Holistic Veterinary Care

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Holistic Veterinary Care Offers holistic care for your animals. Providing acupuncture and laser therapy together with western See webiste shelleydoxey.co.uk for full details and contacts

10/10/2026

💩🐶 Faecal transplants for dogs? Yes, really!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to observe one of my patients undergoing a Faecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT).

It might sound a little unusual, but there’s some fascinating science behind it! 🔬

Our dogs’ digestive systems are home to trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome. These microorganisms play important roles in digestion, immune function and overall health.

When this delicate ecosystem becomes disrupted, a condition known as dysbiosis, it can contribute to gastrointestinal problems.

🦠 So what exactly is FMT?

FMT involves transferring carefully prepared faecal material from a healthy, thoroughly screened donor dog into another dog’s gastrointestinal tract.

In this case, it was administered rectally, delivering the donor microorganisms directly into the large intestine.

The aim is to help restore a healthier, more balanced gut microbiome.

🔬 But does it actually work?

Research into FMT in dogs is growing, with some studies showing encouraging improvements in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease, particularly those who haven’t responded fully to conventional treatments.

However, results have been mixed, and more research is needed to understand which patients benefit most and how best to use this treatment.

For me, this is a particularly exciting area of veterinary medicine. Understanding and supporting the gut microbiome is becoming an increasingly important part of my integrative approach to chronic disease.

I’m hoping to be able to offer FMT to suitable patients myself in the future.

Who would have thought that something we usually want to get rid of could potentially have such therapeutic value?! 💩🐾

Had you heard of faecal transplants for dogs before?

I’m currently working my way through further training in integrative oncology, and I’m genuinely so excited about what I...
05/10/2026

I’m currently working my way through further training in integrative oncology, and I’m genuinely so excited about what I’m learning.

Cancer care doesn’t have to be about choosing between conventional medicine and a more holistic approach.

For me, integrative oncology is about asking:

🐾 How can we support the whole patient alongside their cancer treatment?

🐾 Can nutrition be optimised?

🐾 Are there deficiencies or imbalances we can identify and address?

🐾 Can we support gut health, immune function and healthy inflammatory pathways?

🐾 Are there carefully selected supplements, herbs or other supportive therapies that may complement conventional oncology treatment?

🐾 Are there lifestyle or environmental factors worth considering, including potential exposure to environmental toxins?

🐾 And perhaps most importantly, how can we help maintain quality of life for as long as possible?

There is so much emerging research around areas such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, the microbiome, metabolic health, medicinal mushrooms, botanical medicine and environmental exposures, and I’m really enjoying bringing all of this together with my existing veterinary and integrative medicine experience.

This isn’t about replacing chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy or specialist oncology care when they are appropriate.

It’s about building a broader, individualised plan around each patient — looking not only at the cancer itself, but also at nutrition, lifestyle, resilience and the wider environment that patient is living in.

I’m looking forward to being able to offer even more support to dogs and cats living with cancer — and to their families too. 💙 , ,

I’m currently working my way through further higher education training in integrative oncology, and I’m genuinely so exc...
05/10/2026

I’m currently working my way through further higher education training in integrative oncology, and I’m genuinely so excited about what I’m learning.

Cancer care doesn’t have to be about choosing between conventional medicine and a more holistic approach.

For me, integrative oncology is about asking:

🐾 How can we support the whole patient alongside their cancer treatment?

🐾 Can nutrition be optimised?

🐾 Are there deficiencies or imbalances we can identify and address?

🐾 Can we support gut health, immune function and healthy inflammatory pathways?

🐾 Are there carefully selected supplements, herbs or other supportive therapies that may complement conventional oncology treatment?

🐾 Are there lifestyle or environmental factors worth considering, including potential exposure to environmental toxins?

🐾 And perhaps most importantly, how can we help maintain quality of life for as long as possible?

There is so much emerging research around areas such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, the microbiome, metabolic health, medicinal mushrooms, botanical medicine and environmental exposures, and I’m really enjoying bringing all of this together with my existing veterinary and integrative medicine experience.

This isn’t about replacing chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy or specialist oncology care when they are appropriate.

It’s about building a broader, individualised plan around each patient — looking not only at the cancer itself, but also at nutrition, lifestyle, resilience and the wider environment that patient is living in.

I’m looking forward to being able to offer even more support to dogs and cats living with cancer — and to their families too. 💙

Yesterday I spent the day doing something a little different — an animal communication workshop with Pea Horsley.I have ...
20/09/2026

Yesterday I spent the day doing something a little different — an animal communication workshop with Pea Horsley.

I have followed Pea’s work for quite a long time, read her books, completed some of her courses and been part of The Pride community, so it was lovely to finally explore this in more depth.

Those of you who have followed me for a while may remember that I have also completed Level 2 Animal Reiki.

I am very aware that subjects like animal communication sit outside the conventional evidence base that underpins much of veterinary medicine. As a veterinary surgeon, evidence, clinical experience and appropriate diagnostics remain fundamental to the way I care for my patients.

But I also think there is room for curiosity.

One of the things I love about integrative veterinary medicine is that it continually encourages me to think about the whole animal — not simply their disease, but their behaviour, environment, relationships, emotional wellbeing and the bond they share with their family.

I don’t think we have to have all the answers to remain curious about the animals we share our lives with.

Yesterday was very much part of that curiosity, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 🐾

Yesterday the veterinary practice that I work within had its RCVS Practice Standards Scheme assessment 🐾Although Holisti...
18/09/2026

Yesterday the veterinary practice that I work within had its RCVS Practice Standards Scheme assessment 🐾

Although Holistic Veterinary Care is my own service, I see many of my patients from within a larger veterinary practice, where I can combine conventional veterinary care with my integrative work.

One thing I think many pet owners may not realise is that the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme is voluntary. Practices choose to take part and are independently assessed against a wide range of standards covering areas such as clinical care, hygiene, medicines, equipment, emergency arrangements, staff training and clinical governance.

I think this is a really positive thing.

Having external standards to work towards encourages practices to keep reviewing what they do, make sure systems remain safe and effective, and look for ways to continue improving.

It is also something worth looking out for when choosing a veterinary practice. Seeing the RCVS Accredited Practice logo means that the practice has chosen to take part in this additional independent assessment process.

It doesn’t mean that a practice without accreditation is necessarily a poor practice, but it does give pet owners some additional reassurance that recognised standards are being independently reviewed.

So although inspection day can be a little nerve-racking 😅, I think this kind of external assessment is ultimately a very good thing for veterinary teams, patients and their families. 💙🐶🐱

12/09/2026

I spent most of the last 2 days listening live to the DogRisk Evidence Based Canine Nutrition Seminar being held in Helsinki. I great list of speakers with thoughtful and educational talks. Maybe I will make the journey and be there in person next year 🤔

The results are in… and I was pleasantly surprised 🐾A little while ago I shared that I had sent blood samples from my ow...
05/09/2026

The results are in… and I was pleasantly surprised 🐾

A little while ago I shared that I had sent blood samples from my own dogs away to check their Omega-3 Index.

Neither Annie nor Kazi is currently taking an omega-3 supplement, so I was genuinely interested to see what their levels would be from diet alone.

Their results:

🐾 Annie — 5.54%
🐾 Kazi — 6.34%

The laboratory considers 3–8% a desirable range, so both dogs are already sitting nicely within that range.

And for me, this is exactly why testing can be useful.

It would have been very easy to assume that because they aren’t receiving fish oil, they must need an omega-3 supplement. But their blood results suggest that, at the moment, their dietary intake is already giving them a good EPA and DHA status.

Neither dog currently has a diagnosed condition where I would specifically want to use omega-3 at a therapeutic dose.

That is an important distinction.

If, for example, one of them had osteoarthritis, chronic skin disease, kidney disease or another condition where higher EPA and DHA intake may be beneficial, I might still choose to supplement even with a good baseline level.

In that situation, the aim would no longer simply be to correct a deficiency — it would be to use omega-3 therapeutically, at a dose appropriate for that individual dog and their condition.

This is one of the things I love about a more individualised approach to nutrition:

Don’t just assume. Measure when we can, then make decisions based on the individual animal and what we are trying to achieve.

So for these two, with no current clinical reason to push their levels higher, I won’t be rushing to add a high-dose omega-3 supplement simply because it is considered “healthy”.

Their bodies have given us some useful information first. 💙

I’ve had one of those days where a decision feels both exciting and slightly terrifying.This afternoon I met with Dr Ken...
27/08/2026

I’ve had one of those days where a decision feels both exciting and slightly terrifying.

This afternoon I met with Dr Kendra Pope to talk about her Inner Circle mentorship in integrative veterinary medicine and oncology.

It is a significant investment — not just financially, but in time, learning and in deciding where I want my veterinary work to go next.

And I think that is why it feels important.

Over the last few years, my work has gradually moved more and more towards looking at the whole patient: nutrition, gut health, inflammation, herbal medicine, acupuncture, lifestyle, functional testing and how we can support animals alongside conventional veterinary treatment.

The more I learn, the more I realise how much more there is to learn.

This programme would allow me to develop that approach further, particularly in complex chronic disease and cancer care, with more targeted investigations and additional treatment options.

Part of me is thinking, “This is a huge commitment.”

Another part of me is thinking, “Will I regret it if I don’t?”

So tonight I’m doing the sensible thing and sleeping on it.

Whatever I decide, I’m very clear about one thing: this is the direction I want my veterinary work to continue moving in.

There is something very exciting about still discovering new ways to help patients after more than 20 years in practice. 🐾

26/08/2026

Is your dog actually getting enough omega-3? 🐾

We hear a lot about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for our pets — but something I am becoming increasingly interested in is testing rather than guessing.

I’ve just sent blood samples from my own dogs away to have their omega-3 fatty acid levels measured.

Neither of them currently receives an omega-3 supplement, so I’m genuinely fascinated to see what their levels look like from diet alone.

Why are omega-3s important?

The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are involved in regulating inflammation and supporting normal cell function throughout the body.

Research in dogs has particularly looked at their role in:

🐾 Joint health and mobility
🐾 Skin and coat health
🐾 Cardiovascular health
🐾 Kidney health
🐾 Brain and nervous-system function
🐾 Normal immune and inflammatory responses

And an important point: when we talk about these benefits, we are mainly talking about EPA and DHA, rather than simply “omega-3” on a food label.

So why test?

Because knowing what a dog eats doesn’t necessarily tell us what level of these fatty acids they actually have in their body.

Different diets contain very different amounts of EPA and DHA, supplements vary enormously in concentration, and individual requirements may differ.

A blood test can measure the proportion of EPA and DHA within the blood and give us a much clearer picture of a dog’s omega-3 status.

For me, this is where nutritional medicine becomes particularly interesting:

Measure → personalise → supplement if needed → recheck.

Rather than automatically adding supplements to every dog’s diet, testing may help us identify which patients would benefit most and whether the amount we’re giving is actually achieving what we intended.

I’ll share my dogs’ results when they come back — I have absolutely no idea what they’re going to show! 🐶🐶

And depending on what I find, they may be getting a dietary upgrade… 😄

Inflammation is an essential part of the body’s natural defence system. Without it, wounds wouldn’t heal and infections ...
01/08/2026

Inflammation is an essential part of the body’s natural defence system. Without it, wounds wouldn’t heal and infections couldn’t be controlled.

The challenge arises when inflammation becomes persistent or excessive.

Chronic, low-grade inflammation is now recognised as an important contributor to many of the long-term conditions we see in our pets, including arthritis, kidney disease, skin disease, obesity, chronic digestive disorders and many age-related changes.

Inflammation rarely has a single cause. Nutrition, excess body weight, dental disease, chronic stress, reduced mobility, environmental factors and underlying illness can all influence the body’s inflammatory balance.

One of the reasons I love integrative veterinary medicine is that it encourages us to look beyond a diagnosis alone. Alongside conventional veterinary care, we can also consider nutrition, healthy weight, oral health, movement, emotional wellbeing and carefully selected supportive therapies such as acupuncture and herbal medicine.

It’s not about trying to eliminate inflammation completely—it’s about helping the body respond appropriately and creating the best possible environment for long-term health.

🌿 Small changes, made consistently, can have a profound impact over time.

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