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Adrenal Gland
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The adrenal glands are located just near the kidneys. One part of the gland produces cortisone (the natural anti-inflammatory hormone) and other hormones that also help sugar metabolism. The other part of the gland produces adrenaline and other hormones that affect metabolism to help cope with stress. During stress these glands become more active. Persistent stress can exhaust them, thereby affecting the health of the whole body. Also the use of corticosteroid drugs can lead to the glands becoming less active which affects metabolism and overall health as well.
Adrenal gland health can be achieved by minimising negative stresses, avoiding corticosteroid drugs unless absolutely necessary, and providing your pet with support, especially during periods of stress.
Adrenal stress may lead to lethargy, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, low immunity, dry skin and pica (abnormal cravings for strange things, such as wanting to eat faeces).
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Aging
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The quality of our pets’ lives is most important. We can’t help ageing, it’s a natural process but we can influence its progression. The most important things you can do are to provide an excellent diet, supplements, regular exercise and veterinary check-ups. Don’t forget that love and involvement in family activities keeps life interesting and stimulating for older pets. Just because they slow down, doesn’t mean we should let them lie!
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Allergies and Itchy Skin
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Many pets have an inherited tendency towards the development of allergies. Exposure to pollution, foods, cigarette smoke, chemicals, stress and other factors can also contribute to the development of allergies (or pseudo allergies which are sensitivities). Allergies can underlie a whole host of chronic diseases and should be suspected when symptoms do not respond well to regular treatment. Chronic ear problems, skin problems, constipation, diarrhoea, foot problems, red eyes, conjunctivitis, hyperactivity, seizures, some forms of arthritis and chronic discharges can all be manifestations of allergies.
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Arthritis
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Any pet that suffers from ongoing lameness or stiffness may have arthritis (also called osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease). And unfortunately arthritis is common in older pets. It is usually due to injury or a lifetime of wear and tear on the joints of the body. But younger pets can have arthritis too, either because of injuries, infections, poor nutrition and also developmental disorders such as osteochondrosis (a problem of the cartilage lining the joints), hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
Obese pets, working pets and athletic pets may be more prone to arthritis because of the extra loads on their joints. pets with Cushing’s Syndrome and diabetes may also be susceptible because of the metabolic processes that affect the bones.
Long-term use of corticosteroids such as prednisolone should be avoided unless it is the last resort, due to high incidence of adverse side-effects and possibility of accelerating joint damage. Care must also be taken with the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) because there is some controversy as to whether they can in fact cause more damage to joint tissues. In addition some NSAIDS can adversely affect the kidneys, liver, brain, immune system and blood. So it’s important to avoid long-term reliance on these drugs.
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Back Pain
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Behaviour and Emotions
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Behavioural problems are many and varied. Underlying many behavioural disorders is the issue of stress. The stress may be emotional, mental, environmental, nutritional or unknown in origin. Overwhelming stress can be a major contributing factor to any chronic disease as it affects the immune system. A proper diagnosis and appropriate behavioural modification is essential for success. Your veterinarian can help you with most behavioural problems; however, a referral to an animal behaviour specialist can be very worthwhile particularly if you don’t seem to be making progress or the problem is serious.
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Blood
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Bowel
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Brain
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Cancer
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The diagnosis of cancer makes us feel helpless and fearful. This can be stressful and even lower our own immunity. Lucky for pets that they don’t understand the word cancer, at least they don’t have the additional worry that we have. And yet they can easily sense the fear and distress that we might feel for them. It’s a fact that every day many of the millions of cells in the body go wrong. The immune system is well equipped to send fighter cells out to find and destroy these potentially cancer-causing cells. If cancer forms then many types can be treated very successfully with conventional treatment.
It is also very important to support the rest of the body so that it has the best chance of self-healing. The most important aspect of management of cancer is to have a diagnosis, so that you know what you are dealing with, and whether there are good indications to use a conventional approach that can include one or a combination of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.
Your veterinarian may recommend that you consult with a veterinary oncologist who specialises in the treatment of cancers and is best placed to advise you of your options. Complementary therapies are very useful to provide support while undergoing treatment, or can be considered if you do not choose conventional options and for palative care where a terminal diagnosis has been given.
PLEASE NOTE: There are many products available online that are not best suited to pet cancer treatment - please do not risk your pet's best health and comfort by turning to well meaning but non veterinary support products without guidance from your vet. All of our recommended products are safe to use and our vets can work with yours to ensure your pet's needs are being met.
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Dental
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Diabetes
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Any complementary therapies for diabetes must be used under the guidance of a veterinarian. This is because they can be very effective and doses of insulin may need to be lowered.
See either a holistic veterinarian, or work closely with your regular veterinarian. The best approach is a combination of good diet, maintaining a normal weight, nutritional supplements and herbs. Diet is the cornerstone of good diabetes management. If using insulin, follow your veterinarian’s directions. Several small meals each day may be useful. Regular exercise is also valuable.
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Ears
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Ears are an extension of the skin and sometimes quite an extension! Different breeds are more prone to ear problems by virtue of their ear shape and size. Droopy ears or hair-filled ears are predisposed to infections simply because of the lack of ventilation. Chronic ear infections may also be a symptom that there is something else going on in the body such as a thyroid imbalance, skin allergy and even neck problems.
In Chinese medicine, ears are associated with the kidneys, so chronic problems might be related. If the ear problem is one-sided it is possible there is foreign material such as a grass seed or dirt in the ear. If the ears have a lot of discharge or debris it is important that the ear is cleaned before attempting conventional or complementary therapy. This may need to be repeated a few times. Before your vet cleans the ear, it is useful examine the ear under sedation and obtain a swab to determine what the infection is.
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Energy
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Epilepsy
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Sometimes pets develop tolerance or resistance to medication, so that seizures are not well controlled or the dose needed to control the seizures may make the pet lethargic. Often medication is required for life; however, if your pet is seizure free for six to twelve months, very careful reduction of dosage under veterinary supervision may be attempted .
Phenobarbital medication is used commonly and if seizures are not adequately controlled, potassium bromide is often added. If this is ineffective or unsatisfactory, acupuncture should be considered.
Epilepsy may be associated with allergies, and there is some evidence that nutrition and supplements can help control and minimise epilepsy in pets
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Eyes
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Eyes are a reflection of general body health and vitality. They can also reflect poor health or imbalances elsewhere in the body. In Chinese medicine eyes are related to the liver, and imbalances in the liver can show up first in the eyes. General eye health can be maintained through good diet. Leafy green vegetables, parsley, blue berries, carrots, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are all considered good for the eyes.
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Fly repellents
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Heart
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Pets can suffer several forms of heart disease. The most common are congenital heart defects, degenerative valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy and heartworm disease. In valvular heart disease the valves inside the heart are faulty, making the pumping action of the heart weak. In the dilated heart disease there is an enlargement of the heart, but the walls of the heart are weak and floppy, again the pumping action is compromised. In heartworm disease, the worms block some of the major vessels making it more difficult for the heart to pump effectively. In all cases the heart is often starved of oxygen, as is the rest of the body, which is why these pets are often short of breath and can’t tolerate exercise well.
Severe forms of these diseases lead to congestive heart failure where breathing problems, coughing, intolerance to exercise and lethargy are seen. A referral to a veterinary cardiologist is often worthwhile, particularly if there are complications or your pet doesn’t respond well to treatment.
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Hip dysplasia
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Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases of pets. It is considered to be an inherited disorder causing laxity of the hips. Rapid growth, diet and exercise can affect the progression of the disease and how it is manifested.
Conventional therapy as a rule consists of medical therapy (analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs), although these usually only provide temporary relief. There are several surgical options, from complete hip replacement to actually removing the joint altogether. Consider a referral to a veterinary surgical specialist to give you the options, costs and expected outcomes
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Immune System
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The immune system is extremely complex, performing a variety of functions directed towards keeping the body healthy. The system is flexible (able to increase or reduce its response) and is able to respond to invasion by foreign agents (viruses, etc.) and internal agents (such as cancerous cells). However, because it is so complex it also has the potential to malfunction and trigger pathways that lead to inflammation and tissue destruction. Immune disorders can be broadly classified into three major categories: immune deficiency, immune hyperactivity (autoimmunity, allergies and sensitivities) and cancer of the immune system. Immune disorders should be suspected:
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when a disease is chronic with periods of relapse and remission
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where there are unusual infections or when normally harmless organisms become infections
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when infections fail to respond to conventional treatment
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when individuals react to vaccination either immediately or after a time
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when there are chronic low or very high white blood cell counts on blood tests
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Kidney
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Kidney disease can be sudden and life threatening or chronic, persisting for months to years. There are many underlying causes including infections, toxins, chemical and environmental pollution, chronic drug usage, lowered immunity and others. Because the kidneys are the main blood-filtering organ in the body (along with the liver), malfunction of the kidneys leads to a build-up of unfiltered wastes in the bloodstream. Signs include a great thirst, increased urination, weight loss, lethargy and even vomiting. Constipation and diarrhoea may also be present.
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Leg Injuries
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Fractures, sprains, torn ligaments (like anterior cruciates), pulled muscles and other injuries are common in pets. They need veterinary attention and care to help minimise pain and potential complications. There are some complementary therapies you can consider to speed up the repair and healing of your pet.
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Liver
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Lymphatic System / Spleen
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The lymphatic system flushes wastes from the body, filtering and engulfing foreign bacteria and harmful particles. The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes (such as tonsils), lymphatic vessels and the spleen. The spleen destroys worn out red blood cells and sends healthy red blood cells out into the circulation to provide oxygen to the body.
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Pain
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Pain is vital for survival and protects against physical threats to the body, which is why pets will rest or lie still to avoid further damage.
Your veterinarian should treat acute pain. However, chronic pain saps strength and spirit and can make life miserable and is more difficult to control. The most difficult thing about pain in pets is recognising it and symptoms vary considerably. Pets can lick and bite or scratch at the source of pain. They may become quieter and less alert, sometimes unwilling to move or constantly shifting their position. They may stop eating or grooming.
If the pain is severe they can appear restless or have changes in their sleeping patterns. They may be more anxious or fearful than usual. They may shiver, pant and guard the area that hurts. Some pets will whimper, and even growl when approached or touched, sometimes they appear to be aggressive.
We can anticipate pain if your pet requires surgery, has been injured badly or has chronic low-grade pain due to arthritis or cancer.
There are natural alternatives or products to use alongside conventional care. The priority must be to keep your pet pain free - using both where necessary. Your veterinarian will prescribe drugs for acute and chronic pain relief and you can consider these suggestions.
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Pancreas
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Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency describes the disease where the pancreas is unable to produce all the enzymes needed to digest food. Fat is the most difficult food to digest, so a poorly functioning pancreas leads to poor digestion, weight loss, a ravenous appetite, and stinky diarrhoea. Usually life long supplementation with digestive enzymes is needed. Other complications such as diabetes can occur.
A more acute form of pancreas disease is called pancreatitis. Here the pancreas is very inflamed and there is some self-digestion by the enzymes produced. It is a very painful condition with vomiting and pain as the main symptoms.
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Parasites
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Paw Chewing
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Reproduction
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Respiratory
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The respiratory system includes the nose, windpipe, bronchial tubes and lungs. Pets, like people are susceptible to viruses and infections, airborne allergens and toxins particularly if they are stressed or in smoky environments or if their immunity is low.
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Spine
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A range of signs may indicate a problem in the spine. These include: lick granulomas (they often appear on the legs, but can relate to pressure on nerve roots), suddenly yelping in pain without other symptoms, incontinence, neck stiffness, when your pet is unable to jump into the car or onto the bed, foreleg lameness where the pain cannot be found, hip pain, stiffness in moving, a hunched back and pain along the back (including resenting being touched around the base of the back).
Spinal disorders include disc disease, spondylitis, spondylosis, paralysis, intervertebral disc disease, fibrocartilaginous embelopathy, degenerative myelopathy, cancer in the spine, haemorrhage in the spine and infections in the spine.
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Stomach
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The digestive system can be affected by stress, anxiety, depression and many medications as well as a lack of fibre, by parasites, food allergies and dysbiosis. It is sometimes difficult to appreciate how the digestive tract can affect general health, but if food is not digested properly it can lead to a whole cascade of other problems. Many chronic diseases such as arthritis and skin disease can have digestive disturbances as an underlying cause.
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Surgery
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It’s a fact of life that just about all dogs will undergo some form of anaesthesia and surgery at least once in their lives, if only for neutering or dentistry. Surgery can repair broken bones, remove cancerous growths and correct deformities that hinder health or normal functioning. But surgery and any major medical treatment are always stressful on the body.
If you have some advance warning that surgery or major medical treatment needs to be done, there are some things you can do to strengthen your pet, reduce stress and improve the chances of rapid recovery, repair and healing.
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Thyroid gland
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The thyroid is like the thermostat of the body and regulates metabolism and the energy of the body. If it is depleted or deficient, the whole body becomes lethargic and low in energy.
Hypothyroidism is the most common hormonal problem of pets and may in some instances be associated with vaccination. It may present as a whole range of symptoms from dry scaly skin, infertility, constipation, and regurgitation to behavioural changes such as aggression, hyperactivity and fearfulness. Conventional treatment is successful as a rule, and usually requires hormone supplementation for life.
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Travel
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Urinary Tract / Bladder
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Vaccinations
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Vaccination is one of the most common veterinary procedures undertaken in pets. There is no question that it is important in preventing and controlling infectious diseases. Go to any country where vaccination is not practised and you will see the suffering of local pets with canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and others. But what about your pet? What is the likely risk of your pet contracting one of these diseases in your own home town? And must you have your pet vaccinated every year?
The practice of annual vaccination is a long held one without any basic scientific rationale and is currently under review. The issue is twofold. First, the annual recommendations are just a recommendation, not an absolute, and are based on duration of immunity studies that traditionally only go out to one year. Second, there is a number of vaccine-associated adverse events that can occur. Recent research suggests that duration of immunity delivered by some vaccines is much longer than one year. As a result, many veterinarians are adopting new protocols. It is important that pets receive their initial vaccinations (a two- or three-shot series) and booster twelve months later, then every three years thereafter unless required by law. Vaccination sets up a template in the immune system, so that should your pet be exposed to the disease, his immune system can quickly churn out lots of appropriate antibodies to fight the infection. It’s important to remember though that some vaccines, such as kennel cough may actually require more frequent administration to obtain significant protection.
We recommend vaccination as per the conventional protocol to 1 year and then annual titre testing to ensure immunity is in place. Certain breeds are more sensitive to vaccination and consultation with a holistic veterinarian is advised.
NOTE REGARDING HOMEOPATHIC NOSODES
While some veterinarians suggest that nosodes may be useful as an alternative to vaccination, there is an absence of convincing research to prove that they do prevent disease. A few studies have shown that nosodes may reduce the severity of disease and also may help prevent the spread of disease such as kennel cough. However, there is also a study with canine parvovirus nosodes that showed the nosodes were completely ineffective. Therefore they should never be used as a sole means of protecting your pet.
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Weight Control and Obesity
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Being a little bit overweight is not that harmful, but your pet is likely to continue to put on more weight over time. An overweight pet is usually not a healthy pet. An overweight pet moves slower, gets tired out more quickly, is more prone to other health problems and if obese also suffers reduced immunity. Obesity increases the load on various systems making fat pets more prone to arthritis, cardiovascular disease, heat stress, diabetes and liver disease. Provided weight loss is carried out sensibly and slowly, your pet can regain vitality and improved health. You will be rewarded with a healthier happier pet.
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Wounds and Injuries
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Pets seem to be prone to all sorts of wounds through their daily busy lives. Cuts, bites, injuries, sprains and insect stings are all relatively common.
If there is trouble to find, you can be sure it’s a pet that will find it! First aid should be administered until veterinary attention can be sought. Minor wounds can be treated at home, but if the condition worsens, or your pet is in pain or off his food, take your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
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See details
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Healthy Dogs: A Handbook Of Natural Therapies
This excellent, easy-to-follow and comprehensive handbook shows how you can extend the benefits of natural therapies to your dog, with diet plans, a guide to all the major therapies and treatments for specific problems and conditions.
AUS$ 29.00
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