Westies & Besties - September 2021 by Westies & Besties Magazine

THE UK'S ONLY WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER MAGAZINE TM

I SSU E 13, VOL 1

TOP 10 NATURAL HERBS

S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 1

ISSN 2634-4149

SUSTAINABILITY Become an eco-friendly dog owner

For better health

STRESS & FEAR

Are you passing it to your westie?

I TCHY S KIN The do’s & dont’s

health

An introduction to acupuncture

THE TOP 10

Raw food brands to watch

RECIPE

A hearty meal for your bestie

LEADERS OF THE PACK Innovative UK vets

LI F ESAV I N G FI RST A I D TI PS !

Westies & Besties - September 2021

Ever considered the possibility of your Westie having acupuncture? Well, believe it or not this ancient Chinese medicine can be performed (only by a veterinary surgeon) to help ease muscle pain and arthritis among other problems – Station Hill Vets give us an introduction on page 22. Our new columnist, Rachel Bolton, is back this month with a piece on how us humans can pass on stress and fear to our dogs. Rachel reveals how by learning to calm ourselves down during our busy lives, our dogs can benefit too. Be sure to read our First Aid tips by Morag Sutherland of the RFVS as it’s vital we all know what to do in case our besties injure themselves. We talk to innovative vets Joe Inglis and Ben Sweeney this month about how they both became leaders of the pack when it comes to technology that’s paving the way for dog owners. While Joe’s company provides healthy and convenient food options in just a few clicks, Ben’s digital vet consultations, available at any time of the day or night, could potentially change the traditional veterinary landscape forever. Ps. September 12th is Hug Your Hound Day so don’t forget to post your pics on our social media pages!

Kim Latham

WE LC O M E

EDITOR’S NOTE Publisher – Westies & Besties Ltd Fidlas Road | Cardiff | CF14 5LZ Editor Kim Latham Tel: +44 7496 310169 Email: info@westiesandbesties.com Commercial Director Alex Griffin Tel: +44 7496 310173 Email: alex@westiesandbesties.com Columnists Mark Randell Faye Andrews Rachel Bolton Design Vavoom.co.uk Front Cover Image shutterstock_1832859862 Printing Warners Midlands PLC Westies & Besties Magazine is published by Westies & Besties Ltd (the “Publisher) and printed on behalf of the publisher by Warners Midlands PLC. Westies & Besties Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Westies & Besties Magazine and the Westie & Bestie logo/ masthead are marks of Westies & Besties Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within Westies & Besties magazine are not necessarily those of the Publisher or those of its contributors. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequences arising from it. The Publishers accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or other materials, in the case of all product reviews. Judgements have been made in the context of the product tested. (All pictures have been supplied unless otherwise mentioned.) Advertisers in this publication must adhere to the rules and regulations of the ASA. Westies & Besties Ltd is not responsible or liable for a company or individual’s advert.

Editor Social icon

Circle Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

Our Westie, Buffy, Chief Cuddles Officer!

info@westiesandbesties.com www.westiesandbestiesmagazine.com/subscribe

CONTENTS

CONTENTS September 2021

6-7 NEWS

10-13 OPINION

14-17 HEALTH

The dogs being awarded the equivalent of an OBE

Degenerative Myelopathy and how it affects West Highland White Terriers

Dr Lise Hansen on Westies being prone to itchy skin

18-21 HEALTH

22-23 HEALTH

24-27 NUTRITION

Check out our Top 10 list of lifesaving first aid tips that could help save your dog

Station Hill Vets gives an introduction on Acupuncture for those dogs suffering with arthritis and muscle problems

Natural herbs that are healthy for your dog

Westies & Besties - September 2021

CONTENTS

32-35 WELLBEING

36-41 FEATURE

42-45 SUSTAINABILITY

Rachel Bolton reveals how stress and fear can be passed on to dogs by their owners

How innovative vets are paving the future of the veterinary landscape

George Bramble, CEO, Beco Pets reveals how dog owners can turn into eco-friendly warriors

46-49 COMMUNITY

50 RECIPE

Top 10 popular raw food brands

A recipe full of omega 3 oils to promote healthy westie skin

N E WS

The Highest Honour TWO RETIRED DOGS, AN ENGLISH SPANIEL, AND A LABRADOR, HAVE BEEN AWARDED FOR THEIR SERVICE TO SOCIETY

wo Royal Air Force Police Dogs were honoured last month by leading vet charity, PDSA, for their career of exemplary service to society.

in four, live high-profile finds of arms, ammunition, explosives, and bomb making equipment. Alfie’s finds included two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), designed to cause maximum casualties.

English Spaniel, Alfie, and Labrador, AJ, who both served in Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron for six years, regularly operating in dangerous environments, locating arms, ammunitions, and explosives, received the PDSA Order of Merit – the animal equivalent of the OBE.

AJ’s career Labrador AJ joined the Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron in 2014 and spent six years working as part of the team. He conducted over 1,000 search hours, resulting in eight live highprofile operational finds of arms, ammunition, explosives, and bomb-making equipment.

The now-retired duo were joined by Provost Marshal (RAF), Group Captain David Wilkinson, to formally receive their prestigious Medals. Commenting on the awards, PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, said: “It is with great pride that we award Alfie and AJ the PDSA Order of Merit today. They have both had exemplary careers, playing a pivotal role in the vital work of the RAF Squadron, and providing outstanding service to society. “Through the PDSA Animal Awards programme we seek to raise the status of animals in society and honour the incredible contribution they make to our lives. Alfie and AJ’s extraordinary work warrants the highest recognition, making them worthy recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit.” Alfie’s career English Spaniel Alfie qualified as an Arms and Explosives Search Military Working Dog in April 2011 and worked with the Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron until 1 July 2017, when he retired from the service. During his exceptional career, Alfie completed over 600 hours of operational searching, resulting

AJ located four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and buried bomb-making equipment. Everything that AJ found could have posed a threat to Armed Forces personnel, Police, and public safety. Distinguished Records Both Alfie and AJ’s records were the best in their field for the number of search hours, searches and operational finds. During their active service they were highly regarded by their peers in the Royal Air Force Police & Security Squadron. After both successfully completing six full years of active service and thousands of search hours between them, Alfie and AJ are now enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Award reaction Provost Marshal (RAF), Group Captain David Wilkinson, said: “Alfie and AJ were truly outstanding members of the team, performing impeccably during their careers. They regularly worked in challenging and dangerous situations but never faltering in their duty. They are a credit to the Royal Air Force.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

N E WS

Provost Marshal Warrant Officer Lee Close; PDSA Order of Merit recepient Alfie; Provost Marshal Group Captain David Wilkinson. English Spaniel Alfie with his PDSA Order of Merit - the equivalent of the animals’ OBE

Labrador, AJ, who served in Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron for six years, has been honoured with the PDSA Order of Merit.

PHOTO CREDITS PDSA

Provost Marshal Warrant Officer Lee Close; PDSA Order of Merit recepient AJ; Provost Marshal Group Captain David Wilkinson.

“It’s a huge honour for Alfie and AJ to be awarded the PDSA Order of Merit. To have their actions recognised in this way is truly fantastic and I am immensely proud of everything they both achieved.” Alfie and AJ take the total number of PDSA Order of Merit recipients to 32 animals, including 12 horses and 20 dogs. The medal was instituted in 2014 and recognises animals who display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society, above and beyond normal companionship – and represents an exceptional example of the special relationship that exists between animals and humans. It is widely acknowledged as the animal equivalent of the OBE. For more information about previous PDSA Order of Merit recipients, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/OrderOfMerit.

PDSA’s Animal Awards Programme was instituted in 1943 by the charity’s founder, Maria Dickin. She believed that, if animals were recognised for their heroic actions, it would help to raise their status in society, ensuring they are better treated. The charity continues this legacy today with the world’s leading Animal Awards Programme.

A DV E RTO RI A L

PALEO RIDGE SETS ENVIRONMENTAL BENCHMARK 98% OF PACKING BY THE RAW FOOD BRAND IS NOW RECYCLABLE OR COMPOSTABLE

“

As a company we’re obsessed not only with the quality of our food, but with minimising our impact on the environment.

”

Tyler Daly, Chief Executive Officer of Paleo Ridge

Paleo Ridge, a leading UKaccredited producer of high-quality raw dog food, is celebrating an environmental benchmark of 98% of the company’s packaging now recyclable or compostable. A series of projects have supported the achievement, including the launch of new packaging for the Paleo Ridge Classic and DIY ranges last year which saw several products switch from nonrecyclable bags to recyclable boxes. Launched this year, the new Classic Mini range is also packaged in fully recyclable pouches, making feeding raw more convenient whilst also protecting the environment.

Tyler Daly, Chief Executive Officer of Paleo Ridge says: “As a company we’re obsessed not only with the quality of our food, but with minimising our impact on the environment. We’re committed to reducing our environmental impact in every aspect of our business. We are immensely proud of our progress in recent years which has allowed us to reach this significant milestone.” “The importance of sustainable packaging is immense, and we have always attracted customers looking for a company that’s environmentally responsible with their packaging choices. The demand for our products has more than doubled in the

Westies & Besties - September 2021

past year and we have worked hard to ensure that we not only maintain but increase our level of environmentally friendly packaging.” Over the last three years, the business has converted an additional 9% of nonrecyclable and noncompostable packaging to achieve this milestone. This rapid improvement represents a sustained effort from Paleo Ridge to safeguard the environment and respond to consumer demands for ecofriendly product packaging. Paleo Ridge has also made improvements to the sustainability of its delivery-

A D V E RTO RI AL

box packaging, using an ecofriendly insulation and void fill solution. By using a paper void fill, made from 100% recycled paper, bubble wrap is no longer required, significantly reducing the waste created by packaging which would otherwise end up in landfill. The transition to environmentally friendly

98% Company’s packaging now recyclable or compostable

WoolCool®, an effective and sustainable alternative to polystyrene when transporting frozen products, has ensured that Paleo Ridge has considered all aspects of delivery packaging from an environmental perspective. A return service for WoolCool® liners, delivered through Paleo Ridge, saw 2,000 WoolCool strips being reused in 2019, rising steeply to 9,000

WoolCool strips in 2020 and nearly 8,000 strips reused so far in 2021. “We are committed to maintaining this high level of sustainability in the coming years and will continue to look for ways to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Daly.

“

We are immensely proud of our progress in recent years which has allowed us to reach this significant milestone.

”

OPINION

Degenerative Myelopathy KOKO, A CASE STORY BY FAYE ANDREWS CANINE & HUMAN OSTEOPATH

ne of the things I really like about my job is being able to meet new people and help and guide them with any concerns they may have about their faithful companions.

struggling to pull herself up. The vet initially thought it was arthritis but over the course of three weeks the medication had no effect. This is when her fever began.

My hard work has given me an added skill set so that I can treat animals as well as humans, and being a Westie owner, I am naturally on some Westie Facebook groups, two of which have asked me to be their resident expert for group members who have any questions regarding musculoskeletal issues with their Westies.

Debra decided to take Koko to another vet for a second opinion, the vet gave Koko an injection of steroids and another for infection (Penicillin), Debra was sent home with some further injections. These seemed to help as she was walking better although still unable to pull herself up, her appetite had improved which was a good sign. However, the fevers had started to climb, another antibiotic was added to the injections along with medication for anxiety and pain yet the fevers persisted. The vet checked the bloods and found elevated liver enzymes and suggested an abdominal ultrasound. It was suspected that the original injections had been inflaming poor Koko’s liver.

While it is always harder to advise without actually having the dog there to put my hands on, COVID-19 has encouraged us all to find new ways of being able to work and help, and while it has been a challenge, I have been thrilled to do it. However, I am not a vet, and should I see anything that requires an immediate vet visit I don’t hesitate to say so. The other benefit of being a so-called resident expert is that I have been able to meet new people from all over the world and become friends with some, no more so than the lovely Debra who lives in the United States. Debra contacted me in April via one of the Westie groups to ask for some advice for her beloved Australian Shepherd, Koko (she also has a Westie called Bizzy) who had some issues with her legs and had developed a fever of unknown origin. Debra asked if I had ever come across something like this and if I had any ideas where the fever might be coming from and what she could do to help to help with the stumbling. In March 2021 Koko, who was already stumbling, started to decline to the point where she was

Above: Faye Andrews

Debra was advised to take Koko to a University Vet School where they performed an array of tests yet could not identify where the origin of the fever was. When Koko arrived home, she was given steroids and antibiotics, her walking improved most days but there were still times where she was stumbling and other days she could hardly stand. Whilst the vet suspected a neurological condition called Degenerative Myelopathy, this is an incurable, progressive disease of the spinal cord. Progressive weakness and incoordination of the rear limbs are often the first signs, over time this progression can cause complete paralysis. The disease progresses due to the protective covering of the spinal cord (myelin sheath) breaks down. Front limb lameness will occur at a much later

Westies & Besties - September 2021

OPINION

“

Whilst the vet suspected a neurological condition called Degenerative Myelopathy, this is an incurable, progressive disease of the spinal cord. Progressive weakness and incoordination of the rear limbs are often the first signs, over time this progression can cause complete paralysis.

PHOTO CREDIT Debra Poland

”

Deb and Koko

date followed by respiratory muscle paralysis which unfortunately necessitates euthanasia. However, Degenerative Myelopathy does not cause a fever so there was a concern that something else was also happening. Having reviewed the x-rays I spotted some disc bulges which would account for the limb weakness, but by no means the complete answer as Koko was an older dog, so this was possible anyway. Plus, the disc bulges in the low back would potentially explain the hindlimb issues but not the forelimb instability. By the middle of June, Debra had found that Koko had developed a horrible abscess on her right shoulder, the abscess was the biggest I’ve ever seen and was roughly the size of a tennis

ball. More antibiotics were given, and warm compresses applied. After a couple of weeks, it started to improve and the abscess began to drain, cultures were taken, and it was found that she had a Staphylococcal infection. Come July she had developed head tremors and was prescribed phenobarbital which helped until the medication wore off. At this point she had started to develop some forelimb issues too where the right front paw would curl when she walked. Abscesses are difficult to treat and need careful management. When they drain, they usually drain through a hole and leak fluid, however it has been known to occasionally have two drainage sites and this could potentially mean draining into the body. With Koko it’s highly possible two separate issues were taking place, Degenerative

OPINION

Myelopathy and then an infection via the abscess at the injection site. This case really got my thinking cap on as it wasn’t straight forward as it became clear two things were happening at the same time. Sometimes medicine just isn’t straight forward. Challenges occur but then that’s what makes my job and life exciting and you never stop learning. Sadly, for Koko, despite the best care she received, she lost her battle in July 2021. What is Degenerative Myelopathy? Degenerative Myelopathy is an incurable, progressive disease of the covering of the spinal cord, brain, and nerves (myelin sheath). The myelin sheath allows for electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along nerve cells, this allows for our smooth locomotion. When the myelin sheath is damaged these impulses slow down and cause alterations in daily functions such as walking and breathing to name a few. Diagnosis is by a series of tests and scans along with clinical signs and an absence of other clinical disease, meaning other clinical diseases with similar signs and symptoms need to be excluded first. It is also likely that the vet will perform:

As this is usually a condition affecting older dogs it is not uncommon for the dog to be affected by more than one complaint, such as intervertebral disc disease (bulging discs) so care must be taken to understand the true underlying complaint. How to Treat an Abscess An abscess is a tender swelling/mass that is generally surrounded by a reddish area. They occur when the skin barrier is broken down and bacteria enters the skin. The centre of the abscess liquefies and contains dead cells and bacteria. As the area begins to grow, tension is formed under the skin and inflammation occurs. Unlike other infections an abscess won’t just go away with antibiotics. Abscesses need to be opened up and drained in order for them to improve and the best way to do this is by using a warm compress to the area. This draws the infection towards the skin where it then opens and drains. If this doesn’t resolve it then the vet may decide to do this under anaesthetic.

An MRI scan of the spinal cord and brain

A sample of the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) that surrounds the spinal cord

As of yet there is no cure for this condition and the only option is palliative care such as rehabilitation, hydrotherapy and medication to help support and maintain an acceptable quality of life.

Blood tests

In the early stages of Degenerative Myelopathy, the symptoms resemble that of arthritis and usually start with the hindlimbs before progressing up the body:

stiffness in walking

difficulty getting up

the hind paws knuckle/turn under especially when turning

the hips start to sway when standing still

scraping of the hind paws when walking

Abscesses can become painful and warm and tender to the touch. It is important to deal with an abscess as quickly as possible and bring the infection to the skin for drainage because if the infection spreads deeper into the tissue a fever may develop and the feeling of being unwell can occur. Faye Andrews is a canine & human osteopath. Faye qualified in human osteopathy in 2002 from the British School of Osteopathy. She then completed her Masters in Canine Osteopathy from the European School of Osteopathy in 2018. Faye currently runs her own clinic in Surry alongside teaching both human and canine Osteopathy.

As the condition worsens bowel and bladder functions may be compromised and incontinence may occur, the dog’s mobility becomes severely restricted and breathing may become problematic.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_1020103849

H E A LT H

Ditch the Itch VETERINARIAN LISE HANSEN DISCUSSES THE INS AND OUTS OF ALLERGIC SKIN DISEASE IN WESTIES

once held a presentation titled “How to cure a Westie in three easy steps” at a veterinary conference. The talk was about the treatment of allergic skin disease in dogs. This is by no means a problem confined to Westies and while I gladly apologize for my possible poor sense of humour in trying to come up with a catchy title for a lecture, I couldn’t be more sincere when I say that the deepest frustration of my professional life is the fact that so many dogs suffer from allergies and most of them do not get the help that they deserve. It is my experience after nearly 30 years as a practicing veterinarian that many of these dogs can be completely cured – but sadly very few are. Whether the main issue is recurrent ear infections, incessant paw chewing or red itchy eczema, allergic skin disease is a common (quite possibly the most common) health issue in Westies as it is in all dogs. So why is this such a big problem? And how can we solve it without risking the overall health of a dog in order to stop him or her itching? First, a few words about allergies. Why do some individuals suffer from allergies? Allergy is a condition in which the immune system is out of balance and therefore reacts to substances that are not in themselves harmful and therefore don’t cause a reaction in others. The substances that provoke an immune system in this way are called allergens. An individual can develop an allergy to any substance, a fact that creates a lot of confusion and makes it difficult to compare experiences, as different allergic individuals may react to different allergens. The

Above: Lise Hansen

only thing that all allergic individuals have in common is that their immune system is confused and out of balance and therefore overreacts to otherwise harmless substances. Examples of common allergens are grass or tree pollen, house dust or storage mites and (perhaps less commonly in animals than in people) certain foods. Dogs with unbalanced immune systems tend to overreact to several substances rather than only one or two. You might say that the immune system is like a soldier standing guard at the entrance to a castle, ensuring that nothing harmful is allowed to enter. The well-functioning immune system valiantly holds this post and is able to discriminate between who is allowed to enter and who poses a risk and must be stopped. In an allergic individual, the soldier is confused or mad, unable to differentiate between friend and foe and therefore overreacting, lashing out wildly in all directions, in the process hurting himself and the castle he was supposed to protect. Why do some individuals suffer from allergies? We don’t know exactly why someone develops an allergy. Many different factors can damage the immune system; some of them (such as vaccination) are known, while others we don’t understand at all. This is true for people as well as animals. We do know that individuals whose parents suffer from allergies have a higher risk of developing an allergy themselves, meaning that it is certainly possible to inherit a weak immune system. This is why allergy is particularly common in some dog breeds. This is not clear cut, however. You cannot predict that an individual puppy (or kitten or human baby) will develop

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_1447224710

H E A LT H

an allergy simply because one or both parents have allergies, only that he does run a higher risk of it happening. It is also entirely possible for an individual to be allergic when no one else in the family has a problem. Allergy is one of the most common health problems in humans as well as in dogs. In animals, unfortunately, allergy tends to take a much more devastating course than it does in the person suffering from, for instance, hay fever or allergic eczema. One reason for this is that the over-thecounter drugs (antihistamines) that bring relief to many human allergy sufferers rarely have any effect in animals. Allergies in dogs are therefore readily treated with very potent drugs that can have serious health implications when used long term. This is why the allergic dog, who is perhaps prone to ear infections or hotspots, ends up suffering much more than you might expect, considering that their allergy in itself isn’t life threatening at all. How does the vet treat allergic symptoms? Allergy cannot be cured with conventional medicine. Your vet will tell you, therefore, that allergy is incurable and that the symptoms can only be eased through immune-suppressive medication. This symptomatic relief works very well in the short-term, but these are very potent drugs, and their long-term use is associated with

a risk of serious side effects, making it crucial to limit their use. An allergic dog receiving ongoing medication to stay comfortable and keep the symptoms at bay has been cured. The symptoms have merely been suppressed, and it is likely that the longterm cost to his or her health will be high. A client recently told me that giving her dog daily anti-itch medication to deal with the itchy paws felt like trying to solve your financial problems by borrowing large amounts of money – at some point there would still be a bill to pay. A very apt comparison indeed. You can buy time and feel better for a while, but it is not a sound long-term solution to the problem. Unfortunately, allergic dogs rarely respond to treatment with relatively mild drugs like antihistamines. Consequently, potent medicines such as steroids, cyclosporine and several other newer immune-modulating drugs are used to relieve the symptoms of allergic disease. Some animals respond to immunotherapy (hypo-sensitization), which in these cases can help reduce the anti-itch medications needed. Immunotherapy involves giving the animal increasing doses of the antigens they are reacting to, in an attempt to get their immune system to tolerate them better. In the many cases in which it makes no difference, the treatment is

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_2021345963

H E A LT H

What else can be done? If I were to choose one area above all others where holistic treatments excel, it would be in the treatment of diseases of the immune system. As mentioned, the toolbox available to the conventional vet will not be able to cure an allergic patient. It holds only drugs to keep the symptoms at bay through ongoing suppression of the immune system. This is often tolerated well in the short term but is rarely a safe long-term approach. The fact that many – vets and dog owners alike – are unaware that allergy is in fact curable is a great shame and was one of my main motivations for writing my book The Complete Book of Cat and Dog Health. I am repeatedly frustrated and saddened by hearing of animals being put to sleep because they suffered from allergies or by seeing them, when they are first brought to me for homeopathic treatment, because they are now dying from drug side effects. Seeing their animals cured after years of symptomatic drug treatment, owners often incredulously ask me why no one had told them there were other treatment options. Let me tell you now: Holistic treatments, unlike conventional medicine, can in many cases cure allergy completely. By all means, let your dog have the symptomatic treatment needed to stay comfortable in the short term. The acute hot spot or the red and raw paws need to be soothed just as an inflamed ear needs the ear drops to avoid scarring of the ear canal or damage to the ear drum. In the short term, do what needs doing to keep your dog comfortable. It is never a matter of choosing one approach (conventional or holistic) over the other. Use conventional medicine to keep

H E A LT H

discontinued in the first year, but for those who show an improvement it is continued for life. It is rarely sufficient to stop the symptoms, but it can, in some individuals, reduce the dosage of the immune-suppressive medications needed and thereby help the dog live longer before sideeffects manifest. Immunotherapy is currently the only conventional approach that aims to treat the underlying allergy. All other treatments are aimed solely at easing symptoms. The good news here is that there is a whole other way to approach this problem – and one that comes with much better odds.

your dog comfortable in the short term while working with a vet specialised in homeopathy towards a long-term solution. My message is this: If conventional symptomatic treatment is all you do, you will never be able to stop. Ongoing immune-suppressive (‘anti-itch’) treatments come at a cost, and you should know that there is an alternative. Call a vet who has specialized in homeopathy. It may save your dog’s life. And help spread the word so no dog needs die or suffer needlessly from allergic skin disease. British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons www.bahvs.com

Lise Hansen is a veterinary surgeon, a classical homeopath and the author of The Complete Book of Cat and Dog Health published by Hubble&Hattie.

H E A LT H

10 Essential First Aid Tips for your Westie EVERY DOG OWNER NEEDS TO KNOW THE BASIC STEPS TO TAKE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG BY MORAG SUTHERLAND As a Registered Veterinary Nurse who’s worked a lot in out of hours emergency clinics, I feel very strongly that dog owners should all have good first aid knowledge. Here are 10 tips that will help your dog if something goes wrong.

Complete a first aid course, preferably run by a vet or veterinary nurse. (Registered Veterinary Nurse, Rachel Bean, offers workshops in over 20 locations - http://rachelbean.co.uk/first%20aid. html). Knowledge is power and practise makes perfect! You’ll gain both on a good course, and believe me, you need to practise because trying to help your dog when you’re worried sick and your dog is scared isn’t easy.

Always carry a good basic first aid kit with you which contains things like something to clean a wound (contact lens saline is excellent for this, if you can find a small container, and it’s also useful for rinsing eyes, of course), a sterile dressing and something to attach it with. Cohesive bandage is good for this, but you can improvise with something like a sock, if you’re really stuck. A tick remover is super useful.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT first-aid supplied by Pixabay

H E A LT H

Practise, practise, practise. Make a fun game of bandaging a paw, or an ear. Associate the slight discomfort of a bandage with super yummy treats. That way, if an accident happens, your dog won’t be nearly so frightened, because you are doing something familiar, even ‘though there is now pain added to the “game”. It will also mean that you have the skills off pat and will be able to be practical in spite of worrying about what’s happened. It honestly makes a big difference.

Common things happen all the time! Make sure you are certain what to do when common problems arise. Heat stroke, torn claws, cuts, grass seeds in toes or ears, ticks, things in eyes, seizures (these are terrifying when you don’t know what’s happening, and pretty frightening, even when you do!)

Make sure you know about your vet’s out of hours arrangements. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who turn up at their usual veterinary practice with an injured pet only to find no one there, because the emergency service is provided elsewhere. And make sure your usual vet and the emergency practices’ numbers are in your phone (and you have your phone with you!).

H E A LT H

Think about how you will carry your injured dog. If you’re reading this as a Westie owner, this shouldn’t be too much of a physical challenge, but if you have a bigger dog, you really do need to have a plan! These are fabulous https:// mountaindogware.com/dog-carrying-harnessusa.html (and play at carrying your dog around in it at home, too, so they’re used to it).

If you have a breed prone to certain problems, for example, prick ears (perfect for grass seeds to drop into) or very thin skin (which gets injured very easily) then focus on what to do when those things happen.

Remember that VERY few things are lifethreatening emergencies. Hopefully, this will keep you calm most of the time. Cuts where blood is squirting out under pressure are one genuine emergency (apply pressure directly to the wound and DO NOT let go, no matter what, and immediately get to a veterinary practice). Eye injuries can look trivial, but can be very, very serious (and as we know ourselves, anything in the eye is massively painful, even if not at all serious!). These should always be checked by a vet. Abdominal swelling, or a dog looking as if trying to vomit, but not being able to, needs immediate veterinary attention (this mostly occurs in very deep chested dogs, but that doesn’t mean it never happens in other shapes of dog). Repeated seizures close together need a conversation with a veterinary professional and will usually need veterinary intervention.

If someone else cares for your dog, make sure that they have a current first aid certificate. It’s terrifying that there are lots of people offering “professional” care (and often charging a lot of money!) who have NO formal qualifications at all. First aid is the very, very most essential qualification.

The most vital piece of advice I can give is to remain calm. No matter what the injury or accident or illness, if you can remain calm, it will support your dog and allow you to respond in a helpful manner.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

H E A LT H

“

Practise, practise, practise. Make a fun game of bandaging a paw, or an ear. Associate the slight discomfort of a bandage with super yummy treats

“

For more information, visit: https://rfvs.info/

PHOTO CREDIT HeungSoon from Pixabay

”

Morag Sutherland works for the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society of which Westies & Besties Magazine is an affiliate member.

The most vital piece of advice I can give is to remain calm.

”

H E A LT H

An Introduction to Acupuncture ARTHRITUS, MUSCLE, AND NERVE PAIN CAN ALL BE TREATED WITH THIS ANCIENT CHINESE MEDICINE BY STATION HOUSE VETS

What is acupuncture? Acupuncture utilises the body’s nervous system to block pain signals and encourages the central nervous system to release natural painkillers. What conditions can be treated with acupuncture? • Arthritis, muscle pain and nerve pain • Neck and spinal pain, myofascial pain, and visceral pain

sedated. Perhaps surprisingly, cats and rabbits often accept acupuncture treatment very well, curling up and becoming sleepy. How often would my pet be treated? The usual course is once a week for four weeks. After this initial course we will know whether acupuncture is working for your pet. Depending on the condition and how they have responded, we will work out a maintenance plan that involves tailoring the timing of treatments, so the effect is maintained for as long as possible.

How will my pet respond to acupuncture? Most of the time they accept the fine needles very well and often become relaxed and sleepy during the treatment. Often, they appear to look forward to the next treatment when they come back to the practice. Sometimes animals may react to the sensation as though they are expecting pain, but then relax because it does not occur. In non-painful conditions acupuncture can help to reset the body to normal functioning.

Is acupuncture safe? Acupuncture is very safe, in the right hands. Legally it must be performed by a veterinary surgeon. There have been no official reports of problems in animals, but there are some in humans and these can usually be avoided with care and a good knowledge of anatomy. There are a very few cases in which we would have to be very cautious about using acupuncture, but your veterinary acupuncturist can advise you of these.

Will my pet need to be sedated for this treatment? It is uncommon for animals to need to be

What can I expect during treatment? After examination, needles will be put into various parts of the body and moved or stimulated a

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Tarka by Station House Vets

H E A LT H

few times. There is no set “dose” of acupuncture as there is for medication, so your vet will judge how much to do based on your pet’s response both at the time and after the treatment. They may become sleepy and relaxed during the treatment. And after the treatment? It is not uncommon for pets to go home and sleep very soundly for a long time. This is a good sign and shows that your pet will probably respond well to acupuncture. There is no need to worry, however, if they are not sleepy – this does not mean that they will not respond. Sometimes your pet may seem a little more euphoric than usual - this is also a good sign. However, it is advisable to keep them quiet for the rest of the day or they may overdo things. Otherwise treat your pet normally after acupuncture. Do not change exercise, diet, or medication unless it has been discussed with your vet. What about response? Responses to treatments vary between animals:

• You may see an improvement. This may occur anytime in the three days after treatment. The signs that we are trying to treat may then return before the next treatment, but this is fine. After each subsequent treatment the effects should last for longer, so that your pet’s maintenance treatments may be quite far apart. For more information on Station House Vets, visit www.stationhousevets.com

PHOTO CREDIT Toffee by Station House Vets

• They may seem a little stiffer or more uncomfortable. This shows they should respond to treatment and after a day or two they will improve again and should be better than before. However, you must tell your vet so that they can adjust the treatment next time. • You may see no response. It may just be that they will take a little longer or that their improvement after the first treatment was too brief or small for you to see. Not all animals or humans are acupuncture “responders”, but about 80% will be.

NUTRITION

10 Natural Herbs to Help your Westie’s Health NATURAL INGREDIENTS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE WELLBEING OF BOTH CANINES AND HUMANS BY DR SHELLEY DOXEY

For those with an interest in herbal medicine, the British Association of Veterinary Herbalists website (https://herbalvets.org.uk/) may be useful for those wanting advice on specific concerns.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Parts used: root, leaf and whole plant Potential actions: an adaptogen (increases the body’s response to all stressors and promotes normal physiologic function), nervine improving the functions of the nervous system, reduces nervous tension, anti-inflammatory and pain relief.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Parts used: ripe fruit and leaves Potential actions: a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective (protects the integrity of the blood vessels).

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

don’t generally use a single herb on its own but tend to prescribe a formulation that usually consists of four or five herbs for each individual case I see. This takes into account the animal’s unique needs and any potential contraindications for particular herbs. Here, you’ll notice that I do not supply any information on brands or doses, and this is because Westie owners need to discuss any of their dog’s health issues with their vet first.

Calendula (Calendula offinialis) Parts used: flowers Potential actions: antiseptic, assists detoxification, anti-inflammatory, reduces/ relieves smooth muscle pain, and healing.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) Parts used: dried flowering heads Potential actions: relieves flatulence and soothes intestinal spasm and pain, reduces nervous tension, tones down allergic responses, anti-inflammatory, healing.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Parts used: roots and leaves Potential actions: tonic for the liver and digestive system

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_586117580

PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_1778895299

NUTRITION

Calendula (Calendula offinialis)

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) Parts used: roots Potential actions: soothing effect on all mucous membranes, healing

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) Parts used: seeds Potential actions: liver support/protection, soothing effect on all mucous membranes, antioxidant

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Image by Вилина Петрова from Pixabay

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) N.B. use decaffeinated Parts used: young leaves Potential actions: antioxidant, possibly anti-cancer

PHOTO CREDIT green tea supplied by Hana Kim of Pixabay

NUTRITION

Green tea (Camellia sinensis)

9 10

PHOTO CREDIT Stingy Nettle by Hans Braxmeier of Pixabay

NUTRITION

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Nettle (Urtica dioica) Parts used: leaf, root, seed Potential actions: anti-inflammatory, diuretic, reduces allergic responses Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Parts used: dried rhizome Potential actions: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, liver protectant, possible anti-cancer

Shelley Doxey is a veterinary surgeon who runs her own practice, Holistic Veterinary Care. For more information, visit: www.shelleydoxey.co.uk

A DV E RTO RI A L

THE TOP FIVE BENEFITS OF TURMERIC FOR DOGS BY DR TOM SHURLOCK OF THE GOLDEN PASTE COMPANY

The rhizome of turmeric contains many bioactive compounds, including ranges of terpenoids, curcuminoids, curcumoids and pectic polysaccharides, all of which may impact on dog vitality. Although curcumin is often quoted as being the most important component, its antioxidative properties are complemented and enhanced by over 230 bioactive compounds. Turmeric is known to be safe for dogs and, when its absorption and bioavailability is stabilised, it has positive benefits over a number of situations. Skin & Coat Health The most obvious sign of a healthy dog is a shiny coat. However, the actual mechanisms providing this are complex and dependent on the status of

the skin. Although the skin is regarded as a physical barrier of dead cells, it is actually a dynamic active system that combats all manners of attack from biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors. The initial impact of these attacks invokes a localised inflammatory response releasing oxidative cues.

protective layer over the skin and coat. The terpenoids also have the function of reducing the ability of ectoparasites, such as ticks, to attach to the hairs and so help reduce infestations. Likewise, they also function to reduce fungal attachments. In short dietary turmeric supports the skin’s ability to protect the dog from external stresses.

Turmeric contains a range of antioxidative bioactive materials, including curcuminoids and terpenes that interact within the oxidation/inflammation cycles, helping to reduce the generation of inflammatory cytokines, maintaining the integrity of the skin’s barrier function. At the same time turmeric’s essential oils (actually terpenoids), secreted with the body’s sebum help provide a

Osteoarthritis Bone problems, especially in the articular and hip joints, are a major cause of premature terminations in dogs. An otherwise healthy dog can suffer from joint pain and immobility, which needs medication or euthanasia. A major pathway of joint degeneration is through oxidative stress. Wear and tear leads to inflammation, causing the suppression of antioxidative

Westies & Besties - September 2021

A D V E RTO RI AL

enzymes and the stimulation of oxidative enzymes, leading to the suppression of collagen synthesis – a key component of the cartilage coating bones. At the same time inflammatory cues and oxidative stress act directly to breakdown collagen resulting in cartilage damage, which in turn leads to osteoarthritis. The key components of turmeric, especially curcumin, have been shown to have various functions. Curcumin supports the synthesis of the antioxidative enzymes SOD & GTP, whilst reducing the oxidative NOS, those enzymes that are involved in collagen stasis. It also acts as a free radical scavenger, and reduces lipid peroxidation, both systems that are involved in collagen breakdown. As such, curcumin can help support the maintenance of cartilage, a key element in joint health. Activity What people tend not to realise is that hard exercise is not only damaging to joints but also can impact directly on the muscles involved. And, of course, dogs love to run; and various types of exercise can impact on muscle integrity. We know that exercise can lead to aching muscles and a feeling of weakness, and there is a twofold reason for this. Firstly, hard exercise can lead to the build-up of lactic acid – this is a result of burning energy as glucose where there is insufficient oxygen to progress down the main energic pathway. This gives aches. Secondly, exercise dissolves the protein in the muscle which needs time to recover; this is the weakness. Both mechanisms, although perfectly natural, and only require time for recovery generate inflammation. As a bonus, in the older animal there is a general “inflamm-aging” – a term used for inflammation due just to living longer!

Regular activity may cause a build-up of inflammatory cues. Inflammation is a natural defence mechanism in the body, protecting and ring-fencing vulnerable systems or areas until repair or maintenance is achieved. Where the system may fail is if chronic inflammation occurs and the cycle never reaches the anti-inflammatory phase. Turmeric, with its terpenoids (essential oils) and curcuminoids can support the cycle in the anti-inflammatory phase and so help the body control inflammation more efficiently. In the case of activity this leads to less inflammatory dysfunction around activity, improved recovery times and, in the case of energy release, supports insulin sensitivity. Microbiome In Eastern folk medicine turmeric was used as a digestive product to keep the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) healthy and running efficiently. The GIT is an amazingly complex and complicated organ, interacting with a varied microbial population (the microbiotica) along its entire and changing length. The whole system is known as the microbiome. Problems are derived from what the dog eats – leading to possible ulceration, constipation or diarrhoea, to ingestion of pathogens and toxins; any of these will cause disruption to the microbiotica and this can cause illness. Across the plant kingdom phenolics are part of their mechanism to protect themselves against bacteria. Curcumin appears particularly effective against many pathogens, as well as E. coli, clostridia and listeria. Linked with the ability of turmeric’s pectic component to help stimulate the protective mucus lining of the gut, its antioxidative property interacts

with prostaglandin production that helps reduce ulcerogenic agents in the duodenum; turmeric has a positive impact on the microbiome. Finally, curcumin has been shown to help maintain tight junctions in the gut wall, which is important in reducing the absorption of complex toxin structures. Wellbeing Certain aspects of wellbeing have been touched upon; the gut is the major immune system of the dog. Areas, such as Peyer’s Patches house immunological mechanisms that are the first line of defence against any perceived threat. These may be allergens, toxins, pathogens, some waste products from the microbiotica, and even cancer cells. Peyer’s Patches release macrophages that engulf these alien “invaders” whilst releasing inflammatory cytokines. As with these situations turmeric components interact within the oxidative/ inflammatory cues that help support the immunomodulatory mechanisms that counteract attacks against the body. Further, throughout the body turmeric components, acting as antioxidants help maintain normal metabolic function against the negative effects of inefficient biochemical reactions. In short, turmeric supports wellbeing by helping the body achieve optimum function. Turmeric contains components that have a wide variety of metabolic actions but, in simple terms, help the body’s natural support and repair mechanisms. As such, turmeric is an ideal supplement for any life situation for dogs.

Bioavailable turmeric supplements for dogs are available from thegoldenpastecompany.com

A DV E RTO RI A L

TACKLING YOUR DOG’S HEALTH CHALLENGES THE NATURAL WAY As a dog owner watching your canine bestie struggle with unpleasant, unwanted and sometimes debilitating symptoms can be disheartening. There’s no doubt, itching, skin flareups, digestive issues and stiff joints are far from fun and a million miles away from how nature intended your dog to live life. Finding the best way to help can often feel baffling. Your vet has likely advocated steroids, medications, hypoallergenic kibbles etc., which all seem to help. Apart from the “side effects”, of course. And, what happens if you stop the medications? Because let’s face it, vet’s bills are expensive; often, the symptoms return, right?

ensure our products support our canine customers to thrive, resolving physical complaints at the source.

I have some excellent news for you. Many conditions can be helped and often eliminated through choosing the right diet!

There is no doubt certain ailments have become far too prevalent amongst our canine population. The good news is dietary change is the number one component influencing reduction of these types of symptoms, so no more expensive vets bills!

The cornerstone to a dog’s health is ensuring the right balance of micronutrients and macronutrients are consumed. In the human world, ancient healing modalities such as Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine have used diet for centuries to treat and prevent health conditions, focusing on utilising fruits, herbs, oils and lifestyle practices to support healing. In modern times Functional Medicine (www. ifm.org/functional-medicine/what-is-functionalmedicine/) offers a modern perspective to healthcare based on these traditional approaches, whilst also combining learnings from new scientific studies that provide further evidence of what the ancient teachings knew all along. The functional medicine approach knows when the body presents symptoms, regardless of what type, this indicates a deeper issue. Medications and pharmaceuticals treat the symptom, not the cause. Therefore the solution is to help resolve issues from the root through diet and lifestyle change. And It is no different for our dogs. At Prodog Raw, we’ve supported countless customers to tackle the root cause of their dog’s symptoms, the natural way. We work closely with holistic, pro-raw vets and canine nutritionists to

A fresh raw, quality natural diet is the foundation. Our customers report improvements in many conditions: reduced itch, improved digestion, better quality stools, fewer odours, more freedom of movement, better energy, shinier coats simply by switching from highly processed foods. Science evidences why. Fresh, natural foods, species-appropriate ingredients support a dog’s physiology. Dogs are designed to eat meat, bone and offal. Their digestive systems are set up perfectly to process these foods, meaning the vital vitamins, minerals and nutrients they deliver are transported throughout the body, directly to the cells that need them, without stress or strain. When you feed your dog non-species appropriate foods, environmental toxins are ingested, stress is inflicted on the body and chemicals (pharmaceuticals, additives, preservatives) are consumed over time; this will impact the body’s ability to function effectively. Oxidation takes place, the gut environment is affected, which leads to systemic inflammation; then what manifests is a whole range of weird and not so wonderful symptoms. Although switching to raw food will help drastically, extra nutritional reinforcement can also be

Westies & Besties - September 2021

A D V E RTO RI AL

introduced through supplementation. The body is a fantastic system; when given a chance, by fueling with the right vitamins and minerals, it will recharge, restore and heal; precisely what it is designed to do. Not all supplements are made equally, though. The key to effective supplementation is bioavailability. Meaning how easily absorbed by the body they are. It’s widely acknowledged nutrients from natural sources are far more bioavailable; the body

ProDog Flexx works by targeting the root of joint issues, inflammation. As with all our supplements, Flexx is an advanced high-specification blend formulated using species-appropriate nutraceuticals and superfoods to ensure optimum bioavailability.

recognises them and knows exactly how to absorb and where to distribute them. Synthetic supplements simply don’t have the same effect. Mother Nature just can’t be replicated in manmade form.

It is designed to assist the body’s natural recovery mechanisms, supporting joints, ligaments and muscles. It works by promoting the body’s natural formation of keratin, collagen and elastin, all of which adds flexibility, tone and strength to a dog’s bones and joints. Flexx supports reduction of inflammatory response, reinforces the immune system, promotes superior brain and gut function and delivers essential nourishment which enhances skin and coat conditioning.

This is where ProDog Raw can help. Alongside our range of fresh, raw meal options we formulated a range of supplements specifically for dogs, made from 100% natural ingredients each selected to complement one another and be easily absorbed by a canine’s body. We’ve selected two to share with you, Flexx and Protect, both particularly helpful in tackling conditions common for West Highland Terrier breeds.

So, there you have it. Two of the most prevalent health challenges facing dogs today and two ways to begin tackling them the natural way. If you would like your ‘Westie Bestie’ to experience the natural nutrition effect, then ProDog expert feeding advisors can guide you on where to start. Alternatively, consulting with a holistic or pro-raw vet for more in-depth advice will allow you to dovetail your dog’s diet with veterinary support.

Protect Following discussions with countless customers concerned about their dog’s allergy symptoms, we decided to create a product to help. This unique formula is a blend of powerful superfood and nutraceutical ingredients known to support gut healing, therefore, giving long-lasting relief to many dogs suffering from skin issues and allergic response.

For more information on ProDog, email info@prodograw.com or call 01482 273888.

When treating allergy symptoms at the root, there is a standard protocol. Remove, Replace, Repopulate, Repair and Rebalance. In simple terms, the first step is to identify the foods or substances triggering a reaction. Once pinpointed, they can be removed from the diet; steps are then taken to support gut healing, resolving the problem at the core. This is where Protect comes in, working to help replace nutritional deficit and repopulate the gut’s beneficial bacteria with superfood and probiotic ingredients. The perfect complement to an elimination diet. Flexx Joint deterioration, cartilage damage and arthritis; another growing epidemic in the canine world. At ProDog, we are passionate that ALL dogs deserve freedom of movement regardless of age. So we formulated a support supplement called Flexx to target and support joint health and mobility.

WE LLB E I N G

Are You Passing on Stress to your Dog? IT’S VITAL TO WORK ON YOUR OWN EMOTIONS TO HELP THE WELLBEING OF YOUR WESTIE

Above: Rachel Bolton

BY RACHEL BOLTON

Your dog is sharing your physical, emotional, and spiritual life on a very deep level. You cannot bottle your emotions up convinced that your dog will remain unaffected by what you are feeling. Imagine that they have an internal bucket to collect stress. You might not affect them in the beginning but eventually, if your stress levels remain high for some time, their bucket will become full until they are overwhelmed by it all. This will show itself through emotional and physical disease or behavioural problems. They are continuously mirroring back to you so much of your inner world. You are a divine being that is all energy, and you experience your life depending on what frequency you resonate with. We believe our bodies and the world around us to be solid but, we are a moving mass of consciousness. Think of yourself as a beacon that is continuously broadcasting who and how you are. The Universe then responds to that. If you are stressed about something, you send out signals that say these are my beliefs of what my world is like, it then becomes your reality. Therefore, we need to become aware of our deep-rooted belief systems and more than anything we need to celebrate the goodness of all that we are.

Here are a few ways to moderate your stress and to work through belief systems to support you and your dog through joy. • Avoid the news. Constant TV, radio, and social media will only validate your fears and add to the momentum of your stress. • Feed both you and your Westie a natural diet, organic when possible. Enjoy foods that are full of nutrition and water including fruit and vegetables. Think of food as a vibration that feeds you both on an energetic level rather than ingesting food just to satiate an appetite. As well, reduce heavy, and greasy food. • Keep hydrated every day. Drink at least 10 cups of good quality water on top of all other drinks that you might consume. The water helps you embody more light and to let go of all that no longer serves you. Treat your dog to a ceramic bowl rather than a metal one as the water is affected by the aluminum. Also, refresh your dog’s water bowl at least three times a day.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Image supplied by Rachel Bolton

WE LLB E I N G

• Avoid stimulants such as coffee, caffeinated tea, alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs, and sugar. Ensure your dog does not consume junk food. • Sit in contemplation with your dog or meditate every day to align to your higher self. • Take walks in wild places allowing you and your Westie to connect with the wildness of Mother Earth. Take off your shoes and even put your hands on the earth, sit next to a tree and feel into the oneness and joy of life. • Try to get at least an hour of sunshine and daylight on as much of your bodies as possible. • Regularly experience rivers, oceans, or lakes, as they help to clear your mind, body, and spirit of denser energies. A shoreline is very powerful place, so sitting on the edge of a river or near the ocean is perfect. • Think of your home as sacred. Create a beautiful, clear, and clean place for you both to live and thrive in. • Be as consciously creative as you can be in a day. This means whatever you are doing, from washing the dishes to painting a picture consciously reach for your higher self all the time.

• Keep a daily journal to help you get out of your head and into the heart of the matter. • Keep a dream journal as it will help you connect with all that you are - a multidimensional being living out many lives at once, all of which can support your life in the here and now. • Ensure you are deep breathing every day. You can lay on your back with your dog or just sit by their side. You will probably hear them sigh as you start to relax more and more. • Use your imagination daily. Maybe create a vision book where you can paste images of your dreams and desires. Add to it all the time and look at it daily. It will help to keep you both in a joyful place. • Write out your deep-seated beliefs and start to work through them. Letting go of guilt and shame are two big ones! This will help to transform the lives of you and your dog. • Watch your thoughts, words, and actions in any given moment and continuously ask yourself, is this a light thought or a dense thought? To find out more about Rachel’s works with both people and animals please visit: www.rachelbolton.life

• Ensure you and your dog have clean bedding at least once a week. Energy needs to be cleared and cleansed all the time. • Use eco-friendly cleaning products to nurture your home and to support the health of yourself, your dog, and Mother Earth. • Celebrate your strengths and successes in life. Bring in the frequency of times and events that have worked out for you. Memories of when you have worked through obstacles and when you have felt relaxed. This all helps to change your frequency which in turn supports your dog. • Self-love. The more you accept all that you are in any given moment you support the spiritual evolution that is going on within and without. Your dog will be super happy with this one!

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Image by Jesper Rasmussen from Pixabay

WE LLB E I N G

F E AT U R E

Leaders of the Pack PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_1299320005

DR JOE INGLIS OF VET CHEF AND DR BEN SWEENEY OF VIDIVET ARE PUSHING THE TECHNOLOGICAL BOUNDARIES OF HOW THEY OFFER THEIR VET SKILLS TO DOG OWNERS AND WHAT’S MORE, THEY ARE BRINGING THE VETERINARY WORLD TRULY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY BY DOING SO

BY KIM LATHAM

DR JOE INGLIS OF VET CHEF

Is the Vet Chef app free? Yes, the VetChef app is completely free – just head over to www.vetchef.com to sign up and get your dog’s personalised recipes. As well as the recipes, we are also developing Buddy, the world’s first fresh pet food maker which is like a bread machine but for home-cooked dog food. It’s going to make the whole process of cooking batches of food for your dog super-easy – just load in the ingredients and Buddy will chop, mix, and cook to create the perfect meals for your dog. We hope to be launching Buddy later this year or early in 2022.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Joe Inglis with Pip

How did Vet Chef come about and why? I’ve been interested in home-cooking for pets for many years - I wrote a recipe book for dogs called ‘Doggie Dinners’ back in 2006 – but it was only after leaving tails.com in 2015 that I started looking at it more seriously. I realised that home-cooking could allow pet parents to feed their dogs a wonderful, fresh, and healthy diet that could be completely personalised to their individual needs, but also that there were several hurdles preventing more people from trying this type of feeding. The main barriers were a lack of easily available nutritional expertise, and the hassle factor, so I set up VetChef to provide solutions to these problems and help more people and their dogs enjoy the benefits of healthy home-cooked food.

You also founded Vet’s Kitchen and Tails.com both of which include kibble. Do you think Kibble is a healthy food? Many people are turning to a raw food diet. I’ve been involved in the pet food world for many years, including with Vet’s Kitchen and tails.com, and I think that there are advantages and disadvantages of all the different ways of feeding our dogs. Good quality kibble can be fine, and many dogs thrive on foods such as Vet’s Kitchen, and it is definitely more convenient than home-prepared diets - and raw food can also work well for some dogs. But personally, I now believe that of all of these ways of feeding, freshly home cooked food offers the best overall level of nutritional quality, and this way of feeding is set to become mainstream over the next few years. Why is it important for vets to become more innovative? Like any professionals and businesspeople, vets need to move with the times or be left behind. A good example is the Vet’s Klinic practice in Swindon that I set up in 2013 – this practice was the first in the UK to offer online booking and access to medical records and pioneered an open and transparent approach to veterinary and customer care which has become much more widespread in the years since it launched. Innovation and technology can play a massive role in improving the way in which we care for our pets, just as it does in human health care and nutrition. As amazing as technology can be, is there a danger that a vet launching a business loses credibility as a vet? Personally, I don’t think so – nearly all vets in the UK are in business anyway, as most practices

are private enterprises, so it’s normal for vets to combine clinical work with business.

F E AT U R E

As a vet, how important is it that Westie owners feed a healthy natural diet? Over my years as a vet I’ve seen countless Westies, many of them suffering from the typical issues that affect the breed such as atopic dermatitis, and I’ve also seen how effective a role healthy nutrition can play in helping address these issues. So, I’m convinced that feeding a healthy, fresh diet is one of the key ways in which Westie owners can help promote long-term health in their dogs. In addition to the general benefits that fresh food can bring, for Westies with diet-related skin problems, home-made diets also make it very easy to exclude specific ingredients that might be triggering problems – and the VetChef platform helps with this by allowing you to select which ingredients to exclude from your dog’s recipes.

Do you still have patients or are you focusing on your business? I haven’t been in clinical practice for a few years now, since leaving Vet’s Klinic. Much as I enjoyed the work, and particularly interacting with the patients and their owners, I felt that I wasn’t able to keep up my skills to the required level when spending so much time away from the surgery working on other projects. So, reluctantly, I hung up my stethoscope and made the decision to use my veterinary experience to help pets in another way, through nutrition rather than medicine and surgery. Tell us three things you’ve learnt from Pip! Pip is a lovely dog who has taught me a lot since she came into our lives just over a year ago, including: 1. Deer must smell very good to dogs – as soon as Pip catches scent of one, she’s off on the chase (but thankfully never actually catches her quarry!) 2. Communication between dogs is very complex – watching Pip ‘talk’ to other dogs with her body language is fascinating but can be very hard to follow and predict whether the outcome of any particular meeting will be playful wags or curled lips and teeth! 3. Feeding a fresh home-cooked diet has been as good for me as it has been for her – the process of planning, cooking, and serving Pip two fresh meals a day has been surprisingly enjoyable for me, as well as being wonderful for Pip who absolutely loves her meals. There’s something amazing about being able to repay her unconditional love with a dish of delicious, home-made food that you just don’t get when scooping up kibbles from a bag How difficult is it to create bespoke meals for dogs you can’t see? We’ve designed a really smart system that takes all of the data about a dog – age, breed, weight, lifestyle etc – and uses this information to select and then adjust the recipes in the database. So, it’s been a massive amount of work to create, but now the system works really well, and creates bespoke recipes in milliseconds!

F E AT U R E

How rewarding has it been creating your dog food businesses? I’ve found my career in pet food to be just as rewarding if not more so than my veterinary career, and I feel that I’ve definitely achieved more in terms of promoting animal wellbeing and health through nutrition that I could ever have done working ever day in a surgery.

PHOTO CREDIT Buddy, the world’s first fresh pet food maker and supplied by Dr Joe Ingli

What kind of food/recipes would you recommend for Westies? With their predisposition towards skin problems, recipes rich in omega 3 oils, such as fish are great for Westies. Other ingredients that can play a positive role in skin health include Brewer’s yeast, rosemary (with high levels of vitamin A and antiallergy properties), and fresh vegetables of all kinds.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Ben Sweeney

F E AT U R E

DR BEN SWEENEY OF VIDIVET

How did VidiVet come about and why? I have been working in the veterinary profession for over 20 years now, and with pet numbers growing and vet numbers stagnating, access to veterinary services has become increasingly challenging as well as expensive with the corporatisation of the profession. Many vets are no longer open 24/7 and out of hours services are extremely expensive, but if people have a question about their pet overnight, what are they to do? There are so many reasons that explain why people go to the likes of google or social media to ask questions about their pets, but the problem is that none of those answers are specific to those people, their pets or that set of circumstances. So, we set up VidiVet to give people access to a platform that allows them to ask any question about their pet 24/7 and get a video answer from a real vet that is specific to them, their pet and their circumstances with clear guidelines and advice in less time than it takes to make a cup of tea! Did your consultations increase during Covid-19? Well, the obvious answer to this is yes, but that is mostly because we hadn’t launched VidiVet to the public before covid hit! We have been

working away at it since September 2019 and were still conducting interviews with pet people at that stage: what was fascinating was the almost immediate change in approach to how they got advice! At VidiVet people have two options, one of them is like a new evolution of a chatbot, but rather than getting an answer from a bot, you get a real answer from a vet in minutes. Then, if you or we feel you need a face-to-face consult, we book you in a video meeting straight away. Over 90% of people’s questions can be answered without even needing a video consult-something that many other services charge over £20 for or if they are free, tend to mean you are leaving a footprint on your pets medical records from an insurance company. Do you think vet clinics will turn more and more to online consultations in the future? I think the reality is that vet clinics won’t switch to digital, and the reason for that is simple: vet clinics are there to deliver the physical point of care, which is something that animals will always need every pet will need a vet at some time during their time on this planet. However, what we are seeing is that by using VidiVet, it means that we can help avoid unnecessary trips to the vet and offer people peace of mind form home, so we can alleviate the

F E AT U R E

pressure on vets and nurses in the clinics and free them up to deliver excellent care to the patients who really need it the most. For me, the future involves a hybrid of using the digital service to help in the early stages and redirect anything that needs physical attention into the clinic in an informed manner so people with pets know what samples to take with them, what tests they may expect and what costs they may face. It is all about improving the journey for you and your pet and making it as smooth and stress free as possible. How many vets work for VidiVet? Do customers get to talk to the same vet each time? We currently have a small core team of vets which is key as we learn more about our business and customers every day, however, we have over 300 who want to come and work with us which is very encouraging as it shows they also get the mission and why and how we can help.

Our premium package means we work with you to focus on the specific things that you have concerns about as well as some specific general health monitoring factors like how much water they drink, regular weight checks and behavioural issues etc. The important thing is that we recognise and work on what matters to you and your pet! Why is it important for vets to become more innovative? Pet ownership, or pet parenting, has boomed in recent years, but vet numbers have stayed roughly the same as well as having high levels of burnout and churn from the profession, meaning that we have lost and continue to lose many experienced vets. The risk of this is that it compromises the expertise available to people and their pets in future. By offering innovative solutions like VidiVet, we only employ experienced vets and nurses, and we give them a way to make being a vet work with family life and allowing them to find a way to utilise and help others with their expertise, rather than

PHOTO CREDIT Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay

For every question people ask, the same team member will talk to them all the way through and for those on our premium membership, any consultations will always be with the same vet if they wish. It is important however, that we have some team members who are brilliant in certain areas like behaviour and nutrition, so we may sometimes ask them to speak to you as they are our in-house experts on the topic you need help with.

For £10 a month, dog owners receive ‘bespoke health tracking’ among other perks. Please explain what this is. Well, it is just that: bespoke. So, at VidiVet we believe that every pet is individual - it isn’t a one shoe fits all platform. For some people, they may want to focus on weight loss, others may have arthritic dogs, others with skin disease...the list goes on.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

As amazing as technology can be, is there a danger that a vet launching a business loses credibility as a vet? I perhaps have a bias on this and would say no. I am a vet, and my expertise is with me no matter where in the world I am. VidiVet and the tech behind it just makes it possible for me to use that expertise to help people from anywhere in the world, not just from behind a consult table. The reality is that you can never be all things to all people. Some people will never embrace tech-and that is fine! We engage with an audience who have embraced tech into their lives. We have embraced digital in human healthcare, and like so many other things, veterinary has followed close behind. Our vets will never replace physical vets, but we can actually bring veterinary expertise into that pet person’s journey sooner and potentially help them earlier than ever before by embracing the tech and showing them how easy it is to get a straightforward answer to any question! All of our team have hybrid careers, meaning that they still do physical vet work alongside the digital work which means we really can keep our fingers on the pulse. How difficult/easy is it to diagnose problems for dogs you see on video links? I think the first thing to highlight is that people don’t just use VidiVet for ‘problems’ - they can ask us literally anything, and it is often the things that they have felt in the past they couldn’t go to the vets with or didn’t want to waste their time with. When it comes to diagnosing any problems or giving you appropriate advice, the history, and the context that you give us is key - it won’t surprise you to know that, like in humans, a lot of the time, what we treat are symptoms. The joy with how VidiVet works is that it allows you to tell us everything you want to without being interrupted or being pressed for time. That history and background gives us the vast majority of what we need to know. Our video feature enables you to show us things that you need advice on and the text one allows you to write as much as you like.

Our answers are always clear and in plain and simple English, and what is more they are stored in the app so you can go back over them as many times as you like rather than when you leave a consult room and forget what has been said by the time you get home. All of this enables us to give you very clear guidance and set your expectations very easily with a clear action plan for whatever you have asked.

F E AT U R E

losing them from the profession altogether. If we don’t innovate and find new ways to support the ever-growing pet population, then the capabilities of the profession to cope in future are going to push all those who work in the industry to breaking point.

How rewarding has it been creating your businesses? Incredibly. And what has made it even more rewarding is seeing the feedback from people who have used VidiVet and knowing that it has improved things for them and made their lives easier. I have learnt infinitely more about pets and their people and how we can help them, now we just have to invite everyone to join us on the journey. For me the biggest take away has been that by asking questions about your own pet, you help other people with other pets. We can see common themes, common issues, make early alert warnings for things like food issues, infectious disease outbreaks, breed specific problems and so much more like inform you when your pet may be faced with different types of conditions. The possibilities are endless, but the most important thing is that while we find it rewarding, everyone else reaps the benefits of those rewards. How do your peers view your business? Fortunately, Rory and I are both relatively well connected in the veterinary profession, and people know us both and how we strive to do things not just for the benefit of the veterinary profession but also for the benefit of anyone with a pet. At the centre of everything we do is pet health and welfare, so they can really get behind us (and already have). We have received lots of encouragement and so many of our peers are chomping at the bit to get involved which is very exciting for us-it means we get to have a real community focused business where everyone sees the benefits and rewards. Of course, there are the odd naysayers, but you will always get that in any new venture that steers something in a new direction. Ultimately, this isn’t necessarily about our peers: it is very much about our customers and the people we serve. If we help them, and they are happy, then we are happy!

S U S TA I N A B I LI TY

Top Tips for New Pet Owners THE CEO OF BECO, GEORGE BRAMBLE, REVEALS HOW IT’S POSSIBLE TO BECOME AN ECO-FRIENDLY DOG OWNER WHILE ENJOYING THE TIME WITH YOUR PUP

Above: George Bramble

I really believe that having a pet is a wonderful opportunity. Pets bring us inordinate amounts of joy, can teach us valuable lessons, and are much needed and much-loved companions. Over the last 18 months, there has been a huge rise in the number of new pet owners, with 3.2 million people across the UK choosing a new pet to bring home. This is largely wonderful news for the pet community, but what new owners don’t always anticipate is the environmental footprint that pets can have on the planet. According to Amber McDaniel, from Sustainable Jungle, the average medium-size dog has an annual carbon footprint of 2.1 acres, or double that of driving a gas-guzzling 6,000 miles a year.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT Image by Sherry Galey from Pixabay

hen I was a little boy in the 1980s, we spent every holiday roaming around the Outer Hebrides, always with a dog or two in tow. They were a consistent part of my childhood, and I’m thrilled that my children Wilf, 5, and Martha, 2, are growing up with our black Labrador Tarka as a very much-loved part of our family.

PHOTO CREDIT Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay

S U S TA I N A B I LI T Y

PHOTO CREDIT Image by Amanda Arnason from Pixabay

S U S TA I N A B I LI TY

The good news is that over half of these new pet owners are classed as ‘millennials’ who are hugely clued up about their own environmental impact and tend to put sustainability at the heart of all their shopping decisions, and so it is vital we encourage these new pet owners to consider the planet as they spend time with their pets. I set up Beco 12 years ago with the aim of introducing caring for the planet to the world of pets: something that hadn’t really been considered back then. Nowadays people are far more accepting and clued up as to what we’re trying to do, and so I wanted to share my top tips for new pet owners on how to become an ecofriendly dog owner. There is nothing like the excitement of bringing a new puppy into your home. Days will be full of joy, watching them learn new things and becoming part of the family. We all want to make sure that our puppy has the best start in life, and so here are my suggestions on how to make sustainable choices for your pup. Get the right equipment Poop bags Choosing compostable dog poop bags helps reduce the environmental impact of cleaning up

after them. The bags strong enough to withstand even the biggest mess, just in case you need it! When you choose home compostable, they tend to be made from corn-starch and will completely biodegrade in any well managed compost heap. Just make sure you only use the compost to feed non-edible plants. If composting isn’t your thing, you can pick up some great alternatives made from recycled plastic, and make sure they’re all in recycled packaging too. Bedding Your pup needs somewhere comfortable to sleep in and a place to feel safe and protected. So, buying the right bed or crate is important. It’s best to get one that they can grow into, so make sure you are factoring in how much they typically grow depending on their breed. After you have bought your bed, fill it with blankets. These are ideal for ensuring that your pup feels cosy when they rest. Collar & Lead Getting a good-fitting collar and lead is important for the safety of your puppy. You should also get a tag just in case they get lost. Nowadays you can get some really intricate ones handcrafted by small, independent brands.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

Choose the best food We all know that the animal agricultural industry produces immense amounts of methane gas. What most people don’t know, however, is that pet food alone accounts for 25% of its impact. The most sustainable option you can do for dinnertime is to make your dog’s food yourself. However, that requires the privilege of time and energy, which many of us simply don’t have. So, the next best (and easiest) thing is to make sustainable feeding choices by switching to sustainable dog food brands. Check the ingredients list on the back of every packet carefully: just like with the food you eat at home, we all want to make sure our dogs are eating real, whole ingredients that support canine health, without the typical preservatives and fillers found in standard dog food. At Beco we source our ingredients responsibly: largely from the UK and Europe to help keep our carbon footprint low. There is a big trend at the moment for giving your dog a meat free diet, so if you’re going to go down that route, do look for top-quality vegan ingredients like pumpkin, spinach, chickpeas, and kale – which will satiate your dogs hunger, and provide them with nourishing nutrients.

S U S TA I N A B I LI T Y

Dog bowls and mats A dog bowl is imperative – it’s also a good idea to buy a collapsible one that you can take travelling (now holidays are beginning to be allowed again!) We use bamboo to make our bowls. It grows up to 1m per day, requires no fertiliser and self-regenerates from its own roots reducing soil disturbance and carbon release when harvested. The advantages of using bamboo over something like plastic are pretty clear. Once you have bought a dog bowl for your pup, you should consider buying a mat too. Mealtimes can be messy having a mat will help to keep the bowl in one place and make clearing the food that overflows your excited puppy’s bowl quick and easy.

from Germany where the wild animals get to roam around freely, and their all-natural, foraged diet means that its meat is free the types of additives often seen in many farm-raised animals (hormones, antibiotics etc). Further to that, Wild boar is super healthy for dogs: higher in protein than common meats like beef or lamb, low in cholesterol, and contain zinc, iron, niacin, selenium, thiamine, and Vitamin B6 which help support everything from heart health and the immune system to cognitive function and a healthy metabolism. Have fun with your pup! Choosing pet toys that are designed to last and made from responsible materials will not only save you money in the short term and can be better for your dog in the long term. I always suggest buying a selection of strong dog toys. They need to be robust enough to endure your pup’s tugging and teething. Having a selection of toys to choose from makes sure that your puppy is entertained all day long. Importantly, they will take out their energy by chewing their toys instead of your shoes or cushions! By buying strong toys made out of recycled material, you are doing two good things for the planet: the strong toys mean you won’t have to replace them frequently, whilst using recycled or natural materials helps reduce the use of single-use synthetic materials that tend to have a greater environmental impact. This September, Beco is excited to be launching a new range of 11 different toys made from recycled materials, including a crocodile, kangaroo, puffin, and spider, which will be sure to provide hours of playful fun between you and your pup. George Bramble is the Founder of Beco and is also one of our panel of experts. For more information visit (www.becopets.com)

If you are giving your pup meat in their meals, make sure to choose recipes that are made with sustainably sourced meats like wild boar, tuna, and free-range turkey. At Beco we made the decision a few years ago to switch to wild boar, instead of commonplace beef and lamb, in our meat recipes – and in 2020 this reduced our carbon emissions by 484 tonnes. Wild boar is an incredible ingredient for dogs; we get ours

COMMUNITY

Top 10 Popular Raw Food Brands WHICH RAW FOOD FIRMS PROVED POPULAR WITH OVER 12,400 MEMBERS OF A UK-BASED WESTIE FACEBOOK GROUP? BY SUE MAKEPEACE

e recently ran a poll on the Westie Advice Group UK affectionately known as WAG. Our members (many of which feed their Westies a raw food diet,) were asked to reveal their favourite brand when it comes to price, quality, texture, ease of ordering, delivery costs and of course customer service. These are our member’s top 10 most popular brands in alphabetical order. Above: Sue Makepeace

PHOTO CREDIT bella and duke

BELLA AND DUKE bellaandduke.com Bella and Duke are a very up and coming raw dog food brand. There’s a good offer on their website of 50% off the first order, which is worth taking advantage of. A good selection of proteins are available so plenty to choose from. I believe they prefer customers to be on a subscription service, but this is easily cancelled at any time. Their raw dog food is a slightly chunkier mix, it’s packaged well and shipped overnight. Customer service is generally good, and they are easy to contact if you have any issues.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

COMMUNITY

PHOTO CREDIT jackwolf

PHOTO CREDIT honeys

PHOTO CREDIT benyfit natural

BENYFIT NATURAL Benyfitnatural.co.uk Benyfit was launched in 2014 by Ben Van Praagh who was passionate about feeding his dogs a fresh nutritious diet. The company has grown and now produces several tons a week at their factory in Sussex. There’s a good selection of proteins available in either 500g or 1kg tubs and it is delivered overnight by courier. They also have stockists around the country. It’s a chunky meaty mix for dogs. Customer service is good, and they often have offers for new customers.

HONEYS honeysrealdogfood.com Honeys are one of the original raw dog food companies, their products are free range, wild or certified organic, they pride themselves in only using British produce. They have a really good range and are always helpful on the phone. You pay a little bit more for Honeys, but it’s excellent quality. One of my go-to books is still the Honeys Natural Feeding Handbook for Dogs by Jonathan Self. If you haven’t read it, now’s the time!

JACK WOLF jackwolf.co Jack Wolf is 100% real food made using human grade ingredients. It is very user friendly, is a finer grind than other raw foods and has a fairly smooth consistency. It is delivered overnight by courier in 500g tubs. Their customer service is second to none and their website is easy to use, they have a standard £5 delivery charge for UK mainland. It’s so good you could eat it yourself, but it contains bone so not a good idea. There is a new customer discount on the sample packs. This is possibly my favourite food for my Westies.

PHOTO CREDIT lunaandme

COMMUNITY

LUNA & ME lunaandme.com Luna & Me offer a good range of five different proteins, it comes weighed into 100g patties (very convenient for some), they also have a puppy patty. There is an easy-to-use calculator on the website which is handy too. The packaging is recyclable, and the website states all ingredients are from local British suppliers. The website is very simple to use and offers lots of good information.

PHOTO CREDIT naturesmenu.

PHOTO CREDIT nakeddog

NAKED DOG nakeddog.co.uk Naked Dog is another newish raw dog food company that are from Suffolk. It’s quite a chunkier grind and occasionally the bone pieces are visible in the mix. I never have a problem with this food and my Westies loved it. Unfortunately, you can’t seem to buy it online, you must find a local stockist.

NATURES MENU naturesmenu.co.uk Natures Menu have a huge range of raw dog food that is freely available in most good pet shops. Suitable for dog owners that have little freezer space, this can be purchased regularly from local stockists. A good range of proteins including boar, goose and pheasant is available. The company has an easy-to-use website and food can be ordered online and delivered overnight by courier.

Westies & Besties - September 2021

PHOTO CREDIT nutriment PHOTO CREDIT paleo ridge

COMMUNITY

NUTRIMENT nutriment.co.uk Nutriment has a large range of different raw dog foods ranging from puppy weaning pastes to a support range for dogs that need a little extra help with their health. The range comes in 200g packs up to 1.4kg chubs for larger dogs or multiple dog households. There are several stockists around the country so it’s easy to buy, or delivery is overnight by courier. They have offers on their website for a starter pack as well. Customer service is good, and they are easy to reach on the phone. Another of my favourites.

PALEO RIDGE paleoridge.co.uk Paleo Ridge is another raw dog food with a good reputation, the website is great and easy to use. Plenty of protein choices, pack sizes, and special diets available. It’s a bit chunkier than some foods, but some dogs prefer it. They are easy to contact either by email or phone. Nutriment, Paleo Ridge and Honeys are very approachable and are always happy to discuss any special dietary needs.

PHOTO CREDIT prodograw.

PRODOG RAW prodograw.com Another well-made raw dog food with plenty of variety including novel proteins. Available in 500g or 1kg packs. Lovely easy to use website with lots of good information regarding the benefits of feeding raw. They also offer a good range of treats and other products. It’s nicely packaged and is delivered overnight by courier.

Sue Makepeace is the Founder of the Westie Advice Group UK (WAG).

RECIPE

A HEARTY MEAL BY DR JOE INGLIS

A RECIPE FULL OF OMEGA 3 OILS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY WESTIE SKIN

PHOTO CREDIT Joe Inglis, Vetchef

This is a great, easy to cook recipe which is ideal for Westies as it contains plenty of omega 3 oils from the fish and is rich in polyphenolic flavonoid antioxidants from parsley, all of which can help to promote healthy skin.

FISH & RICE WITH PARSLEY For one meal for a typical Westie (based on feeding twice a day)

most of the water has been absorbed (add more during cooking if it becomes too dry).

125g Cod fillets 20g Tuna (tinned in brine) 65g Rice (white) 20g Courgette 2g Parsley (fresh) 50ml Water

Allow to cool thoroughly before serving with the parsley as a garnish.

Dr Joe Inglis is the founder of VetChef. For more information visit www.vetchef.com

Chop the cod and courgette into chunks suitable for your dog and then combine all the ingredients except the parsley together in a large pan. Bring to a simmer, stirring regularly and cook gently for around 20 minutes until the rice is cooked and

Westies & Besties - September 2021

WALK EASY PERSONAL ATTACK ALARMS Police and Security advisers recommend the use of a personal attack alarm to minimise the threat of dog thefts. Features available Extremely loud UV dye DNA Trace Foul Odour Strobe Light Torch

About Walk Easy • Reputation for Quality and Excellence • Worldwide sales over 7 million and counting • Additional Features, handheld, portable, discreet & lightweight Be safe and be confident with your Walk Easy Personal Alarm. We are endorsed by: