Holistic Vets

19/03/2026

What to Do if Your Pet Has a Seizure

A seizuring pet can be a scary thing to contend with. It can be caused by a number of things including poisoning, low blood sugar levels, epilepsy and others.

If your pet has a seizure.

· Try and contain the animal in enclosed area with soft boundaries ie. pillows

· Rescue Remedy / Emergency Essence / Calming Flower Essence in their mouth or rubbed calmly through their coat may help them to recover

· An ice pack applied to the area between their shoulder blades may help to stop the seizure

· Turn off loud music and bright lights to reduce stimuli. It may help to talk calmly to the animal and maintain contact

· There are several acupuncture / acupressure points that may help to stop / slow the seizure

· Seek veterinary attention

12/03/2026

6 Helpful Superfoods for Your Pet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6dlh7i819w

Raw meat: Cats and dogs are carnivores and so feeding them a balanced diet with fresh or pre-frozen raw meat can help to improve their health and vitality (there are some risks to be aware of when feeding a raw meat-based diet but once these are understood and avoided, there are many benefits). If your pet is used to commercial food then it is a good idea to make these changes gradually.

Garlic: has been shown to have some anti-cancer properties, has superb anti-microbial properties (helping with infections) and is also useful to help enhance circulation. 1 medium size clove of garlic per 25 kg of dog per day is a safe dose but high doses of garlic may be toxic.

Kale: is rich in anti-oxidants which help to combat free radical damage in the body caused by some toxins and day to day processes in the body. Unattended, free radical damage leads to wear and tear and a number of disease processes can begin. Kale has also been shown to clear carcinogenic substances form the body more quickly and slow tumour growth.

Broccoli: has compounds that promote anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activity in the body. It also helps to flush out some of the chemicals that are known to cause some types of cancer.

Berries: have high concentrations of anthocyanidins which are powerful anti-oxidants with some fabulous therapeutic properties like boosting the immune system, boosting energy levels and have also been shown to have some anti-cancer properties.

Turmeric (curcumin) is a plant relative of ginger and has a number of therapeutic benefits being a powerful anti-oxidant and thereby supporting the immune system. It also has anti-cancer properties, has some anti-microbial effects and helps to ease inflammatory conditions like arthritis, asthma, eczema as well as improve gastro-intestinal function. Dogs can be given 50 – 250 mg of the dried herb 1 – 3 times a day and cats 50 – 100 mg daily.

Remember, dogs and cats bodies’ are adapted to eating meat and the gut content of their prey so while fresh meat is best fed raw, plant matter is best fed with some kind of processing like crushing or “blenderising” to help make the powerful phytochemicals available.

12/03/2026

Check out this months' newsletter!

· Welcome back Dr Shrawan!!!
· 6 Helpful Superfoods for Your Pet
· Fur Analysis and How it Can Help Your Pet’s Health
· What to Do if Your Pet Has a Seizure
· Rare Falcons at ARRC Wildlife Trust
· Dr Liza’s Vet Tales Excerpt – More Adventures at The Rotorua SPCA

I love working with a capable and dynamic team of special people. It is so inspiring to work with our Holistic Vets and ARRC Team! 1 thing that we can be sure of in life is change and this means that sometimes our special people move out of our lives and onto other ventures BUT sometimes they come b...

09/03/2026

Welcome back Dr Shrawan!!!

Shrawan had worked at Holistic Vets for nearly 2 years when we bade him a sad farewell in December last year. He had resigned from his position with us as Senior Veterinarian as he was urgently needed overseas to help his family in crisis.

We advertised to fill Shrawan’s position but the ideal candidate was not to be found and Dr Liza has been working flat-out with colleagues Dr Heather and Dr Justis to provide care for our pets and their people ever since!

With his delightful smile and joyous laugh Shrawan is back at Holistic Vets after his time overseas and we are so delighted!

Shrawan is originally from Nepal, the country of Mount Everest! He is passionate about his profession, qualifying as a veterinarian in 2001. He moved to New Zealand in 2004 for Masters degree studies at Massey and has more than two decades of clinical veterinary experience across large and companion animal practice.

Shrawan is also a trained research scientist and has published several high-quality research papers in reputed international scientific journals. In addition to his BVSc degree and experience, Shrawan has undertaken several postgraduate courses relevant to small and large animal practice. He also has worked with Sheep as an animal model of human disease in his PhD project at Otago University between 2007 and 2012. He has undertaken an MSc degree in Animal Science (in the area of Reproduction and Fertility) at Massey University between 2004 and 2006. As a part of his Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Science (PGDipVCSc), Shrawan has undertaken courses in Small Animal Oncology and Anaesthesia at Massey University in 2013.

Being from the Indian Sub-continent, Shrawan is also passionate about the ancient herbal healing tradition called Ayurveda.

06/03/2026

Many pets suffer serious injuries, but some make truly remarkable recoveries. One of those is Nini – a tough little Yorkie who is certainly no n***y!

We’re very excited to have Dr Heather at Holistic Vets, helping dogs like Nini with a range of integrative therapies including acupuncture, VMM (similar to chiropractic), rehabilitation, TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) and veterinary physiotherapy, including laser therapy.

In our latest newsletter you can also read about my colleague Dr Jeff Feinman’s beautiful new book Path to Pet Wellness. We’re giving away a copy, so be sure to check it out.

I also share some simple life-saving checks that can be invaluable in potential emergency situations, helping both your pet and your vet.

If you don’t live locally, our Holistic Vets national telehealth service provides complementary therapy support for pets anywhere in New Zealand, working alongside your local vet.

There’s much more in the newsletter, including links to my online courses and YouTube channel.

Sign up to our newsletter to read the full stories and stay connected with the latest updates from Holistic Vets.

Read our latest newsletter here: https://holisticvets.co.nz/holistic-vets-news

26/02/2026

Cancer in our pets, just like in humans, has unfortunately become fairly common. Many factors may contribute to this increasing trend, including poor nutrition, genetics, environmental pollution, and infections, to name just a few.

Cancer develops when a cell begins to grow and divide out of control and is not stopped by the immune system. These abnormal cells can arise from any part of the body. Some cancers grow quickly and spread rapidly (malignant), while others grow slowly and do not spread (benign).

For example, dogs can develop certain bone cancers that grow aggressively and spread to the lungs, which can be life threatening. Cats with white noses and ears are more prone to skin cancers in those areas. If caught early, these can often be well controlled. Older pets frequently develop benign skin lumps that may not need removal if they are not causing discomfort.

How is cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis may involve fine needle aspirates, which draw fluid from a lump, biopsies where tissue samples are taken, and blood tests.

Once a diagnosis is made, conventional treatment usually focuses on removing or destroying as much of the cancer as possible. This may include surgery, cryotherapy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Depending on the type and stage, these treatments can be very successful.

From a holistic perspective, cancer is often multifactorial. Its development suggests underlying damage within the body and a weakened immune system that has failed to control abnormal cell growth.

To create the greatest possibility of healing, it is essential to address root causes, not just the tumor itself. Supporting and strengthening the immune system is key.

The three main focus areas are

Disabling cancer cells

Supporting cellular and organ function

Detoxification

Some of the complementary tools we may incorporate include Nutritional Medicine, NIS or Neurological Integration System, Oxygen therapy, Homotoxicology, Homeopathy, and Herbal Medicine.

Combining conventional treatments with complementary therapies often yields excellent results. By tailoring a program to each individual animal and supporting their owners through the journey, we can greatly improve quality of life and provide peace of mind.

If you have concerns about lumps, bumps, or changes in your pet, early assessment is always best.

19/02/2026

Complementary Therapies and Integrative Care

We make use of the Best of Both Worlds, integrating all of the benefits of conventional veterinary medicine and surgery with innovative and common-sense therapies such as acupuncture, nutritional medicine, herbal medicine and many others to ensure that we treat our patients in the most effective and least invasive way possible to restore health and well-being.

Whether it’s treating complex health issues such as arthritis, cancer and allergies, emergency care or surgical recovery, we love using a combination of therapies to provide the very best care for your pet.

https://holisticvets.co.nz/holistic-vets-complementary-therapies-and-integrative-care

13/02/2026

We just got something amazing for the clinic and we couldn’t wait to share it with our community!

Introducing our new Wholly Shrink! A clever little device that helps compact soft plastics by up to 70% before recycling, making it SO much easier to store and take in to recycling drop-off points. It’s compact enough to sit on your bench, tidy up your space, and make recycling soft plastics a simple, satisfying habit!

Why we love it:
• Reduces bulky soft plastics - think bread bags, wrappers and films by up to 70% 📉
• Keeps plastic clutter out of overflowing bags and cabinets
• Encourages mindful recycling right at home

Even better this purchase supports a good cause! Part of the proceeds from sales of Wholly Shrink! with Wholly Shrink fundraiser at EnviroHub Bay of Plenty goes to support their Precious Plastic Project so they can grow and run more workshops for the community.

Already loving ours and happy to share the love for smarter recycling! 💚♻️

Buy yours here: https://envirohub.org.nz/product/wholly-shrink-fundraiser/

Wholly Shrink Fundraiser! Sales will support our Precious Plastic Project buy new equipment.

12/02/2026

Veterinary Laser Therapy at Holistic Vets

Therapeutic Lasers use light energy to manage pain, reduce inflammation, and promote the healing of wounds and injuries, including nerve damage.

Light waves from therapeutic lasers have a specific wavelength that are absorbed by cells of the body and activate repair as well as growth and proliferation. In addition to this, laser therapy helps to facilitate muscle relaxation, vasodilation (increased blood flow to bring nutrients and oxygen to cells and remove waste products) as well as endorphin release resulting in reduced pain and relaxation.

Laser therapy is used in veterinary medicine as a primary or complementary therapy for a number of conditions including:

Injuries

Wounds

Post surgical healing

Chronic arthritis

Nerve damage/degeneration

Veterinary patients typically tolerate the treatment very well as the laser is moved slowly over the affected part of their body, generally producing a warm and pleasant sensation which most animals enjoy. A treatment session lasts between 3 and 30 minutes and is performed daily to weekly, depending on the patient’s condition.

Laser beams directed into the eye can cause serious damage so caution must be taken to avoid this. High-powered units may cause burns to the tissue if used inappropriately. It is important not to use laser therapy if the area has active bleeding or it is wet. When laser therapy is used correctly, it is an invaluable aid to support healing.

11/02/2026

Check out this months' newsletter!

*Dr Heather’s Remarkable Patient: Nini’s No N***y!
*Veterinary Laser Therapy at Holistic Vets
*Win a copy of Dr Jeff’s NEW Book: Path to Pet Wellness
*Quick Life-saving Checks for Your Pet: Invaluable tools!
*Petrels at ARRC Wildlife Trust
*Dr Liza’s Vet Tales Excerpt – More Adventures at The Rotorua SPCA

Many pets suffer serious injury and some have remarkable recoveries like Nini, a tough little yorkie who is no n***y! We are so excited to have Dr Heather at Holistic working wonders for dogs like Nini with her incredible healing tools like acupuncture, VMM (like chiropractic’s), rehabilitation, T...

04/02/2026

"Simba" Hope - Aggressive Cancer
Simba's recovery from aggressive cancer

As a very young pup, Simba suddenly developed a very large lump just under his hind leg. Surgery to remove the lump was performed and it was found to be a very rare but highly aggressive cancer that would inevitably re-grow. However, Simba is very lucky to have a wonderful Mum, Lisa, who was determined to do everything in her power to prevent this from happening and so we treated Simba with powerful supplements, herbs and NIS therapy which kept him problem free until he hit his “teenage” years. He started to become aggressive with the other dogs at home and Lisa decided that it was time to neuter him.

Simba made a wonderful recovery from the de-sexing surgery but within a month after, the cancer returned and despite our best efforts grew to a point where it was so big that his back leg’s hip was being pushed out of its socket. Lisa was unsure whether it was fair to put Simba through another big surgery or whether it was kinder to put him to sleep. In the end, Simba’s loving family decided to “bite the bullet” and we spent 3 hours in surgery removing the mass which weighed nearly 1 kg. Pretty huge given that Simba weighs only 8 kg!

Removing the cancer is only part of the process as it’s very important that we kill any other remaining cancer cells and get the immune system to work optimally to prevent reoccurrence so we integrated some unique therapies like bicarbonate through catheter into the region of the lump which kills cancer cells, HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) to boost his immune system and accelerate recovery, CN powder and help from our friends at Healing World.

Simba made a fantastic recovery and it’s now nearly three years later and there has been no sign of regrowth of the lump. He’s a wonderful example of how using the Best of Both Worlds along with the wonderful care of his fabulous family, has given little Simba his life back.

https://holisticvets.co.nz/holistic-vets-happy-endings

28/01/2026

THIS SATURDAY!!
kittens and cats of all different ages 🐾