Paws to Heal

I have been finding it more difficult lately to continue to practice in an environment that creates conflict and confusion to the wonderful people who seek my advice as clients to my vet practice. Consultations can become counseling sessions due to the shift in understanding that occurs and the challenges that can arise in an already emotional situation with sick animals.

The life of a holistic vet has always been difficult because we have needed to have the courage and resilience to face criticism from many corners for the perception that we are ‘troublemakers’. What we are, in fact, is a group of professional veterinarians looking for the best way we can to understand and treat disease in animals. If our discoveries and successes lead us to better understand concepts that are considered contrary to conventional thinking then we may find ourselves being somewhat tortured by difficulties of communication and comprehension.

We were all given the same opportunity to learn veterinary medicine and many of us branched into specializations. Holistic medicine is a specialization and the discoveries that we make are invaluable contributions to the future of medicine. Unfortunately we are not regarded as specialists in our field by our colleagues who still do not think to ask our advice about what is termed ‘complementary and alternative veterinary medicine’ or more accurately, integrative medicine.  Animal owners themselves are seeking us out with increasing frequency as they search for answers to perplexing disease situations or are frustrated by escalating and chronic conditions afflicting their pets.

Speaking personally, my veterinary training provided me with an invaluable opportunity and environment in which to learn to learn. Vet school provides a comprehensive foundation in animal anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and medicine. There were opportunities to learn and practice surgery and all of this was built upon a solid foundation of evidence based scientific practices such as physics and chemistry.

‘Evidence based medicine’ (EBM) itself, however, is a misleading term that was adopted by sceptics to discredit medicine, especially complementary and alternative medicine.

In actual fact evidence based medicine is not even taught at all to clinicians in the strictest sense because it is a term that was coined by epidemiologists and academics to distinguish their laboratory practices from clinical practices.

By it’s very definition and from it’s inception EBM is divisive and misleading.

That does not mean that our veterinary training has no evidence base. Evidence is gleaned from years of experience and knowledge, training and research and all veterinarians practice medicine that has an evidence base. You may begin to see how this term has been misused, appropriated and has become somewhat meaningless despite the emphasis placed upon it by those striving to drive conflict using the firm assertion that there is a difference. There is not.

With the rise in interest in holistic complementary and natural medicine over recent times there has been too much conflict in and around this issue that has not served any of us well.

This vet story however was not intended to be a discourse on EBM. I originally intended to introduce some of the reasons for why we are vilified for holistic practice apart from the confusion over terminology.

I will speak personally once again because I cannot assume that my colleagues agree with my assertions. I have decided to be blunt and forthright in these assertions because the messages are very important and simple.

The vast majority, if not all, diagnoses involving terms like “immune mediated”or idiopathic are the result of epigenetic fallout from years of vaccinations, bad diets and suppressive treatments.

Suppressive treatments include all products with the term ‘anti’. Anti means against. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, antacids, antiemetics all have a place in disease management but never in cure. We have now moved beyond the anti to the full blown immunosuppressive, past cortisone to deeper levels of suppression. Must we be against everything?

From these short statements alone it is not difficult to see why I may be considered a ‘troublemaker’ but I am solely concerned with discovering the truth and providing the best treatments for animals. There are many other postings on this site pertaining to best practice such as the feeding of evolutionary diets since ‘we are all what we eat’. Nutrition has a fundamental role in optimal health and in preventing epigenetic triggers to disease.

Real and healthy food does not ever come in packets or tins.

I am certain that in the next few years there will be an increase in interest and research into epigenetics that will shed some light on and bring solutions for these problems but in the meantime holistic vets have real answers and treatments available for chronically ill animals.

As we progress towards unraveling the mysteries of the genome, after the discovery of the genetic code over sixty years ago, we perhaps ought to consider that there have always been those amongst us who have put their innate, genomic knowledge and wisdom to best use.

The outer courage sees the right way.

The inner courage does the right thing.

 Sri Chinmoy

Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine  is a term used to denote veterinary medicine and techniques that are currently not taught in veterinary schools in Australia. It is integrated into regular veterinary practice by Integrative Veterinarians or used as a stand alone discipline by veterinarians trained in acupuncture, chiropractic and homeopathy amongst others.

It is perhaps more accurate to say that there is really no such thing as complementary and alternative medicine except in the minds of skeptics who use this terminology to indicate that it is not true medicine in their opinion.

The simplest fact is that medicine is medicine by definition.

I have begun writing posts about the importance of veterinary involvement in animal natural medicine because Veterinarians are the only animal health professionals who are trained adequately to diagnose and treat animals with disease. Complementary and Alternative medicine affords a wider base from which to draw these treatments under professional veterinary supervision and there is an increasing number of veterinarians taking an interest in studying these ‘alternative’ medicines.

The majority of people seeking this approach for their animals often have some experience or knowledge of these medicines themselves but it is also becoming a popular option for others who are running out of choices for the treatment of chronic animal disease.

Many new products and supplements have risen to popularity in recent times from the use of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine. Herbs have been a common adjunct to large animal feeds for many years as a result of understanding the benefits of such things as rosehip and milk thistle for health restoration. Small animals are similarly obtaining benefit from the addition of glucosamine, chondroitin or green lipped mussel products to commercial pet foods in recent times for joint disease. Fatty acids and essential oils like fish and flaxseed or sunflower have gained increasing popularity for skin disease management for example.

Over time the benefits or side effects of these nutrients also becomes better known and an evidence base is accumulated through case studies in an industry that does not invest much in research. Recently, for example, I have started to wonder whether the addition of green lipped mussel or pernease to dog and cat foods may be implicated in some seizure activity or predisposition to muscle tremors and epilepsy since it contains high levels of copper, made higher by concentration in supplements. This is the kind of information that integrative vets use to evaluate the efficacy of natural medicines and ensure that people get the best available advice for pet health. Organisations of holistic vets from around the world collaborate their case studies and independent research so that all practitioners benefit from shared knowledge and experience in integrative veterinary medicine.

Integrative veterinarians utilise a holistic approach to thinking about each case of animal disease and many natural medicines feature in treatment programs. Appropriate diets are an absolutely essential part of optimum health maintenance.  and chewing is a major factor in strengthening immunity of cats and dogs. 

Most integrative vets who employ homeopathy and herbal medicine also employ physical therapies that help to reset the brain axis and homeostasis. Holistic vets assist animals to heal themselves by restoring mechanisms that are weakened by many factors including stress, grief and environmental influences.

These physical therapies include, but are not restricted to, acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic/biomechanical medicine, Bowen, Orthobionomy, Myofascial and trigger point therapy and massage. None of these are taught in veterinary schools in Australia but can be invaluable healing tools in trained hands. It should also be noted that in untrained hands these techniques are not advised, as they can be harmful and used in isolation can also delay or prevent adequate diagnosis and proper treatment options.

Holistic and Integrative Veterinarians can be located in most states of Australia and anyone seeking Complementary or Alternative Medicine for their pets or animals should ask their regular veterinarian for referral or visit Integrative Veterinarians Australia website directory.

Truth does not
Challenge anybody.

Sri Chinmoy

 Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, Part 31

This posting arises from the concerns that I have had for quite some time about people not being able to access the best service and advice about the health needs of their beloved pets and animals, with regard to complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM).

The Australian veterinary profession has been too slow to respond to the rapid rise in popularity of natural animal medicine and holistic animal medicine over many years. This has afforded many individuals the opportunity to fill a much needed gap in the provision of natural animal health services and has created a bit of a black hole for animal disease diagnosis and treatment.

There are many, far too many, websites and companies providing  holistic animal medicines to the public without any veterinary knowledge or proper training in animal health. This also means without qualifications to diagnose and treat animal disease properly, ethically and legally. This does not mean however that animal naturopaths and homeopaths are not trained or experienced, just that they are not registered veterinarians with accountability to a regulatory body that ensures that the best interests of the public and the animals is upheld as a priority over sales.

As a concerned and often desperate animal owner, it is true that it can be hard to find the right advice and treatments. Often your regular veterinarian will not know about natural, holistic or alternative medicines but it is imperative that any supplements or medicines or natural health products that you choose to administer to your pets is safe, effective and appropriate. Website testimonials are not a safeguard against this issue.

For example, it is not ever advisable to give animals multiple medicines simultaneously and this includes medicines or remedies that are comprised of multiple ingredients. I am seriously alarmed by the types of medicines being sold to animal owners via internet sales that are not prescribed for the individual animal and contain numerous components when single ingredient homeopathy is best practice. It is also not necessary to continue medicating beyond clinical response and many people will continue to purchase and use medicines far beyond what is necessary for optimal health.

Homeopathy and holistic animal medicine is founded upon the premise that practitioners treat individuals.This means that medicines are prescribed for the individual and not just for the diagnosis or the disease.

I used to spend a lot of my professional time detoxifying and re educating animals that have been overly medicated, albeit by very well meaning and loving owners who have purchased medicines over the internet without proper personalised veterinary advice. Fortunately more and more animal owners are aware that veterinary options exist to direct them towards safe and effective natural animal health practices. There are many veterinarians who provide a range of CAVM including naturopathy, homeopathy and holistic animal medicine. In Australia these can be found through Integrative Veterinarians Australia.

The foundation of holistic animal medicine is individualised treatment programs. These are not ever provided sufficiently or exclusively through internet sales and marketing. Furthermore, anyone who is looking for the best natural medicine treatments for their beloved pets would want to visit a qualified veterinarian who can then refer them to a holistic vet for CAVM.

As we approach the shortest day of the year Downunder, I am reminded to elaborate on a common problem that recurs in susceptible cats at this time of the year, cystitis or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

The majority of cystitis in cats is a behavioural disease that is triggered by the stress of increasing and decreasing daylight and the effect this has on the feline brain.

It is actually a disease that almost certainly would not occur in these cats if they were intact and sexually active since the problem is displaced or suppressed mating behaviour.

With no reproductive outlet for behaviour these cats manifest physical disease in the urinary tract secondarily to stimulus to the pineal gland in the cat’s brain. As the pineal registers and responds to changes in daylight hours, the mating reflex is triggered, irrespective of the absence of gonads. The brain is the largest sex organ in mammals and it causes many diseases by mixed messages and faulty feedback to other organs.

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) has been around for as long as I have been practicing veterinary medicine and there are other causes for this ubiquitous disease including such things as urinary tract infections, crystals in the urine and other behavioural stresses like moving the litter box or the presence of a new cat in the house or yard. It has been managed by numerous interventions that go in and out of fashion over many years and range from cage rest, severe dietary restrictions or medications up to the more drastic ‘sex change’ operation we used to perform in male cats to prevent blockage by inflammatory debris or crystals. Understanding that the majority of these cases are now termed idiopathic, meaning that there is no identifiable or proven causation, most of them are cured by adjusting behavioural stressors and giving them raw meaty bones to chew to reduce stress and strengthen their vitality. Cooked grain based commercial diets potentiate inflammation even though one of the only proven treatments for FLUTD in recent times has been shown to be a prescription commercial diet.

I used to wonder why many cats consistently re-presented with this disease midsummer and midwinter until I discovered the link to breeding season through my studies in homeopathy. Whilst blood in the urine and crystals are present in a number of cases these are generally secondary findings in a cat that has been behaving strangely and urinating inappropriately from stress. It has been shown that women who insist on visiting the toilet to empty their bladders before every concert, play or theatre performance whether they need to go or not, are more prone to behaviourally induced cystitis for the same reason. The inflammation (cystitis) is secondarily induced by the behaviour and is not the cause or primary factor in disease or discomfort.

Cats, being creatures of ritual and routine, will not tolerate having their toilet habits disrupted by interlopers visiting their territory during ‘crazy season’ or  any other time for that matter. The short and long day effect however will bring even the most placid and easy- going cat into a risk zone for these obsessive behaviours that predispose to urinary bladder inflammation. There are very few people who do not panic when they see their cats passing drops of blood and straining to urinate. If the cat is a male cat there is sometimes cause for concern as we must determine if the bladder is full or empty. A blocked urethra in a cat is potentially life threatening.

There is still controversy over the effect of prepubertal desexing, especially castration, as a predisposing factor to urethral blockage in male cats. I have come to the conclusion after many years observation that it is an advantage to grow cats to full maturity before desexing them and there is evidence emerging now to support this practice even though it is not always practical to keep animals intact past puberty. Immature animals and those desexed early will have infantile genitalia resulting in smaller diameter urethra and a theoretically higher predisposition to blockage should inflammation occur in these individuals. This has not yet been proven with studies but other disadvantages have been recently demonstrated  including poorer endocrine functioning in animals desexed at an early age.

From a therapeutic basis, there are many first aid homeopathic medicines that can instantly relieve the distress most FLUTD cats exhibit. By far the most important treatment is to limit the cats’ range of territory for a day or two by restricting access to the whole house or yard. This is best termed ‘cage rest’ and if you have a crate or similar enclosure large enough for a litter tray, a bed and a food and water bowl they will be well served. Blocking off a portion of a small room and enforcing compulsory rest by restricting usual daily activity achieves the same result. This gives the cat a space to de-stress and contrary to expectation, is very well tolerated and welcomed by all afflicted individuals. The most effective homeopathic medicines to have on hand include cantharis, apis, arnica and rescue remedy or emergency essence. These can be administered directly to the mouth or put in the drinking water if they are alcohol spray based preparations. In chronic, refractory or advanced cases a constitutional approach is also beneficial and will require a consultation with a veterinary naturopath or homeopath.

Any cat that is male must be properly examined to determine that the urinary bladder is emptying adequately and any cat that is unresponsive to the basis first aid described will need veterinary attention as soon as possible and further investigation.

It is reassuring to have some understanding of these problems so that we can continue to help domesticus Felis catus remain fearless and domesticated.

Cat, my cat,
You cry for constant affection.
I have affection plus compassion.
Therefore
Stop crying,
Start smiling.
I tell you a supreme secret:
“I treasure your dependence.”

Sri Chinmoy, Animal Kingdom

“If you have even a cat or a dog or anything that is innocent and younger than you in spirit, in soul, then naturally it is your duty to help it, guide it, mould it.”

Sri Chinmoy

The meditation-world

The numbers of websites and businesses centering on providing natural animal health solutions has exploded in the last decade. I think this is primarily due to an increased awareness occurring in general. People have been using these natural health options for themselves for over forty years or more and the trend is increasing owing largely to the wide range of products and services available in a modern global economy. This is inevitably expanding into the animal health market.

Natural medicines are currently recognised as those that are not scheduled, or non-prescription medicines and most often comprise homeopathic remedies, herbs, nutraceuticals and supplements. Animal naturopathy is the study and practice of medical disciplines that provide these services to animals.

Naturopathy comes under the umbrella of complementary and alternative medicine and as such has not been taught in medical or veterinary undergraduate degrees in Australia. There are, however, veterinarians who have taken a particular interest in natural healing techniques and who have studied these subjects extensively to augment their practice of veterinary medicine.

Parallel to the rise in popularity of natural medicine there is a rising concern within the conventional medical establishment about these disciplines.  The public needs to have a reliable source of accurate and safe information that, on the one hand allows for a certain degree of skepticism and caution, whilst on the other is open to new and existing safe and effective practices that have proven merit. Quality control in both the manufacture and delivery of these products is also of paramount importance. Veterinary naturopaths understand how to access quality and safe products from a plethora of products on today’s market.

In conventional veterinary practice, chronic disease is increasingly accepted as manageable rather than curable.

Natural medicine comes under fire largely for its holistic approach and the challenge it poses to this accepted premise. Naturopaths and Homeopaths believe and demonstrate that chronic disease can, in fact, be curable and strive for this outcome in conjunction with all the best that conventional medicine has to offer. This is the basis of Integrative Medicine, a new and emerging area of holistic health that takes the best to be gleaned from all approaches to healing.

Integrative Medicine is the medicine of the future.

In the earliest days of veterinary endeavour, all practitioners were, in effect, animal naturopaths because modern pharmaceuticals and technologies had not been developed. These veterinarians were forced to use their own skills in medical prescribing, remedy formulation and healing.

I borrow a quote here from a veterinary pioneer, William Haycock 1852 ,

”I know well that few men, comparatively speaking can be put to a task more disagreeable to them than to be forced to think, and I know of no system of medicine which requires the tithe of thought which homeopathy does”.

We once relied solely upon our five or more senses in examining and treating animals and thought about a wide range of concomitant factors and whilst nobody will deny the benefits of modern technology in diagnostics, there are human skills that are equally invaluable and perhaps currently underutilized.

Naturopathy reminds us that the greatest healing tool is our own ability to discern what it is that needs to be cured and how best to apply medicines to attain this goal. Medicines in this context may be foods, homeopathic remedies, herbs, supplements or pharmaceuticals.

There is a growing number of training organisations teaching people how to develop skills in these areas. There are many concerns, however, that potentially arise out of this trend. The most important issue is quality and extent of training. The Veterinary Surgeons Act in each state of Australia defines the practice of examining and treating animals for disease as an act of veterinary science. This is because a symptom needs to be understood in context of entirety so that diseases are not misdiagnosed and proper treatments are not overlooked. A good example here would be that a vomiting dog or cat may not actually or simply have a  stomach upset.

Veterinarians have a legal obligation and are regulated through a statutory body for conduct and professionalism in their dealings with the public and the animals. Currently this requirement does not exist for non veterinary animal naturopaths and there is no regulation or registration required to practice animal naturopathy. Since veterinarians are the vanguard against emerging exotic and infectious diseases and champions of animal welfare, any other animal naturopath, regardless of their level of education, will need to work collaboratively with a veterinarian in order to ensure that the animal’s interests and welfare are fully represented. At present this is often the missing link in animal welfare and urgently needs to be addressed from both avenues.

The range of quality products being offered as adjuncts to animal natural health is quite impressive but there is concern over the amount of, what I consider to be, unacceptable offerings on the internet. Without the proper training and experience of the practitioner and without some education of the owner, these perils are multiplied. I spend a lot of my professional time educating animal owners, to the best of my ability, about how to discern and how to select the right supplements and foods and to avoid purchasing nonprescribed medicines online. There are risks associated with using any medicines, natural or otherwise, for extended periods of time without proper monitoring.

We must all learn to differentiate  so that the best is not lost whilst the worst is not supported. This is partly why professional medical and veterinary organisations have vested interests in supporting their own members with experience and qualifications in these natural health practices through such groups as Integrative Veterinarians Australia.

All animal health practitioners have a responsibility to uphold animal welfare, to constantly challenge their own perceptions, update their professional skills and to recognise the limitations of their own practice. If we make this pledge, the animals and the public can be best served.

“We can arrive at perfection’s gate
Only when we work together
Lovingly, untiringly and selflessly.”

 Sri Chinmoy  6198

 Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants, Part 62

I realise as I progress through my most prescribed medicines that many cases use a number of remedies over the course of healing.

In order to continue to present portraits of specific medicines from personal experience, it becomes necessary to note instances where the medicine has helped to open or advance a case whether or not it results in complete remission or cure.

There are many cases in which I have used ignatia, St Ignatius Bean.

Many of these occasions are as a result of the symptoms being associated with loss, grief or separation from a significant individual. This theme ties ignatia closely to its chronic, nat mur with the intense relationship issues of the natrums.

I have used ignatia as an acute medicine and also as a mainstay to therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder, such as feet chewing in the ‘fluffy whites’.

It is also an important seizure and spasm medicine and has advanced the treatment of epileptic cases considerably. When I think of ignatia I think of ‘spasm’, rarely ‘hysteria’ for which it is associated by early homeopaths and perhaps there are still cases in humans where individuals express hysteria as a sign. Hysteria following the same word root as hysterectomy or vice versa is a female definition and ignatia is largely a female medicine. I find this to be less the case in animals and both genders are equally represented. I find that animals do not express the extreme of emotion unless they have physical brain inflammation and require different medicines like belladonna although hysteria can also be interpreted as an epileptic seizure.  ‘Spasm’ has therefore become a more common keynote in my practice with regard to ignatia. In this instance it needs to be distinguished from things like cimicifuga and cuprum.

Containing the alkaloid, strychnine like its associated medicine, nux vom, ignatia is understandably erratic and reactive. These plants themes tie in nicely with the sensitivity expressed in the nervous symptoms and mentals of ignatia. Sometimes it comes down to a choice of animal, mineral or plant remedy. For example, a case I had of a small dog licking herself to granuloma formation and for the rubric ‘occupation ameliorates’, we have the choice of all three in sepia, ignatia and silica with ignatia and silica appearing again in ‘monomania’. Ignatia is often confused with pulsatilla as well since many patient look alike in these medicines and they are both worse for heat. Ignatia is more tubercular and pulsatilla is sycotic which can help to differentiate.

It can assist the choice of medicine to look at what characteristics are most dominant in the behaviour or nature of the patient. I use the simplified keynotes of jealousy/aggression for animal, routine and restraint (autonomy and confidence) for mineral and sensitivity for plants. Of course, we know that all of these qualities are interchangeable but the feel of the case can help to distinguish the most appropriate medicine.

Ignatia cured this dogs behavioural lick granuloma.

A case I especially recall because it remained hidden for years, is one of a chronic skin case that seemed to respond partially to a few medicines but nothing holding or advancing the case. Finally, the owner said to me one day that this dog had never been the same since the older dog died and instantly we had the simillimum in ignatia. A single high potency dose of ignatia cured the chronic skin disease. This experience taught me to ask questions of all cases regarding changes like loss in the history but the other difficulty in veterinary medicine is often the lack of this kind of information or the lack of opportunity to follow cases over lengthy timeframes. Like some of my colleagues I have started using ignatia in cases with uncertain backgrounds of animals from shelters or rehoming, in the chance that these events may be significant to the symptomatology.

In this way, ignatia has also become another avenue for ‘opening a case’ in much the same way as thuja for suspected vaccine involvement and sulphur for cortisone usage.

One of the difficulties I encounter most frequently is the choice of potency.

With ignatia, I tend to use an M for known grief aeitiology and often Lm for skin cases or feet chewing. I also use Lm for post ictal seizure recovery in cases that are not cured and 200 as an acute for laryngeal spasm, cough and muscle spams.

In cases of known grief aeitiology, ignatia has worked very well alone to correct the imbalance in the early mental symptoms of a case including inappetance and has probably averted further pathology. The other interesting parallel I discovered recently is that ignatia is a tubercular medicine and as many of my cases skirt around a range of tubercular remedies without fully curing, I am reminded of the potential for miasmatic therapy. I have started employing tuberculinum in these intractable cases and am eagerly awaiting results.

Once upon a time a milkmaid in England demonstrated that the harmless cowpox sore she contracted from an infected cows udder protected her from contracting the devastating scourge of smallpox.

So began the story of vaccination as we know it today.

Given that the original concept of vaccination or inoculation/immunisation, arose from the homeopathic principle that ‘like cures like’, it is ironic that some of the staunchest advocates for vaccine development and use in modern times are often those most opposed to the practice of homeopathy.  C’est la vie.

Unfortunately both vaccination and homeopathy continue to be subjects that raise heated discussion or argument in many circles on a chronically recurring basis, both in the academic and public arena. Vaccination is far from a black and white issue despite often being portrayed as such for the sake of a good argument.

In fact, I would suggest that ever since the practice of vaccination was introduced widely to society over two hundred years ago, there have been concerns about the safety and the necessity of the practice of introducing disease to prevent disease. We also need to consider that the majority of recipients of vaccines do not volunteer to have them.

Those opposed to the practice of vaccination are not necessarily against it outright but recognise the need for transparency and accountability in vaccination programs.  Recipients of vaccines have a right to access accurate information regarding the principles underpinning vaccination and those administering vaccines have a responsibility to acquire and disseminate accurate or complete information.

Whenever vaccination is mentioned these days, many defences may be raised in anticipation of challenge, confusion and conflict. This may partly arise from a lack of transparency in the industries that promote and sell vaccines as much as the frustration arising from the ignorance in the regulatory sectors that blindly embrace and enforce the practice. In the human world, more often that not, it arises simply from fear, ignorance and ego. Vaccination has, since its inception, been held to be the gold standard of disease prevention and this culture warrants scrutiny in a world that has outgrown blind faith in its medical system.

The vaccination debate is the hung parliament of healthcare, the dynamo on the wheel of life that keeps the eternal lantern of conflict alight; the reason we all keep pedalling for democracy. We need to know, and have a right to know, the truth about who really wants to implement vaccination programs and for what real purpose.

Whilst this posting may have been prompted by the current situation in NSW concerning the eligibility of children to attend schools or receive funding, if their parents choose to not vaccinate them, it is not the subject of this posting.

My business is to advise on animal health and provide information to those seeking answers to pet related health issues even if the issues are, in essence, identical.

I am not an immunologist nor am I an expert in medical research and cell biology. My interest in the immune system however, predates my decision to be a homeopath and can be traced back to veterinary school when our lectures in immunology were amongst the most wondrous I recall.

The immune system is the hero of life, the warrior and guardian of the organism. It is also the most innately intelligent force a living organism has in its service; sleepless, vigilant and alert to any threat. My job as a veterinarian is to preserve the immune system function of animals, as it is a far better ally than any other you can have as a health provider. I am an immune system advocate and the tools in my veterinary practice are for supporting this system to perform optimally.

What does this mean?

Essentially and simply it amounts to good and appropriate nutrition, a safe environment and reduced stress. These are by far the most important life saving measures we can take or provide. We may also choose to employ vaccination. As a well recognised and reliable foundation for many preventative disease situations in animal populations, vaccination can be quite effective.

Vaccination tricks the immune system into believing it is being attacked.

Most holistic vets advocate at least one vaccination against core diseases once an animal is old enough for the immune system to respond appropriately. In dogs and cats this is ideally after 4 months of age but we can get results in dogs at 10-12 weeks of age and this is often necessary for practical reasons. More vaccine does not equate to more protection if the first vaccine has been effective in stimulating a response. Any positive level of antibody titre or measurement arising from natural infection or vaccination in an adult animal is deemed protective.  A vaccine is highly unlikely to be protective however, if administered to cats and dogs under 8 weeks of age as maternally derived antibodies prevent the vaccine from working properly in the same way these antibodies prevent natural disease. Arguably vaccinating young animals actually weakens their immunity by diminishing the reserve of these passively acquired antibodies.  As a result, we ought to be advocating change or investigation into this established practice of early vaccination in pups and kittens.

Similarly, repeated vaccination repeatedly deceives the immune system into behaving as though it is under attack. Moreover this attack usually bypasses the natural route of infection of these diseases. A notable exception is the intranasal kennel cough vaccine in dogs, which more closely mimics natural exposure

Nevertheless, is there a point of immune exhaustion?  Do we create immune  confusion by being  repeatedly ‘tricking’ with vaccine?

Why in the face of real and serious threat like cancer or AIDS, does the immune system not always trust the authenticity of such challenges? Cancer is not usually considered to be virally or bacterially induced but the immune system responds to all threats or breaches in a similar way. It is a multifaceted, versatile and adaptable system that has a life long memory recall to threats it has previously encountered unless these prove to be the wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is also one reason why some viruses keep mutating because they recognise the capacity of a fully competent immune system to protect an organism and have developed their own way of successfully tricking it by changing their ‘clothes’. It is also likely that cancer has a few disguises that hide it and protect it from the immune system.

We further exploit the intelligence of the immune system by producing vaccines to non fatal diseases like canine cough and those of non viral aetiology. We have come to trust vaccines so much that the answer to any new threat is to make a vaccine. It is not surprising therefore that, amongst others, we now have a malignant melanoma vaccine for dogs and a tapeworm vaccine for sheep.

So now the question has to be, does vaccination ultimately strengthen or weaken the immune system, or do neither? It takes a lot of energy to produce antibodies and there are consequences of mounting an immune response whether the disease is real or not. These consequences could be considered adverse vaccination reactions if we looked closely enough.

For a vaccine to be effective there needs to be a reaction so it becomes a matter of definition as to what constitutes an adverse reaction. Does this need to be life threatening to be considered adverse or to warrant recording/reporting?

Commonly acknowledged reactions are fever, skin eruption, increased discharges. Less common reactions include blood dyscrasia, autoimmune anaemia, inflammation, thyroiditis(hypothyroidism), seizure behaviour, behaviour change. What may an owner consider as adverse? Would an ensuing chronic sterile vaginitis or chronic otitis externa be recognised as an adverse vaccination reaction by most veterinarians and would any veterinarian consider that these may occur months after vaccination? Has the animals immune system been overly challenged and may it therefore be confused or exhausted?

Vaccination programs have arguably played an integral role in curbing disease outbreaks of highly contagious viral diseases in virgin populations. A judicious vaccination program was considered paramount in the eradication of Equine Influenza in Australia in 2007 by limiting the reservoir of natural infection in ‘at risk’ host populations.  The containment of disease through restrictions on the movement of horses at risk was also an essential factor in the success of eradicating this non fatal but highly commercially devastating disease. Herd immunity needs to approach or exceed 75% before a population is ‘protected’ from epidemic disease. This is the essential reason for veterinarians insisting that all animals be vaccinated. The current (2015) recommendation (WSAVA, small animals) is that every animal be vaccinated (cats and dogs) and that each individual animal be vaccinated less often. Titre testing is the preferred measure of protection and repeated unnecessary vaccination is fortunately diminishing.

Titre testing is a proven, evidence based means of assessing the immune status of vaccinated animals and prevents unnecessary re-vaccination.

Once a new disease surfaces as did the fatal parvovirus in dogs in Australia in the late 70’s, and Hendra virus in horses recently, a vaccine program is devised. Dogs having been already exposed to the parvovirus either died or recovered and those recovered held immunity. This immunity whether naturally or artificially acquired can be passed on to the next generation for a short duration in puppyhood. Our Australian canines had a significant lead upon the vaccine manufacturers as they valiantly stood at the front line of parvovirus and went down in droves. Those surviving became the stalwarts of herd immunity until the vaccine arrived on the market many months later to swoop in to claim the victory already underway.  Statistics and history in these events repeatedly demonstrate a decline in population infection and morbidity rates already mounted by immunologically stronger individuals prior to the arrival of reinforcements in glass vials.

It is impossible and impractical to prime the immune system with every disease threat so we choose a few to vaccinate against, based upon the environmental need.  Unfortunately once a new one is added to the list it is usually added to the batch and we tend to end up overusing multivalent vaccines with the injection of up to five or six diseases per animal per procedure. Is it likely in nature that an animal would be exposed to six fatal or compromising diseases simultaneously?

There is a need for monovalent vaccine manufacture so that veterinarians can select specific single diseases to vaccinate against.  The fewer viral components per vaccine the better. The difficult questions still prevail around the need for repeated and blanket vaccination protocols. Is there a risk that repeated false warnings in the form of vaccination cause unnecessary stress and chronic fatigue to a highly sensitive and intelligent system or individual?  Could chronic disease actually be an immune mediated confusion or overload?

What is the most common preface or adjective to describe most medical diagnoses in modern times? Would it happen to be immune mediated……..something or other?

Would the treatment happen to require immunosuppressive medications or has the immune system already given up the good fight and resigned in total exhaustion?

Does vaccinosis exist?

Are many chronic diseases actually iatrogenic?

Who really knows? More importantly, all of us should probably endeavour to find out.

Discovery often involves thinking or looking outside of the box or challenging and  re-evaluating conventional practices so that better ones can be adopted.

Apparently this is a very common disease in cats and dogs.
We all know some older dogs with joint and mobility problems but we are often unaware of the full extent of osteoarthritis in our pets.
I attended a webinar last week by an experienced Veterinarian in Belgium who makes her business researching and treating this condition.
I was quite surprised that her studies reveal that up to 60% of cats over ten years of age present with symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) and a higher number of dogs.
The webinar was well presented and informative and a timely reminder of many aspects of this disease that need to be considered in formulating a treatment plan.
The disease arises with wear and tear on joints and the erosion of the cartilage and shock absorbing capacity of the joints.  Age and injury are factors but so too is obesity or load bearing and loss of lean muscle mass from reduced activity.

Indoor cats and dogs that are carried everywhere will also be at risk of joint degeneration through lack of use as much as some animals who are  traumatising their joints with extreme activity. The key to healthy function is moderation; principally, moderation in food intake and exercise.

The earliest symptoms of OA in cats include reduced mobility, less tendency to jump or difficulty grooming. Dogs will present with lameness and reduced mobility, disinclination to jump and play and difficulty rising from the resting position. In severe cases the animals can present in severe pain with fever and inappetance.
An interesting point was made that the vicious pain cycle of OA needs to be arrested before it becomes intractable and, as one who opts for natural therapies over conventional medicines, it was another prompt to re-evaluate the pain relief that I offer my patients. In recent times there have been many advances in the understanding and manufacture of pain relief medicines. With the selective targeting that can now be built in to these medicines they have become safer than products of old. It is perfectly reasonable to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for the management of acute pain to break the pain cycle.
These products are still however not entirely without risks and most of my clients are looking for herbal or homeopathic alternatives for the management of chronic conditions. I have spent the better part of this week evaluating the pain relief I offer in my practice and am satisfied, in most circumstances, that it can be achieved adequately with Bowen, Acupuncture, Homeopathy and Herbs like Boswellia and Curcumin. There are specific molecular pathways of inflammation that need to be arrested in order to break the pain cycle and bring about healing. It can be difficult to find the most appropriate form of therapy from the myriad options available and each case must be assessed on its own merits and individual responses. There are animals that do not respond to conventional pain relief.

One point that I find it difficult to completely agree upon is that the disease can only be managed and not cured. Whilst this is a reasonable opinion and it may be true that chondrocytes (cartilage cells) have limited capacity to regenerate, I believe that cure is the restoration of function and health and the removal of the symptoms in their entirety. I also believe this is not an impossibility in cats and dogs depending on the severity of their initial disease.

The joints of the body need nourishment and hydration to maintain optimal function. I am sure that animals fed raw natural diets are at a lower risk of degenerative diseases and one of the mainstays of therapy of OA is the addition of fish oils and supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin which is naturally found in cartilage, like raw chicken meaty bone diets.
It is also true that removing grains from the diets of these animals will, in many cases, significantly improve their joint function.
I have recently begun experimenting with New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel extract as a nutritional supplement for treating OA in cats and dogs. It is a nutrient dense joint food that reduces inflammation and improves joint health by repairing and replenishing joint cartilage.

Fish oil is a natural pain relief and organ support through the provision of essential omega3 fatty acids. The triglyceride form is also preferable to esters as the animal is more likely to recognise and utilise this form over the ester.

There are issues of heavy metal levels and other toxins as well as ethical oil production that are important factors for many of us to consider in choosing the right fish oil product.

The webinar presentation highlighted the need to manage each case on its individual merits but the overwhelming issues are universal; weight loss if obese, nutritional support, pain relief and exercise. These can all be achieved simultaneously by feeding animals raw food diets.

It is difficult to find a happy fat dog or cat as they are often quite uncomfortable.

The fatter they become, the more cranky they get. Apart from the obvious strain this places on their heart and body function, fat cells (adipocytes) release inflammatory mediators, which contribute significantly to the level of discomfort these animals experience.
There is an advantage to lean muscle maintenance through exercise and natural diets in preserving joint function. A weight loss program must be factored into every plan of management of OA, plus an exercise program that can include physiotherapy or hydrotherapy.

Many people get upset when I mention the term ‘arthritis’ because many of us know how debilitating this disease can become. We don’t like to think that our dear pets have to suffer the same fate and perhaps we feel responsible. The fact is that there are very few diseases that animals do not get these days as a result of them living in our environment and being exposed to the same influences. If we can remember that they have some separate needs from us, raw meaty bone diets and adequate exercise, fresh air and sunshine, they could have a fighting chance to avoid some of our modern day, human health challenges.
They are built to live rough and eat lean.

We may well be killing them with kindness!

Perhaps fleas have never had a good press. Having been vilified last century as vectors of The Black Plague, the greatest human disaster in history, they have since been associated with uncleanliness and used in taunts and insults throughout the ages. Fortunately, through improved hygiene and public health, the fleas are not often vectors of anything worse than tapeworm in cats and dogs in modern times. In Australia, myxomatosis was introduced to control rabbit populations and rabbit fleas will transmit this to other rabbits.
Most fleas have a preferred species host but they will all bite any creature with a pulse if it means getting fed.

Most of us will know the flea as the pest that causes Flea Allergic Dermatitis in cats and dogs and severe irritation to anyone else by biting.  In very severe allergies the victims can sometimes behave like they are on fire.

In very severe infestations, these ‘wingless siphons’ can even cause death by anaemia in small weak animals but fortunately the infestation is usually addressed long before this disaster arises.

There seems to be resurgence in flea problem along with the wet warm weather we are experiencing and our milder Winters in recent years, Downunder. Many pets live indoors these days, so fleas have further opportunities, year round, to wreak havoc.

There was a brief time when the newest generation flea products containing growth retardants, hormones and ivermectins seemed to halt the assault.
The fleas are now either no longer intimidated by these products or people have stopped using them; perhaps both.

I used to recommend the monthly spot on flea products and they used to work very well. They were very much safer in the short term than the serious toxins of the past but the long term effects are still being assessed. Nowadays I have clients who do not want to use any chemicals on their animals and I am similarly minded.

If I do use any chemical application, these days, it is permethrin, a water based synthetic pyrethrin. It is very toxic for cats and fish but has low absorption through skin and is safe to use frequently on dogs and horses for fly worry, ticks and fleas.

The other safer product for cats and dogs is spinosad, (comfortis).

There are natural  alternatives for flea control.

In most cases, there is no need to use chemicals on pets because the majority of fleas are in the environment and not on the pet.

The flea spends a relatively short time on the host, sufficient to mature and take a blood meal that will last it for its reproductive lifetime, off the host.

If the animal has a lot of fleas on them then you have a heavily infested house or garden!
For each flea there will be an estimated one hundred immature stages waiting to develop and take its place.
This is where we need to target our flea control if we are to have any success.
The best entirely non-toxic household practice will involve steam cleaning of carpets as the heat will kill flea eggs and larvae. Hot mopping vinyl or boarded floors with some eucalyptus oil in the water will assist in uncarpeted areas. Soft furnishing and bedding should be hot washed if possible and hot dried. Beating and hanging rugs, mats and bedding materials on the clothes line in UV sunlight will also kill immature flea stages.
Using Eucalyptus oil in the washing machine water will assist to kill immature stages and dust mites in bedding.
Fleas hatch with vibration so walking on carpets and in houses that have been vacant for a while will bring a mass of hatching. So too will vacuuming, which can be used to assist flea control by placing a flea collar inside the vacuum cleaner bag. This is the only application for these collars, according to me. I have seen too many cats develop severe wounds from trying to remove their own flea collars which are anathema to them.

Outdoors, the use of diatomaceous earth is effective but care must be taken to avoid inhaling the dust particles. These dust particles mechanically kill fleas so can cause irritation to skin and lungs in mammals. It is an effective and safe environmental control sprinkled around the back yard.  Swimming pool filters use extremely fine particles of diatomaceous earth and it is safer to source a supply of coarser particles if you are using it for flea control.  Owing to the mechanical irritant effect, I would still recommend wearing a mask and gloves if you use this product even though it is entirely natural and non toxic. Keeping lawns mown short also assists drying and sun killing of fleas, as does removing leaf and building debris. Airing pets’ beds will help, especially if they can be placed for a while in direct sunlight.

The natural on-pet control measures that have been suggested include
•    Rosemary wash, steeping 2 cups of fresh rosemary in boiling water and when cooled, bathing the pet all over
•    Lemon wash, lemon and rind sliced into boiling water and using it when cooled as a topical wash on pets. Also good skin tonic in general
•    Apple cider vinegar, half teaspoon added to pets drinking water or applied 50:50 dilution for skin itching and flea repelling
•    Lavender essential oil, a drop or two on the tail base and neck. Caution with cats, safe but they can salivate excessively after licking skin.
•    Brewers Yeast added to food as a sprinkle. This is a vitamin B1 effect that can also be achieved with B1 supplementation directly in tablet form. (Betamin from chemists, half tablet daily in food or by mouth)
•   Garlic in the pets’ food is reported to have flea repellant properties, as long as it doesn’t repel you. Dogs and cats will tolerate garlic, cats less so. It can also be used topically. Garlic is also an excellent natural antibiotic.
•    Oil, any edible oil but preferably flax, coconut or olive oil can help to detract fleas from infesting the pet. The animals may have to be washed afterwards and if cats lick themselves excessively to clean off the oil they can develop skin irritations making it the least attractive control measure, next to essential oils, in this species. Topical coconut or almond oil is an excellent soother for itchy spots.

* Bathing is also a good measure for many animals, use gentle mild pet shampoo specially formulated for animal skin pH like episoothe or allerderm oatmeal shampoo. The fleas can be tipped out with the bath water. Soap nuts are probably the best all round wash and healing solution for flea allergic pets.

All of the above water based natural washes are safe for all species of any age.

Paws to Heal uses and dispenses Flea Nosode as an adjunct to flea control.  This is a homeopathic preparation containing dog and cat flea 30C plus Green Essence Australia Bush Essence for parasite control.

Keeping your pet as healthy as possible on the inside will help to keep skin and immunity strong.  Natural raw food diets and raw meaty bones are best diets for optimal health. Most animals will have a natural ability to deal with the occasional flea but should flea numbers get out of control it is imperative to address environmental concerns as soon as you notice things getting out of hand.
It is also important to treat for tapeworm in flea infested pets.

Knowing where to start this post engenders a similar feeling to that which arises when trying to start to unravel cases of skin disease, or as Hahnemann called it, Psora, or ‘the itch’.

O where to begin to describe the mystery and persistence of skin disease.
Without exception, the greatest caseload of any practicing Veterinarian is skin disease. As our friend Julius Sumner Miller used to say “why is this so?”

It is also another dilemma for me, do I or don’t I share my thoughts and experiences? Having trained and practised conventional veterinary medicine for over twenty years I feel well qualified to share my current understanding of health issues in animals and how I see things differently these days.

Whilst this post will focus on dogs, it also applies to other species.

Skin is the largest organ of the body. As an organ it performs a host of functions that are rarely noticed until something goes wrong. When an animal develops a rash or an itch that persists for days or weeks then we notice.

It is really important to understand why this is happening.
Then we will see more clearly why modern western medicine lets us down big time in managing skin disease and why dermatology has been arguably the fastest growing and perhaps the most lucrative medical practice to emerge in recent times next to oncology.

Skin is a barrier that lets things in and lets them out. When this flow is disrupted then signs and symptoms will erupt.

This will occur if the skin itself is not receiving the nourishment it needs to perform its function and also if there is an impediment to the function itself.

The skin is a living and breathing organ that needs the freedom to function and do its job without unnecessary interferences.
Its needs are simple; nutrition, protection and respect.

Firstly our dogs are not getting the correct nutrition for skin health and secondly they are not being allowed to express toxicity without interference.
It is the skins job to get rid of poisons and toxins that the body needs to expel. It is a major excretory organ that rids the body of harmful buildup.
Taking this a little deeper, these ‘toxins’ can also be emotional or hormonal outlets.
If we do not understand what is happening to their skin we visit the vet, invariably resulting in the administration of a cortisone injection and antibiotics. This, in effect, stops the skin doing its job.
Often this stops the symptoms. More often it returns. More often, repeatedly returns.
After weeks or months of intractable and perceived ‘skin disease’ being suppressed by these drugs, it is little wonder that the skin starts to become exhausted and fails more, thus beginning another cycle of worry and concern to the owner and vet alike.  Referral to the skin specialist who is used to seeing them in this state, invariably follows and the specialist has a whole protocol for managing ‘the problem’ more often with ‘big gun’ suppressants or desensitisation. Allergic skin disease or immune mediated skin disease, is usually number one diagnosis.

Like so many other health issues in modern life we have come to accept that disease can only be managed. If we have completely given up on cure then we need to wake up.
We are seeing skin disease in young animals. If a young, vibrant animal is incapable of curing itself then we have to ask what is really going on.

Many of us have seen this pattern emerging and have started to question the authenticity of management of skin disease. It has been many years now that the concept of skin nutrition has been considered important but with the overwhelming dependency on commercial foods, this has only given rise to packaged dry foods with added omega3 and 6 fatty acids and special fish and potato diets. These foods usually work better than other dry foods and have saved many dogs lives, but better still is raw natural feeding regimens that look at a complete return to health. The skin is just the indicator, albeit obvious and hard to ignore.

If your dog is lucky it will have managed to keep symptoms of distress and attempts at detoxification in its skin despite the suppression from the drugs.
These are the chronic skin cases. They are the lucky ones. Less fortunate individuals will have the skin symptoms disappear only to be replaced by deeper disease manifestations because the disease has not truly been removed, just suppressed. These dogs will develop behavioural or nervous diseases and in extreme suppression over time, can develop cancer.
Over two hundred years ago, Hahnemann saw that most chronic disease has a basis in Psora, which translates these days to what has just been described above.

Checklist for your itchy dog

• Remove ectoparasites such as fleas, mites, ticks and biting insects
• Remove grains from the diet (this includes all dry and tin foods, pasta, bread etc)
• Allow detoxification and assist it with chlorella or raw vitamised greens
• Consider immune stress or ill effect from vaccination or surgery and allow time for recovery naturally or   use homeopathy.
• Minimize self harm, may need an Elizabethan collar for example
• Check for injury or other cause of itch like foreign bodies or tumours etc
• If skin is dry add flax oil or fish oil to raw meaty bone diet
• Feed a raw meaty bones diet so that chewing can strengthen health
• Check for obvious allergens like grasses or synthetic sleeping mats
• Brush or Groom if necessary so that hair is knot free and healthy
• Bathe if smelly or dirty but not frequently
• Massage is beneficial even if only patting and stroking
• Be patient and allow the course of the disease to unfold clearly if it does not fit any of the above.

It is self trauma from scratching that causes infection and once the skin has been scratched there will be infection arising. Primary causative infections are extremely rare. This secondary infection is usually not a problem if the animal’s immune system is strong and supported nutritionally although the irritation ensuing can be more than they or the owners can bear.
Antibiotics can provide a window of relief in these situations but they are not the cure and usually not necessary except in protracted mismanagement.

It can be very difficult for devoted owners looking for a way forward when other options are running thin. It is often necessary to take the case back and allow full expression of the disease before a new way forward can emerge. This is the biggest challenge. I find this can be very stressful given that so much time, money, energy and effort has already been invested in trying to manage these animals to date and now it seems they are going backwards. It is very easy to lose heart and despair if not adequately prepared.

I advocate natural raw diets as the mainstay of all treatment plans with added nutrients as required. Often an herbal supplement can aid recovery but will often result in a toxic fallout for which we need to be prepared and monitor. Homeopathic remedies can provide the best way forward along with immune strengthening practices like Bowen. The immune system is under as much or more strain as the skin in these cases and it is disruption to the immune system that perpetrates most symptoms of itching and inflammation.

Things will usually look worse before they get better if they have been going on for a while already. There will need to be a turn around of dependency and a re education and strengthening of a near exhausted system.

Veterinarians practicing natural medicine are going up against the odds unless the cases are early ones. As with most natural medicine, we are a ‘last resort’ and as such, generally have to perform miracles to obtain credibility.

If a skin disease in managed holistically from the start it has a much better chance of cure. Many skin diseases can only hope for palliation after months and years of suppressive therapy but we always hope. There are cases that can be turned around at any time but it requires education and preparedness of the owners to a new way of seeing and thinking; plus the indomitable strength of the animal.

This is often the hardest part of our job but also can be the most rewarding when the animals speak for themselves.