Dogs have a tendency to get into weird foreign objects, which is a problem that can often force their caretakers to go to veterinary emergency clinics. At times, these are serious issues that can be life threatening. Like young children who put everything in their mouths, younger dogs will eat and chew on a lot of things. When items get lodged in the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting will result. Abdominal pain can occur and cause tenderness when touched. With the repeated vomiting, dehydration follows, electrolytes are depleted and the intestines become more tense. The cycle continues as the dog becomes toxic. Surgery is often presented as the option of choice.

But what can one do to stop the vicious emergency cycle that ends up as a $3,000-$10,000 surgical emergency bill. Dogs eat a lot of funky stuff and most of it passes. This first aid I propose in this article, may avoid more serious complications in most circumstances in which surgery would have been the only solution offered; trying this protocol first should be standard procedure to avoid unnecessary expense and unnecessary harm to the patient.

Integrative treatment of Gastrointestinal Blockage:
I want to show you six cases of success using a non-surgical approach to providing a positive affect on the GI tract.
Do not give any drugs to stop the GI tract as we want to work with an “awake gut.”

1) Hydration – With the continuous vomiting, the body is dehydrated. This can be stressful for all the organ systems, so giving intravenous or subcutaneous fluids is needed. I use ozonated saline subcutaneous with Tachyon energy placed outside the glass cylinders, as it hydrates and also delivers O3 which converts to O2. The benefits of the ozone are to bring down inflammation and it acts as an antimicrobial for anaerobic bacteria. The ozone delivers oxygen to the irritated tissue as it displaces CO2. By increasing the O2 it helps the traumatized gut area and gives oxygen to the stable tissue. I also recommend using Vitamin C and B-complex (½ -1 cc of each is suggested) to act as an anti-oxidant, preventing free radical damage from the oxidation

2) Lubrication – The gut becomes dried out and the object lodged in the stomach or gut will stick to the mucosa. I therefore give a bolus of Vaseline petroleum jelly (approx 1 tablespoon per 10 lbs). Give Vaseline at the initial diagnosis and follow up an hour later with a Vaseline and bread sandwich, which acts as a lubricant and a bolus to help push the foreign body toward its exit

3) Homeopathy – Homeopathic remedies allow the body’s vital energy to respond to a particular symptom. Nux Vomica is the remedy for overeating or eating something toxic. I give a 200C Nux Vomica mixed in water placed on the tongue about 15 minutes after the petroleum ingestion. Calendula helps with the intestines to become less inflamed and move more normally.
To give 200C or 30C Calendula after the 1st and 2nd petroleum sandwich at home
To give 200C or 30C Arnica for pain .if needed

4) Acupuncture – Place acupuncture needles in the following points:
ST 36 ST 25 – for GI pain and to increase the normal peristaltic patterns
PC6 – for the nausea
BL 20, 18 – to help the liver and spleen
Bai Hui and GV14 – as a balancing point
CV 1 (just above the anus, turn with stimulation)
LI 4, 11 – to balance the large intestine
BL 60 – for pain
SP 6 – to support the yin organs
GV 22 – to settle the nerves, if the dog is anxious
GB 20 – for stimulating the immune system and helping the gall bladder
Leave the needles in for about 35-45 minutes.

Then send the dog home.
Allowing the dog to be home in its own environment allows the body to relax and the GI tract to initiate a more normal peristaltic movement. Have the owner walk the dog every 15 minutes. They should walk their dog in its common places so the dog will not be stressed with new smells and sights. We want to get the normal parasympathetic digestive actions to resume and the gut to push the foreign body out. Instruct the pet owner to always focus positive thought about seeing the foreign body pass. Always be positive and believe it can pass. Further instruct the owner to repeat with 2 Vaseline sandwiches, to be followed by Nux Vomica and calendula. If the dog continues to vomit as it did prior to initial therapy, you may need to give another dose of fluid therapy. Therefore, send the client home with a 1000c bag of spiked Lactated Ringers with 2cc B complex and 2cc Vitamin C to giving about 50cc/10 lbs.

After 4-5 hours, if you are not seeing a reduction of vomiting and some interest in defecating, a re-evaluation may be needed. Remind your clients to always stay in touch with their veterinarian.

The cases discussed below involving my clients, involved animals who each started with a healthy gut. Many of my clients feed their pets raw food, which establishes and maintains vigor and stamina of healthy flora. We resume the good quality digestive enzymes and probiotics and some herbs to help settle the GI tract. I use Rx Vitamins Nutrigest, as it has quality herbal and nutraceuticals. I also use Animal Apothecary Phytomucil with slippery elm, marshmallow root and plantain.

Case 1: Renny, a Three year old Chihuahua
Presented after 24 hours of vomiting and abdominal distress after eating a popsicle stick. No stools seen in past 12 hours. He was dehydrated and his mucous membranes were congested. His temperature was 101.8. His abdomen was sensitive and a little doughy. All options were discussed, and the integrative approach to the gastrointestinal blockage was started immediately. I gave about 40cc ozonated saline and followed the protocol. He totally relaxed and slept through the acupuncture treatment, which was his first rest in 24 hours. After 4 hours, he seemed more comfortable at home. 2 hours later he went outside and had a bowel movement. The stick passed the next day.
Case 2: Kona, a Chocolate Black Labrador, 11 months old.
Presented after vomiting for 12 hours. In addition, his last stool 12 hours before had fiber and threads in it. No stools in rectum when presented. Kona was mildly dehydrated. His owner was given all options and chose to do the Integrative approach to Gastrointestinal Blockage. We gave 180 cc of ozonated fluids and did all the rest of the protocol. After several hours, he seemed less anxious and passed Vaseline laden feces and then slept. In the morning Kona passed 2 feet of a towel and was fine afterwards.
Case 3: Sampson, German Shepherd, 11 Months old
Presented after 18 hours’ episode of vomiting. Rectal examination showed scanty stools, and the abdomen was tender and doughy. The dog was not dehydrated, but was given 200cc of ozonated saline SQ. The owner was given all options and chose the Integrative Approach to gastrointestinal blockage. Within 3 hours Sampson was so much more relaxed. He also had pain in his rear legs and back, so he got the arnica as well. He started defecating about 6 hours later and started passing the petroleum. His GI tract needed some more stabilization with phytomucil. Samson improved after 48 hours and was normal. We never saw any foreign material pass, but the owner did not see every bowel movement.
Case 4: Neitche, a Doberman, 7 years old
Presented to Tufts Veterinary Emergency after 8 hours of vomiting and appearing as if he were having a torsion. He had been diagnosed at Tufts with Pyloric Obstruction with a recommendation of immediate surgery. He had a Hct of 85 and had been given IV fluids. X-rays were taken which showed granular material obstructing the pyloris. The owner asked for acupuncture, but was told that acupuncture would not do anything for this problem.
Instead of the expensive emergency surgery that was recommended, the owner had Neitche released to come to my practice to get an integrative treatment. He was given 150 cc Ozone and the Integrative Approach to Gastrointestinal Blockage. Within 3 hours, he started passing the Vaseline and feeling more comfortable. Shortly after the Vaseline appeared, granular sand began passing with mucous. (After the fact, we thought that he probably ate salted snow with sand that was plowed off the driveway, and possibly some cat litter.)

Mollie a spayed 6 year old Springer Spaniel
Presented to the clinic two hours after eating a 1X8 foot piece of cotton and a similar size piece of silk. She was not yet in any abdominal discomfort. The owner wanted to try to be proactive and possibly avoid a trip for x-ray and surgery. So the Integrative treatment for gastrointestinal blockage was started. That night she started passing big chunks of fabric lubricated with Vaseline. Some of the fibers actually were partially digested. She was fine that whole day and did not miss a step.

Champagne A 8 year Male Neutered Yellow Lab.
Champagne had been doing great on raw food change. His coat was the best it had ever been. Recently his stool had been soft but his owner gave him a cooked steak bone, not part of a raw meat diet as the cooked bones make pointy shards and can cause intestinal damage. Raw bone would have been fine if it was chewed. Well he chewed parts of it but the final big chunk went down. He had been vomiting since and after a few hours they brought Champ in. The same protocol was done to this dog with abdominal sensitivity. And within 3 hours he was so much better. He had a few Vaseline stools and was able to go on a trip with the family the next day.

Summary
Each client came back for another ozone treatment and the dogs all went back to their healthy diets. The owners each saved at least $3,000, and the dogs avoided unnecessary surgical intervention.
By combining alternative modalities, we were able to re-balance the body enough to allow the GI tract to correct itself and resume the flow of waste material. Each component played a part.
The hydration enabled the body to start functioning more normally. The lubrication gave a much needed softening and lubricant to the internal lining of the gut. The homeopathic energetically balanced the vital energy to influence the GI tract as a response to the remedy. The acupuncture moved the stagnant Qi surrounding the gastrointestinal organs. All relieved pain and re-balanced the stomach, liver, small intestines and large intestines. The positive intent and allowing the dog to relax in its own environment allowed the normal parasympathetic digestive process to continue moving the case in a hopeful direction.
To paraphrase a statement from a very different context: “How many anecdotes does it take to make a recommended course of treatment?” Set forth above are four of many anecdotes that should be used to identify a course of treatment that is preferable to unnecessary and potentially harmful surgical intervention. There are times when surgery is necessary – after other (better) treatments are unsuccessful; but not as an only option and an option of first choice.

Some of the owners letters in their own words.

Just wanted to write a note to MASH thanking them for helping my Chihuahua Renny.

Renny, like so many others, loves to chew and eat – EAT ANYTHING! After a long day of playing he managed to eat a popsicle stick. He mood declined significantly. Stopped playing and eating for 24 hours – and extremely lethargic. The pain in his eyes was awful. Currently, all my animals are being taken care of by MASH, Dr. Margo Roman, so I immediately called Dr. Roman. The wonderful thing was that SHE ANSWERED THE PHONE! We were able to take Renny right in for an appt. The situation was obvious. Renny was very uncomfortable, could not lay down without his butt in the air. Wouldn’t eat and had obvious pain. After speaking with Dr. Roman who we pride on Holistic care, there were several options. One option was to take Renny to Tufts, the other was to treat surgically, the other was to treat via homeopathic med and holistic care. Due to hesitation of evasive surgery , we wanted to take care of this naturally. Dr. Roman provide Vaseline via oral means as well as acupuncture. Renny immediately became relaxed with the acupuncture. He almost fell asleep standing up!!!! The Vaseline was tough, but it worked. Renny ingested this material and within 24 hours passed the popsicle stick. Follow-up consisted of candela and other holistic measures. He is now being his usual pain in the butt!

I would never trust my animals to anyone else. We adopted Renny from a humane society and his is doing great. He is an “all natural” guy a has and he likes it that way. Dr. Margo Roman saved me thousands of dollars not to mention she took care of Renny without evasive surgery, pills, etc. The acupuncture eliminated his pain while his body prepared to pass the foreign object – NO DRUGS. 

I would like all my animals to live a natural life. That is how it should be. We as humans chose to domesticate them for our benefit, lets give them what they deserve

Here is a picture of Renny –he picked his Halloween Costume himself – just for you Dr. Roman!!!!


Kindest Regards,

Lori Levangie

The Kona Chronicles –

December 4th started out like any other day. I took my puppy for a long 3 mile walk and, as usual, he wagged his tail the entire time giving not a single clue to the drama that was about to unfold.

Kona is a very curious black lab puppy who finds the world to be a wondrous place. Batting the doorstop with his paw amuses him for hours, even a dead fly can serve as a playmate until he accidentally swallows it in an attempt to throw it up in the air. It is without question, however, that Kona finds eating things to be a greatest form of exploration.  Lately, his interest has shifted from paper to cloth. In fact, we had found him in his crate the previous afternoon sitting amidst a totally shredded towel. It looked as if he had thrown us a welcome home party and was delighted by his handiwork creating confetti. Surprise!

After the confetti episode, I vowed not to leave any cloth in his crate while we were gone. But my good intentions had come too late. Mid-day I got a frantic voicemail from a normally calm puppy sitter. Apparently Kona was both vomiting and going to the bathroom all over the place. My greatest concern, however, was that he was crying nonstop. Being an extremely upbeat puppy, Kona had never before showed any signs of pain, discomfort or unhappiness. He might throw up or have diarrhea but never both at the same time and not accompanied by crying. This was serious and both of us knew it. The puppy sitter said she was not a medical expert but she could feel a hard mass in his tummy and was worried there was something  blocking his GI tract. I dropped everything I was doing at work and rushed home while my husband called MASH to alert them to what was coming their way.

Margo greeted me calmly and confirmed what the puppy sitter suspected. Something was in there all right. Since Kona was still able to eliminate normally, it suggested the situation had not yet elevated to critical so Margo asked if it was okay to take a conservative approach first to see if we could dislodge naturally and less invasively whatever was in his belly. Kona was treated to a large glob of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. While not thrilled by this offer at first, with a small amount of coaxing, he gobbled the stuff right up. After 15 minutes a dose of the homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica and then Calendula  She hooked him up and gave him subcutaneous zone and filled him with highly oxygenated saline to try and reduce any inflammation. This treatment was followed by aquapuncture – we did not attempt acupuncture as Kona was so keyed up at this point he would not stay still and the needles never would have stood a chance, We were sent on our way. I was told to feed him more Vaseline on white bread for dinner that night and nothing else followed by dosages of Nux vomica and Calendula..

Driving home, I was a nervous wreck.  What could he possibly have eaten to cause such a problem? And how much? Would we need to rush him to Tufts during the night if he didn’t get rid of whatever was in there? Meanwhile, exhausted from the treatments he had received at MASH, Kona fell asleep in the passenger seat. I took this as a good sign. If he could relax enough to sleep, maybe his digestive system could function at a high enough level to “do its thing”??!

An hour later, I fed Kona a HUGE glob of Vaseline amidst two slices of white bread. After his ordeal, he was starving and gobbled it down in two bites. For the next couple of hours, my husband and I sat with him and stroked him obsessively trying to calm him and watch for any signs that things were getting worse. After several attempts, my husband took Kona out for one last walk around 10pm. Miraculously, Kona passed the obstruction. He became very anxious at the strange appearance of a towel coming out his backside. My husband, also in disbelief, performed a “poopectomy” to help the process along and, as if in a bad comedy act, pulled out two feet of towel from Kona’s butt. They both returned home, proud and exuberant, as though they’d just won gold medals at the Olympics. Amazingly, Kona had no side effects afterwards except for a voracious appetite.  We knew he was back to normal! 

While he still loves to get into things, we have learned our lesson.  We adhere to a firm rule not to leave anything in the crate with Kona — not even the crate pad advertised as “indestructible” that he pulled apart in three hours.

We are so thankful to Margo and everyone at MASH for helping us through this tough time.  It is distressing to think about the costly x-rays and surgery that could have resulted for Kona.  Dr Roman’s natural homeopathic approach was so much more sensible, equally or more effective, and ten times better for the health of both the animal and his owners. Pet insurance sales are flourishing due to the frequency that these “swallowing a towel “episodes occur. Now that my puppy is out of harms way, I try and share this story with everyone to let them know that they have options. Pet owners should be sure to consider alternative methods when available as they often result in greater success and even better cocktail stories.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in regards to a recent experience I had with my eight year old Doberman Pinscher. I have had him from a pup, and he has been fed a raw diet, and treated through a holistic/integrated veterinarian – Dr Margo Roman of MASH in Hopkinton. Until this point he has been a very healthy animal, and has had no major illnesses or issues. On December 26, 2008 my dog became seriously ill – vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Initially I had believed that he had a mild stomach upset, and I attempted to
Manage the situation by giving him small amount of canned pumpkin, and a dosage of Arsenicum Album – to no avail. As the evening progressed, he became worse – vomiting almost continuously unable to even keep small amounts of water down. Eventually he also had a bloody mucus discharge from his nose. I took him to a teaching hospital for emergency care.

I am truly grateful that this facility is open 24 hours a day. The intravenous fluids that they (Dr. S) administered is what I believed saved my dogs life. He apparently had ingested a foreign substance that was the cause of this violent stomach upset. I do however have some issues with how things proceeded from there.

I was advised that my dog was very very sick, and that he should be admitted. Depending upon what preliminary blood work and x rays would show surgery was a definite probability. I stated that I was unclear as to the definition of ‘admission’ and the potential cost that would entail, and although I wished them to continue to evaluate and treat my dog, I also would be calling my own vet (Dr Margo Roman of MASH in Hopkinton) both to update her on the condition of my pet, and to seek her advice/consultation on the situation. Dr. Roman suggested that I proceed with the diagnostics (blood work, x rays and ultrasound) and see if acupuncture was an option for the nausea. I asked for the same, but was informed that acupuncture was not an option.
At approximately 10:45 am the doctor informed me that the radiologist concurred that my dog needed surgery. I again stated that she needed to conference with my own vet, and I called MASH to inform them of the prognosis. Dr. S returned and informed me that my vet was discussing options that she was not familiar with, and Veterinary Teaching Hospital would proceed with the discharge. Should Dr Roman feel surgery was still the best option, I would return to veterinary teaching hospital. The intravenous catheter was left in place should it be needed for further fluid therapy.

I requested the x rays to bring to Dr Roman, but was informed that they were not available, nor could they ‘burn them’ to a disk for me to take. I was told that they would email them to Dr Roman. (I had never been shown the x rays either)

I brought my dog to MASH where Dr Roman examined him, administered an oral dosage of Vaseline, performed Acupuncture, and administered ozone therapy. She gave him a dosage of nux vomica, and more IV fluids. She suggested that I take my dog home where he would be less stressed, and vigilantly watch for any further signs of distress. I did as instructed, and am most happy to report that my dog fully recovered. Within several hours his distress abated. He had a bowel movement, and showed an interest in eating/drinking. The next day we returned to MASH for a follow up visit, another ozone therapy treatment and removal of the catheter. He continued to improve, and returned to normal habits and his normal energy level.

I realize that individual practitioners of veterinary medicine can have different opinions on how best to treat a case, but I also wish to convey the information that surgery is NOT always the only answer, nor always the correct one. The discharge summary for Foster indicates that financial reasons were considered in my ‘refusing’ the ultrasound (one of several points taken with the ‘discharge summary’. Due to the immediacy of the situation I did not read the discharge until the next day. I did not refuse the ultrasound – indeed I thought my dog had undergone the ultrasound (and I believed that was what prompted the statement that the ‘radiologist concurs the dog needs surgery’. I had refused surgery for my dog without first visiting my own vet) In the current economy, finances ARE a concern. That does not make me any less of a responsible or loving pet owner. I believe that responsible pet owners should also be offered alternative, less invasive therapies whenever possible, especially at a teaching hospital. Although surgery could have been an option, the fact is that I was not offered ANY OTHER option, and was made to feel that my ‘financial concerns’ were the primary motivating factor in refusing the ‘best’ option of surgery. Should other alternatives have been tried and failed, I am sure that I would have likely opted for the surgery to save my pet. Should even more of a wait and see approach been taken (i.e. it has been x amount of time lapsed since the dog last showed signs of distress, in x amount of time if xy or z does or does not happen it will be critical to operate) I would have felt more confident that the least invasive protocols were being followed. Integrated veterinary medicine should be the standard of care at the only animal hospital in New England directly affiliated with the premier veterinary school in the area. I had expected that such a facility would be familiar with cutting edge treatments and integrated care, and not refer to holistic treatment as ‘never heard of’ options. With the help of the treatments administered at MASH my dog was able to rid himself of the ingested substance, avoid unnecessary surgery (and potential complications associated with the same) within 24 hours.

I also am disturbed by the indifference and isolated approach taken by Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Contact with my own veterinarian was made only at my steadfast insistence, prior to the discharge. Despite my specific request for the xrays ( to be viewed by my own vet), they were neither given to me NOR to my vet, despite repeated requests. Phone calls from MASH to Veterinary teaching hospital have gone unreturned. Personal differences or philosophies aside, as a consumer and loving pet owner I should be able to expect coordination of care of my pet, and assume at least a basic level of cooperation between the Hospital and my personal veterinarian. To put it mildly, I am disappointed with the same.

Traditional medicine need not be at odds with alternative therapies, rather ALL options should be integrated , so the consumer can be assured that the best interest of the animal is the primary concern. Please consider the benefits of integrative, alternative veterinary care. It works.

Sincerely
Jane Doherty
Ashland MA 01721

Just wanted to write a note to MASH thanking them for helping my Chihuahua Renny.

Renny, like so many others, loves to chew and eat – EAT ANYTHING! After a long day of playing he managed to eat a popsicle stick. He mood declined significantly. Stopped playing and eating for 24 hours – and extremely lethargic. The pain in his eyes was awful. Currently, all my animals are being taken care of by MASH, Dr. Margo Roman, so I immediately called Dr. Roman. The wonderful thing was that SHE ANSWERED THE PHONE! We were able to take Renny right in for an appt. The situation was obvious. Renny was very uncomfortable, could not lay down without his butt in the air. Wouldn’t eat and had obvious pain. After speaking with Dr. Roman who we pride on Holistic care, there were several options. One option was to take Renny to Tufts, the other was to treat surgically, the other was to treat via homeopathic med and holistic care. Due to hesitation of evasive surgery , we wanted to take care of this naturally. Dr. Roman provide Vaseline via oral means as well as acupuncture. Renny immediately became relaxed with the acupuncture. He almost fell asleep standing up!!!! The Vaseline was tough, but it worked. Renny ingested this material and within 24 hours passed the popsicle stick. Follow-up consisted of candela and other holistic measures. He is now being his usual pain in the butt!

I would never trust my animals to anyone else. We adopted Renny from a humane society and his is doing great. He is an “all natural” guy a has and he likes it that way. Dr. Margo Roman saved me thousands of dollars not to mention she took care of Renny without evasive surgery, pills, etc. The acupuncture eliminated his pain while his body prepared to pass the foreign object – NO DRUGS. 

I would like all my animals to live a natural life. That is how it should be. We as humans chose to domesticate them for our benefit, lets give them what they deserve

Here is a picture of Renny –he picked his Halloween Costume himself – just for you Dr. Roman!!!!


Kindest Regards,

Lori Levangie

MEDICAL HONEY FOR WOUND HEALING
Signe Beebe DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVT
Integrative Veterinary Center
Sacramento, CA USA

HONEY
All civilizations have relied on natural therapeutic agents to meet their primary health care needs at some point in time. Honey and honey containing salves have been used to relieve pain, promote wound healing and to treat sores, boils, cuts, abrasions, insect bites, burns and skin disorders for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks physicians and the Egyptians were among the first to record the beneficial effects of honey for wound care. The ancient Egyptians were the earliest recorded beekeepers and honey for wound healing was an integral part of the “Three Healing Gestures”. This included cleaning the wound, applying a salve made from honey, lint, (vegetable fiber) and grease (animal fat), and bandaging the wound. Despite the long history of honey for medical conditions, it largely fell out of favor in conventional medical practice during the era of modern antibiotics in the 1970s. Due to the development of antibiotic resistant wound infections, the use of honey for wound care has undergone a renaissance in the last few years. Today honey is being investigated and incorporated into modern therapeutic wound healing products. Honey is particularly useful for the treatment of poorly healing or chronically infected wounds and for those animals that develop undesirable side effects such as intolerance or resistance to conventional pharmaceuticals.  

Not all honeys have equal medicinal value. The anti-microbial activity of the honey has been shown to vary in quality according to its floral source. Historical records show that when honey was prescribed for a medical condition the type and location of the honey was nearly always specified. Doctors throughout history knew that honey obtained from specific floral sources produced better clinical results than honey from other plants or regions. Modern laboratory testing of many different types of honeys using bacterial cultures to evaluate their antimicrobial effects have validated this clinical observation. Not all honeys have equal medicinal value. The anti-microbial activity of the honey has been shown to vary in quality according to its floral source. Historical records show that when honey was prescribed for a medical condition the type and location of the honey was nearly always specified. Doctors throughout history knew that honey obtained from specific floral sources produced better clinical results than honey from other plants or regions. Modern laboratory testing of many different types of honeys using bacterial cultures to evaluate their antimicrobial effects have validated this clinical observation. Recent investigation and research on honey shows that it contains antibacterial compounds that are effective against many common antibiotic resistant bacteria. In addition it has been shown to inhibit the growth of a wide range of fungi, protozoa and viruses, and may have use for the treatment of cancer patients.

Honey is composed of 17% water and 82% sugar (primarily glucose and fructose), proteins, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and a variety of floral phytochemicals. It is these phytochemicals that give honey its characteristic color, flavor, and biochemical properties (anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial). In essence, honey may be thought of as a concentrated plant fluid with added bee proteins that makes honey an “herbal medicine”. All honey has high osmolarity, low pH, low water content and upon dilution produces hydrogen peroxide that is responsible for its antibacterial properties. However not all honeys exhibit equal hydrogen peroxide activity and so vary in their antimicrobial potency. There are also certain types of honey that contain floral phytochemical factors that are responsible for strong non-peroxide antimicrobial effects. These honeys maintain their antimicrobial properties even when diluted by large amounts of wound exudate. The Leptospermum spp (manuka and jellybush) honeys from New Zealand and Australian are in this group and are currently under intense scrutiny for use as wound healing “medical grade honeys”. In 2007 the FDA approved the use of a line of manuka honey based wound dressings called MediHoney that are distributed by DermaSciences Inc.

For more information on medical honey: www.bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/special.shtml and www.dermasciences.com

Thanks for your support! Here is a link to a podcast!

http://m.ruvr.ru/data/2013/03/23/1340965840/Web_Prism%2053_%20Part%20III_Palmquist_Honey_PRISM_AFT_032013.mp3

When we use probiotics to support gut health we are using 1-20 species of microorganisms.  According to Dr. Alexander Khorut, M.D., a gastroenterologist at University of Minnesota, he has said that we have from 300-500 species from the mouth to the anus, not including various sub-species. When significant gastrointestinal  problems occur, the microorganisms need to be replaced. A technique which has the hundreds of species available at once is called MBRT. Micro-Biome Restoration Therapy may be the most efficient way to accomplish that goal. If 85 percent of our immune system comes from our gut, then a lack of these normal symbiotic microbes could be the reason for failure of the immune system resulting in disease, cancer and autoimmune issues.

In dogs, eating of feces or copraphagia is a normal behavior of dogs that is frowned about by pet owners. But it is normal. In the wild after a canine or feline kills its prey the first part of the eating starts in the abdomen where intestines and visceral organs are injested. The animal receives all this pre and probiotics with the digestion of the digested plant material that give them fiber and microbes. Is there an innate need for animals to seek out stool because they are looking to support their gut health? 

There are multiple peer reviewed articles that have showed that both oral and rectal infusion of fecal material in humans has been able to reintroduce a balanced GI tract and stop a clostridium difficile overgrowth. There are so many more beneficial microbes that have yet to be discovered and appreciated.

Most recently was an article in the New York Times  When Pills Fail This Option Provides a Cure. The article talks about the fecal transplant in New England Journal of Medicine Article January 16, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/health/disgusting-maybe-but-treatment-works-study-finds.html?pagewanted=2&ref=newenglandjournalofmedicine

Here at MASH – Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton, we have done over 30 MBRT’s/ fecal transplants on dogs and cats. The results are so positive that we want to share these cases and encourage other veterinarians about how this is such a positive option. We have also done supportive nutrition and have included ozone therapy to increase the O2 in the body and allow more positive O2 utilization.

We always introduce the MBRT to animals that have had priming of the gut flora with digestive enzymes, probiotics, additional whole food glandulars and raw meat diets. Giving all the benefits of bringing the new microbiomes into a new home which has some of the comforts of the original host may allow the balance to survive. Some of our cases have had such a huge positive difference with one dosage, that once was all they needed.

Some have had a two week improvement and then seem to be better but not as good as the initial implant. We are thinking that like probiotic therapy it is done after two weeks and we are seeing the need to repeat the implant. Therefore, caretakers will take home the MRBT material and keep it frozen, removing pieces to be given 1-2 times a week. We are still trying to figure out how long and how much is needed to get a gut back in balance.

We give glandulars to animals to support the glands that are in need. We give prebiotics and probiotics to support the gut’s flora. But if we could give possibly the normal flora and the pre and probiotic in a form that would be consistent, that would naturally be the best method. We might simply use a healthy donor to replenish another individual’s micro ecology.

Margo Roman, DVM
MASH Main St Animal Services of Hopkinton

tel:508-435-4077

Biophotonic Blood Therapy BBT

We have added a new modality here at MASH to help stimulate the immune system. It has been used for over 80 years in humans around the world. A new adaptation makes it adaptable for treating animals. It also has been called Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation .

It is the process of taking 1/1/2 -3 cc’s blood from a patient and adding heparin to the blood, and then adding ozonated saline to dilute the blood. By diluting the blood you can get more light through the specimen. Adding the O2/O3 saline increases the oxygen in the blood and kills some viruses and other organisms. The blood is run through Ultraviolet light inside a quartz cuvette. This photoluminescense brings light to the blood in a ultraviolet spectrum and kills more viruses and bacteria in the blood. Then, this blood sample when it has been initially ozonated activates the mitochondria of the cells and allows more efficient oxygen utilization in the Krebs Cycle of each mitochondria.

This allows the NAH to become NADH and gives the mitochondria the energy to run the cell. So with the healthy cells supported with oxygen, and the de-activated bacteria and viruses that the UV light killed, it almost acts as an immune responder and allows the body to fight the infection that is attacking the body.

It has been helpful for finding a way to stimulate the body’s own immune system to react. It fights a specific infection, inflammation or disease, that is what we all hope medicine can achieve. By using the body’s own blue print for what is troubling it and giving the healthy cells something as simple as Oxygen could seem too simple. The results of using this are impressive.

The blood and saline solution is returned via a small butterfly catheter in the vein
It can be repeated every 48 hour if acute case or 2 times a week then weekly.

Some of the cases that I have seen improved with BBT are:
Infections
Allergies
Kidney infections and failure
Cognitive Function
Cancer
Diabetes
Lyme
Lameness

Exploring Integrative Veterinary Practice~ Richard Palmquist

PBS Spotlight on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM)

http://vimeo.com/45584764

We need to join forces with the message that the below conference has covered. Functional medicine will be the new medical paradigm. It is all what we do and we need to be the leaders to bring all the thoughts together.
I have attended several of the functional medical meetings including the Integrative Health Care Symposium they are wonderful. These folks have the research that we need to partner up with them and we can influence our “within the Box” colleagues.
Dr. Hyman is a supporter of the Dr.DoMore Project.

How did you become aware of complementary medicine for animals?

I was always interested in nutrition since my parents were very health-conscious, giving us things like cod liver oil and other supplements. During veterinary school I took a course with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and it really opened my eyes to other possibilities of treating animals with such things as herbs, homeopathy and acupuncture. While I was teaching anatomy at the Tufts University veterinary school, I also taught an applied acupuncture course to the students on my own time, giving them a glimpse of another healing modality. Today some veterinary schools are teaching about the effectiveness of acupuncture with animals.

Another big reason I decided to do holistic medicine with animals came from my own medical experience during veterinary school. I was administering medication to a cow when it got loose and pushed me against a chute, impaling me on a five-inch nail that caused a huge blood clot in my chest. I kept trying to tell doctors that the problem was in my chest but they insisted it was my spleen. I ended up having two massive surgeries and almost dying when they could have found the real problem by simply tapping my chest. It opened my eyes to the fallibility of the medical profession and made me realize that there are other ways to help animals besides rushing to do surgery or something equally traumatic right away.

What alternative approaches have worked with the animals you’ve treated?

In 2001 a client brought her dog to me with tumors in his abdomen. The dog couldn’t walk anymore and two vets had told her to euthanize him. We did acupuncture, homeopathy and nutritional therapy and he ended up having three-and-a-half more really great years of life. The same thing happened with my daughter’s horse, which had eye cancer. He lived for more than two years with alternative treatments after other vets wanted to put him down. I’ve also seen amazing health improvements in animals after my clients switched to raw or partly raw diets for their pets.

What are some practices that you’d like to see more animal caregivers adopt?

The most important thing is high-quality, whole-food nutrition because it’s the key to strengthening the immune system, which is largely based in the gut. Second, I recommend that, when possible, people use plant botanicals, herbs, homeopathy and other options with animals instead of drugs like antibiotics, NSAIDs or steroids. Pain can be managed with acupuncture and chiropractic, whereas pain medications can have harmful side effects, such as liver failure. Masking problems with medication doesn’t correct the problem or imbalance and the body actually deteriorates more because it’s out of alignment. I also use ozone therapy, which yields amazing results with such things as Lyme and dental disease, infections and wounds, cancer, pain, inflammation and chronic itching. At MASH we limit the use of vaccinations, which are tied to rising cancer rates in animals, by checking for antibodies after the initial shots are administered.

How can people find veterinarians who use complementary medicine?

There’s a great organization called the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, and people can visit AHVMA.org and see a directory of veterinarians and what modalities they have studied. It’s broken down by state and there are a number of holistic practitioners in Massachusetts. We’ve also created a video called Dr. Do More that’s designed to educate people about natural health for pets. It’s available on our website, MashVet.com, and it has some great information.

Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton is located at 72 W. Main St., Hopkinton. For more information, call 508-435-4077 or visit MASHVet.com.

This article appears in the July 2012 issue of MIDS

Veterinarians are largely uneducated about vaccine adverse effects, and they’ve been taught for decades that annual vaccination is necessary and relatively harmless. In addition, a large percentage of veterinary practice income has traditionally come from boosters.

So despite official pronouncements from veterinary bodies such as the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, the profession has been very slow to change vaccination protocols or take duration of immunity data on board. Anyone who has a pet who has suffered a vaccine reaction will understand why this situation needs to change.

We have put a letter up on the Pet Welfare Alliance website for YOU to print off and send to your vet. If you’re really wonderful, you will also print off letters for several practices in your area.

So for just a few pence or cents, you can be part of the solution and change history for companion animals. Your effort will also help to educate your own vet, which will improve the relationship you have, and the advice you can expect.

You won’t need to fight your vet to prevent over-vaccination, and you won’t need to feel a freak for being educated and informed. So by helping others, you also help yourself.

This is the link for sending a letter to your vet:
www.petwelfarealliance.org/send-a-letter.html

The letter comes from the Pet Welfare Alliance, which means that you don’t have to get into any arguments with your vet!

Having read this letter, vets can’t in all conscience tell anyone that their dog or cat needs an annual shot. Or, if they do, you have information to hand to explain exactly why they neither need, nor can benefit from, unnecessary boosters.

We’ve also found a way in the UK and America that will overcome the loss of booster income for vets … making it much more likely that they will consider the science and change their vaccine protocols.

We have negotiated a discount with the UK and US distributors of VacciCheck, the in-practice titer testing kit. So rather than writing to vet practices and risking affronting them by stating the scientific truth, we are writing to tell them the truth whilst at the same time offering them a price incentive – a discount – to swap from boosters to titers.

Everyone wins!

Vets can now offer an inexpensive and speedy titer test, and pet owners can be sure that their dogs and cats are protected from viral disease without risking vaccine adverse effects, and without the practice losing income.

The letter to vets also has links to the Pet Welfare Alliance website, giving scientific duration of immunity studies, and referenced scientific research showing that vaccines can cause a wide range of diseases. You may find this data of use yourselves. The link for this is: http://www.petwelfarealliance.org/uploads/3/0/3/6/3036695/vaccine_science_research.pdf

If you go to this link: http://www.petwelfarealliance.org/send-a-letter.html, you can also choose to send letters to:

Boarding kennels
Training/dog clubs
Breed clubs or societies
Breeders
Local authorities
Rescue/shelters

Each letter is written specifically for these groups. And each of these groups is responsible for keeping over-vaccination in place. We are, in effect, launching an educational campaign. The truth will set all our pets free!

Also, sign the supporter’s list for free email Updates.

http://poisonedpets.com/?s=A+Dog%27s+Breakfast

The New England district representative to the AVMA email addresses are
kathreil@yahoo.com
drjdejong@comcast.net
agandersen@aol.com