Holistic Veterinary Society

Our Mission Statement: To provide educational opportunities and support vets, as well as the public to make use of integrative medicine, thus encouraging sustainable healthcare options and working towards a healthier planet.

September 2012 “The Immune System” Committee Contacts If you'd like to find out more about the President’s Report, Dr. Liza Schneider Holistic Branch please contact us.

Dr. Liza Schneider, President, Greetings members! [email protected] Spring is in the air at long last, I always enjoy Dr. Rose Unsworth, Treasurer, this time of year as nature comes alive. [email protected] Things are coming together beautifully for our conference on 27 and 28 October Dr. Viv Harris, Committee Member, in Tauranga. Lisa Radwan, our conference coordinator (and newsletter editor) has [email protected] done a fine job of gathering the interest and support of fabulous companies such as Orijen (and Arcana), Denz, Ethical Agents, Healthy Pet Foods , Herbology Dr Lisa Radwan, Editor, NZ, K9 naturals, Pacific Health, Palamountain (Mybeau), Raw Pawz, Shoof, Vir- [email protected] bac and Washbar. We’re extremely grateful to these companies for their sponsor- ship and look very forward to working with them. Inside this Issue: We’re delighted and excited to be hosting a great line up of speakers who are all “Infections and Immune Support” so kindly giving of their time. We have delegates from Australia who are inter- Dr. Liza Schneider 2 ested in attending and I hope to see as many of you there as possible. A success- ful and well attended conference will help to pave our way forward and make “Vaccination of Dog & Cat & Testing integrative veterinary medicine a leading approach in animal healthcare. for Vaccination Status” Dr. Dawn Seddon 4 In August I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the NZVA’s annual summit in Wellington. The summit is a gathering of the NZVA’s board and presi- “Clinical Approaches to Managing rd and Treating Adverse Vaccine Reac- dents of the special interest as well as regional branches. This is the 3 summit tions” that I’ve attended and I have found it extremely interesting and enlightening fol- Dr. Jean Dodd 6 lowing the evolution over the last 3 years, getting more insight into how our NZVA functions and where we are headed as a profession. “Homeopathy and Abscess” Jennie Rassell 14 The focus of our meeting this year was NZVA’s strategy over the next 8 years and a draft vision of what the NZVA needs to be in 2020. In brief summary, as an “Integrating Chinese Herbs for Im- mune Conditions” external focus we’re striving for our vet profession to be the most respected and Dr. Barbara Fougere 15 valued profession in NZ and internally to see our members supported both profes- sionally and personally. I have been delighted to be involved in this project and “ Wei Qi: The Immune System from have contributed ideas that are important to us such as sustainable healthcare as a Traditional Chinese Medicine well as sustainability of the environment. (TCM) Perspective” Dr. Lisa Radwan 18 To be part of an organisation like the NZVA that has integrity, professionalism and is working to make the world a better place is an inspiring and satisfying “Traditional Chinese Herbal journey. I am delighted to be part of this and feel privileged to represent our Ho- Formula Profile: Yin Qiao” Dr. Lisa Radwan 19 listic Branch moving animal healthcare forward.

:Garlic is Good for Your Dog… in Our spring newsletter focuses on the immune system. Thanks to our contributing Fact it’s Very Good for Health” authors for sharing their expertise in so many areas. Dr. Deva Khalsa 20 Thank you for your ongoing membership and support and as always, please don’t “Flea Control, A Holistic Approach” hesitate to be in touch if you have any ideas or concerns. Dr. Liza Schneider 23 Best wishes, “Flea Control With Borax” Liza. Dr. Liza Schneider 24 Infections and Immune Support Dr Liza Schneider, Tauranga

Bacteria, viruses, and parasites commonly affect our animals, many living normally in or on their bodies.

With any infection, there are two main factors allowing for progression: the susceptibility of the host and the virulence of the organism. Whilst there are some infections where the pathogen is extremely virulent, more commonly we see infections that arise from those which are common residents. This has a lot to do with the impaired immune systems of our animals.

From a holistic viewpoint, the presence of an infection is the tip of the iceberg. Underlying this is the big question: why is the body is out of balance and not managing to maintain health so that it naturally repels bugs and parasites?

Stress of any kind will impair the body’s ability to heal, and will limit an animal’s general vitality. Limiting stress by avoiding situations such as overcrowding, confinement, social isolation, or adverse weather conditions will prevent suppression of the immune system. Using remedies that reduce stress, such as Emer- gency Essence or Rescue Remedy, will go a long way to support the immune system indirectly.

To allow for the body’s inherent healing wisdom to function optimally, a few considerations are in order. Firstly, one must provide proper nutrition to stock the reserve of good quality fuel. Secondly, the healing mechanism must be running smoothly. Thirdly, the presence of toxins will create damage and impair the healing process. An analogy would be running a car; you may put in the best fuel, but if the engine is faulty or it is clogged up with waste, it won’t run smoothly or go at all.

As always, good nutrition is the foundation that dictates the body’s ability to naturally combat infection. One should feed as much raw, natural food as possible. Ideally, this food should be free of chemicals and preservatives, as well as high in optimal amounts of nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants.

Extra nutrients, such as Vitamin C and Grapeseed extract, are superb at helping to boost the body’s defenses. These are antioxidants that help mop up damage caused by free radicals which cause cell damage. This allows the body’s resources to be freed up to support healing and maintain health.

Herbs such as Golden Seal and Garlic have superb anti-microbial properties. Echinacea used as a preven- tative aid for a week or two at a time can work wonders to help ward off infections.

Homeopathy is also a wonderful tool and is best used under the guidance of a qualified homeopath for an individual’s specific requirements. However, complex formulations can be easily applied in high risk situations such as in catteries or kennels to assist in preventing infection. eg. Heel’s Echinacea, Engystol and even the Detox Kit, also Biopet Immune Support.

Therapies such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, NIS, Bowen therapy, acupuncture, and massage can be very supportive tools to assist the body’s natural defenses.

All in all, and as usual, by respecting natural principles, infections may be easily prevented and resolved. This adds to the quality of life and increases healthy longevity.

Biography: Dr Liza Schneider, BVSc After qualifying as a vet in 2000 at Ondestepoort, South Africa, Liza immi- grated to New Zealand. Liza is the founder and director of award winning Ho- listic Vets in Tauranga, New Zealand, which integrates all the advantages of conventional veterinary medicine with natural and complementary therapies. She is the current president of the Holistic Veterinary Society. She has passion to seek out, learn and apply viable complementary therapies which are highly effective at assisting her patients to heal. She has helped to pioneer veterinary hyperbaric medicine and equine interval hypoxic training in New Zealand. Liza is the founder of ARRC, a charitable trust providing wildlife re- habilitation services in the Bay of Plenty. Liza is passionate about, and delights in educating, inspiring and entertaining people about sustainable healthcare and the importance of preserv- ing our natural heritage.

Vaccination of dogs and cats and testing for Vaccine status Dr. Dawn Seddon

Vaccination practice continues to cause confusion, but is the foundation for the control of infectious diseases in animals. Numerous reviews of the vaccination protocols have been undertaken in the last ten years to try and ascertain the best practice for the protection of pets against infection.

Once the initial puppy / kitten course of vaccination has been completed, and subsequent revaccination a year later, the Companion Animal Society of New Zealand now advocates the administration of core vaccinations every three years which is in line with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) recommendations. Vaccination should however be tailored to the needs of the individual animal and each case should be indi- vidually assessed.

Core vaccines in dogs include Canine Distemper (CDV), Infectious Canine Hepatitis (CAV1) and Canine Parvovirus (CPV2), and for cats these include Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Herpesvirus and Feline Calicivirus.

Core vaccinations with modified live virus (MLV) vaccinations probably provide lifelong immunity, but not all core vaccines are modified live. Herpesvirus and calicivirus (respiratory) vaccines do not provide 100% protection in cats and protection decreases over time, but is significant for years.

The duration of immunity for the noncore vaccines such as Leptospira may be short (months) and animals at risk need more frequent boosting – ie Annual vaccination of leptospirosis is recommended for dogs at risk of infection.

Serum antibody titres (levels) are used as the most practical way to test immunity to a virus. Titre checks may be useful for monitoring immunity to Canine Distemper Virus and Canine Parvovirus especially in adult dogs with an unknown vaccination history or in puppies that have been vaccinated to assess response to vaccine. Testing should be carried out at 12 weeks or older to assure lack of interference with maternal antibody. The sample should be taken at least more than 2 weeks following the last vaccination. A puppy with a good immune response to vaccination probably has life long protection to core vaccines.

It must be remembered that antibody titres are variable and do not always reflect protective immunity. A positive titre indicates the presence of antibodies and that the animal has mounted an immune response and likely reflects protection, but the actual titre level is not always important. It also indicates that additional vaccination is unlikely to further boost immunity. Most previously vaccinated adult dogs are immune to parvovirus and distemper, and the titre test will probably not provide further useful information.

Examples of the titre variability are titres for feline herpesvirus which are typically low, and cats with a negative or zero titre may still be protected against herpesvirus, but this is not the case for canine distemper or canine parvovirus. Cats with a positive Herpes titre indicates protection against severe clinical disease, but the cat can still be reinfected and shed virus. If the herpesvirus antibody titre is negative, the animal may still be protected. Feline calicivirus, antibody titres are generally positive after vaccination and indicate significant protection against clinical disease, but not protection against reinfection and shed of virus. A further complication in cats with regard to feline calicivirus, is that some non-vaccinated cats have low, nonspecific antibody titres that do not provide any protection. Generally animals with low vaccinal titres may show limited susceptibility to infection when exposed and may not show signs of clinical disease.

A negative serological test may suggest that the dog is not protected from infection; but the dog may still be protected from clinical disease as a result of a cell mediated immune response.

Titre testing is currently available in New Zealand for canine distemper and canine parvovirus, but testing for feline panleukopenia is only available overseas.

References:

2011 Companion Animal Society of the NZVA Policy Statement. 01 October 2011 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Revised, (www.aahanet.org). American Animal Hospital Association (AAFP) Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel Report. Journal of the Ameri- can Veterinary Medical Association 229, 1405-1441, 2006.

Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats, Compiled by the vaccination guidelines group (VGG) of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Journal of Small Animal Practice, Vol 51, June 2010.

European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), ABCD guidelines on Feline Calicivirus, March 2007, ABCD guidelines on Feline Herpes Virus 1, Oct 2006, ABCD guidelines on Feline Leukaemia Virus, Oct 2007, Infectious Disease Prevention and Management, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, July 2009 (www.abcd-vets.org). 2006 Canine and Feline Vaccination Guidelines: A Forum on Issues and Controversies, Dr Richard Ford, North Carolina State University (www.hcvma.org/notes/SpeakerNotesRichardFord.pdf)

Biography: Dr. Seddon is a clinical pathologist at the New Zealand Veterinary Pathology Lab in Hamilton. She earned an MSc in Veterinary Pathology at the University of London, and was board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathology. She has a wide interest in the pathology field, with particular interest in companion animal endocrinology, cytology and clinical chemistry. She also teaches veterinary clinical pathology at Caribbean veterinary schools and JCU Australia. CLINICAL APPROACHES TO MANAGING AND TREATING ADVERSE VACCINE REACTIONS Dr. W. Jean Dodds, Santa Monica, California

Background There is no doubt that application of modern vaccine technology has permitted us to protect companion animals effectively against serious infectious diseases.

Viral disease and recent vaccination with single or combination modified live-virus (MLV) vaccines, especially those containing distemper virus, adenovirus 1 or 2, and parvovirus are increasingly recognized con- tributors, albeit relatively rare, to immune-mediated blood disease, bone marrow failure, and organ dysfunc- tion. Potent adjuvanted killed vaccines like those for rabies virus also can trigger immediate and delayed (vaccinosis) adverse vaccine reactions. Genetic predisposition to these disorders in humans has been linked to the leucocyte antigen D-related gene locus of the major histocompatibility complex, and is likely to have parallel associations in domestic animals.

It must be recognized, however, that we have the luxury of asking such questions today only because the risk of disease has been effectively reduced by the widespread use of vaccination programs.

Adverse Events Associated with Vaccination The clinical signs associated with vaccine reactions typically include fever, stiffness, sore joints and ab- dominal tenderness, susceptibility to infections, neurological disorders and encephalitis, collapse with autoagglutinated red blood cells and icterus (autoimmune hemolytic anemia, AIHA, also called immune- mediated hemolytic anemia, IMHA), or generalized petechiae and ecchymotic hemorrhages (immune- mediated thrombocytopenia , ITP). Hepatic enzymes may be markedly elevated, and liver or kidney failure may occur by itself or accompany bone marrow suppression.

Furthermore, MLV vaccination has been associated with the development of transient seizures in puppies and adult dogs of breeds or cross-breeds susceptible to immune-mediated diseases especially those in- volving hematologic or endocrine tissues (e.g. AIHA, ITP, autoimmune thyroiditis). Post-vaccinal polyneuro- pathy is a recognized entity associated occasionally with the use of distemper, parvovirus, rabies and pre- sumably other vaccines. This can result in various clinical signs including muscular atrophy, inhibition or interruption of neuronal control of tissue and organ function, muscular excitation, incoordination and weakness, as well as seizures.

Certain breeds or families of dogs appear to be more susceptible to adverse vaccine reactions, particularly post-vaccinal seizures, high fevers, and painful episodes of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD). There- fore, we have the responsibility to advise companion animal breeders and caregivers of the potential for genetically susceptible littermates and relatives to be at increased risk for similar adverse vaccine reactions. In popular (or rare) inbred and linebred animals, the breed in general can be at increased risk as il- lustrated in the examples below.

Polyvalent MLV vaccines which multiply in the host elicit a stronger antigenic challenge to the animal and should mount a more effective and sustained immune response. However, this can overwhelm the im- munocompromised or even a healthy host that has ongoing exposure to other environmental stimuli as well as a genetic predisposition that promotes adverse response to viral challenge. The recently weaned young puppy or kitten being placed in a new environment may be at particular risk. Furthermore, while the frequency of vaccinations is usually spaced 2-3 weeks apart, some veterinarians have advocated vaccination once a week in stressful situations; a practice makes little sense scientifically or medically.

An augmented immune response to vaccination is seen in dogs with pre-existing inhalant allergies (atopy) to pollens. Furthermore, the increasing current problems with allergic and immunological diseases have been linked to the introduction of MLV vaccines more than 20 years ago. While other environmental factors no doubt have a contributing role, the introduction of these vaccine antigens and their environmental shed- ding may provide the final insult that exceeds the immunological tolerance threshold of some individuals in the pet population. The accumulated evidence indicates that vaccination protocols should no longer be considered as a “one size fits all” program.

In cats, while adverse vaccine reactions may be less common, aggressive tumors (fibrosarcomas) can occasionally arise at the site of vaccination. A recent study from Italy reported finding similar tumors in dogs at the injection sites of vaccinations (Vascellari et al, 2003). These investigators stated that their “study identified distinct similarities between canine fibrosarcomas from presumed injection sites and feline post- vaccinal fibrosarcomas, suggesting the possibility of the development of post-injection sarcomas not only in cats, but also in dogs”.

Additionally, vaccination of pet and research dogs with polyvalent vaccines containing rabies virus or rabies vaccine alone was shown to induce production of antithyroglobulin autoantibodies, a provocative and important finding with implications for the subsequent development of hypothyroidism (Scott-Moncrieff et al, 2002).

For these special cases, appropriate alternatives to current vaccine practices include: measuring serum antibody titers; avoidance of unnecessary vaccines or over vaccinating; caution in vaccinating sick or febrile individuals; and tailoring a specific minimal vaccination protocol for dogs of breeds or families known to be at increased risk for adverse reactions. considerations include starting the vaccination series later, such as at nine or ten weeks of age when the immune system is more able to handle antigenic challenge; alerting the caregiver to pay particular attention to the puppy’s behavior and overall health after the second or subsequent boosters; and avoiding revaccination of individuals already experiencing a significant adverse event. Littermates of affected puppies should be closely monitored after receiving additional vaccines in a puppy series, as they too are at higher risk.

Serologic Vaccine Titer Testing Some veterinarians have challenged the validity of using vaccine titer testing to assess the immunologic status of animals against the common, clinically important infectious diseases.

With all due respect, this represents a misunderstanding of what has been called the “fallacy of titer testing”, because research has shown that once an animal’s titer stabilizes it is likely to remain constant for many years. Properly immunized animals have sterilizing immunity that not only prevents clinical disease but also prevents infection, and only the presence of antibody can prevent infection. As stated by eminent expert Dr. Ronald Schultz in discussing the value of vaccine titer testing, these tests “show that an animal with a positive test has sterilizing immunity and should be protected from infection. If that animal were vaccinated it would not respond with a significant increase in antibody titer, but may develop a hypersensitivity to vaccine components (e.g. fetal bovine serum). Furthermore, the animal doesn't need to be revaccinated and should not be revaccinated since the vaccine could cause an adverse reaction (hypersensitivity disor- der). You should avoid vaccinating animals that are already protected. It is often said that the antibody level detected is “only a snapshot in time". That's simply not true; it is more a “motion picture that plays for years".

Furthermore, protection as indicated by a positive titer result is not likely to suddenly drop-off unless an animal develops a medical problem such as cancer or receives high or prolonged doses of immunosuppres- sive drugs. Viral vaccines prompt an immune response that lasts much longer than that elicited by classic antigen. Lack of distinction between the two kinds of responses may be why practitioners think titers can suddenly disappear.

But, not all vaccines produce sterilizing immunity. Those that do include: distemper virus, adenovirus, and parvovirus in the dog, and panleukopenia virus in the cat. Examples of vaccines that produced non-sterile immunity would be leptospirosis, bordetella, rabies virus, herpesvirus and calicivirus --- the latter two being upper respiratory viruses of cats. While non-sterile immunity may not protect the animal from infection, it should keep the infection from progressing to severe clinical disease.

Therefore, interpreting titers correctly depends upon the disease in question. Some titers must reach a certain level to indicate immunity, but with other agents like those that produce sterile immunity, the presence of any measurable antibody shows protection. The positive titer test result is fairly straightforward, but a negative titer test result is more difficult to interpret, because a negative titer is not the same thing as a zero titer and it doesn't necessarily mean that animal is unprotected. A negative result usually means the titer has failed to reach the threshold of providing sterile immunity. This is an important distinction, because for the clinically important distemper and parvovirus diseases of dogs, and panleukopenia of cats, a negative or zero antibody titer indicates that the animal is not protected against canine parvovirus and may not be protected against canine distemper virus or feline panleukopenia virus.

Finally, what does more than a decade of experience with vaccine titer testing reveal ? Published studies in refereed journals show that 90-98% of dogs and cats that have been properly vaccinated develop good measurable antibody titers to the infectious agent measured. So, in contrast to the concerns of some practitioners, using vaccine titer testing as a means to assess vaccine-induced protection will likely result in the animal avoiding needless and unwise booster vaccinations.

Our recent study (Twark and Dodds, 2000), evaluated 1441 dogs for CPV antibody titer and 1379 dogs for CDV antibody titer. Of these, 95.1 % were judged to have adequate CPV titers, and nearly all (97.6 %) had adequate CDV titers. Vaccine histories were available for 444 dogs (CPV) and 433 dogs (CDV). Only 43 dogs had been vaccinated within the previous year, with the majority of dogs (268 or 60%) having received a booster vaccination 1-2 years beforehand. On the basis of our data, we concluded that annual revaccination is unnecessary. Similar findings and conclusions have been published recently for dogs in New Zea- land (Kyle et al, 2002), and cats (Scott and Geissinger, 1999; Lappin et al, 2002). Comprehensive studies of the duration of serologic response to five viral vaccine antigens in dogs and three viral vaccine antigens in cats were recently published by researchers at Pfizer Animal Health (Mouzin et al, 2004). When an adequate immune memory has already been established, there is little reason to introduce unnecessary antigen, adjuvant, and preservatives by administering booster vaccines. By titering triennially or more often, if needed, one can assess whether a given animal’s humoral immune response has fallen below levels of adequate immune memory. In that event, an appropriate vaccine booster can be administered.

Other Issues with Over Vaccination Other issues arise from over vaccination, as the increased cost in time and dollars spent needs to be considered, despite the well-intentioned solicitation of clients to encourage annual booster vaccinations so that pets also can receive a wellness examination. Giving annual boosters when they are not necessary has the client paying for a service which is likely to be of little benefit to the pet’s existing level of protection against these infectious diseases. It also increases the risk of adverse reactions from the repeated exposure to foreign substances.

Compliance or Resistence to Current Vaccine Guidelines ? For more than a decade, the issues discussed above on overvaccination and vaccine safety for companion animals have been raised by vaccinologists and veterinary clinicians. But, how has this still controversial knowledge impacted the veterinary profession and pet owner today? Have veterinarians really embraced the national policies on vaccination guidelines? Does the public trust veterinarians to be up-to-date on these issues or are they unsure? Do they believe veterinarians have a conflict of interest if they seek the income from annual booster vaccinations? Given media information regarding autism and measles vaccination, the public is more aware and worried about vaccine safety. Some veterinarians today still tell their clients there is no scientific evidence linking vaccinations with adverse effects and serious illness. This is ignorance, and confuses an impressionable client. On the other hand, vaccine zealots abound with hysteria and misinformation. None of these polarized views is helpful.

Veterinarians are still routinely vaccinating ill dogs and those with chronic diseases or prior adverse vaccine reactions. This is especially problematic for rabies boosters, as many colleagues believe they have no legal alternative, even though the product label states it's intended for healthy animals. See www.rabieschallengefund.org

New Breakthroughs Failure to standardize the legal mandate for rabies vaccinations nationwide is medically and scientifically unwarranted. The fact that individual states, counties and cities elect to mandate annual rabies boosters despite federally licensed three-year rabies vaccines is misguided. Now that Arkansa passed a new rabies law authorizing the State Health Department to establish rabies vaccination schedules which adopt a 3-year rabies protocol for dogs and cats (February 2009), Alabama just changed their rabies law to 3 years on August 1, 2009. However, some individual cities and counties still require annual rabies booster vaccination. For Cheyenne, WY and Wichita, KS, pressure from the public and the local veterinary associations effected a recent change to every three years. Despite these recent changes, the practice of rabies booster vaccination in these states and local areas has been left as optional at the discretion of the client’s veterinarian. So this is a Catch-22 situation, because if the veterinarian still believes the rabies booster should be given annually instead of as licensed, they usually can talk their client into doing so.

Rabies Vaccines and the USDA/CVB Rabies vaccines are the most common group of biological products identified in adverse event reports received by the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB). Currently, 14 rabies vaccines are labeled for use in dogs. These vaccines must meet the standard requirements established in the Title 9 Code of Fed- eral Regulations. This requires that the vaccine provide a protected fraction of ≥ 83% when comparing vaccinated animals versus control animals. Also, all rabies vaccines are evaluated for safety prior to licensure, which includes performance of a field safety trial. Additionally, each serial of rabies vaccine is tested for potency by use of the National Institutes of Health potency test or another test approved by the CVB, and is tested for safety in the host and laboratory animals.

Safety Review Before licensure, a product must be shown to be safe through a combination of safety evaluations. The field safety trial is the most comprehensive evaluation and has the objective of assessing the safety of the product in its target population under the conditions of its intended use. However, safety studies before licensure may not detect all safety concerns for a number of reasons, as follows: insufficient number of animals for low frequency events, insufficient duration of observation, sensitivities of subpopulations (eg, breed, re- productive status, and unintended species), or interactions with concomitantly administered products.

State and Local Authority for Rabies Control Programs Although the CVB licenses veterinary biological products for use in the prevention of rabies, it is the state and local authorities govern and administer their respective rabies animal control programs. Some of these programs allow exemptions to the vaccination requirements, if medical concerns exist related to potential adverse events, but more commonly, others do not allow exemptions, regardless of the justification.

Reporting Adverse Vaccine Reaction to Manufacturer and the Government There is no mandatory reporting of adverse reactions in veterinary medicine. The 2007 World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Vaccine Guidelines states that there is: "gross under-reporting of vaccine -associated adverse events which impedes knowledge of the ongoing safety of these products." WSAVA 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm, Even in humans, where mandatory reporting of adverse vaccine reactions is required, Dr. David Kessler, former head of the Food & Drug Administration, reported that "only about 1% of serious events are reported to the FDA". [JAMA .269:.2785, 1993]. This problem of under-reporting has persisted for many years. Despite the serious under-reporting of vaccinal adverse reactions, the 2008 Report from the USDA’s CVB [JAVMA 232:1000-1002, 2008], states that between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2007, they "requested manufacturers of rabies vaccines to provide adverse event report summaries for their products. During this period, nearly 10,000 adverse event reports (all animal species) were received by manufacturers of rabies vaccines. Approximately 65% of the manufacturer's reports involved dogs." The USDA/CVB 2008 Report further states that "Rabies vaccines are the most common group of biological products identified in adverse event reports received by the CVB." During the 3-year period covered in this report, the CVB received 246 adverse event reports for dogs in which a rabies vaccine was identified as one of the products administered. Reports were assessed for causality, and of these,

217 reports were considered possibly related to ≥ 1 of the vaccines given, 7 were considered unlikely, and 22 were assessed as unknown. Of reports with age information (n = 206), 21.4% of the dogs were ≤ 6 months old, 33.5% were > 6 months old but ≤ 2 years old, and 45.1% were > 2 years old. Of reports with sex information (n = 209), 54.5% of the dogs were female.

The following clinical terms were listed “to describe possibly related adverse events in dogs vaccinated against rabies“ and reported to the USDA/CVB between April 1, 2004-March 31, 2007. For 217 adverse event reports – the clinical term is followed by the % of dogs affected:

Vomiting-28.1%; facial swelling-26.3%; injection site swelling or lump-19.4%; lethargy-12%; urti- caria-10.1%; circulatory shock-8.3%; injection site pain-7.4%; pruritus-7.4%; injection site alopecia or hair loss-6.9%; death-5.5%; lack of consciousness-5.5; diarrhea-4.6%; hypersensitivity (not specified)-4.6%; fever-4.1%;, anaphylaxis-2.8%; ataxia-2.8%; lameness-2.8%; general signs of pain-2.3%; hyperactivity-2.3%; injection site scab or crust-2.3%;, muscle tremor-2.3%; tachycardia- 2.3%; and thrombocytopenia-2.3%.

The overall adverse report rate for rabies vaccines was determined to be 8.3 reports/100,000 doses sold. Adverse events considered possibly related to vaccination included acute hypersensitivity (59%); local reactions (27%); systemic reactions, which refers to short-term lethargy, fever, general pain, anorexia, or be- havioral changes, with or without gastrointestinal disturbances starting within 3 days after vaccination (9%); autoimmune disorders (3%); and other (2%). In nearly 72% of the dogs of these reports, other vaccine or medicinal products were administered in conjunction with the rabies vaccine. In those instances, it was generally not possible to determine which product or products might be most closely linked to the adverse event. Additionally, in some instances, dogs had > 1 clinical sign, resulting in the coding of several clinical signs in a single report.

But, IF one applied the only 1% estimated reporting figure of "serious" events from the former head of the FDA to the 10,000 adverse events reported for animal rabies vaccines, 65% of which were in dogs, then the actual number of dogs that had adverse reactions to the vaccine could be as high as 650,000 in that 3 year period with 3,575 (5.5%) of the dogs dying from their adverse reaction.

Treatment of Vaccinosis The diagnosis of vaccinosis is an exclusionary one -- i.e. nothing will be found upon other testing to explain the symptoms. The animal is given the oral homeopathics, Thuja (for all vaccines other than rabies), and Lyssin to detox the rabies “miasm”. IF there are no holistic veterinarians in the area, these homeopathics can be obtained from www.naturalrearing.com.

Our therapy typically uses steroids in tapering doses over 4-6 weeks to stop the inflammatory process and clinical symptoms. Therapy begins with an injection of dexamethasone phosphate first, and if the animal improves right away, is continued with prednisone at 0.5 mg per pound twice daily for 5-7 days, then ta- pered gradually over the next month to every other day. The use of steroids will cause an increase in water intake and urination, but the animal should be able to handle the drug at these tapering doses for a few weeks. IF a holistic veterinarian wants to try an alternative therapy to steroids, this approach can also work. Try it for several days to see if it will work.

We advise that these patients receive no further vaccine boosters, except for rabies, where exemption can be sought on a case-by-case basis but may not be granted in the specific locale. References

● Dodds WJ. More bumps on the vaccine road. Adv Vet Med 41:715-732, 1999. ● Dodds WJ. Vaccination protocols for dogs predisposed to vaccine reactions. J Am An Hosp Assoc 38: 1 -4, 2001. ● Hogenesch H, Azcona-Olivera J, Scott-Moncreiff C, et al. Vaccine-induced autoimmunity in the dog. Adv Vet Med 41: 733-744, 1999. ● Hustead DR, Carpenter T, Sawyer DC, et al. Vaccination issues of concern to practitioners. J Am Vet Med Assoc 214: 1000-1002, 1999. ● Kyle AHM, Squires RA, Davies PR. Serologic status and response to vaccination against canine distemper (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) of dogs vaccinated at different intervals. J Sm An Pract, June 2002. ● Lappin MR, Andrews J, Simpson D, et al. Use of serologic tests to predict resistance to feline herpesvirus 1, feline calicivirus, and feline parvovirus infection in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 220: 38-42, 2002. ● McGaw DL, Thompson M, Tate, D, et al. Serum distemper virus and parvovirus antibody titers among dogs brought to a veterinary hospital for revaccination. J Am Vet Med Assoc 213: 72-75, 1998. ● Moore GE, Glickman LT. A perspective on vaccine guidelines and titer tests for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 200-203. 2004. ● Moore et al, Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 227:1102–1108, 2005. ● Mouzin DE, Lorenzen M J, Haworth, et al. Duration of serologic response to five viral antigens in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 55-60, 2004. ● Mouzin DE, Lorenzen M J, Haworth, et al. Duration of serologic response to three viral antigens in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 61-66, 2004. ● Paul MA.Credibility in the face of controversy. Am An Hosp Assoc Trends Magazine XIV(2):19-21,1998. ● Paul MA (chair) et al. Report of the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 canine vaccine guidelines, recommendations, and supporting literature. AAHA, April 2003, 28 pp. ● Paul MA (chair) et al. Report of the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force : 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines. J Am An Hosp Assoc 42:80-109, Mar-April 2006, 28 pp. www.aahanet.org ● Richards JR (chair) et al. The 2006 American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Report . J Am Vet Med Assoc 229:1405-1441, 2006. www.aafponline.org ● Schultz RD. Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs. Vet Med 93:233-254, 1998. ● Schultz RD, Ford RB, Olsen J, Scott F. Titer testing and vaccination: a new look at traditional practices. Vet Med, 97: 1-13, 2002 (insert). ● Scott FW, Geissinger CM. Long-term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine. Am J Vet Res 60: 652-658, 1999. ● Scott-Moncrieff JC, Azcona-Olivera J, Glickman NW, et al. Evaluation of antithyroglobulin antibodies after routine vaccination in pet and research dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 221: 515-521, 2002. ● Smith CA. Are we vaccinating too much? J Am Vet Med Assoc 207:421-425, 1995. ● Tizard I, Ni Y. Use of serologic testing to assess immune status of companion animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 213: 54-60, 1998. ● Twark L, Dodds WJ. Clinical application of serum parvovirus and distemper virus antibody titers for deter- mining revaccination strategies in healthy dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 217:1021-1024, 2000. ● Vascellari M, Melchiotti E, Bozza MA et al. Fibrosarcomas at presumed sites of injection in dogs: charac- teristics and comparison with non-vaccination site fibrosarcomas and feline post-vaccinal firosarcomas. J Vet Med 50 (6): 286-291, 2003.

CANINE VACCINE ADVERSE EVENTS * retrospective cohort study; 1.25 million dogs vaccinated at 360 veterinary hospitals 38 adverse events per 10,000 dogs vaccinated inversely related to dog weight vaccines prescribed on a 1-dose-fits-all basis, rather than by body weight. increased for dogs up to 2 yr of age, then declined greater for neutered versus sexually intact dogs increased as number of vaccines given together increased increased after the 3 rd or 4 th vaccination genetic predisposition to adverse events documented ______* from Moore et al, JAVMA 227:1102–1108, 2005

VACCINE CONCLUSIONS FOR CANINES * Factors that increase risk of adverse events 3 days after vaccination: young adult age small-breed size neutering multiple vaccines given per visit These risks should be communicated to clients ______* from Moore et al, JAVMA 227:1102–1108, 2005

FELINE VACCINE ADVERSE EVENTS * retrospective cohort study; 0.5 million cats vaccinated at 329 veterinary hospitals 51.6 adverse events per 10,000 cats vaccinated inversely related to cat weight increased for cats about 1 yr of age greater for neutered versus sexually intact cats increased as number of vaccines given together increased Lethargy with or without fever was most common sign ______* from Moore et al, JAVMA 231:94-100, 2007

VACCINE CONCLUSIONS FOR FELINES * Factors that increase risk of adverse events 30 days after vaccination: young adult age neutering multiple vaccines given per visit These risks should be communicated to clients, and the number of vaccines administered concurrently limited ______* from Moore et al, JAVMA 231:94-100, 2007 Biography: Dr. Jean Dodd

Dr. Jean Dodds is a true pioneer in the veterinary profession. She holds 18 patents in areas of nutrition, animal health, and diagnostics. Her company, Ho- meopet, is a renowned resource for diagnostic testing, interpretation, and blood- bank services. Dr. Dodds holds 18 patents in areas of diagnostics, nutrition, and animal health. She currently serves on the board of the American Holistic Veteri- nary Medical Association and the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Founda- tion. You can learn more at her website, http://www.hemopet.org/

HOLISTIC VET SOCIETY CONFERENCE OCTOBER 27 & 28 IN TAURANGA SIGN UP TODAY!! HVS members qualify for a free sample of Dr. Ohhira's OM-X Probiotic as well as a 10% discount off their first order!!

“Advance Offer” on special for attendees at the Annual Holistic Vet Conference extended to readers of this newsletter!! Free Sample of Traumeel 50g cream, gel 50ml drops or 50s tablets—phone Pauline Hayes at 021-227-8677! Homeopathy and abscess Jennie Rassell, Tauranga

Sooty was just looking peaky, nothing wrong that anyone could positively identify, but just not her usual fei- sty little self. Sooty was a three year old, spayed female Birman, slim and elegant, with an obstinate and willful nature. The remedy Silicea had been useful for her in the past during a much earlier episode of cat flu, so this was repeated. There were no obvious indications for its selection, Sooty was eating, but without much appetite, she was spending a lot of time on an available warm bed, but that was not unusual. Two days later however the result was dramatic. Sooty arrived on the doorstep at lunch time with blood and pus all down her front. It looked as though she had been caught in a barbed wire fence, and created a significant laceration. When the mess was cleaned up, a tiny lesion was evident under her chin, and Sooty was back to herself.

Tabitha was an oriental, typically vocal, and full of mischief. Her abscess was on the side of her face, and very visible. The usual abscess remedies were given but the swelling did not resolve nor discharge, until Myristica sebifera (the “homeopathic scalpel”) was given. Again the result was spectacular, discharging all over the duvet overnight, and Tabitha recovered quickly.

Samson was an elderly large ginger neutered tom, who had suffered the indignity of having to move from his country home due to a broken relationship. Previously, Samson could range as he wished, no-one knew just how far he traveled, bringing home mice, rats and good sized rabbits. In town, his territory had been severely curtailed. There were fences, and noisy cars, grumpy people, and other cats. He was in fights every night to preserve the very small area that he considered remained to him, and as a result, Samson was suffering from repeated abscesses. Hepar sulph was given whenever he seemed miserable, feeling the cold, keeping to himself and avoiding the children at all costs. This resolved the infection before it progressed to the stage of needing to be released.

Silicea and Hepar sulph are two of the most common remedies used in the treatment of abscesses. Silicea is known for its ability to expel foreign matter from the body, and Hepar sulph is useful for repeated infections. Myristica sebifera is less commonly used, but is one to think of when other remedies are indicated but not achieving the desired result. These three cases from my experience demonstrate that homeopathic remedies can be effective in supporting the animal through varying conditions. The selection of the remedy depends on the condition, but also on the individuality of the animal.

Biography:Jennie Rassell BSc Hons, Dip Hom, DipHom(Animal Health), RCHom Jennie received her degree in Microbiology from Canterbury University and worked in education and research, particularly in the Agricultural sector in NZ before turning her focus to family and farm life. She and her husband began to explore organic production methods and successfully converted their kiwifruit orchard to organics as a result. Jennie found her interest in Homeopathy blooming alongside the passion for organics and completed both the ‘human’ and ‘animal’ Diploma programmes at the Bay of Plenty College of Homeopathy. Now, Jennie has a thriving practice for both animals and humans in Tauranga, New Zealand. She also lectures at BOPCOH and on the Certificate of Homeopathy programme in the school of nursing in Rotorua, NZ. INTEGRATING CHINESE HERBS FOR IMMUNE CONDITIONS Dr Barbara Fougere, Sydney Australia

Many herbs offer immune modulating and antimicrobial effects in both immune deficient states and autoimmune conditions. Ideally, you will be well versed in herbal medicine before treating acute or severe conditions. Herbs can be used as a stand alone modality, but many cases benefit from an integrated approach. Clients are often appreciative of having this option. In severe infections we sometimes start with herbs and antibiotics for a week, and then rely on the herbs to provide the long term treatment. With autoimmune disease, we can start with conventional treatment and herbs, then remove conventional treatment, using herbs to maintain the patient. Here are two case studies that demonstrate the benefits of herbal medicine. You will see that two well known classical formulae make all the difference in clinical outcomes.

MIA Mia is a 5 year old Retriever who has the important role of Assistant Dog to her wheelchair bound person (this is a before picture). Mia had recurring episodes of conjunctivitis and “styes” associated with her work in assisting her person with dressing, removing underwear etc. These ocular conditions are not uncommon problems for assitant dogs with these duties. Mia, a 24/7 working dog was clearly coping with her stress mentally, but not physically. She needed to visit her local vet weekly for eye ointments, antibiotics, and even two bouts of surgery to address the styes. She also had an annoying habit of defecating while walking, which was not cool. We didn’t actually get to see Mia, since she was located in another state, but we worked closely with her regular vet. We were unable obtain a pulse or tongue diagnosis. Mia was prescribed Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (BZYQT). Within 3 weeks, she stopped defecating on her walks. Since her treatment, she no longer suffered recurring conjunctivitis. Her original diet of dry food only was changed at this stage, to a balanced dry, vegetable, and meat based diet that her owner could cope with. She continued on BZYQT for a further 6 months and has recently stopped. One of the ways herbs can improve immunity is via improving circulation, thus increasing access to the immune system. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang contains astragalus, a well known immune modulating herb. This Chinese medicine formula is used as a Qi tonic and is particularly beneficial in patients with signs of Spleen deficiency (poor digestion, infections, and the inability to hold things up or in- like fecal incontinence).

PARIS AND HER TREATMENT Paris presented to our practice with a long history of autoimmune immune mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP). She had been so bad that she had undergone 4 blood transfusions that were required whenever prednisolone doses were withdrawn to less than 2mg/kg. She had been on 10mg of prednisolone (3.13 mg/ kg) for over 2 years, and immuran every second day. She was bloated, overweight, and alopecic. Her liga- ments were weak, she was depressed, and she had demodex as well (on daily ivermectin). Her owner had seriously considered letting her go because her quality of life was severely compromised. She survived on a commerical dry food diet and occasional treat. On examination her pulse was slippery, and her tongue was pale and swollen. She had pododermatitis and periodontitis. She was diagnosed with Damp Heat and Blood deficiency. Si Miao San was initiated, first at ¼ tsp twice daily, increasing to ½ tsp twice daily mixed with food. Her drug protocol was maintained for the first month. Her diet was changed to a home made cooked meat and vegetable based diet. At her check up, her platelet count had increased for the first time in years. She had lost a little weight, and her bloating was reduced. After much negotiation with her regular vet, and taking a risk, we gradually began to reduce the prednisi- lone dose. Her regular vet monitored platelets on a regular basis (every 2 weeks). We were able to reduce her prednisolone to 1mg/kg over two more months. We added in Xiao Yao San (1/4 tsp twice daily) to address the Blood deficiency and poor hair coating. During the next few months her hair began to grow back, despite the presence of demodex on scrap- ings, and her general condition improved. Over the course of a period of about 18 months, we were able to eliminate prednisolone, and she is still maintained on immuran every third day. She is no longer on ivermectin. She recently had dental extractions performed by her regular vet, and with transfusions being ready, just in case, Paris sailed through. She is still maintained on a home made diet. Physical therapy and Chinese herbs are helping to improve her ten- don laxity.

Si Miao San is a formula that expels Dampness and Clears Damp Heat. Paris’s pattern was clearly a result of her prednisolone treatment. Si Miao San contains Huang Bai, or phellodendron, a constituent that has been shown to have immune suppressing activity. Of course this isn’t the only activity of the formula, but may account for why we were able to successfully withdraw Paris from prednisolone. Phellodendron also contains berberine which has been shown to promote thrombocytopoiesis. Our lessons from this case included taking things slowly (she had crashed so many times before). We needed to reduce the inflamma- tion in her body with an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant rich diet.

However, we have had other more acute cases where we have treated both conventionally and with Chi- nese herbs at the same time, and had very quick resolution, and subsequent quick withdrawal of drugs. We have seen relapses, and owners have been happy to try using herbs alone, and we have been impressed with the quick control we have achieved. Our protocol now, is to maintain patients on low doses of Chinese herbs for very long periods of time to avoid relapses. If you would like to learn more about Chinese Herbal Medicine or Western herbal Medicine check out Courses on www.civtedu.org.

Biography: Dr Barbara Fougere earned her Veterinary Degree from Murdoch Univer- sity Veterinary School Western Australia. She has served on the Australian Veterinary Association Policy Council, Therapeutic Advisory Committee, Feline Health Research Fund and has held positions as President of the Australian Veterinary Acupuncture, President of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association, House of Delegates IVAS, is the current President for IVAS and is one of the first veterinarians to be certified in Veterinary Botanical Medicine worldwide. She holds a Masters degree in herbal medicine and a bachelors degree in Complementary Medicine as well as a Masters in the field of education and training. She is also holds qualifications in veterinary acupuncture, spinal integration, homeopathy and other therapies. She has authored Healthy Dogs a Manual of Natural Therapies, The Pet Lovers Guide to Natural healing for Cats and Dogs (2006) and coauthored two veterinary texts Veteri- nary Herbal Medicine and Integrating Complementary Medicine into Veterinary Practice. She was awarded the AHVMA Practitioner of the Year in 2010 and Educator of the Year in 2011.

Wei Qi: The Immune System from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective Dr. Lisa R. Radwan, Tauranga

In Chinese, “wei” means to defend or protect. The Wei Qi is the energy and competency of the immune system to prevent invasion of external pernicious influences. Wei Qi, as well as nutritive qi, is derived from the true qi of the host. The Wei Qi resides at the surface of the body, as a line of first defense. The concepts are explained in the oldest text in Chinese medicine. They are from the Suwen (The Simple Ques- tions), the first book of the Huang di Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) written around 470 BC. Here, it states that “defensive qi is derived from the coarse part of food and water, it is slippery in nature, hence it cannot enter the channels. It therefore circulates under the skin, in between the muscles, it vapor- izes in between membranes and diffuses over the chest and abdomen”. As it is on the body’s surface, the Wei Qi governs the opening and closing of pores regulating both temperature and sweat, and warms and moistens the skin and superficial aspect of the muscles. By definition, the Wei Qi is at the skin surface, so it is regulated by the Lung. A weakness in Lung-Qi can result in a weakness in Wei Qi, and predispose someone to colds. As the Wei Qi regulates the pores, a weak Wei Qi can fail to close the pores and cause spontaneous sweating.

In TCM, there are 6 external pathogens that can enter the body and cause disease. They are: wind, cold, heat, damp, dry, and summer heat. To illustrate how an external evil affects the body, we will look at the pattern Wind-Cold. If one is outside on a very cold and windy day, the body usually starts to shiver and tense up. If one is subjected to this Wind-Cold for a prolonged period, and “prolonged” depends on the body’s immune strength, one will likely get a cold. In TCM, the wind blocks the circulating Wei Qi at the body’s surface. It impairs the ability of the qi to warm the muscles, so one will shiver. The pores will be unable to open, so there will be no sweating. When qi is blocked, pain results, so an invasion frequently causes a stiff neck. This usually results in one being averse to being out in the wind and cold. When the Wei Qi is blocked, the Lung cannot spread and disperse its qi, and results in a runny nose and a cough. As this is the “cold” phase of the insult, the mucus is clear or white. As the cold tries to penetrate the body, the Wei Qi moves outward to try to push out the invader. This conflict can cause minor heat, resulting in a slight fever. As the Wei Qi moves outward to defend, the pulse also rises outward, and is known as a “floating” pulse. Thus the patient’s presentation in a Wind-Cold invasion is: aversion to cold and wind, floating pulse, cough, runny nose with clear or white mucus, pain and stiffness at the occiput, absence of sweat, and no thirst.

To treat a Wind-Cold invasion, one needs to focus on pushing more Wei Qi to the surface to “release the exterior”. One of the main acupuncture points for this is Gall Bladder 20. It’s Chinese name, Fengchi, means “wind-gate”. Other points that can release the exterior are San Jiao 5, Lung 7, Large Intestine 4, Bladder 12 and 13. Lung 7 and Bladder 13 also tonify Lung Qi. A single herb treatment is Sheng Jiang, or fresh ginger. Fresh ginger is slightly warm, and enters the Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels. It will dis- pel Wind-Cold, and release the exterior, opening pores to cause a sweat. It will also warm the Lung to stop a cough. (As an aside, it will reduce the toxicity of fish, which is why it is traditionally served with sushi). Drinking a hot, fresh ginger tea at the onset of a Wind-Cold invasion will cause a sweat and alleviate symptoms.

To maintain a healthy Wei Qi, the body must be in balance. The same concepts elaborated more than 2000 years ago in the Huang Di Nei Jing are still relevant and correct, and are reflected in the tenets of allo- pathic medicine. A healthy immune system requires breathing clean air, drinking clean water, exercising, reducing stress, and consuming nourishing, healthy food. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be employed to strengthen the immune system to prevent or treat disease.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE HOLISTIC VET SOCIETY CONFERENCE OCTOBER 27 & 28 IN TAURANGA! Traditional Chinese Herbal Formula Profile: Yin Qiao Dr. Lisa Radwan, Tauranga

Yin Qiao, or Honeysuckle Flower and Forsythia formula, is an herbal formulation to release the exterior in a Wind-Heat invasion. It is an oft used formula as it is used when one is first coming down with a cold and fever. It is an excellent addition to a home care kit. An external Wind-Heat invasion is very similar to Wind-Cold, but signs of heat predominate. The wind com- bines with heat and prevents the Wei Qi from descending. The obstruction of qi causes pain and stiffness around the occiput. As heat is present, there is a higher fever, slight sweating, thirst, red and sore throat, and the nasal mucus is slightly yellow. The front and sides of the tongue, areas relating to the exterior of the body, tend to be red. The pulse is floating, and the heat makes it rapid. The heat damages fluids causing thirst. There is a slight aversion to cold in the early stages, as the obstructed qi cannot warm the muscles. Yin Qiao is a Chinese patent formula. This means it is a standardized formula, used for thousands of years with a known ingredient formula, and thus is non-proprietary and available from many manufacturers. One can see from the actions listed below, that this herbal formula is aimed at releasing the exterior heat, spreading Lung qi, and generating fluids to relieve thirst. Yin Qiao: Pinyin Pharma Name Common name Actions Jin yin hua Flos Lonicerae japoni- Japanese Honeysuckle Release exterior heat, cae clear heat Lian qiao Fructus Forsythiae Sus- Forsythia fruit Release exterior heat, pensae clear heat Jie geng Radix Platycodi grandi- Balloon flower root Spread Lung qi, help flori throat Niu bang zi Fructus Arctii Lappae Burdock seed Spread Lung qi, help throat Bo he Herba Menthae Peppermint Help release heat from Hapocalycis exterior Dan dou chi Semen sojae Praepa- Fermented soybean Help release heat from rata exterior Jing jie Herba seu Flos Japanese catnip Releases exterior with- Schizonepetae Tenuifo- out causing dryness liae Dan zhu ye Herba Lophatheri Bamboo leaf Generate fluids, allevi- Gracilis ate thirst Xian lu gen Rhizoma Phragmitis Fresh reed rhizome Generate fluids, allevi- Communis Recens ate thirst Gan cao Radix Glycyrrhize Licorice root Generate fluids, allevi- uralensis ate thirst

Clinical applications of this formula are for upper respiratory infections and influenza. It would be a good choice for feline upper respiratories in the first couple of days when they are febrile and ill, but before the nasal discharge goes from thin and slightly yellow to thick and purulent. The effect of this herbal would be enhanced with acupuncture.

Biography: Dr Lisa Radwan, DVM, FAAVA, L.Ac. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and is a 1991 graduate of North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She is certified in Vet- erinary Chiropractic, Veterinary Acupuncture, and Chinese Veterinary Herbology . She is the 14th Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, and holds a license in human acupuncture. Garlic is Good for Your Dog… in Fact it’s Very Good for Health Dr. Deva Khalsa, USA & Hawkes Bay

For as long as people have been been using garlic, they have been feeding it to their animal companions. However, recently, the safety of garlic for dogs has come into question. Knowledge is a powerful thing but astute pet owners should gather all the data before shunning this celebrated bulb. Today, garlic is making a strong comeback as a potent natural remedy.

Five thousand year old Sanskrit and Chinese medical manuscripts describe the benefits of garlic. Garlic was also a valued staple for the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans. In fact, fifteen pounds of garlic was the going price for a healthy male slave in Egypt. Hippocrates advocated garlic for infections, cancer and digestive disorders. The great Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder recommended it for a wide variety of ailments ranging from the common cold to epilepsy, leprosy, cancer and tapeworms.

What’s healthy and what’s too much? Let’s get to the bottom the garlic story. Where do you draw the line on how much garlic your dog can get in his meal? Garlic is approved as a flavoring, spice or seasoning for use in pet food, yet the FDA has garlic listed in its poisonous plant database with this link http:// www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/Plantox/Detail.CFM?ID=16094 Studies suggest that when garlic is fed in excessive quantities (5 grms of whole garlic per kilogram of the dogs body weight), it may cause damage to the red blood cells of dogs.

Drinking too much water can kill you but we all drink water. In fact, we all know that drinking enough water is a healthy thing to do Considering the data presented in the study referenced above does this mean the average Golden Retriever at 75 lbs would need to eat 5 full heads of garlic or about 75 cloves of garlic in a meal before there would be any adverse effect on the red blood cells. Similarly, a dog weighing mere 12 lbs would need to eat 30 grams of garlic which is a bit less than a entire head of garlic or about 8 to 10 garlic cloves to experience any adverse effects.

Case in point: do you know anyone who feeds dogs that much garlic in one meal? Furthermore, reported adverse affects from garlic add up to a total non-event over the past 22 years. The National Animal Sup- plement Council responsibly records both Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events resulting from the use of natural products. A Serious Adverse Event is defined as: “An Adverse Event with a transient inca- pacitating effect (i.e. rendering the animal unable to function normally for a short period of time, such as with a seizure) or non-transient (i.e. permanent) health effect.” 900 million doses of garlic over a 22 year time span resulted in only two Serious Adverse Events and these episodes could very well have been due, not to garlic, but to another ingredient in the mix. This proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that the risk of using garlic is so infintessimally low that it’s simply statistically insignificant. Here, in a nutshell is the whole truth about garlic. So what’s the moral of the story? Perhaps, moderation is the key to good health.

GARLIC HELPS PREVENT CANCER AND MANY OTHER DISEASES

What is significant is all the positive research delineating the medicinal powers of garlic. Of all of garlic’s reputed benefits, perhaps the best well known is its use as a natural antibioitic with reports going back through history. In fact, Pasteur noted garlic's antibacterial activity in 1958. Modern researchers have compared the effectiveness of garlic with that of antibiotics and have found that garlic has a broad- spectrum anti-bacterial effect. Additionally, bacteria don’t seem to build up a resisitance to garlic as they do to many modern antibiotics. While I would not use garlic as a substitute for veterinary care and the correct choice of antibiotics it’s antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial effects can contribute to the healing process. Garlic increases general immune activity along with the activity of Killer Cells (cells that seek out and kill invading bacteria and cancer cells). Uncooked garlic helps to lower blood triglycerides and choleterol making it useful for certain breeds (Schnauzers and Beagles) that are predisposed to this problem.

There’s a secret to releasing the healing powers of garlic. Allicin is the most powerful medicinal compound derived from garlic, providing the most important health benefits. Garlic does not contain alllicin. Rather, garlic first has to go through a chemical process so the allicin can be released. When garlic is crushed, an amino acid contained within it reacts with an enzyme, creating allicin. You must finely chop or crush a garlic clove then wait a few minutes to allow the chemical reaction to occur. Additionally, allicin is unstable when exposed to air and heat so don’t wait more than 20 minutes before you top your dog’s meal with some healthy raw garlic. I can’t help but think of the old fashioned home made Ceasar salad, where raw garlic is crushed and placed in the mix just before serving. It’s healthier for me than I previously thought! While cooking garlic destroys allicin, other components in the cooked or powdered garlic continue to provide some beneficial health effects. Compounds in garlic act as antioxidants and help flush toxins out. If you cook meals for your dog, it’s totally safe to add garlic as a flavoring and for improved health. (Unless you add 75 cloves to one meal; forgive my tongue-in-cheek. Seriously, would the average dog even eat that meal?)

Additionally, garlic has been fed to dogs in order to help prevent flea infestation for decades. There are many products on the market containing garlic for this very purpose. Both powdered and raw garlic are effective although raw garlic has significantly more health benefits. When using garlic as a flea preventive it’s important to use a castile soap or detergent free shampoo. Dogs don’t sweat as humans do and the garlic ‘aroma’ comes out in the oil on their coat. It takes several weeks for the garlic compounds to build up in the oil and a detergent shampoo removes the oil and you’re back to square one again.

A host of studies provide evidence that the allicin in garlic works to inhibit cancer formation. With cancer being the number on cause of death in dogs in the United States, let’s all get going with garlic! Buy a garlic press or simply chop some garlic very finely and let it sit for about 15 minutes. You can then mix it in with a tablespoon of cooked, cooled chopped beef or chicken and place it on top of your dog’s meal.

Biography: Dr. Deva Khalsa earned her VDM in 1981 at the University of Pennsyl- vania School of Veterinary Medicine. She has studied extensively and is knowl- edgeable about many natural modalities including homeopathy, acupuncture, prolotherapy, Naet and JMT. For the past 25 years Dr. Khalsa has lectured at numerous veterinary conferences both abroad and within the United States. Dr. Khalsa co-authored, ‘HEALING YOUR HORSE: Alternative Therapies’ (Howell Book House, 1993)., and most recently authored the best-seller, ‘Dr. Khalsa’s Natural Dog’ (BowTie Press, 2009). She is presently working on a similar book for the care- takers of cats. You can find out more about Dr. Khalsa at www.doctordeva.com.

Free freight to HVS members through 31 October, 2012!!

Free freight to HVS members through 31 October, 2012!! Flea Control, a Holistic Perspective Dr. Liza Schneider, Tauranga

In addition to irritating their hosts, fleas can be extremely harmful parasites. They can cause flea allergy dermatitis, and transmit tapeworm and Haemobartonella. (Outside of New Zealand, there are a number of other parasites they transmit) Fleas are capable of infesting young animals so severely that the amount of blood which they suck renders these animals anemic.

Fleas have evolved with their hosts for thousands of years. As with all parasites, it is impossible to com- pletely eradicate them. However, in any given population of animals, some individuals will have a greater flea burden than others. This would indicate that some animals have qualities that make them less hospita- ble to these parasites. Some of these tendencies are genetic, but an excessive flea burden is often an indi- cation that an animal has a weakened immune system.

A healthy animal in a healthy environment suited to its breed is unlikely to have an excessive parasite burden. From a holistic point of view, we question why the fleas are present on a specific individual, and we endeavor to re-establish balance so that natural harmony is restored to reduce the flea burden.

There are a number of ways to reduce flea numbers. Firstly, supporting your pet’s immune system with good nutrition will go a long way to making them less tasty to fleas. Vitamin B’s and garlic in particular are wonderful aids, but be cautious with garlic as it can be toxic in excess to dogs and cats. Various herbs, es- sential oils and a citrus wash can be used externally as flea repellants. Regular flea combing will help to monitor flea numbers and reduce them further.

Sometimes these gentle methods are not enough to deter fleas from pets. These animals may benefit from other supportive therapies or might need the assistance of stronger commercial products. These products can be exceptionally effective at killing fleas and have their place helping to preserve the quality of life of our pets.

Typically the number of fleas on any dog or cat is only the tip of the iceberg. Since fleas only spend 20% of their time on their host, addressing the environment is a very important component of flea control.

Cedar, eucalyptus or pennyroyal oils on dogs’ bedding may be used to deter fleas but are toxic if ingested. Immature fleas can be destroyed by regularly hanging pet bedding out in the sunshine, thoroughly vacuuming carpets on a regular basis, and sprinkling them with borax or diatomaceous earth afterwards.

By using a holistic approach to manage both animals and their environment, and by respecting natural principles, animals can be kept flea free and healthy.

Encourage Others To Join the Holistic Vet Society Today!

1. Learn simple and effective EVIDENCE BASED treatment options to help your patients.

2. Offer a broader range of treatment options to your clients and thereby add quality of life for your patients and generate more income for your practice

3. Understand when it’s of benefit to offer referral to an appropriately qualified Holistic Vet

Perks of being an HVS member:

*Receiving our HVS quarterly e-newsletter which includes: (Discounts and promotions on complementary therapy products; Information about user friendly therapeutic tools to integrate into practice that give efficient and consistent results; and Informative articles and case studies)

*Collegial Support

*HVS Conference attendance at a discounted rate 27 & 28 October 2012 where will have a number of pre- senters covering a variety of topics.

*Listing on the NZVA website as a Holistic Vet (Vets and the public use this as a referral resource. New members please contact a committee member to be listed). Borax Flea Control with Borax Dr. Liza Schneider, Tauranga

Flea control with Borax (or boric acid) is by far the safest, most effective and most commonly used method for getting rid of fleas in your home. In fact, borax is the “secret ingredient” in most commercially available flea products. It’s inexpensive and its effects can last for up to a year. This makes it attractive compared to other chemical sprays where you would need to reapply after just a couple of months.

Borax kills fleas by acting as a desiccant, causing dehydration and death. It primarily kills flea eggs and larvae, stopping the life cycle. This means that it although it will take 2-6 weeks for the adult population of fleas to die off, there will be no future generations. Beside occasional reports of irritation to the skin, eyes or respiratory system in sensitive individuals, experts have declared borax safe for use around family and pets.

The key to success with borax as a flea killer is proper application. Where the powder is applied is just as important as how it is applied. Used correctly, borax will produce results comparable to a professional exterminator.

STEP 1 – CLEAN THE HOUSE It is important to begin by cleaning up. You need to be able to move furniture to reach all the dark corners in which fleas love to breed. Put away shoes and toys. Make sure the bottoms of closets are accessible, as these are favorite breeding grounds.

Next, vacuum all carpets well. The more dust and dirt you remove in advance, the easier it will be for the borax to work in deep and get all the larvae and eggs. Also vacuum cloth furniture and remove cushions to get access to the dark corners and creases where fleas hide out.

STEP 2 – APPLY THE BORAX Sprinkle the borax over the surface of your carpet. Some people use a strainer or sifter for this. Be certain to get under furniture, in corners, and inside closets. Pay special attention to areas where your pets like to spend time. Using a broom, spread the borax over the whole surface in an even layer. Then use a back and forth motion to work the borax deep into the carpet. The deeper you work it the more larvae and eggs will be killed. Eventually there should be no visible powder remaining. To treat furniture, sprinkle the borax over the surface and work into the fabric with a hand broom until there is no visible powder remaining. Be sure to get it into wells and corners where fleas are likely to hide.

After application, make sure you clean your hands and any implements thoroughly. Avoid breathing in the dust during application.

STEP 3 – FOLLOW UP Vacuum any visible borax remaining on the carpet or furniture. Otherwise, leave everything settle for 1-2 days. Then begin vacuuming as usual. This will dispose of the dead adult fleas and larvae.

The borax should remain active in your carpet for up to a year. However, if your carpet is washed or deep cleaned, it will be necessary to reapply the borax to maintain protection.