What you need to know about circovirus

Prior to 2012, circovirus was only seen in pigs and chickens.  Crossing over into dog populations, cases have been reported in California, Michigan and Ohio. There have been reports of sick animals and several deaths related to circovirus.

So far, cases have limited to boarding/kennel situations and is it contagious in nature. Symptoms to look for are lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and bloody stool. These symptoms may be present in variety of diseases. Any pet exhibiting these symptoms should be evaluated by a vet immediately.

A strong immune system, supported by proper nutrition supplements, chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture, is your pet's best defense against illness. Dr. Gerald Buchoff and Dr. Vanessa Moore can create a protocol to help your pet stay healthy and live longer. 

My dog needs a job

“My dog needs a job” lamented the owner of an Emma, an 8 year old Shih Tzu. Emma had taken to obsessively gnawing at her leg, creating a persistent wound susceptible to frequent infection.  Proper nutritional support and homeopathic remedies healed the wound nicely, but Emma would soon find another spot to target.

Obsessive behavior in animals is a curious thing. Once all possible physical causes are ruled out, only the mental state of animal remains. Gus, the recently deceased Central Park Zoo polar bear, became world- famous for his obsessive swimming. Animal behaviorists, at a cost of $25,000, were brought in to help shift his behavior. A playroom stocked with rubber cans, traffic cones and coolers was set up in his enclosure.  Feeding times became more challenging – Gus was given his meals frozen in ice blocks or encased in rawhide. In the end all these changes were made to make Gus use his mind and body more. Little by little his obsessive behavior was reduced.

We can learn from Gus’ story and benefit from the knowledge learned from the animal behaviorists. Emma too needs to use her mind and her body to drain her of the restlessness energy that is driving her obsessive behavior. Exercise, games, and pet tricks can all help her channel the energy in a positive way. Emma’s owner is correct, Emma and all pets with obsessive behaviors “need a job”. Are you hiring?

Tis the Season for Itching

We have recently seen a plethora of cases scratching themselves. Granted, some of these are dogs and cats with fleas, but many are allergy-like skin cases. Most of the time, the food or material that is making them itch is difficult to identify.

As you know, we avoid steroids unless the case is an emergency. However, we have been finding much success using Chinese and Western herbal remedies. Where that is not enough, some cases have responded well to homotoxicology injections using complex homeopathy combined with the pet's own blood to remove the individual toxins that plague the patient.

Very simple solutions work such as adding water to the pet's food so the skin is more hydrated. Another good way to prevent itching in some cases is to stop bathing the pet, since baths dry out the skin and remove protective oils. Brushing every day with a wire slicker brush can stimulate skin glands to produce these comforting skin oils.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, itchiness may be excess internal heat trying to escape the body. Therefore, some pets feel much relief using menthol preparations such as Gold Bond powder or lotion. So many pets need to simply change their diets from processed food to raw diet.  Often, commercial food is the cause of excess body heat. 

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Conference

Dr. Buchoff has recently returned from the 30th Annual American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. During this conference, over 200 veterinarians met from around the nation to discuss holistic products, treatment options, case studies, and more! There were tons of vendors, lecturers, and other like-minded individuals networking and learning about evolutions in Holistic Veterinary Medicine.

Our clinic is excited to update our inventory with Neutricks. Neutricks is a jellyfish protein extract that binds to calcium to help neurotransmitters communicate more effectively. It helps with mental agility and cognitive focus. This is for geriatric animals whose minds seem to wander in their elderly age.

More Chinese herbs and homotoxicology medicines will be added to our repertoire!

Dr. B heard lectures on Homotoxicology, one of the many procedures we offer. He believes it is "Tomorrow's Medicine." How Homotoxicology works is that a homeopathic remedy is designed to remove the specific toxins the body has. In order to do this, the medicine is mixed with a drop of the patient's blood. The pet's blood chemistry dictates how the medication will work because it helps the medicine identify which specific toxins are present.

Dr. B attended several other lectures as well:

"Herbs for Lymphoma and other Cancers in Dogs" by Dr. Huisheng Xie
"Vitamin D and Calcium: Bone Health and Beyond" by Dr. Patricia Schenck
"Hot Topics in Nutrition" by Dr. Patricia Schenck
"Circulation: It's Central Role in Disease Pathogenesis and its Control Through Medicine, Part 2" by Dr. Steve Marsden
"The Role of Inflammation and Injury in Cancer" by Dr. Sue Armstrong
(Sue Armstrong has seen curative effects in cancer patients with homeopathy!)
A Keynote Speaker: Extending the Frontiers in the Art of Medicine by Dr. Jean Dodds
"Managing Skin Disease, Lameness, and Paralysis" by Dr. Steve Marsden
"Headache in Animals - Recognition and Treatment" by Dr. Ella Bittel
"Raw Green Tripe- Smelly but Sensational" by Dr. Amy Fiumarelli
"Understanding Autoimmunity and Related Disorders" by Dr. Jean Dodds
"Novel Approaches for Managing and Treating Autoimmune Disorders" by Dr. Jean Dodds

For a more detailed description of the lectures or to contact the lecturers, please email Dr. Buchoff!

We Got Your Back! A Talk and Walk

Tomorrow, August 30th is National Holistic Pet Day!

To celebrate our furry companions, we are partnering with Davis Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center for a event called "We Got Your Back: A Talk and Walk."

The goal of this event is to educate the public about the benefits of chiropractic adjustments in humans and animals. Dr. Buchoff of Holistic Pet Care and Dr. Raymondi of Davis Chiropractic will share their expertise. In addition, we will be demonstrating proper lifting and handling technique and end the evening with a leisurely walk around Brookdale Dog Park in Montclair, NJ.

Admission is FREE.

Come on out and bring your friends and your dog. It's a nice way to unwind before Labor Day weekend.

Again, "We Got Your Back" is TOMORROW, August 30th.
7:00-8:00PM, 20 Bellvue Ave Montclair, NJ (Brookdale Dog Park)

The Magic Healing of Stem Cell Therapy

Brusier Raffiani, a ten-year-old chocolate labrador retriever, presented to our clinic in April of 2012 with arthritis, limping, and severe pain. After exhausting multiple treatments that seemed to be palliative and partially effective, his owner opted to do Vet-Stem Cell Therapy in July of 2012. Vet-Stem also has their own blog.

The process of stem cell therapy involves harvesting the falciform ligament inside the patient's abdomen and sending the specimen to the VetStem lab in California. They extract the stem cells from the adipose tissue and send them back in syringes within the next day. Depending on the animal's case, stem cells may be injected directly into the joints and also intravenously.

Why does this work? Stem cells are pluripotent, meaning that they are versatile and can take on whatever role is most needed. If an animal suffers from osteoarthritis, stem cells will act to rebuild the joints affected, removing the cause of inflammation, and drastically decreasing pain. Scientific literature claims the effectiveness of stem cell therapy against some cancers. Dr. Buchoff has seen this firsthand in a case of hemangiosarcoma of the spleen.

Bruiser has seen dramatic results in only a short few weeks. Here is his owner, Beri's testimonial:

In Bruiser's case, he now is happy, care-free, and playing like a puppy again!

For more information about stem cell therapy or to see if your pet would be a good candidate, schedule with us today! 973-256-3899 or office@hpcnj.com

Welcome to Holistic Pet Care of New Jersey's Blog!

Hello and welcome to our blog!

Holistic Pet Care is eager to launch exciting news, stories, and information from experts in the holistic veterinary field. Our mission of this blog is to educate readers on what we do and why we do it, while adding a personal touch to our professional services. Dr. Gerald Buchoff has had over 25 years experience and Dr. Jill Elliot has had over sixteen years of experience. Check out Dr. Elliot's website to learn more about her!

Read about the miracles our clients have witnessed with their pets since starting holistic treatments. 

Learn how to keep your pet healthy and avoid diseases.

Dr. B’s Natural Raw dog food is in several New Jersey stores and in our clinic! We sell it in convenient patties and tubes for the dogs. Cats love our new Dr. B’s raw turkey cat cups. Visit our clinic for samples. Contact Shell Huber with questions or orders.

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