Why I'm offering natural nutrition, behaviour & more at LMH Townhouse

The reason I'm so excited about offering consultations at The Townhouse

Over a decade ago when Molly my first Bull terrier  was only eight years, she became ill with an undiagnosable condition.

Despite endless tests and drugs, her bladder condition couldn’t be labelled, whilst being suspected cancer’. I eagerly accepted a referral to Richard Allport (BVet Med, Vet MFHom MRCVS), at the Natural Medicine Centre in Hertfordshire.

I discovered that the integrated approach to health regards every dog as an individual and approaches medicine in a completely different way, treating the cause, not just the symptoms of the problem.

Combining different modalities like herbs and homeopathy, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, was all new to me, but I was fascinated.

Two years later, I started studying natural nutrition and therapies with the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) to delve deeper and learn more, simply so I could help Molly. It worked — she stayed in great health until she was 13 — and it’s a path I’ll continue to follow in the health-care of my current Bull Terrier Prudence, English Toy Terrier, Mr Binks, and my street cat Gremlin.

The aim is to stimulate energy at a cellular level for optimum health, while minimising the negative effects of environmental stressors, which are ubiquitous in our modern world. Air pollution, overly processed foods, over-medication, and sedentary lifestyles, all impact negatively on us and our dogs.

Focusing on this inter-relationship, my studies centred on the three pillars of health: one pillar is nutrition; the second is the immune system; and the third is the physical frame. If one pillar begins to crumble, it has a negative impact on the other two.

Using diet to feed and nourish for optimum health is not a new concept. Hippocrates famously said in 600BC: “Let medicine be thy food, and let food be thy medicine.”

I’ve always believed in the adage ‘you are what you eat’. If Hippocrates was right and food can be a medicine, it makes sense to eat foods that have a positive ‘anti-inflammatory’, rather than a negative ‘pro-inflammatory’, effect.

We need food to give us energy; we need food to nourish our cellular system; and we also need food to help with anti-ageing.

According to the PDSA, half of Britain’s dogs are clinically obese. Mirroring the human condition, as dogs get plumper there’s been a rise in fat-related conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.

Being overweight impacts negatively on the physical pillar. Being overweight limits a dog’s ability to exercise, by putting extra pressure on the joints, heart, and lungs.

Obesity and a proliferation of fat cells also increase a dog’s propensity to suffer from inflammation in the joints or osteoarthritis.

Without a healthy, proactive immune system, we’re prone to infection and an inability to fight disease and long-term inflammation in the cells.

Over time the effects of stressors like a poor diet, exposure to air pollution, fertilisers, insecticides, and over-medication can impact on the immune system’s integrity. It can become confused and begin to fight its own cells, creating inflammation and autoimmune conditions.

Mr Binks was born with a degenerative bone condition called Legg Calve Perthes disease. He only has one hip, and benefits from regular acupuncture, phototherapy, and physiotherapy.

Both Prudence and Mr Binks enjoy a balanced, raw, complete diet, which goes towards balancing any environmental stressors. They also benefit from homeopathy and strategic supplements.

Join me at the LMH Townhouse where I’ll explain how to encourage optimum health through your diet, through training, mentally, physically and emotionally - naturally!