Innovative VETERINARY CARE
VOLUME 15 ISSUE 1
CAN PBM HELP MANAGE DENTAL AND ORAL CONDITIONS? LEARN WHY PHOTOBIOMODULATION IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR DENTAL AND ORAL ISSUES IN DOGS AND CATS. — P. 8
TAKING AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO PARTIAL PARALYSIS/PARESIS
Adding alternative treatments to a conventional therapy regimen helps dogs regain mobility and quality of life. — p. 16
WINTER 2024-25
www.IVCJournal.com
USING INTEGRATIVE AND NUTRITIONAL THERAPIES FOR PANCREATITIS An in-depth look at how nutrition and integrative therapies can treat and prevent pancreatitis in pets. — p. 20
HOW ORAL CANCERS RESPOND TO INTEGRATIVE TREATMENT
Oral cancers can be difficult to treat, but incorporating alternative therapies can extend longevity and improve quality of life. — p. 24
WHAT’ S NEW IN CANINE IDIOPATHIC EPILEPSY?
New therapies and ongoing research have improved our ability to provide a personalized approach for each patient. — p. 38
THE LINK BETWEEN DENTAL HEALTH AND THE ORAL MICROBIOME
As a component of the GI tract, the oral microbiome has a profound impact on dental health and overall well-being. — p. 42
WHY TCVM BENEFITS DOGS WITH DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY
When TCVM modalities are added to treatment plans for dogs with DM, they respond faster and more consistently — p. 46
contents FEATURES
OF 8 BENEFITS PHOTOBIOMODULATION IN VETERINARY PATIENTS WITH ORAL CONDITIONS
by Lisa A. Miller, DVM, CCRT PBM is a versatile and effective tool for managing dental and oral conditions in dogs and cats, from gingivitis to post-surgical recovery.
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IDEAS IN ANIMAL 12 NOVEL NEUROPLASTICITY
by Allen Schoen, DVM, MS, PHD (HON.), CVA A look at how our understanding of neuroplasticity, particularly in the form of neurofeedback, may help companion animals with behavior problems.
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APPROACH TO 16 INTEGRATIVE PARTIAL PARALYSIS/PARESIS IN CANINES by Ayse Washington, DVM, CCRP, CVMMP Conventional therapies and alternative treatments such as PEMF, acupuncture, and more provide an integrative approach to managing partial paralysis and paresis in canines.
NUTRITION NOOK 20 PANCREATITIS IN PETS
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— AN INTEGRATIVE AND NUTRITIONAL APPROACH by Nancy Brandt, DVM, OMD, CVC, CVA, CVMA An in-depth look at the most effective integrative and nutritional therapies for treating and preventing pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
INTEGRATIVE APPROACH 24 AN FOR TREATING ORAL CANCERS IN DOGS AND CATS
by Marlene Siegel, DVM Oral cancers can be aggressive and challenging to treat, but an integrative approach that incorporates alternative therapies can extend longevity and improve quality of life.
S ROLE IN CANINE 32 RONGOA’ DERMATOLOGY by Heidi Ward-McGrath, BVSc
The use of Rongoa and other complementary treatments in canine dermatology represents a unique fusion of traditional wisdom and modern veterinary medicine.
S NEW IN CANINE 38 WHAT’ IDIOPATHIC EPILEPSY?
by Kelly Diehl, DVM, MS DIPL. ACVIM Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs is a serious neurologic disease, but new therapies and ongoing research have improved our ability to provide a personalized approach for each patient.
ORAL MICROBIOME AND 42 THE DENTAL HEALTH IN CANINES by Margo Roman, DVM, CVA, COT, CPT, FAAO The oral microbiome in dogs is incredibly complex and varied. It has a profound impact not only on dental health, but also on the rest of the dog’s GI system and overall wellbeing.
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advisory board FOR DEGENERATIVE 46 TCVM MYELOPATHY IN CANINES
by Judith E. Saik, DVM, DACVP, CVA, CVCH, CVFT When Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine modalities are incorporated into a multimodal treatment plan for dogs with DM, they respond faster and more consistently.
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
Dr. Richard Palmquist, DVM GDipVCHM(CIVT) CVCHM (IVAS), graduated from Colorado State University in 1983. He is chief of integrative health services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, California, former president and research chair of the AHVMA, and an international speaker in integrative veterinary medicine. Dr. Palmquist is a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and a past president of the AHVM Foundation. He has published two books, one for conventional veterinarians and a second for clients discussing how integrative thinking works.
Michelle J. Rivera, MT, VDT, is an instructor at the University of Wisconsin and The Healing Oasis Wellness Center, a post-graduate educational institution offering state-approved programs. She is coowner of The Healing Oasis Veterinary Hospital, offering massage, rehabilitation, chiropractic and Chinese and Western Herbology. Michelle completed the Chinese Herbal Medicine program from the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center, and is certified in Chinese Medicine by the Wisconsin Institute of Chinese Herbology.
7 Editorial 19 Profitable Practice 23 From the AHVMA 35 From the VMAA 41 From the VBMA 45 Business Profile 51 From AVH IN THE NEWS:
31 How machine learning is advancing heart murmur detection in dogs
36 New canine tissue biobank enhances understanding of dog genomics
Dr. Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS, graduated in 1984 from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Her practice is 100% holistic, using acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine and homeopathy to treat horses to enhance performance and those with a variety of chronic conditions, with an emphasis on Lyme Disease. Her publications include the Pain Free Back and Saddle Fit Books, and numerous articles in lay and professional magazines. She maintains an informative website: www.harmanyequine.com. Dr. Steve Marsden, DVM, ND, MSOM, Lac. Dipl.CH, CVA, AHG lectures for IVAS, the AHVMA, the AVMA, and numerous other organizations. He is co-founder of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies and is a director emeritus of the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland OR. He authored the Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine (Mosby); and Essential Guide to Chinese Herbal Formulas (CIVT). Dr. Marsden is extensively trained in alternative medicine, including Chinese herbology, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. He has holistic veterinary and naturopathic medical practices in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2010, Dr. Marsden was named Teacher of the Year by the AHVMA; and Small Animal Veterinarian of the year by the CVMA in 2009. Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM, received her veterinary degree in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College. In 1986, she moved to Southern California to establish Hemopet, the first non-profit national blood bank program for animals. Dr. Dodds has been a member of many national and international committees on hematology, animal models of human disease, veterinary medicine, and laboratory animal science. She received the Holistic Veterinarian of the Year Award from the AHVMA in 1994.
52 Fecal microbiota analysis may provide non-invasive screening for equine IBD
53 New tool for assessing frailty in dogs: predicting short-term mortality
Dr. Barbara Fougere, DVM, CVAA graduated in 1986, and was named the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Educator for 2011. Dr. Fougere is the principal and one of the founders of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. She has continued studying over the last 26 years, and has three Bachelor degrees, two Masters degrees, three post Graduate Diplomas, several Certifications and numerous other courses under her belt.
Dr. Christina Chambreau, DVM, CVH, graduated from the University of Georgia Veterinary College in 1980. She is a founder of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, was on the faculty of the National Center for Homeopathy Summer School and has been the holistic modality adjunct faculty liaison for the Maryland Veterinary Technician Program and is the former Associate Editor of IVC Journal. Dr. Chambreau teaches classes in homeopathy for animals, lectures on many topics, speaks on Radio and TV, and is the author of the Healthy Animal’s Journal among other titles. She is now on the faculty of the Holistic Actions Academy, which empowers members to keep their animals healthy with weekly live webinars.
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NOVEL IDEAS IN ANIMAL
NEUROPLASTICITY BY ALLEN SCHOEN, DVM, MS, PHD (HON.), CVA
A look at how our understanding of neuroplasticity, particularly in the form of neurofeedback, may help companion animals with behavior problems.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change in structure or function in response to experience. I described this concept in a previous article in IVC Journal (Summer 2024). Numerous medical schools now teach about physical and functional changes in the brain. Neuroplasticity is also evident in our companion animals, from birth onwards. This article presents some innovative ways our understanding of neuroplasticity can help companion animals.
CAN NEUROPLASTICITY BE APPLIED TO BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS? Many companion animals are abandoned at animal shelters and rescue farms due to various behavioral challenges. These behaviors are commonly due to old mental wounds and traumatic memories impacting on current interactions. Conventional medicine may recommend behavior modifying medications, while natural medicine may offer nutritional or herbal solutions. Animal behaviorists suggest behavioral exercises or modifications. If none of these approaches work satisfactorily, it is not uncommon for euthanasia to be considered. Certain computerized, cutting edge, neurofeedback approaches appear to be helping human brains increase neuroplasticity.
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One reads EEGs 256 times a second, bringing dissonant EEG recordings in the subconscious into resonance with conscious behaviors. These approaches have helped patients with nerve damage from various neurodegenerative conditions, including strokes, concussions, and other physically damaging incidents. What about using this approach on companion animals with behavior problems? Certainly, human and animal brains share great similarities and are merely variations on a theme. So, the question is not that far-fetched.
TRAINING THE BRAIN THROUGH NEUROFEEDBACK In my practice, I’ve always told clients that I never use anything on animals that I have not used on myself. I still follow that philosophy, and have been using an advanced type of neurofeedback device on myself for almost a year. The results have transformed me from a cynical skeptic to an ardent fan. Essentially, the device uses the power and intelligence of your own brain to improve the latter’s function. My instructor feels that neurofeedback should be a key part of a wellness program and I can sense the truth in this after ten months of using the device.
Many people train their muscles and cardiovascular systems, but not their brains. Training your brain can increase flexibility and resilience, qualities I feel all beings can benefit from. It can make it easier to work through the challenges life throws at us. People report feeling calmer, more focused and patient, and less reactive. They experience improved memory, more energy, increased resilience, and better sleep. To be clear, a “brain training session” is not a “treatment” because it’s non-invasive and not a medical tool. There are no diagnoses or protocols. In other words, neurofeedback is a non-medical brain-training system with therapeutic effects. Amazingly, an advanced neurofeedback device measures the electrical current emitted from your scalp 256 times/second, then uses a mathematical procedure to recognize any shifts. When shifts occur, it provides feedback to your brain in the form of interruptions in the music playing through the device.
Additional fascinating examples of neuroplasticity in action Interestingly, a teacher I follow and admire pioneered sound healing in his brain research in the 1980s. He developed his own musical recordings for his psychotherapy clientele, which significantly improved his results. Perhaps these approaches with sound healing may help deepen connections between human and non-human animals, whereby both are helped by these unique, innovative, computerized approaches (if interested in learning more, email me at schoenoffice@gmail.com).
This neurofeedback device doesn’t create or stimulate new neural pathways. Instead, it helps a person leave behind nonoptimal neural pathways. As the saying goes, if “you don’t use it you lose it,” so eventually a human who is training their brain won’t use the non-optimal neural pathways anymore. It helps them become more and more aware of these nonoptimal pathways. Training is key here. The more a person trains, the more the results last.
On a related note, the study of subtle energies shows they can impact neuroplasticity and relate to the human animal-bond in their own way. Valerie Hunt, a former research physiologist and professor at UCLA, discussed these subtle energies in her book Infinite Mind: the Science of Human Vibrations. To paraphrase Nikola Tesla: “When we see all as a field of energy, frequencies and vibrations, we will make stratospheric leaps.”
This is indeed neuroplasticity in action, as it allows your brain to continuously adjust. Can you see how this might resolve some undesirable behaviors in our companion animals?
Once we realize that human vibrations interact with animal vibrations, we can experience an “aha” moment regarding another level of the human/ animal bond. This year, I lectured on this topic by discussing the interactions between the liquid crystal collagen continuum of consciousness, and acupuncture. I explained one mechanism of action of the healing effects that occur when we touch patients with positive intentions.
THE ROLE OF THE ORIENTING REFLEX The neurofeedback device helps the brain organize and heal itself. It partners with the brain to make changes so no formal diagnoses or scans are required. The device and your brain do the work together in real time.
For those veterinarians who thought the world was a rational and predictable place, recent developments in quantum physics and how it interacts with animal care may come as a surprise. The combination of quantum physics and psychophysiology, the interactions between our mental experience and neurologic activity within our nervous system, is revealing a world that actively interacts with our intentions. In other words, what we think and feel has an effect on the world around us, including our animal families.
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Our “orienting reflex,” another type of neuroplasticity, is put to work every time the neurofeedback system generates a pause in the music. These pauses occur at critical moments to get the best results. The orienting reflex is key to understanding how the device works. This important feature of our own individual CNS is why it’s possible for a person to make changes by themselves, without the need for interventions such as microcurrents, various frequencies, or light therapy. The orienting reflex helps a person move away from discomfort to comfort. It is up to the individual’s CNS to decide if the abrupt changes and turbulences detected by the system as it interacts with their own cortical activity are comfortable and safe, or uncomfortable and unsafe.
Neurofeedback results vary D EPENDING ON INDIVIDUAL BRAINS Each brain is unique, so the number of sessions required to see specific results will vary. Shifts can happen quickly or in small increments, depending on the individual’s brain. This is where working with an experienced neurofeedback instructor is beneficial. If this resonates with you, you can choose to train to become that instructor for your own clients and patients. How long certain brain changes last will also vary depending on your goals and experiences. Some people may feel they don’t need further sessions, while others prefer to return periodically for boosters.
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HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO OUR ANIMAL PATIENTS? Interestingly, there is anecdotal evidence that some of these computerized neurofeedback approaches are helping companion animals as well as humans. In Europe, for example, they have been used to successfully calm down nervous and anxious horses whose behaviors likely resulted from previous harmful experiences. The device I have been using was originally designed for humans, yet some trainers around the world have begun using it with their animal companions. These trainers organized a community support group that demonstrates positive and impressive results with dogs, cats, and horses. Using a neurofeedback device is not a conscious process and requires no active participation from the individual. Therefore, working with an animal’s brain is really no different from working with a human brain. Certainly, there are challenges in adjusting its use to animals, which aren’t dissimilar to the challenges I ran into when extrapolating electro-acupuncture to animal decades ago.
PILOT PROJECT SHOWS BENEFICIAL RESULTS A friend who is also a neurofeedback trainer for people tried it out on animal companions in our community and found it was indeed beneficial in situations where nothing else seemed to help. They conducted a small four-week pilot project on dogs and two cats using the advanced neurofeedback device I have been using on myself. The trainer went to the animal owner’s house once a week for 15-minute sessions that were increased to 30 minutes if they felt the animal would not be overwhelmed.
Initially, the study group has been small, with five canine participants, and two cats owned by the trainer. For this particular project, the trainer was looking for animals that displayed anxiety, as well as senior animals entering the palliative care phase of their lives. In the assessment questionnaire, similar to that used for people yet adapted to companion animals, owners were asked to observe the shift, duration, intensity, and frequency of their concerns. They were also asked questions regarding their animals’ physical and emotional health. The focus was on training, behavior, reaction to other animals or humans, signs of aggression, fear, sleep patterns, vocalization, pain, injury, anxiety levels, and attention, as well as hunger levels and exercise. The owners observed their animal during the week and noted what happened to see if there were any changes as compared to their original concerns. Often, shifts can happen in small increments and be easily missed. Each pet owner could use assistance from a friend to evaluate the changes occurring in their animals from week to week. For instance, an owner might not be able to see subtle changes, but a friend might notice their dog is calmer. In one case, neighbors who met an anxious dog daily on the street noticed she was calmer and asked the owners what they were doing. The dog was also more at ease when meeting other canines and had stopped jumping on the owner’s other dog, who had health issues. Dogs in the program with similar issues also responded well. In fact, all the animals in this pilot project showed some improvement overall. Some dogs exhibited yawning and licking during the sessions, which can indicate they were processing the information. Some were so anxious that a licking pad was needed to keep them occupied during the session, as they were not able to settle down at the beginning. Even when treats were needed to keep a dog occupied, they still improved. Some were noticeably calmer after the first session, and some were the same, yet positive and steady results were noticed during the first week. By the third week, it was more obvious to owners that their dogs had improved, changed, and adapted to situations or concerns mentioned in their first assessment forms. This occurred despite no dietary changes, training, or supplements. A couple of the dogs in the study were helped with separation anxiety issues. Another example that involved quite different
complaints was an older Rhodesian Ridgeback with urinary incontinence and severe polydipsia which was not responding to appropriate conventional treatments. The signs completely resolved during the program, improving even after just one neurofeedback treatment.
NEUROFEEDBACK AND CATS You may be wondering about cats as well. The trainer tried the neurofeedback approach on their own two anxious rescue cats. They found the cats were relaxed about being hooked up to the system and didn’t require treats. They underwent the sessions while napping and were quite cooperative. However, the results appeared to be highly individualistic, even between just two cats. One shook off the ear connections within seven to ten minutes, while the other tolerated them for 15 to 30 minutes. This bears similarities to my own experience when pioneering feline electroacupuncture: the cats would shake off the wires when they were done. Following the sessions, the trainer also noticed the cats were not fighting with each other as often. While these findings are certainly considered anecdotal, one has to start somewhere. A significant collection of similar anecdotes can indicate a pattern. Whether in conventional medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), patterns are the basis for collecting related symptoms to be considered and classified as a condition.
IN CONCLUSION These unique perspectives on neuroplasticity in companion animals offer innovative approaches that may help many abandoned animals with behavior problems, providing another option besides euthanasia. It does not seem unreasonable to offer these approaches as a possible solution and consider trying them with appropriate patients. IVC Winter 2024
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nutrition nook
PANCREATITIS IN PETS
— an integrative and nutritional approach BY NANCY BRANDT, DVM, OMD, CVC, CVA, CVMA
An in-depth look at the most effective integrative and nutritional therapies for treating and preventing pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
Pancreatitis is becoming more common in the pet population. From a Western perspective, the primary cause is thought to be too much fat in the diet. Is it possible it goes deeper than that? This article looks at how pancreatitis in dogs and cats can be treated and prevented using an integrative approach, with emphasis on the importance of an evolutionary carnivorous diet.
DOGS AND CATS ARE DESIGNED TO EAT A CARNIVOROUS DIET In nature, both cats and dogs are carnivores.1 The anatomy of their temporal mandibular joints and musculature supports a carnivorous diet, as do the type and number of teeth. The gastrointestinal tracts of dogs and cats are also those of a carnivore. As carnivores, cats and dogs are designed to eat the whole prey animal. Predigested and fermented carbohydrates, digestive enzymes and probiotics are all found in the entrails of a kill. Carnivores also eat all the organs, including the pancreas
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and gallbladder, which helps them digest the rest of the animal. The gut microbiome of a wild carnivore is very healthy, and not sterile as it would be on processed food, which means their gut is much better at digesting all proteins and fats. Wild canines will bury bones and allow them to ferment in the soil to eat later. Yet they do not get ill. This is how a predator is designed to eat. They will hunt for days without eating, and then binge. They will eat whatever is available. Carnivores eat the whole animal and then fast again for days as they hunt. They are slim. Their digestive systems have a break to finish digesting before their next meal. Even though predators do binge eat, and are gluttonous at the time of a kill, they do not do this twice a day every 12 hours apart.
CASE REPORT THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING IN CARNIVORES Fasting is a normal part of the carnivore diet. Proteins and fats take a bit longer to digest, so ideally pets should not be fed every day even if they think they should. What we see as hunger is hunting behavior. In nature, carnivores return to where they last found food. This is smart — and predators have to be smart to find food. Begging is a form of hunting and most domesticated pets use it to their advantage. The cat that wakes you at 3am and gets fed, will wake you again at 3am to be fed. The dog that runs to the bowl or barks for food is hunting. Make it harder for them. One study shows that hunting stimulates digestive enzymes and prepares the carnivore to digest their food. Play games with your pets. Take them for a walk before they eat and again afterwards. Break your habit of feeding them when they “ask for it.” In nature, food does not show up on a schedule. Feed them once a day instead of twice. Mornings are best as predators would hunt in the morning then rest until the next hunt. If your pet stops eating, they might be self-imposing a fast. With obese dogs, I will often feed bone broth only for five to ten days to jumpstart their metabolism to lose weight.
Sammie was a 45-pound dachshund who could not roll over. He came in at three years of age with mobility problems his owners wanted acupuncture for. After a lot of discussion about weight loss as the way to help Sammie’s mobility issues, the guardians agreed to fast him for ten days on bone broth. They had been feeding him a dry weightloss formula that had not helped. Both guardians were elderly, so for exercise we put pieces of 2x4 wood across areas in the house where Sammie had to walk, such as the hallway, and used food at either end to get him to move. This routine also helped Dad become more mobile and gain better balance. At ten days, we began to feed Sammie cooked turkey at 2% of his goal body weight of 11 pounds. Over the next three months, we introduced a more balanced diet that was raw and carbohydratefree. At one year on this diet, Sammie weighed 20 pounds and ran around like a puppy. At 1.5 years, he reached his goal weight of 11 pounds and lived pain-free until 18 years of age. Every month, his guardians fasted Sammie for seven days with bone broth, and fed him an evolutionary-appropriate diet with fat instead of carbs as the fuel source.
FASTING AND CATS For cats, fasting for 24 hours is as long as I will go. Otherwise, if they lose weight too fast, they develop hepatic lipidosis. I will slowly convert them to an evolutionary-appropriate diet over one to three months. Portion control and 24-hour fasting once a week will significantly decrease weight in cats. I do warn guardians that if their cats go on a hunger strike, to let them have the food they like and go back to mixing in the new food even more slowly. Cats are more prone to getting addicted to the post-carbohydrate endorphin release.
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Treatment post pancreatitis and/or preventing pancreatitis This process must include repair and maintenance of a healthy gut or Spleen Qi. Since both dogs and cats are carnivores, I try to use food and supplements rather than only herbs to correct the digestive system.
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Change the pet to their evolutionary appropriate diet.1
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Start them on good digestive enzymes designed to break down proteins and fat, not just carbs.
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Start good soil probiotics or even do a fecal transplant (test feces first to see what would be the best complement).
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Give a fermented mineral and vitamin supplement to complement the missing parts of the diet (Cell Aid).
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Use a product to help repair the gut lining (e.g. Thorne or RxVitamins).
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Fast the pet at least once a week for 24 hours in a row.
Give cow bile to help to emulsify fats for easier digestion (Standard Process Cholochol works well).
Limit the amount fed to 2% of an adult’s body weight and adjust per weight gain or loss. Use the digestive culinary essential oils mentioned in the article for absorption: 0.5-1 drop per meal.
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Essential fatty acids must be supplemented in any type of diet and should not be avoided. EFAs are strongly anti-inflammatory, and are needed for repair of all cell membranes and many enzyme systems.1 Take the pet hunting or at least for a walk. Get those digestive juices flowing before feeding them.
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PANCREATITIS AND THE EVOLUTIONARY DIET — A TCM PERSPECTIVE A true holistic approach to pancreatitis is feeding pets their evolutionary diet, repairing their microbiome, and feeding supplements that make up for the lacking parts of a whole animal, such as ferments. If a pet has pancreatitis, TCM diagnosis is usually Stomach Heat with Spleen Qi deficiency. Stomach heat in TCM terms means food in the stomach is not digesting; instead, it is heating up and fermenting. Stomach Heat creates extreme hunger, halitosis and even dental disease. Spleen Qi deficiency is a lack of overall digestive, absorptive and cellular respiration ability. Knowing the TCM pattern tells us to fix the gut and stop giving food that is difficult to digest. Dry food, regardless of what it is made with, is very Hot food and taxing on the gut. Mixing dry food with canned or raw food makes it impossible for either to be digested and does not increase the nutritional complement. Dry food and other commercial non-fresh foods usually contain rancid fats or vegetable-based fats that make them very difficult to digest. Restricting fat in carnivores can be detrimental to many repair mechanisms. Add bile to the diet to help digest fats. Add apple cider vinegar to increase acid in the stomach to help digest proteins, especially if the pet is on acid blockers or protein pump inhibitors. Give dogs and cats food they were meant to digest.
GOOD VS. BAD FATS FOR CARNIVORES Not all fats should be avoided — only the bad fats. Carnivores must have animal fat in the form of linolinic acid. Low fat and vegan diets will not offer good fats. Do not feed super lean meats only, as they will not contain the needed fats. Adding cow bile, not just digestive enzymes, is crucial to digesting and breaking down fats and allowing good absorption. In the TCM world, both chicken and lamb are Hotter foods, so avoid them. Turkey on its own will not have enough fat and neither will fish. So grass-fed beef or bison should be part of the diet. Avoid all vegetable-based fats as they cannot be broken down well and tend to go rancid in commercial foods.
From the AHVMA TREATING PANCREATITIS Treatment during pancreatitis should include IV fluids, NPO and antibiotics, as this condition could lead to death. We should also include topical castor oil compresses over the liver and pancreas using biologically active essential oils of peppermint, coriander and ginger (five drops of each into every 10ml of castor oil — use organic cotton sheets to make the compress). Place the compress on the area and then wrap the pet in a compression shirt to hold the compress in place for ten to 30 minutes. Do not let the pet lick the oil afterwards; it has pulled out toxins and should not be ingested. Bathe the pet in a chemical-free soap to remove the oil. Do this two times a day for the first three days, then weekly for two to three months to clear the inflammatory reaction in the abdomen. When the pet is able to take in food, it should be bland and Cooling in TCM nature. Rabbit blended with sprouted quinoa is a good choice. At this point, oral essential oils that are biologically active and labeled as safe for ingestion may be used. Culinary oils are best, like ginger, peppermint, spearmint, coriander, fenugreek, cumin, etc. Dilute these in coconut oil (which is Cooling) to 25% and rub one or two drops per 25 lbs of body weight on the gums twice a day to settle the digestive system. From a TCM perspective, fats are not the villains when it comes to pancreatitis in dogs and cats. Feeding a carnivorous evolutionary diet, along with implementing the integrative modalities and therapies outlined in this article, can be an effective way to help treat and prevent this increasingly common disease.
Brandt, Nancy, Evolutionary Feeding of Pets, 2017. www.safe4animals.com
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The mindful leader elevating the veterinary profession through innovation, education and advocacy of integrative medicine.
Thank you to all attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors of the 2024 AHVMA Annual Conference and Exhibition! We received positive feedback from all who attended. For the first time, AHVMA is partnering with MBS to bring you a recorded virtual extension of the conference. It gives both attendees and non-attendees of the in-person conference the opportunity to earn continuing education credits from the recorded lectures. Registrants of the virtual extension will have access to CE for all sessions until December 31, 2024. Access to the recordings will be available until August 31, 2025.
NEXT YEAR’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE Save the dates for the 2025 AHVMA Annual Conference and Exhibition. It will take place in West Palm Beach, Florida from September 6 through September 9. Expect over 90 hours of complementary and integrative CE sessions, hands-on labs, and special events. Over the past eight years, AHVMA has applied for and received AAVSB RACE approval for over 80 hours of continuing education. AHVMA will be returning to the Palm Beach County Convention Center and Hilton West Palm Beach. The Hilton is conveniently connected to the Convention Center via a covered walkway.
EXHIBITORS AND SPEAKERS FOR THE 2025 CONFERENCE Current exhibitors and sponsors should receive a copy of the 2025 AHVMA Exhibitor Prospectus very soon. Please contact the AHVMA office if you have any questions. For all other exhibitors, registration will begin in 2025. For speakers, the Conference Program Committee is no longer accepting submissions for the 2025 conference. However, the 2026 Call for Papers portal will open in May 2025. IVC Winter 2024
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