We believe in more happy days with your pup, which includes canine holistic wellness. Whether cooking homemade snacks or looking into the benefits of canine acupuncture and pet chiropractors, there is much to learn about supplemental wellness and what it can do for your dog.
We invited Certified Vet Acupuncturist Dr. Rachel Barrack from Animal Acupuncture to answer any questions and share her expertise on our What The Pup community page. Dr. Rachel Barrack is a licensed veterinarian, certified veterinary acupuncturist, and certified veterinary Chinese herbalist with an integrative approach to healing. She draws upon her extensive training in both eastern and western veterinary medicine to treat and heal animals.
We’ve pulled some of the questions from the takeover and her responses for people to learn more about the benefits of Chinese veterinary medicine and other forms of treatment available for dogs.
Q: My 14-year-old bichon has CHF and stage 2 kidney disease. How much protein should I be feeding her? She just started Sevelamer for high phosphorus. It’s causing her to have loose stools. What can I do?
A: Typically, I recommend dogs with CKD switch to a diet with reduced amounts of sodium, protein, and phosphorus, along with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids. On a dry matter basis, dogs with CKD should have less than or equal to 14-20% protein in their diets. To firm stool, you can add puréed pumpkin (a GI wonder food!) to meals. Start with 1 tsp per meal and work up to a TBLS if needed.
Q: My 2 yr old Goldendoodle has a partial ligament tear and is on Ramidyl 75 mg a second time in 3 weeks. What can I do to heal her without having to go for surgery? Thank you
A: Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy can actually help expedite healing from tendon and ligament injuries!
Q: My 8-year-old Mini Doxie has been diagnosed with a polyp that causes blood in his stool. Specialty vets have said it would be major surgery due to its location. He is on hydrolyzed protein food, as they said, with the polyp, and his body cannot digest protein normally. Is there anything else that can be done? He will go for a couple of weeks with no blood in his stool; then, bam, there it is again.
A: Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy can significantly reduce gastrointestinal inflammation associated with a polyp. It is also essential to keep stool consistency where your pup isn’t straining, which can cause further inflammation and irritation resulting in bloody stools.
Interested in learning more about Chinese veterinary medicine? You can read the entire thread in our Facebook group here! We invite experts to participate in takeovers every three weeks. Past takeovers have included certified dog trainers, a pet grief and loss expert, and a separation anxiety expert!
