Holistic Vet: Graham Hines

 Impact on Health and Disease A new paper published by a team of researchers from the USA reviewed the links between nutrition, functional changes in the microbiome and overall pet health and disease.  The  microbioome are the micro-organisms such as bacteria that live in singer with the most animal in the GI tract The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome of cats and dogs is increasingly recognized as a metabolically active organ inextricably linked to pet health as it is in humans.  Food serves as a substrate for the GI microbiome of cats and dogs and plays a significant role in defining the composition and metabolism of the GI microbiome. The microbiome, in turn, facilitates the host’s nutrient digestion and the production of postbiotics, which are bacterially derived compounds that can influence pet health.  Consequently, pet owners have a role in shaping the microbiome of cats and dogs through the food they choose to provide. Yet, a clear understanding of the impact these food choices

  Saturday Jan 14th 2023 10.00 to 1pm   Our next Titre testing cinic at the Dogs Diner on the Wirral is on the above date. Ring the Diner on use their facebook site to book The Dog's Diner Ltd,  Tarran Way North, Moreton  Wirral CH46 4UB 0151 678 2588 Prices £35.00 per dog The week after we are doing our first clinic at Imperial Pets near Chester: Unit 2 Oakwood Farm, Parkgate Road, Chester, (Near the Junction of the A540 and A494 (M56) at Dunkirk) Saturday 21st of January 2023 Imperial Pets  Please contact Claire at Imperial Pets to book. www.imperial-pets.com / https://www.facebook.com/imperialpetsuk Tel: 01244 880470 Mobile: 07930 051368 CONTACT@IMPERIAL-PETS.COM What is Titre Testing? You can read all about vaccinations and titre testing on the my website at  naturalpetcare.co.uk-vaccination Basically we will take a blood sample from your pet, take it to our lab and using an antibody test kit measure to see if she has antibodies to Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus. If she h

 I would like to share with you some recent research which I was privileged to hear about on webinars and reading over the past month or so. Should dogs and cats be fed a high carbohydrate diet? 1. Comparing Wolves and Dogs natural starch consumption Dogs genomes are different to wolves in a number of aspects including the fact they have genes which allow them to produce amylase (the enzymes which the gut uses to digest starch. Does this mean they can therefore be fed high levels of carbs? Research has shown that wolves diet consists of approximately 50:50 fat and protein and only 1% starch  Domestic dogs of a wide variety of sizes and breeds if allowed to self select foods choose to eat 4-7% starch.  (Feral) Cats naturally eat about 2% starch and natural would choose to avoid more starch if given a free choice. Wild animals will by the laws of natural selection will eat the foods that give them the best chance of survival. So why do Commercial cat foods contain as much as 40% starch

 Coconut oil is a fashionable addition to the diets of both people and there pets.  Is it good for your dog? NO stick to an species appropriate diet Not according to these researcher. Unless your pets microbiome is used to these forms of oil it can cause more problems than it helps. Have a listen to this youtube interview : You can really upset the delicate balance of your pets gut flora and cause inflammatory chemical to leak out of the gut with coconut oil and many other novel foods which pets are not used to or evolved to consume. Read more about the microbiome on my website . The microbiome is the population of micro-organisms which live along side us in or gut and elsewhere and I think is the reason a raw diet helps so many of my patients.

 This weekend I attended a seminar on raw feeding from  RAW FEEDING VETERINARY SOCIETY I would like to share some of the results with you Raw Feeding and Allergies Vets who advocate Raw Feeding will confirm that they see a reduction in the severity of skin allergy (atopic dermatitis) and IBS (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) when they change a dog onto a raw diet. This has been confirmed in research presented to the conference by a Finish Group led by  Anna Hielm-Björkman  DVM, PhD in Finland  When a breeding bitch is fed a raw diet and her puppies are fed raw for the first few months of life the incidence of Canine Atopic dermatitis is 3 times 300% less likely to occur. There are other factors such as genetics but diet has a huge affect. Similar results abut the development of IBD in later life is found You can have a look at the studies at  dogrisk.com/publications   Anna and her team run DOG RISK in Finland and need funds to improve the data and run more studies. If you feel you can don

Neutering (including spaying) of male and female dogs in the first year after birth has become routine in the U.S. and much of Europe, but recent research reveals that for some dog breeds, neutering may be associated with increased risks of debilitating joint disorders and some cancers , complicating pet owners' decisions on neutering.   The joint disorders include hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear or rupture, and elbow dysplasia.   The cancers include lymphoma, mast cell tumor, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma Neutering previous studies on the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd Dog, neutering before a year of age was associated with increased risks of one or more joint disorders, 2–4 times that of intact dogs   There were major breed differences in vulnerability to neutering, both with regard to joint disorders and cancers. In most cases, the caregiver can choose the age of neutering without increasing the risks of these joint disorders or can