IVC FALL ISSUE 2013
Integrative VETERINARY CARE
TREATING CANINE OSTEOARTHRITIS. WHY A
MULTIMODAL APPROACH IS MOST EFFECTIVE. Page 50
TREATING CORNEAL ISSUES
FALL ISSUE 2013
www.IVCJournal.com
INTEGRATIVE VETERINARY CARE JOURNAL
Success means addressing root causes and using both alternative as well as allopathic therapies.
TACKLING OBESITY
Discussing a patient’s weight issues and diet with the owner is an important part of the treatment plan.
OZONE THERAPY
It’s being proven effective for treating viruses, fungi and bacteria, as well as inflammation and tissue damage.
PREPARING FOR DISASTERS
Protect your patients and practice with good planning and a strong team.
HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS FOR HORSES
Learn how it can reveal imbalances, toxins, overloads and deficiencies in your equine patients.
WHAT’ S NEW
• Genomic science – the next step • Is the incidence of feline cytauxzoonosis increasing? • Microchimerism found in dogs • Antibiotic resistant bacteria on the rise
contents FEATURES
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INTEGRATIVE TREATMENT OF THE CORNEA
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The primary objectives in treating corneal issues are patient comfort, and saving the eye and vision. This often means addressing deeper causes of the problem and using alternative as well as allopathic therapies.
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Nutrition Nook SAFE DIETING–INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO OBESITY
Along with medications and therapies like acupuncture and herbs, it’s crucial to discuss an obese patient’s diet, diagnose potential underlying medical disorders, and communicate clearly and tactfully with clients about their pets’ weight issues.
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OZONE THERAPY IN THE VETERINARY PRACTICE
By bringing easily soluble oxygen to target tissues, ozone therapy is being proven effective for treating viruses, fungi and bacteria, and for general health improvement in cases of inflammation and tissue damage.
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PREPARING FOR DISASTERS –VETERINARY STYLE
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Protecting your patients and practice during an emergency involves good planning and a strong team that includes family and neighbors as well as colleagues and staff.
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STUDY ON PROFESSIONAL OUTPATIENT PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY (POPD™)
Can dental cleaning and procedures be done safely and effectively without the use of general anesthesia?
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MESSAGES FROM THE MANE
Hair mineral analysis provides a unique perspective on a horse’s biochemical individuality, and indicates imbalances, toxins, overloads, deficiencies and mineral interrelationships that may need correction.
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Tech Talk THE GENTLE POWER OF EMPATHY
Your skills as a technician, combined with your ability to understand what fearful patients and clients are going through, can help calm and heal them on both an emotional and mental level.
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TREATING CANINE OSTEOARTHRITIS – PART ONE
Managing this common condition must evolve from palliative treatment of established disease using just a few modalities, to early intervention and a comprehensive multimodal approach.
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Integrative Practice PEOPLE CRAVE A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE…EVEN AT THE VETERINARY CLINIC
Taking steps to make your clinic more comfortable, soothing and welcoming will reduce anxiety in pets and people and make veterinary visits go more smoothly for everyone.
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HOMEOPATHY: A 200 -YEAR-OLD NANOMEDICINE–PART 2
Its acceptance has been hindered by the inability to scientifically explain its mechanism of action. But old assumptions about the lack of particles in high dilutions have been overturned by advances in modern technology.
advisory board dr. richard palmquist, DVM, graduated from Colorado State University in 1983. He is chief of integrative health services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, California, 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 co-director of the AHVMA Foundation. He has published two books, one for conventional veterinarians and a second for clients discussing how integrative thinking works.
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
5 Advisory board 6 Editorial 10 What’ s new 31 Spotlight
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.
dr. Joyce harman, DVM, MRCVS, graduated in 1984 from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic and has completed advanced training in homeopathy and herbal medicine. Her practice in Virginia uses holistic medicine to treat horses. Her publications include The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book – the most complete source of information about English saddles.
32 From the VBMA 55 Industry Innovations 60 From the IVAS 61 Veterinary resource guide 70 From the AVH 71 Social media 73 Marketplace 74 Events
dr. steve marsden, DVM, ND, lectures for the IVAS, the AHVMA and the AVMA, and is co-founder of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. He is a director of the National College of Natural Medicine, and authored the Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Marsden is extensively trai ned in alternative medicine, including Chinese herbology, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. He has a veterinary and naturopathic practice in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2010, Dr. Marsden was named Teacher of the Year by the AHVMA.
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.
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. Dr. Chambreau teaches classes in homeopathy for animals, and lectures on many topics. She is the author of the Healthy Animal’s Journal and the co-author of the Homeopathic Repertory: A Tutorial.
Bill Bookout is a founding member of the NASC, and served as president and chairman of the board from 2002–2012. Mr. Bookout was appointed vice president of global sales for Kemin Industries after Kemin acquired his supplement company, Genesis Ltd. Prior to his work in the animal field, Mr. Bookout spent 15 years in the human medical device, drug and animal health industries. Mr. Bookout received his Bachelor’s degree in physical sciences from the University of Wyoming, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He has been selected by Health Canada to serve on the Expert Advisory Committee for Veterinary Natural Health Products.
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INTEGRATIVE TREATMENT OF THE
CORNEA By Jane Laura Doyle, DVM
Problems in the eye can go from mild to extreme within a day. As a result of this and the pain that often accompanies corneal issues, any corneal abnormality should be seen immediately whenever possible. Once you have the patient in front of you, there are multiple approaches you can use to treat the condition. While we are taught a few specific conventional methods, using drugs and surgery, to treat each corneal ailment, some can be challenging to heal (herpes infections or complications from Cushing’s or other metabolic ailments) or expensive for the clients (surgery for entropion). Holistic options work at a deeper metabolic level as well as topically on the cornea. Given the chance, the cornea can heal quite nicely. Even entropion can often resolve without surgery.
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BASICS OF CORNEAL HEALING Like other epithelia, that of the cornea goes through continuous renewal in order to protect its interior layers of the cornea so it can maintain smooth optical properties and transparency. The outer layer of corneal epithelium has tight junctions between cells and protects the rest of the cornea. Cytokines mediate the stromal-epithelial-immune parts of the healing cascade.1 The stroma, or thick middle layer, contains multiple supportive cells, collagen and nerve fibers. The inner epithelium is a single layer of endothelium, allowing net fluid transport from the corneal stroma to the anterior chamber, offsetting stromal tendency to imbibe fluid and swell (edema). Endothelial fluid transport activity allows maintenance of corneal transparency and
thinness. This enables the cornea to clear edema after healing of the surface epithelium. The primary objectives of treatment are patient comfort, and saving the eye and vision. This often means also addressing the deeper causes of the corneal problem, such as ongoing irritation from foreign bodies or abnormally placed eyelashes, dry eye, glaucoma, uveitis, bacterial or fungal infections which can damage the stroma. Integrative approaches soothe the eye while stimulating deeper immune responses like the healing cascade, so the eye is gently and permanently healed. Often, holistic treatments are sufficient; if not, surgery and drugs can still be used effectively.
INTEGRATIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS For speedy healing of any corneal injury, homeopathic Cineraria maritima applied topically in low potency is a real winner. • In the literature, Cineraria is indicated for the treatment of cataracts. While I find it ineffective for cataracts in my patients, it is an excellent remedy for corneal healing. As with any other eye drops, it does not stay in the eye for more than a few minutes, so it is good to give it frequently if possible, especially at the beginning of therapy. I recommend application every two hours the first day after initial trauma, if possible. I have had 24 years of seeing the healing Cineraria stimulates, and it continues to impress me. • If there is blepharospasm and meiosis, chances are good that the reflex arc from the corneal surface to the brain and back to the muscles of the iris are causing pain to the patient, so topical atropine ophthalmic ointment can be applied every 12 hours in addition to Cineraria. Instill the atropine ten minutes prior to the Cineraria. When using Cineraria and other holistic treatments, it is rarely needed more than a few days. In my clinic, the use of topical antibiotics is neither necessary nor effective, but they do not seem to impede healing when paired with Cineraria. • When there is mucus, or purulent discharge, significant benefit is gained by gently flushing the eye with saline solutions. You can dispense these to your clients or they can purchase them in human pharmacies. Keeping the animal’s comfort in mind,
There are many ways the cornea can be damaged: • trauma by blunt or sharp objects • caustic substances or foreign bodies in the eye • self-injury by the patient in cases of ophthalmic pruritus • infectious etiology such as in herpes virus infections • chronic irritation from anatomic anomalies (distichiasis, trichiasis entropion, etc.) • autoimmune issues (pannus) IVC Fall 2013
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