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Immune Mediated Polyarthritis and Myositis
in a Portugese Water Dog
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
This article was published in the Portugese Waterdog Magazine
in 1997.
Summary: A Portuguese Water
Dog was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythromatoses. At the owners’ request,
the dog was treated with acupuncture, Chinese herbs and homeopathy. The following
article describes the symptoms and successful treatment of this dog. Read more...
Acupuncture for Old Dog Vestibular Syndrome/Stroke
A Conference and A Patient: By Dr Marlene Smith- Schalkwijk
2006 TOL Newsletter
In March 2006 I attended a conference on Oriental Medicine in Vancouver.
One of the lectures dealt with treatment of stroke and spinal injuries
in people using a scalp acupuncture method developed by Prof. Ming
Qing Zhu. The guest speaker on this topic was Michael Akong, a
human acupuncturist originally from Burnaby, now working in a large
hospital in L.A, California and specializing in stroke patients.
Using very specific acupuncture points with a very specific technique,
Michael showed the progress in several patients suffering from
post stroke paralysis. Read more...
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
By: Dr. Heather Matheson TOL Newsletter
2008
Sports fans hear about Anterior Cruciate Ligament
or ‘ACL’ tears on a daily basis. ACL tears are
a common injury among our top human athletes. Unfortunately
this is also a very common injury seen in our canine companions. The
anterior cruciate ligament has a big role in stabilizing the stifle
or knee joint and can be surprisingly easy to injure. Read more...
Arthritis, Definition And Description
The following article is an abstract
of seminars doctor Smith has conducted since 1996.
Arthritis is the word that is generally used
to describe an inflammation of a joint. Many different words
are used to describe the different forms of arthritis. Read more...
Hip Dysplasia
The word literally means a displacement of the
hip joint. The cause is multifactor. Read more...
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Flea Control
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
Here on the “Wet-Coast” fleas can
be a major problem. Fleas reproduce rapidly, each flea laying 40
eggs a day. These flea eggs are often deposited in the house where
they are glued to the carpet or in cracks and crevasses. In our
temperate climate they can also survive our mild and moist winters
outside. In the fall the flea will hitch a ride on the pet, laying
their eggs indoors. Once the heat is turned on in the house, the
LARVAE IN THE EGGS may think spring has arrived and they hatch
by the thousands, infesting the pet during the months of October
to December. In the spring they hatch outside creating another
infestation until the fall; we have a flea problem all year around. Read more...
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Gold Bead Implants
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
Your pet has been diagnosed with arthritis or
another painful or degenerative condition that will likely benefit
from acupuncture treatment. As part of this treatment, Dr.
Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk and Associates have been getting very
good results using gold bead implants at specific acupuncture points. This
abstract will give you some information about gold bead implants
and answer questions that you may have. Read more...
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Hip Dysplasia
One of the most devastating diseases a young
canine can get is hip dysplasia. Early signs of this are
bunny-hopping (using both back legs together when running instead
of using them independently), being slow to get up and down (especially
after exercise), muscle atrophy in one or both hind legs, difficulty
jumping into the car, going up stairs or jumping onto the furniture,
being “snappy” when the back end is handled or brushed. So what exactly is hip dysplasia? Read more...
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Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Dogs From A TCM
Perspective
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
This is the most common heart disease in dogs.
It is caused by dilation and weakening of the heart muscle resulting
in congestive heart failure. This condition is often associated
with canine hypothyroidism or a leaking heart valve leading to
exhaustion of the heart muscle. The drugs benazapril (a blood vessel
dilator) and digitalis are often used to treat this disease. Read more...
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Herbal/Botanical Medicine
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
Boswellia Serrata
Boswellia is a medium size tree found in India, Africa and the
Middle East. After the bark has been peeled away there is
an oleo-resin which contains oil and gums. It is these gum
resins (also called guggals) that have been used traditionally
in Ayurvedic (Indian) Medicine as a natural anti-inflammatory for
arthritis. Read more...
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Holistic Approaches To Heart Diseases In Pets
Submitted by Dr. Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk
Here is a list of Western drugs used to treat heart problems (depending
on the problem) Read more...
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The Treatment Of Legg Calve Perthes With Acupuncture
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk, DVM
Introduction
Legg-Calve- Perthes disease is mostly diagnosed in young dogs of
the miniature breeds. It is characterized by an increase in trabecular
bone of the femoral head, followed by aseptic necrosis secondary
to ischemia. Revascularization of the bone is followed by demineralization
(1). Diagnosis is made on the basis of signalment, a small breed
6-10 months of age with persistent reduced weight bearing on
one hind limb or limping. Radiographs show demineralization of
the femoral head and/ or neck. There is often a fracture of the
neck and displacement of the femoral head. Conservative treatment
is often to no avail and femur head resection is performed (or
total hip replacement) to alleviate the pain. The following case history describes two small breed dogs diagnosed
with Legg Perthes disease. Read more...
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The Geriatric Pet
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
When our animal friends get older the spirit is often willing and
the body starts to decline. Animal may experience similar problems
to our own aging bodies. This does not mean that nothing can be
done and we have to except and witness this decline. Chinese Medicine
sees the decline of our life energy as a decline of the kidney
Qi. It relates symptoms such as graying of the hair, pain and weakness
of the lower back, hips and knees, deafness, urinary incontinence
and mental decline as a deficiency of the kidney energy or Qi.
There are many Chinese herbal formulas and acupuncture techniques
that are specifically designed and directed towards helping the
aging individual. Read more...
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Veterinary Homeopathic First Aid
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
This homeopathic care kit is for emergency use only. It is not replacing
any necessary veterinary care. All remedies can be used in conjunction
with allopathic medicine. Do not deny your animal friend the services
and care of a veterinarian. Veterinary Homeopathic First Aid kits
are available at Tree of Life Veterinary Care. Read more...
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Stretches For Your Dog
By Shannon Schroeder B.Sc.P.T Registered Physiotherapist
Prior to stretching exercises walk your dog for 5 minutes to warm
up the muscles. Hold each stretch for about 10 seconds.
Fore Limb (dog lying on his/her side)
Hold below elbow and gently draw the arm straight forwards. Gently
draw the arm straight backwards, support shoulder and elbow and
draw arm towards the ceiling. Read more...
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To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate That Is The Question
These are the notes from a vaccination seminar given in Victoria,
BC in 1998.
The question if our pets need their vaccines every year keeps coming
up. The following information was extracted from a seminar attended
by Dr. Smith, given by Ron Schultz in North Caroline September
2004 and his news release published March 2003. Ron is a veterinary
immunologist and researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Veterinary Medicine. He has been studying the effectiveness
of canine and feline vaccines for the last 30 years. His studies
showed that immunity after vaccination in dogs could last as long
as a lifetime. The question if we are over vaccinating our animals
was raised when many veterinarians noticed that there was an increase
in diseases such as skin problems, allergies and autoimmune diseases
after vaccinations. In cats, tumors at the site of the vaccination
injection have been well documented. Read more...
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Veterinary Acupuncture
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
Introduction
Acupuncture is one part of the oriental healing art, Traditional
Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.). This medical concept precedes Western
Medicine by 4000 + years. It was developed at a time prior to the
availability of such diagnostic techniques as laboratory blood
test, radiographs, ultra sound, CAT scans and even exploratory
surgery (unsafe and unavailable anesthesia). The healers/ doctors/
shaman/ and medicine men/women had only eyes for observation, ears
to listen, fingers to palpate, nose for odours and meditation to
access his/ her spiritual guide. Read more...
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What is Holistic Veterinary Medicine?
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
There are many opinions of this word, some of them translating
it with the word "whole", meaning that it treats the
whole animal instead of only parts of it. For me, it embraces a
philosophy of healing that utilizes as many healing disciplines
as the practitioner can call upon to aid in the healing of the
patient. It is like being in a large show room with many different
booths, each of which represents a form of healing practiced over
the whole world at different times. So we will see a booth of Western
medicine, one for Traditional Chinese Medicine, one for homeopathy,
Reiki, nutritional healing, Healing Touch, Chiropractor, Massage,
Physiotherapy etc. The forms of healing different to Western Medicine
are often referred to as " alternative medicine"; a more
appropriate word would be "complimentary medicine". The
job of the doctor is to decide which form or approach of medicine
is appropriate for this particular patient and this particular
disease. The following will shed some light on these complimentary
modalities. Read more...
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Cancer Research & Survey
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
Cancer is now the leading cause of death in our dog population.
Have you had a beloved pet that died of cancer or do you know someone
who has? Constant speculations are made of what causes cancer.
With the help of the Kali's Wish Fund, Veterinarian Marlene Smith
has started a research project to try and determine the possible
causes of cancer in dogs.
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Marshmallow Fund
Who was Marshmallow . . . and why was the Marshmallow Fund started?
Marshmallow came from a pet shop. She was a longhaired Manx with
an outstanding personality. Manx cats are deliberately bred to
have no tail. In Marshmallow's case not only was the tail vertebrae
missing, but also the vertebrae of her sacrum and the last 1 ½ lumbar
vertebrae were missing. As a result the nerves to her bowel and
bladder did not function well. This led to chronic constipation
and eventually a paralyzed bladder. Read more...
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Qi And Quantum Physics; Old Meets New Or East Meets West
By Dr. Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk, DVM
What is Qi?
The purpose of this paper is to help to bring some understanding
of the phenomena of Qi and energy from the “new” science
of quantum physics. One of the many stumbling blocks we as western
trained doctors and scientists have is that our understanding and
knowledge is based in the particle principle. This philosophy goes
back to the 1700’s, when the scientific view of the world
was based on the concept of Newton. His perspective of the world
was that everything consists out of particles only. It puts the
physical body on the same level as a car or any other mechanic
device. Read more...
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Treatment Of A Liver Shunt With Acupuncture
By Heather Matheson DVM; Tree of Life Veterinary Care
Courtenay, BC
Treatment of a PDA and liver shunt with acupuncture and botanical
medicine
Abstract:
A thirteen week old Akita, Border Collie cross with vascular abnormalities,
including a patient ductus arteriosus (PDA), an arterio-venous
fistula within the liver and an intrahepatic portal shunt, presented
with a history of hepatic encephalopathy. Treatment included acupuncture,
herbal and one homeopathic remedy and extended over a four-month
period. In this time the patient’s quality of life improved
as witnessed by an increased appetite, improvement in mentation,
weight gain and partial resolution of the PDA. In Western
terms a diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy secondary to portosystemic
shunts described this patient’s condition whereas a diagnosis
of Kidney Jing Deficiency was considered its Eastern diagnosis. Read more...
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Cancer In Dogs & Osteosarcoma In The Rottweiller
Marlene Smith – Schalkwijk DVM
Introduction.
The diagnosis of cancer is in most people’s mind a death sentence. It is one of those areas in Western Medicine where the cause of the disease is mostly speculative and poorly understood. Western medicine approach to cancer is surgery (if applicable), prednisone, chemotherapy or a combination. This can buy some time and yet rarely “cures” cancer. “Spontaneous remissions” are being reported in human as well as in veterinary medicine and as poorly understood as cancer itself. Over the last 10 years we have seen a dramatic increase in cancer in our pet population. It is now the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years of age. The very first question we all ask is; “what is the cause of my animal’s cancer?” At this point there is no answer to this question. Genetic predisposition, environmental pollution, diet, damage to the immune system due to repeated vaccinations or excessive antibiotic use, thinning of the ozone layer, herbicide and pesticide use are all components showing up in the various research articles as possible contributors to this new epidemic. Read more...
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Histiocytosis in the Bernese Mountain Dog
Introduction.
The diagnosis of cancer is in most people’s mind a death sentence. It is one of those areas in Western Medicine where the cause of the disease is mostly speculative and poorly understood. Western medicine approach to cancer is surgery (if applicable), prednisone, chemotherapy or a combination. This can buy some time and yet rarely “cures” cancer. “Spontaneous remissions” are being reported in human as well as in veterinary medicine and as poorly understood as cancer itself. Over the last 10 years we have seen a dramatic increase in cancer in our pet population. It is now the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years of age. The very first question we all ask is; “what is the cause of my animals cancer?” At this point there is no answer to this question. Genetic predisposition, environmental pollution, diet, damage to the immune system due to repeated vaccinations or excessive antibiotic use, thinning of the ozone layer, herbicide and pesticide use are all components showing up in the various research articles as possible contributors to this new epidemic.
Research shows that patients treated with immune suppressive therapy have a higher incidence of developing tumors then those not treated with immune suppressive agents. Also patients with immune mediated diseases and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (Feline leukemia, Feline Immune Deficiency syndrome, Aids) have a higher incidence of cancer. (1) Use of herbicides/pesticides as T4D are quoted as increasing cancer especially lymphoma type cancers. Read more...
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Therapeutic Laser
Tree of Life Veterinary Care acquired recently a therapeutic laser for domestic animals. This is a class 4 laser, which means it can produce over 1 watts of energy. The output in lasers is expressed in Joules per square cm. The machine Tree of Life Veterinary Care has purchased is called the Companion Laser and has an output up to the maximum of 10 Watts. This means that at the 10 Watts setting the machine produces 600 Joules per minute. Read more...
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Thyroid Diseases Update
Immune Mediated Thyroiditis is being diagnosed more frequently. A part of the reason is increased awareness and also improved testing. Dr. Jean Dodds has done a tremendous amount of research on this condition and developed more reliable testing. Read more...
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