pureANIMAL Collective

On this episode, we are welcoming pureANIMAL's new ambassador, Dr Matthew Muir who shares his knowledge and experience on microbiome restoration therapy.

Topics discussed include:

• Dr Matthew explains what microbiome restoration therapy (MRT) entails.
• The impact of antibiotics on the microbiome.
• The benefits of faecal microbiome transplant (FMT) - more than just bacteria.
• Dr Muir explains how to screen donors for MRT. What to look for and what to avoid.
• How effective is MRT and how does it compare to supplementing with probiotics?
• Oral vs rectal microbiome therapy approaches - Matthew explains the difference and benefits of both methods.
• How to prepare the recipient to optimise the effects of FMT.
• Dr Matthew explains the indications for faecal microbiome transplant beyond dysbiosis.
• How to gauge if the MRT was successful?
• Which dogs are not good candidates for an FMT, and which cases should vets be cautious about?
• How to approach cases of MRT that require antibiotics?

Resources:

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/gilab/service/assays/canine-microbiota-dysbiosis-index/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9534534/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9413255/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10017995/

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Topics discussed include:

• Liver cases Professor Caroline sees as an internal medicine specialist.
• How an altered liver function can impact overall health.
• Subclinical liver disease - are there any symptoms?
• Symptoms of clinical liver disease - what to look out for in cats and dogs.
• Gut-liver axis - how the liver can impact the gut and consequently the brain.
• Professor Mansfield shares her how she decides which diagnostic tool to use first in her liver cases.
• Elevated liver enzymes with subclinical liver disease - how to approach these in cats vs dogs.
• Caroline talks about prescription liver diets and what she recommends with regards to changes in diets.
• Antioxidants that can be helpful in managing liver disease.
• Professor Mansfield discusses which pharmaceutical drugs she prefers to use as an anti-inflammatory and as an antibiotic in her liver cases.
• Managing the gut during liver disease.

To register for pureANIMAL's free webinar on liver health with Dr Nicole Rous and Dr Matthew Muir, follow this link https://my.demio.com/ref/80rRbTdG8AKd7BjT.

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Prior to being a veterinarian, Nicole completed a Bachelor of Science from Melbourne University followed by an honours year in Vision Sciences. She then got accepted into Sydney University and completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honours in 2008.

After a brief stint working in the UK, she returned to small animal practice in Melbourne working at Monash Vets. Nicole followed her interest in reproduction and gained her Membership with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Animal Reproduction. Alon the way she also developed an interest in complementary therapies specially in essential oils.

In 2020 she started her own business called Shy Tiger Natural Animal which provides vet approved, all-natural plant-based health support for dogs through a range of serum and sprays. Nicole currently also works and owns Mont Albert Veterinary Surgery in Victoria and is also a member of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies.

Topics discussed include:

• Common liver diseases that Dr Rous sees in her practice.
• Increases in liver enzymes – when to investigate further.
• Nicole explains how she manages asymptomatic cases with mild increases in liver enzymes before re-testing in 4-6 weeks.
• How do certain medications impact the liver in a negative way?
• The importance of all the different liver functions.
• Dr Nicole discusses specific signs seen in relation to liver disease.
• Nicole’s talks about her approach to managing liver health.
• How can nutrition optimise liver function?
• The main antioxidants Nicole reaches for in her liver cases.
• Top differences between conventional and integrative approaches in liver health.

You can learn more about Nicole's on https://shytiger.com.au/ and https://www.montalbertvet.com.au/. 

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Dr Wendy Baltzer is a board certified veterinary surgeon and certified canine rehabilitation practitioner. She has worked around the world, and is currently the Associate Professor and head of surgery at the University of Sydney Veterinary School.

Dr Baltzer is passionate about teaching veterinary students, borne from an inspiring mentor she connected with in the third year of her DVM.

Topics discussed include:

• The main things a pet parent should consider when thinking about their pet’s joint health.
• Dr Wendy reveals the best time to start setting a puppy’s joint up for success.
• What impact does the improving their environment have on genetic predisposition?
• The best steps to help predict if your puppy is likely to develop join issues.
• Dr Baltzer talks about the latest research on the best nutrition for puppies at risk of joint disease.
• The recommended calcium to phosphorus ratio in food and the appropriate caloric intake to control growth rate.
• What supplements to use and not to use especially for large breed dogs.
• Wendy discusses the effect that early desexing can have on joints.
• The best way to exercise at risk breeds and what to avoid.
• Dr Wendy's top 3 tips to keep joints healthy.

References:

• Smith GK, Paster ER, Powers MY, Lawler DF, Biery DN, Shofer FS, et al. Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006;229(5):690-3.
• Schoenmakers I, Hazewinkel HA, Voorhout G, Carlson CS, Richardson D. Effects of diets with different calcium and phosphorus contents on the skeletal development and blood chemistry of growing great danes. Vet Rec. 2000;147(23):652-60
• Fries CL, Remedios AM. The pathogenesis and diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia: a review. Can Vet J. 1995;36(8):494-502

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Dr Meng Siak is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. He studied at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, then did an internship in veterinary dermatology, before completing his residency at Murdoch.

Meng has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of complicated skin and ear diseases including allergies, immune mediated skin diseases and chronic ear disease.

Topics discussed included:

• Dr Meng Siak explains what the skin barrier and its microbiome are and their important roles.
• The link between microorganisms in the skin and the gut.
• What happens when the skin barrier becomes compromised and what can cause this to occur?
• Meng discusses the roles that genetic and external factors play in skin disease.
• What non-allergic conditions can lead to a compromised skin barrier?
• How can a healthy skin barrier help with skin disease?
• Dr Siak talks about what he recommends to his clients to improve the gut and skin microbiome and what the latest research is showing.
• Meng's approach to the itchy dog - controlling infections and inflammation.
• Supplements and ingredients to support the skin barrier.
• Comparing dog and cat skin disease and its management for each.

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Professor Caroline Mansfield is a registered specialist in small animal medicine and she is recognized as an international leader in veterinary internal medicine. She graduated from Murdoch University and worked in mixed animal and small animal practice in Australia and the UK before completing a residency in small animal medicine at University College, Dublin.

Professor Mansfield has joined our Pure Animal team as an educator and ambassador in the field of small animal internal medicine.

Topics discussed include:

• Common digestive disorders in cats and  their symptoms.
• What is normal for cats when it comes to clinical signs?
• Diagnostic work up for feline digestive cases.
• When to decide to start a diet trial.
• Types of diet trials and when to use them.
• Differentiating between Small Cell Lymphoma and Chronic Enteropathy.
• Management and prognosis for digestive disorders.
• How feline digestive conditions affect the microbiome.
• Dr Caroline shares her opinion on antibiotic use.

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We welcome back Dr Nicole Rous who previously recorded episode 40 with Pure Animal on Supporting Your Pet's Health with Essential Oils. 

Topics discussed in this podcast include:

• How can disease affect the gut microbiome?
• How to know if there’s dysbiosis present.
• Dr Nicole shares what she considers when selecting an appropriate probiotic.
• The importance of prebiotics alongside probiotics.
• When does Nicole use supplements vs food-based sources.
• Is it safe to give garlic to your pet?
• Latest research on antibiotics use for gastrointestinal conditions.
• Common gastrointestinal symptoms in cats.
• Effects of probiotics and prebiotics on feline gut health.

You can find Dr Nicole Rous at Mont Albert Vet Clinic (www.montalbertvet) or through Shy Tiger (www.shytiger.com.au). Dr Rous in also on Insta @shytigerhealth and @drnicolerous

Studies mentioned by Dr Nicole:

D'Angelo S et al. Effect of Saccharomyces boulardii in dogs with chronic enteropathies: double-blinded, placebo-controlled study Veterinary Record Dec 2017;10.1136/vr 6 

Schmidt M., Unterer S, Suchodolski J. S. et al. The fecal microbiome and metalbome differs between dogs fed Bones and Raw Food (BARF) biets and dogs fed commercial diets.PLOS ONE August 15, 2018

Kwong T. C., Chau E. C. T., Mak M. C. H. et al. Characterization of the Gut Microbiome in Healthy Dogs and Dogs with Diabetes Mellitus. Animals 2023, 13, 2479

Grzeskowiak L., Endo A., Beasley S., Salminen S., Microbiota and probiotics in canine and feline welfare. Elsevier 2015

Aktas M. S., Borku M. K., Ozkanlar Y., Efficacy of Saccharomyces Boulardii as a probiotic in dogs with Lincomycin induced diarrhoea. Bull Vet Inst Pulawy, 365-369, 2007

Li Y., Lei Z., Li Y., Yang M., Yang C., Li L. Effect of a Multistrain Probiotic on Feline Gut Health through the Fecal Microbiota and Its Metabolite SCFAs. Metabolites 2023, 13, 228

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Sue qualified from Cambridge Veterinary School, England in 1984 and worked first in Oxford and then in a partnership in Leeds for 12 years. In 2003 she set up Balanced Being, an alternative veterinary and human medicine practice and in 2016 she established a new human clinic in Boroughbridge.  Sue was a founding member of the British Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association and has written and published many papers, contributed to several books, and lectured and consulted internationally.

Topics include:

• What made Sue turn to Veterinary Science and alternative therapies.
• Why cancer and auto-immune diseases are of particular interest to Dr Armstrong and what treatment modalities she uses for them.
• The role and importance of a healthy microbiome.
• What are we eating that upsets the balance of the microbiome?
• Can a microbiome evolve to require different types of food?
• Do dogs need to be omnivorous?
• Dr Sue explains the difference between microbiomes in different species.
• The importance of prebiotics and probiotics.
• How probiotics can help with respiratory and bladder problems among other conditions.
• Sue’s insights in the use of probiotics in behavioural conditions.
• Can probiotic strains found in human products be useful for other species?

You can reach Dr Sue or find out more about her on www.thetrueanimalplan.com and www.individualis.co.uk

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Sam Sherrington graduated from Western Sydney University in 2003 with a Master of Osteopathy. Sam has been providing osteopathic care to humans since 2004. After deciding she wanted to also treat four-legged patients, Sam pursued a Graduate Diploma of Animal Chiropractic at RMIT, graduating in 2009.

Sam has worked in both Ireland and Australia, and currently runs her own business, “Centaurus Osteopathy”, helping to relieve pain and maximise performance for horses, riders, dogs & the occasional exotic critter (for some variety).

Topics discussed include:

• How Sam became interested and involved in animal osteopathy.
• The difference between osteopathy and chiropractics.
• Sam discusses the main conditions that osteopathy can benefit.
• Recommendations that Sam makes with regards to nutrition.
• How supplements can also be beneficial.
• Sam talks about how pet parents can manage the household to help their pets.
• The importance of exercise and a healthy weight to avoid injury and help with case management.

You can learn more on abmprof.com.au. You can reach Sam Sherrington at ourosteo.com or on Facebook - Sam Sherrington - Osteopath

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Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland in 1995. He is known globally as the Healing Vet and is passionately devoted to do the best in holistic pet health care.

Through his own recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Lyme disease, Dr Edward explored holistic medicine and energy healing. After realising that animals also responded well to this approach, he created the Whole Energy Body Balance (WEBB) Method.

Dr Edward now practices integrative medicine in Vet hospitals while empowering pet parents and professionals all over the world to find and heal pets’ silent pain, anxiety and trauma with his WEBB online practitioner training. 

Topics discussed include:

• What lead Dr Ed to become a veterinarian and focus on integrative medicine.
• How chronic fatigue syndrome affected Dr Ed's professional life.
• The 'Whole Energy Body Balance' method and what it entails.
• Dr Bassingthwaighte explains silent pain and how to assess it. 
• The most common causes of soft tissue pain.
• The ways that pet parents can prevent  tissue pain in their pets.
• How the WEBB method can assist with behavioural concerns such as anxiety.
• Dr Ed discusses setting boundaries with your pet.
• The importance of nutrition and supplements to reduce inflammation in the body.

You can reach Dr Ed on https://www.thehealingvet.com/ and access his masterclasses on https://www.wholeenergybodybalance.com.

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Dr Elaine Cebuliak holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, Membership in Dentistry by examination; IVAS certification in Veterinary Acupuncture; Advanced Diplomas in Naturopathy, Western Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Remedial Massage, and certificates in Chinese herbal medicine. She performs referral work, teaching and running workshops.

Elaine founded an Integrative Vet Medicine Practice in Brisbane in 2010 called ‘Animal Wellness’. She has held many executive positions in the Australian Veterinary Association over the years including President of the Central QLD AVA branch, President of the Holistic Veterinary Association, AVA QLD representative of the holistic special interest group and Newsletter Editor of the Australian Veterinary Dental Society.

Elaine also helped set up one of the leading groups in animal welfare in third world countries, now known as ‘Vets Beyond Borders’.

Topics discussed include:

• Elaine talks about her background and growing up with integrative medicine.
• How the mouth can be a window to disease.
• Assisting cats  with renal failure holistically.
• The benefits of Vitamin C.
• Elaine explains how her cases have benefited from integrative.
• Dr Cebuliak talks about her involvement with Vets Beyond Border.
• Elaine gives her main dental tips to her fellow colleagues.

You can find out more about Dr Elaine Cebuliak and her services on animalwellness.com.au.

Elaine is part of the Natural Veterinary Practitioners Facebook Page.

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Dr Jacqui Snell graduated from Massey University in 1988. She has practiced as a companion animal veterinarian for over 30 years and for a large part of her career has owned her own practice in Taradale, New Zealand. Following her interest in holistic veterinary medicine, Jacqui attained a diploma in Western Veterinary Herbal Medicine through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. Jacqui currently practices in Rotorua providing both conventional and holistic veterinary services at Barrowman Goodman Vets in conjunction with the NZ nationwide holistic service via telemedicine which she established in 2018.

Topics discussed include:

• Dr Jacqui shares how she decided to become a veterinarian.
• The power integration - Jacqui talks about how the opportunity to write her case study came about.
• Dr Snell talks about her case involving a West Highland White Terrier with GME.
• The different conditions that needed to be addressed in this case.
• How Dr Snell approached this case and what the main treatment goal was.
• Dietary changes made and supplements added to improve the pet's outcome.
• What herbs Jacqui incorporated into her multimodal approach.
• The importance of informing pet owners about the use of herbal medicine and possible interactions and contrary indications.
• The final outcome of integrating conventional and complementary medicine in Jacqui's case.

You can reach Dr Jacqui Snell on https://www.vethhc.co.nz/

You can read  'The Power of Integration' case study on https://www.vethhc.co.nz/uploads/6/4/1/8/64185289/vetscript_article.pdf

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Matt obtained a degree in Veterinary Science and Veterinary Biology in 2010 with first class honours from Charles Sturt University. He began work as a mixed animal general practitioner in Griffith, Australia before moving to the United Kingdom and commencing out of hours, emergency and critical care work at a royal veterinary college top tier hospital before consulting in wellness and internal medicine. After several years abroad, Matt returned to Australia and joined the team at All Natural Vet Care in Sydney. His Veterinary interests are wellness and preventative health care, soft tissue surgery, integrative dentistry and all disciplines linked to the gut-skin-brain axis.

Topics include:

• Matt’s approach to a home cooked diet – is there a one size fits all?
• What should the diet be composed of? Qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Are all fats and proteins created equal?
• Matt discusses raw ingredients and where we should be sourcing our foods from.
• Dr Muir explains how to transition from a commercial diet to a natural moist diet.
• The importance of a gradual transition especially if it involves a raw diet.
• Developing specific diets for specific clinical cases.
• Matt discusses the importance of realistic expectations on how long it can take to see the benefits from a natural diet.
• The benefits of regular nutritional counselling.
• Using probiotics therapeutically during a diet transition.
• How diets can affect a dog’s skin microbiota.
• Dr Muir’s approach to grains.
• Can dogs thrive on a vegetarian or vegan diet?
• The main mistakes pet owners make when preparing home-made diets.

You can find Matt Muir at All Natural Vet Care,  naturalvet.com.au  or  (02) 9712 5844. You can also go on his online information platform achieveanimalwellness.com or on Instagram achieve_animal_wellness.

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Nela Graham is a veterinarian with over 10 years experience in practices all over the world. She has always had a strong interest in brain function, emotions, behaviour and neuroplasticity. Nela has been working with veterinary behaviour specialists and senior mentors to become more knowledgeable in the field of animal behaviour and now proudly runs her own behaviour and training business called Calm Companions on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Topics include:

• What led Nela to start her business and the benefits of her new business model which splits the consultations between home and in-clinic visits
• The importance of explaining the ‘why’ to owners especially in anxiety cases
• Nela’s passion for chronic pain management and how it can influence behaviour
• Behaviour is the number #1 reason for euthanasia in Australia – how can we change this?
• A look into Nela’s puppy pre-school
• The importance of educating yourself on canine body language and giving dogs constructive coping strategies.
• Dogs have the cognitive and emotional capacity of an 18 month old child -  how to be realistic about what dogs can understand.
• Nela shares the most common behaviour challenges in puppies and how to avoid these
• The importance of early education for puppy owners

You can find Nela at  www.calmcompanions.com.au or 1800 DR NELA (1800 376 352)

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Dr Alicia Kennedy graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and has been working as a veterinarian for over 30 years.

Following her passion to support pet ownership of vulnerable people, eight years ago, Dr Alicia Kennedy founded Cherished Pets, a social veterinary enterprise that supports the human animal bond through all life stages, including the end. She has established its charitable partner, Cherished Pets Foundation, that provides additional support for eligible elderly and disabled pet owners living alone in our community.

Topics discussed include:

• Dr Alicia discusses her passion as a veterinarian for both animals and people.
• Cherished Pets and the Cherished Pets Foundation Charity.
• Veterinary social work - what does it entail?
• Dr Alicia talks about the importance of working together with social workers.
• How can we help elderly people to look after the pets?
• Alicia's role as a human-animal bond consultant.
• Dr Kennedy's view on the future of veterinary social work.

You can find Dr Alicia Kennedy on www.cherishedpetcare.com.au/, www.socialheartedvet.com, on Instagram @socialheartedvet, and on Facebook @Cherished Pets

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Donna McSwenney graduated from the University of Queensland in 2001 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. After graduating she worked at the Animal Welfare League and Brown’s Plains Veterinary clinic where she started incorporating holistic therapies when treating her patients. Since 2003, she has been working solo as a mixed animal practitioner with a special interest in acupuncture, Chinese and western herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition and mind body connection.

Topics discussed include:

• How Donna became interested in becoming a holistic veterinarian and what her current cases look like.
• Dr McSweeney explains what PEA is and how it works in the body.
• What conditions PEA is mostly used for and its benefits.
• How PEA can be beneficial in dermatology cases.
• Donna discusses how PEA can be obtained.
• Recommended dosages for PEA. 
• Dr McSweeney talks about possible side effects and drug interactions with PEA.
• The research behind PEA.

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Lucy Scott is a qualified veterinarian, having graduated from Massey University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. After finishing her degree, she spent 6 years working in a mixed animal practice and then decided to follow her passion for animal behaviour by gaining her Membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Veterinary Behaviour in June. She now owns her own company, Veterinary Behaviour Services NZ, where she provides behaviour consultations covering a range of species and problems.

Lucy is also currently doing a Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour through the University of Edinburgh.

Topics discussed include:

• How Lucy developed a passion for animal behaviour.
• What to expect from a behaviour consultation with Dr Scott.
• The benefits of positive reinforcement.
• Common feline behavioural conditions.
• Lucy explains how to read cats' body language.
• Anxious cats and the best way to approach them.
• Dr Scott discusses how to use a multi-modal approach when dealing with behavioural issues.
• How pet owners can set up a perfect environment for their cats.

You can reach out to Dr Lucy Scott on https://www.vetbehaviour.co.nz/   lucy@vetbehaviour.co.nz 

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Dr. Marta Calvo Blanco received her Veterinary Degree with Honours in Spain over 25 years ago and ran her own practice with her husband for 15 years. She also worked for Hill’s and Royal Canin as a small animal nutrition technician and pursued further education in Homeopathy, Flower Essences, Essential oils, Food Supplements and Animal Communication.

Marta is also a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist since 2012 (IVAS) and after coming to Australia in 2015, she worked as an Animal Naturopath and Vet Technician and founded her own company “Holistic Animal Naturopath”.

She has now been working with eCS Vet since 2019, where she is currently the Head of Veterinary Education, helping to educate veterinary professionals about using cannabinoid medications in animals.

Topics discussed include:

• What led Dr Calvo Blanco to focus on cannabinoid education for vets.
• Marta explains what cannabinoids are and the different types.
• How cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system.
• Clinical applications for CBD and THC in dogs and cats.
• Dosage and different routes of administration.
• Marta discusses the different types of CBD products that are available.
• Drug regulation in Australia.

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Dr Martina McPeace is a veterinarian who received her graduate diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine from the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies in 2015. She previously owned Longford Veterinary Clinic in Tasmania and now runs her own business, Hint of Thyme Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture for Animals.

Topics discussed include:

• Martina shares what drove her to purse a career in integrative veterinary medicine.
• Different ways Dr Martina uses to approach cancer.
• How oxygenation can help to address cancer.
• Changes in nutrition of the cancer patient.
• Dr McPeace talks about the importance of herbal supplementation.
• Ways to eliminate pathogens and enhance immunity.
• The importance of a stress-free state of mind for pets.

You can contact Dr Martina McPeace on www.hint-of-thyme.com.

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Penny Fitzgerald is a fully qualified, Professional Kinesiology Practice Therapist and is the Principal Practitioner at PDF Kinesiology in Clarinda, Melbourne. She has been practicing kinesiology for over 15 year and is also a master of Sekhem Healing, a powerful energy-based healing modality.

After being inspired by her own experience with kinesiology, Penny obtained her International Diploma of Kinesiology. She then decided to expand her knowledge and experience into the pet world and now practices at East West Veterinary Group in Victoria, where she has been able to help animals with allergies, skin conditions, anxiety, stress and other behavioural issues.

Topics discussed include:

• What attracted Penny to start using kinesiology on animals.
• Penny explains kinesiology and how it works.
• What does a normal session with Penny look like.
• Penny discusses how she uses kinesiology in her animal cases.
• Conditions for which kinesiology can be helpful.
• Penny discusses  how she uses kinesiology to help with stress.
• Is kinesiology part of a long-term management plan?

You can find Penny at https://www.eastwestvet.com.au/index.php and https://pdfkinesiology.com.au/#

Video of Penny’s consult https://youtu.be/NMvF96Pn-p0

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