Ranges Veterinary Rehabilitation

11/09/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟭𝟰-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆?

A recent JAVMA study looked at 129 cats aged ≥12 years that their owners reported as being in good health or clinically stable.

Here are some of the findings:

𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: 82 of 82 cats with teeth examined (100%) had dental disease. 40 of these 82 cats had moderate to severe disease.

𝗢𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: 63 of 81 cats (77.8%) had orthopedic disease.

𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀: 75 of 81 cats (92.6%) had some degree of muscle loss. At the same time, 39 of 83 cats (47.0%) were overconditioned, showing why body condition score alone may not reveal loss of lean muscle mass.

𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝘆𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 54 of 128 cats (42.2%) met the study's criteria for findings consistent with feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome. None had previously been reported to have FCDS.

The diagnostic testing was also revealing.

𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: Of the 104 cats that could be staged using available blood and urine data, 80 (77%) had findings consistent with CKD. Of those 80 cats, 49 (61.3%) were newly identified.

𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Of the 125 cats that had blood pressure measurements, 56 (44.8%) met the study's definition of hypertension. Of those 56 cats, 54 (96.4%) were newly recognized, and 30 (53.6%) had severe hypertension (≥180 mm Hg).

𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺: Of the 127 cats with total T4 measurements, 17 (13.4%) had concentrations above the reference interval. Of those 17 cats, 11 (64.7%) were newly diagnosed.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:

Owners often didn't notice the changes associated with disease.

Among the 45 cats with CKD and available owner questionnaire data, 34 (75.6%) had no owner-reported change in urination.

Thirst was even harder for owners to recognize: only 1 of 78 owners reported increased water intake.

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲?

A cat appearing normal at home does not necessarily mean there is no clinically important disease.

The authors support a proactive, prioritized approach to senior feline screening. When a complete diagnostic workup isn't feasible, they identified several particularly informative assessments:

• Thorough physical examination
• Urine specific gravity
• Renal parameters
• Total T4
• Blood pressure

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: The study included two cohorts: 46 cats enrolled in 2022–2023 and 83 cats enrolled in 2024. The 2024 cohort underwent more detailed physical examinations and owner questionnaires, while diagnostic testing was performed across much of the overall study population. As a result, the denominator varies depending on the assessment being reported.

Study cited in the comments:

10/09/2026

07/07/2026

The K9 HipLign™ is the first-to-market wearable therapy to mitigate canine hip dysplasia symptoms and to delay the onset of symptoms if used early by at-risk breeds. It is both an affordable, non-invasive alternative as well as an adjunct to other forms of hip dysplasia treatments, including surgery, medication and physical therapy/rehabilitation.

The garment does not constrict movement as braces do and is not a compression device. Instead, it is comprised of a form-fitting, 4-way stretch material which provides sensory input through the dog's trunk as it stands and moves, promoting more correct posture. In addition, there are four elastic straps that provide a balanced resistance to the muscles surrounding the dog's core and hips, which will over time help to build musculature. This, in turn, can help provide more dynamic stability to the hips, which may reduce friction and pain associated with hip dysplasia.

The K9 HipLign™ is an innovative solution to a common, universal problem.

03/07/2026

A ten-year-old female neutered Parson Russell Terrier presented with chronic anxiety-driven behaviours, including separation anxiety, fear aggression, noise phobia, nocturnal obsessive licking and destructive behaviours. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine assessment led to a diagnosis of Heart Yin and Blood deficiency with Empty Heat disturbing the Shen, alongside Liver Qi stagnation with secondary Heat. Over the course of three acupuncture treatments, the anxiety, fear aggression, and compulsive behaviours decreased. This is consistent with emerging clinical and neurophysiological evidence, highlighting acupuncture’s value in managing chronic anxiety-driven behavioural disorders in dogs.

You can read this in-depth case report here:https://civtedu.org/documents/gsWLTppgn695oPmI8njK.pdf

Learn about our Veterinary Acupuncture courses here:
https://civtedu.org/courses/acupuncture

03/06/2026

Horse rescue suggestions needed please! 🐴

Can anyone help me find a good horse rescue that might like a giant pile of horsey treasures?

I used to be guardian to 9 horses (yes… I may have had a mild equine collecting problem 😅), but these days I’m down to 2 much-loved golden oldies. They have everything they need, however my shed appears to have become a museum of horse ownership past.

I have rugs, halters, boots, saddles, stirrup leathers, fly masks, bibs… basically an alarming amount of “horse stuff”.

I tried selling it, but apparently horse gear now has the resale value of old Tupperware — which is totally fine! So I’d much rather donate it to somewhere that can genuinely use it.

Gear ranges from roughly 13.2hh pony size to 16.2hh horse.

Would love recommendations for a rescue, sanctuary, pony club, riding for the disabled, foster network — honestly, open to anything where it’ll be appreciated and put to good use ❤️🐎

15/05/2026

🐾 Not All Liver Is Nutritionally Equivalent

When it comes to homemade and fresh feeding, liver is often treated as a “one size fits all” ingredient.

But nutritionally, different species of liver have meaningfully different strengths.

That matters because liver is one of the most nutrient-dense components in the entire diet, and it plays a major role in supplying key micronutrients like vitamin A, B12, folate, copper, and iron.

Choosing which liver to use is not random, it’s strategic.

Below is a breakdown of the most commonly used liver types in fresh feeding and what each one brings to the bowl.

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🐄 Beef / Calf Liver

Rich, robust, and one of the most nutrient-dense options.

Key strengths:
✔️ Very high in copper
✔️ Extremely rich in vitamin A
✔️ Excellent source of B12
✔️ Strong iron content

Best used for: Supporting copper status, iron intake, and foundational micronutrient density in balanced formulations.

👉 This is often the “workhorse” liver in many diets, but also the easiest to oversupply if not balanced correctly.

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🐔 Chicken Liver

Milder and often more versatile in formulation.

Key strengths:
✔️ Higher folate content
✔️ Lower copper than beef liver
✔️ Highly bioavailable folate and B vitamins
✔️ Very palatable for picky eaters

Best used for: Gentler rotation, balancing copper-heavy diets, and supporting folate and B-vitamin intake.

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🦃 Turkey Liver

An underused but valuable poultry liver option.

Key strengths:
✔️ Good selenium contribution
✔️ B-vitamin rich
✔️ Moderate iron content
✔️ Solid vitamin A profile

Best used for: Adding antioxidant support (selenium) and rotational variety in poultry-based diets.

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🐖 Pork Liver

Often overlooked, but nutritionally distinct.
Key strengths:

✔️ Extremely high in B1 (thiamine)
✔️ Strong overall B-vitamin profile
✔️ Good iron and folate contribution

Best used for: Supporting energy metabolism and adding B-vitamin diversity to recipes.

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🐑 Lamb & 🐐 Goat Liver

Richer red meat liver profile with excellent mineral density.

Key strengths:
✔️ High in iron and B12
✔️ Good trace mineral diversity
✔️ Highly palatable for many dogs

Best used for: Iron support, red-meat rotation, and novel protein variety.

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🐇 Rabbit Liver

A lean, gentle option often used in sensitive diets.

Key strengths:
✔️ Moderate vitamin A
✔️ Lean nutrient profile
✔️ Novel protein source

Best used for: Elimination diets, food sensitivities, and rotational diversity in sensitive dogs.

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🌟 Bonus Liver Options

🦌 Venison Liver
Typically rich in iron and B vitamins with excellent palatability for many dogs.
Often used in:
▪️Novel protein diets
▪️Rotational feeding
▪️Sensitive dogs needing red meat alternatives

🦆 Duck Liver
A richer poultry liver option with strong vitamin A and iron contribution.
Often used in:
▪️Rotational variety
▪️Higher-calorie diets
▪️Dogs that tolerate duck better than chicken

🦬 Bison Liver
Nutritionally similar to beef liver, but often leaner and used in alternative red meat rotations.
Often used in:
▪️Novel protein approaches
▪️Red meat diversity
▪️Rotational feeding strategies

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🧠
Each liver has its own nutritional fingerprint.
Some are richer in copper.
Some emphasize folate or selenium.
Others bring stronger B-vitamin or iron profiles.

This is why rotational use of liver (when appropriate) can help broaden micronutrient diversity in homemade diets.

⚖️ Important Note
Liver is incredibly nutrient-dense...and also easy to oversupply if not carefully balanced within a complete formulation.

More is not better‼️

Balance always matters more than any single ingredient.

📌
Think of liver not as one ingredient, but as a category of nutrient tools.

Different tools. Different strengths. Same purpose:
👉 supporting a complete, biologically appropriate diet.

— The Holistic Canine 🐾 theholisticcanine.us

NRC balanced meals at home:
👉 Fresh feeding, explained—finally.
"Fresh-Food Feeding Explained" eBook
Available on our website❗️
https://theholisticcanine.us/ebook/

15/05/2026

Cutie!!