Pawsitive Healing

21/08/2026

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine were incorporated alongside conventional therapies to manage inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in an eight‑year‑old Domestic Shorthair cat. Standard treatment for feline IBD often relies on long‑term corticosteroids or additional immunosuppressive agents, supplemented by antimicrobials, vitamin B12, and dietary modification. In this case, the addition of integrative modalities substantially reduced the need for corticosteroid therapy while maintaining clinical stability. This case illustrates the potential value of combining acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine with evidence‑based medical management to support gastrointestinal function, reduce inflammation, and mitigate the long‑term risks associated with chronic steroid or immunosuppressive use in feline patients.

You can read this in-depth case report here:https://civtedu.org/documents/PrBoxXELOE422CfwcuFy.pdf

Learn about our Veterinary Acupuncture courses here:
https://civtedu.org/courses/acupuncture

21/08/2026

FRIDAY FUN!

Nailed it! 😻

19/08/2026

17/08/2026

New scent class dates.
We are starting a new scent class on Monday the 31st of August.
This is a 6 week beginners class.
Classes are small and suitable for all dogs of all ages.
A great way to built confidence and teaching your dog to ignore distractions.
If you are interested contact me on 0210 663 286 or email me at [email protected]

26/06/2026

Play is vital for dogs! It burns energy, builds bonds, and is a great way to rehearse natural behaviours. Plus, it’s so much fun to watch.

But play between dogs should be mutual and fun for both parties. Sometimes it tips — and it’s on us to step in. Here are 7 signs it's time to stop the play for now:

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SIGN 1 — STIFF BODY & STANDING OVER

A dog that suddenly freezes, goes rigid, or looms stiffly over another has stopped playing. That shift in energy can escalate quickly, especially if the other dog hasn't noticed the change and keeps engaging. Step in calmly and wrap things up.

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SIGN 2 — MOUNTING & HU***NG

This is usually about over-excitement, not necessarily sexual behaviour — but most dogs don't appreciate being repeatedly mounted. This can be interpreted as a dominance behaviour (and it can be). If it's happening, arousal levels are too high. Redirect and give both dogs a chance to reset or finish the play for now.

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SIGN 3 — NECK HOLDS & PINNING

Some roughhousing is totally normal. But if one dog is consistently grabbing the other by the neck and pinning them down and won't let up, the play has become one-sided. Interrupt the pattern and make sure both dogs are getting a fair go. Play should be rehearsing being on top and on the bottom - if one always wants to be on top, it will often escalate into a fight or one dominating the other - don’t let that happen.

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SIGN 4 — ONE DOG ALWAYS BEING CHASED

Chase is only fun when it's mutual. If the same dog is always the one running and looking for an exit rather than choosing to re-engage, they're not playing — they're trying to escape. Pause, separate, and reintroduce when both dogs are calm. Take particular care when the one being chased is smaller or more delicate (sighthounds like whippets can be targets because they are so fast that they end up being chased down or broad sided and their fine bones and bodies can’t take that).

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SIGN 5 — WHALE EYE & STRESS SIGNALS

Whites of the eyes showing, lip licking, yawning, ears pinned flat, tail tucked — these are your dog's way of saying they're not okay. Trust what their body is telling you. Remove them from the situation and let them decompress somewhere quiet.

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SIGN 6 — CAN'T SWITCH OFF

A dog that can't stop even when tired or clearly stressed has hit a level of arousal they genuinely can't manage on their own. They need you to make the call for them. Separating them isn't being overprotective — it's exactly what they need.

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SIGN 7 — TOO ROUGH FOR A PUPPY'S BODY 🐶

Puppies often have no idea when to stop. A pup might be absolutely loving rough play with a bigger dog while their developing joints and bones are taking far more than they should. Their enthusiasm isn't a green light. If the play is getting physical and your puppy is on the receiving end, step in — they can't make that call for themselves yet.

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You don't need permission to intervene. Even if you're told "it's okay, she's friendly!" — you know your dog. Trust your gut, and always advocate for them. 💚

Save this post for your next trip to the dog park, and share it with a fellow dog parent who needs it. 🐾

13/06/2026

🥦 More fresh vegetables. Less cancer.

In a peer-reviewed study published in JAVMA, researchers at Purdue University found that dogs🐶 eating vegetables several times per week had dramatically lower rates of bladder cancer. The more vegetables🥦🥕 dogs ate, the lower their risk appeared to be, even though the vast majority of dogs in the study were eating predominantly dry kibble. The study remains one of the most influential and widely discussed pieces of research examining diet and cancer risk in dogs.

One of the most surprising findings was that vitamin supplements did not show the same protective association as whole vegetables.

Why does that matter?

Because nutrition is more than nutrients.💊

Whole foods contain thousands of naturally occurring compounds that work together in ways we still don’t fully understand. Fiber nourishes beneficial gut bacteria. Polyphenols help regulate inflammation. Carotenoids, flavonoids, glucosinolates, and other phytochemicals support detoxification, cellular repair, immune function, and healthy aging.

Many of these compounds are absent from synthetic vitamin premixes because they aren’t classified as essential nutrients, even though they may play important roles in long-term health.

Meeting minimum nutrient requirements may prevent deficiency. But thriving may require much more than simply adding isolated synthetic nutrients to an ultra-processed diet.

Real food delivers far more than what’s listed on a nutrition label.

10/06/2026

Issey, an eleven-year-old female Bichon/Lhasa-Apso, presented with immune mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) and regurgitation. She was on immunosuppressive steroids that created side effects including elevated water intake/urination, a pot-bellied appearance, muscular weakness, skin and hair thinning. Issey’s treatment goal was to use herbal medicine to alleviate/reduce her symptoms of IMHA, regurgitation, musculoskeletal pain, ultimately improving the quality of life without utilising drugs.

Izzy was dispensed a herbal tincture comprising bilberry, marshmallow, milk thistle, rehmannia, Siberian ginseng and withania. These herbs were used for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, gut restorative, liver protective, immune supportive, antihemorrhagic, tonic and pain reducing clinical actions. Additional supplements included medicinal mushrooms to help support the immune system, vitamin B, omega 3’s, pre/probiotics and green tea in her water. All processed food and treats were removed from her diet, and she was put on a wholesome natural unprocessed diet.

Issey responded positively to the treatment protocol and maintained a great quality of life for some time. Her owner commented, “Two months since beginning Jacqui’s treatment, Issey’s improvement is amazing. She now ‘owns’ the dog park again, (three months ago she couldn’t lift her head), her appetite is great, her weight is back to pre-illness, she’s happy, naughty and full of energy."

Learn about our Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine courses here: https://civtedu.org/courses/western-herbal-medicine

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07/06/2026

A peer-reviewed, randomized controlled clinical trial published in Veterinary Sciences, a Q1 veterinary journal, found that dogs🐕 with osteoarthritis🦴🔥 receiving just 40 mg of UC-II® (undenatured type II collagen) experienced improvements in mobility and comfort comparable to those seen in dogs receiving robenacoxib, a prescription anti-inflammatory medication.

After only 30 days, mobility improved by 32.7% in the UC-II group compared to 31.5% in the medication group, with no adverse effects reported in either group. One of the most surprising findings was how quickly UC-II worked, producing measurable benefits within just one month, faster than many previous UC-II studies have reported.

Unlike pain medications💊 that directly suppress inflammation🔥, UC-II works through a process called oral tolerance, helping retrain the immune system to reduce cartilage-targeting inflammation and support long-term joint health.

It’s important to note that dogs with severe arthritis responded better to the prescription medication, while UC-II appeared most effective in dogs with mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

That’s why Dr. Karen Becker included undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) in MOBILITY MATRIX™—a comprehensive, science-backed formula designed to support joints, muscles, cartilage, and connective tissue in both dogs and cats. By combining UC-II with other targeted mobility nutrients, MOBILITY MATRIX™ was created to help pets stay active, comfortable, and moving with ease.

👉🏼Comment MATRIX to learn more about this science-backed mobility formula and we’ll DM you the link.

07/06/2026