VACCINATIONS
DOG VACCINATIONS: TRUTH AND HYPE
You can’t read a dog magazine, or join a dog Facebook group without the subject of dog vaccinations coming up. Usually the theme is, ‘vets are ripping you off and harming your dog’, but is that true?
The best place to start is probably not an anti-vaccination group, or a drug company website, but the WSAVA who have a committee dedicated to reviewing the research into vaccination and developing guidelines for vets in many different countries and situations.
The WSAVA are concerned with both an individual dog’s health, but also the health of the wider canine, wildlife, and human populations. Many writers focus on their advice that many dogs have long durations of immunity to core vaccinations…but they don’t consider the extra puppy jabs the WSAVA recommend. This article considers the recommendations for pet dogs in the UK.
WHY VACCINATE DOGS?
Vaccination gives dogs protection against a range of diseases. Vaccination pre-warns the immune system so that it can respond better when challenged with the disease. This means the dog either doesn’t get sick, or has a milder form of the disease. Many vaccines also stop dogs shedding the disease and spreading it to other dogs.
CORE VACCINES
Every dog should receive vaccination against Canine Adenovirus (infectious hepatitis), Canine Parvovirus, and Canine Distemper. Of these Parvovirus remains the most common, often being seen in puppies from poor backgrounds. It causes bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, and affected puppies often die even after extensive (and expensive!) treatment. Distemper was becoming something of a distant memory in the UK, though many colleagues have seen one or two cases (often in dogs imported from Eire). However distemper is on the rise in imported dogs from eastern Europe. Early symptoms include lethargy, conjunctivitis, and joint pain. Dogs can recover with intensive nursing, but may suffer neurological damage and problems with their pads. Infectious hepatitis is not often reported in the UK, but may be underdiagnosed with liver problems being attributed to other causes. Most UK core vaccines are proven, by their manufacturers, to give at least 3 years duration of immunity.
NON-CORE VACCINES
These should be given according to risk. In the UK almost all dogs should receive Leptospirosis vaccination. This bacterial infection is found in standing water, especially water which may have been contaminated with farm animal or rat urine. The disease is contagious between dogs, and also to people (where it is called Weil’s Disease). Infection in people starts with flu-like symptoms but the disease can become serious, even fatal. In dogs the liver or kidneys are most commonly affected. Treatment with fluids and antibiotics can be successful, but dogs can shed the leptospires in their urine for some time after recovery making them an animal and human health risk. The number of confirmed canine Leptospirosis cases each year is relatively low because a proper diagnosis required two blood samples, taken a month apart, showing a rising antibody titre. Dogs are usually either dead or recovering by the time the second sample should be taken and its cost means this step is often skipped. Many more suspected cases are treated every year, and Leptospirosis is thought to be responsible for some chronic kidney and liver disease too. In recent years with increased flooding vets have reported clusters of Lepto cases.
Kennel cough vaccines can be considered for any dog which goes to kennels, groomers, training classes, shows, or to a dog walker. Although Kennel cough is not dangerous to healthy adult dogs it can kill old dogs and puppies. Breeding bitches should be vaccinated before mating. The vaccine protects against Bordatella and the Paraninfluenza virus and is given as a nasal drop.
Leptospirosis and Kennel cough vaccines only offer short lived protection and should be repeated annually if required.
Rabies is not a core vaccine in the UK as we are rabies free. However vaccination is required for travel under the Pet Passport scheme.
In the last few years additional vaccines have become available for Lymes Disease and Leishmania; these should be given only to dogs at high risk of those diseases. Herpes virus vaccination is available to reduce the risk of fading puppy syndrome. It is only given to breeding bitches and must be given at each pregnancy.
SICK DOGS
A small number of dogs can’t be vaccinated due to ill health, previous reactions, medications, or simply don’t produce a good immune response to vaccination.These dogs can be protected by ‘herd immunity’, i.e. diseases are unlikely to reach them if all the other dogs around them are protected.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF VACCINATING DOGS?
Nothing that we put into our, or our dog’s, bodies is safe. The immune system can react badly to any food, drug, or vaccination. The risk of reactions from vaccinations may be higehr than for other drugs as we are directly trying to stimulate an immune response. However, vaccines are generally safe with a low risk of reactions.
COMMON REACTIONS
The most common reaction is pain at the injection site. With some vaccinations over 50% of dogs will show some pain. A few of these will get a swelling at the injection site but this is short lived.
Being ‘off colour’ for 24 hours or so is not unusual either, and reflects the stimulation of the immune system.
Some dogs, especially puppies get diarrhoea after vaccination. This may reflect the immune response, but may also reflect the stress of a vet visit on top of rehoming, a change in diet and water, and any parasite treatment given. Most cases resolve with symptomatic treatment.
These common, mild reactions usually pass with little or no treatment, but always contact your vet if you are concerned.
RARE REACTIONS
Anaphylactic reactions are extremely rare, and unfortunately are very unpredicatable. Dogs may react at their first injection, or after having a vaccine on several previous occasions. Anaphylactic reactions happen very quickly after vaccination and may include fainting, fitting, vomiting, and diarrhoea. They usually happen before a dog leave the practice and treatment with oxygen, adrenaline, and maybe steroids is usually effective.
LONG TERM REACTIONS?
Some authors write extensively about diseases caused by overvaccination, but there is actually very scant evidence for this. A ‘hypothyroid epidemic’ is blamed on vaccination, and yet the rate of diagnosis in the UK is the same as that on the Falkland Islands (where no disease risk means no vaccination). Autoimmune disease certainly seem to be on the rise, but many factors may be involved other than vaccines; we know certain breeds, and lines within breeds are more likely to get autoimmine diseases, pollution may play a factor, and understimulation of the immune system due to excellent hygiene and parasite control could be factors too. A survery examinind illnesses suffered in the three months after a vet visit showed no statistical difference between dogs which had been vaccinated, and those which had been seen for other reasons.
That said, it makes sense to only give what a dog needs when he needs it.
ALTERNATIVES TO VACCINATION
Homeopathic nosodes are not a suitable alternative to vaccination. In challenge testing puppies ‘vaccinated’ homeopathically against parvovirus got ill and died.
Titre testing is the best alternative to following the manufacturers recommendations. Titre testing is now available at a reasonable price (around £30) for Distemper, Hepatitis, and Parvovirus. Dogs with good levels of circulating antibody will be protected against disease. Dogs with low or no circulating antibody may not be protected. Advanced testing shows that some dogs with no circulating antibodies actually have cellular immunity…however this level of testing is not available in practice, so revaccination is recommended for low/no titre dogs.
Leptospirosis vaccination only produces circulating antibodies for a few weeks, then the immunity is cellular. For this reason titre testing is not suitable for assessing Leptospirosis protction.
WSAVA VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRACTICAL ONES
For maximum protection the WSAVA recommends either titre testing puppies monthly from 6weeks until their maternal antibody protection fades, or giving core vaccines monthly until 16weeks. They recommend a further vaccination at 6-12months and then either revaccination every 3 years for core vaccines or titre testing.
In practice very few people are going to want to either pay for monthly titre testing, or vaccinate their puppies up to 5 times in 6months. In the UK where disease risk is moderate the current protocols where vaccination starts at 6- 8 weeks and finishes at 10-12 weeks, with a booster at 12months, should provide adequate protection for most dogs. A 16week vaccine or titre test could be considered for certain breeds, or during a disease outbreak. Additionally, breeders keeping puppies which may suckle from their dam for longer than most could consider delaying their vaccine start, or titre testing.
The good news is that more and more practices are offering titre testing and individualised vaccination. Our Vet Vicky Payne offers vaccine consultations and titre testing at Companion Care Vets Eastbourne and Goudhurst Vets.
NEW MICROCHIPPING RULES FOR DOGS
MICROCHIPPING DOGS BECOMES LAW IN 2016
From 6th April 2016 all puppies must be microchipped before sale. The breeder must register the puppies in their name and provide buyers with the paperwork to transfer the microchip registration.
FREE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP ON PETLOG!
The good news announced today is that if the puppy is Kennel Club registered then transferring the Petlog registration into the new owners name, and upgrading to Petlog Premium will be FREE!
HOME VISITS FOR LITTER MICROCHIPPING
We have offered a home visit service to breeders for many years to provide litter health checks and microchipping and will hope this will be an even more popular service with the law changes next year. Microchipping and Health Check costs just £15 per puppy (with a small visit fee based on mileage). Our chips are registered with Petlog. Please contact us for further information.
FOOD GUARDING
PREVENTING AND FIXING FOOD GUARDING IN DOGS
Food is REALLY important to dogs. Left to their own devices most of their waking hours would be spent looking for and eating food, and they would spend the rest of their time sleeping and digesting food. Guarding food from other dogs, other animals, and even people is a natural dog behaviour, a survival tactic even. Unfortunately a very common problem for dog owners is that their dog growls if people approach him while he is eating, and this can escalate to snapping or biting. We need to teach our dogs that they don’t have to guard their food from us.
FOOD GUARDING FROM A DOG’S POINT OF VIEW
Snoopy loves mealtimes, he can’t wait for his dinner to come and he’s not planning on sharing! Up until now Snoopy’s people have put his food bowl down and left him to eat in peace but Snoopy’s people have just read that you should be able to take food away from your dog and as their baby is now a free ranging toddler they decide to see how ‘good’ Snoopy’s food manners are. Snoopy’s male owner strides over to the bowl while Snoopy is eating, Snoopy is a bit worried as this is unusual. The male owner reaches down and tries to take Snoopy’s bowl which makes Snoopy gobble his food down really fast, but he’d nearly finished anyway. The next day the male owner puts Snoopy’s food down, leaves the room, then walks back in. Snoopy is worried the male owner will take his food again so he stands over the bowl and gives a little growl. The male owner has read that he should hit Snoopy if he growls so he knows who is in charge so he smacks Snoopy on the nose and takes the food away. This happens most evenings for a few days, even the female owner has started taking his food away. Every time he is fed Snoopy gets more and more worried as his people not only steal his food, they hit him as well. Finally Snoopy is so worried that he growls and growls and when the female owner moves her hand to hit him he snaps at her. She doesn’t move quickly enough and his teeth sink into her hand. Snoopy didn’t mean to bite, just to scare her away from his food…but she’s straight on the phone to the vet, “Enough is enough,” she says, “next time it could be our toddler’s face!”
FIXING FOOD GUARDING IN DOGS
Luckily when Snoopy’s owner called the vet she was given the number of a COAPE behaviourist who agreed to come out and see Snoopy. They discussed how to keep the toddler safe while Snoopy learnt new food manners and how Snoopy’s owners would change their behaviour at feeding time. Various options were discussed and tried including hand feeding, scatter feeding, and adding tasty treats to the bowl. It took several weeks of patient practice but before long Snoopy began to trust his owners again. He stopped growling and would sit it they approached his bowl in the hope of getting an extra treat. Because food guarding can have serious consequences we aren’t going to tell you exactly how to fix it here. It is safer for a behaviourist using modern, dog fair techniques to visit and assess your dog. Our vet Vicky is a COAPE behaviourist and is happy to help with this as well as other behavioural issues.
(Snoopy isn’t a real case, he’s just an all too typical example!)
PREVENTING FOOD GUARDING IN DOGS
Prevention is always better than cure. What if Snoopy’s owners had done things differently when they brought him home?
Snoopy’s owners did lots of research before bringing him home, and they spoke to COAPE behaviourist about how to teach him manners around his food. The behaviourist told them they should use his food ration to help train him instead of using lots of treats. Snoopy’s owners held the bowl and when Snoopy did clever things like sitting, or peeing outside, or coming when they called they would feed him from their hands. Being a puppy Snoopy would occasionally get a bit excited and nip his owners when taking the food. When this happened he wasn’t offered any more until he calmed down; Snoopy soon learned to be gentle with his mouth. After a while Snoopy’s owners needed to use less food for training and Snoopy was allowed to eat by himself from the bowl more often. Sometimes they came over to his bowl and added tasty things like bits of chicken. Now when Snoopy sees people coming towards his bowl he steps back to give them lots of room to add treats.
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).
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.
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.
WHAT IS A HOLISTIC VET?
WHAT IS A HOLISTIC VET?
This week someone on an internet forum expressed surprise that our vet Vicky Payne was a Holistic vet! Vicky thinks this is because she has written in support of vaccination and against untrained people giving advice on which homepoathic or herbal remedy to buy from the internet.
WHAT IS HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE?
For us at Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care, “Holistic” means using detailed evaluation of a pet’s diet and lifestyle as well as hands on examination and conventional diagnostic tests (sometimes including blood tests or x-rays) to achieve a diagnosis, or in many cases multiple diagnoses.
We then choose from a full range of conventional and complementary therapies to help that pet back to wellness. Therapies we use or advise include dietary changes, behaviour and lifestyle modification, acupuncture, owner performed home physio, herbal medicines and conventional medicines and surgery. In some circumstances we will also refer your pet to local physiotherapists, massage therapists or hydrotherapists for supportive care.
“Holistic” to us also means caring for a pet’s well-being from the planning of a mating, right through to the planning of end of life care and euthanasia. We are happy to advise on health testing for breeding dogs and cats, tools which can help accurately time mating for dogs, rearing and socialisation of puppies and kittens both with the breeder and after sale, as well as advising on appropriate vaccination, worming and flea treatment schedules based on sound science and a consideration of an individual pet’s risk. Many of our patients are in their Autumn years so inevitably we have to help owners with decisions surrounding palliative care, quality of life, the end of life and planning for the future.
Our passion for life-long care is why Vicky chose the name ‘Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care’.
WHAT ISN’T HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE?
We can’t speak for other ‘Holistic’ practices but for us “Holistic” does not mean alternative (diagnosis and treatment must always be done by a vet or under veterinary supervision), homeopathic (though many practices also add this to their treatments offered), anti-vaccination, anti-conventional medicine or assisting in self diagnosis and recommending buying unregulated products.