Innovative VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2
VETERINARY CARE
CARING FOR THE CANINE LIVER
A DETAILED LOOK AT HOW PROPER DIET, ANTIOXIDANTS AND SUPPLEMENTS SUPPORT AND PROTECT LIVER FUNCTION IN DOGS. — P. 10
THE DOG AGING PROJECT Read about a unique study that aims to determine the biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors influencing healthy canine aging. — P. 16
ADDING MINDFULNESS TO YOUR PRACTICE
Teach your staff these steps to becoming healthier, more engaged and present within the clinic setting. — P. 42
SPRING 2020
www.IVCJournal.com
ALLERGIES AND THE HYPERSENSITIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM
CASE REPORTS — FOCUS ON INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
HELP CLIENTS UNDERSTAND PET FOOD LABELS
HEMP AND YOUR EQUINE PATIENTS
Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) gets to the root of patient allergies by retraining the immune system. — P. 36
Become a trusted resource for pet dietary advice by helping clients decipher ingredient labels. — P. 22
How an integrative approach led to successful outcomes in two veterinary patients with very different health problems. — P. 48
Making sense of the different types of hemp products available for horses. — P. 58
contents FEATURES
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SUPPORTING LIVER FUNCTION AND DETOXIFICATION IN CANINE PATIENTS
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THE DOG AGING PROJECT — 80,000 DOGS AND COUNTING
By Ihor Basko, DVM, CVA
An exploration of how to protect and care for the canine liver with proper diet, antioxidants and supplements that optimally support this important organ’s many functions.
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By Katherine Tolbert, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Audrey Ruple, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM, MRCVS
A longitudinal study that aims to determine the biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors that influence healthy aging in dogs.
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NUTRITION NOOK
HELPING YOUR CLIENTS UNDERSTAND PET FOOD LABELS
By Jodie Gruenstern, DVM, CVA
Recapture your title as a trusted resource for pet dietary advice, and empower clients to realize the importance of understanding ingredient labels.
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WESTERN HERBS FOR LIVER DYSFUNCTION IN ANIMAL PATIENTS
By Alexia Tsakiris-Vasilopoulos, BvetMed, GDipVWHM, CVA
Liver health is vital to patient health. Learn how a variety of Western herbs can be used to support liver function in animals.
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RETRAINING THE HYPERSENSITIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM
By Jon Plant, DVM, DACVD
A comprehensive look at allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in dogs and cats, including regionally-specific immunotherapy (RSI).
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INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
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CASE REPORT 1
7 TIPS FOR CREATING A MINDFUL PRACTICE CULTURE
By Melissa Magnuson, DVM
Try teaching your staff these seven steps (inspired by our patients!) to becoming healthier, more engaged, and present.
AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO VACCINE-INDUCED MENINGOENCEPHALITIS IN AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD DOG
By Sara Humphrey, DVM Candidate 2020
How conventional veterinary medicine complemented with TCVM, nutritional support, and homeopathy brought this dog back to health.
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CASE REPORT 2
USING AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO TREAT FELINE BRACHIAL PLEXUS AVULSION By Cristina-Andreea Firulete, DVM, CVA
A multi-modal, integrative approach effectively restored limb function in a cat with a brachial plexus avulsion lesion.
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DEMYSTIFYING HEMP AND CBD IN THE EQUINE By Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS
Clearing up the confusion surrounding the different types of hemp products available for horses.
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advisory board 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 co-owner 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.
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
8 Editorial 27 From the AVH 34 Industry innovations 41 From the AAVA 47 Profitable practice
— PhytoMAXX™ Plus by Animal Nutritional Products
57 From the NASC 61 From the VMAA 63 News bites
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.
64 From the VBMA 65 Marketplace 66 News bites
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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PEER-REVIEWED
SUPPORTING LIVER FUNCTION AND DETOXIFICATION IN CANINE PATIENTS BY IHOR BASKO, DVM, CVA
An exploration of how to protect and care for the canine liver with proper diet, antioxidants and supplements that optimally support this important organ’s many functions.
Liver disease can be a slow and insidious process. Dogs that are overweight, suffer from diabetes, or have reoccurring episodes of pancreatitis are most susceptible. Inappropriate diets (high fat, high carbohydrate, rancid or moldy ingredients) and inadequate antioxidant function by the liver are the usual causes behind the onset of fatty liver disease and cirrhosis.
LIVER-DAMAGING FACTORS ARE EVERYWHERE
What are the Causes of Liver Dysfunction? Processed high-fat / low-fiber diet + Genetics + High carbohydrate diet / GM + Excess exposure and use of: + Antibiotics + Anti-seizure medications + Anti-inflammatory drugs + Opiates + Pesticides (food, water, home) + Veterinary flea and tick products
The liver is an important organ for survival. It processes and detoxifies digested food molecules into the energy and nutrients needed to feed and sustain the body. It protects the body against the onslaught of harmful pollutants in drinking water, food and air. These compounds and chemicals cause oxidative stress and DNA damage to liver cells, resulting in poor function, fibrosis, cirrhosis and possibly cancer. Unfortunately, our current world abounds in toxins and other factors that can damage the liver.
• Many liver-damaging environmental toxins commonly appear in our food, air and water. And with many pet food companies using contaminated ingredients from China and
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IVC Spring 2020
Leads to Other Problems + Pancreatitis + Metabolic Syndrome + Fatty Liver Disease + Liver Cancer + Obesity + Diabetes + Muscle-wasting + Seizures
Dr. Basko * All Creatures Great & Small
other countries, a great deal of dog food is contaminated by aflatoxins, heavy metals, fluoride, pesticides, and other environmental toxins. Many of these ingredients have been “condemned for human use”, including meat from rendering plants that is not fit for consumption.1 •V eterinarians are also prescribing more monthly flea and tick preventive chemicals than ever before (in part
due to the rising incidence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases), as well as concurrently prescribing heartworm medications, NSAIDS, phenobarbital, steroids and antibiotics. All these need to be detoxified by the liver. • With the increased popularity of certain breeds comes the increased incidence of associated genetic problems, a few of which affect the liver. Bedlington Terriers, Doberman Pinschers and Labrador Retrievers are susceptible to copper storage disease, while toy breeds such as Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are often born with liver shunt anomalies; Scottish Terriers can be susceptible to both diseases.2 • As human habitation continues to encroach on wildlife, whether in the city or countryside, unimmunized and at-risk dogs may become infected with hepatitis due to leptospirosis, or CAV-1 virus from exposure to coyotes, raccoons and other wildlife (bears, mink, ferrets, skunks, foxes). Adenovirus (CAV-1) consists of medium-sized double-stranded DNA molecules, which cause hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, resulting in chronic liver disease in adult animals and a high fatality rate in puppies.3
THE LIVER HAS MANY FUNCTIONS The liver is one of the largest internal organs in the body and has over 500 functions. One of the most important is to process ingredients from the diet into nutritive factors that support regeneration in the body. The liver creates vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes, glucosamine, carnitine and hormones, and generates and stores energy in the form of glycogen, while assisting in the distribution of nutrients to the appropriate organs and tissues. The liver is also important in the detoxification and subsequent removal of toxic substances from the body. In the process, liver cells may die and tissues may become fibrotic or necrotic. A well-functioning liver will help patients with renal problems maintain lower blood ammonia levels. Additionally, the liver functions in transporting immune complexes from serum into bile which, when secreted into the GI system, protects against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites. In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) terms, the Liver stores the Blood and manages and regulates the Qi (Energy) flow in the body. The Liver assists digestion and improves the Quality of the Blood.4 Continued on page 12. IVC Spring 2020
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