ZOOPHARMACOGNOSY
ZOOPHARMACOGNOSY- SELF HEALING OR SNAKE OIL?
Zoopharmacognosy is the latest buzz in the complementary treatment of cats and dogs. There are courses in it for pet owners, and some claiming to certify you to offer the service to others. There is also letter in the Vet Times encouraging vets to get involved. So, is this a treatment you should consider with your pets?
WHAT IS ZOOPHARMACOGNOSY?
Zoopharmacognosy means animals self selecting medicinal plants or minerals to cure themselves of illness. Scientists have observed several animal species using naturally occurring plants or minerals when unwell. The two most commonly cited cases are that of elephants with diarrhoea seeking out a special type of clay to eat and sick chimpanzees eating bitter and mildly toxic leaves to treat parasite infestations. In our domestic animals we see cats and dogs chewing grass; as this often induces vomiting it has been suggested they eat the grass when feeling sick to help remove toxins or parasites from the gut. otherwise evidence for this type of medicine in companion animals is largely anecdotal. Yes, rabbits will often choose dandelion leaves over grass when they have gut stasis, but we can’t know if they are seeking out the gut stimulating bitters in the herb, or whether being offered a favourite food is why they choose it. There is also a story of a worm infested dog choosing an onion over and apple and never touching an onion again; was he really trying to rid himself of worms, or did he make a bad choice and decide onions weren’t tasty? How did he know that the dose of onion he took was safe (as onions are quite toxic to dogs).
IS ZOOPHARMACOGNOSY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE?
This is an important question and hinges on our domestic pets still being able to detect toxic plants from safe plants, and knowing when to take mildly toxic plants and in what doses. The experience of most general practice vets would be that domestic pets aren’t that good at it; we’ve all treated dogs, cats, and small pets which have eaten toxic house or garden plants, unsuitable vegetables, toxic substrates such as cocoa mulch, and garden bulbs. Part of the safety element relies on the therapist only offering safe plants, and then knowing what dose is suitable for the animal. Another element is the form in which herbs are presented; we know that horses won’t ingest toxic ragwort when it is growing (unless they are starving) but readily ingest it in hay. Plants may be safe whole and dried, but their refined essential oils much less safe, especially for cats. Finally herb quality must be considered; not all suppliers check the quality of raw ingredients and there have been cases of contamination and substitution, even in big high street brands!
If zoopharmacognosy is practised then it should only be offered by experienced trained herbalists. The many courses are as yet unregulated making it hard for owners to know what level of understanding a practitioner has. The practitioner needs an in depth knowledge of herbal medicines, animal physiology, and conventional drugs- as many herbs interact with conventional medication. We feel that non-veterinary practitioners should work under the supervision of, and on referral from a vet (as with other valued paraprofessionals such as physios, behaviourists, hydrotherapists and massage therapists). Sadly the Vet Times letter suggests that Zoopharmacognosists don’t have to have veterinary referral (an issue we are clarifying with the RCVS).
In conclusion, whilst we are BIG fans of herbal medicine, and find it effective in a wide range of cases we will continue to recommend that you seek out a diagnosis by a vet, and that any herbal treatments are prescribed by a vet trained in herbal medicine. If you do decide to see a Zoopharmacognosy practitioner ensure your vet is involved in case of any reaction or interactions.
HOME ZOOPHARMACOGNOSY
Despite our concerns about this therapy (which is in it’s infancy and may prove useful with more research and safety considerations) there is some fun you can have with self selection at home! Plant a range of tasty treats for your pets to nibble on if the fancy takes them…this is especially useful for indoor cats and rabbits.
Rabbits and guinea pigs: try dandelion, chicory, fennel, mint, and french marigold.
Cats: try valerian, catnip (these two have opposite effects so don’t plant them too close!), lavender, and cat grass (a type of oat).
Dogs: try fennel, mint, parsely, lavender, cat grass, and cleavers (goose grass).
ANNUAL HOLIDAY
GONE ON HOLIDAY!
Please be advised that we will be closed for a long overdue holiday from 16th to 26th May.
For non-urgent enquiries text or email and we will deal with your request on 26th May.
For urgent matters please contact your primary care vet.
HERB OF THE DAY
CHAMOMILE IS A WONDER HERB!
HERB OF THE DAY: CHAMOMILE (Matricaria recutita)
This is one of our favourite herbs! A European native, a common garden plant, and a common garden escapee. You might think it’s a pretty feeble sort of herb; something people have as a tea when they don’t want the caffeine…but we think it’s something of a wonder herb.
CHAMOMILE FOR ANXIETY, BELLY ACHE AND ITCHY SKIN
Taken internally chamomile can reduce anxiety, without excess sedation. It is great for calming inflamed guts and reducing flatulence and gut cramps and it may help reduce some skin allergies.
Externally chamomile can soothe irritated skin and be used as an eyewash in mild conjunctivitis.
Like all herbs it’s not totally benign; some people and animals can be allergic to chamomile and it’s relations.
Fun fact: chamomile oil is blue!
ON-LINE MIRACLE CURES
ON-LINE CURES FOR WORMS, FLEAS, CANCER…
The internet is an amazing place…so much information, and so easy to buy anything at the click of a button. But it has it’s dangers.
Imagine your dog is due for worming…you usually get some stuff from the vet but it’s quite expensive and you aren’t heading in to town so you look online. First you find your usual wormer available from an internet pharmacy. You check the pharmacy is properly registered in the UK, and that you don’t need a prescription, and you’re just about to pay when….
You notice an article saying how bad chemical wormers are for pets. You read it and it’s scary stuff! One dog died, another had fits. So now you start looking for a more natural approach…something herbal. There are lots to choose from and they are all quite cheap, come with glowing testimonials and there is no mention of side effects. Great! Let’s order some….
Or maybe your cat has been diagnosed with cancer and the vet says there is nothing that can be done other than supportive care…but a quick internet search reveals several herbal tonics with great reviews…
HERBAL REMEDY QUALITY, SAFETY, AND EFFECTIVENESS
Before you put in your credit card details have a really good look at the products. The manufacturer should be able to tell you what herbs are in the product, at what strength. They should be talking about amounts of active chemicals, not just how much dry or fresh herb was used as herbs can vary in strength from season to season. Can the producer tell you how they quality check the herbs and where the herbs come from? Many herbs are rare in the wild and must be farmers of collected under strict controls, other herbs look similar to plants which are toxic or have no medicinal actions. Has the product been tested to show it is safe and effective? Beware of simple testimonials; “I use ‘herbal worm prevent’ on my dog and he never has worm!” may be true…but as most worm infestations aren’t obvious without faecal testing can the owner really be sure? For a worming product we would expect to see a study where pets were tested for worm eggs before treatment and split into a control group (no treatment) and a treated group, then tested again. Similar tests can easily be done to show the effectiveness of flea products. Cancer treatments are more difficult for a small herbal company to test and though most will do no harm, they may also do little good. Cancers can be very variable in how they affect pets. Some grow slowly and some grow fast even if you do nothing at all. Many herbs have well known side effects, especially at higher doses- does the company mention these, or any interactions with conventional drugs (there are many!).
RELIABLE, SAFE, HONEST HERBAL MEDICINES
We don’t offer miracle cures. We prefer monitoring for parasites and using appropriate doses of licenced products when required. These products can have side effects, but they are uncommon and well known and we take them into account when weighing up which products to use.
We do offer bespoke herbal medicines to support pets with a huge range of medical conditions, but our training means we are well aware of potential side-effects, drug interactions etc. We only buy herbs from manufacturers who follow Good Manufacturing Practice, and source herbs in an ethical and sustainable way.
So….instead of buying a miracle potion….book a consultation with us!
WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT!
People can be confused by the term ‘holistic’, especially as it seems to be used to sell just about everything. So what does it mean at Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care?
HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE
Holistic care is characterized by the treatment of the whole animal, taking into account mental and environmental factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
Animals are usually referred for holistic assessment and treatment because they have complex, multiple, or chronic conditions.
We will ask questions about your pet’s diet, exercise, and mood state as well as the main symptoms. All too often a chronic illness means a pet can’t take part in the activities it used to enjoy and a low mood state or poor quality of life can make managing a disease more difficult. We often make changes to what,or how a pet is fed as well as using appropriate games, training and exercise to improve their mood as well as using acupuncture or herbal medicine.
Holistic also means that we use a wider variety of treatments than most primary care practices; we offer herbal medicine, acupuncture, and physical therapy as well as advising on diet, lifestyle, supplements, and behavioural modifications.
HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE CASE STUDY: THE DEPRESSED PUG
A pug was referred to Four Seasons after diagnosis of a degenerative spinal condition. His pain was well controlled but he seemed to have lost all his spark and his owners were considering euthanasia. A detailed discussion revealed that as his mobility was poor the owners were taking this pug out on his own, then taking the other pugs for their usual walks. It seemed that the pug had a low mood state because he was missing out on walks with his friends. The solution was two-fold; herbs with a proven effect on improving mood and perhaps more importantly getting the pug back with his mates. His owners bought a ‘dog pushchair’ so he didn’t have to do the whole walk and let him out to sniff around with the others. In no time at all his cheerful personality was back and an integrated approach from his referring vet and our vet made a huge difference.
Puppy Training
“WHEN SHOULD I START TRAINING MY PUPPY?”
This is a really common question and the answer is simple…as soon as you get it home. In fact, if you have chosen a good breeder your puppy’s education will have started before it even left the nest box.
EVERYTHING IS TRAINING
As soon as your pup opened it’s eye and ears it started learning about the world. A good breeder will have introduced all sorts of sights, sounds, and experiences in the first two months of life. At this age a puppy can’t learn to be afraid of things so anything it meets is accepted as a normal part of life. Puppies come with lots of ‘pre-programmed’ behaviour too, like not wanting to go to the toilet in their ‘nest’. Good breeders will provide a toilet area (usually on newspaper or puppy pads) so even house training is started before you pick your puppy up!
TRAINING IS FUN
Many older dog books will tell you not to start training until a pup is 6months or a year old, but as long as the training is in small bite and is always fun it makes sense to start while your pup is young and ever so eager to learn. Most puppies really want to be with their new person, and most puppies a really into their food so why not use these two things to teach a great recall?
At dinner time instead of giving your pup it’s food from the bowl use it for some training. Throw a bit of food away from you so the pup chases it down…then encourage pup back to you with another bit. What a fun game! And there’s food! Pretty soon you can say “Fido Come!” just before you show the food in your hand and hey presto Fido has learnt a recall, and most importantly that coming back to the person is fun.
Playing training games like this with your pup is a great way to build a bond, prevent food issues, and start teaching your pup without it even realising.
TURMERIC- WONDERHERB?
TURMERIC: WONDER HERB OR OLD WIVE’S TALE?
It seems you can’t look on any dog care site at the moment without being told how wonderful Turmeric is and some owners are buying huge stocks of turmeric powder and making up wonderful concoctions. But is it a cure all, and can it do harm?
GREAT THINGS ABOUT TURMERIC!
Turmeric is a well studied herb with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-platelet, bile stimulating, liver protecting, anti-cancer and cholesterol reducing properties.
It is a favourite of our vet Vicky for older patients with arthritis as is improves circulation and warms the patient as well as having anti-inflammatory properties. However these warming properties mean it wouldn’t be her first choice of anti-inflammatory herb for a young dog with an acute injury.
There is a wealth of research showing turmeric has anti-cancer properties, but many of these have only been carried out in test tubes rather than in actual animals. However it has shown promise against melanoma in lab animal trials. Turmeric certainly has a use alongside conventional cancer treatments as it may slow tumour growth as well as supporting the liver.
Turmeric’s anti-platelet effects may be useful in feline cardiac patients at risk of thromboembolism.
NOT SO GREAT THINGS ABOUT TURMERIC…
The biggest problem with turmeric is that it stains things yellow so use with caution in animals prone to vomiting or diarrhoea! It can also cause skin irritation so should be used cautiously on external wounds. As turmeric stimulates bile flow it shouldn’t be used in patients with bile duct obstructions and it can cause stomach irritation in some patients.
Turmeric shouldn’t be given to animals due to have surgery and could interact with other anti-clotting drugs increasing the risk of bleeding.
SO, SHOULD I FEED MY DOG TURMERIC?
Turmeric is certainly a useful herb and one which can be safely added to the diet of many dogs. As it is a readily available herb for culinary use we advise buying fresh turmeric root to avoid the loss of volatile oils. This be be grated then frozen so nothing goes to waste. Half a teaspoon twice as day of fresh root is enough for most medium to large dogs.
If your dog is already on medication for joint problems, allergies, cognitive dysfunction, liver problems, or heart problems we would strongly recommend speaking to a vet trained in the use of herbal medicines before using turmeric (or any other herb!).
Building the dose up over several days is advisable to avoid pets being put off their food or getting stomach upsets.
CAN HOLISTIC CARE HELP MY PET?
CAN HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE HELP MY PET?
This is the most common subject of emails and telephone enquiries we receive. Unfortunately without examining a pet, and reviewing it’s history it is very difficult to give an easy answer. Below are some common problems and our thoughts on treatments.
DO YOU RECOMMEND NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR FLEA AND WORM CONTROL?
We are yet to be convinced of the safety and efficacy (usefulness) of most ‘natural’ flea and worm products. There are some preventative treatments we do recommend, but we usually steer clients towards a treatment plan with conventional products tailored to the pet’s lifestyle or monitoring with treatment when required.
MY PET HAS CANCER, CAN HOLISTIC TREATMENT HELP?
‘Cancer’ covers a huge range of diagnoses from benign growths up to invasive or metastatic (spreading) tumours. Herbal medicine can be used in several ways in cancer treatment; some herbs have been shown to slow cancer growth, others can help pets cope with the side effects of either the tumour, or any conventional medication being used. Herbs work best if used early in the course of disease, or after tumour removal to aid healing and reduce the risk of recurrence. Holistic care isn’t a magic wand that can save animals who are in the end stages of any disease, though it can be used to give palliation in the last days.
MY PET HAS ARTHRITIS, CAN HOLISTIC TREATMENT HELP?
This is an easier question to say ‘yes’ to! Musculoskeletal conditions including arthritis respond really well to a range of holistic therapies including herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, acupuncture, and home physio. We may also recommend other therapists such as massage, Bowen, or hydrotherapy. Holistic therapies work well alongside conventional medications too.
MY DOG HAS CDRM, WILL ACUPUNCTURE HELP?
Degenerative neuropathies shouldn’t respond well to acupuncture but our experience has been that many dogs diagnosed with CDRM also have concurrent arthritis and acupuncture does help them. Acupuncture has been very effective for some dogs which develop bladder and bowel control problems.
MY PET HAS EPILEPSY, CAN HOLISTIC TREATMENT HELP?
We have had good success with epilepsy cases, either using herbs as a treatment on their own for mild cases or as a complementary therapy with conventional drugs. Herbs can also be used where conventional medication is effective, but causing unwanted side-effects.
THE VET HAS DIAGNOSED LIVER/ KIDNEY/ HEART DISEASE!
There are herbs proven to provide support to all of the major organs. We may also suggest dietary changes in these cases, but early treatment has the best results.
So…can we help? Usually! An initial consultation starts from £40 (at Companion Care Eastbourne)
WHAT DOG?
SO YOU WANT TO GET A DOG? STOP!
What sort of dog? A puppy or an adult? Where will it sleep? What will you feed it? Who is going to walk it? Where will you go training?
Too many questions? Then you’re not ready to look for a dog! Rehoming centres are full to bursting because people don’t put enough time into planning before they get a dog. Let’s help you start planning…
CAN YOU AFFORD A DOG?
Once you’ve put money aside for the initial costs; purchase price/donation, equipment (bowls, beds, toys, leads), and initial healthcare (vaccinations, neutering, microchipping), there are numerous ongoing costs. You will need to budget for regular parasite control, annual health checks (and vaccinations as recommended by your vet), training classes, grooming and of course FOOD!
DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR A DOG?
Dogs need exercise every day. Some breeds need more than others so even if you have limited time to go out walking there may be a dog for you, but dogs also need other quality time with their humans.
ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE LIFESTYLE CHANGES?
Daily dog walks come rain or shine? A less than pristine home? Holidays where your dog can come too? Cleaning up pee and poo? A dog will change your life…we think for the better in most cases but if you like long foreign holidays and the ‘show home ‘ look….maybe a dog isn’t for you.
WHAT BREED?
Don’t choose on size or looks alone, do plenty of research. Do you want an active dog which will enjoy lots of activities such as agilty and tracking or a calmer companion for walks and cuddles? Do you want a long coated dog which will need lots of grooming or a short coasted low maintenance look? A few breeds don’t shed but they may still cause allergies in some people. Pedigree or corssbreed? With a pedigree you should have a good idea what shape, size, coat type and temperament your dog should have (though remember they are all individuals), crossbreeds can be more variable. Most pedigree breeds have known health problems but you can look for a breeder who does tests to minimise the risks. Crossbreeds are not free from health issues so again look for a well bred, health screened litter.
It’s a good idea to talk to lots of dog owners about their dogs before narrowing down your choice of breeds. Then go to the breed club websites or even to Discover Dogs to meet real live examples!
PUPPY OR ADULT?
With a puppy you are getting a blank slate, almost. If you decide on a puppy look for a breeder who is doing the relevant health testing, avoiding in-breeding and who is giving the pups the best chance in life by getting them used to the sights and sounds they will encounter as an adult dog. Plan ahead so you are booked into training classes as soon as possible. Puppies are hard work to start with, and expensive in their first year but most of their behaviour is quite predictable.
An adult dog could come from a number of sources including a private rehoming or a rescue centre. When taking on an adult dog find out as much about it as you can. Rehoming centres should assess the dogs and work on any behavioural problems they have before you take the dog home, and they should be around to support you afterwards. Rehomed adult dogs can very easily slot into your life, or they can present you with challenging behaviour so most rescues still need a big commitment in the first year.
SO YOU WANT TO GET A DOG? GO!
We’re always happy to chat to families about choosing the right dog for them. Proper planning makes for perfect pooches!
NEW SERVICE! BEHAVIOUR CONSULTATIONS
DOG AND CAT BEHAVIOUR CONSULTATIONS IN EAST SUSSEX!
We’re really pleased to announce that our Vet Vicky Payne has completed the second year of the COAPE Diploma and is now a COAPE Behaviourist and Trainer. This qualification is accredited by Ofqual and is equivalent to the second year of a degree. COAPE teach animal behaviour with a strong grounding in the latest science and use this knowledge to look for the emotional reasons that behaviour problems occur.
CAN WE HELP WITH YOUR DOG OR CAT’S BEHAVIOUR PROBLEM?
We are now taking on behaviour cases in East Sussex. We will work closely with your primary care vet and in some circumstances may ask you to go to your vet to rule out certain health problems which may be contributing to your pet’s behaviour problems. Common problems we can help with include house soiling, separation problems, reactivity on the lead, destructive behaviour and resource guarding. We can also help and advise how to prevent behaviour problems when dogs are on restricted exercise, integrating new pets, house moves and even assist with weight management plans!
HOW DO YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?
In the first instance email the practice and we will send out a questionnaire to give us some background to the problem. Then we will contact you to arrange a home visit. The initial visit will last 30-60 minutes and up to two follow up visits are included. Our introductory price is £150 for up to three visits. Additional charges may apply for visits over 15miles and for additional visits.