Acupuncture in the comfort of your own (dog) bed! (green handle needles in his right carpus- wrist)
Acupuncture for Pets Talk Informative and Energizing
Yours Truli spoke on December 1st at the Patchworks Community Room at Nature’s Food Patch in Clearwater, Florida
“That was so much fun!” said Dr Sandra Truli Springer, VMD, (aka Doc Truli) after her second one hour free talk at Nature’s Food Patch in Clearwater, Florida.
The experienced house call holistic veterinarian presented almost two hours of questions and answer-style interaction about acupuncture for pets.
“We covered a brief history of acupuncture in humans and how animals like horses, pigs, and cows were important to China’s economy and so healing them was a priority,” said Doc Truli. “Then we discussed qi (pronounced “chee”, channels, acupuncture tools and medical conditions that acupuncture treats.”
Acupuncture Gets Murphy Home 2 Days Earlier than Specialists’ Prediction
The Call for a “House Call” Comes In
Thanks for the treat!
“Is this Doc Truli?”
The phone signal was weak, but we could understand each other.
“Yes,” I said.
“My 9 week-old poodle puppy is in the intensive care unit and they are doing everything they can for him. I was wondering if acupuncture would help him,” asked the apricot teacup poodle’s mom. “Can you meet us at the intensive care hospital in 15 minutes?”
“I’ll meet you there,” I said. I hung up, started up the purrs-like-a-kitten (it doesn’t) 1999 faded burgundy Ford Explorer dog truck and headed for the overnight specialty hospital at 9:30 pm on a Saturday night. I am a holistic house call veterinarian. Continue reading “Acupuncture Helps Get This Puppy Home”
[Scene: Sunday morning. Scared, worried mom on the phone.]
The little duck could not walk, but she could eat!
“Dr. Springer, I’m sorry to bother you on Sunday, but Bo-Etta’s hurt real bad. That raccoon got her and it doesn’t look good,” said Jenn, Bo-Etta’s concerned mom.
I could hear the edge of controlled panic in Jenn’s voice. She is not a person to panic or give up. Yet I was worried this might be Bo-Etta’s last day on Earth. Raccoon attacks are no laughing matter; it’s a miracle the little duck survived at all. Well, a miracle named Jenn.
I remembered her love for any and all of her pets (even all the unexpected baby hedgehogs). Bo-Etta was her gentle, sweet white duck. She and her mate lived in Jenn’s yard. The ducks enjoyed picking at worms and bugs in the yard, all the chow they wanted, a fresh clean duck pool every evening, and the company of two awesome chickens and a miniature poodle.
Each evening right before sunset, the ducks waddled over to their hut, up their duck ramp, and into the pool. Then Jenn closed the door for the night to keep them safe from predators, especially the marauding raccoons. Until Saturday night.
“The raccoons changed their schedule. They showed up five minutes early,” said the injured duck’s mom. “He had her by her thigh. I had to wrestle her away from the raccoon. I thought she was going to die. This morning she can’t walk and there’s lots of blood. Can you come over?”
Bo-Etta the Duck’s Injuries
Bo-Etta lay on soft green grass in front of a pile of corn and lettuce and duck feed. Her orange bill pushed as much corn out of her reach as it took in as she gobbled food.
“She’s eating. That’s a sign she’s not in shock or septic,” I said.
Bo-Etta’s right thigh was swollen and after we cleaned some crusted blood away, she had 2 puncture holes in her thigh. She was swollen and bruised, but not broken. Her internal organs escaped damage. She seemed playful and hungry.
“She’s got a chance.”
Duckupuncture
Duck Acupuncture
We gave Bo-Etta antibiotics and painkillers. We cleaned her wounds. She had acupuncture treatments designed to decrease pain and speed healing.
“She cannot move her leg. If we see improvement in nerve function within 72 hours, then we should continue treatment. If not, then…” I said.
Jenn pointed out,”That drake keeps bothering her. I think I’m going to keep her inside at night.”
Bo-Etta Prevails
As Jenn and I set Bo-Etta in her pond 68 hours later, she touched her right webbed foot to the bottom of the kiddie pool duck pond. She kicked off and waved her right leg in the water 3 times as she paddled with her left leg.
“Did you see that?” asked Jenn. “Did I just imagine that?”
“I saw it too, she’s getting better.”
Against great odds, Be-Etta fully recovered from her raccoon misadventure. She and her drake are now retired to The Dancing Goat Farm, far out of the reach of the raccoon’s schemes.
House Calls for Pets are a New Experience for Most People, Here are Some Tru Tips
How do I Book My House Call?
Call 877-DR TRULI or email DrTruli@VetVMD.com to book a house call. You and Dr. Truli decide on a time. Dr. Truli will hear your concerns and start planning your visit based on your needs.
Assistance Holding Your Pet is Available
Most people either hold their pet themselves (Dr. Truli is a good teacher!), or they have a neighbor or friend come to the house to help. Assistance holding is available by special arrangement.
How Long is a House Call?
Initial holistic house calls take 60-90 minutes.
Follow-up visits are usually 45-60 minutes.
Red tabby kitten checks out Doc Truli’s bag
How Much Does the House Call Cost?
The cost is comparable to a hospital visit, however, with a house call, you get more attention for your pet and more consultation time with the doctor. On average, a house call costs $150-300. With diagnostic tests, treatment, and products such as herbal medications, some pets require a budget of $600 or more to diagnose and fully treat their needs. Each situation is unique. After consultation with Dr. Truli, your pet may need extensive services. Dr. Truli is prepared to provide these services and will discuss costs with you before embarking on the diagnostics and treatments.
One wonderful fact about a house call is we are not pressured for time by another pet in a waiting room. Therefore, if your pet has multiple, complex issues that have been addressed in a surface manner, or in a repeated introductory manner with $300-$600 hospital visits, Dr. Truli will look at your pet holistically and move your understanding and ability to help your pet forward on the path to health.
What Can You Really Do In a House Call?
All Outpatient Services
Your house call can take care of blood testing, blood pressure measurements, laboratory testing like fecal analysis, skin exams and skin tests and biopsies on peaceful pets, eye and ear exams, orthopedic exams and much more!
Dr. Truli can help you go through your supplements and pet supplies and use ones that you already have that will work for your pet. The peace of mind alone is worth the visit!
What did you bring me, doc?
Personalized Flea Advice
If you are having trouble with fleas, Dr. Truli can see your environment and figure out how to target your problem and fix it.
Cat Social Drama
If your cats are not happy, but you cannot explain or diagram why, Dr. Truli can just see the layout of the house and the litter boxes, food and water bowls, resources like windows and scratching posts. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but it takes an experienced doctor to see it.
Rundown of the Anatomy of a House Call
We start with some routine paperwork. Most of it you can download and fill out ahead of time. Dr Truli saves some to complete in person (for example: assignment of pet responsibility in emergencies, ICE.) Your pet can investigate and check out the doctor while you talk.
We discuss the problems and goals and hopes for the visit.
Full physical exam.
Discuss how much needed tests and treatments cost. We have the time to address everything in a single house call so your pet can get a paw on the road to health quickly.
Draw blood, take samples needed for testing. Give treatments like acupuncture, injections, tui na massage, physical therapy, etc. Dr. Truli can teach you how to do some of the therapies at home.
Pay with cash, check, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or Amex right there in your home.
We book the recheck right then and there.
How Do I Get Ready for a House Call?
Dr. Truli brings everything you need for the house call, but there are some specific ways you can help.
Keep your phone available in case Dr. Truli needs directions.
Have your pet available. No kidding. Cat extraction procedures and dog catching cost extra! (Kidding, they just stress your pet and make the visit less effective.)
Have a well-lit table or clear area on the floor for big dogs. A sunny room during the day has nice natural light for the physical exam.
A nearby electrical plug is helpful. Dr. Truli brings extra lighting, but may need to plug it in (it has battery back up, but as a back up for the back up it plugs in.) Some pets need to be shaved or need other work done that requires electrical instruments
Make sure any hyper or nosy disruptive pets are kept away from the exam area.
Pay special attention to your environment as scented products can interfere with the physical exam.
Tru Tip
Certain infections, especially in the ears can be identified by scent.
What Happens After the House Call?
If your pet was treated with acupuncture s/he may be tired for a day, and then start feeling better than before the visit. This is a normal energy adjustment response to acupuncture.
Record-Keeping
You will receive your text or email receipt. Your copy of the physical exam notes and plan will come via email.
Another Puppy Succumbs to the Bag!
Pet Concierge Service
If you sign up for Truli Holistic’s secure 24/7 communication application, you will receive your login information and your exam notes will be there, along with any information sheets, diet plans, or other resources discussed in the consult.
You will be invited to Dr. Truli’s online pharmacy with email or texted login information (your choice).
Results
Results from tests may take several days to even several weeks (certain skin and allergy tests and biopsies). You can schedule a recheck and consult, or for simple results like a heart worm test result, Dr. Truli will call you.
If you still have questions or concerns, or wish to book an appointment, please call now to get started.
Dr. Sandra Truli Springer, VMD, CVA, CVFT
Truli Holistic Veterinary Services | House Calls for Your Pets
Trifexis is the most complete dog preventative monthly tablet veterinary medicine has ever seen!
Trifexis
Trifexis is the most complete dog preventative monthly tablet veterinary medicine has ever seen!
Ever heard of it? The fabulous Comfortis (pronouced Come-FOR-tiss) flea pill for dogs combined with the safe and effective milbemycin= Trifexis(pronounced Try-fex-iss). Now you do not have to give Comfortis and a different heart worm prevention! You can just give one monthly product!
Did You Know?
Trifexis active ingredients are Spinosad and Milbemycin.
Trifexis is a once-a-month yummy flavored tablet for dogs that kills fleas and prevents heart worm infection. It also prevents and controls the intestinal worm infections: hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.
Call All Pet Care Hospital and ask or mention the new flea and heart worm pill Trifexis at your next check-up to learn the ideal preventatives for your pet. You will save time and money!
Letter to Our Clients,
The most up to date, progressive parasite prevention products include Trifexis, Revolution feline, Advantage Multi, Advantix, Comfortis, Heartgard Plus, Interceptor & Preventic.
We have decided to phase out supplying the following: Advantage and Frontline.
In our attempts to better serve you, we occasionally find it necessary to re-evaluate which veterinary products best fit with our practice standards.
We would like to stress that the efficacy of these products was not a factor in this decision. Our goal in making this change is simply to improve our ability to provide you with the best service possible. Eliminating the above products will allow us to stay on top of new developments in veterinary medicine by making room for newer products as they come to market.
For those of you who wish to continue using these products, Advantage & Frontline are readily available over the counter at the large pet stores. We will happily approve prescriptions, just give us a call and we will help you set up your own online pharmacy account 877 DR TRULI
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause however we believe that our decision will improve our ability to provide all of our clients with the most up to date progressive veterinary care.
Thank you,
Dr. Springer
Trifexis Warning
If your pet undergoes an off-label treatment, typically used for treatment of demodectic mange, with the drug ivermectin, you must not use spinosad, one of the active ingredients in Trifexis. Serious, and possibly deadly side-effects have been reported from the combination of spinosad and ivermectin.
Many people have been commenting on this website asking about their personal dogs. If you are not a registered client of Dr. Springer aka Doc Truli, we cannot answer medical questions regarding your pet. Please, please, call your family veterinarian for personal advice!
“Not only do they get allergic reactions to pollens, grasses, dust mites and molds, researchers estimate up to 25% of our pet dogs suffer allergies.”
Dogs with Itchy Skin and Runny Eyes
This time of year, in Pinellas County and all over Florida, allergies make dogs itchy and sneezy. The #1 searched article on our website this week deals with dog allergies, and most of our appointments deal with itchy skin, break-outs, runny eyes, and even sneezing.
“I didn’t know dogs get allergies, too,” said one concerned dog dad.
“Not only do they get allergic reactions to pollens, grasses, dust mites and molds, researchers estimate up to 25% of our pet dogs suffer allergies,”says Doc Truli.
“Dentists treat periodontal pockets all the time. In a human, the pocket might be a few millimeters deep… a dog could have a pocket that is 1/4-1/2 an inch, maybe 5 times the size of a human’s problem!”
Clindoral Treats Periodontal Stage 2-3/4 Teeth
Clindoral Saves Teeth
The Problem With Pet Dentistry
Here’s the problem: your dog or cat or ferret has terrible breath. You can see yellow-brown calculus clinging to the teeth. You might even see bright red sore gum lines above the yellow tartar. You feel guilty that you waited so long to take care of the problem. You do not want your pet to loose any teeth. You are not a fan of anesthesia. Not for yourself, not for your children, not for your pet.
Did I get that all right? Pretty close? Yeah, I’m good like that.
So, up until now, your vet has put your pet under anesthesia, cleaned the teeth, and maybe pulled teeth that were hopelessly damaged. That’s fairly standard. News flash: There is no way around the anesthesia requirement for proper, effective tooth care in pets. Continue reading “New Therapy to Save Teeth Without Surgery”
The basic summary is this: isoflurane and sevoflurane (and for humans, desmoflurane) used in the United States annually for anesthesia for human patients causes more damage to the ozone layer than 1 million cars burning gasoline!
What Does Your Pet’s Anesthesia Have to Do With the Ozone Layer?
Okay, you know we recycle, right? Paper, plastic. All Pet Care Animal Hospital reduces waste through “efficient operating procedures.” (In other words: “We don’t waste stuff.”)
Harvey peered at Doc Springer through the mesh in his carrier door. His
cheeks bulged back and forth as he chewed his Timothy hay. His orange
and white ruffled fur stuck out different directions on hs shoulders
and haunches.
Three children watched their 2 1/4 pound pet and nervously offered
their questions.
“The oldest Guinea Pig I’ve known was Einstein. He lived in Maine, USA. I didn’t believe he was nine. But when we calculated the time since the kids met him as their kindergarten class pet and took him home at the end of that school year, well, nine years had passed!” said Doc Springer. Continue reading “Guinea Pig Laser Neuter Surgery”
Everyone howled with laughter. These puppies busted everyone’s expectations.
Dr. Sandra Truli Springer (a.k.a. Doc Truli) at Dogtoberfest, Dunedin, FL, USA 2010
Doc Truli contributed to the Suncoast Animal League Third Annual Dogtoberfest Charity Event 2010 in Highlander Park, Dunedin, FL, USA. Surprisingly, Doc Truli was the only veterinarian on hand at the event to answer pet questions! Our “Ask the Doc” table located next to the food, was a hit! Attendance was estimated at over 3000 people, and I’ll tell you how I know that in a minute. Continue reading ““Ask the Doc” at Dogtoberfest 2010”
