Hyperthyroidism is very common in middle aged to older cats. It occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This seems to be diet related. Researchers have determined 2 things related to the diet of cats and hyperthyroidism. The first is that cats that consume large amounts of commercial fish-flavored cat food were more likely to develop the disease and the second was that limiting the amount of iodine in a cat’s diet often returned it to normal… Continue reading →

Integrative veterinary care has a lot of options to offer dogs who suffer paralysis or paresis ( partial paralysis) from IVD. Chiropractic is very important for these dogs as one of our posters has pointed out. Chiropractic can actually be used for prevention in breeds that are subject to IVD. Regular chiropractic care can improve vertebral flexibility and prevent the degeneration. Even after an IVD incidence chiropractic help restore the normal motion of the spine and reverse the degenerative process.… Continue reading →

Intervertebral disc disease or IVD occurs in many breeds of dogs but with greater frequency in long backed dogs such as dachshunds. The intervertebral disc is part of the joint between each vertebrae in the back. Aging and genetics cause the center of the disc to degenerate. With the degeneration there is less elasticity of the joint and this causes more inflammation. This inflammation leads to rupture or herniation of the disc. The disc material compresses the spinal cord and… Continue reading →

Acupuncture is the fastest growing complementary therapy practiced on animals. The number of veterinarians seeking training in this Ancient Chinese modality is increasing. About 5000 years ago acupuncture was discovered by the Ancient Chinese. They learned that by inserting needles into certain parts of the body that they could effect physiological changes, control pain and stimulate organs or body parts. Needles are not inserted at random, but rather into acupoints. The Chinese mapped these acupoints on humans and horses along… Continue reading →

Here is a natural ear treatment that you can use in cats and dogs without worry of toxicity. If this does not help your pet’s ears, you should see your veterinarian for something stronger. This recipe comes from Dr Roger Clemmons. Vitamin E-Garlic-Oil Ear Treatment

This recipe is again courtesy of Dr Connie DiNatalie and the Chi Institute Food Therapy course. 2 to 4 pounds of cut up hooves and tendons with bones on from beef, goat or lamb( no pork) 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar Root vegetables up to 3 cups cut in large chunks ( sweet potato , turnip, carrots, parsnips) Large splash of soy sauce 1/4 tsp of Chinese 5 spice

Hind leg lameness is very common in dogs. The most common lameness that occurs with the hind legs is rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). It is known as the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL in humans. If a dog is limping on his hind leg, most veterinarians assume it is a knee problem unless proven otherwise. The CCL can be ruptured by trauma or it can be a degenerative problem called cruciate disease. Certain breeds are subject to… Continue reading →

Stem cell therapy or regenerative medicine is now being used to treat chronic diseases in pets. In humans, stem cell therapy can be a bit controversial due to the use of embryonic stem cells and and all the moral and ethical considerations involved in that. In animals, however, adult or mesenchymal stem cells taken from the animal itself are used so there is no controversy. Stem cell therapy has been in used in horses to treat tendon injuries for well… Continue reading →

Ear problems are very common in pets. Ear infections in dogs and cats most commonly involve the external or outer ear canal, whereas in people the middle ear is more commonly involved. Infections caused by bacteria or yeast are most frequently seen although ear mites ( a small parasite that lives in the ears of dogs and cats) are common in puppies and kittens. Ear infections always have an underlying cause. That cause can be food allergies, environmental allergies, hormone… Continue reading →

Thunderstorm anxiety affects between 15 and 30 percent of all dogs. Some dogs cry, pant, whine or pace. Others seem to be glued to their owners. Some dogs panic so much they may injure themselves by jumping through windows or claw up doors in an effort to get out and find somewhere safe. No one is really sure what causes thunderstorm anxiety. Some researchers think that it may be the noise of the thunder or the flashes of lightning that… Continue reading →