Pet Bird Safety

We often see birds in our practice who are in distress. It is important to remember that birds are small and sensitive animals. Our feathered friends need special care to ensure their safety. Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Your kitchen is a hazardous place for your birds. Fumes from cooking and cookware can quickly overcome them, causing sickness or death.
• Do keep your birds in an area that is temperature stable, near a window but not in direct sunlight.
• Birds can be overstimulated easily: children, other pets, television can all cause stress.
• Limit interaction with cats and dogs. In addition to the dangers from rough play, their saliva is laden with foreign bacteria that can cause illness in birds. 
• Exercise is important and birds love to explore your home. Be sure to keep your windows and doors closed, ceiling fans turned off and heat sources (stove, tea kettles, space heaters) secured when they take flight.
• Certain foods are toxic to birds, the most common ones are: avocados, chocolate, garlic, onions, tobacco, dairy products and alcohol.
• Are your houseplants safe for birds? A great resource to determine if your house plants are safe for pets is the ASPCA's Plant List
• Products such as air fresheners, hair spray, scented candles and potpourri are common hazards. And of course, fumes from pesticides, paint, glue and automobiles should be avoided as well.
• Be sure to wash food and water cups daily.
• Do speak and sing to your bird softly!

A little awareness will ensure that your birds are healthy and happy for years to come.

To Board or Not To Board: that is the question

There are many things to consider when you are boarding your pet. The best way to decide on a facility is to ask for a tour to see the facility and to meet the staff. Some things to consider:

What will your pet's day look like? Will your pet be in a kennel or crate or a larger suite?

Will there be interaction with other pets? How many pets? What is the staff to pet ratio in such situations?

How often and when will your pet be walked? Where?

What is the policy regarding health records and vaccination requirements?

What happens if your pet is sick or injured?

Can you provide your own food for your pet?

What about supplements?

Will they administer medications?

What is the policy on bringing bedding and toys from home?

Boarding facilities fill quickly during the holidays; remember to reserve early. Be sure to leave your contact numbers with your boarding facility. Also, providing local emergency numbers is a good idea as well. Boarding can be a stressful time for your pet,  proper planning can put you both at ease.

If boarding you pet is not possible for health or expense; a pet sitter may be an option. Pet sitters can come to your home to feed, walk, play with your pet in the comfort of your own home. They can also administer medications as well. Often clients choose this option if the re are multiple pets who are in need of care. Custom arrangements can be made with your pet sitter as needed, some will even sleep at your home and house sit as well.

At Holistic Pet Care we have a variety of options to lessen the stress of your pet while you are away. Call or stop by to learn about herbs, flower essences and essential oils that can help.

~Dr. Gerald Buchoff

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)