Integrated Veterinary Services

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas one and all!! 🎄🦌🎶🥂

19/12/2024

Welcome to acu in practice! Arthritis is one of the most common conditions that veterinarians treat using acupuncture. Osteoarthritis (the technical term) is accompanied by discomfort (or pain) and reduced or abnormal mobility. These signs are often recognizable to pet parents and nobody wants their pet to be in pain or unable to do the things they love to do!

Before arthritis is advanced, it can be pretty subtle and inconsistent. As veterinarians, we rely on pet parents to let us know when they notice ANYTHING that may indicate discomfort or a change in mobility. We appreciate the heads up so that we can fully evaluate your animal and start working to delay progression of arthritis as soon as possible. Acupuncture is one of the best ways to do this!

Starting in middle age, many pets (like humans) begin having muscle or soft tissue (ligaments, tendons) tension that doesn’t just “go away.” If we can start treating animals at this pre- or early phase of the development of arthritis, that would be ideal. Acupuncture can be used to release this tension, improving comfort and mobility, improving circulation and delaying the progression of bony changes that come along with arthritis.

Once the arthritis has set in, we can still help! At this phase, we are still focusing on mobility and comfort, but will likely add in some acupuncture points to support specific organ systems that are involved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective. TCM helps us identify which “batteries” are getting low in senior pets.

In super seniors with super advanced arthritis, we mainly shift to providing comfort. This is PRICELESS (and if you’ve had an aging pet, you know what I mean!”) Being able to help super senior animals feel better, even as they near the final days of their life, is a true gift.

So, if you do notice abnormal movement or ANYTHING that could indicate your pet is less than 100% comfortable, please let your vet know… or find an acupuncture vet near you to step in and help your pet live the most comfortable life possible!

This post is created by Nell Ostermeier, DVM, CVA, FAAVA and is intended for informational use, not to replace medical advice. Nell teaches for the IVAS acupuncture course as well as offers online CE for integrative vets. You can find her in her private vet-only FB group – Every Day Acupuncture for Vets!

Pictured below is one of my favorite patients of all time…he didn’t start acupuncture until almost 15 years old and we were still able to help him live a more comfortable, mobile life!

18/12/2024

Thanks so much Nicky Grant and the Win Clinic for a lovely creative evening…feeling very Christmassy ###

16/12/2024

We are still looking for bendy dogs! Does your dog: lie with their back legs out behind them or drape themselves over things to sleep? Do they seem to have a lot of skin? Commonly more flexible dogs are cockerpoos, retrievers, corgis and pugs to name a few. If you think your dog might be stretchy and you would be happy to participate in our study on canine hypermobility please get in touch with us !

The assessment is completely non invasive and carried out at your dog’s pace. We measure joint angles 📐 and skin extensibility using a tape measure. We will also ask you to fill in some behavioural questionnaires.

Our next data collection day is Saturday 18th January. We look forward to hearing from you!

12/12/2024

Love our Pearl 🥰

04/12/2024

This emerging imaging modality can provide vital information on sources of lameness and pain in dogs and cats

30/11/2024

30/11/2024

27/11/2024

Book your appointment now
📞 01823 426490
📨 [email protected]

21/11/2024

What health condition is a leading cause of elective euthanasia in dogs, possibly THE leading cause?

Answer: osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs. Initially affecting moving joints, it can result in widespread debilitation. It is progressive and irreversible. It is a leading cause of elective euthanasia in dogs, possibly THE leading cause.

Did you know that osteoarthritis is a disease of younger dogs? Osteoarthritis affects at least 20% of dogs older than one year (recent figures claim 35%) and 80% of dogs over eight years of age.

In younger dogs under diagnosis & under management results from failure in early recognition. Not surprising as dogs make value-led decisions which can be misleading with regards to pain magnitude i.e. chasing a ball frenetically does not exclude severe, chronic pain.

We should hold our hands up that under diagnosis and under management can also result from failure by us, as clinicians, to present the condition in a more positive light and failure by us to allay potential fears regarding medication.

For senior patients, caregivers inherent acceptance of ‘slowing down’ leaves palliative treatment dismissed.

And not forgetting cats too. Osteoarthritis is more common and more severe in older cats. A study found 90% of cats over 12 years of age have radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease if spinal osteoarthritis is included; 60-90% if looking at limb joints alone. And cats are absolute masters at hiding clinical signs, as we all know.

As a disease osteoarthritis is usually advanced by the time clinical signs are suspected. Only half of all in–pain canine osteoarthritis cases are treated. If left untreated negative consequences of osteoarthritis may embed and become resistant to future attempts to treat. There is potential for musculoskeletal deterioration, deep seated central sensitisation (an amplification of neural signalling within the central nervous system that elicits pain hypersensitivity) and, as in humans, there is a correlation between chronic pain-driven mood disorders & cognitive decline.

Undoubtably care of companions with osteoarthritis is emotionally consuming, physically demanding, and carries significant financial pressures – all potential barriers to healthcare choices. I often think it is the hardest chronic condition a family can be faced with for their pet.

A single mono-pharmacy approach is not enough. Polypharmacy is usually required to target different parts of the pain pathway.
Single mono-pharmacy is certainly not enough to be able to declare that ‘nothing more can be done’. Then anticipatory grief can negatively skew choices: euthanasia may be chosen or veterinary care abandoned.

In reality there is much to be optimistic about in the care of osteoarthritis. All treatment options-conservative (pharmaceutical, physical therapy etc), surgical, regenerative (e.g. stem cell therapy) can be discussed. Osteoarthritis welcomes an integrative and multi-disciplinary approach.

We can be fearful of medication and yet accepting of obesity; yet there can be a two-year difference in life expectancy between lean and overweight.

Simple environmental enrichment tools e.g. extended feeding, nose work, can be introduced & offer a substitute for activities that can no longer be engaged in. Pain relief by distraction and mental stimulation.

Increased social contact allows for emotional engagement and release of pain relieving endorphins.

There can be a significant negative impact on the caregivers’s mental health of long walks no longer being routine and use of simulated mobility, a dog buggy, considered on this point alone. Increased car rides are another option.

A caregiver’s prerogative is to choose to invest more or less in comfort care as the disease progresses. Yes, there are a lot of treatment options available but intelligent choices can be made as to which to prioritise. Financial input should always be targeted where possible to proven treatment options first. The rest can be optional add ons. With changing patient & caregiver needs as the disease progresses care must be flexible.

It can feel overwhelming and difficult to know where to look for reliable information. It is such a vast field that there isn’t time in a 10-15 minute primary care veterinary consult to cover it all. In looking in to the options available to you as a family in helping your companion stay comfortable with mobility issues I always recommend visiting Canine Arthtitis Management at https://caninearthritis.co.uk/
Please see also CAM’s main page and additional pages Holly’s Army and CAM Product Share & Review.
CAM is a fantastic & reliable resource.

We are also very lucky to have here in the Southwest access to highly qualified veterinary pain specialists and veterinary physical therapists. Along with your primary care practice this multidisciplinary team can help you care for your companion & help them enjoy an improved quality of life and maybe even an extended lifespan.

21/11/2024

10/11/2024

Brilliant conference and thanks to all the organisers!

01/11/2024

31/10/2024

Great to be here in Capetown 😍

14/10/2024

Great team at Whiskers Vets! 🤩

Are you looking for a veterinary practice whose team you know and trust?

Do you want to see the same familiar faces when you come in for your appointments?

Is personalised care for your pet something you will not compromise on?

Then you’ll feel right at home at Whiskers. 🥰

If you’d like to register with us, follow this link or give us a call and we’ll help you!

🔗 https://whiskersvets.co.uk/register/