In this month's episode, we welcome veterinarian Dr Alison Shen to discuss everything acupuncture and joint health.

Dr Alison Shen has a keen interest in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, embracing a holistic approach to animal health and wellbeing. She completed her Certificate in Veterinary Acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2008 and has also earned a Certificate in Clinical Integrative Canine Rehabilitation from the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. Dr Shen practices in Brisbane and travels to Sydney, once a month as part of her business, The Acupuncture Vet.​

​She also runs the popular Future Vet Kids Camp in various locations in Australia and they are both part of the team of veterinarians on the TV show – Bondi Vet.

Topics discussed include:

• Dr Alison's journey to becoming a veterinary acupuncturist.
• The most common reason pet owners seek acupuncture treatment for their animals.
• How does acupuncture work to reduce pain and inflammation?
• What happens during a typical consultation with Dr Shen?
• The frequency of treatment most patients require.
• How early can pain reduction be noticed and what to expect after treatment?
• Tools and techniques that pet parents can use at home to continue with their pet's management.
• What modalities does Dr Alison offer to her patients and for which cases?
• Dr Alison explains the difference between acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
• How can veterinarians get certified in veterinary acupuncture?
• Dr Alison's takeaway from today's episode.

Acupuncture certification courses:

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society

Home | College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies

Veterinary Acupuncture - Chi University

This episode was brought to you by PAW, Pure Animal Wellbeing - developed by vets, inspired by nature and dedicated to supporting lifelong health in pets. PAW | Pure Animal Wellbeing

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We welcome back Dr Matthew Muir with a masterclass on functional veterinary medicine looking specifically at feline nutrition. microbiome and chronic disease.

Topics discussed include:

• How do we start providing better care to cats, especially with regards to their diet?
• All diseases start in the gut, is this also true for cats?
• In nature, what would cats self-select to eat and how does that compare to commercial diets?
• Feeding management vs diet composition and their impact on diabetes mellitus.
• The impact of low protein diets on cats.
• What macronutrient ratio should we be aiming for in a cat's diet?
• How do diet needs change from kittens to senior cats?
• The role ultra-processed foods play in chronic disease.
• Can diets help manage chronic enteropathies?
• The importance of hydration in cats and does it change depending on their diets?
• How does nutrition impact mental health disorders in cats?
• What does a functional preventative protocol look like for a general practitioner?

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Dr Matt's resources:

https://icatcare.org/resources/five-a-day_felix_full_report.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6390407/

https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/How-to-Make-the-Trip-to-the-Vet-Hospital-Fear-Free_EDITED.pdf

https://catinfo.org/

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In this episode encore, Dr Sarah Howard talks to Dr Caroline Moeser about probiotics in practice.

Topics include:

• How Caroline became a vet and ended up at Guide Dogs Australia
• Caroline’s main interests in Veterinary medicine
• Dr Moeser talks about how probiotics can shape the gut microbiome and how they have helped the dogs at Guide Dogs Australia
• How probiotics has helped reduce the incidence of diarrhoea at Guide Dogs
• When is the right time to introduce the dams and pups to probiotics?
• Can probiotics help with allergic skin disease?
• The link between a healthy microbiome and development of behavioural conditions
• Besides prebiotics and probiotics, Caroline talks about other things that can help to keep a healthy microbiome
• Dr Moeser discusses faecal transplants in dogs, its indications and benefits
• Microbiome analysis in dogs

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In this episode encore, Dr Meng Siak talks about PEA and allergic skin disease. Topics discussed include:

• Dr Meng discusses what PEA is and how it works.
• How does PEA relate to the endocannabinoid system?
• The properties of PEA and where they act within the body.
• Meng goes over the literature that is available for PEA.
• What dermatology cases would PEA be beneficial for?
• Dr Siak discusses whether PEA can reduce the requirement for pharmaceuticals.
• What side effects can be expected with the use of PEA?
• Safety of PEA and interactions with other drugs.
• Dr Meng shares his practical advice on how to use PEA.

This was a podcast re-play, and the webinar link is no longer available.

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In this month's episode we welcome our first vet nurse guest, Jacinta Van Eeden to discuss the changes that can be implemented to create a calm veterinary clinic environment.

Topics discussed include:

• The importance of a calm clinic environment.
• Common signs that indicate a pet may be anxious or stressed.
• Ways to get puppies and kittens used to visiting vet clinics.
• How our tone of voice can impact a pet's behaviour.
• Practical tools that clinics can implement to provide a relaxing environment.
• Steps that pet parents can take to prepare their pets for clinics visits.
• Fear free certification for veterinary clinics.
• Jacinta shares how to reduce anxiety in pet parents when their pet has a vet consultation.
• The number on tip Jacinta has for pet parents to ensure their pet doesn't become anxious when visiting vet clinics.

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In this episode, Dr Sarah Howard speaks to Dr Matthew Muir on his functional approach to managing allergic dermatitis.

Topics discussed include:

• Dr Matthew Muir's approach to pets with allergic dermatitis
• The reason immunotherapy is so under-utilised and its limitations.
• Conventional allergy management pharmaceuticals and how they work.
• How diet plays a role in Dr Muir's functional approach (immuno-nutrition).
• The relationship between the microbiome and allergies.
• The nutraceuticals Matthew might use when managing a dermatology case.
• How can we manage acute cases outside of a pharmaceutical approach?
• Dr Matthew discusses what is new and emerging in this field.
• What can pet owners do to decrease the risk of skin allergies in dogs?

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In this episode Dr Nicole Rous breaks down the process of bringing a puppy home and providing the optimal environment for physical and behavioral development.

Topics discussed include:

• Tips on selecting the right puppy from a breeder, shelter or pet shop.
• The benefits of finding a good breeder and maintaining a good relationship.
• How to get a good idea of the innate temperament of the parents.
• Puppy socialisation timeline and the value of positive socialisation.
• How the breed compatibility with the owner lifestyles matters to the development of the puppy.
• Dr Rous discusses how we should approach to puppy behavioural training and the common mistakes we make.
• Positive reinforcement training and understanding how to read behavioural signals.
• Common mistakes that pet parents make.
• Importance of the vet role in the fear free experience.
• Nutrition needs for puppies, the benefits to their trainability and the optimal puppy diet.
• Dr Rous describes the considerations behind choosing a good chew for puppies.
• Desexing considerations.

To listen to Dr Rous' podcast on desexing, go to this link https://omny.fm/shows/pure-animal-podcast/neutering-insights-with-dr-nicole-rous

To register to Dr Matthew Muir's dermatology webinar, go to this link https://my.demio.com/ref/w0mUrHThNOb0WpKe

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In this month's episode, Dr Sarah Howard discusses nutrient based psychiatry in the veterinary field with Dr Matthew Muir.

Topics discussed include:

• Dr Muir explains what nutrient-based psychiatry is.
• How does Matthew apply nutrient based psychiatry in the veterinary field?
• What research is available supporting the importance that nutrition and microbiome diversity has on behaviour in dogs?
• What nutrients are missing from some commercial diets?
• How important is diet diversity?
• Ingredients present in diets that can be detrimental to dogs.
• Choosing the correct nutritional diet for your pet.
• Dr Muir's number one advice for veterinarians when it comes to nutrition and behaviour.

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