helped her with weight bearing exercises to strengthen her muscles, massaged her body regularly which aided her circulation and also built her a trolley with wheels to help her move around which she loved! Three months later, Fubu was running around the paddocks at home with only a remnant of nerve damage in her one leg which continued to heal. She regained full use of her leg and will hopefully remember to be careful when chasing possums!! [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been used in human medicine since the beginning of the 20th century. Based on sound scientific principles, it is now an accepted treatment modality, for several conditions including non-healing wounds, compromised skin grafts, infections, gas gangrene, traumatic injury, certain poisonings and burns. We are very pleased to offer this incredible healing aid, which promotes health and well-being in a stress free manner for our furry friends. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) basically means giving oxygen under pressure. This allows for a far greater amount of oxygen to be available to tissues in the body. Oxygen at optimal levels has profound anti-inflammatory effects; it helps to rid the body of infection both directly by killing certain bugs and indirectly by supporting the immune system and assists to accelerate healing, often dramatically! Normally oxygen is carried by the red blood cells in the blood stream and at any given time in a normal human or animal breathing air (which has 21 % oxygen), approximately 96% of red blood cells are saturated with (carrying) oxygen. When breathing 100% pure oxygen instead of air, all red blood cells carry oxygen and deliver it to cells within reach of circulating blood vessels. Under pressure in the chamber, like divers submerging under water, oxygen dissolves into all of the body fluid and tissues. This means that it is no longer dependent on the blood vessels and red blood cells for delivery and can easily reach important areas such as injury sites and the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to which oxygen delivery might be compromised in an injured or diseased human or animal. The principle is the same as the bubbles in a fizzy drink which are dissolved when the bottle is closed under pressure but fizz out once the pressure is released when the bottle is opened. HBOT allows for an increase of 12 – 15 times the normal oxygen concentration in the body. This promotes natural healing and recovery and is commonly used to assist in the following conditions as well as many others: Severe skin and tissue damage Fracture healing Major systemic or local infections Intervertebral disc herniation Inflammatory conditions such as pancreatitis Nerve damage Athletic injury Post surgical swelling and recovery Organ dysfunction and failure such as liver disease and kidney failure HBOT may be used in adjunct to most other veterinary or alternative treatment. Only animals that have certain kinds of ear, sinus or lung problems or are critically ill may not be able to be treated. During HBOT the animal simply sits or lies down and relaxes in the chamber breathing pure oxygen while the chamber is pressurised. A treatment session lasts 1 to 2 hours and animals tolerate it well and typically respond beautifully to as little as 1 to 5 treatment sessions depending on their individual needs. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Keeping Tails Wagging with NIS There are a great variety of ailments that animals present with. These include infections, overuse injuries, traumatic wounds, metabolic conditions, degenerative diseases, allergies, autoimmune problems and poisonings. For any condition there are a number of effective solutions that we make use of to relieve pain, combat infection, assist with inflammation and accelerate healing. Often for optimal healing, a variety of modalities, which complement each other, are employed to streamline the healing process and generally with complementary therapies they work by supporting and guiding the body back into a healthy and balanced state. One of the tools that we employ is the Neurological Integration System, NIS, which is a highly effective, gentle way of re-establishing balance in the body and aids in the healing of many conditions. NIS has been developed as a healthcare system (at the Neurolink centre) primarily for humans, taking into consideration acupuncture meridians, principles from other healing modalities and the body’s inherent healing wisdom. It works on the premise that the body has a remarkable capacity to heal itself. When this healing ability is impeded and dis-ease is present, NIS views this as a failure of the body to recognise the problem and institute its incredible restorative capacity to self heal. A useful analogy is to consider a light being switched on at the wall. If there is a break in the circuit between the light and the switch, then the light simply won’t light up when the switch is flicked. But if the circuitry is functional, then with just one flick of the switch - “Hey Presto”, there’s light! Similarly, if all of the body’s circuits are functional, then the manifestation of dis-ease is not likely as all healing systems will be in place and working as they should to ensure the early recognition of any imbalance which will bring about restorative processes to ensure that health is maintained. With a series of muscle tests, NIS identifies which of these circuits are malfunctioning and allows us some insight into establishing a reason behind the animal’s discomfort. We then proceed to integrate the circuits of the body and thereby re-establish their working capability. The body then works wonders in its efficient and elegant manner to relieve pain and to restore health. A NIS session can take ten to forty minutes depending on the severity of the animal’s illness. Animals usually relax during NIS and generally respond well after just one session. Results are sometimes immediate and occasionally miraculous but when you know what the magician knows, it’s no longer magic! [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Holistic Animal Healthcare Approaching health holistically, we as practitioners recognize the tremendous inherent healing ability of the body. We have a deep trust in the body’s capacity to heal itself and we assist by gently guiding and supporting this remarkable faculty. Because of this, alternative therapies are not dependent on a diagnosis to be effective, although this is often helpful. Conventional veterinary medicine works with the logical scientific process of deduction to diagnose a problem and apply specific medicines or surgical procedures to resolve the root of the problem, where this is possible, or to alleviate symptoms thereby giving the body time to bounce back. It is highly effective and often life saving for severe infections, trauma and many other conditions but has its limitations in the realm of some degenerative diseases. Most importantly, vets are highly trained and exceptionally capable of monitoring an animal’s quality of life and predicting the likely outcome of a set of symptoms. When an animal owner elects to treat their animal with alternative therapies, it is wise to have veterinary input in this area, especially if they are not responding well and their quality of life is deteriorating. As health care professionals, the tools that we employ are diverse and address the dis-ease process from different angles. It is important to understand that there are many approaches to health care and to respect this principle and prioritize the health and well being of our animals. Used hand in hand, conventional medicine and alternative therapies complement each other extremely well and when used appropriately this balanced approach ensures that animals are treated in the most effective and least invasive way possible to obtain and sustain long term optimal health. There are many correct ways of doing things and to hit this point home, I’ll close off with one of my favourite quotes: “It’s an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seem. For instance, on planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much.... Whilst all dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man – for precisely the same reason.” – Douglas Adams [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Rearing Healthy Foals, Kittens & Pups Watching young animals grow and develop, learn, play and interact is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Ensuring the health of an animal during these formative stages will help to set a solid foundation which will serve them in maintaining long term health and wellbeing as adults. It all begins with the animal’s parents whose genetic material is mixed to produce their offspring. Parents who are healthy (good genetics, are managed well and receive optimal nutrition) are likely to have a smooth birth process and produce healthy young with no congenital abnormalities and properly functioning immune systems. Dystocia (difficult birth) can weaken young animals and deprive them of valuable oxygen which can cause damage to the brain and other organs. Cats and horses generally deliver their young with few complications while dogs more commonly encounter difficulty. It is important to closely monitor and observe the process helping to provide a calm and quiet environment for birth and be ready to act at the first sign of a problem. Signs of dystocia may include extended periods of straining unproductively and abnormal discharge (green, black or has large amounts of blood) from the mother’s birth canal. The newly born animal (neonate) is surrounded in a foetal membrane and makes its way through the birth canal with its front legs presented first followed by its head and back end. If it is presented otherwise, it is likely to require assistance as soon as possible. Once the young animal is delivered, its mother will usually lick it. This is an important part of their bonding process and also helps to clear the neonate’s airway and stimulate it to breathe. Breathing must resume within the first minute delivery. If not, clear their airway and briskly rub pups and kittens and massage foals with a towel. Should this fail, mouth to nostril inflation of the lungs is helpful, but take care not to over inflate the lungs. The umbilical cord is an open passage for bacteria to enter the bloodstream so it is good practice to disinfect the stump with an antiseptic solution, especially in foals. Pups and kittens are born with their eyes closed and crawl around feeling their way while foals have open eyes and are usually standing up within an hour after birth. A healthy neonate is active after birth and seeks the udder or teat of their mother. The next important ingredient for the development of a healthy immune system is colostrum, the first milk of the mother, which is worth its weight in gold. Colostrum is packed full of antibodies to protect the neonate from infection and is energy rich giving vitality. It is of utmost importance that the neonate receives a good feed of colostrum between 1 hour and 12 hours after birth. Besides for infection due to poor immunity from lack of colostrum, the biggest easily preventable killers of young animals are hypothermia (low body heat) and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels). These leave young animals severely debilitated promptly leading to a vicious cycle of dehydration, further weakness and death. Fortunately this cycle is usually easy to reverse with good nursing care and providing there are no other abnormalities young animals bounce back beautifully which is always a very rewarding and gratifying experience. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Optimum Nutrition for Great Health We all want our pets to be fit and healthy, to perform to their optimal potential and to have an excellent quality of life. Good nutrition is fundamentally important to help your animal to stay healthy as it provides the basic building blocks that their body needs to function at its best. When a diet is poor and then changed to include wholesome, well balanced foods, animals (and humans!) show a remarkable improvement in their condition, their working performance is enhanced and often, chronic ongoing health problems begin to resolve. Many years ago our modern processed diets began to replace the healthy meals that we used to eat. Because our pets used to eat our table scraps, their diets became imbalanced and vets used to see frequent cases of nutritional deficiency diseases such as rickets. Commercial foods were created and balanced these components helping to make up for these severe deficiencies. Subsequently nutritional deficiency diseases are no longer common place. However, many commercial foods do not have optimal amounts of valuable essential fats, vitamins and anti-oxidants that are tremendously important for a healthy skin and coat, flexible and smooth joints and a fully functional immune system. In addition to this, some of these foods contain poor quality ingredients and often high amounts of chemical preservatives which may be detrimental to the long term health and performance of your pet. As is the trend in human medicine, presently our pets are faced more frequently with a set of dis-eases called degenerative diseases. These include conditions such as allergies, arthritis, heart disease, cancers and auto-immune dis-ease. What we feed our pets plays a great role in the development and management of these conditions. Like us, animals benefit greatly from food that is wholesome, natural and unprocessed. These foods are easily digested and used by their bodies and have high amounts of important vitamins, antioxidants as well as essential fatty acids. They are also easy to prepare. An ideal diet for dogs and cats includes raw meat, ideally from animals which have been well nourished and raised in a wholesome environment. Meat should be free of chemicals and preservatives and contain optimal amounts of nutrients. Nature knows best and feeding our pets with food that their bodies have evolved to eat over thousands of years will help to ensure that we are rewarded by our loyal friends living long and happy lives. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Omega 3's Health Benefits As with humans, our animals need optimal amounts of various nutrients to stay healthy and to perform at their best. Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in high quantities in flax oil and fish oil, are of utmost importance for normal function. Omega 3 fatty acids are easily damaged by exposure to excessive heat, air and light, which causes them to lose their therapeutic effect and become rancid. Animals that eat processed food are likely to be deficient in these fats. Further to this, exposure to environmental pollution uses up antioxidants that normally protect and preserve omega-3 fatty acids in the body. Omegas 3’s are used by the body for a variety of functions. Some indications that animals might be deficient include a dry coat, flaky skin, stiff joints, cracked claws, poor reproductive performance, temperamental behaviour, fatigue, slow recovery and lowered immunity. These beneficial fats help to increase oxygenation, which is the supply of oxygen to cells. This is very important for just about every bodily function and can help to increase performance and to markedly improve recovery from strenuous exercise. The higher levels of oxygen also make it difficult for infections to develop. Another tremendously valuable attribute of these fats is their anti-inflammatory properties which makes them exceptionally helpful for conditions such as allergies, asthma and other inflammatory conditions like arthritis. In addition to this they also help to cushion the joints, bringing tremendous relief to many animals with sore and stiff joints within days. Omegas 3’s are a very important component of the cell membrane. Nutrients are transported into the body’s cells and waste products out of the cells via the surrounding cell membrane. If the cell membrane has poor structure, this can’t happen efficiently and cells become damaged. Animals which consume optimal amounts of omega 3’s have good cell membrane structure which gives them shiny coats and an added barrier of protection to their skin. Omegas 3’s are extraordinarily effective at helping with eczema, skin allergies and cracked nails. The normal development and function of the brain and nervous system as well as the production of many hormones, especially those associated with the reproductive cycle are dependent on omega 3 fatty acids. Animals who are cycling poorly or who have temperamental and nervous behaviour are likely to benefit from these fats too. Obese animals will also be aided by the assistance that omega 3’s provide in burning body fat. Supplementing an animal’s diet with omega 3 fatty acids has major health benefits for our animals and will usually work wonders to support their health. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Sustainable Healthcare It’s becoming common place these days for people and businesses to become environmentally responsible and minimize the impact that they make on nature. Sustainability is a vastly important factor in the way that we all conduct our activities if we are to provide future generations with a healthy planet. As vets, we have an added responsibility to consistently review and refine our practices so that the healthcare of our patients encourages their long-term health and well-being, as opposed to simply treating and managing symptoms. One of the greatest investments that an animal owner can make toward their animal’s health is to provide good quality nutrition. Vets have come to rely on various commercial foods to provide the balance that science has carefully evolved to ensure that all the nutrients we know to be important for health are included in the correct quantities. There are advantages to this, especially when we can’t be sure that an animal owner will feed the correct nutrients and their dog develops rickets for example. However, with more and more people recognizing the impact of poor nutrition on their own health and becoming acutely aware and responsible about what they eat, there has been a resurgence in understanding what incredible value there is in eating food that is fresh and wholesome. With this insight - and in many cases a need to economize - many people have begun to grow their own food again and even schools have instituted programs where children learn to grow fruit and vegetable gardens. Animal owners are also beginning to think about what their pets consume and what has evolved is a remarkable transformation where people see the immense importance of natural goodness - a quality which can’t be easily understood or quantified by science and has thus been overlooked for many years. During this time we have seen more and more health conditions in our domestic animals which are multifactorial in nature and are very difficult to cure with traditional methods, i.e. allergies, cancers, auto-immune conditions, resistant infections, etc. As vets, our strategies for treating these conditions have been aimed at managing symptoms and in many cases prescribing drugs to help alleviate the negative effects of medications that the animal becomes dependent on. There are times where we end up between a rock and a hard place - for example, a dog with auto-immune disease that is treated with immuno-suppressive drugs acquires a urinary tract infection only sensitive to an anti-biotic such as gentamycin and then develops drug induced renal failure. Our striving as scientists to quantify and qualify, manipulate and control natural systems ultimately brings us to a point of no return, a place where our healthcare systems for many health conditions from which our animal patients suffer, are not sustainable. With our background of scientific dogma it can be difficult to take a step back and give credence to the body’s inherent healing wisdom and to revere natural balance. We need to remember that veterinary practice is not just about science but also about the art of healing. As health professionals providing value to our clients and working toward the well-being of our patients, we need to move even more from merely treating disease to a discipline of healing and prevention. Mounting evidence and my experience with these difficult cases in clinical practice suggest that a substantial contributing factor is what our animals eat. The presence of chemicals and preservatives as well as fillers and a deficiency of optimal amounts of vitally important nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and anti-oxidants play a large role in the development and progression of most of the disease conditions that prevail today. It never ceases to amaze me that when the body gets the nutrients that it needs, it works wonders to restore health. When an animal’s diet is changed to include natural (wholesome and with optimal amounts of bioavailable nutrients) well balanced foods, animals generally show a remarkable improvement in their condition, their working performance is enhanced, and often, chronic ongoing health problems begin to resolve. Our clients are increasingly aware of this and additionally they are prepared to take the time and energy to invest the love and care required to feed their animals with food that is nutritious and full of natural goodness. They are reliant on us as vets to give them quality information and to assist them in supporting their animal’s optimal health and sustained well-being. Guiding animal owners in this direction need not be laborious. An ideal diet for dogs and cats includes raw meat, ideally from animals which have been well nourished and raised in a wholesome environment. Meat should be free of chemicals and preservatives and contain optimal amounts of nutrients. Meat should be fresh, pre frozen or air dried to minimize the risk of disease from pathogens. Cats and dogs however, have a greater tolerance for organisms such as salmonella and E.coli than humans, especially if they have healthy immune systems (which of course are supported by the quality of nutrients which they consume). Additional components include plant matter to simulate the gut content of prey consumed in the wild which contains phytonutrients, vitamins and other nutritive substances important for vitality. Encouraging the use of unprocessed food, farmed as naturally as possible, assists in embracing a culture of environmental sustainability and also reduces our impact on the planet. Nature knows best and by respecting natural principles, feeding our animals with food that their bodies have evolved to eat over thousands of years, we will not only help to ensure that we are rewarded by our loyal friends living long and happy lives but we will also have peace of mind knowing that we are contributing to the well-being of our environment and helping to sustain a healthier planet. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Vaccinations To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate . . . ? This is a question that many have difficulty answering given the diverse points of view floating around. Research has shown that vaccines have a much longer term of effectiveness against disease than previously thought. Subsequently, recommendations on the frequency of vaccination for our dogs and cats have changed and many of them no longer require annual boosters. A vaccination is a means of giving the body a much less severe form of a disease than it could potentially contract. This primes the immune system to be prepared for the disease thus enabling the body to mount an effective enough defence that the animal doesn’t become severely ill when exposed to the real thing. Any vaccine is only as good as the host’s response to it and this requires an animal to have a healthy immune system. This is a big reason why vaccines sometimes fail to provide immunity. Further to this, although we can do antibody titre tests to get an idea, it is very difficult to accurately quantify how well a vaccination has worked or how protected an animal is against any given disease. For this reason predicting the best vaccination protocol is an educated guess and previously most vet’s best guess was to use these vaccines annually as suggested by vaccine manufacturers, whose label recommendations we are obliged to adhere to. Currently not all vaccine manufacturers have changed the label claims on their vaccines to allow for longer duration of immunity. Vaccine manufacturers that have adapted their protocols for dogs and cats now recommend initial puppy and kitten vaccination followed by a booster one to three years later and then three yearly boosters of the core diseases that we vaccinate against. These are parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis and parainfluenza for dogs and calici (rhinotracheitis), herpes and panleukopenia viruses for cats. As with any medication, there are potential negative effects associated with vaccines such as vaccine reactions. There is also evidence that over vaccination contributes to the development of autoimmune conditions and other degenerative diseases. Homeopathic vaccines are available but don’t carry the scientific weight that our conventional vaccines do in terms of efficacy, however negative reactions to these gentle remedies aren’t an issue. From a holistic point of view, the best support that we can give our animals’ immune system is to nourish them properly, live cleanly and respect the environment that we live in. Vaccination has its place, but each animal needs to be assessed individually. Their owners must be educated on the benefits of a vaccination protocol versus potential negatives. Pet owners should then come to an informed decision that they're comfortable with and ideally have the support of their vet. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Infections and Immune Support Bugs such as bacteria and viruses as well as parasites such as fleas and worms are common in the lives of our animals and in fact, many of these unwanted residents live normally on or in the bodies of our animals. With any infection, there are two main factors allowing for progression. Firstly, the susceptibility of the host (animal,) and secondly, the virulence (ability to cause disease) of the bug. Whilst there are some infections where the bug is extremely virulent, more commonly these days we see infections that arise from bugs which are common residents. This has a huge amount to do with the immune systems of our animals not coping as well as they should. From a Holistic Viewpoint, the presence of an infection is the tip of the iceberg, underlying this is the big question of why is the body out of balance and not managing to maintain health so that it naturally repels bugs and parasites. Stress of any kind will impair the body’s ability to heal and limit an animal’s general vitality. Limiting stress by avoiding stressful situations such as overcrowding or adverse weather conditions and making use of remedies such as Emergency Essence or Rescue Remedy will go a long way to supporting the immune system indirectly. To allow for the body’s inherent healing wisdom to function optimally and do what it does best (heal!), there are three main tiers from which it draws its resources. Firstly nutrition, providing the good fuel, secondly the healing mechanism must be running smoothly, and thirdly the presence of toxins will act as “spokes in the wheel” of healing. An analogy would be running a car; you may put in all the best fuel but if the engine is faulty or it is clogged up with waste then it won’t run smoothly or go at all. As always, good nutrition of as much raw, natural food as possible that is free of chemicals and preservatives as well as high in optimal amounts of nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants can make a huge difference to the body’s ability to naturally combat infection. Extra nutrients such as Vitamin C and Grapeseed extract are superb at helping to boost the body’s defences as well as mop up damage caused by free radicals (which cause cell damage) and thereby allow the body’s resources to be freed up to support healing and maintain health. Intra-venous vitamin C, used by your vet can work wonders to assist in severe infection. Herbs such as Golden Seal and Garlic have superb anti-microbial properties and Echinacea used as a preventative aid for a week or two at a time can work wonders to help ward off infections. Homeopathy is also a wonderful tool and is best used under the guidance of a qualified homeopath for an individual’s specific requirements. However, complex formulations can be easily applied in high risk situations such as in catteries or kennels to assist in preventing infection. Therapies such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, NIS, Bowen Therapy, Acupuncture, Massage and many more can also be very supportive tools to assist the body’s natural defences. All in all, and as usual, by respecting natural principles, infections may be easily prevented and resolved adding quality of life and increasing longevity. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Dental Health and Your Pet One of the major foundations of health is a healthy oral cavity. This is the place where nourishing the body begins as food is taken in and begins to be broken down and digested making valuable nutrients available. In our modern world, dental disease is one of the biggest dis-eases affecting our furry friends. Sore teeth and gums are not only uncomfortable but set up a cascade of events that lead to further deterioration of our pets’ health. With improper dental hygiene, excessive amounts of unhealthy types of bacteria accumulate in the mouth, attaching to tooth surfaces which lead to the formation of dental calculus or tartar. These provide a greater surface area for more bacteria to accumulate in ever deepening pockets where toxins are produced and more bacteria multiply leading to gum inflammation or gingivitis and is usually the origin of putrid smelling breath. Bacteria then have the potential to enter the bloodstream and to lodge in major organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver leading to organ failure or systemic infections. In its attempt to prevent this from happening, the body launches its next line of immune defence. The constant battle between the body’s immune system and these invading bacteria drains the body of important resources and the inflammatory cycle that is set up causes the production of free radicals which act like hot cinders flying off a home fire into the surrounding carpet do and cause cellular damage. Together with the local tissue destruction, this cumulative damage, over time can contribute to systemic degenerative diseases such as cancer and auto-immune disease. There are many commercial foods, chew toys and even pet toothpastes and toothbrushes advertising their essential contribution to your pet’s health. But despite this, dental disease still proliferates and often painful and diseased teeth need to be extracted and vets routinely do tooth scaling and polishing under anaesthetic to help maintain a healthy oral cavity. Common signs of dental disease include bad breath, red gums, the avoidance of harder foods, repetitive lip licking, drooling and sometimes weight loss, increased drinking and lethargy. Dogs and cats have sharp triangular teeth and jaws designed for cutting, dicing and crushing, not for chewing as herbivores such as horses and ruminants that have large flat teeth with jaws that grind from side to side do. When our pets are fed a healthy well balanced diet containing fresh raw meat and raw bones from a young age, as Mother Nature intended, dental disease is rare and generally only occurs in the form of broken teeth due to trauma. With a well balanced diet the body will have a normal pH and the right nutrients available to ensure that minerals in saliva are available to maintain and repair teeth and that the mouth environment is inhospitable for the proliferation of pathological (disease causing) bacteria. Good dental care, which includes care of your whole animal will add many quality years to your pet’s life and is an investment which is well worthwhile. It’s never too late to start! [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Getting Pets to Eat New Food, Some Handy Hints As with humans, our pets can become addicted to food that is unhealthy for them. In fact, research has indicated that for humans during early childhood the brain resets the needs of the body according to what foods are consumed during the formative years. This may lead to cravings of these foods later on in life which can be detrimental to health if the food is not nutritious. I believe that this is true to a certain degree with our pets, especially cats that are fed grain based diets as kittens and will only settle for similar foods later on in life which overrides their natural instinct to eat meat. In addition to this some foods have additives or are coated with substances which cause animals to be attracted to the food and eat it even though the nutritional value is poor. Getting pets, especially fussy cats and certain toy breed dogs, to eat new foods that are healthier for them can be a tedious process but it is generally well worth it in the long run as an animal’s health improves in leaps and bounds when their body is given the right balance of nutrients from natural ingredients. A good way to start, which is also useful for pets that have sensitive stomachs and are easily upset by a change in diet, is to convert them gradually over a 2-week period. Start off with 7/8ths old food and 1/8th new food – mix in well, use this for 2 days. For the next 2 days mix ¾’s of the old food with ¼ of the new food. Then for the next 2 days 5/8ths old food and 3/8ths new food……… etc. they often gradually make the change. Another trick, if they’re only keen on biscuits / crumbles, is to crush them up and sprinkle them on the new food. Cats may find the new food more appealing if you add a few drops of soy sauce. Some animals respond positively if one places a bit of the new food in their mouth, they taste it and decide “OK, this isn’t so bad” and then devour the rest. Stroking, patting and praising them while they eat and hand feeding them to get used to the change is a very handy tactic as they’re much more amenable to eating when receiving affection. When all else fails, try explaining to them that this new food is good for them and will make them feel better. Believe it or not, this has worked in a number of cases! Some pets end up having their way and won’t make the change. For some ill animals, bad eating habits are better than not eating at all, especially if it is in their final days when quality of life is of utmost importance. With most pets it is worth persevering, as their long-term health will be greatly enhanced by good nutrition. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Guidelines on How to Give Your Cat a Tablet Hold the cat around the top of its head with your middle finger and thumb at each corner of its mouth. Use your left hand if right handed and visa versa. Point the cat’s chin towards the sky and have someone hold it’s front paws and body if it wriggles or scratches. Hold the tablet in your other hand between your thumb and index finger. Then using the middle finger of the same hand, gently pull down on the bottom jaw to open its mouth. Once open, place the tablet at the back of the throat and give a quick push of the tablet down the throat with your index finger. Then close its mouth. Hold the cat’s mouth closed while still aiming the chin toward the sky and rub gently under its neck until it has swallowed. Reward the cat with affection or a food treat. If this fails you can invest in a pill popper or try the following: Break the tablet into smaller pieces and sneak it into really tasty pieces of chicken or fish paste.   Feed a small amount first without any tablet so that the cat doesn’t think there’s something suspicious going on and then follow with the pieces that have tablet in them. Crush the tablet and mix it into some tasty food. Crush the tablet and mix it into some butter, marmite or vegemite that you can smear on the coat and the cat should lick it off as they groom themselves. Crush the tablet and dissolve it into water which can then be syringed in to their mouth. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Itchy Skin Conditions An itchy animal will scratch or chew at themselves causing inflammation, leading to a further itch which often progresses to infection and a vicious cycle is established. Conventional medicine then makes use of antibiotics to control the infection and cortisone or antihistamines to suppress the itch as a means of breaking this cycle. The prevention of this scenario is our ultimate goal and to achieve this, we need to address the underlying issues. Animals have an itch threshold, basically a line drawn at a certain level which is different for each individual depending on their genetic make-up. There are five main factors which play a role in causing animals to itch. These are diet, stress, fleas, environmental factors and irritation from waxy ears, sore teeth, full anal glands, etc. Other contributors can include hormone imbalances, mites, worms and infections. As a practical first line of defence we focus on managing the main contributing factors so that the itch threshold is not reached. Nutrition plays a major part. Poor quality food, artificial preservatives, allergies to specific proteins and lack of essential fats, vitamins and minerals can all play a role in contributing to the itch. Generally we recommend a natural, raw food diet diet together with the addition of optimal amounts of vitamins, anti-oxidants, minerals and omega 3 fatty acids (natural anti-inflammatories) found in high concentrations in flax oil and cold water fish. Sometimes it is necessary to design a special diet to address specific issues. Stress weakens the immune system and lowers the body’s itch threshold. In cats we commonly see itchy skin problems and establish in the history that there is a new tomcat in the area bullying the cat. Stress can also be due to other factors such as a much loved owner going away, a new baby in the house or even a fellow companion no longer being present. Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence are wonderful remedies to help animals cope with stress. Fleas (and other parasites such as sarcoptic mange) can contribute greatly to an itch, either a few fleas or even the saliva from just one fleabite (“Freddie the flea” could be hiding somehwere in the house, jump onto your pet for a quick snack and then jump back off leaving many owners sure that fleas don’t play a role) might cause an itch to last for a couple of weeks. Environmental factors can be difficult to isolate or control for example wandering jew, a plant to which many dogs react with a violent itch. Pollens may also be a primary factor and homeopathics may be used to help manage symptoms. Also, many dogs love playing in the sea but the salty water can cause them to be itchy, it is therefore a good idea to always hose them down with fresh water afterwards. Various shampoos can also create an itch while others are wonderful at helping to soothe irritated skin. It is important to be aware of these factors that may play a role and limit exposure where possible. There are many options available to help a chronically itchy animal, but for long-term success, much time, effort and patience are often necessary. A visit to your vet will help to eliminate other causes of irritation and help you to devise a good management strategy to keep your pet’s tail wagging! [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Raw Food Diet for Dogs and Cats Good nutrition is first and foremost in helping your pet to stay healthy as it provides the basic building blocks that the body needs to function optimally. After changing to this diet many animals show a remarkable improvement in their condition and often, chronic ongoing health problems begin to resolve. DOGS: •    50 – 70% good quality raw meat like chicken, mutton, lamb, fish or eggs. •    30% vegetables (and fruit), variety is best. These can be lightly steamed or blended up. Carbohydrates like pasta, rice (brown, ideally), whole-wheat bread and muesli may be used to bulk up the food BUT many dogs do better without gluten and corn in their diet as these can contribute to health issues. RAW chicken necks or RAW marrow bones should be a part of the raw meat component at least 3 times a week. CATS: •    10% vegetables - yes, most cats eat vegetables! They can be steamed and mashed up. •    90% good quality raw meat, ideally RAW chicken wings/necks, whole fish, heart or eggs. Organic and Free Range products are best wherever possible. The amount to feed varies according to the activity level and health of the animal but is usually 2 - 3% of bodyweight per day i.e. a 5kg cat or dog should get 100-150g per day. Watch your animals’ condition and adjust the amount accordingly i.e. feed less if they’re gaining weight and more if they’re losing condition. RAW bones are very important to provide important minerals (especially calcium) and vitamins as well as keep animals’ teeth clean. Egg yolk should ideally be fed raw to preserve vitamins and important fatty acids, but eggs in any form are a valuable asset to an animal’s diet. Organ meats such as liver and kidney should be fed as about 1/5 of the meat component. Heart mince is very important, especially for cats as it contains high amounts of taurine (essential for cats) as well as other valuable nutrients. High quality vitamin, mineral and essential fatty acid (EFA) supplements are usually recommended for optimal health. A good all-rounder is “Mybeau” which is high in vitamins and essential fatty acids together with whole green foods such as Spirulina, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass and Chlorella supply valuable minerals and phytonutrients. Other supplements can be very valuable aids in many health conditions eg. Glucosamine for arthritis, co-enzyme Q10 for heart conditions, etc. Good quality commercial foods can be used to supplement the above good diet but in some cases may need to be avoided altogether. Avoid cheaper commercial foods that are generally deficient in valuable essential fats and vitamins and often have poor quality ingredients as well as preservatives and other chemical components. Red meats (beef, venison and lamb) muscle meat may need to be avoided, as they are often associated with allergies and other health problems. Foods to avoid that are potentially toxic include: raisins, grapes, onions, macadamia nuts and chocolate. Some issues concerning the feeding of raw food are: The safety of feeding bones – these are usually OK as long as the bones are raw (cooked bones splinter) but for those animals who tend to gulp down their food it is recommended that the bones be either too big for them to swallow (only chewed) or that they be crushed up in the food. Occasionally some dogs don’t seem to tolerate bones (they can vomit or get a sore tummy), in these cases bones may need to be crushed up and introduced to the diet gradually. Bugs like E.coli and Salmonella, which are not a problem if the meat is fresh or frozen. Cats and dogs also have a greater tolerance for these organisms than us humans. Parasites such as hydatids are killed after freezing raw meat for 3 days at –20 degrees Celsius or -10°C for 7 days. It is illegal to feed raw offal to dogs otherwise. Hydatids can be avoided altogether by feeding chicken, which don’t harbour hydatids. Some further points: Heat destroys vitamins, and antioxidants contained in raw food, which are very important for good health. Heating may also damage essential fatty acids in raw food, which can be transformed into substances that can damage the body. Cooked foods take longer to digest as they're not the natural way their gastro-intestinal tract has evolved to digest them, thus requiring more of the animal's energy. In most cases dogs and cats do best on uncooked food but there are exceptions. Nature knows best! Pet Essentials and The Holistic Animal Centre stock a great variety of good quality raw food options for your pet. They’ll also make a plan to courier food out to you. Pet Essentials, Tauranga - 1339 Cameron Rd, Greerton, Tauranga, Tel 07 541 1536 Holistic Animal Centre – 6/33 Hairini Street, Welcome Bay, Tauranga, Tel 07 544 4540 Another great resource for good food is Raw Essentials - www.rawessentials.co.nz For further information on the great benefits of raw food diets have a look at: www.drianbillinghurst.com and www.rawmeatybones.com An excellent read is “Give Your Dog a Bone” by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

To Desex or not to Desex It is wonderful and rewarding to witness a litter of kittens or puppies being born and although some pets are used for breeding and are not desexed (a surgical procedure where males have their testes removed and females have their uterus and ovaries removed), for most dogs and cats there are a number of very good reasons why it is important to consider desexing. Further to this, there are several factors to take into consideration when electing the most suitable age for your pet to be desexed. First and foremost, desexing is used as an invaluable tool to help combat pet overpopulation, which is a huge animal welfare issue worldwide. An underlying theme in our society is that quality is exchanged for quantity and the massive numbers of animals that are abandoned, aren’t adequately cared for or can’t be re-homed by animal shelters, leads to millions of dogs and cats being euthanized each year. Except in very tractable and well behaved animals, dogs and cats (especially males) who have not been desexed are very driven by their sexual hormones to roam seeking mates, display aggressive behaviour when defending their territory or generally, and demonstrate inappropriate urination or territory marking. Frustration often ensues because the animal’s need to express sexual behaviour is not met, which often escalates to destructive behaviour. These behaviours are not only largely unacceptable in our society, but they often lead to injury. Further medical considerations for desexing are mammary cancer, uterine infections, prostatic disease and hormonal imbalances. Although they have multifactorial origins, a desexed animal has a much lesser risk of developing these conditions which can sometimes be life threatening. All of these factors make a good case to support the desexing of cats and dogs, especially those living within close confines in an urban environment. But what are the negative points about desexing? Dogs usually attain puberty at 7 – 12 months and cats at 4 – 9 months of age. At this point there is a greater production of sex hormones which are involved with growth and development, helping to promote the maturation of cartilage and assist with calcium deposition in bones. There is concern about some of the long term health risks of removing the benefits of these hormones. Research has indicated that a desexed female dog is eight times more likely to suffer from urinary incontinence and it has also been suggested that pre-pubertal desexing of dogs causes an increased incidence of hip dysplasia and bladder infections and cats are more inclined to be shy and obese. Desexing is a straightforward procedure and our modern anaesthetics are very safe but complications such as excessive blood loss, infection and drug reactions do occasionally arise. In pre-pubertal animals, the procedure is generally quicker, easier, and less stressful and there is a faster recovery. For the pet population as a whole, it is clear that desexing at a young age is an important practice that is adopted by animal shelters globally. When considering desexing your pet and the many factors relating to their specific needs as individuals, it is important to obtain guidance from your vet to help you to make the appropriate decision for their long-term health. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Weight Management for Your Pet The “excess baggage” that our animals may carry can be a very important factor affecting long-term health. Extra weight can be a burden to an animal with sore joints and it may lead to health problems later on such as diabetes. Although, as with humans, the scale is not completely accurate to determine the absolute condition of an animal because muscle weighs more than fat, it is generally a useful indicator of progress. Another useful tool is to view your animal from above and if they have their chest tapering into a waist (as opposed to a barrel like appearance!) and their ribs are easy to feel under their skin, but cannot be seen, then your animal is in good condition. Occasionally animals might have health conditions that may make it difficult for them to lose weight such as thyroid disease or too much cortisol in their system, due to either a malfunction of their adrenal gland or from medication. In these cases we may use further diagnostics such as blood tests and apply various medications to support their health. Generally there are a few fundamental guidelines to follow that help to make weight management easy. The more of these simple guidelines that are used, the greater the progress that may be expected. However, even making use of just some of these daily habits should help to make a difference. Firstly, the quality of food fed is imperative to helping the body use nutrients efficiently. Poor quality food is difficult for the body to use, the body can be starved of important nutrients and it tends to store what it gets as fat. Ideally use a raw food diet as previously discussed. Premium pet food biscuits may also be fed but they are generally deficient in optimal amounts of critical nutrients such as the omega fatty acids and more research is indicating that chemicals and preservatives may be detrimental to long-term health. The amount of food fed is the next critical step in helping to regulate a healthy weight. Feeding too much food will cause the excess to be stored as fat. If your pet isn’t losing weight after 2 weeks on a set protocol then you will need to cut down further on the amount that he/she’s being fed. The frequency and timing of meals also has an impact on weight. Feeding only once a day teaches the body that it needs to store fat so that it can use it for energy when there’s no food. It also slows the metabolism down. Rather feed 2-3 smaller meals a day rather than one big one. Large meals fed at night lead the body to store fat as the metabolism slows when sleeping. Ideally feed larger meals in the morning and vice versa in the case where your cat is more active at night. Limit snacks and treats, especially where they are unhealthy foods such as cake. They provide extra calories which may be stored as fat. Rather give a small treat instead of a whole biscuit; your pet will enjoy it just as much. Feed a large raw or rawhide bone or a pigs ear for your pet to chew on, or add extra vegetables or wholegrain rice if you need to bulk their food up as these are high in fibre and won’t easily be stored as fat. Omega 3 fatty acids are extremely helpful to aid the body in burning excess body fat. Supplementing your animal’s diet with this wonderful nutrient found in high concentrations in flax oil and fish oil will make a tremendous difference not only to their weight, but to their overall health and well-being. Finally, exercise is an extremely valuable tool to assist body burn excess fat. Always start off with a gentle walk (500m) in unfit and obese animals and gradually build up over several weeks to a few kilometres. Ideally, you should implement these changes gradually over a 2 week period. Also bear in mind that cats may be very difficult to manage as they can be very picky eaters and if you’re not feeding what they want, they often go and visit the neighbour! Overall however, the effort is worthwhile to add quality to your animal’s life. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Ear Problems Ear infections are common and can cause severe pain and discomfort to your animal. Recognizing the symptoms early on and halting the progression of ear dis-ease is very important to help prevent serious long term problems. Dogs and cats have an external ear comprised of relatively long ear canals which are made up of the outer vertical ear canal running downward to meet the horizontal ear canal which runs almost at right angles to the vertical ear canal. The external ear is separated from the middle ear by a fine membranous sheath known as the ear drum which connects to the delicate ear bones that are responsible for an animal’s hearing. Most commonly we see infections of the outer ear which may be identified by observing any of the following signs in animals; head shaking, tilting of their heads to one side, scratching at their ears, slight hearing loss or in severe cases animals can be lethargic and uninterested in eating. On closer inspection the ear might be red and inflamed, and contain discharge which could be yellow pus, wax or black material and might have a putrid smell. By visualizing the ear canal and ideally the ear drum with an ophthalmoscope, we can identify ear mites, foreign bodies such as grass seeds in the ear, protuberant growths, inflammation, infections or problems of the ear drum. Samples of ear content may be analyzed to confirm various bacterial infections. There are a number of ear medications, both conventional and more natural, which have anti-bacterial properties and will easily drown ear mites. These are important to help get on top of the problem but from a Holistic point of view we look further than the bug and attempt to uncover why the body is out of balance and why the ear canal is a hospitable environment for infection which it shouldn’t be in a healthy animal. Various genetic factors will predispose certain breeds to problems; Labradors with hairs in their ear canals and spaniels who have long ears encourage a moist environment for bugs to prosper. In animals with long term ear problems, they might have thickened ear canals which cause narrowing of the ear canal space and subsequently are more likely to develop recurrent infections. These animals need to have their ears regularly cleaned with a good ear cleaner (a simple solution is a 1% dilution of Hydrogen peroxide, but ensure that your animal’s ear drum is intact with a visit to your vet). By instilling a generous amount into the ear and massaging the ear canal to ideally hear the “squish” noise that the liquid makes, debris will be loosened and most animals really enjoy the rub as it relieves their irritation immensely. Because of the great length of the ear canals, just wiping the visible outer ear simply doesn’t do enough to keep ears clean. In the greater scheme of things, the ears are simply an extension of the skin and as with skin problems, ear infections are generally easily prevented by keeping animals healthy with a natural raw food diet, that is free of chemicals and preservatives and provides optimal amounts of vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids, as well as basic management with the regular use of an ear cleaner in animals predisposed to problems. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Nutrition & Behavioural Problems It never ceases to amaze me what fantastic changes take place when an animal begins to receive a well balanced, wholesome, natural diet with optimal amounts of nutrients. Older animals show a remarkable improvement in their general vitality and well-being while younger animals show improvements in these areas as well as pronounced positive changes in their temperament and overall tractability. Sub-optimal nutrition is a huge factor undermining animals’ sense of well-being and their ability to cope with stress, which is usually the underlying issue of many behavioural problems. Unfortunately many commercial foods don’t manage to achieve this. They are generally heavily processed destroying a significant amount of nutrients and, especially biscuit or crumble formulations, are very deficient in vital omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. In addition to this, they frequently contain additives to improve the taste of the food, which may not only be detrimental to long term health but also contribute greatly to an animals’ poor behaviour. High concentrations of sugar (also listed as corn syrup or sucrose) and some artificial flavouring in certain foods have also been linked to behavioural abnormalities such as nervousness, hyperactivity, anxiety and aggressive behaviour in children and pets. It has been shown that optimal amounts of omega 3 fatty acids are of great assistance to children with ADD and to people who experience mood swings and this is true for animals as well. Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin B’s are especially helpful to support the nervous system and to moderate extreme behaviours. Tryptophan, an amino acid, helps to bring about the feeling of calmness and well-being; it can be a very useful aid in reducing dominance associated aggression. As part of resolving behavioural disorders, we always address nutrition as an important first step in helping to take the edge off (and often alleviate!) behavioural disorders and anxiety. Other useful tools are Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence, calming herbs such as skull cap and valerian and therapies like NIS and homeopathy. Additional considerations of importance are guidance from an experienced animal behaviourist and aids such as toys. All in all it can be challenging to treat behavioural problems but once the basics are applied, most animals can be well managed and quality of life restored for all involved! [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Pet Food Ingredients That May Be Detrimental to Health When considering the nourishment of your dog and cat, the two main important key points are to: Provide optimal amounts of nutrients. Avoid unnatural chemicals, preservatives or food additives as far as possible. These are foreign to the body and can potentially cause health problems as the body is unable to eliminate or process them. Unfortunately many commercial foods don’t manage to achieve this. They are generally heavily processed destroying a significant amount of nutrients and, especially biscuit or crumble formulations are very deficient in vital omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. In addition to this, they frequently contain additives to improve the taste of the food, make it look more visually appealing and to preserve the shelf life. The list of ingredients will list the food components in order of the highest amount to the least amount. It is concerning that one of the first ingredients listed for many foods are grains. Grains can be helpful in moderation to bulk up dogs’ food but certainly for cats, which are carnivores and some dogs that have health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and allergies, they can be detrimental to health as they have a pro-inflammatory effect which contributes to dis-ease. Many food additives have little or no safety testing and some such as propylene glycol, potassium sorbate, sodium nitrite and propyl gallate have been linked to health problems in animals. Ethoxyquin is a preservative of many commercial animal foods that was originally used in rubber production. It helps to prevent fat from becoming rancid and has been approved as safe by the overseers of food production, however, ethoxyquin is alleged to cause cancer - as well as kidney, liver and thyroid problems. BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is another poorly tested preservative implicated by some scientists to cause liver damage, metabolic stress and foetal abnormalities while BHA (butylated hydroxysanisole) has been implicated in liver and kidney problems as well as birth defects, behavioural problems and is potentially considered a carcinogen (cancer causing substance). High concentrations of sugar (also listed as corn syrup or sucrose) and some artificial flavouring have also been linked to behavioural abnormalities such as nervousness, hyperactivity, anxiety and aggressive behaviour in children and pets. Sugar in high amounts can also lead to health problems of the adrenal glands and pancreas such as diabetes. A good quality food will only be preserved with natural substances such as naturally occurring tocopherols and vitamin C. In addition to this, high quality foods source their ingredients from farms where care has been taken to minimize exposure to herbicides, fungicides, anti-biotic residues and hormones which many food producing animals are treated with to improve their production. Allergens are food components which are involved in initiating allergies and while there is the potential for many types of food to fall into this category for different individuals there are certain foods which are more likely to be allergens than others. These include beef, beef bye products, milk and grains. All in all it can be challenging to find great quality food that takes all of this into consideration helping to enhance the health of your pet. But the bottom line, as usual, is that nature knows best and by respecting natural principles and feeding a natural raw food diet as nature intended you can be sure that you’re making a substantial investment into your animal’s health and well-being. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Equine Colic Colic is a general term for abdominal pain and while many cases are mild and inconsequential, others can be life threatening. It’s very important to take all cases seriously and seek veterinary advice at an early stage. Horses usually display abdominal discomfort by lying down more than usual, standing with a stretched out posture, repeatedly getting up and down, standing as if to urinate, rolling, turning their head to their flank, pawing the ground or kicking at their abdomen. Generally, the more the severe their pain, the more violently they behave and the more urgent the need for veterinary intervention. Another useful sign to monitor is the colour of their gums, white, purple or bright red gums are an indication that there is something severely wrong. The source of pain can be from a number of areas such as the kidneys, muscles, liver and reproductive organs. Most commonly, however, colic is attributable to pain originating in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) or digestive system. There are several types of colic which lead to abdominal discomfort. These include distension colic which is due to excess gas build up, obstruction colic which might be caused by the impaction of food or the presence of enteroliths (very hard rock like structures that form in the GIT over time) and spasmodic colic where spasms cause the intestines to contract painfully. Strangulations which occur when the gut twists on itself and inflammatory disorders like enteritis and colitis are also responsible for colic. Vets will do a thorough clinical examination to evaluate the seriousness of the horse’s condition. This might include placing a tube into the horse’s nose and down to the stomach to allow for the release of pressure accumulated in the stomach. Most colics respond to conservative medical treatment where we treat with pain relief and provide fluids via the tube to the stomach or in the form of a drip. We might also treat with drugs which enhance passage of gut content, have a laxative effect or help to relieve spasms in the GIT. There are also several alternative therapies which help to play a role in calming the horse and re-establishing normal gut function in some cases. Those cases that don’t respond are best referred to specialist facilities for intensive care and sometimes surgery. Colic is much better prevented rather than cured. Regular healthcare such as dental check ups and intestinal parasite management are especially important to help prevent colic but of utmost priority is keeping risk factors to a minimum. Risk factors include sudden changes of diet, activity, environmental and management factors like stabling and transport. Maintain a regular feeding schedule with good quality concentrates and allow access to forage on balanced soils for as much of the day as possible. Avoid overgrazing pastures and ensure constant access to clean water. As far as possible make all changes slowly and monitor horses exposed to high risk situations closely. This will go a long way to keeping your horse colic free. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Horse Cribbing and Wind Sucking A cribbing horse anchors their upper front teeth onto a stationary object, such as a fence, arches up their neck and facial muscles, retracts their larynx (voice box), and then gulps down air. A wind sucker on the other hand will flex their neck, gulp air and emit a grunting sound without anchoring onto an object. Horses who crib can wear their teeth excessively, may suffer from colic because of swallowing air and their performance could be impeded by the heavy neck muscles which develop from cribbing. In addition to these health concerns, a considerable amount of damage is caused to stalls and barns. Cribbing and wind sucking have not been reported in free-ranging wild or semi-wild horses that spend ninety percent of their time grazing. Our domestic horses, on the other hand, typically spend much less time grazing and their inability to graze naturally can be a significant stress that might contribute to cribbing behaviour. Looking at it from a different angle, cribbing is also thought to be motivated by boredom or attempts to satisfy their natural grazing instinct with substitute behaviour. Research has shown that this repetitive behaviour may cause the release of endorphins which are opioid like substances which have a “feel good” effect and can become addictive to some horses. It has been found that drugs which block the body's release of endorphins can stop cribbing but these drugs are relatively short acting. Drugs, aversion therapies (crib straps, anti-cribbing mixes applied to fences, electric fencing) and surgery to stop the behaviour do not address the root of the problem. As always if we fail to respect natural principles, sooner or later problems will develop to reflect the imbalance. If your horse is confined to a stall, provide toys that it can roll over to obtain food. Also remove crib-friendly objects from the stall and position stall features to reduce the opportunity for cribbing e.g. Raise the water bucket and feed tub up to chest level and eliminate all edges up to that height. Ideally allow horses more pasture time, letting them graze (on well balanced soils) and roam, as well as social interaction with other horses and even other species. This in addition to consistent, intelligent handling as well as regular exercise will help tremendously. Good nutrition is vital to having your horse feeling good within them self. Feed less grain concentrate (use higher-fat rations if necessary) and more roughage (forage supplements). Also ensure that they have optimal amounts of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids in their diet. Be aware that underlying pain due to ulcers, sore teeth or for other reasons will raise the need for a horse to crib. If you suspect this might be the case, get them to be checked over by your vet and have these problems addressed. Horses who have been cribbing for years may have the habit so deeply ingrained that it could be difficult to have absolute resolution but by respecting natural principles and addressing all factors that could possibly be contributing to underlying stress, cribbing can be greatly reduced or completely eliminated. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Calf Care for Healthy Animals An alert, bright eyed calf with a shiny coat that eats well and actively plays is a rewarding site which reflects the success of a farm. When it comes to calf health, our adage applies as usual… prevention of dis-ease is better than cure and knowing what to look for and how to successfully address any problems that arise early on will go a long way to boosting quality production. Calf health is promoted first and foremost by ensuring that these young animals have healthy mothers. A healthy cow that has been fed on balanced pastures with the correct feed additives is likely to carry and give birth to a healthy calf and is also able to transfer valuable immunity from disease onto her offspring. After delivery, it is of vital importance that a newly born calf receives colostrum (the first milk) from its mother within one to twelve hours after birth. Colostrum contains many vital nutrients, the most valuable being immunoglobulins which are essential to help the young animal to effectively combat infection. Calves must have sufficient feed intake to support their growth and development. Naturally reared calves or those who suckle on nurse cows grow quickly and generally do very well. Management systems which rear calves separately from their mothers must ensure that when feeding milk, calves aren’t overfed or underfed, that the correct milk is used and that any dietary changes are made slowly. Adverse weather conditions can be detrimental to calf health so providing warmth and shelter in paddocks or in buildings to protect them from cold and wet weather is imperative. Hygiene is another key component to raising healthy calves. Paddocks should be clean and the buildings where calves are housed must be regularly disinfected to prevent the build up of bacteria which can cause calves to become ill. Any utensils used in calf rearing must be clean and sick animals should be removed from the group to prevent the spread of disease. These buildings should also have a quarantine area for new calves that enter the property in case they are harbouring disease. Signs of ill health include dull eyes and coat, poor appetite, disinterest, shivering, a tucked up appearance, laboured breathing or coughing and wheezing, scouring (diarrhoea) and pale mucous membrane colour. One of the most common problems that calves develop is scouring which can be due to a variety of causes including viral, bacterial and protozoal diseases as well as worm infestations and even nutritional factors such as cold milk feeding and changes in food type and volume. Scouring can lead to dehydration, the loss of body salts, low energy, dropped body temperature and ultimately death. If you notice scouring, act quickly by immediately feeding the calf a good quality electrolyte solution to replace lost water, body salts and energy helping to support the calf. Isolate the infected calf and seek veterinary advice if necessary. A healthy calf kept in a healthy environment will have good immunity and will therefore be much less susceptible to diseases and parasites such as worms and lice. These animals will boost productivity many fold and contribute greatly to the general long term well-being of the herd. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Dairy Cow Metabolic Problems Dairy cows have a remarkable ability to convert fodder into human food. A dairy cow is capable of producing twice her body weight in milk every year; she is truly a remarkable biological factory! While lactating, a cow will typically produce 10 to 20 times the amount of milk required to feed a calf. This places a huge demand on her body and greatly accelerates her metabolic rate. To complicate matters further, during late pregnancy a cow's appetite will decrease, the amount of food that can fit into her rumen is less, due to the large space taken up by the developing calf, and this leads to less energy being available for her needs as well as a poorer availability and absorption of important minerals such as calcium and magnesium. During lactation, a time of great physiological stress, she will draw upon body reserves to cope with the demand. A very fine balance exists between peak production and falling into the trap of developing post-calving complications due to a lack of energy and nutrient resources. There are three main groups of post-calving problems that cows can develop: Metabolic diseases such as milkfever, grass staggers, ketosis and downer cow syndrome, reproductive problems such as retained foetal membranes and late return to cycling or infertility and Mastitis. Milkfever develops due to low calcium levels, especially during the first two days and usually within the first 10 days after calving, but can occasionally occur in the last few days of pregnancy. During the early stage of lactation there is a high loss of calcium in colostrum that is beyond the capacity of calcium absorption from the digestive system and the mobilization of calcium reserves from bones. Calcium is a mineral essential for the maintenance of muscle tone, as well as nerve health in the body. When cows are deficient, signs of milkfever develop which are a progressive dysfunction of muscles and nerves with sudden weakness, recumbency and later coma and death unless they receive treatment with replacement calcium. Cows who are high butterfat producers and those that are fed on high protein feeds and/or fodder high in calcium and low in phosphorous, such as lucerne, before calving are more susceptible to developing milkfever. High calcium feed after calving is helpful. Stress and fatigue precipitate milkfever attacks. Low magnesium levels (blood samples can be checked by your vet) increase susceptibility to milkfever and also cause grass staggers to develop which is most common in the two months following calving, again because the sudden demand of lactation outstripping supply. Grass staggers can be triggered by excitement, stress, milking and adverse weather. Signs include excitability, irritability and convulsions. Both milkfever and grass staggers can be successfully treated if caught early but, as always,prevention is better than cure and, as always, good nutrition as well as herd management are of utmost importance to maintain cows in peak production and to keep them in optimal health. Year-round planned grazing on properly fertilized and well-balanced pastures is imperative and, where necessary, supplements such as magnesium licks or sprays can be used. Ensuring excellent nutrition, especially in the weeks before and after calving, is a wise investment and will help prevent problems and optimize production. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

Facial Eczema Facial Eczema (FE) is a condition affecting cattle, sheep, goats and deer. It has its origin from a fungus called pithomyces which grows on dead litter at the base of rye grass. In warm moist weather, typically between January and April, this fungus produces high amounts of spores containing a toxin called sporidesmin which damages the liver when animals eat the spores. This liver damage prevents the excretion of a substance called phylloerythrin (naturally in their body from the breakdown of chlorophyll in their food), which then accumulates in the bloodstream. It reacts with certain UV rays from the sun and leads to damaged skin. This is why Facial Eczema often manifests as sunburn (redness and swelling) on the lighter pigmented and exposed parts of animals like their face and even the udder and vulva. Because of the underlying liver damage animals are also prone to poor growth, lowered production, ill thrift and sometimes even death. These animals are uncomfortable and sometimes jaundiced (the whites of their eyes and gums have a yellow tinge) and they may develop skin infections. They often shake their heads with discomfort and seek shade to find some relief. Some animals that are severely affected might develop permanent liver damage which can affect them each subsequent season. Prevention of FE is better than cure and one of the best long term strategies is to replace the affected rye grass pastures with strains which don’t support the fungus. It is also possible to use fungicides on the pasture but depending on the type, it might not be environmentally friendly to do so. Another long-term solution for sheep stock is to select breeds which are more resistant to FE and will better tolerate pastures with higher spore counts. Yet another option is to move stock off high count pastures at this time of year. Where animals are exposed to high spore counts, FE may be prevented by drenching stock with Zinc-oxide (not Zinc-sulphate as it is toxic), used according to the manufacturer’s directions to avoid over dosage. It is wise to start this in January and it is a practice that is acceptable on organic farms. For affected animals, their infected skin might need anti-biotic therapy, while herbs such as calendula are a soothing option. Dairy cows with teat and udder lesions might need drying off. Remove the affected animals from the pasture, dose them on zinc-oxide and offer them shade as well as hay and water for a few days. Then gradually introduce high quality nutritious feed. Vitamins and various other nutrients available from supplements and herbs will promote healing and help most animals to regain their appetites as well as help the liver to regenerate. Homeopathic remedies are another useful tool to employ both in the prevention and treatment of FE. A long term plan for the prevention of FE is ideal as it will add greatly to animals’ quality of life, save them from tremendous discomfort and ultimately improve their production. [ SAVE AS PDF ]

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