VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is defined as 'the insertion of a solid needle into the body with the purpose of alleviating pain and modifying disease'.
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It works through the nervous system. The needles block the pain messages and encourage the brain and central nervous system to produce more of the body’s natural painkillers. In conditions that are not painful, acupuncture may help to reset the body’s normal functioning. I utilise electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture as well as plain needling.
Acupuncture needles stimulate nerves that do not cause the unpleasant feelings of pain that we are trying to treat. They stimulate other nerves that send a more important message to the brain, which is how they block pain. Sometimes animals may react to this sensation as though they are expecting pain, but then relax because it does not occur. Most of the time they accept the fine needles very well and often become relaxed and sleepy during the treatment. Often they appear to look forward to the next treatment when they come back to see me again.
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I work with minimal or no restraint, and with the animal's consent. It is uncommon for animals to need to be sedated. This would only usually happen if they were so painful that any touch or stimulus causes them to be painful. Perhaps surprisingly, cats and rabbits often accept acupuncture treatment very well.
After a "test needling" at the initial assessment appointment I usually give a course of acupuncture treatments once a week for four to six weeks. After four weeks we will know whether acupuncture is working for your pet and then, depending on the condition and how they have responded, we will work out a plan that usually involves tailing off the treatment so that the effect is maintained for as long as possible. Most older arthritic animals return once every four weeks. Younger animals often have a longer interval in between treatments.
Acupuncture is very safe, in the right hands. Legally it must be performed by a veterinary surgeon. There have been no official reports of problems in animals, but there are some in humans and these can usually be avoided with care and a good knowledge of anatomy. There are a very few cases in which we would have to be very cautious about using acupuncture, but I can advise you of these.
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Acupuncture is not a panacea and not all conditions or patients are suitable for treatment with acupuncture, which is often used alongside other treatments rather than instead of medication / surgery. Conditions where acupuncture may be chosen as part of the holistic treatment include -
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Acute and Chronic Pain
​Muscle pain
Osteoarthritis / Spinal arthritis
Conservative (i.e. non surgical or post surgical) treatment of disc prolapse
The pain associated with other conditions, e.g. ear pain, whilst the specific treatment works
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Other selected conditions including: skin problems; gastrointestinal / bladder disorders; some conditions related to the immune system
PAIN ASSESSMENTS
Pain assessments for dogs start in my fenced garden, off lead for gait analysis. I may use ACE-Free work to help me identify subtle gait abnormalities. You are invited to bring a series of short (<10sec) videos showing your pet getting up and down, in and out of the car, up and down stairs, sitting, sniffing, peeing and pooing, walking and running.
Once your pet has had an opportunity for a sniff around the garden, and is ready to great me, only then do I respond to their approach. Pets behave differently in a busy veterinary surgery environment - their adrenaline masks a lot of pain. I only ever have one pet on the premises at a time, use a calming blend of essential oils and have a fear-free approach to build trust. My reading of canine and feline body language means that I stop touching a painful area well before the pet feels threatened. I try to make sure your pet is looking at you during the examination so you can help by reading their facial expressions.
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I only touch your pet within their comfort zone, and avoid imposing myself upon an animal without their consent. This often means that it takes several short sessions with sniffy breaks for me to complete the palpation part of the examination. I can do this part either in the garden, or in my consulting room.
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I may also test how far joints move and record all findings in my computer software, so that later on I prepare a detailed report to send to you and your primary care vet. You are welcome (and encouraged) to share this with your pet behaviourist, trainer, physio, hydrotherapist, myotherapist etc.
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A pain assessment appointment takes at least one hour face to face, plus report writing time.
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If pain is identified, then I may suggest conventional medications, acupuncture, supplements, herbal support or imaging (x-rays or scans) and potentially surgery. These recommendations are based on years of experience in primary care veterinary clinics and lots of further education.
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I can advise on simple adjustments to make to lifestyle and the home environment and suggest suitable enrichment activities. I can guide you about exercise, harnesses, ramps, rugs, buggies, wheels and more.
If I identify the need for veterinary physiotherapy/hydrotherapy/canine massage (myotherapy), I have a network of contacts of suitably qualified and experienced colleagues in these fields to help you find the right person for your pet’s needs.
I teach owners basic pet massage skills to help maintain the comfort of your pet at home.
VETERINARY HERBAL MEDICINE
Herbal medicine is tailored to the needs of the individual pet, based on a complete review of the clinical notes from your own vet. This hour long first appointment getting to know you, your pet and the feeding and management already in place.
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Herbal medicine is the prevention and treatment of disease using plant extracts. Modern herbal medicine combines a knowledge of traditional herbal medicine with modern toxicology, pharmacology, and current scientific knowledge.
Herbal medicines are prepared using whole plants, or extracts of the whole plant, rather than isolated active constituents. These whole herb extracts contain many phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals, as well as the active constituent. These different components have synergistic effects making the herbal medicine more effective, with fewer side effects, than an isolated active constituent.
Herbs are administered as tablets, teas or tinctures, and are all medical grade and produced in a facility that is GMP certified.
Single herbs may be prescribed, but more commonly bespoke herbal mixtures are made up to suit the needs of the individual patient.
Herbal medicines are always prescribed using a fully holistic approach, looking at all aspects of the patient’s lifestyle, diet, and general health. Treatment aims to remove possible causes of ill health and symptoms of disease, as well as supporting organ function, and optimizing general well-being and vitality.
Holistic care is also ideally suited to the chronic (long term) conditions that afflict so many middle aged and older pets - kidney, liver and heart disease, hormonal disorders, skin and ear conditions, gastrointestinal disease, post antibiotics, and can support through cancer treatment. (Free leaflet below)
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Once the initial face to face consultation has taken place, I am happy to offer ongoing advice regarding nutritional and natural ways of treating your pet over Zoom. Contact us to arrange an appointment, which costs £60 for 20 min Zoom call plus a written report sent out afterwards.
HOLISTIC NUTRITIONAL ADVICE
I am completely independent and not tied to any pet food manufacturers. I have become more and more curious about a heathier way to feed our pets. A highly processed, carbohydrate rich diet is not good for us, and it's not good for our pets either.
Kibble, which by it's very nature has to have a high carbohydrate content to be baked into a biscuit texture, is the ultimate ultra processed Fast Food for Dogs and Cats.
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Many chronic diseases our pets face today (think itchy skin and ears, obesity, diabetes in cats, pancreatitis, tummy upsets and more) can be vastly improved simply by improving the nutritional quality of their diet. There is increasing evidence to show that cancer growth is accelerated by feeding carbohydrate rich processed food.
I have a deep understanding and knowledge of alternatives to Ultra Processed Foods.
Raw (premade frozen or home prepared), homecooked, freeze dried raw, gently cooked, air dried, pasteurised, minimally processed, dry and canned diets and treats and can help you understand the labelling minefield and how to feed Raw Safely.
FEDIAF guidelines are the nutritional minimum standards used in the UK to enable a diet to be labelled as "complete". Just because pet food labelled as "complete" meets these minimum standards, it doesn't necessarily mean it provides the optimum levels of nutrients.
I also advise on the multitude of food supplements marketed at pet owners and can help you understand the particular needs of your pet.
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Once the initial face to face consultation has taken place, I am happy to offer ongoing advice regarding nutritional and natural ways of treating your pet over Zoom. Contact us to arrange an appointment, which costs £40 per 15 min Zoom call plus a written report sent out afterwards.
