Holistic Vets

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 🐾

20/01/2026

Top Tips for Digestive Upsets

Gastro-Intestinal upsets are very common, especially in dogs and is the body’s way of saying that something is wrong. With vomiting and diarrhea, it’s generally nature’s way of cleansing out or ridding itself of something that is causing irritation or upset. Vomiting occurs when the disturbance is in the upper GIT, while diarrhea develops when it’s in the lower GIT.

There a number of reasons for GIT disturbances, some due to longer term (chronic) problems such as food intolerances, inflammatory bowel disease, worms, organ failures and others which occur more suddenly (acute) such as toxins or poison exposure, something being stuck like as a fur ball, various infections both bacterial and viral, rotten food being eaten or even simple things such as stress or a sudden diet change, especially common in young kittens.

If your animal is collapsed, vomiting profusely, has blood coming out or is straining unsuccessfully then seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.

If your dog or cat is still relatively bright and the vomiting or diarrhea is not profuse, it may be possible to help to support their body and let it run its course. Practical management of a GIT upset involves giving the GIT a rest, ensuring that the animal has sufficient fluids and salts, supporting the GIT to help toxins pass though and to allow for repair. If this does not work then there is likely to be a more complex underlying issue and further diagnostics or treatment would be warranted.

Provide sufficient fluid with plenty of fresh water to prevent dehydration, as well as electrolytes (salts) and glucose which is especially important in very young animals whose glucose levels plummet very quickly. This can be in the form of a broth created by boiling up meat, rice and vegetables or a mixture of 4 cups of warm water and ¼ cup honey. In animals that aren’t drinking, this can be dripped in with a dropper or syringed in carefully by placing small amounts on the animal’s tongue and allowing it to swallow while it’s sitting or lying upright.

Slippery elm powder, kaolin and bismuth are wonderful internal poultices to help soothe and heal the inflamed GIT lining. Use 20-40 mg of dried slippery elm per kilogram three times a day mixed in water or food. Alternately mix 1 teaspoon of powder in 1 cup of water and give kittens ¼ teaspoon, cats and small dogs 1 teaspoon, medium dogs 30 – 60 ml and large dogs 90 – 120 ml 3 times daily.

In adult animals allow 24 hours before giving any food to give the GIT a rest. Young pups and kittens require food much sooner, giving them a 4 – 12 hour fast depending on their condition should be sufficient.

Commence with bland food such as boiled lean chicken, egg, cottage cheese (and pasta, rice or kumara for dogs) feeding 4 – 6 smaller meals through the day. Do this for 3 days and then gradually re-introduce their normal food.

Adding oat bran and probiotics from unsweetened acidophilus/lactobacillus yoghurt or commercial formulations will help to normalize bacterial flora in the GIT and minimize overgrowth of the “bad bugs”. Activated charcoal might also be useful if there are toxins present either from poisons or produced from the overgrowth of certain bacteria. Use 2 grams per kilogram daily.

Various homeopathics are also often useful and are best used under the guidance of a homeopath. Use either complex remedies or individual 30 C potencies 4 hourly for 3 doses and if there’s no change then another remedy is usually indicated. In very acute cases, dose more frequently and then decrease the frequency to effect. Useful remedies are Nux Vomica for occasional vomiting, Arsenicum for vomiting and diarrhea where the animal is thirsty and Merc Cor for acute diarrhea.

In chronic conditions such as IBD, aloe vera juice is also beneficial to help improve digestion and normalize GIT function however ensure that it is not preserved with sodium benzoate or benzoic acid which is toxic to cats. A dose of 1 ml per 5 kilograms daily is good support but be aware that it can also have a slight laxative effect.

For the management of longer term problems various nutritional programmes including optimal amounts of nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, as well as regular treatments with therapies such as NIS (Neurological Integration System), Acupuncture, homeopathy, Bowen therapy, etc. can help to make a marked difference.

Vitamin C is invaluable as the body’s premiere water soluble anti-oxidant meaning that it works in watery environments to help protect cells and enhance wound healing.

In this video, I'll be covering my top tips for digestive upsets in pets. I'm Doctor Liza, a holistic vet from New Zealand, and in this video, I'll be discus...

07/01/2026

Check out this months' newsletter!

*Amazing Acupuncture!!!
*Grass Seeds Can Be a Doggy Disaster
*10 Tips for Optimal Digestive Upsets
*Kereru at ARRC Wildlife Trust
*Woollie Gets a Spring in His Step with Acupuncture!
*Dr Liza’s Vet Tales Excerpt – Rotorua SPCA to the Rescue

Happy New Year and best wishes for a fantastic 2026! Our year has gotten off to a very busy start with many pets needing urgent veterinary attention for eating all sorts of things that they shouldn’t have including chocolate, Christmas cake and even a snow-globe! Digestive upsets are a common prob...

07/01/2026

Mokai, an almost 4-year-old Cavoodle, suffered a tail injury that ultimately resulted in amputation. While it was a difficult journey, every step of his care was focused on supporting his comfort and healing.

As part of his recovery, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) was used alongside his veterinary treatment. Resting calmly in the chamber, Mokai breathed pure oxygen under gentle pressure, allowing oxygen to reach deep into the tissues where healing was most needed. This helps reduce inflammation, fight infection, and support faster recovery.

Mokai is now healing beautifully and making an excellent recovery. His resilience is a wonderful reminder of how powerful the right support can be.

31/12/2025

FIRST AID - FOR YOUR ANIMAL IN AN EMERGENCY

Having an understanding of useful tools to apply to support an acute crisis or emergency, until veterinary attention is obtained can make a huge difference to the outcome in a
critically injured animal.
The most important question to answer is "Is the animal stable?". This means that they are breathing regularly and normally and the colour of their mucous membranes (gums in mouth, some animals have black areas of pigment making it difficult to assess) are pink, they are conscious and responsive, there's no major pain or discomfort and there is no significant blood loss.
An unstable animal who doesn't meet one or more of these criteria is very likely to need immediate care. Ideally phone ahead to the vet with an outline of the situation so they're prepared and no time is wasted.
When an animal is unconscious or gasping and battling to breathe and their mucous membrane colour is white, purple or blue, check that their airway is clear. Pull their tongue forward out of their mouth and look for any obstruction such as a foreign object or vomit and clear it away or hold their head downward to help fluid to drain out.
If they are not breathing after you have cleared their airway then attempt to perform "mouth to nose" resuscitation by closing their mouth and breathing into their nostrils with just enough air to make their chest rise. Allow the air to be released and repeat every 10 seconds in larger dogs, and every 5 seconds in cats and small dogs.
An animal which is battling to breathe, despite a clear airway, is best positioned lying on their chest to allow their lungs to expand as easily as possible.
The next priority is to feel or listen for a heartbeat on the left side of the animal's chest, just behind their elbow. If there is no heartbeat then position the animal on its side and begin to massage the heart by compressing it with gentle but firm pressure on either side of the ribcage rhythmically between breaths. Check for a heartbeat every minute and stop compressions once the heart has resumed beating.
There are three very useful acupuncture points to which you can apply pressure with your fingernail or a blunt object to assist with resuscitation. These points are in the middle of the nasal plane in line with the bottom of the nostrils, the tip of the tail and the middle of the main pad of the hind feet.
If there is an obvious site of bleeding, apply pressure with a dressing or tourniquet. For an obvious fracture, use a splint such as a stick or block of wood bandaged on to stabilize the limb and in the case of a suspected back injury, transport the animal on a solid stretcher to prevent movement.
Keep the animal warm and dose Emergency Essence or Rescue Remedy. A couple of drops may be applied to the inside of the lip every five minutes until the animal is stable. Generally this works well and it is also often useful for the owner to have some too!

24/12/2025

Happy holidays and New Year from Holistic Vets

A huge thank you to our amazing clients and your furry (and feathered!) family members — you keep our days full of purpose and smiles 💚

Holiday Hours:
We’re closed on all statutory days, but don’t panic, we’re still available for emergencies if someone decides to sample the Christmas treats 🙃

Wishing you all a safe, happy, and peaceful Christmas
— from the Holistic Vets team

18/12/2025

A sad farewell to our amazing DR Shrawan, we will miss your smiley face and uplifting words. We hope to see you back here soon as you will be very much missed by our staff and clients.

18/12/2025

Meet Cleo , isnt she cute! - Cleo’s mum has brought these yummy vegan treats Whimzees, as Cleo absolutely loved the sample we gave her ❤️

18/12/2025

We have the best job, meeting and treating cats, dogs and all animals 💚 An extra little cute visitor this morning.

09/12/2025

FIRST AID - HANDY COMPLEMENTARY TOOLS

Our preference is to have user friendly, safe and effective tools on
hand to complement conventional therapies or that we may
recommend to our clients to have as part of their first aid kits at home.

Emergency Essence (Australian Bush Flower Essences) or Rescue Remedy (Bach Flower Essences) or *Biopet Relax: a couple of drops may be applied to the inside of the lip every five minutes until
the animal is stable or settled. Generally this works well and it is also often useful for the animal owner to have some too!

**Traumeel: A complex homeopathic/low dose herbal remedy available in tablets, drops, gel and injectable ampoules. It has powerful inammatory modulating effects assisting hugely in bringing down swelling, stopping bruising, relieving pain and speeding up healing generally.

Vitamin C: a remarkable and safe all rounder helping to combat infection and assist wound healing often with dramatic results. It is a very useful support in cases of poisoning where it assists detoxification. In very high doses, generally beyond what is available from oral dosage, and therefore needs to be supplied by intravenous infusion, it has anti-cancer properties making it a superb natural chemotherapy agent. Use 250mg per 5 kg animal weight twice a day.

*Biopet Immune Support and **Heel's Echinacea compositum or Engystol are excellent to boost the immune system and prevent infectious disease from developing and progressing. *Biopet Digestion or **Heel's Nux Vomica Homaccord are very useful to assist with digestive upsets.

Slippery Elm powder is a particularly helpful internal poultice to help soothe and heal the inamed gastro intestinal lining. Use 20-40 mg of dried slippery elm per kilogram three times a day mixed in water or food. Alternately mix 1 teaspoon of powder in 1 cup of water and give kittens ¼ teaspoon, cats and small dogs 1 teaspoon, medium dogs 30 – 60 ml and large dogs 90 – 120 ml 3 times daily.

Aloe Vera Gel: Very soothing for skin rashes and fantastic to help stop hot spots from progressing.

Calendula: used topically it's very effective at aiding the healing of skin and is also very useful to help stop bleeding.

Manuka honey has profound anti-bacterial properties and helps to provide the ideal environment to assist with wound healing and may be applied as a poultice.

TAO Gel: Ozonated gel which has profound anti microbial affects and is an incredible support to the healing process.

* The Biopet range has been developed by a New Zealand Vet and has very useful complex homeopathic remedies for a variety of conditions.

** The Heel range encompasses many homeopathic/low dose herbal remedies in tablet, drop, gel and injectable ampoule formulation. Heel is a German company who pride themselves in
producing excellent remedies that prove to be as good if not better than various drugs in terms of safety and efficacy in scientific trials.

01/12/2025

Check out this months' newsletter!

*Farewell Dr Shrawan and Welcome Dr Heather!
*Holiday Hours: We’re here for you 24/7!
*15% OFF Neutraceuticals at Holistic Vets During December!
*Do All Pets Need Flea & Worm Treatment?
*Dr Liza’s Holistic Parasite Control Course
*What to do with baby birds
*Dr Liza’s Vet Tales Excerpt – More Adventures with Wildlife

Our bitter-sweet news at Holistic Vets is that Dr Shrawan, a special and invaluable member of our team for nearly 2 years, is headed off overseas but we are super-excited to welcome Dr Heather, my dear friend and colleague that I graduated with many years ago. Read more below about these 2 very spec...