Natural Pet Care

14/07/2026

What you you think of Jon’s analysis? While agreeing with a good proportion I must beg to differ on some points. All vet clinics are run by individuals who care about their patients and clients almost no one on the ground prentends this.
Corporate structures in vet practice are here to stay the value and cost of modern diagnostic equipment mean practices are not passed on to the next generation of vets as they used to be. No individuals can afford a practice. But the staff on the ground are doing their level best.

Here are the main reasons why we should all object to big businesses being allowed to own multiple veterinary practices:

1. They have dramatically increased the cost of veterinary care.
2. They put their patients through tests and procedures of questionable use or value to make more money.
3. They pretend that they care about the animals they are treating, when really all they care about is profit.
4. They present a misleading image of who and what they are – hiding their real ownership, for example.
5. They sell ultra processed food that has been proven to cause health issues and shorten the animals’ lives.
6. They prevent the vets who work for them from doing what they think is best for their patients (for example, recommending complementary and alternative medicine or a change of diet).

A new White Paper just announced is supposed to put a stop to this – but it won’t. the changes proposed will make no difference. The groups need to be broken up. There should be a limit to how many different practices any individual or company can own. We need to return to a situation where nine out of ten veterinary practices are independent. That’s how it was in 2013. That’s how it should be now.

Jonathan (Self)
Founder
Honey’s

06/06/2026

Thanks to Claire at Imperial Pets for putting this on. Only vaccinate if really needed

🐾 TITRE TESTING RETURNING TO IMPERIAL PETS 🐾

We’re pleased to announce that we now offer titre testing again and will soon be holding another canine titre testing clinic at Imperial Pets on a Saturday afternoon over the coming weeks (date to be confirmed). But now, waiting for clinic dates isn’t the only option….

Titre testing is a blood test used to check whether your dog still has protective antibody levels against core diseases such as distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus, helping owners make informed decisions about unnecessary repeat vaccinations. An option for cats is also available.

🩸 Blood samples taken on site
📧 Results emailed within 24 hours
📍 Held at Imperial Pets, Chester
📥 Sample drop off option available

The clinic will be run by myself, Claire (Registered Veterinary Nurse), alongside Dr Graham Hines MRCVS — an experienced holistic veterinary surgeon with many years of experience in natural and holistic pet care.

More information about Graham and his services can be found at:
www.naturalpetcare.co.uk

We will also be offering an alternative option for owners who cannot attend the clinic, or who require testing between clinic dates. In these cases, your own veterinary practice can take the blood sample, which can then be brought to us for testing.

To purchase the test only option when providing your own sample please click this link and it will give you instructions in the description 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4wRTL4Y

Please note that charges for blood sampling at veterinary practices may vary, so we would recommend contacting your practice directly for pricing. Based on enquiries so far, this may typically cost in the region of £40–£60.

If you are in the Saltney area, or are able to travel there, Ben Jones Veterinary Practice has kindly offered to carry out blood sampling for clients at a competitive price. For further details or to arrange blood sampling with them directly, please contact 📞 01244 629999 - ask for blood sample pricing for an external titre test (as discussed with Imperial Pets).

Please note:
• Samples must be brought to us within 24 hours
• Samples should be refrigerated if they cannot be delivered on the same day

💷 Pricing:

🐶 Imperial Pets Titre Testing Clinic
£75 per dog

🧪 Standalone Titre Test
(Where your own vet takes the blood sample)
£49 per dog

There may also be the possibility of future cat titre testing. However, this would require blood samples to be taken by your own vet, as bringing cats into the store environment for blood sampling would not be appropriate.

🦠 Please note that not all diseases can be tested for and some vaccines are still required depending on your pet’s environmental exposure. The purpose of this is to cease unnecessary vaccinations where immunity can be strongly suggested by antibody presence and to reduce the risk of potential acute vaccine reactions and chronic side effects of over-vaccination.

If this is something you may be interested in, please comment below, send us a message, or ask to join the waiting list so we can gauge interest and prioritise dates.

31/05/2026

Great to see research l8ke this being done, while it does not teach us anything really new about Ashwagada
It explains and demonstrates its power.

This study explored the role of Withania somnifera/Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) on important gut–microbiome parameters in healthy geriatric dogs. The research team hypothesized that ARE might promote a healthy gut by its adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory effects and improve vital parameters for healthy ageing. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Telangana, India. Twelve healthy geriatric Beagle dogs aged 12–15 years were enrolled. The dogs were divided into two groups to receive ARE (15 mg/kg, once daily, orally, for two months) or a placebo control. Various parameters were assessed, including serum haematology, biochemical markers, stool parameters, and gut–microbiome parameters. The results showed erythrocyte counts and haemoglobin levels were significantly increased. Moreover, a significant decrease in important serum liver biomarkers (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase) was observed in the ARE-treated dogs compared to that in the placebo control group. In addition, the levels of L-citrulline were significantly modulated by ARE intervention, whereas the intervention did not affect intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase, lactate, and carbamoyl-phosphate synthase. Interestingly, the faecal score reduced significantly with ARE, while the faecal pH remained unaltered. Compared to the baseline, ARE significantly decreased two microbial metabolites, propionic acid, and total short chain fatty acid levels after 60 days of intervention, whereas butyrate and acetic acid levels remained unchanged in the faecal samples. In summary, these findings suggest that ARE has gut health promoting benefits in healthy geriatric dogs by improving haematological and biochemical profiles; the levels of L-citrulline; propionic acid; and SCFA; thus, reducing age-related changes by modulating the microbiome and the associated metabolites.

01/02/2026

Great article Dr C

CHECK OUT THIS PHD ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ANIMAL FIBRE...

We are all guilty of applying human nutritional research to dogs, because in many areas it absolutley applies. However, in some areas, the application of omnivore principles to a carnivore do not cut the mustard. Plant fibre is one of these areas.

Studies in cheetahs show us that "animal fibre", the more indigestible parts of prey, including hair, hide, fur, feathers, skin, bone collagen, connective tissue, keratin, elastin, bone material, etc, is important / vital to the digestive health of big cats.

Then, in 2024, D’Hooghe verified the same effect in domestic cats. Her PhD was entitled "The feline carnivore and their prey: how important is animal fibre and its structure in their diet?". You can find it online.
www.hdl.handle. net/1854/LU-01J99R153EHD7K5KW4DB76JGZ8

She defines animal fibre as poorly digestible nitrogen-rich tissues (fur, feathers, skin, bone collagen, connective tissue, keratin, elastin, bone material, etc) and evaluates its effects on digestion, fermentation, stool quality, and microbiome activity in the cat.

Her experiments reveal:

1. Animal fibre lowered harmful fermentation metabolites in cats

2. Including animal fibre ingredients resulted in a more beneficial short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) balance in the bat, including a higher acetate : propionate ratio

3. Animal fibre improved stool quality and faecal structure in the cats, increasing faecal bulk, producing firmer, more consistent stools and resulting in reduced stool variability (including less episodes of diarrhoea).

4. Animal fibre resulted in better regulation of gut motility and transit, boosting colonic distension (triggering peristalsis) and normalising passage rate and stool regularity

5. Also, animal fibre promoted a more stable microbial ecosystem consistent with wild-type carnivore microbiomes, likely explaining the lower toxin load and improved fermentation pattern seen in whole-prey feeding models.

6. Finally, D’Hooghe emphasises that animal fibre’s three-dimensional protein-keratin-collagen matrix. The net result is it persists longer in the gut, providing better mechanical stool scaffolding and delivering slower, steadier microbial fermentation.

In this way, D’Hooghe shows us that while animal fibre may appear different to plant fibre (one is made of tough meat protein, the other of tough plant carbs), what matters is not their origin but their function to the digestive health of the animal in question.

If fibre is important because it adds necessary bulk to the stool, stimulating motility, and shaping stool, and if its also "vita" for the gut flora, creating fatty acids etc, then fur, feathers, cartilage, connective tissue, and bone matrix do that just fine, at least in cats.

This is why my fibre talk concludes that fibre should be defined by function, not by source.

And all this is before you consider the proven DOWN SIDES of plant fibre in the diet, including aggravating diseases such as constipation, IBD and bloat, not to mention the fact the dogs / cat's rapid digestive system does not need to be "slowed down" by plant fibre. In fact, studies show plant fibre binds their taurine-conjugated bile, resulting in nutritional deficiencies, not least of all taurine, a major risk factor for DCM in meat eaters.

***
If you like this, you're going to LOVE my FREE 3hr lecture on plant v animal fibre...link in comments!

19/01/2026

Great news more BS are we all reassured?

27/11/2025

Thanks Nick good advice

Get • Not all cooking oils are created equal 🍳🛑
Some boost your health—others fuel inflammation.

✅ Cook with: butter, ghee, tallow, coconut oil, virgin olive oil.
❌ Avoid: sunflower, canola, grapeseed, corn oil & plant-based butter.

Choose smarter fats for better health.

27/11/2025

Thanks Lise great reminder

Researchers in the U.K. researched outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in veterinary practice in a prospective, research-targeted, pilot study.

Practitioners submitted data regularly and punctually, and most data cells were completed. 767 individual patients were treated (547 dogs, 155 cats, 50 horses, 5 rabbits, 4 guinea-pigs, 2 birds, 2 goats, 1 cow, and 1 tortoise). Outcome from two or more homeopathic appointments per patient condition was obtained in 539 cases (79.8% showing improvement, 6.1% deterioration, 11.7% no change; outcome not recorded in 2.4% of follow-ups). Strongly positive outcomes (scores of +2 or +3) were achieved in: arthritis and epilepsy in dogs and, in smaller numbers, in atopic dermatitis, gingivitis and hyperthyroidism in cats.

Source: Mathie RT, Hansen L, Elliott MF et al. Outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in veterinary practice: a prospective, research-targeted, pilot study. Homeopathy 2007; 96 (1):27-34.