Holistic Healing for PetsDr. Deneen Fasano, Holistic Veterinarian, offers expert advice on your pet's health through acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition and holistic healing modalities.

Written by Deneen Fasano, DVM and Teresa Cardenas, RDH

Dental disease is a common problem in pets. Approximately 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease before they are 3 years of age.

The progression of oral disease in your pet starts with a biofilm (a sticky substance) which forms on the teeth. Bacterial by-products attach to the biofilm and this is called
plaque. This bacterial plaque causes inflammation of the gums or gingiva which
is called gingivitis. If the plaque is not removed, it hardens within 24-48
hours and that’s how tartar is formed. Tartar is the hard, brown substance that
adheres to the teeth causing the gum tissue (gingiva) to get further inflamed
and infected. If the tartar is left on the teeth, it will eventually destroy
the bone that holds the teeth in place. This is called periodontal disease and
will eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

Because of the rich blood supply in the mouth, infection of the gingiva can cause bacteria to
be carried throughout your pet’s body and settle in organs such as the heart,
kidneys and liver. This can cause many serious health problems in pets such as
congestive heart failure, kidney infection and bacterial hepatitis.

Common Symptoms of Dental Disease in Pets:

• Bad breath or odor from the mouth
• Yellow/brown tartar buildup on teeth
• Bleeding from the gums
• Drooling
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen, and red gums
• Chronic sinus problems
• Nasal discharge
• Difficulty eating
• Pawing at the mouth
• Visible pus or discharge
• Signs of blood on toys and food

To help prevent dental disease, take your pet for regular dental exams and cleanings.

Things you can do at home:

• Regular brushing with a pet toothpaste
• Feed a good meat-based diet
• Dental treats such as bully sticks, greenies
• Raw bones
• Raw carrots

For more information contact:

Dr Deneen Fasano at Animal Healing Solutions
407-924-4240
DFasanoDVM@gmail.com

For information about non-anesthetic dental cleanings contact:
Teresa Cardenas RDH with Sparkling K9s at Animal Healing Solutions
407-949-4938
TC.Cardenas@yahoo.com

My new office is now open in Altamonte Springs, FL!! I do holistic consultations for dogs and cats for wellness, arthritis, cancer, intervertebral disc disease, epilepsy, allergies, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease and many other disorders. I treat my patients using acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, nutrition, homeopathy, and aromatherapy.

We also offer dental cleanings done without anesthesia! They are performed by Teresa Cardenas, registered dental hygienist with over 20 years experience in the human dental field. The dentals are done in a calm setting with the pet on a pet bed, and the owner is present. The teeth are scaled, polished and a flouride treatment applied.

Office hours are Monday through Friday by appointment only.
Animal Healing Solutions
Deneen Fasano DVM
1109 E. Altamonte Drive (Rte 436)
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
407-924-4240

For dental appointments call Teresa at 407-949-4938

Spring is here and with it comes beautiful weather and signs of growth and new beginnings.  In Chinese Medicine, spring is associated with the Liver organ, which is part of the Wood element.  This is a great time of the year to take care of and cleanse your pet’s liver.

In Chinese Medical Theory, the Liver stores the Blood and controls the tendons, ligaments and connective tissues.  Without proper Blood from the Liver,  ligaments and connective tissues are not nourished and can dry out and become prone to injury.  I see a lot of cruciate (knee/stifle) ligament injuries in dogs from a lack of Liver Blood.  I also see dry skin, dry coat, dry pads,  and hair loss.

Foods to nourish the Liver—Beef, beef liver, chicken liver, eggs, carrots, broccoli, beets, spinach, kale, chard, dandelion greens, wheat, millet, brown rice, apples, and fish oil.

Avoid dry food or feeding an all dry food diet.  Dry food diets contribute to dryness by their nature of being dry, and also the high carbohydrate, lower protein content doesn’t nourish the blood as much as a higher protein, lower carbohydrate diet.  I recommend a homemade diet for dogs of approximately 40-50% protein (muscle and organ meats), 20-25% carbohydrate (whole grains and root vegetables), 25-40% vegetables.  Most dry foods contain close to 60% carbohydrate which is way too high for our dogs.   Cats have an even higher requirement for protein and need little to no carbohydrates in their diet.  See my article “Don’t Feed Dry Food to Cats.”

Other ways to help the Liver at this time is by using a Western herb, milk thistle.  Milk thistle can be easily found at your health food store.  It not only cleanses the liver of toxins but also heals the liver of damage.   I really like Nature’s Answer Alcohol Free Milk Thistle. It works great for small animals and I dose approximately 5 drops per 10-15 lbs of weight twice a day.  Most animals tolerate it in their food.   For more information on milk thistle and ways to detox the liver, see my article “Toxin Exposure in Pets“.

For further reading on Chinese Medicine in dogs and cats, I recommend:

Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs


Pets can benefit greatly from chiropractic care.  Chiropractic comes from Greek words meaning done by hand.    It is a form of body work that applies manual manipulation to the spine.  Animals respond really well to this therapy and really love it!

Chiropractic is not just “cracking bones” or treating bones out of place.  The spine is made up of vertebrae which are actually joints.  These joints can become misaligned or subluxated.  The subluxation is seen as a lack of motion in that joint, rather than a bone out of place.   The nerves from the spinal cord exit through these joints, and when the joints are misaligned it can greatly affect the nerve impulses which can in turn alter function of the organs and tissues supplied by those nerves.  So chiropractic manipulations, or adjustments, not only help to realign the spine and  improve flexibility, but also help with pain, diseased organs, muscle weakness, poor immune function,  and illness.   Chiropractic manipulation restores proper alignments which in turn restores natural functioning of the nervous system.

When should my pet get chiropractic care?  Anytime really!  It works by maintaining overall health.

Signs that your pet may benefit from chiropractic care:

• slowing down or acting lazy
• refusing to jump up or go up stairs
• acting lame
• having a change in behavior such as aggression or refusal to play
• dragging toenails or wearing down toenails
• losing balance or falling
• shaking head or having ear problems
• any disease or immune dysfunction

Look for a veterinarian or chiropractor that is certified in animal chiropractic.

To find one near you:

Healing Oasis Wellness Center for a list of current graduates

Animal Veterinary Chiropractic Association for a list of certified animal chiropractors

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association also lists veterinarians certified in animal chiropractic

Suggested reading:
The Well Adjusted Dog: Canine Chiropractic Methods You Can Do
The Well Adjusted Cat: Feline Chiropractic Methods You Can Do

Reiki is a gentle hands-on touch therapy that originated in Japan.  It is a form of energy healing in which a reiki practitioner allows the energy of the universe to flow through their bodies into the patient to allow healing.

The technique is well tolerated by the animals and many get very relaxed and sleepy during the treatments.  It can be used to aid in the treatment of many problems such as illness, pain, cancer, stress and anxiety.  It can accelerate healing, reduce pain and inflammation, and induce relaxation and stress relief.  It is not meant to be a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment, but is great adjunct to treatments offered by your holistic, or regular veterinarian.

Anyone can be trained in doing reiki, and it is something that you can learn to do on your own pet, or use to help animals in your community.

Reiki can also be done on animals from a distance, and this has been invaluable in helping with shelter animals who may be fearful, stressed, and anxious, and who may be reluctant to being touched by a stranger.  There is a wonderful organization called the Shelter Animal Reiki Association.  They help bring reiki to animal shelters, rescue organization and sanctuaries, and also help to educate and train the staff and the community.  The work that they do not only greatly benefits all the abused and frightened animals in the shelters by not only calming but also healing them, but it also helps benefit the shelter itself through its community service.

For more information about the Shelter Animal Reiki Association go to their website at http://shelteranimalreikiassociation.org.

For more information on training and classes in reiki  see the Animal Reiki Source at http://www.animalreikisource.com/index.htm.

For some great books on reiki:

The Animal Reiki Handbook – Finding Your Way With Reiki in Your Local Shelter, Sanctuary or Rescue

Animal Reiki: Using Energy to Heal the Animals in Your Life

Cat owner’s are more than familiar with seeing their cats vomit.  Though it is a common occurrence, is it really normal?  I don’t think so.

Here are the top 5 reasons that I see as the cause to vomiting in cats:

1.  Dry Cat Food
Cats are carnivores and their digestive systems were not designed to handle all the carbohydrate and indigestible fiber that is in dry cat food. See my article “Don’t Feed Dry Food to Cats!” for more information on this topic.

2.  Hairballs
This problem seems more common in long-haired cats or cats that love to groom, but can be seen in any type of cat. The hair from grooming with their tongues, builds up in their stomach and is not digested, and instead of passing out of the stomach, the cat will vomit up a mass of hair.

There are hairball remedies to treat this, but most are petroleum jelly (vaseline) based, and long-term use will interfere with absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. I prefer to use digestive enzymes such as Prozyme 200gm to try to break up and digest the hair.  You should also increase the soluble fiber in their diet, by adding some canned pumpkin or squash, to help push the hair through the intestines.

3.  Food Allergies
If removing the dry food doesn’t stop the vomiting, then your cat may be allergic to the type of food you are feeding. Trying changing brands, but the most common factor can be an allergy to the type of protein in the food, such as chicken, beef or fish. See what the main protein source is in your food, and try switching to something else.

4. Thyroid Disease
Hyperthyroidism is a type of thyroid disease commonly seen in cats. It’s main symptoms include vomiting, excessive appetite, and weight loss.  If your cat is exhibiting any of these symptoms, see your veterinarian to have it diagnosed. A blood test can easy diagnose hyperthyroidism, and it can be treated with either traditional or alternative therapies.

5. Kidney Disease
This is another common cause of vomiting, especially in older cats. Cats with kidney disease have poorly functioning kidneys, so toxins from the kidneys will build up in their bloodstream causing them to vomit. Other signs of kidney disease are increased drinking and urinating, and decreased appetite. See your veterinarian to have your pet diagnosed with a blood test if they are showing any of those signs. Alternative therapies work best to treat kidney disease.

See my article “5 Reasons Why You Should Choose a Holistic Veterinarian” for information on how to find a holistic veterinarian in your area.

Homeopathy is a very safe system of medicine that has been around for hundreds of years.  It uses remedies called homeopathics that are dilutions of substances used to treat and cure illnesses.  The principles of homeopathy involve “like cures like”, whereby any substance that causes a set of symptoms in a healthy animal, will cure those symptoms in a sick animal. So if you are treating a bee sting a minute dilution of apis mellifica or bee stinger, will actually prevent swelling and treat the symptoms.

Without formal training, you can safely use homeopathics at home to treat your pets.  I find they really work great for first aid, and are extremely safe.

You can easily find them at a healthfood store or can order them online, see the links below.  They come in different potencies, but 30C would be best for most situations.  You can find them in little tablets, that are dissolved under the tongue in humans.  For pets, you can put them in their mouths, or between the gums.  It is sometimes easier to crush them and dissolve them in spring water and pour it in their mouths.  Try not to touch the pills with your hands, they work more energetically, and they may not be as potent then.  You can also find liquids, which work great.  One dose is usually 4-10 pills, depending on the size of the pill or 4-10 drops.  Frequency is more important than the amount given, since one pill or 20 pills is still the same potency.  For acute or sudden onset problems, you can give a dose every 20 minutes to an hour for several doses initially.  For chronic problems, 2 or 3 doses a day is usually good.

Aconite napellus Fever, sudden onset.

Apis mellifica Bee stings, insect bites, allergic reactions, hives and                                                     red, hot swellings.

Arnica montana Trauma, swelling, bruising, sore muscles and                                                                   sprains.  Works best in the early stages.

Cocculus indicus Motion sickness, car sickness, nausea.

Hypericum perforatum Nerve injuries to the tail, smashed toes,and broken                                                      nails.

Ledum palustre Puncture wounds, cat fight injuries.

Nux vomica Vomiting, regurgitation, burping, gas, and                                                                       gastrointestinal upsets.

Our pets are exposed to an increasing number of toxins everyday.  These include pesticides, lawn chemicals, preservatives in food, medications, and environmental pollution.  Since our pets are small and close to the ground, their exposure to some of these things can be very high.

If your pet has been exposed and poisoned, through ingestion or contact of a known poison, call your veterinarian or Animal Poison Control immediately for treatment. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website has lots of helpful information about what to do and when to call. Signs of poison exposure can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever, drooling or salivating, pacing, and panting. Call your veterinarian or poison control immediately if your pet is showing these symptoms.

Now after the immediate threat is gone, what do you do next? Many toxins are dealt with by the liver, these include poisons and also the toxins that your pet is exposed to everyday on lawns, in food, and in the environment. There are two things that you can do at home to help your pet after a poisoning, or to use on your pet a couple of times a year to treat chronic low grade toxin exposure.

The first is milk thistle or silybum marianum. It is an herb that has been used for thousands of years to treat liver and gall bladder problems.  One of the active substances silymarin, not only protects the liver from further damage, but has antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, and can actually heal the liver.

One product I really like is an alcohol free liquid from Milk Thistle AF from Nature’s Answer.  You can give a cat or small dog 5-10 drops twice a day in the food, or directly in the mouth.  Medium dog 1/2 ml (28 drops or one dropperful) twice a day.  Large dog 1 ml twice a day.  You can do this for 2-4 weeks following the exposure.

For larger dogs, or if you prefer giving a capsule, I like Silymarin from NOW. For medium dogs, give one capsule daily.  For a large dog, give 1 capsule twice a day.  You can also continue this for 2-4 weeks.

The second thing to do, along with the milk thistle, is to give a homeopathic detox.  This is a very safe, gentle detox that will help pull toxins out of the body.  My favorite product is Detox Kit by Heel.  It is a liquid and can be given directly in the pet’s mouth, 10 drops of each bottle (there are 3 bottles), twice a day.  Or you can add 10 drops of each bottle to your pet’s water bowl and let them drink it throughout the day.  I would do this for about 2 weeks.

For more information on toxins affecting pets, there is a really good article at www.vetinfo.com/dtoxin.html.

Recommended products:

Milk Thistle AF by Nature’s Answer

Silymarin 150 mg by NOW

Detox Kit by Heel

1. They practice holistic medicine. Holistic medicine is a way of treating a patient by using natural methods such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine and diet, to treat the whole patient.  Holistic veterinarians not only look at symptoms like a regular veterinarian would,  but also look at diet, the environment, stress, genetics and past history.  With this all this information they can treat the whole problem, not just fix the complaint.
2. The treatments they use are more natural. The types of treatments used are safe and natural substances such as herbs, vitamins, homeopathics and even foods.  They are safer for the animal, the animals respond well to them, and they have  little to no side effects.
3. They are very knowledgeable. Not only has your holistic veterinarian gone through the traditional medical training that a regular veterinarian goes through, they have also gone through additional training and certification in things such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and herbal medicine.
4. They practice complementary medicine. Most holistic veterinarians provide treatments and therapies that are a complement to what your regular veterinarian is doing.  They can also use traditional diagnostic tests such as lab work and x-rays to help formulate a diagnosis.   Occasionally holistic vets will recommend surgery or drugs in combination with the natural therapies, if they think that will be the best form of treatment for your pet.
5. Your pet is going to live longer and feel better! While holistic medicine can treat many different conditions, its main focus is in preventive medicine and keeping the body healthy and in balance.  All this will make for a happier, healthier, less stressed pet!

To find a holistic veterinarian in your area:
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society

The Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine