Pawsitive Healing

24/11/2025

Benny getting acupuncture treatment for IBD. The result: calmed down that sympathetic nervous system, no vomiting and generally happier.

23/11/2025

🐾 Acupuncture for Your Furry Friend – What to Expect 🐾

Why the First Few Sessions Matter
Just like with people, most pets respond best when the initial 2‑3 acupuncture appointments are booked close together (e.g., daily, weekly or fortnightly depending on the conditions). This “front‑load” helps jump‑start the body’s natural healing pathways, easing pain, anxiety, or mobility issues more quickly.

How It Works for Pets

Rapid circulation boost – improves blood flow to sore joints or inflamed areas.
Gentle nervous‑system reset – calms stress, reduces fear, and promotes relaxation.
Quick symptom relief – especially useful for arthritis, hip dysplasia, post‑surgery recovery, or chronic skin conditions.
What Happens After the Initial Series?
Once the first 2‑3 treatments have set the tone, you can space out future sessions based on your pet’s needs:

Goal Typical Follow‑Up Schedule
Ongoing wellness / preventive care Every 4–6 weeks
Chronic condition management (e.g., arthritis) Every 2–4 weeks
Post‑injury or post‑surgery support Weekly for a month, then taper as advised
Your veterinarian‑trained acupuncturist will tailor the plan, watching how your pet responds and adjusting frequency accordingly.

Quick Tips for a Smooth Experience

Keep appointments consistent during the first week—regular timing helps the body lock in the therapeutic effect.
Observe behavior after each session (e.g., increased activity, calmer demeanor, improved appetite). Share these notes with the practitioner.
*Maintain a calm environment at home; gentle walks and a comfortable resting spot support the treatment’s benefits🌟

22/11/2025

“These findings show the systemic influence of Oral daily probiotic and postbiotic supplementation in shaping microbial communities across both sites and support its use to promote overall canine health. Collectively, our results offer robust evidence for the dual benefits of daily oral ODPPS on both skin and gut microbiota.“

Want to explore a science-backed probiotic🦠 option for your dog, comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll send a link your way.

22/11/2025

Allowing pets to say goodbye 🐾🪽🐾

🐈‍⬛🐕People often ask if their other pets should be present at home euthanasias, and should their other pets say goodbye. This is something that needs to be lead by your heart.

🪽🌈There is no one answer for all pets and all families, however we can give some guidelines. Generally most pets will choose to leave for the euthanasia, however if you have a younger pet it may be sensible to give them a chew in a pen to keep them busy and allow you to give your undivided attention for your pets final goodbye.

🐾🏡If you have multiple pets that have grown up together and live together their bond is likely to be extremely strong. Thus we always reccomend allowing your pets to sniff and say their own goodbyes. Allow the interaction to be lead by the pet, they will process the loss of their friend in their own way. Some pets will just sniff their comrade, whilst others may choose to sit beside their mate. Do not force the interaction, let it go at the animals own pace.

⏳🐾If you feel your pet needs more time, but you would like to organise cremation that’s ok. Our vets are more than happy to talk to you about coming back a second time to give your family that special time when it is needed.

🌦️🐾 Finally, I thought I would share a story about our own four legged family. (Warning, it’s sad.)

Many years ago we had three sisters. When traveling to visit family on holiday one of the sisters - our young dog Kelsie, was poisoned. We rushed her to the emergency hospital however tragically she did not recover. We were devastated, but in our own grief we did not think about how her sisters would experiance the loss. This meant that neither dog had the chance to say goodbye to their sister. For a long time after Kelsie’s death we could see the girls missed her deeply. They lost their appetites, and were much more clingy, needing more reassurance and cuddles from us. In time they recovered, as like all of us, we learn to cope with grief, however I still think about how i could have lessened their burden by givingvthem that opportunity to say goodbye.

These girls taught us to always give our animals the choice to say goodbye to their family. They may have only needed the time to sniff Kelsie, but I am sure it would have helped them to process the loss of their sister. Since then, we have loved and said goodbye to more family members as well as helped other families, but Kelsie’s legacy remains with me, and forever will help me to talk to others about the importance of allowing our pets the time and space to say their own goodbyes. 🌈🐾🐾🐾

Photo shows a group of 4 bonded dogs of different breeds and sizes relaxed and sleeping together in close contact.

20/11/2025

Osteopathic Therapy Helps Dogs Relieve Tight Muscles and Tissues

Ever notice your dog hesitating before a favorite game of fetch or jumping in the car? Tight muscles could be the hidden culprit.
Muscles can become tight and painful secondary to joint issues, compensating when using the opposite side of the body to avoid putting weight on the ‘sore’ side or strain from injury.
Osteopathy uses techniques such as stretching, soft tissue massage techniques to relieve the muscle pain.

Osteopathy has helped reduce pain in many dogs worldwide.

Click on this link to book in with a certified canine osteopath. Jodie will get in touch to discuss your dog’s specific needs. https://pawsitive-healing.au4.cliniko.com/bookings

A gentle path to reduce pain and discomfort for your dog

31/10/2025

Dog acupuncture isn’t a trendy gimmick; it’s a vetted, centuries‑old technique that modern veterinarians integrate into holistic care.

Pain & Fear – Most dogs aren’t in pain or scared during treatment; the needles are ultra‑thin and placed gently.

Placebo Effect – Dogs don’t experience placebo, so any benefit comes from genuine physiological responses (e.g., release of natural pain‑relieving chemicals).

Acupuncture can aid a wide range of issues—arthritis, allergies, digestive problems, behavioural stress, and even preventive wellness—not just end‑stage disease.

Safety Concerns – When performed by a licensed veterinary acupuncturist with sterile needles, the procedure is safe and rarely causes adverse effects.

30/10/2025

Benefits of TCM Acupuncture for Pets

Pain & Joint Relief: Triggers endorphins and improves circulation, easing arthritis, dysplasia, post‑surgery aches.

Immune Boost: Balances Qi and Blood, helping pets fight infections and recover faster.

Stress & Anxiety Reduction: Calms the Shen (spirit), lowering cortisol—great for separation anxiety, noise phobia, travel stress.

Digestive Support: Harmonizes spleen‑stomach meridians, improving appetite, gut motility, and reducing chronic GI upset.

Respiratory Aid: Opens the lung channel, thinning mucus and easing breathing in bronchitis, asthma, allergies.

Accelerated Healing: Increases local blood flow, speeding tissue repair and minimizing scar formation after injuries or surgery.

Longevity & Quality of Life: Keeps Qi flowing, supporting organ balance, energy, and mobility in senior animals.

What a Session Looks Like

Consultation & individualized point selection.
Gentle placement of ultra‑thin sterile needles.
5–20 min of needle retention while the pet relaxes.

30/10/2025

Cats can be treated with acupuncture too

30/10/2025

Fireworks may be fun for some, but they’re terrifying for animals.
Every year, vets see injured, traumatised and even lost pets, wildlife, and livestock.

The NZVA continues to call for a ban on public fireworks sales and supports licensed, public displays only. We will continue to advocate this, and until then, we encourage people to avoid buying and setting off fireworks.

28/10/2025

Pet Insurance NZ Simple, low cost, easy claim pet insurance in NZ that your fur kid will tell their friends about. And no lock-in contracts! Get A Quote

14/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B8392XhGm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Researchers from Seoul, South Korea, undertook a study to assess the therapeutic effects of green-lipped mussel oil complex (GLMOC) on canine osteoarthritis (OA) and effects of dose and OA severity on treatment efficacy. Fifteen dogs were recruited and grouped into two based on OA severity. They received the recommended GLMOC dose for the first four weeks and half for the following two weeks, which was followed by a two-week withdrawal. The outcomes included the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) score, orthopaedic assessment score (OAS), and peak vertical force (PVF). Trial outcomes indicated the CBPI score, OAS, and PVF significantly improved at week four. The treatment success rate was 40%. The improvements persisted during the reduction and withdrawal phases, but their significance reduced. The PVF (week four), CBPI score (weeks four and six), and OAS (weeks four, six and eight) significantly improved for the dogs with mild/moderate OA. The OAS significantly improved for severe OA only at week four. The results suggest GLMOC treatment provided significant pain relief and functional improvement for OA over four weeks without adverse effects. Optimal outcomes are expected in patients with mild or moderate OA treated with consistent medications.

13/07/2025

🐾 Why Wait for Pain? Discover the Preventative Power of Osteopathy for Dogs! 🐶✨

Did you know osteopathy isn't just for treating injuries—it's a powerful preventative tool for keeping your dog moving well and feeling their best?

🦴 Osteopathy for dogs uses gentle, hands-on techniques to release tension, improve mobility, and support the nervous system—before problems set in. Regular sessions can help:

✅ Maintain joint flexibility
✅ Support healthy ageing
✅ Prevent compensatory strain from subtle imbalances
✅ Aid performance in working and active dogs
✅ Improve posture and comfort—even in pups!

Just like us, dogs benefit from a little proactive bodywork. Whether your dog is a playful pup, a weekend adventurer, or a golden oldie, osteopathy helps them move with ease and live life to the fullest.

📅 Book a preventative session today and help your dog feel better for longer!

🐶💛 Pawsitive Healing | https://pawsitive-healing.au4.cliniko.com/bookings