“We are stardust,” sang Joni Mitchell in her 1970 song, “Woodstock.”  As it turns out, she was more right than she could have known at the time. Many of the elements that make up our human bodies, and the bodies of every living thing on Earth, have their origins in the formation of the universe. “These elements were ejected into space by the force of the massive explosion, where they mixed with other matter and formed new stars, some with planets such as Earth…the iron in our blood and the calcium in our bones were all forged in such stars. We are made of stardust,” says LSU physicist Edward Zganjar. It’s a profound concept to realize that everything on Earth, from our backyard oak tree  to our cat’s hairball, all share common elements that were formed in the stars billions of years ago. Indeed, we, our beloved pets, and everything in the ground below and heavens above are made of recycled materials. To quote another line from another classic 70’s era tune, “we have all been here before.” OK, cool. We are all one. But what, you might ask, does this have to do with holistic veterinary medicine? Quite a lot, actually. This concept supports one of the most basic premises in natural medical modalities, such as herbology and homeopathy: from the plants, animals, rocks and waters of our world, come the medicines that can help to heal us and our animal companions. Since we all are made of basically the same “stuff,” our bodies resonate similarly with the substances of our natural world. The very same homeopathic arnica that you might take for your bruised arm will work just as well for your feline’s bruised knee. The same Chinese herb formula that slows mast-cell tumor growth in humans does[Read More…]

Smoke from recent forest fires has recently settled into the Rogue Valley like an unwanted guest that refuses to leave.  So it seems like a good time to discuss the potential hazards to you and your animals from exposure to air pollutants from nearby forest fires, and what you can do about it. Obviously, the most logical thing to do when the skies are hazy and the smell of burning trees assaults your nostrils is to limit you and your pets’ exposure by staying indoors in an air conditioned environment.  Not everyone has air conditioning, however, and some pets and most farm animals live outdoors. And while people with asthma, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases can wear a face mask to decrease their exposure to air irritants, good luck trying to get your cat to wear one. Also, it would seem obvious that it wouldn’t be a good idea going for long walks with your pets or doing any intense exercise when the air quality is poor. So other than loading up the kids and dogs in the SUV and heading to the coast (not a bad idea), what, if anything can be done to decrease the adverse effects of the smoke on us and the animals in our care? Studies have shown that inhalation of wood smoke in significant concentrations causes oxidative stress to the cells lining the airways of the lungs*.  In this process, irritants and toxins cause the generation of free radicals which wreak havoc on the sensitive tissues that are so important to normal respiration.  The resulting inflammation and altered respiratory functions can cause coughing and difficulty breathing, especially in people and animals with underlying lung diseases, and in some severe cases, permanent damage can be done to the lungs. One simple, effective, and inexpensive way to[Read More…]

There’s a plant, quite possibly growing in your yard right now, that you may not fully appreciate. Lemon balm is a medium sized, leafy green plant with the four-sided stem of a mint, and small light yellow flowers. Originally from Europe, Melissa officinalis is now naturalized in the States and is often considered a nuisance due to its propensity to spread easily through ones garden if allowed to. Pinch off a leaf, crush it in your fingers, and you will get an unmistakable smell of lemon. Although rather ordinary looking, lemon balm has an amazingly wide variety of medicinal uses for animals and humans alike.  It’s not considered a particularly strong herb, so its very safe to use.  A tea make from the dried leaves has a mild but pleasant taste, and quite effective for nervousness, mild depression and upset digestive systems.  Let’s say you plan on leaving Heidi, your sweet but anxious German Shepherd with a sitter while you go put of town for a week.  Make a pot of lemon balm tea and have the pet sitter pour it into Heidi’s food at every meal.  It will not only help keep her calm and relaxed while you are gone, but will also sooth her GI tract and help to prevent the stress-induced diarrhea that German shepherds are famous for. Or maybe you have a young colt that is not dealing with the stress of training well. A handful of the dried leaves twice a day in the feed can do wonders to help him stay more calm and focused. It’s also a great help for horses recovering from colic.Lemon balm has a mild thyroid suppressing effect, so I’ve used it in helping to treating  hyperthyroidism, which is a very common condition in older cats. It also has antiviral properties, so it[Read More…]

You’ve noticed that your 7-year-old golden retriever is experiencing some stiffness after his weekend romps at the beach or on the trail. You take “Rusty” to your local vet, who performs a physical exam, and tells you that your dog has developed degenerative joint disease (DJD), a type of arthritis, in his hips. She prescribes Rimadyl, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID), and explains that Rusty’s condition is not curable, but that his joint stiffness and pain can be alleviated by giving him one tablet a day, possibly for the rest of his life. You cringe at the $50 price tag for a month’s supply of tablets, but are happy to have something that will help your pet be more comfortable and allow him to be active without pain. What could be wrong with that? A number of things: There are several studies suggesting that the long-term use of NSAIDs actually accelerates the progression of DJD. So while Rusty may be more comfortable during and immediately after exercise, eventually the arthritis will become more severe, and less responsive to the medication. And unfortunately, severe advanced DJD and its associated mobility problems is one of the more common reasons that older large-breed dogs are put to sleep. So obviously, slowing down the progression of arthritis while maintaining comfort and good quality of life is a very worthy goal. The other reason to be judicious with the use of NSAIDs is the potential for adverse side effects. This class of drugs is known cause stomach ulcers, kidney damage and – in some rare cases – liver failure and death. (As well as heart attacks in humans.) While serious side effects from NSAIDs are uncommon, they are also believed to adversely affect the healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, and to contribute to[Read More…]