V5I2 (Spring 2015)

Integrative VETERINARY CARE VOLUME 5 ISSUE 2

CLOSE-UP ON COLOSTRUM

THIS “HIGH OCTANE” MILK OFFERS MORE THAN PASSIVE IMMUNITY WHEN USED AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR COMPANION ANIMALS. PAGE 20

WESTERN HERBS TO ALLEVIATE ALLERGIES

ESSENTIAL OILS AND CHINESE MEDICINE

USING REIKI IN A SHELTER ENVIRONMENT

HEAVY METALS AND EQUINE RENAL FAILURE

How this modality helps calm stress in shelter animals and makes them more adoptable.

Explore the link between lead toxicity and the development of kidney failure in horses.

CHINESE HERBAL THERAPY FOR HORSES

WHAT’ S NEW

How adaptogens, alteratives and dermatologic herbs work together to combat this common health issue.

www.IVCJournal.com

SPRING ISSUE 2015

Case reports and clinical trials may begin to provide a foundation for evaluating the use of Chinese herbs in Western practice.

Integrating the effects of these healing oils into a Chinese medicine approach gives you a powerful modality.

• 3D prosthetics change a dog’s life • Grant program for integrative medicine • Researching mitral valve disease • Developing regenerative medicine therapies

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See All Natural News on page 43

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contents FEATURES

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WESTERN HERBS FOR ALLERGIES

A combination of adaptogens, alteratives and dermatologic herbs tailored to individual animals can help patients feel more comfortable.

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Nutrition Nook COLOSTRUM: MORE THAN PASSIVE IMMUNITY

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A look at the current theory, data and practice related to supplemental post day-one use of bovine colostrum in companion animals.

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HEAVY METAL TOXICITY AND RENAL FAILURE IN HORSES

Heavy metals like lead are predominantly cleared from the body through the kidneys, causing a subclinical tubulointerstitial nephritis that may progress to chronic renal failure.

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Learn how this modality can help animals regain their trust in people, make them more adoptable, and assist them through transitions.

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CHINESE HERBAL THERAPY FOR EQUINES

Chinese herbal medicine is becoming increasingly popular and requested both by Western-trained equine veterinarians as well as the clients they serve.

While essential oils have long been popular for healing, integrating their effects into a Chinese medicine approach gives you an even more powerful modality to explore.

Surgery isn’t the only option when it comes to dealing with these common fatty growths. TCVM, nutritional therapy, and other alternative treatments can also help.

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4 WAYS REIKI CAN HELP SHELTER ANIMALS

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From case-taking to liaising with clients to offering additional therapies, there are many things you can do to make yourself indispensable to your clinic.

USING ESSENTIAL OILS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHINESE MEDICINE

TREATING CANINE LIPOMAS

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Tech Talk WHAT AN EDUCATED ASSISTANT BRINGS TO AN INTEGRATIVE PRACTICE

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advisory board Dr. Richard Palmquist, DVM, graduated from Colorado State University in 1983.

He is chief of integrative health services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, California, president and research chair of the AHVMA, and an international speaker in integrative veterinary medicine. Dr. Palmquist is a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and co-director of the AHVMA Foundation. He has published two books, one for conventional veterinarians and a second for clients discussing how integrative thinking works.

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

Michelle J. Rivera, MT, VDT, is an instructor at the University of Wisconsin and The Healing Oasis Wellness Center, a post-graduate educational institution offering state-approved programs. She is co-owner of The Healing Oasis Veterinary Hospital, offering massage, rehabilitation, chiropractic and Chinese and Western Herbology.

Michelle completed the Chinese Herbal Medicine program from the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center, and is certified in Chinese Medicine by the Wisconsin Institute of Chinese Herbology.

5 Advisory board 8 Editorial 11 What’ s new

Dr. Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS, graduated in 1984 from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic and has completed advanced training in homeopathy and herbal medicine. Her practice in Virginia uses holistic medicine to treat horses.

Her publications include The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book – the most complete source of information about English saddles.

30 From the AATCVM 36 Industry innovations 48 From the AVH 50 Veterinary resource guide

Dr. Steve Marsden, DVM, ND, lectures for the IVAS, the AHVMA and the AVMA, and is co-founder of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. He is a director of the National College of Natural Medicine, and authored the Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Marsden is extensively trai ned in alternative medicine, including Chinese herbology, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. He has a veterinary and naturopathic practice in Edmonton, Alberta.

In 2010, Dr. Marsden was named Teacher of the Year by the AHVMA.

56 Social media 63 From the AHVMF 64 From the VBMA 65 Marketplace 66 Events

Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM, received her veterinary degree in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College. In 1986, she moved to Southern California to establish Hemopet, the first non-profit national blood bank program for animals. Dr. Dodds has been a member of many national and international committees on hematology, animal models of human disease, veterinary medicine, and laboratory animal science. She received the Holistic Veterinarian of the Year Award from the AHVMA in 1994.

Dr. Barbara Fougere, DVM, CVAA graduated in 1986, and was named the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Educator for 2011. Dr. Fougere is the principal and one of the founders of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. She has continued studying over the last 26 years, and has three Bachelor degrees, two Masters degrees, three post Graduate Diplomas, several Certifications and numerous other courses under her belt.

Dr. Christina Chambreau, DVM, CVH, graduated from the University of Georgia Veterinary College in 1980. She is a founder of the Academy Of Veterinary Homeopathy, was on the faculty of the National Center for Homeopathy Summer School and has been the holistic modality adjunct faculty liaison for the Maryland Veterinary Technician Program. Dr. Chambreau teaches classes in homeopathy for animals, and lectures on many topics. She is the author of the Healthy Animal’s Journal and the co-author of the Homeopathic Repertory: A Tutorial.

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Integrative VETERINARY CARE

SPRING 2015

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Editor-in-Chief: Dana Cox Managing Editor: Ann Brightman Associate Editor: Christina Chambreau, DVM, CVH Senior Graphic Designer: Dawn Cumby-Dallin Senior Graphic Designer: Kathleen Atkinson Social Media Manager: Natasha Roulston Social Media Editor: Jasmine Cabanaw Webmaster: Brad Vader Cover Photography: Dawn Cumby-Dallin

COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Laurie Dohmen, VMD, MS John A. Ellis, DVM, PhD, dip ACVP, dip ACVM Michele Gaspar, DVM, DABVP (Feline) Cynthia Lankenau, DVM Beverly London, DVM Kendra Pope, DVM, CVA, CVDH, CVFT, CVTP Kathleen Prasad Carlos Valadez Jeffrey Yuen, dipl, CH (NCCAOM)

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The opinions expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the editor, and different views may appear in other issues. Redstone Media Group Inc., publisher of IVC Journal, does not promote any of the products or services advertised by a third party advertiser in this publication, nor does Redstone Media Group Inc. verify the accuracy of any claims made in connection with such advertisers.

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IVC Journal (ISSN 2291-9600) is published four times a year by Redstone Media Group Inc. Publications Mail Agreement #40884047. Entire contents copyright© 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. Publication date: March 2015.

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS...

ONE READER AT A TIME.

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editorial

healing

A NEW APPROACH TO

Spring is a time of new beginnings, as well as an opportunity to clean out what we don’t need any more. My wish for this new season is that we make time to look at our current thinking about health and healing, and consider areas in our practice that we need to change. Is it time to begin a new approach to healing?

When I began studying holistic approaches and integrating them into my practice, the biggest shift was in seeing each animal patient as unique. Clients appreciated it when I delved in and really asked about “Spot”, her characteristics, her family situation and the environment she lived in, and I found it more beneficial, too. It is much more effective and interesting to choose a different treatment for each animal diagnosed with the same condition than to use one treatment protocol for them all, regardless of circumstances. Even when my integrative methods do not resolve tumors, they can often slow their growth and help pets live longer. When the modalities I use do not work, I know it is time to refer to a different integrative practitioner, or learn more about the modalities I’m not as familiar with.

In this issue of IVC Journal, we look at a number of modalities and issues that may be unfamiliar to you. Jeffrey Yuen, dipl, CH (NCCAOM), discusses the medicinal properties of essential oils and how he has successfully integrated them into his Chinese Medicine practice (page 32). Beverly London, DVM, takes a closer look at how heavy metal accumulation in plants is affecting horses, on page 26; specifically, she reports on how excess ingestion of lead can be a major cause of chronic renal failure in equines. And John A. Ellis, DVM, PhD, dip ACVP, dip ACVM, explains how colostrum provides more than passive immunity in his article on page 20.

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Since spring inevitably brings allergies, Laurie Dohmen, VMD, MS, explores how Western herbs can be used to help us cope with the environmental allergens – the ones we can’t easily control – that surround us and our pets (page 14). When it comes to horses, other issues besides allergies can arise this time of year, as the weather changes and work begins again in earnest.

On page 58, Kendra Pope, DVM, CVA, CVDH, CVFT, CVTP, discusses evidence-based Chinese herbal therapy for respiratory issues, lameness and more.

Finally, Kathleen Prasad, president of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) gives us some insight into how Reiki is helping out in the shelter environment (page 52).

It is my sincere hope that this issue of IVC will inspire you to consider new modalities of healing in your own practice. As always, we love to publish your successes in the “Cases” section of the IVC Journal website, and to share what is working for you in the Journal itself.

Wishing you an inspired season,

Christina Chambreau, DVM, CVH Associate Editor, drtina@ivcjournal.com

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contributors 1

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5 Meet the IVC gurus!

LIKE us on Facebook to learn more about integrative leaders in the veterinary community.

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1. LAURIE DOHMEN, VMD, MS Dr. Laurie Dohmen graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. She is trained in acupuncture, food therapy, Bach flower essences, and most extensively in Western herbs. She recently downsized her integrative mixed animal practice in Delaware, and lectures regularly on Western herbal veterinary medicine and other holistic topics. Dr. Dohmen is also on the faculty of Maryland University of Integrative Medicine, from where she received her Master’s in Therapeutic Herbalism. She is currently president of the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association.

2. JOHN ELLIS, DVM, PHD, DIP ACVP, DIP ACVM Dr. John Ellis is a Professor of Veterinary Microbiology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatoon, where he teaches diagnostic virology. He is the author of many papers. After graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois, he received his PhD from Colorado State University and went on to work in Nairobi, Kenya for his Post Doctoral Fellowship at the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases. He is a diplomate with both the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and The American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (immunology, virology).

3. MICHELE GASPAR, DVM, DABVP (FELINE) Dr. Michele Gaspar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Feline Specialty). She completed the CSU veterinary medical acupuncture course in 2000 and has also completed the Traditional Chinese Herbal Therapy program at the Chi Institute. Dr. Gaspar is a 1994 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine and a full-time employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN).

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4. CYNTHIA LANKENAU, DVM Dr. Cynthia Lankenau received her DVM from Cornell University in 1981, and started studying alternative modalities in 1992. She is certified with the IVAS, AVCA and AHV, and in Chinese Herbal Medicine through the Chi Institute and CIVT. She is a registered herbalist through the American Herbal Guild and is currently working on CIVT’s Western Graduate Herbal program.

She is the current Past President of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association, and owns a private integrative mixed practice.

5. BEVERLY LONDON, DVM Dr. Beverly London received her DVM from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. After working in private practice, neuropathology and nutrition, she established London Veterinary Energy Medicine, for both small and large animals predominantly in Michigan. Dr. London is certified in animal chiropractic and acupuncture and also practices applied kinesiology. Her passion lies in treating metabolic imbalances that cause chronic disease, and discovering the physiology behind the disease. She has been a speaker at both AVCA and AHVMA annual conventions.

6. KENDRA POPE, DVM, CVA, CVDH, CVFT, CVTP Dr. Kendra Pope practices acupuncture and TCVM at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Levittown, Pennsylvania. Her interests include integrative and comparative oncology and holistic therapies for the treatment of chronic disease. Dr. Pope completed her training in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, food therapy and Chinese massage (Tui-na) at the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Reddick, Florida. She is currently completing a residency in oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pope is a member of the American Association of Traditional

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Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Cancer Society and AVMA. 7. JEFFREY YUEN, DIPL, CH (NCCAOM) Jeffery Yuen is the Dean for Academic Affairs for the Acupuncture Program at the Swedish Institute in New York. His teachings have served as the basis of the first PhD program developed in the field of Classical Chinese Medicine, now offered at the American University of Complementary Medicine in Los Angeles. He is president of the International Tai Chi Institute of New York City, and maintains a practice in New York City as an herbalist. He speaks around the world and was the first non-physician to be approved by the American Medical Association (AMA) to confer Continuing Medical Education Units.

8. CARLOS VALADEZ Carlos Valadez is an applied equine podiatrist and horse trainer, and specializes in holistic approaches to trimming. He is a graduate of the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry in Ocala, Florida and the owner of AC Valadez Horsemanship, an equine rehabilitation center in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

9. KATHLEEN PRASAD Kathleen Prasad is founder of Animal Reiki Source and president of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (AnimalReikiSource.com or ShelterAnimalReikiAssociation.org). A Reiki practitioner since 1998, she has been a Reiki volunteer for various shelters and sanctuaries since 2001, and has taught Reiki to staff and volunteers at BrightHaven, Best Friends Animal Society and others. Kathleen is the author of Reiki for Dogs and The Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics and co-authored The Animal Reiki Handbook and Animal Reiki: Using Energy to Heal the Animals in Your Life.

what’s new 3D PROSTHETICS SET TO TO IMPROVE LIVESLAW BILL ONE STEP CLOSER BECOMING The advent of 3D printing has opened up a whole new world of possibilities, and some of them are already improving lives. Born with deformed front legs, Derby was a severely disabled dog. A cart gave him mobility, but his foster caregiver, Tara Anderson, wanted to take it a step further.

A project manager for 3D Systems in South Carolina, Tara and her team worked with Derrick Campana, a certified Orthotist at Animal Ortho Care in Chantilly, Virginia, to create 3D prosthetics for Derby. Data of the dog’s forearms, along with 3D scan data of a cup design created by Campana, were used to make prosthetics customized to the dog’s morphology.

They feature perfect organic shapes and smooth curves perfectly suited to his body. Derby can now move like any other dog – his owners, Dom and Sherry Portanova, report that he loves going for runs and sometimes even takes the lead.

3DSystems.com

DOGS AND MAGNETIC FIELDS What direction do your canine patients face in when they relieve themselves? It might seem irrelevant, but according to a study published in Frontiers in Zoology, dogs don’t just go the bathroom randomly.

They actually choose which direction to face according to Earth’s magnetic field.

The study involved 70 dogs who over a period of two years engaged in a total of 1,893 defecations and 5,582 urinations. The dogs were unleashed and in a free-roaming environment while eliminating, which meant they were not influenced by manmade structures such as walls and roads.

The researchers found that the dogs demonstrated a sensitivity to magnetic field variations that we wouldn’t even be aware of: “Dogs preferred to excrete with the body being aligned along the north–south axis under calm MF conditions. This directional behavior was abolished under unstable MF. The best predictor of the behavioral switch was the rate of change in declination, i.e., polar orientation of the MF.” The reasons for this behavior are still unknown, but the study has opened the door to further research into how animals perceive and make use of magnetic fields.

FrontiersiInZoology.com/content/10/1/80

ANIMALS IMPROVE ASSERTIVENESS IN AUTISTIC KIDS A University of Missouri researcher recently found that children with autism have stronger social skills when an animal lives in the house with them.

“When I compared…children with autism who lived with dogs to those who did not, the children with dogs appeared to have greater social skills,” says Gretchen Carlisle, research fellow at the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. “However, children with any kind of animal in the home…were more likely to engage in behaviors such as introducing themselves, asking for information or responding to other people’s questions.”

Carlisle surveyed 70 families who had children with autism between the ages of eight and 18. The children were patients at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Almost 70% of the families that participated in the research had dogs, and about half had cats. Other pets owned by participants included fish, farm animals, rodents, rabbits, reptiles, a bird and even one spider.

MUNews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2014/1230-children-with-autism-who-livewith-pets-are-more-assertive IVC Spring 2015

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what’s new SUPPORTING REGENERATIVE MEDICINELAW BILL ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING Stem cell therapy is continuing to show great promise in veterinary medicine, and it’s getting another big boost. Philanthropists John and Leslie Malone have committed $42.5 million to Colorado State University to develop regenerative medical therapies for animals and people.

The donation will launch the CSU Institute for Biologic Translational Therapies, which will investigate nextgeneration remedies based on living cells and their products, including patient-derived stem cells, to treat musculoskeletal disease and other ailments.

The gift was inspired in part by stem cell treatments the Malones’ world-class dressage horses received to help repair stressed and injured joints.

“You put so much training into them, it would be wonderful to have them enjoy their health for a longer period,” says Leslie, citing a promising dressage competitor named Blixt, a gelding that suffered lameness, underwent arthroscopic surgery, received stem cell injections, and now is back to training.

“We think this whole area of research is very exciting for what it portends for humans and animals,” John adds.

GRANT PROGRAM FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE BILL ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW Emerson Ecologics, LLC, a distributor of over 275 brands of professional-quality vitamins, supplements, prescription medications and natural health products, has been accepting applications for The Emerson Grant. This program supports the work of practitioners and promotes integrative medicine in the United States. In April, the company will award grants totaling $25,000 for projects and initiatives designed to improve, expand or support the practice of integrative medicine.

The Emerson Grant is a competitive, discretionary award ranging from $500 to $10,000. Projects may include legislative efforts, public awareness campaigns or enhancements to education or clinical training.

Emerson Ecologics is dedicated to the continued growth and awareness of integrative healthcare and wellness. The company recognizes that hundreds of volunteer-driven organizations work tirelessly to support integrative medicine.

EmersonEcologics.com/grant

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what’s new MITRAL VALVE DISEASE RESEARCH Mitral valve disease (MVD) is the most common canine heart disease, and affects as many as 70% of dogs over ten years of age. In dogs with severe MVD, the mitral valve leak can lead to congestive heart failure.

Dr. Mark Oyama, Professor of Cardiology at Penn Vet, is a leading authority on MVD. He and his colleagues have found that many of the pathological features of serotonin-mediated valve disease in humans are strikingly similar to those found in dogs with MVD, in that: • Serotonin activates degenerative changes within the dog’s mitral valve.

• Drugs that block serotonin receptors reduce this response.

• Dog breeds predisposed to MVD have increased serotonin in their blood stream and heart tissues.

Currently, there are no available therapies to slow or reverse the underlying disease process. However, a $450,000 gift from Bruce Wiltsie and William Davenport will support Penn Vet research in the treatment of MVD. Named in honor of their dog, Barth, who passed away from the disease, the Barth Memorial Fund for Mitral Valve Disease Research will enable experts at Penn Vet to investigate new medications to stop or reverse the disease process. This work also has important implications for non-surgical treatment of MVD in people.

Dr. Oyama aims to develop a serotonin-blocking medication to stop or reverse the disease before congestive heart failure occurs. A clinical trial will follow, involving several hundred dogs worldwide with naturally-occurring early MVD.

Vet.upenn.edu

Dr. Mark Oyama is a leading authority on MVD. The Barth Memorial Fund for Mitral Valve Disease Research will enable him and his colleagues at Penn Vet to do more studies and hopefully find ways to stop or reverse the disease.

CANCER FUND BILL ONE STEPREPORT CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW The 2014 Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund Report was recently published by the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Pet Trust, University of Guelph. For nearly 14 years, Smiling Blue Skies has been supporting the OVC in its quest to prevent and treat cancer, and create leading edge facilities to treat cancer in pets. These initiatives include: • Validation of a blood test to diagnose hemangiosarcoma, a highly aggressive cancer.

• Equipment purchases and support for the Mona Campbell Centre for Animal Cancer, including surgery lighting and naming of the Smiling Blue Skies Comfort Room.

• Development of Canada’s first cancer registry for companion animals.

• Investigation of novel cancer treatments and approaches, providing muchneeded seed money for research that can be difficult to obtain from traditional grant funding sources Last year’s funds went towards funding for a new clinical trials co-ordinator position at the Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation; training for a new radiation oncologist; and a study into immunotherapy for dogs with lymphoma.

SmilingBlueSkies.com IVC Spring 2015

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Western

herbal

treatments for allergies

By Laurie Dohmen, VMD, MS

Spring is here, and with it the reemergence of life and growth.

With this positive rebirth, there is a downside – allergies.

inflammatory response”.1 I think everyone realizes that chronic inflammation is bad for the body.

Allergies can be triggered by either environmental pathogens or foods. Food allergies are (in my opinion) both easier and harder to treat – easier because a diet of exclusion (and in many cases a diet of fresh whole foods) removes the allergen; harder because client/patient compliance is low.

Research is expanding on non-allopathic treatments for chronic inflammation. The majority of our immune system tissue is in the gastrointestinal tract, so keeping the digestion working optimally supports the immune system. Whole instead of processed foods support the digestive tract, immune system and most other bodily systems. Using whole foods, it is easy to incorporate nutraceuticals and other supplements into the diet. Some foods are naturally prebiotics, but adding a probiotic supplement is a good idea. Probiotics help the gut by making sure it is colonized with appropriate bacteria; they also reduce permeability, lower the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and synthesize vitamins. Another good supplement to add is Omega fatty acids.

They work to prevent allergic reactions.1

In this article, I will focus on environmental allergens since it is almost impossible to remove them. They include trees, plants, grasses, other animals, molds and mites (storage and dust).

Allergies are hard on the immune system; because they are a chronic disease, the immune system never gets a break.

The immune system is comprised of two parts: the innate (ancestral) system and the adaptive (specific) system. The adaptive part is the one that causes allergies: it clears all environmental pathogens. “An unchecked and unbalanced immune system hampers good health and quality of life.”1 We all know this to be true for allergy sufferers.

Allergies are an over-activated immune system1 and an allergic response is an overreaction to a substance – “… an over-activated…immune response can cause chronic infection because of inefficient clearing of the pathogen or chronic inflammation due to inefficient resolution of the

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All this being said, I am primarily an herbalist, so I use Western herbs to support the immune system and prevent allergies. “Herbal medicines reportedly affect cytokine secretion, histamine release, immunoglobulin secretion and class switching, cellular co-receptor expression, lymphocyte proliferation, and cytotoxic activity,” writes NIH AIDS researcher Susan Plaeger in a “Guest Commentary” for Immunology and Herbs. “Herbal treatments decreased antigenspecific immunoglobin E, as well as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL5, and IL 13 secretion from spleen cells, but did not suppress immunoglobulin G2a and gamma interferon synthesis.”2

ADAPTOGENS One of my favorite classes of herbs for immune support is adaptogens. In 1969, Russian doctor Israel Brekhman defined “adaptogen” as follows: “ a An adaptogen should be innocuous and cause minimal disorders in the physiologic functions of an organism; b The action of an adaptogen should be nonspecific, i.e. it should

increase resistance to adverse influences of a wide range of factors of physical, chemical, and biological nature; c An adaptogen may possess normalizing action irrespective of the direction of the foregoing pathologic changes.”3

Part “a” demands that adaptogens are safe for long term use, part “b” clearly includes allergens, and part “c” means that adaptogens work whether there is immunocompromise or overstimulation, as with allergies. Some of my favorite adaptogens include eleuthero (Eleuterococcus senticosus), ashwaganda (Withania somnifera) and astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous).

• Eleuthero, also known as Siberian ginseng due to its similarity to true ginseng, is known for its ability to increase resistance to all stressors. One of the many ways it does this is by supporting and enhancing the immune system. In fact, there are many studies in which eleuthero prevented people from getting common diseases.2 It is known as a preventive rather than a curative herb. It helps prevent the symptoms and secondary infections often associated with allergies. True ginseng (Panax ginseng/quinquefolius) is wonderful, but not effective until the plant has been growing for at least six years. Roots that old are almost impossible to find in the US, and they are prohibitively expensive worldwide.

• Ashwaganda is another good adaptogen. It is immunemodulating, restorative for chronic illnesses (such as allergies) and a tonic for the adrenals. It is especially indicated for the geriatric population, who have a harder time mounting an immune response under the best of circumstances.

• Astragalus is similar to ashwaganda, but for the young instead of the old. It increases energy and resistance to disease, and strengthens and stimulates the immune system. Unlike eleuthero, which is more preventive, astragalus can both prevent and treat infections, so it is a great adaptogen for animals whose allergies have progressed to dermatitis or otitis. According to David Hoffmann, “Astragalus appears to strengthen both nonspecific [innate] and specific [adaptive] immunity…it strengthens many functions of the immune system.”4 Continued on page 16.

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Continued from page 15.

ALTERATIVES Another class of herbs I find very beneficial for allergies are alteratives, which are blood cleansers. According to Rosemary Gladstar, alteratives are “agents that gradually and favorably alter the condition of the blood. They aid the Nettle body in assimilating nutrients and eliminating metabolic waste products.”5 Since toxins are primarily cleared from the blood in the liver and kidneys, most alteratives have liver or kidney effects. Some good alteratives include burdock (Arctium lappa), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), nettle (Urtica dioica) and cleavers (Galium aparine).

• I put burdock in almost every formula I make. Not only is it an alterative, but it’s a food herb (gobo), so it is nourishing, cleansing and supports the liver and kidneys. According to Andrew Chevallier, “Burdock is one of the foremost detoxifying herbs…used to treat conditions caused by an ‘overload’ of toxins, such as…chronic skin problems.”6 • Dandelion is also excellent for flushing the liver and kidneys.

The root is thought to be more cleansing to the liver, while the leaves are considered more diuretic. (The concern with allopathic diuretics is potassium loss, but nature provided plenty of potassium in dandelion leaves, so that is not a concern.) It also is a food herb, with uses ranging from salads (greens) to wine (flowers). Rosemary Gladstar believes dandelion is “one of the great tonic herbs of all times”.7 • Nettle is one of my favorite herbs ever. As it’s another food herb, my entire family asks me every day in the spring if the nettles are big enough yet to harvest. I use them like spinach, which means in everything!

Dandelion

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Burdock

Both my cats and my dog love “nettle eggs” (always some variation of an omlette with nettles, mushrooms, garlic and cheese). Its Latin name is Urtica, from which comes “urticaria”, so it stands to reason that this is a good herb for treating allergies. Hoffmann says that “the herb strengthens and supports the whole body. Throughout Europe, nettle is used as a spring tonic and general detoxifying remedy.”4 • Cleavers is another alterative not to be forgotten. It’s a diuretic and lymphatic, so it helps to clear allergens and other toxins out of the lymphatic system. Unlike many herbs, which can be dried and have their medicinal properties extracted by water, alcohol or some other menstruum, cleavers are usually used as a fresh juice and can be eaten as a green.

Continued on page 18.

Cleavers

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Oregon grape root

Continued from page 16.

SPECIFIC DERMATOLOGY HERBS

considered a very safe herb. Wynn and Fougere recommend it for both skin and ear infecions.9

Lastly are the herbs for dermatologic conditions, which is how most allergies in small animals manifest. In this category, I like to use Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea/ angustifolia), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Oregon grape root (Mahonia aquifolium).

Whenever allergies flare, I use nutrition (I think whole foods are vitally important to good health), supplements and herbs to keep the animal comfortable and healthy until the allergen has waned in the environment. I use a combination of adaptogens, alteratives and dermatologic herbs tailored to the individual patient. One dog named Riley loved his combination so much that his owner always used to say he sat and begged for it! As I have found with Riley and many other animals, good herbal treatment and whole foods can help completely resolve environmental allergies. The animals can remain allergy-free due to their boosted immunity.

• We all know Echinacea as an antimicrobial herb, but it does so much more. It is an immune stimulant (this is how it fights microbes), but it can also fight allergens this way. It also is an anti-inflammatory and a mild detoxifier. Chevallier states that “Echinacea is one of the world’s most important medicinal herbs. Research shows that it has the ability to raise the body’s resistance… by stimulating the immune system. Echincaea…helps to relieve skin allergies, and it has been used for centuries to clear skin infections.”6 Unlike adaptogens and alteratives, Echinacea is not good for long-term use. There is debate about its safety long-term, but there is no debate that it loses its efficacy over time, and should therefore be pulsed (two weeks on, two weeks off).

• Licorice is another herb that cannot be used longterm, due to its adrenal effects. However, it is an anti-inflammatory and soothing herb, as well as being healing and detoxifying to the liver. Its adrenal effects make licorice good for allergies: it is nature’s hydrocortisone. The adrenal support also helps the body deal with the stress the allergens put on the entire system. In one study, “the results showed that licorice extract could be considered as an effective agent for treatment of atopic dermatitis”. 8

Echincaea

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• Oregon grape root, native to the Pacific Northwest, is specific to chronic skin conditions. It also is an alterative, a stimulant and a tonic to the liver and gall bladder. Despite its berberine content, Oregon grape root is

Licorice

Haddad P, Azar G, Groom S, Boivin, M.“Natural Health Products, Modulation of Immune Function and Prevention of Chronic Diseases”. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2005; 2(4), 513-520.

1

Plaeger S. “Clinical Immunology and Traditional Herbal Medicines”. Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, 2003; 10 (3), 337-338.

2

Brekhman I, Dardymov I. “New substances of plant origin which increase nonspecific resistance”. Annual review of pharmacology,1969; 9(1), 419-430.

3

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 2003.

4

Gladstar R. The Science and Art of Herbalism: A Home-Study Course. East Barre: Sage Mountain.

5

Chevallier A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1996.

6

Gladstar R. Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal. North Adams: Storey Books, 2001.

7

Saeedi M, Morteza-Semnani K, Ghoreishi M. “The treatment of atopic dermatitis with licorice gel”. Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2003; 14, 153-157.

8

Wynn S, Fougere B. Veterinary Herbal Medicine. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier, 2007.

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Advertorial

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY STUDY ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION The following is the abstract from the study accepted to be published in the International Journal of Diabetes and Clinical Research titled: ‘An oral antioxidant formulation preventing and reversing canine diabetic cataract: a placebo controlled masked trial.’

PURPOSE: To evaluate OcuGLO™ Rx, an orally-administered antioxidant/vitamin blend including the aldose reductase inhibitor alpha lipoic acid (ALA), as a way to prevent diabetic cataracts in dogs.

METHODS: The placebo-controlled masked study involved 30 dogs diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, but without blinding lens changes. The dogs were randomly assigned to two groups.

One group received Ocu-GLO Rx daily by mouth, and the other received placebo. All dogs received a full ophthalmic examination; lens clarity was recorded photographically using a Genesis D fundus camera at +10D after pharmacological mydriasis. The dogs were followed for up to one year, with monthly examinations.

The duration of time without changes in lens opacification was documented for each dog, and the two groups were compared using Kaplan Meier survival curve statistics.

RESULTS: The mean time without change in lens opacification was 136±66 days with Ocu-GLO Rx and 64±24 days in the placebo group. The median duration without lens change was 112 and 65 days respectively. Nine of the 15 dogs taking the placebo developed significant cataracts while only three of the 15 dogs taking Ocu-GLO Rx developed significant cataract; and these three dogs did not receive the product as directed, due to unrelated illness or owner non-compliance.

CONCLUSION: This small preliminary study (accepted in the International Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Medicine) demonstrated that this product has beneficial effects in preventing cataract formation in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

PLACEBO

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nutrition nook

IT OFFERS MORE THAN

passive IMMUNITY

By John A. Ellis, DVM, PhD, dip ACVP, dip ACVM

Colostrum is the “high octane” milk produced by mammals during the periparturient period of pregnancy. It can be considered “high octane” because it contains factors not found in the “regular” milk produced during the rest of lactation.

Traditionally, the necessity of colostrum for providing lifeassuring passive immunity to the immunologically-naive neonate has been most recognized in large animal medicine.

However, colostrum is equally essential to companion animal species, since compared to humans (and mice), all domestic animals receive very little if any immunoglobulin transplacentally.1 Extensive literature exists on the use of colostrum for the passive immunization of neonates in cattle, and to a lesser extent, other livestock as well as pets.1,2 Recently, there has been growing interest in the administration of bovine colostrum (BC) to animals and humans beyond the neonatal period. This article will consider the current theory, data and practice related to supplemental post day-one use of BC in companion animals.

fold higher concentration of immunoglobulin as compared to regular milk.1 In major domestic animals, the predominant immunoglobin in both colostrum and milk is made up of IgG subtypes. In primates, including humans, IgA predominates. Generally, aside from being a source of protein, bovine immunuglobulins would be of little benefit in other species1 because of two constraints.

First, pathogen species and/or serotypes differ among species; therefore, the antibodies in BC would generally be ineffective against pathogens such as dog and cat parvoviruses. Second, colostral antibodies, like plasma antibodies, can coat or opsonize pathogens, making it easier for phagocytes such as neutrophils and macrophages to destroy them; for this to occur, however, the FC (fragment crystallization) part of the antibody has to bind to the phagocyte, and this tends to be a species-specific interaction.

Fortunately, most of the other active ingredients in BC have a propensity for cross-reaction in other species, such as humans, dogs and cats.

THE COMPONENTS OF COLOSTRUM Colostrum is produced during the last few weeks of pregnancy, and contains a combination of mammary gland secretions together with proteins that are actively transferred from the blood under hormonal influence, resulting in a nearly 100-

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• Bovine colostrum contains a variety of factors related to the innate or nonspecific immune system, including lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme, all of which can have direct “toxic” effects on bacteria and/or viruses.3

• Colostrum also contains soluble mediators or cytokines, including interleukins and interferon. These “messengers” are involved in immune regulation, inflammation and immune cell recruitment.3 • The sugars or oligosaccarhides in colostrum may affect the growth of pathogens, but perhaps more importantly, they promote the growth of beneficial microflora in the large intestine, thereby affecting overall gut health.4 • In addition to various immune mediators, bovine colostrum also contains a variety of growth factors, including insulinlike growth factors, as well as epithelial, endothelial, fibroblast and platelet-derived growth factors.5 These offer both local health-promoting activity in the gut, and act systemically.

Although there are some species differences in the composition of colostrum, the main reason BC has been used as a supplement in other animals is a simple matter of production volume and accessibility. Calves ingest/require two to four liters of colostrum in the first few hours of life, yet modern high-producing dairy cattle make about 15 liters of high quality colostrum over a 24-hour periparturient period (as well as lower quality colostrum for several days thereafter).2 Depending on the dairy, some of that “extra” colostrum is frozen to administer to calves that for some reason did not ingest colostrum or received an inadequate amount or relatively poor quality maternal colostrum, for example from a first calf heifer. Since colostrum by law cannot be included in the milk supply for human consumption, extra colostrum has historically been discarded or fed to a lucky barn cat. This unused extra colostrum is now used for the production of colostrum supplements, generally in the form of powder.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND COLOSTRUM USE IN COMPANION ANIMALS Many more studies have been performed on the supplemental use of BC in humans than in companion animals. A recent exhaustive review of the human literature concerning BC usage stringently evaluated the methodological quality of more than 1,300 publications.6 The authors justifiably and conservatively concluded that the available studies suggest BC has immunological and other benefits, but further studies are required before well-supported recommendations can be made for clinical applications.

Limitations cited in the available literature include: heterogeneity in study populations; variation in outcome measures; variation and inconsistency in colostrum products tested; and factors related to experimental design, such as blinding of investigators, randomization of subjects, and failure to include appropriate (caloric) controls, such as whey protein, when evaluating BC supplementation. All these factors make it difficult to compare among studies and draw consistent conclusions, especially concerning specific BC products.

Similar considerations limit the extant literature on veterinary uses of BC as a supplement. However, acknowledging these caveats, what are reasonable uses for bovine colostrum in companion animals, based on available data and current immunological and physiological thinking?

1. Respiratory disease Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is one of the most common infectious disease syndromes encountered in veterinary practice. Bovine colostrum could be beneficial as a prophylactic against URTI, especially if given to animals before

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and endotoxin-neutralizing effects of several BC components.

In addition, the growth factors in BC may promote mucosal integrity and tissue repair.6

3. Periodontal disease Periodontal disease (PD) and associated tooth loss is the number one health problem in small animal practice. By just two years of age, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease.14 Since the condition is multifactorial, involving complex interactions between host genetic factors, diet and oral microbes, it is difficult to develop a model in which to specifically assess prophylactic and therapeutic interventions such as BC supplementation.15 and during boarding or other “stressful� events involving exposure to infected animals. From a clinical perspective, there have as yet been no field trials to directly address this issue in cats and dogs; however, an association between BC supplementation and reduced clinical or subclinical UTRI has been reported in children, performance athletes, and most recently, in race horses.6,7 The mechanism of action for this disease-sparing could arise from the direct action of colostral antimicrobial factors, such as lactoferrin. In culture at least, bovine lactoferrin has been shown to have antiviral activity on feline and canine herpesviruses and feline calicivirus.8,9,10 Alternatively, or in addition, disease-sparing could result from the cumulative action of colostral factors in supporting or enhancing immune function. Enhancement of antibody responses to canine distemper vaccination in BC-supplemented dogs compared to non-supplemented controls supports this concept.11 Human literature, especially as related to UTRI in athletes, also supports the concept of immune enhancement, and specifically suggests the role of BC in increased salivary IgA levels.6 Importantly, as suggested by the human literature, BC may have little beneficial effect once an animal has clinical respiratory disease; therefore, the timing of BC supplementation may be critical to observe a desired effect.6

2. Diarrhea and gut health Both etiologically defined and idiopathic diarrhea presents frequently in small animal practice. Three studies in dogs examined gut-related issues in the context of BC supplementation, and suggest that BC can favorably alter (increase the diversity of) gut microflora and increase fecal IgA, as well as positively affect fecal consistency.11,12,13 As suggested in both veterinary and human studies of BC supplementation, reducing diarrhea, promoting a healthy gut and suppressing gut inflammation could be mediated by the direct antimicrobial

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Several factors in BC could counteract or delay periodontal disease. Since oral bacteria are thought to be the inciting factor in PD, the antimicrobial factors in BC such as lacterferrin, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme could have a direct effect on the oral bacterial load. PD is an inflammatory process associated with tissue damage, and immune-modulating factors in BC reduce the pathogenic host response to infection. As well, the many growth factors in BC could, through activity on fibroblasts and epithelial cells, aid repairing damaged tissue.5,16 At this juncture, unpublished anecdotal observations tend to support the prophylactic/therapeutic use of BC for PD in canine and feline patients.

Continued on page 24.

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Safety AND

PRODUCT STANDARDS Available data and anecdotal observations indicate that BC is generally considered safe and well-tolerated in dogs and cats. After all, it is just “high octane” milk. However, because it is milk, idiosyncratic reactions can occur in individual animals, and possibly in lines within a breed, based on an intolerance to milk sugars or a true hypersensitivity to milk proteins. Excluding mild idiosyncratic reactions, there are no reports in the literature of serious side effects or toxicities in humans using BC supplementation.

Most natural or manufactured pharmaceutical products or “drugs” contain one or very few bioactive compounds or ingredients. This is also probably true for many if not most herbal or other natural-source remedies, in which the active ingredients may or may not have been identified. In marked contrast, as discussed earlier, BC contains a multitude of bioactive compounds with different and often overlapping activities, making it very difficult to “license” BC for a particular activity (at the exclusion of others), under the auspices of standard regulatory practices.

Further complicating any standardization of bioactivity, as mirrored in the many brands of BC, are variations in colostrum (milk) collecting times, processing and formulation. Many of the “goodies” in colostrum are labile and variably susceptible to standard dairy processing methods, including pasteurization as well as other procedures sometimes used in the production of BC powder.

All BC products are not created equal. It is important to inquire about what quality control criteria have been applied in the production of any brand of BC. A lack of transparency should be a red flag. For many reasons, it is important to also ask about the cows being milked – their food sources, environmental conditions, etc.

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Continued from page 22.

4. Coat and hair quality A small-scale unpublished study, relying on owner observations, suggests that BC supplementation may improve the hair coat in dogs This would be consistent with the activity of epidermal and/ or fibroblast growth factors in colostrum, and warrants further investigation.5

5. Senesence in aging A major factor of aging across mammalian species is the weakening and loss of skeletal muscle together with bone resorption (Degens, 2010). Insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an anabolic hormone responsible for muscle hypertrophy and regeneration. It decreases with age, but is in high concentration in BC.17 Although there are no published studies on the effects of IGF-1 in dogs or cats, in a recent study of 50 to 60-year-old exercising humans17, it was found that both whey protein and BC promoted more lean muscle mass, but only the BC increased leg strength and reduced bone resorption. These results suggest that BC together with exercise may combat agerelated degredation of the musculoskeleton in dogs as well.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Based on the multi-systemic effects of BC, all cats and dogs, regardless of age, may benefit from BC supplementation.

Certainly, as discussed, specific outcome measures may be difficult to quantify, especially in pets with no apparent disease.

One of the major confounding variables in human studies is the variations in dose and how the dose has been determined – they range from 14 mg three times per day to 60 gm daily.6 A reasonable starting point in pets may be a teaspoon (about 5 gm),11,13 depending on the size of the pet, given twice daily or at the normal feeding time. BC powder is hydroscopic and sticks to individual pieces of dry food. It mixes well with wet or fresh food, or can simply be “top-dressed”. Almost

universally, anecdotal owner observations indicate that BC is very palatable, and often even increases the palatability of food for most animals. Work in humans suggests that higher doses may be necessary to observe anabolic effects.

References Tizard I. “Immunity in the fetus and newborn”. Veterinary Immunology, 9th ed., 2013; 225-239.

1

Godden S. “Colostrum management for dairy calves”. Veterinary Clinics of North America – Food Animal Practice, 2008; 24(1):19-39.

2

Stelwagen K. et al, “Immune components of bovine colostrum and milk”. Journal of Animal Science, 2008; 87(13 Suppl):3-9.

3

Gopal PK, Gill HS. “Oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates in bovine milk and colostrum”. British Journal of Nutrition, 2000; 84 (Suppl 1):S69-S74.8.

4

Colostrum is being used in a growing number of veterinary practices for a variety of illnesses as well as for health enhancement.

Pakkanen R, Aalto J. “Growth factors and antimicrobial factors of bovine colostrum”. International Dairy Journal, 1997; 7:285-297.

5

Rathe M, et al. “Clinical applications of bovine colostrum therapy: a systematic review”. Nutrition Reviews, 2014; 72(4)237-254.

6

Fenger, CK, et al. “Bovine colostrum supplementation optimizes earnings, performance and recovery in racing Thoroughbreds”. Comparative Exercise Physiology, 2014; 10(4): 233-238.

7

McCann, KB, et al. “The effect of bovine lactoferrin on the ability of feline calicivirus to infect cell culture”. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2003; 95(5): 1026 -1033.

8

9

Tanaka T, et al. “Antiviral activity of lactoferrin against canine herpesvirus”. Antiviral Research, 2003; 60(3): 193-199.

Satyara E, et al. “Supplementation of diets with bovine colostrum influences immune function in dogs”. British Journal of Nutrition, 2003; 110:2216-2221.

10

Hellwig P, et al. “Effects of bovine lactoferrin on the immune system and the intestinal microflora of adult dogs”.

Archives of Animal Nutrition, 2008; 62(2): 152-161.

11

Giffard J, et al. “Benefits of bovine colostrum on fecal quality in recently weaned puppies”. The American Scoiety for Nutritional Sciences, 2004; 2126S - 2127S.

12

Niemiec, B. “Peridontal disease”. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 2008; 23(2):72-80.

13

Giannobile, W, et al. “Comparison of canine and non-human primate animal models of periodontal regenerative therapy: results following a single sdministration of PDGF/IGF-1”. Journal of Periodontology, 1994; 65:1169-1174.

14

Torre, C, et al. “Bovine colostrum increases proliferation of canine skin fibroblasts”. Journal of Nutrition, 2006; 136: 2058S

15

Degens H. “The role of systemic inflammation in age-related muscle weakness and wasting”. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2010; 20:28-38.

16

Whitney RD, et al. “The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation in older adults during resistance training”.

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2014; 24:276-285.

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Heavy metal

TOXICITY and chronic renal failure in horses

By Beverly London, DVM

Chronic renal failure features a progressive loss of renal function. It results in decreased urinary concentration, retention of nitrogenous and other metabolic end products, alterations in electrolyte and acid-base balance, and dysfunction of several hormone systems.

There are several causes of chronic renal failure in horses.

Often, however, renal dysfunction is diagnosed as idiopathic chronic renal failure. This article will include a brief review of kidney physiology, a discussion of chronic renal failure related to lead toxicity, and a case study of holistic treatment for a horse with this condition.

BRIEF REVIEW OF RENAL PHYSIOLOGY Body fluids circulate through the kidneys 15 times a day and are continually being filtered by the two million nephrons contained within the kidneys. The afferent renal arteriole delivers blood into a capillary bed called a glomerulus, which lies within Bowman’s capsule contained in the cortex of the kidney. The fluid from blood filters through the glomerulus within Bowman’s capsule, continues through the proximal tubule and into the loop of Henle located in the renal medulla.

The loops of Henle coalesce with the distal tubules, finally delivering the fluid into a collecting duct. Individual collecting ducts converge and empty into a funnel-like structure called the renal pelvis, which then empties the fluid into the ureters during micturition.

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The kidneys serve homeostatic functions such as regulating electrolytes, maintaining acid–base balance, regulating blood pressure, and producing the hormones calcitriol and erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin. The kidneys also filter blood to rid the body of toxic wastes such as urea and ammonium. These functions are accomplished by the actions of filtration, reabsorption and secretion within the nephrons. The cells and proteins are separated from the plasma at the level of the glomerulus by a passive filtration process. Tubular reabsorption is the process by which solutes and water are removed from the tubular fluid and transported across the renal interstitium back into the bloodstream. Tubular secretion is the transfer of materials from peritubular capillaries to renal tubular lumen.

Glomerulus

Nephron Tubules

Kidney

Renal Arteries

LEAD NEPHROPATHY Sources of lead ingestion in the equine are varied. Human activities have spread lead widely throughout the environment – in the air, water, soil, plants, animals and manmade constructions.

Once lead falls onto the earth, it adheres to the particles there and remains in the upper layer of soil. Soil erosion or environmental lead may cause contamination of rivers, lakes and streams as well as drinking water sources.1 Acute exposure to lead has deleterious effects on all organ systems, but the most profound effects are seen in the nervous, digestive and circulatory systems.

MECHANISMS OF LEAD1,2,3,4 • Substitutes for and competes with Ca++ • Disrupts Ca++ homeostasis • Binds with sulfhydryl groups • Stimulates release of Ca++ from mitochondria • Damages mitochondria and mitochondrial membranes • Substitutes for Zn in zinc-mediated processes • Increases oxidative stress • Inhibits antioxidative enzymes • Alters lipid metabolism

RESULTS OF LEAD TOXICITY1,2,3,4 • Abnormal myelin formation • Altered neurotransmitter density • Altered neurotransmitter release • Increase in lipid peroxidation

• Impaired heme biosynthesis leading to anemia • Decreased cellular energy metabolism (ATP) • Altered apoptosis Kidney damage occurs with exposure to high levels of lead, and evidence suggests that lower levels can also damage kidneys.5 This author believes that a very low dose of lead exposure may cause subclinical renal disease. The main body compartments that store lead are the blood, soft tissues and bone. The half-life of lead in these tissues is measured in weeks for blood, months for soft tissues, and years for bone.6 The estimated half-life of lead in a human bone is 20 to 30 years. Bone deposits lead back into the bloodstream long after the initial exposure is gone as a consequence of natural cell turnover, bone remodeling and degeneration.7 Lead is predominantly cleared from the body through the kidneys, causing a subclinical tubulointerstitial nephritis which may progress to chronic renal failure.8 Lead is absorbed by the proximal tubular cells, where it binds to specific lead-binding proteins and forms lead-protein complexes that are postulated to facilitate the movement of lead across the mitochondrial membranes of the renal tubular cells.9 Accumulation of lead in the mitochondria of the proximal nephron tubules results in mitochondrial swelling and inhibition of respiratory function and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.8 The tubulointerstitial structures of the Continued on page 29.

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Case report

Hajji is a 21-year-old gelding that presented to Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (MSU VTH) on September 3, 2012 for severe weight loss since April of the same year.

His appetite, thirst, urination and defecation were normal. He was on free choice, first cutting hay, seven pounds of grain, a double dose of Smart Gain and one pound of Natures Essential 32.

Hajji had colicked three times within the previous 12 months and received fluids during the first episode. Fecal floats for parasites performed by the referring veterinarian were negative.

Endoscopy revealed a small number of gastric ulcers within the stomach wall. Ultrasound revealed focally thickened small and large intestinal walls, while the right kidney had a mixed “moth-eaten” appearance with a loss of corticomedullary junction along with a small amount of free abdominal fluid within the peritoneum. Blood analysis results were slightly elevated with a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of 32 mg/dL, mild hypokalemia (9.9 mg/ dL), mild hypoalbuminemia (5.5 g/dL), mild hypoproteinemia (5.5 g/dL) and a low red blood cell count, with hemoglobin and hematocrit levels indicative of anemia. A rectal biopsy revealed minimal mucosal eosinophilic infiltrates with no signs of neoplasia. Hajji was released from MSU VTH with instructions for tapering the dose of oral dexamethasone over a 15-day period from the initial dosage of 40 mg/day.

Due to the diagnosis of idiopathic chronic renal failure and the accompanying poor prognosis, Hajji’s owner sadly decided to retire him.

Hajji was presented to London Veterinary Energy Medicine on September 24 for nutritional response testing (NRT) to address metabolic concerns.

The NRT revealed renal congestion due to a heavy metal toxicity. Hair analysis (Uckele) results indicated elevated levels of lead. Hajji was treated with a homeopathic remedy for heavy metals and Arginex® at 8/day for the first five weeks. The homeopathic remedy was discontinued after five weeks and Renafood® was added at 6/day. Two weeks later, Renatrophin PMG™ was added at 4/ day. Two weeks after that, Super EFF was added at 8/day for six weeks, at which time all supplements were discontinued.

Arginex acts as a kidney detoxifier or decongestant by supplying the enzyme arginase to break down arginine that may have accumulated during protein metabolism. Renafood provides functional support for the kidneys by promoting filtration and reabsorption of wastes. Renatrophin PMG™ helps rebuild the kidneys by providing uniquely derived nucleoprotein-mineral extracts that support cellular health. Super EFF provides a readily available source of arachidonic acid to help rebuild the myelin sheath destroyed by heavy metals, such as aluminum and lead, or during other disease processes.

Hajji gained approximately 50 pounds during the treatment period and continues to do well on a bone/rheumatid homeopathic remedy, probiotics and a joint supplement. His owner happily decided he was doing well enough to resume participation in his therapeutic riding program.

Below: Hajji after holistic treatment.

Above: Hajji (left) before holistic treatment.

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Continued from page 27. kidney are very susceptible to the toxic effects of lead due to the reabsorptive function of the tubules.

Clinical signs of diarrhea, weight loss and an unthrifty hair coat are nonspecific for lead toxicosis, since these signs can be attributed to many other disease processes. However, when encountering a geriatric horse with these clinical signs, blood tests being within normal limits, and urine and fecal samples being negative for immune challenges, the veterinarian should consider testing for lead toxicity. Maximum lead blood levels in horses should not exceed 0.25 mg/dl. For suspected cases of chronic lead exposure, however, a hair analysis may be more beneficial since lead is stored in bone and soft tissue. Hair is used as one of the tissues of choice by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine toxic exposure to metals.

CONCLUSION Lead toxicity causes impaired heme biosynthesis, which results in anemia, disrupts calcium homeostasis, causes digestive inflammation, myelin sheath degeneration and nephropathy.

All these signs were evident in Hajji’s case (see previous page).

Although his owner could not recall an incident when her horse was exposed to lead, she could remember him having intermittent diarrhea over a long period earlier in his life. Though he may have cleared the acute stages of lead exposure from his body, he may have had chronic exposure throughout his life due to bone remodeling, natural cell turnover and bone degeneration.

It is important to use supplements that support bone integrity to slow the progress of bone deterioration and the release of lead back into the blood supply. Horses may have to be detoxified several times throughout their lives to avoid the effects of chronic lead toxicity.

Siddiqui MKJ, Rajurkar GR. “Lead – An emerging threat to livestock”. Veterinary World, Vol. 1, 2008; No.7: 213-216.

1

Needleman HL, Reiss JA, Tobin, MJ, Biesecker GE, Greenouse JB. “Bone lead levels and delinquent behavior”.

Journal of the American Medical Association, 1997; 275:363–369.

2

Casas JS, Sordo J. Lead: chemistry, analytical aspects, environmental impact and health effects. Elsevier Sciences, 2006, New York, USA.

3

Ahameda M, Siddiqui MKJ. “Low level lead exposure and oxidative stress: current opinions”. Clinica Chimica Acta, 2007; 383:57–64.

4

Grant LD L.D. “Lead and compounds” in Lippmann M. Environmental Toxicants: Human Exposures and Their Health Effects (3rd ed), Wiley-Interscience, 2009; 789.

5

Karri, SK, Saper RB, Kales SN. “Lead Encephalopathy Due to Traditional Medicine”. Current Drug Safety, 2008; 3 (1): 54–9.

6

Patrick, L. “Lead toxicity, a review of the literature. Part 1: Exposure, evaluation, and treatment”. Alternative Medicine Review: A Journal of Clinical Therapeutic, 2006; 11 (1): 2–22.

7

Kathuria P, Jaday P. “Lead Nephropathy. eMedicine specialities”. Nephrology:eMedicine Journal, 2008; February.

December Vol 2:(12).

8

“Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2012.

9

Resources Standard Process Inc., 1200 W. Royal Lee Drive, Palmyra, WI 53156 – 1-800-848-5061 Uckele Health & Nutrition Inc., PO Box 160, Blissfield, MI 49228 – 1-800-248-0330, uckele.com IVC Spring 2015

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From the

AATCVM The American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (AATCVM) is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 to support practitioners of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). It promotes high quality research in all aspects of TCVM, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-na and food therapy. The AATCVM also promotes the practice of evidence-based TCVM by funding high quality studies of the basic science and mechanisms of action of treatments, and randomized clinical trials of treatment efficacy.

Journal and forum

The peer-reviewed American Journal of TCVM, published twice a year, is a venue for the dissemination of information regarding research findings, continuing education for TCVM practitioners, issues of interest to the TCVM community and TCVM news.

A favorite member benefit is the online Discussion Forum, which provides case consultations. Members find this

The following seizure case is summarized from the forum and can be read in its entirety, along with a Doberman seizure case, in the February issue of AJTCVM.

forum really helpful in the day-to-day challenges we all encounter as we practice high quality Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.

Ron Koh, DVM, MS, CVA, CCRP, CVFT, CVCH, an instructor of integrative medicine at LSU Veterinary School, chairs the AATCVM case discussion forum.

to try herbs. I am thinking he has Liver Blood Deficiency with Qi Stagnation? Ultimately Internal Wind.”

FORUM RESPONSE FROM DR. KOH EQUINE SEIZURES “This horse resides at a small rescue and hasn’t been ridden in years due to severe back pain. The seizures started about a year ago, initially monthly, now weekly. They only happen in the morning while he is eating in his stall (he has some food anxiety, so he is fed first). They are full blown seizures and the owner thinks he is blind after he gets up. He also constantly deals with hives. The owner says he is heat-seeking.

“On exam today: he is covered in itchy hives that ooze serum, seems sedate, nods off while standing and has a mild case of head shaking. His tongue was pale yellow with pinpoint lesions along the sides; small petechiae on his gums; scleras appear icteric; extremities cold; pulse thready; significant back soreness mid-thorax; no reactive acupuncture points. I adjusted his atlas, occiput and several other areas. The owner is willing

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“In addition to LIV Blood Deficiency and Qi Stagnation, I think he also has Heat causing the hives and itchiness. It seems to me that this horse also has severe Cold Damp in the LIV; causing pale yellow tongue and icteric scleras. I recommend Yin Chen Zhu Fu and Tian Ma Plus 2, 15g BID of each, to address Cold Damp and control the seizures. Recheck in one to two weeks.”

Join or renew today

Visit our website to see many other benefits the AATCVM offers, such as PowerPoint lectures for introductory TCVM presentations, a library of articles and studies, quarterly practice tips and much more.

Visit aatcvm.org, email support@aatcvm.org or call 1-844-422-8286 (1-844-4AATCVM).

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essential oils Chinese medicine Using

in accordance with

By Cynthia Lankenau, DVM, writing for Jeffrey Yuen, dipl, CH (NCCAOM)

Many diseases result from habituations that create chronicity.

Essential oils are among the modalities that can change habituations. Sensations create our perception and oils can change our perception.

Essential oils represent the genetic unfolding of the plant – the Jing, the essence of the plant. They therefore have potential effects on physical developmental problems as well as the mental and spiritual development of an individual. The plant’s Jing will resonate with the body’s Jing. As a result, a vast degree of possible healing can occur when essential oils are applied to acupuncture meridians such as the Eight Extraordinary channels, Yuan-source points, or Mu-points.

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Dr. Jeffrey Yuen first began using essential oils in his pediatric practice, since children often fear needles and do not want to eat/drink Chinese herbs. This is also often the case with animals.

It is important to use oils on yourself so you can personally experience their effects. The aromas can induce five different states that can influence and affect an individual, and transform one emotion into another e.g. fear into acceptance.

The five states are:  Healing relaxation – resins like Frankincense and myrrh can create this state.  Assistance with non-healing wounds.  A sense of internal beauty, help with self-esteem and lifting of the spirit – floral oils such as carnation can create this emotional state in which a patient learns to love.  Nobility – it’s enhanced when one is able to embrace both the bad and the good and still see the beauty or the worth in any situation. Sage is an example of an oil to use for this purpose.  A solitary state without distraction – some aromas such as sandalwood, vetiver and spikenard root can encourage this. An oil with a light intensity, like citrus, will affect the moods very quickly. Moderately intense aromas will affect the emotions, while a strongly intense aroma can affect temperament.

OIL QUALITY IS CRITICAL The preparation of essential oils varies and some should never be used on animals.

 Absolutes have been extracted using chemicals, so should never be used on animals, either topically or internally.  You should always use medicinal quality oils; these are safe if ingested.  Hydrosols can be used in place of essential oils to avoid toxicity issues, although they may be less effective.

Frankincense and myrrh

MECHANISMS OF ACTION There are many theories around how essential oils work. For example, the chemotype theory is based on the pharmacology of the chemical components found in essential oils. Clinical results points to the efficacy of the oils, and testing has been done to find out which organs are predominantly affected by which oils. For example, rosemary oil is associated with the liver.

Most oils contain monoterpenes, which are antiseptic and antibacterial. These are used to stimulate acupuncture points and tend to irritate the skin. An example would be using lemon on St 26 to stimulate the Wei Qi, the defensive immune system, for any immune deficiency or imbalance.

Other oils contain sesquiterpenes, which are antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-viral, and soothing to the skin. They are more cooling and nourishing. An example would be using chamomile to help with sleep.

Additional characteristics are also attached to other groups of oils: • Alcohol groups tend to be strongly antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory. E.g. lavender.

• Ketone groups break up fat (lipolytic) and phlegm (mucolytic) and help regulate fluid metabolism – e.g. Phase 1 (garlic) and Phase 2 (rosemary) conjugation in liver detoxification.

• Ester groups are analgesic and regulate pain as well as, if not better than, NSAIDs. • Phenol groups break up lymphatic congestion and stimulate WBCs (e.g. cinnamon bark). If a goiter is present, bay laurel could help. Caution must be used with cats if the phenol group eugenol is used, due to its hepatotoxic effects.

HIGH, MIDDLE AND BASE NOTES Sage

Chinese medicine classifies essential oils based on criteria similar to the classification of Chinese herbs – i.e. via the law of signatures, five elemental associations, nature or temperature, taste, aroma, relationship to neighboring plants and channel (or meridian) affiliation. An additional feature for oils is the “notes”.

 High notes (top notes) are oils that evaporate rapidly, often in a few hours. They influence the Wei Qi (defensive immune system or external) level and include the citruses (safest – mandarin orange, tangerine, clementine), mints, IVC Spring 2015

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peppermint, wintergreen (toxic to animals) and eucalyptus. These oils are primarily used for acute conditions. They awaken the senses, serving as the first invitation for a patient to change. The safer hydrosols usually act as top notes. Peppermint can be thought of as the “rescue remedy” of essential oils.

 The middle notes have a duration of

Jasmine

five to seven hours and are used for more sub-acute problems that tend to be in the Ying level, which affects the plasma in the blood, or the internal level. They are useful for circulatory issues (movement of Qi moving blood), to regulate digestion (both assimilation and elimination) and for cognitive function (digesting and assimilating the information around us, and eliminating that which is not needed).

The oils at this level tend to be spices – fennel, dill, caraway, rosemary, parsley and oregano (the safest are seeds of caraway, coriander/cilantro). Also included are floral oils like chamomile, ylang ylang, geranium and lavender – safest are naroli/orange blossom, rose (absolute) lavender, German or Roman chamomile. Grass seeds like lemon grass, as well as melaluca (tea tree oil) are also part of this group. Lavender is also often used as a “rescue remedy” of sorts, but the initial burst is more subtle and it will have a longer effect than peppermint.

 The base notes evaporate in 24 to 48 hours, and are therefore effective for chronic, constitutional issues at the Yuan level (which can influence genetic tendencies).

They include the resins, like frankincense, myrrh and sandal wood; precious florals, like rose and jasmine; roots like spikenard and vetiver; and wood oils.

When making a therapeutic blend for a patient, an essential oil is often chosen from each note level. The top note is used to awaken the senses and is often the

Carrier oils

Due to their concentrated strength, essential oils need to be diluted in another oil before any topical application.

Hazelnut oil can penetrate the epidermis and find its way into the dermis; it’s astringent and good for oily skin in any animal, including humans.

Macadamia oil is an appropriate carrier for dry or aged skin.

Almond oil is energetically absorbed through the skin very quickly; it’s high in antioxidants, vitamins E and B, and is very protective and nourishing for the skin.

Olive oil is green and very heavy; it has a descending effect on the body, so it’s very good for hyperacidity in any animal. It’s also good for heart conditions and promotes drainage of stagnation in the blood. It nourishes the blood and can be used in cases of anemia.

Sunflower oil opens the Heart and the Zhong Qi, is very good for respiratory conditions and cardiovascular conditions, resonates with CV 17 and stimulates Wei energy, and is very high in antioxidants, especially vitamin E. Safflower oil is similar to sunflower but resonates more with the chest for cardiovascular issues; it promotes blood circulation and is good for blood stagnation.

Coconut and palm oils are very high in amino acids. They resonate with our Jing (essence).

They help with constitution and neurologic issues, and whenever there is a problem with the curious vessels, bowels, brain, spine, genitals, bones and marrow (they would be good for arthritic conditions).

Sweet almond and grape seed oils help with functional imbalances and Ying/Qi functions, and have a humeral effect.

Not recommended: Peanut oil, due to potential toxins; and soy oil because of its high susceptibility to oxidation (plus it is usually GMO).

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You should always use MEDICINAL QUALITY OILS; these are safe if ingested. first one to be smelled. The middle notes are often used as harmonizers and modifiers for the formula, and the base notes are used as fixatives.

In an acute situation, a blend can be made using all top notes, but know that there is always is a deeper constitutional susceptibility, and a more balanced blend is usually needed to support and address this constitutional issue.

For example, if you have a dog with an autoimmune joint disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, you could use a top note of peppermint to help with his ability to rest during any acute situations; a middle note of thyme or gerianol to help clear the heat of the latent infection; and a base note of sandalwood to help treat the fascial pain.

Eucalyptus

stimulation, or on discrete areas of the body. Topical application depends on the humors you want to affect –lymphatics, blood or nerves – and the regions you want to influence.

Massaging the ears with oils can have an effect on the nervous system. Massaging the paws will have an effect on the circulation of blood.  Medical grade essential oils can be given orally in a one- or two-drop dose. (Remember that cats are sensitive to the eugenols of the phenol group.)

While essential oils have long been popular for healing in people and animals, integrating their effects into a Chinese USE AND APPLICATIONS medicine approach gives you an even more powerful healing There are three ways to use essential oils: modality to explore. More than merely treating animal’s Topical application for bodywork and cranial-sacral work. ailments, essential oils are excellent for treating the home   Topical application on acupuncture points for point environment – people, living space and animals.

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industry innovations Laser with new approach to dosing

Product study has positive results

Companion Animal Health unveiled the new CTX Therapy Laser at the Western Veterinary Conference in February. The CTX combines advanced features with a redesigned approach to dosing that gives the user an unmatched level of versatility and control over treatments. It features 0.5 to 15 watts of therapeutic power, and long-life battery operation for maximum flexibility in both treatment applications and locations.

UPenn Veterinary Medicine researchers recently studied I’MYUNITY®, a proprietary medicinal mushroom extract to help reduce pain and fatigue, and improve energy levels, mobility, appetite and quality of life in canine cancer patients. The results show it significantly slows metastases and affords the longest survival times for dogs with hemangiosarcoma. Many vets recommend the product for nutritional and immune support, as complementary treatment with chemo post-surgery, or for when surgery is not an option or owners decline chemo. Read the full research online.

ImYunityForDogs.com

It also features three different dosing solutions, making it an appropriate tool for the new, intermediate and advanced laser user. These dosing solutions include detailed, speciesspecific, built-in pre-programmed protocols. Also new in the CTX platform is the addition of a comprehensive set of exotic animal protocols.

CompanionTherapyLaser.com

Oils for olfactory therapy

Keep Omega-3s fresh

Evidence suggests that essential oils contain powerful and biologically active live compounds. When used correctly, they can become an effective part of integrative medical care and behavior/training treatment plans. NatureNose Calming Products were specifically developed by a Certified Professional Dog Trainer for use in Olfactory Therapy.

These unique product blends safely support emotional and physical well-being, and when combined with reward-based training lead to improved behavior changes over time.

Humane and effective.

DHA and EPA Omega-3s from fresh fish oils provide many health benefits to pets. But it’s very important to keep air from mixing with the oils. Oxygen reacts with these sensitive essential fatty acids, oxidizing them and turning them rancid. Rancid oxidized fish oils may be harmful to cats and dogs because they can introduce harmful free radical events to the body – some researchers claim they can be a cause of some cancers.

NatureNose.com

WellyTails Fortified Wild Ocean Fish Oil Omega-3 Blends are packaged in a special airless medical metered dose pump system that keeps air from mixing with the oils.

The revolutionary Stay Ever Fresh Pump System ensures that only fresh Omega-3 oils are fed to your patients. A special cat/kitten version and a dog version of fish oil and coconut oil are also available.

WellyTails.com

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Post-surgical garment

Innovative laser technology

No one likes e-collars, including clients as well as patients, which means people often remove them before they should following surgery. The best way to ensure client compliance is to do away with the old e-collar and put on the new adjustable-fit Cover Me by Tui. With this one-piece post-surgical garment, the pet can rest easier and heal quicker. It’s made of 100% Peruvian cotton, which is breathable, durable and lightweight. It even features a built-in potty cover. Your clients will thank you and your patients will love you!

TulanesCloset.com Respond Systems announces its newest Class 3B laser -- the 2400VS. It’s cost effective and durable, with touch pad technology. The 2400VS is highly versatile and offers a choice of laser probes, including a 6-diode super-pulsed probe, an 808nm 500mw continuous wave probe, and a lucid probe tip for acupuncture applications.

Respond Systems, Inc. was a pioneer in this technology and has been developing, designing and manufacturing lasers, based on scientific research, in Branford, Connecticut for over 30 years.

RespondSystems.com

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Treating canine

LIPOMAS

A

s almost any breed of dog ages, lipomas will often appear. In 2007, according to the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, 1.7 million dogs had lipomas. Clients frequently worry that lipomas are cancer. And when they grow too large, movement can be impeded.

Conventionally, our only approach has been surgical removal once the lipoma reaches a stage where it is causing distress to the dog. One survey from Biospecifics showed an average of 25 lipoma surgical removals or de-bulking procedures per clinic per year.1 The holistic perspective looks at all symptoms as clues to an underlying vibrational imbalance (Qi, vital force, etc.). Most integrative practitioners see lipomas as the body’s way of exteriorizing toxins or other imbalances. TCVM lists lipomas as stagnation of body fluids. This may explain why older dogs

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By Christina Chambreau, DVM, CVH

usually develop lipomas – their systems may be slowing down.

The younger the dog, the more quickly lipomas can be resolved. At the first sign of lipomas, we work to improve the dog’s health through many means, because as lipomas persist, they become less responsive to any treatment.

However, few integrative practitioners report that they can reliably resolve lipomas, although every modality does report some success. Many agree that natural rearing lowers the risk of lipomas, but some dogs still develop them. So what are your treatment options?

MAXIMIZE HEALTH Partner with the client to discover what will maximize health for their dog, no matter what his age, even before lipomas are seen. This is especially important in breeds predisposed to lipomas, such as Labrador retrievers, Shetland sheepdogs,

Minimize the use of chemicals and drugs in medical treatment, flea and tick prevention, house and yard cleaning/maintenance, etc.

Since obesity in females predisposes them to lipomas, be sure to coach people about healthy diets and exercise for their dogs from an early age. If you can work with diet from a health perspective, you may never have to use the dreaded “fat” word, which is not clientfriendly.

Using the Early Warning Signs of Internal Imbalance (MyHealthyAnimals.com) can help you and your client evaluate each intervention from puppyhood onward. Many integrative veterinarians who responded to an informal survey I conducted said they saw fewer lipomas in dogs that were raised following natural guidelines. Another informal survey of owners feeding a raw food diet was mixed, with some never seeing lipomas even in breeds at risk, and others seeing a few lipomas.

ASPIRATION OR NOT? When lumps first appear, you will decide whether or not to do a needle aspirate. Some integrative veterinarians have seen more rapid growth in lipomas after aspiration. Others have not. Respect a client who prefers not to get an aspirate, after you discuss the chances of it not being a lipoma. Then try the least invasive lipoma-specific therapies.

1.Acupressure This 100% safe treatment can be demonstrated by you or your technician, then done by clients at home, especially when you first suspect a lipoma and the mass is small. Technician appointments can be scheduled to re-measure the masses and review the acupressure techniques and points.

Oakie, a wonderful golden, began getting lipomas by age two. He also had bad hips early on. He was being raised naturally with few to no vaccines, a great diet, and no chemical

Diagram courtesy of Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute

Dobermans, cocker spaniels, dachshunds, poodles, mixed breeds, and miniature Schnauzers.

Points Location St 36

Located just lateral to the tibial crest on the lateral aspect of the hind leg.

St 40

Located halfway between the lateral malleolus of the fibula and top of the tibia, on the lateral aspect of the pelvic limb.

Sp 9

Medial side of the pelvic limb, in depression between caudal border of tibia and gastrocnemius muscle.

TH 4

On the lateral side of the forelimb, in a soft depression on the radiocarpal joint.

GB 40

On the lateral aspect of the himd limb, directly distal of the lateral malleolus of the fibula.

exposure, by Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonas of Tall Grass Animal Acupressure Institute (animalacupressure.com). Oakie had a good physical with a complete thyroid panel, and there seemed to be no inciting causes for the lipomas.

Amy and Nancy regularly did Tui Na on Oakie (Chinese massage to enhance Qi and lymph flow). When the lumps were first noticed, they used acupressure points on the meridians above and below each lump.

Pericadium 8 is a spot in the center of a person’s hand that emits a significant amount of chi, so Amy and Nancy held their palms on the lipoma.

The lumps would resolve within a few days when Oakie was younger.

By the end of his life, they were not resolving at all, although they were much less problematic than they would have been if not treated. At age 11, a lipoma in the axilla impeded Oakie’s movement and needed to be surgically removed. He lived to the age of 13.

Some of Amy and Nancy’s students have had success using this approach with their own dogs. Using these techniques daily (see diagram above), IVC Spring 2015

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with one day off every seven to ten days, seems to be most effective.

2. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine If any other issues are of concern, or if the acupressure is not working, a comprehensive TCVM workup with treatment is needed. As with homeopathy, the curative treatment protocol may not even focus on the mass.

Several combination Chinese herbs have been successful with lipomas, but are best used by a trained herbal practitioner.

Dr. Ihor Basko has put acupuncture needles in confirmed lipomas and heated them with moxa.

If the lipoma is small, not much more is needed. If it is large, blood movers help. Even large ones shrink enough to avoid surgery, though they don’t completely resolve. Doberman dogs (very susceptible) also respond well to a high fiber macrobiotic diet.

Kan Herbs’ Cluster Dissolving combination dispels Toxic Heat, reduces swelling and dissolves masses, and clears Heat and Toxins, so it can be useful for lipomas (kanherb.com/prac_ pi_vet_symptoms.asp).

3. Homeopathy While there are rubrics in the repertory for lipomas (Generals: tumors; lipomas), the remedy that may actually shrink a lipoma is usually the “constitutional” one that fits all the characteristics and symptoms of the dog.

Dr. Judy Herman, a certified veterinary homeopath, sees few to no lipomas in holistically raised dogs (raw fed, minimal vaccines, few chemicals), even in susceptible breeds. She remembers finding a constitutional remedy for one dog which completely resolved the animal’s lipoma with no regrowth.

Dr. Steve Blake uses homeopathy and other modalities for healing. One dog’s mobility was severely restricted by a basketball-sized lipoma on the back. He was given one dose of Thuja 10M (selected because the lipoma appeared shortly after vaccination and fit the dog’s characteristic symptoms); within two months the fat was gone, with only a large skin sack remaining. Dr. Blake chooses the best homeopathic remedy for each dog and always includes immune boosters such as Imutek colostrum and essential oil of Frankincense, topically bid. His gemmotherapy prescription for all tumors (a drainage system using the buds of plants) usually includes Common Juniper (for the liver), Rye Grain (to detox the skin) and Cedar of Lebanon (a skin drainer and toxin remover).2

4. Herbals Sacred Medicine’s Gall Bladder Prime has been effective with some lipomas. It blends choleretic and cholagogue herbs with carminative herbs to improve bile viscosity.

Dr. Ihor Basko asserts that a major cause of lipomas is an imbalance of hormones and precursors: estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and DHEA. HRT with herbs and supplements help the overall health of these dogs, along with much-needed exercise.

5. Nutritional therapy Dr. Wim de Leeuw from the Netherlands has observed shrinking in lipomas when dogs are on Mifloran, a soil-borne organism probiotic. It is often prescribed for general weight loss, which in his practice seems to also partially shrink lipomas. Dr. Basko cites the following as a possible explanation for this excellent result: staph toxins influence the behavior of fat cells (cytokin release) and some adenoviruses can trigger stem cells to transform into fat cells. Obese people have more staphs in their gut flora than non-obese people.3 Dr. Liz Hassinger rarely sees lipomas in patients who are living on good food, no chemicals, and only rabies vaccines.

She is very hardline about weight control. With good foods, excessive weight gain is uncommon, but if a patient is getting chunky, she works with the client to find out why and gets the animal back into a healthy weight range. Most lipomas that Dr. Hassinger sees are in new patients who have been

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treated conventionally. Usually, they are obese or have been treated with topical chemicals. However, she adds that she has found no herbal, homeopathic nor TCVM approaches that successfully reduce the few animals that do have lipomas.

6. Chiropractic Dr. Peter Dobias has observed that most lumps of any kind appear to be associated with spinal segments with the tightest muscles or evidence of inflammation and injury. The back is the channel that maintains smooth energy flow throughout the body, tissues and organs, and an injury stops the flow.

Chiropractic or intramuscular stimulation (IMS) can reset the muscle fibers and improve the energy flow. Either treatment needs to be repeated until the body “relearns� its patterns. In older dogs, a preventive treatment plan, often monthly,

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Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor, and will leave scar tissue behind; this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins.

helps the body stay in balance. The growth rate of lipomas is slowed by improving the energy flow in the spine and body in general.

7. Liposuction In 2006, Dr. Geraldine Hunt, then at Sydney’s Veterinary College, offered liposuction in lieu of euthanasia for Patch, a 12-year-old Kelpie mix. It was the first time this was performed in Australia. Over an hour, six lipomas were “sucked”, equaling 10% of Patch’s body weight.4 A year later, veterinarians at the veterinary college of Leipzig, Germany successfully removed three lipomas – one in the axilla – from a very obese mixed breed dog suffering from severe arthritis.5 And in 2011, retrospective studies were done on 20 dogs showing resolution of 73 out of 76 lipomas removed with liposuction. The dogs did, however, continue to grow lipomas, and they seemed to re-grow in the same areas more often than seen with surgical excision.6

8. Injections One recent study involved injecting lipomas with steroids, and found it mostly effective for small lipomas.7 Collagenase enzymes break the peptide bonds in collagen, the fibrous protein that connects body tissues. Several trials by BioSpecifics tested three healthy dogs with multiple subcutaneous lipomas. Ninety days after injection, a CT scan showed that the treated lipomas on two of the dogs had disappeared completely, and the third dog’s treated lipoma was only 7% of its original size. By contrast, the control lipomas had grown.

A second trial with 37 dogs did not have a statistically significant posttreatment difference as measured by CT scan. However, there was a statistically significant reduction in lipoma surface area.8

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Advertorial

VetzLife All-Natural News Stomatitis in cats 9. Surgery Several surgeons stated that removing one lump resulted in multiple lumps appearing later in the dog’s life. This is because surgery removes only the tip of the iceberg.

Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor, and will leave scar tissue behind; this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins. Once scar tissue is created, the toxins feeding the tumor are forced deeper into the patient’s body, causing damage to deeper organs and organ systems. Even in integrative practices, however, surgery is still needed to de-bulk lipomas that are interfering with ambulation.

Footnotes investors.biospecifics.com/2011-01-06-BioSpecifics-Announces-Positive-Results-From-Clinical-Trial-inCanine-Lipomas.

1

Blake, Stephen, Gemmotherapy for Our Animal Friends, thepetwhisperer.com.

2

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/10/01/gut-bacteria-on-fat-absorption.aspx.

3

smh.com.au/news/national/patch-romps-again-after-1500-liposuction/2006/07/21/1153166591414. html.

4

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17212750.

5 6

Hunt GB, Wong J, Kuan S. “Liposuction for removal of lipomas in 20 dogs”. The Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2011.

plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0050234.

7

biospecifics.com/pipeline/lipoma.html.

8

Also known as “oropharyngeal inflammation”, stomatitis involves severe, painful inflammation of the gums and other oral tissues. The exact cause is unknown, but some cats may have a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to bacterial plaque. Other contributors could include environmental stress, diet and genetic predisposition.

Symptoms include irritability, aggression, depression or reclusiveness. The cat may drool excessively and have difficulty eating. She will often have bad breath (halitosis) and may not groom herself adequately. Gums bleed very easily, and she may paw at her mouth and grind her teeth.

During the oral exam, which needs to be done under anesthesia, multiple lesions are seen. They can be on the gums, the roof or back of the mouth, tongue or lips.

Sometimes, tooth resorption is seen. Radiographs of the mouth are necessary, and often show moderate to severe periodontal disease.

Cats with juvenile onset gingivostomatitis may respond to an intense program of oral hygiene that includes regular dental cleaning, daily home care, good nutrition, etc. Mature cats with gingivostomatitis are less likely to respond to conservative treatment. In cats with more extensive disease, the current protocol is to extract all the teeth. Cats can manage fine with no teeth, and it is much better than leaving them in severe pain.

A holistic alternative to try before extraction is VetzLife Feline Oral Care Gel for Stomatitis. Amazing results have been reported in less than seven days, with complete cures in as little as six weeks.

Article provided by VetzLife/PetzLife all-natural products (VetzLife.com or 1-888-453-4682).

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tech talk

AN EDUCATED ASSISTANT BRINGS TO AN

much INTEGRATIVE PRACTICE

By Carlos Valadez

When I first began working with Dr. Beverly London, I was an aspiring veterinary student. After experiencing firsthand the swift recovery of animals with slim chances of survival, I realized my passion was shifting away from veterinary college. The work I was doing was already filled with personal and theoretical expansion, extensive and profound relationships, and the reward of returning and enhancing the health of our beloved animals. I started to see a path for myself and my future.

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Of course, I didn’t get there overnight.

Working with an integrative veterinarian meant acquiring new skills in both animal and human interactions. I learned to anticipate Dr. London’s skillful insight and direction as well as the patient’s response. As she was taking the history, I would pay close attention to the animal so I could alert her to any fear or aggression, or share my intuitive sense of where the animal was hurting. Because holistic treatment aims to address the cause behind the symptoms, I learned to look for these from within the horse, dog or cat. I observed the individual personalities and needs of each patient independent of all others and learned to assist in providing a treatment suitable to that particular, multifaceted being.

The wide-ranging theoretical and scientific information and unfamiliar concepts I absorbed ultimately expanded my knowledge in many other areas of life and opened the door to exploring new avenues of innovation in veterinary health.

I realized I wanted to spend my life rehabilitating horses through this gentle and effective approach to healing. This led to a new business training horses and becoming an equine podiatrist. This is something all technicians and assistants should keep in mind – education and exploring new options can lead to expanded jobs within the veterinary clinic, or to being a provider of ancillary services for the practice.

In my new role, I became part of an overall team approach among disciplines to help restore the health of animals. I saw many pet owners passionately willing to try a multitude of approaches in order to better care for their animals. As a result, many also began to see the benefits of incorporating the concepts and practices of holistic treatment into their own lives. Being able to take part in so many positive

WHAT A WELL-EDUCATED VETERINARY ASSISTANT CAN DO As my experience shows, there are many ways in which a well-educated assistant can provide critical input to an integrative practice. He/she can:

 Begin the extensive case-taking needed for evaluations,

thereby improving the practice’s efficiency as well as the bottom line. Because the assistant helps collect the information, he or she can also begin the evaluation process during follow-up exams, or ask critical questions when clients phone.

 Serve

as a surrogate during sessions using applied kinesiology1, an effective tool when making decisions on supplements and treatments for ill animals. While clients can also be surrogates, they may be skeptical or too unhealthy to be effective. Having someone who is clear on the methodology and able to stay grounded increases the accuracy of the testing.

 Observe animals for reactions. Often, the veterinarian’s

safety depends on the assistant’s ability to pay close attention to a patient during electro-acupuncture, adjustments, etc. When working with horses, my job is to control the animals and watch for signs of danger to the veterinarian. As an example, I have pulled Dr. London to safety when a horse was pushing her off balance.

 Promote calm. Maintaining a deep sense of calm and quiet can help patients respond both safely and deeply to any treatments offered.

 Help

liaise with clients. Concerned clients often have many questions they want answered right away, and that can be distracting to the veterinarian. By initiating a conversation with clients, I can begin the process of gathering information and keep things on track.

 Save

time for the veterinarian. For example, I spent significant time learning about the Standard Process supplement Dr. London often uses. I can now answer a client’s questions while Dr. London proceeds with other treatments.

 Offer

additional skills and treatments. When you are inspired by a particular holistic approach, you can study it and offer it in the practice. Massage, Reiki, Healing Touch for Animals and others can become an additional income stream for the practice, or a separate business for the technician.

Carlos acts as a surrogate for Dr. London during an applied kinesiology session.

A word of advice – finding the right boss for this closeknit relationship is worth the effort. Some may not be open-minded enough to accept the various integrative approaches a holistic practitioner may utilize in a practice.

You may have to interview at several clinics to find one willing to use your education and experience in alternative modalities to the fullest potential, both for the practice and the benefit of the patients.

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REALIZING A NEW PARADIGM

Like many people, I first experienced the effectiveness of integrative veterinary care when my own horse, who was continuously bucking under saddle, was successfully treated with an integrative approach.

I had previously consulted numerous practitioners to no avail, but Dr. London’s acupuncture treatment produced solid results. It healed the pain associated with the scar tissue she discovered had been causing the problem. It was a relief to finally find a solution and realize there was a whole new world of healing resources out there.

Health problems associated with pain can often manifest in a similar way to behavioral issues.1 An integrative practitioner aims to make the distinction and address the true cause.

changes became the ultimate rewarding experience. The long days, extensive travels and unpredictable Michigan weather only add to my experience as a holistic veterinary assistant.

Working with Dr. London enriched my life on a multitude of inspirational and educational levels and continues to do so today.

1

DeStefano, Carl. “Applied Kinesiology”. i-a-v-c.com/index.php/applied-kinesiology-with-carl-destefano.html.

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The author’s experiences as a veterinary assistant inspired him to become a horse trainer and podiatrist.

Advertorial

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

By Kim Perkins, PhD

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are frequently seen in small animal practice. They are estimated to affect up to 5% of all dogs, but are far more common in female and older dogs with diabetes.

Signs of a UTI include difficulty urinating, bloody or cloudy urine, increased urinary frequency along with decreased volume, accidents in the home, strong odor, vomiting, lethargy and increased water consumption. UTIs are caused by bacteria, with Escherichia coli (E.coli) being the most common. Other bacteria implicated in UTIs include Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Pseudomonas.

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for UTIs, and include cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones and chloramphenicols. This has unfortunately resulted in increased antibiotic resistance among a variety of canine isolates, including E.coli.

Complicating the issue is that many UTI bacteria are present as a biofilm. A biofilm is a community of bacteria surrounded by a protective extracellular polymeric matrix consisting of a variety of compounds, including polysaccharides and glycoproteins. The biofilm matrix provides a physical barrier that protects the bacteria from the effects of antibiotics as well as the host immune system. The matrix is also porous enough to allow for the exchange of fluids and nutrients, resulting in an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. Several studies have shown that the antibiotic-sensitivity profile of biofilm bacteria is very different than that of non-biofilm (planktonic) bacteria.

In fact, biofilm bacteria may be more than 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics than planktonic bacteria.

Traditional antibiotic culture and sensitivity testing of UTIs involves culturing a urine sample and exposing the resulting bacteria to a variety of antibiotics. A problem with this approach is that these bacteria are not grown as a biofilm. As a result, the test population does not accurately reflect the form of bacteria in the patient, and incorrect antibiotic sensitivity profiles are often obtained. In addition to being ineffective, continued use of the incorrect antibiotic promotes widespread antibiotic-resistance in bacteria.

The BecSCREEN assay has been developed to determine antibiotic-sensitivity profiles specifically for biofilm bacteria.

In this assay, the bacteria are first grown as a biofilm and then exposed to a variety of antibiotics and concentrations. The end result is a test that determines the antibiotic sensitivity of the bacteria as it would naturally exist in the UTI. This approach may allow for a more accurate antibiotic sensitivity profile and more effective treatment. Additionally, by treating the infection with the proper antibiotics, the possibility of antibiotic-resistant strains emerging is reduced.

As we learn more about UTIs and the dangers of acquired antibiotic resistance, the need for assays that more accurately test the effectiveness of antibiotics on bacteria as they naturally appear becomes obvious, and provides us with better treatment and improved quality of life for our patients.

Dr. Kim Perkins joined the Spectrum Group in early 2012 and is currently the Laboratory Director where he oversees the development, optimization and manufacture of veterinary diagnostic assays. He obtained his PhD from Arizona State University while studying the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis, focusing on the role viral dsRNA-binding proteins play in disease. He has presented at several conferences and was an invited speaker at the International Angiogenesis Conference in Greece.

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From the AVH

The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy is comprised of veterinarians who share a common desire to restore true health to their patients through the use of homeopathic treatment. Members of the Academy are dedicated to understanding and preserving the principles of Classical Homeopathy.

Free Annual Conference

If you are interested in finding holistic tools to improve patient outcomes and levels of practice satisfaction, veterinary homeopathy may be the powerful, scientifically-based healing modality you have been looking for. While understanding and learning to use new modalities can be daunting, timeconsuming and expensive, the AVH is giving you a chance to explore homeopathy for free at its Annual Conference in Sweet Briar, Virginia, from June 12 to 14.

lodgings are available, from dorm rooms to hotels. Details are available at TheAVH.org, or email office@theAVH.org or conference coordinator Dr. Sid Storozum at vetoracle@ earthlink.net.

MONTHLY WEBINARS

AVH continues to offer monthly webinars to members.

These are archived and available for continued learning.

Recent sessions, sponsored by the Pitcairn Institute THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS: of Veterinary Homeopathy (PIVH.org), covered the Become a member ($140 annual fee) and attend the entire management of a homeopathy practice, using homeopathy conference for free. Membership gives you many benefits, in an integrative practice, and potential earnings. March’s including a monthly webinar. webinar will feature a naturopath discussing the use of the Boenninghausen Pocket Repertory.

Attend only the Saturday session at no cost. This includes an introduction to the principles and practice of veterinary CASE STUDY homeopathy, and a review of the scientific research Homeopathy can be very useful when conventional therapies supporting the efficacy and foundations of homeopathic are not tolerated. This happened with Isis, a Bengal cat practice. The full program qualifies for 17 hours of veterinary who had a mild cough since six weeks of age. The cough continuing education credits, accepted in most states. was unresponsive to conventional therapy. Despite her ill health, her vaccines were continued. At the age of five, This year’s conference should be one of our best ever. A list of soon after receiving her annual boosters, she was admitted speakers and topics can be found on the website and include Richard to the veterinary hospital with a severe asthma attack Pitcairn on “Life Force” and “Healthy, Humane and Sustainable way requiring oxygen. In spite of three to four medications, she of Feeding Animals in the 21st Century” and Don Hamilton on continued experiencing asthmatic respiration with occasional “Heart and Circulatory Problems and use of the Mineral Remedies”. hospitalization over the next two years.

Kim Elia discusses case analysis and follow-up and two remedies for neurological concerns. Other speakers present on potencies Thuja, a homeopathic medicine carefully selected to match for geriatrics; intergenerational health improvements for farm her unique characteristics, was periodically repeated while animals; treatment of the digestive tract; understanding mental and Isis was weaned from drugs. Within one month, all drugs emotional symptoms; cycles and segments approach to prescribing; were discontinued, and she experienced no further asthmatic and updates on homeopathic research. breathing. Her only other health issue was eosinophilic granulomas, which also responded well to homeopathic The conference will be held at Sweet Briar College, between medicines. Isis lived to age 18.

Lynchburg and Charlottesville in Virginia. A variety of

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Veterinary Resource Guide ASSISTIVE DEVICES Best Friend Mobility Myrtle Beach, SC USA Phone: (503) 575-9407 Email: sylvan@sylvancompany.com Website: www.bestfriendmobility.org HandicappedPet.com Amherst, NH USA Phone: (603) 577-8858 Website: www.handicappedpets.com

ASSOCIATIONS Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy - AVH Leucadia, CA USA Phone: (866) 652-1590 Website: www.theavh.org American Veterinary Chiropractic Association - AVCA Bluejacket, OK USA Phone: (918) 784-2231 Email: avcainfo@junct.com Website: www.animalchiropractic.org Association of Veterinary Acupunturists of Canada - AVAC Beaconsfield, QC Canada Phone: (514) 697-0295 Email: office@avac.ca Website: www.avac.ca International Veterinary Acupuncture Society - IVAS Fort Collins, CO USA Phone: (970) 266-0666 Email: office@ivas.org Website: www.ivas.org

Website: www.healfasttherapy.com

INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES

Healfast Therapy North Caldwell, NJ USA Phone: (551) 200-5586 Email: support@healfasttherapy.com

INTEGRATIVE VETS Dr. Shawn Messonnier Paws and Claws Vet Clinic Plano, TX USA Phone: (972) 712-0893 Email: shawnvet@sbcglobal.net Website: www.pettogethers.net/healthypet East York Animal Clinic Toronto, ON Canada Phone: (416) 757-3569 Email: eyac@holisticpetvet.com Website: www.holisticpetvet.com

NATURAL PRODUCT

MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS GenesisValley Center CA USA Phone: (760) 751-3360 Website: www.genesispets.com Harrisons’ Pet Products West Palm Beach, FL Phone: (800) 946-4782 Website: www.vet.HEALx.com

SCHOOLS & WELLNESS EDUCATION

National Animal Supplement Council - NASC Animal Spirit Network Valley Center, CA USA Pekin, IL USA Phone: (760) 751-3360 Phone: (815) 531-2850 Website: www.nasc.cc Email: carol@animalspiritnetwork.com Website: www.animalspiritnetwork.com

CLINIC FOR SALE

Reeves Veterinary Clinic Tyler, TX USA Phone: (903) 595-1088 Email: drbarj@aol.com Website: www.reevesvetclinic.com FOR SALE: Small Animal integrative practice, established for 44 years. Owner willing to stay a while for smooth transition! Great location on loop. Great Clientele that is very desirous of holistic modalities. We are the only integrative practice in East Texas, many people in the area are health conscious. Owner wishes to retire.

EQUINE NATUROPATH Cassie Schuster, ND, MH Waller, TX USA Phone: (713) 502-0765 Email: cassie.schuster@yahoo.com Website: www.wellranch.com

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College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies - CIVT Rozelle, NSW Australia Phone: (303) 800-5460 Website: www.civtedu.org International Veterinary Acupuncture Society - IVAS Fort Collins, CO USA Phone: (970) 266-0666 Email: office@ivas.org Website: www.ivas.org PetMassage Ltd. Toledo, OH USA Phone: (419) 475-3539 Email: info@petmassage.com Website: www.petmassage.com

Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary Homeopathy - PIVH Portland, OR USA Phone: 760-230-4784 Email: info@pivh.org Website: www. pivh.org Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute Castle Pines, CO USA Phone: (303) 681-3033 Email: nancy@animalacupressure.com Website: www.animalacupressure.com Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine TCVM Reddick, FL USA Phone: (352) 591-5385 Email: register@tcvm.com Website: www.tcvm.com Veterinary Information Network - VIN Davis, CA USA Phone: (530) 756-4881 Email: vingram@vin.com Website: www.vin.com

SUPPLEMENTS Herbsmith Inc. Hartland, WI USA Phone: (262) 367-1372 Email: mail@herbsmithinc.com Website: www.herbsmithinc.com MVP Laboratories Omaha, NE USA Phone: (402) 331-5106 Email: mvplabs@mvplabs.com Website: www.mvplabs.com SmartPak Plymouth, MA USA Phone: (774) 773-1125 Email: customercare@smartpak.com Website: www.smartpak.com The Honest Kitchen San Diego, CA USA Phone: (858) 483-5995 Email: info@thehonestkitchen.com Website: www.thehonestkitchen.com

THERMAL IMAGING ThermoScanIR Toronto, ON Canada Phone: (416) 258-5888 Email: info@ThermoScanIR.com Website: www.ThermoScanIR.com Equine IR Bonsall, CA USA Phone: (888) 762-2547 Email: info@equineIR.com Website: www.equineIR.com

Product Profile

ENZYMES VS. ANTIBIOTICS for otitis externa

By Naomi A. Kirby Sismour, DVM, MS

Otitis externa is an itchy infection of the external ear canal.

An estimated 80% of cases are due to environmental or food allergies. Acute otitis externa in dogs and cats can take two to four weeks to resolve, and chronic ear infections can take months.

Allergies in pets can’t be cured, but their complications can be managed. In some cases, a prophylactic regimen might be needed for the rest of the animal’s life due to frequent reoccurrences of otitis. In rare cases, animals may be placed on systemic antibiotics in conjunction with topical antibiotics.

Systemic antibiotics have their own set of potential adverse effects, including but not limited to gastrointestinal upset or allergic reaction.

Repeated and sustained use of antibiotics can cause genetic alterations within groups of bacteria, and may lead to a microorganism becoming resistant to an initially effective antimicrobial drug. There are three main strategies microbes use to develop antibiotic resistance: they prevent the drug from reaching its target, they alter the target, and they inactivate the antibiotics. Repeated and improper use of antibiotics is also the suspected culprit in the development of highly resistant microbes such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ZYMOX® Otics are a line of enzymatic ear solutions that work without antibiotics and won’t contribute to antibiotic resistance. They include an otic solution with 1% hydrocortisone; an otic without hydrocortisone; and an advanced formulation for highly resistant cases (i.e. MRSA, Pseudomonas). All the products share a patented formulation of enzymes that works synergistically to form its antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-yeast properties.

Unlike antibiotics, which require the ear to be cleaned before application of a topical, the enzymes within ZYMOX products mean that no pre-cleaning is required. This is because the pus and infectious debris serve as a catalyst to initiate the enzymatic process. This feature has proven to be a real benefit in increasing pet owner compliance because the products are so easy to use.

When considering which ZYMOX product to use and recommend consider the following: • With 1% hydrocortisone: For use in red inflamed ears in the presence of infection.

• Advanced Formula: For use in highly resistant cases such as MRSA and Pseudomonas. This otic features additional enzymes formulated to destroy the biofilm slime layer that protects and hides the DNA of a microbe.

• Without hydrocortisone: For long-term use as well as for pregnant or lactating females.

There are many mechanisms by which bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics, and numerous factors play a role.

ZYMOX products provide safe, effective, long-term solutions that won’t cause bacterial resistance and can be very easily administered by the pet owner. For the best results, follow the directions, carefully read the warnings on the label, and complete the full course of use.

Dr. Naomi Kirby Sismour is the Technical Services Manager at PKB Animal Health (pkbanimalhealth.com).

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4 WAYS THAT REIKI

CAN HELP

SHELTER ANIMALS

By Kathleen Prasad, president of The Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA)

Reiki is an easy-to-use energy therapy that complements both conventional and holistic approaches. Reiki translates from Japanese as “spiritual energy” and is a system of meditative practice that uses mindfulness techniques to help bring the body, mind and spirit back to harmony and balance. Reiki meditative practices are a wonderful addition to any wellness program.

A recent study entitled “Integrative Reiki for Cancer Patients: A Program Evaluation,” concluded that Reiki may “activate the relaxation response”.1 Meditation brings you to a peaceful, balanced state, mentally, emotionally and physically, and this peacefulness will ripple out! We call this the “Reiki ripple effect” – when we find peace of mind and heart through meditation, then healing,

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contentment, transformation and renewal will follow for ourselves as well as the animals and people around us.

Reiki can enhance the veterinary practice in many ways, and has been a life saver in shelters. “Despondent cats and dogs become more social and seem happier,” says Amelia Funghi of Berkeley Animal Care Services. “Sick animals are aided in their recovery. Most amazingly, animals who have been here for a long time often get adopted shortly after treatments.”

The Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA), a 501(c)3 nonprofit I co-founded in 2008 with Leah D’Ambrosio, brings Reiki training and treatments to shelter and sanctuary animals.

SARA now has over 400 members worldwide, and is endorsed by over 40 animal organizations. It supports wellness through its Reiki programs in four main ways.

HELPS ANIMALS RE-BUILD TRUST 1 REIKI WITH HUMANS Because many rescued animals come from situations of abuse and/or neglect, finding a way to help them trust people again is crucial to their healing progress and chances of being adopted.

Leah remembers a very special experience with a mare named Angel, at Pregnant Mare Rescue (PMR) in northern California:2 Angel was rescued from slaughter by PMR, with her new foal.

Unfortunately, she had tripped and fallen and was extremely head shy.

For a whole week, the founder of PMR tried without success to take her halter off. SARA Practitioner Kim Slowick and I visited one day and went out into the field to offer Angel Reiki. One of the main teachings of SARA is that animals always lead the way with treatments, so we weren’t sure if Angel would even accept Reiki.

Angel’s response was amazing: within five minutes, she approached Kim and stood nearby, lowered her head and sighed. Kim reached out to her, and Angel smelled her hand and relaxed further. Kim and I continued offering Reiki to her for about 40 minutes. At the end of the treatment, the PMR founder came into the pasture, gently approached Angel, and was able to easily and immediately slide the halter off her head! We knew that allowing Angel to lead her own treatment made all the difference in her trust. What an honor to share the Reiki space with Angel and witness her acceptance and transformation.

Continued on page 54.

Rescued from slaughter, Angel was head shy and wouldn’t let anyone remove her halter. After a Reiki session, she was relaxed enough to allow people to touch her.

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CREATING A REIKI SPACE FOR AN ANIMAL

Reiki being offered to shelter cats in an adoption room. The cats can receive Reiki energy from anywhere in the room; it’s up to them.

Caged cats will receive Reiki from inside their cages, if they are not interested, they can just decline to receive the energy that day.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Photo courtesy of Justin Schmidt

This practice will help you keep your energy centered and will in turn help calm every animal you work with.

Place your hands over your lower belly.

Inhale, feeling your breath as a beautiful light coming in through the nose, moving down to your lower belly and filling the body with energy.

Exhale, expanding this light out of the body and through your skin. Continue to expand the energy in all directions, into your surroundings.

Repeat the inhale and exhale visualization for several minutes. Then return your breathing to normal and for several minutes just sit in the energetic space you have created around yourself through your breath. Feel yourself grounded, calm, peaceful.

Set your intention to share this beautiful, peaceful space of light and healing with an animal.

Invite the animal into the “Reiki space” you have created with your breath. Imagine he can move in and out of the space at will.

Sit with the animal and observe his response.

Just relax and “be” – there’s no need to “do”.

If your mind wanders, come back to the breath for ten repetitions and then relax again.

Signs of relaxation in the animal, such as yawning, lying down or sleeping, or perhaps coming forward for physical contact/petting, indicate that he has said “yes” to your invitation for healing.

Continued from page 53.

2 REIKI HELPS ANIMALS GET ADOPTED

When animals are in shelter environments, they experience extreme levels of stress. This stress results in behaviors that may not be attractive to potential adopters, such as aggression, fear or depression. One of the amazing benefits of Reiki is the inner transformation it creates in these animals. Because Reiki creates a strong and peaceful space, animals can release their stress and get back in touch with their true essence. Once they remember who they are, their sweet spirits can shine through again so that potential adopters can see who they really are. Then it’s only a matter of time until love finds them their forever home.

SARA Practitioner Lori Amdam, at the Nanaimo SPCA in British Columbia, Canada, sees many adoptions occurring after Reiki helps animals heal:3 Lucy was a tiny abandoned kitten, and the only one in her litter to be rescued. Staff hand-fed her, and from the beginning, she was feisty and spirited to say the least. She would bite, scratch, hiss and spit at anyone who touched her. No one could imagine Lucy being adoptable, so the staff asked if Reiki might help her. Lucy participated in seven Reiki sessions. During the first six, she would sit facing away from the practitioner, taking every opportunity to bite and scratch. Partway into the seventh Reiki session, we realized she had not tried to bite or scratch once. After a few minutes, Lucy turned to face the practitioner, making eye contact for the first time. Then she stretched out and relaxed. Lucy seemed ready to let Reiki help her find her center.

Over the next two days, the staff noted that Lucy was no longer biting or scratching.

The following weekend, she was adopted by a family who fell in love with her at

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their first meeting. That was several months ago, and Lucy’s family reports she is a gentle, playful and happy cat.

R EIKI ASSISTS ANIMALS 3 THROUGH TRANSITIONS BrightHaven founders Gail and Richard Pope often speak of how Reiki transforms the hospice experience. BrightHaven is a senior and special needs animal sanctuary and hospice in northern California. Since learning Reiki and using it to help with animal care during hospice, Gail and Richard report that all the deaths they have witnessed are extremely peaceful. They now consider Reiki to be one of the most important ingredients in a successful animal hospice program. They also use it on a daily basis to increase peace and harmony:4 We at BrightHaven experience miraculous events when we find the perfect balance of different healing modalities, including the strong force of energy healing. Reiki has allowed us to form a closer communication with the animals, and involves us more directly in their healing and transition.

SARA Teacher Tina Read, based in the UK, shares a Reiki experience she had at the Tree of Life for Animals Sanctuary (TOLFA) in India: I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with two tiny puppies whose siblings had passed on, despite the best possible care. As I sat with them, they stared at me, and it felt as though they were looking into my soul; there was so much love in those eyes. We spent time in the Reiki space, and as always, I detached from outcome; it was very peaceful and full of compassion. When I finished, the smaller of the two pups gazed at me, and I felt so much love. He seemed to know we would not meet again, but there was such a feeling that everything was perfect. So much peace surrounded us.

The next day, this little angel passed on, but his brother was still alive. He could move to get water, but he mainly lay down. When I connected with him, I sensed he had a sore tummy. He could still manage to wag his tail after the Reiki, and the next morning he looked much brighter.

EIKI HELPS SHELTER WORKERS COPE 4 R WITH JOB STRESS Burnout and high turnover rates among shelter and sanctuary staff are an everpresent threat, due to the brutal daily realities these people face. To help with this very difficult issue, SARA teachers are available to train interested shelter/ sanctuary staff and volunteers in simple meditative practices to help them to stay grounded and peaceful, even in the most chaotic situations. This training has been a transformative and life-changing support among shelter and sanctuary staff who practice Reiki.

Continued on page 56.

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Continued from page 55.

SARA teacher Kelly McDermott-Burns5 shares how Reiki has helped her cope with the stresses of her volunteer work at Rutland County Humane Society in Vermont: I have been doing Reiki here for over five years now. I am fortunate to be working in a wonderful shelter with caring staff and a clean environment. Being able to look my fears of anger, sadness and loss in the face, and to be of service to the animals regardless of these feelings, has taught me patience and compassion.

My personal meditation practice has been the most important element in this work. Without Reiki supporting me, it would be incredibly difficult to walk into the shelter and not absorb some of the pain and sadness I encounter there. Reiki keeps me grounded and opens my heart to a deeper understanding of compassion – not just for the animals but also for the people who have left them there. I am learning all the time about nonjudgment, one of the hardest lessons for me in this work.

I didn’t find all this out right away, of course. I struggled in the beginning with anger and sadness. I wanted to save everyone. I was fearful that some animals would never make it to a good home. I checked the logs every week to see who went home, and had mixed feelings when my favorites left. I wanted them to go home but I also wanted them for myself. My own fear of abandonment came up over and over again. Staying diligent with my meditation and Reiki

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practice helped me move through all that. This isn’t to say I still don’t sometimes cry over an animal’s fate. It only means I can see a bigger picture; that I can gain some insight into living a fully compassionate life without falling apart.

All in all, when working with shelter and sanctuary animals, it’s the meditative space of Reiki that is so transformational. It sounds so simple, and yet it’s so profound. By simply relaxing, being quiet, breathing and having a heartfelt intention to help another being, you create a peaceful space.

I invite you to learn more about how Reiki can support you in your own work with animals – SARA’s book, The Animal Reiki Handbook: Finding Your Way With Reiki in Shelter and Sanctuaries, can help veterinarians as well as shelters workers. SARA teachers are also available to teach animal Reiki to interested organizations, educational institutions and veterinarians, and speak on topics related to animal Reiki. Visit shelteranimalreikiassociation.org for more information.

Fleisher et al, Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2014, Vol. 13(1) 62-67.

1

pregnantmarerescue.org

2

shelteranimalreikiassociation.org/blog/tag/nanaimo

3

brighthaven.org/holistic-care/animal-reiki

4

heartsongreiki.com/animals/index.htm

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EVIDENCE-BASED

Chinese herbal therapy FOR EQUINES

By Kendra Pope, DVM, CVA, CVDH, CVFT, CVTP

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The use of traditional Chinese therapies such as acupuncture and herbs has long been documented in veterinary medicine.

Acupuncture for the treatment and prevention of disease in animals is believed to have been first described before 600 BC in Bo Le Zhen Jing (Bo Le’s Canon of Veterinary Acupuncture).1 The development of Chinese herbal therapies, meanwhile, followed along with the development of veterinary medicine – there was a particular focus on equine medicine, since the Emperor’s horses were the foundation for his army’s strength in battle.2 The first comprehensive equine textbook, Yuan Heng Liao Ma Ji (Yuan-Heng’s Therapeutic Treatise of Horses), was created in 1600 AD. It spread widely throughout China and provided recommendations for treating various conditions and common ailments in horses.1 Since the creation of these therapies, herbs and herbal formulas have continued to be utilized throughout China as well as in other countries around the world. Despite the anecdotal evidence supporting these therapies, the literature describing their benefits is limited. However, some case reports and clinical trials are available, and may begin to provide a foundation for evaluating the use of these therapies in Western practice.

TRIALS AND REPORTS Many equine conditions have been treated with Chinese herbal therapy.

• Lameness, one of the most common maladies in horses, is well documented as responding to acupuncture,3,4 and it may also benefit from the addition of herbal therapy. A case report describing the response of a ten-year-old thoroughbred gelding to the modified herbal formula Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, cites the resolution of pelvic limb shifting leg lameness of four weeks duration, and idiopathic head shaking of one week duration, after two months of treatment.

• Tendonitis, or interosseous muscle desmopathy, is a common injury in performance horses and may play a role in other injuries. The herbal formulas Chai Hu Shu Gan and Bu Gan Qiang Jin San have been described to not only treat these injuries, but to prevent them from occurring in predisposed animals.5 • The use of Chinese herbal formulas for treating various respiratory diseases in horses is well described. Multiple case studies have suggested success in treating acute and chronic equine respiratory conditions with herbal formulations such as modified Bai He Gu Jin Tang, Ge Jie San, and Si Jun Zi Tang.6 Continued on page 60.

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Continued from page 59.

A pilot study involved six horses with recurrent airway obstruction treated with a proprietary herbal blend; they were found to have significantly decreased respiratory rates compared to the untreated horses.7

Yin Chen Hu Gan San and hepatitis Nineteen Chinese Mongolian working horses with hepatitis were compared for their response to standard supportive care or treatment with Yin Chen Hu Gan San.20 Other conditions such as colic,6 seizures,17 behavioral disorders, 18 infertility19 and liver disease have been described in additional reports.

After five consecutive days of treatment, the icterus in the horses of both groups had resolved and liver test parameters returned to the normal range. Horses in the conventional treatment group experienced residual weakness, reduced appetites and incomplete digestion as compared to those in the Yin Chen Hu Gan San group. Although liver test parameters returned to the normal range in both groups, the mean values were significantly lower (P< 0.01) in the Yin Chen Hu Gan San group.

It was concluded from this study that Yin Chen Hu Gan San is an effective treatment for acute non-infectious hepatitis, and may be superior to the standard treatment of glucurolactone, glucose and vitamins.

The phytochemical compounds of 23 herbs found in commonly used herbal formulas for respiratory disease were evaluated and reviewed for their biological effects – including specific antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antihistamine, or antitussive properties – when used alone or in combination. The results supported the use of these herbal drugs for the treatment of recurrent equine airway obstruction and summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease.8 • Four reports highlight the promising role of Xin Yi San for treating chronic sinusitis in horses.9-12 As well, in a clinical trial in which Zhi Sou San was used to treat chronic coughing in 50 horses, clinical signs resolved in 90% of the animals.13 A similar response rate was reported when Wei Jing Tang was used to treat pneumonia. In this study, 19 of 23 patients (14 horses) responded to six days of high-dose administration of this herbal formulation, although the primary causative agents were not identified.14 • The use of New Xiang Ru San has been described for the treatment of equine anhidrosis, or non-sweating syndrome, common to horses living in southern states.15 A retrospective analysis of 32 horses revealed that 18 patients treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine had significantlyreduced clinical signs associated with anhidrosis, compared to horses that were only treated symptomatically. Although further controlled, prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings, this integrative approach to equine anhidrosis is often pursued in practice, since no specific conventional therapy exists for the treatment of this condition.

Continued on page 62.

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Continued from page 60.

• Fibrous osteodystrophy or “rubber jaw” can result in difficult mastication, emaciation, lethargy and pain. A prospective, blinded, controlled clinical trial was performed to evaluate the 60-day outcomes of 146 horses with confirmed fibrous osteodystrophy who were treated with Chinese herbal medicine. The recovery rates for horses treated with appropriate herbal therapies were significantly higher than those in horses from the control group. Treatment responses were also greater in horses treated with Chinese herbal therapy when compared to controls (97.03% versus 83.3%), citing resolution of clinical signs and reversal of bone loss.16

Chinese herbal therapies is recommended to help you provide your patients with the most beneficial and appropriate herbal treatment options available.

– mare with melanoma Chinese herbal formulas are also used for the treatment of neoplasia. An amelanotic melanoma of the mandible in a seven-yearold Arabian mare was treated with modified formulas Nei Xiao Luo Li San, Nei Xiao Wan and Si Jun Zi Tang.21 The mass was reported to completely resolve within four months of treatment, despite an originally poor prognosis given the rapid progression of the tumor and its location above the parotid gland, making the mass surgically unresectable at the time of diagnosis.

Chinese herbal medicine is becoming increasingly popular and requested both by Western-trained equine veterinarians as well as the clients they serve, thanks to an interest in more natural-based therapies with minimal side effects, and the cost of conventional treatment. In contrast to acupuncture and Tui-na (massage) techniques, which make up the other sectors of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, herbal therapy can be harmful if given in the wrong dosage or duration; if contaminated products are administered; or if the incorrect formulas are prescribed to a patient. Consultation with or referral to a veterinarian formally trained in traditional

Xie H, Preast V. Xie’s Veterinary Acupuncture. Blackwell Publishing, 2007, 33-34.

1

Xie H, Preast V. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Vol 1, Reddick FL, Jing Tang, 2002.

Zhang X. “The clinical research on Chinese herbs curing sinusitis [Chinese]”. J Integrative Med Technol, 2004, 11(10):2033-2035.

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2

Schoen A. “Equine acupuncture: incorporation into lameness diagnosis and treatment”. Proceedings of American Association of Equine Practitioners, 2000, 46:80-83. (http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/ aaep/2000/80.pdf).

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Li D, Zhao Y.“Effect of Zhi Sou San on chronic cough in large animals [Chinese]”. J Tradit Chin Vet Med, 2007, 21(1):22.

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Li J. “Wei Jing Tang modification for the treatment of pneumonia [Chinese]”. J Tradit Chin Vet Med 2007, 21(4):67.

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Alfaro A. “Correlation of Acupuncture Point Sensitivity and Lesion Location in 259 Horses”. AJTCVM, 2014, 9(1):83-87.

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Pasteur C. “Treatment of Tendonitis in Equines”. AJTCVM, 2007, 2(1):71-74.

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Shmalberg J. “Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Treating Horses”. Vetlearn.com, Compendium: Continuing Education for Veterinarians, 2011.

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Pearson W, Charch A, Brewer D, Clarke AF. “Pilot study investigating the ability of an herbal composite to alleviate clinical signs of respiratory dysfunction in horses with chronic airway obstruction”. Can J Vet Res, 2007, 71(2):145-151.

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Tangjitjaroen W. “The Therapeutic Actions of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Used for the Treatment of Equine Respiratory Diseases”. AJTCVM, 2009, 4(1):7-21.

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Tao H.“Integrative therapy for the treatment of chronic sinusitis [Chinese]”. J Tradit Chin Vet Med, 2007, 26(4):74.

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Zhang Y, Shi Z, Li D.“Bi Yuan Tang cures equine chronic sinusitis [Chinese]”. J Tradit Chin Vet Med, 2002, 21(4):38.

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Sun D. “How to differentiate equine laryngitis from sinusitis and their therapies [Chinese]”. J Tradit Chin Vet Med, 1998, 17(4):23-24.

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Atria S. “Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment of Eighteen Florida Horses with Anhidrosis”.

AJTCVM, 2010, 5(2):25-35.

Fu BD. “Pattern Identification and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Fibrous Osteodystrophy in 146 Horses”. AJTCVM, 2013, 8(2):41-48.

Harman J. “Long-Term Follow-Up of Seizures in Three Horses Treated with Chinese Herbal Therapy”. AJTCVM, 2008, 3(1):47-52.

Harris L. “Treatment of a Mare with Behavioral Problems with Chinese Herbal Medicine”. AJTCVM, 2007, 2(1):63-67.

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Zhong X. “Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment of Acquired Infertility in Female Horses and Dogs”. AJTCVM, 2014, 9(1):95-100.

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Wei X. “Therapeutic Effects of Yin Chen Hu Gan San (Capillaris Hepatoprotective Powder) for Acute Parenchymatous Hepatitis of Horses”. AJTCVM, 2012, 5(1):21-28.

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Ortiz-Umpierre C. “Treatment of an Amelanotic Melanoma in a Horse with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy”. AJTCVM, 2006, 1(1):36-38.

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From the

AHVM Foundation ANNUAL FUNDRAISER AND RESEARCH PROJECTS We are preparing for our annual triple matching fundraiser, running March 15 to April 15, to raise funds for research and education in integrative holistic veterinary medicine.

All money raised to date is earmarked for the scholarships, current research projects, and education projects we are currently funding. So far, research has been completed on Yunnan Baiyao in horses, baseline measurements in pastured pigs (to compare to conventionally intensive-raised pigs), and on compensatory posture in sore horses and its response to integrative treatments. This last project will be used to develop a standard way of instantly evaluating the result of treatments such as chiropractic.

We are also supporting ongoing research in three projects investigating the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and homeopathy for canine cancer, as well as non-anesthetic teeth cleaning, acupuncture for equine laminitis, feline kidney disease, blood markers for equine respiratory allergic sensitivities, a universal tumor marker for canines, and laser therapy for equine tendon problems.

If you are tired of hearing “there is no research”, this is your chance to support research in your favorite modality. The three most important fields identified in a poll of veterinarians and pet owners we did last year were cancer, nutrition/nutraceuticals, and lameness (especially from arthritis). This year, we are prioritizing grant submissions to support research projects in these three fields. However, you can specify any other area in which you wish your donation to be used.

INTEGRATIVE EDUCATION IN VETERINARY SCHOOLS In the education field, we are working with universities to establish specific areas of integrative holistic education in veterinary schools. The integrative model is much more robust in human medical schools, and we are looking to create that same perspective in veterinary schools.

The AHVM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that benefits the public good through scientific research and education in integrative veterinary medicine. It seeks to be a model of both high quality and high integrity work in integrative therapies. We hope to discover information that improves education and clinical practice for both human and veterinary medicine.

We have funded a chair in acupuncture at Louisiana State University’s veterinary school, and provided the initial funding for an herbal research center at Florida State University. Our goal is to establish integrative medicine fellowships at all veterinary schools.

OTHER NEWS • The Foundation is looking for stories, pictures and quotes from holistic veterinary practitioners and their clients about those special “miracle” cases that responded to integrative medicine. We would also like short quotes or anything else we can use in support of integrative holistic veterinary medicine. Send us your stories and pictures and you will be featured on our website. You benefit by having one more place where your name and practice will be highlighted.

• The Foundation has started its membership campaign beginning with veterinary technicians interested in holistic matters. This will be a place where they can meet and interact with like-minded veterinary technicians. Later on, two more membership categories will include pet owners and veterinarians.

• And finally, the Foundation has started a poll. See the picture at right and vote with your dollars to let us know whether you think it’s cute – or not!

Learn more at ahvmf.org.

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From theVBMA The Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association is a group of veterinarians and herbalists dedicated to developing responsible herbal practice by encouraging research and education, strengthening industry relations, keeping herbal tradition alive as a valid information source, and increasing professional acceptance of herbal medicine for animals.

DID YOU GUESS LAST ISSUE’S MEDICINAL HERB?

Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora) is a very unusual herb because it has no chlorophyll. It has been used by both Native American and Eclectic herbalists for pain. It raises pain tolerance, allowing you to step back from your pain – you are aware of it, but distanced from it.

The Cherokee used the pulverized root of Indian pipe for epilepsy in children, and the Cree chewed the plant for toothache relief. The Mohegans used it for pain due to colds, and as a febrifuge.

Today, Indian pipe is commonly combined with corydalis for pain relief in cancer situations. Use it only when needed as it has a limited availability, and use only sustainable sources.

Case study

Frosty is a 23-year-old thoroughbred mare whose eye was removed after a severe traumatic injury. Following surgery, she appeared to be suffering from a type of neurologic pain. She would violently mutilate her face, rubbing it frantically on any available surface. Indian pipe was one of the major herbs used in her pain formula, along with St. John’s wort and corydalis. Within a few days, Frosty experienced dramatic pain relief, and her surgery site healed with no further problems.

• The VBMA’s last teleseminar of 2014 featured Dr. Connie DiNatale speaking on “Incorporation of Herbs into Food Therapy”. We now have many ideas for improving our home recipes, such as Heart Muffins. Go to our new website at vbma.org to order the CDs. • Our 2015 teleseminar series begins with “Lyme Disease: Upclose and Personal” by Dr. Joyce Harman. You can find dates and replays at vbma.org.

• The International Herbal Symposium at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts from June 12 to 14 will have a veterinary track featuring Drs. Fougere, Sherebrin, Kocen and Lankenau. The topics will cover both Chinese and Western herbal medicine for small animals, chickens, equines and bovines. There are also nine additional speaker tracks featuring healers and herbalists worldwide.

• New this year, the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine will host its first annual meeting on October 16, one day prior to the AHVMA, finishing in time for the VBMA herb walk. Check out their new website at acvbm.org.

NAME THIS HERB!

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES

• The VBMA hosted its annual pre-AHVMA conference herb walk at the Hoyt Arboretum last September. Dr. Kevin Spelman led us on an in-depth walk featuring five plants – gingko, uva ursi, red root, Oregon grape root and willow.

During the conference, Dr. Spelman also gave a day of lectures covering Ayurvedic medicine, and the pharmacology of Echinacea, including some indications that are not usually thought of, such as its ergogenic effects, anxiolytic activity and enhancement of insulin sensitivity, and its use for brown recluse bite treatments, IgE response inhibition, life extension, autoimmune diseases and as a Blood tonic. Jeffrey Yuen also spoke on essential oils in the framework of Chinese Medicine: “Oils change the perception of the world via the aroma, scenting the way to a place of reckoning.”

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Join the VBMA at vbma.org to find out. The answer will also be published in the next issue of IVC Journal.

marketplace

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events

To post your event, email us at: info@IVCJournal.com

American Animal Hospital Association Annual Conference March 12 - 15, 2015 – Tampa, FL

This year there is a refreshing line-up of new and unique continuing education, along with some of the educational staples you’ve always loved from AAHA. This is the only veterinary conference that focuses exclusively on companion animal care and you’ll receive top education and exceptional networking.

For more information: (800) 883-6301 aaha@aahanet.org www.aaha.org/tampa_2015

AAVMC Annual Conference March 13 - 15, 2015 – Washington, DC

This conference is focusing on recruitment, admissions and diversity and is designed to help schools and colleges of veterinary medicine keep informed regarding the latest societal changes, how they’re affecting recruitment, and how to develop strategies to adapt to both short-term and long-term admissions and recruitment challenges.

You will find an excellent line up of sessions on topics such as veterinary medicine, leadership, and clinical assessment. You will also have the opportunity to convene with worldwide leaders in academic veterinary medicine, and share in the discussions that shape the future of the profession.

For more information: (202) 371-9195 www.aavmc.org

131st CVMA Annual Meeting & Convention March 24 - 25, 2015 – Hartford, CT At this meeting and convention you will find a variety of different programs offered including the Small Animal Practitioners Program covering feline and canine lower urinary tract disease as well as the Large Animal Practitioners Program, Practice Management Program and Technician/Assistant Program.

For more information: (860) 635-7770 info@ctvet.org www.ctvet.org

Feline Veterinary Dentistry April 11 -12, 2015 – Orlando, FL This course focuses on the most practical lecture and lab material available for the general practitioner to maximize feline patient care in veterinary dentistry. Please visit our website for more information. 15 hours of RACE accredited Continuing Education.

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Instructor: Brett Beckman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DAAPM For more information: (941) 276-9141 annielvt@hotmail.com http://veterinarydentistry.net/vets/

Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Spring Symposium

techniques, and treatments in rehabilitative medicine, and learn advanced physical therapy skills taught by leaders in the field.

For more information: (908) 439-9139 info@staarconference.com www.staarconference.com

CVC Conference for Veterinary Care

April 15 - 18, 2015 – Los Suenos, Costa Rica

April 23 - 26, 2015 – Washington, DC

VECCS is committed to offering its members the highest quality of Continuing Education regardless of venue.

For more than 20 years, CVC’s vision has been to provide veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, and team members the best convention experience possible by offering premium educational programming, expert clinical education, hands-on labs and workshops, practice management programs, and team training sessions from the award-winning editors and doctors behind DVM Newsmagazine®, Veterinary Medicine®, Veterinary Economics®, Firstline® and dvm360.com.

This year’s symposium will be held at the JW Marriott Cancun Beach Resort and Spa. There will be plenty of time between lecture sessions to enjoy endless white sandy beaches, sailing, reef diving, inland tours to Aztec ruins and more.

Featured speakers include Dr. Erica Reinke, DVM, DACVECC and Dr. Matt Mellema, DVM, DACVECC as well as other professionals who will also be contributing to the program.

Be sure to register early since there is limited registration for VECCS members-only.

With expert speakers and exceptional service that is affordable and accessible and offered at three convenient locations annually: Washington (DC), Kansas City, and San Diego.

For more information: (210) 698-5575 info@veccs.org www.2015springce.iveccs.org

For more information: (800) 255-6864 cvc@advanstar.com www.thecvc.com

2015 North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum

2015 Massachusetts VMA Spring CE Conference

April 15 - 18, 2015 – Nashville, TN

MVMA’s mission is to promote the veterinary profession, improve animal well-being and public health and provide programs and services that enhance the ability of member veterinarians to succeed.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the most upto-date information on veterinary dermatology.

This event features world renowned speakers, roundtables, workshops, over 20 hours of continuing education and much more. The NAVDF is sponsored by the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology and the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.

For more information: (877) 754-6838 navdf@pamedsoc.org www.navdf.org

Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation April 23, 2015 – Chester, NJ The 6th Annual Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation (STAAR) is a unique conference that provides continuing interactive, practical education for animal rehabilitation professionals.

Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers in an intimate setting. Explore new concepts,

May 13, 2015 – Westborough, MA

Join the Continuing Education conference in May 2015!

For more information: (508) 460-9333 staff@massvet.org www.massvet.org

Maryland VMA Mid-Atlantic State Veterinary Clinic May 14, 2015 – West Friendship, MD If you are a practitioner of small animal or equine veterinary medicine, this is a premier opportunity for continuing education, business information and networking. There are also educational opportunities for technicians, farriers and students.

For more information: (443) 507-6500 mvma@managementalliance.com www.mdvma.org

For more events, visit: Facebook.com/IVCJournal/events

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