Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care

16/11/2024

Today is World Acupuncture Day, so they tell me!

12/11/2024

I didn't enjoy raising prices this month, but I have to cover the huge rise in office costs that came in this month. I wanted to keep using Provet as it allows me to communicate with referring vets easily and to keep all your records safe on a secure cloud. I won't be paying myself any more, and my only employees are the van and the dogs!

29/10/2024

A holistic vet wouldn't support vaccination... right? Wrong?
Lepto 2 will soon become unavailable. Mine have been on L4 since it came out so... make the change and give your dog the best possible protection.
If your dog has had previous issues with vaccines, their close relatives have, or your dog has underlying health issues then chat to your vet about the most appropriate vaccine schedule.
Also, check out this group...
It started as a bit of a joke because there were no groups about pets that had a medicine, it worked, and nothing bad happened. Which is the experience of the majority. But amongst the silly posts about 'side effects' (sleeping in odd positions, turning into cats etc), you will find caring veterinary professionals who are sympathetic to your fears and offer practical advice and support.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1634206260056214/?ref=share

04/10/2024

Arthritis cases need ongoing support to reduce the risk of flare ups. Acupuncture is a great treatment to use alongside conventional medications!

25/09/2024

As our existing clients know, we try to provide complementary veterinary care at an affordable price. It has been over 2 years since prices last increased, and we have absorbed increases in fuel prices, some expensive van repairs, and increased supply costs.
Ucoming changes to how our practice management system (secure computer records) charges have forced us into increasing prices of our services from November 2024.

24/09/2024

Bonfire season is already underway in Sussex. Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care supports organised public displays as they are easier for pet owners (and humans who have problems with fireworks) to take action to avoid.
It is too late to desensitise your pets now, but it's definitely not too late to make firework displays easier to cope with.
1) Make sure you know when local events are. Public displays should give notice, but check village and school websites and social media too.
2) Discuss calming supplements and medications with your vet now. There are mild natural options right through to drugs that can calm an already scared dog.
3) Get your house ready. Blacking out windows, providing a safe snuggle space, choosing TV or radio that will disguise firework noises, and planning games your dog might enjoy can all help.
4) Plan an escape. Consider taking a drive to a quieter location while the event is on.
5) Change your routine. If you usually walk your dog after dark, change to daytime walking before the firework event to reduce the need for your dog to go out to the toilet during fireworks. Get cats used to returning before dark and being locked in too.
6) Act naturally. Don't ignore your pet if they want some comfort, but try to ignore the bangs and flashes yourself and do activities that keep you and your pet engaged.
7) Contact us about desensitisation and counter conditioning, which we recommend you start in the spring!

20/09/2024

There is a problem with dogs in the UK. Dog bites seem to be on the rise, dog related death and serious injuries are regularly on the news, and rehoming centres are packed with dogs... what's gone wrong?
People aren't thinking hard enough before getting a dog. Dogs have mental and physical needs that must be met for them to be happy contented companions. People aren't learning how dogs communicate, so they miss or misinterpret dogs 'saying' they aren't comfortable until the dog feels forced to snap.
People aren't training their dogs. Much as we want to allow our dogs choices and freedom, we need to set some 'house rules' for their safety and ours. These will vary from home to home, but basics include being able to walk on a loose lead, moving off furniture (including their own bed) when asked, understanding it's ok to be left alone for a while, coming back when called if let off the lead, and learning they don't need to guard food, toys, or people.
Over 1 in 5 people still use aversive training with their dogs. That is training that causes the dog to feel mentally or physically worse. It doesn't make for happy canine housemates. Unfortunately TV trainers often demonstrate these aversive 'quick fix' methods which seldom fix the issues in the long term and never address why the dog did the 'bad' things in the first place.
Choosing the right breed or crossbreed helps a dog fit into your lifestyle, though it is important to understand that life will never be quite the same once you add a dog to your family. Listen if a breeder, trainer, vet, or rehoming centre says that your chosen dog breed might need a rethink.
At Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care we would rather prevent problems than solve them (though we are pretty good at solving them too).
We are happy to offer a pre-puppy (or dog) consultation where we can discuss adding a dog to your family, as well as helping with minor problems before a crisis point is reached.

07/09/2024

Reasons to Bag it and Bin it:
💩 Nobody wants p**p on their shoes💩
💩 Dog p**p can carry bacteria and parasites that can infect people💩
💩Dog p**p can spread illness to other dogs 💩
💩 Dog p**p can carry disease that cause illness in farm animals 💩
💩Dog p**p can damage the ecosystem as drugs used to prevent parasite infestations in dogs can also affect invertebrates in the soil 💩
💩 Leaving dog p**p reflects badly on all dog owners and is a major factor in dogs being banned from public places💩

Always carry p**p bags. Always take p**p home if there isn't a bin. And never hang it in a tree to collect on the way back... you will forget it!

22/08/2024

16/08/2024

ENRICHMENT
Enrichment is all about adding to your dog's life. Our dogs live very controlled lives and don't get to make many decisions. Lead walks don't always provide dog with sufficient mental stimulation and this can lead to boredom, frustration, and problem behaviours.
Enrichment doesn't need to be difficult or expensive. These spaniels are having a great time just sniffing out kibble from the rough grass.
Enrichment activities are especially important when dogs are on limited exercise due to age, injury, or inclement weather.

14/08/2024

Feel free to contact us by email about new behaviour, holistic medicine, and acupuncture cases but be aware that we can't book new patients in until late September.

12/08/2024

An interesting study linking colour to cruciate disease in Labradors...
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/5SaW6MkuXdfX8y26/

29/07/2024

This advice line is a life saver!
https://www.facebook.com/share/h47CvBHXGw9Rzyfy/

Animal PoisonLine is run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) and is the only 24-hour specialised emergency telephone service in the UK dedicated to helping pet owners who are worried their pet may have been exposed to something harmful or poisonous.

Based on the information you provide our vets and scientists will be able to tell you if you need to go to the vets for immediate treatment or whether we can save you the trip.

We have experience of thousands of toxic substances in all animals and cover everything from human drugs, household and garden products, plants, agricultural chemicals to venomous bites and stings.

We recommend saving our number into your phone so you do not have to search the internet when you need us!

23/07/2024

It's not OK to leave a pet in pain.
Pain can be difficult to recognise. Some pets, especially cats and small pets, hide their pain well. Even dogs may be in significant pain but try to carry on as normal.
Subtle symptoms of painful conditions include moving less or more slowly, changes in how obstacles are tackled, behaviour changes, appetite increasing or decreasing, weight gain or loss, altered sleeping patterns, over or undergrooming... the list is really long!
Pain management is a huge part of the work of Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care, both in our acupuncture patients, but also our behaviour cases.
It is vital to treat pain when we find or suspect it. And we have many options available. Some pain may be alleviated by surgical management, and many cases require conventional medicines in the short or long term. Surgery and medications have risks and costs as well as benefits, and we are happy to discuss these. We also offer non-drug options, including acupuncture and herbal medicines. We strongly suggest consulting a vet before starting any herbs or supplements as these may not be suitable or useful in all cases.
Other therapies that can be useful to control pain include physiotherapy, massage, hydrotherapy, TENS, PEMF, and therapeutic laser!
Don't assume there is nothing vets can do for pain or that medications are to be avoided until the last minute. The earlier we deal with pain, the better we can control it.

18/07/2024

About our Vet.
Vicky Payne has been a vet since 2001. She worked in small animal practice for a few years before getting her dream 'James Herriot' job in a truly mixed practice.
Vicky then went back into small animal work but expanded her training to include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and companion animal behaviour and training.
Vicky owns, works, and occasionally breeds English Springer Spaniels. She has been successful in field trials, works her dogs on local shoots, enjoys agility, and has even won classes at Crufts. Game from the shoots finds its way into both Vicky's cooking and into her dogs' diet so nothing is wasted.
Vicky loves to swim, especially in the sea. In the winter Vicky enjoys attending Sussex Bonfires. This might seem an odd pastime for a vet, but organised displays are much better for planning animal safety compared to weeks of random backyard displays. As part of her passion for improving animal welfare Vicky has offered free talks and online advice on managing pets and fireworks.
Vicky works at Companion Care Eastbourne as well as running Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care. She also writes for websites and magazines.
Vicky offers First Aid training courses for pet owners and pet professionals. Vicky's latest venture is offering gundog training for all to give busy working breeds an outlet for their natural energy.
Vicky loves helping pets with her holistic approach and many clients have become friends over the years.
For more information on the serviced we offer email [email protected]
Email communication is preferred.

16/07/2024

How We Work...

Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care is a referral only service. You must be registered with a primary care practice that has 24 hour care arrangements.

We do home visits. We do not have a clinic. Occasionally we will use our field for behaviour consultations.

We offer holistic assessment, bespoke herbal forumaltions, acupuncture, and behaviour consultations.

We do not supply any conventional medications and will refer you back to your primary care vet if blood tests, imaging, surgery, or conventional medication is required.

Our preferred method of communication is email as then we have a record of what has been discussed.

We are usually able to offer initial appointments within a month of enquiry, buy will try to get acute injury cases seen sooner.

Email [email protected] for a referral form, pricing, and appointment availability.

11/07/2024

It's the time of year when there are a lot of social media posts about how children (and adults) should approach dogs safely... but why don't we normalise NOT touching dogs we don't know?
Don't ask if you can stroke them, don't try to touch them, don't offer you hand for a lick. Just look at them! Ask the owner about them, say how much you like them... but don't touch, even if the dog approaches. Approaching for a sniff isn't an invitation to touch.
It's tough to resist those melting eyes and soft fur... but let's have a summer of happier dogs and less dog bites.

25/06/2024

The trouble with the heat for our dogs is not just that it is 29° C outside today, but that less than 2 weeks ago it was 16°C. We can adapt to a sudden change like this by changing what we wear. Dogs can't adapt so quickly.
Choose slow shady wanders at cooler times of day, or miss walks for a couple of days. The weather will be cold and damp again soon enough!