Holistic, Integrative & Functional medicine house calls for Tampa Bay pets.
Email DrTruli@VetVMD.com or Text (813) 714-7863
Dr. Sandra Truli Springer, VMD, MS-TCVM, CVA, CVFT, CVTP, CVCH, CTCVMP, CTPEP, CVMMP
Veterinary Medical Doctor, University of Pennsylvania Ivy-League.
Master of Science- Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.
Acupuncturist, Food Therapist,Tui-na (medical massage), Herbalist, Veterinary Medical Manipulation Practitioner.
Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncturists.
Human Animal Bond Certified.
Founding Member of the Nutrition Innovation Council.
Big doggy smile during acupuncture!
Food Allergy Elimination Diets Can be Tricky
As anyone who has suspected their dog has a food allergy can attest, we wish there were accurate saliva or blood tests to make the food allergy diagnosis easy. However, the interpretation of these tests is unreliable. Saliva or blood tests for food allergies may not be as helpful as we would like.
The gold standard for dog food allergy testing is an allergy elimination diet. You can learn a step-by-step allergy elimination protocol here.
5 Common reasons a “perfect” dog food allergy elimination diet trial fails
The usual reasons a food allergy elimination trial fails:
- lack of committment from everyone in the family
- food falling from the table, especially with little kids in the house
- dog steals cat food. or kitty “snax” out of the litter pan or the garden
- medication or supplements with unsuspected allergens, like “real beef flavor”
- neighbors/friends giving biscuits you do not know about
An unusual reason a dog food allergy elimination diet had to be restarted from the beginning
My friend Benji
Let me introduce Benji. Benji is a much beloved mixed breed long-haired blonde. He has every attention and care that a devoted human can provide. Three weeks into his eight week dog food allergy elimination trial diet, Dr Truli received a text unlike any other.
“Omg Benji ate a piece of styrofoam”
“He ate a whole one of these pieces”
Omg my dog ate a foam packing peanut
Doc Truli advised Benji’s mom to apply water to the foam packing peanut and see if it melted. It did!
The Good News and the Bad News
Good news: not a foreign body obstruction.
Bad news: possible break in Benji’s dog food allergy elimination diet.
Turns out, these packing peanuts are made of planet-friendly starch. They melt in water and do not add to landfills or waste disposal problems.
However, the starch comes usually from sorghum or from corn. We suspected Benji is allergic to corn! This little “snack” of packing material was a violation of Benji’s dog food allergy elimination diet protocol. We had to restart his 8-12 week “clean” diet in case the packing material was made of a starch that triggered his allergies.
Doc Truli Learned Yet Another Way a Dog Food Allergy Elimination Diet Can be Messed-Up
Turns out, environmentally-friendly packing peanuts can ruin a dog food allergy elimination trial! Let’s keep those packing “peanuts” away from your allergic dog.
Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Benji and his person Liz for the learning experience, beautiful pictures and permission to share this story. -Doc Truli September 1, 2021, Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. To schedule an appointment email DrTruli@VetVMD.com.
Dogs and Cats are Great in a House Call
It’s the Kids That Need Some Guidance
Happy Puppy in a holistic vet house call
Dr Truli can teach you how pain management can benefit your pet
Massage Therapy & E-stim acupuncture for a Yorkie
The International Academy of Veterinary Pain Management is an organization of health care practitioners including, veterinarians, medical doctors, veterinary technicians, and other licensed health care practitioners who have committed to practice, study and research non-human (animals’) pain management from an allopathic, rehabilitation and/or acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine basis.
How Does Excellent Pain Management Help My Pet?
You would think this answer was obvious, wouldn’t you? We do not want any of our family members to be in pain- especially our animal family. We design and manage our pets’ lifestyles, including their food, exercise and entertainment. We could argue we have a special responsibility to be mindful and considerate when planning for our pets’ comfort and enjoyment.
Creative and forward-thinking pain management can help in ways we cannot intuit. For example, can we help our pets digest better and enjoy their food if they are not in pain? Can we help them live longer, need less surgeries, feel less itchy? Absolutely. If our pets are happy and energetic and relaxed, are we healthier and more relaxed? Absolutely. Attention to your pets’ happiness and health makes your whole family- pets and people- healthier.
What is New or Interesting About Pain Management?
Doc Truli perform Tui-na massage on Senior Boston Terrier
We can prescribe allopathic medications – like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers. We can prescribe herbal formulas. We can use electromagnetic devices like the Assisi Loop. We can perform hands on therapies like massage, laser treatment, acupuncture, osteopathy, medical manipulation (like chiropractic adjustments in humans.) We can ensure modern anesthetic protocols that minimize pain.
But what is new and interesting is the new specialty of palliative care medicine and the relatively new study of rehabilitation and physical therapy techniques for pets. The application of functional neurology, nutritional response testing and tui-na (pronounced twee-nah) medical massage for the benefit of our animal friends and companions is exciting and meaningful work. Your pet can benefit from these sciences and technologies, whether they are new or ancient.
Does My Pet Have to Be in Pain to Benefit from Pain Management?
This Olde English Bulldogge is a prime candidate for pain recognition training because she is rambunctious.
No! They do not.
You can learn pain management concepts and techniques to identify when and if your pet is in pain. You can learn how to manage small injuries and oops! to prevent chronic pain or weakening of knees, shoulders, hips and back. You can learn healthy lifestyle choices to keep your pet out of pain like what to feed, what to supplement and how to train for maximum fun and minimum injury. Your trusted neighborhood veterinary team should be available to help teach you and check in with you so you can manage your pets’ lifestyle for optimum pain avoidance.
Text (813) 714-7863 and share your name, number, email, address, pet’s name, and urgency of situation to request to become a client or for more information.
Commercial pet foods pulled due to FDA Aflatoxin concerns
Dutch Shepherds & a Black German Shepherd gather around before dinner.
If your pet feels sick, remember to provide your veterinarian with a complete history of what your pet eats. Symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, yellow in the whites of the eyes, and/or diarrhea may be aflatoxin poisoning. In severe cases, aflatoxin poisoning can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms.
Some experts believe the aflatoxin is an especially worrisome for our pets who may be fed the same food consistently compared to our human families that eat a variety of foods. Please check out the list of recalled foods and the excellent summary article on the FDA’s website. Complete list here
Now May Be a Good Time to upgrade Your Pet’s Nutrition
Switching pet foods or even switching to organic, holistic-type brands does not mean you will avoid aflatoxin, salmonella, e coli, listeriosis, or the most common source of pet food recalls, hypervitaminosis D. You must think beyond the can and the box or bag. Your pet may be a candidate for home cooking. Check out BalanceIT to design healthy balanced meals for your normal, adult healthy dog or cat. Schedule a check up with your veterinarian to determine that your pet is indeed, as healthy as you think. If you already know your pet is not 100%, your veterinarian can help by designing a meal plan for you or by facilitating a nutrition specialist consultation. If your veterinarian is unfamiliar with this service, you might introduce them to some resources such as The American Association of Veterinary Nutritionists.
Dr. Truli provides veterinary nutrition services for clients in the Tampa Bay Florida area
If you live in Tampa Bay Florida, or can travel here with your pet, Dr. Truli can consult directly with you to design a delicious, balanced meal plan strategy. Email DrTruli@VetVMD.com to schedule an appointment anytime!
Professional Guidance for Canine Yeast Dermatitis
My poor itchy legs!
You know the smell. That yeasty, warm, sickly smell coming from your dog’s head or skin or their bed? The skin is red or bright pink. It is dry with flakes and itches like crazy. You have gone to the veterinarian 4-6 times in the past 2 years and you are frustrated with the money spent and the lack of results. You are researching holistic vets on the internet to find relief for your dog. You desperately need professional veterinary guidance.
Here’s What Goes Wrong with Chronic Dog Skin Infections
Which one are you?
Best Arthritis Treatments for Dogs
We want our dogs to play and swim for many years
Veterinary Orthopedic Exam at 16 Weeks Old
We need to keep our dogs limber and playful into old age. How do we do this? For starters, your veterinarian can examine your puppy carefully for any signs of pain. Puppies should not have pain. If your puppy shows pain or if your puppy has a “cute, weird, quirky, unique way of sitting, standing, walking, or running, you should be highly suspicious that your puppy needs intervention to stay as healthy as possible. Most osteoarthritis in dogs starts with hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. These are abnormalities of the shape and function of the elbows and hips that puppies may be born with. If they are detected in a very young puppy, there are several interventions to help them grow better and have less pain when they are older.
Puppies should not have pain. And a puppy who “sits quirky” or has other unique ways of moving may be compensating for elbow or hip dysplasia,” says Doc Truli.
Puppies Need to Slow Growth to Decrease Osteoarthritis When They are Older
Keep your puppies growing slowly, or they may suffocate their friends
Most importantly, puppies need to grow slowly. A dog expected to be over 44 pounds fully grown should eat large breed puppy food. They should absolutely not be fed adult food or be changed to adult food too early. Why? Because carbohydrates feed rapid growth and the adult food is proportionally less protein and more carbohydrates. Grain-free does not mean carbohydrate free. Novel carbohydrates like potatoes, chick peas, quinoa and green peas fill in for the grains to reach the carbohydrate requirements of the food. These still promote rapid growth and need to be a minimal proportion of the puppy food.
Dogs Have Less Arthritis When Walked 60 Minutes a Day
Dogs who had 60 minutes or more of exercise a day had less osteoarthritis problems than dogs with 20 minutes or less exercise a day. 2 nice 30 minute walks every day with a human companion is relaxing and healthy.
Ask your veterinary team if you need help designing a healthy exercise schedule that is not too much or too little. If your dog is arthritic, your veterinarian may be able to refer you for a consultation with veterinarian certified in Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. They have cavalettis and underwater treadmills and massage therapists and protocols for cookie-inspired stretch routines you can do at home.
Skinny Dogs Feel Better
Dogs will beg for food even when they are not hungry.
Dogs who have their meals portion controlled and are not allowed to become fat will have less arthritis problems than they otherwise would have had. And getting fat and then losing weight still means they deteriorate their cartilage during the fat months and years! Better to keep them lean their whole lives. Your veterinarian can teach you how.
Canine Osteoarthritis Newsletter Fall 2020
Dr Truli provides in home consultations and therapy to the Tampa Bay, Florida area. She can provide exams, physical therapy plans, acupuncture, laser therapy, herbal medicine, Rx medicines, blood work including a neat osteoarthritis screening panel. Dr Truli partners with local specialists for Sports Rehab. Orthopedic Surgery, and Neurology.
What Most Pet Parents Learn About Fish Oil Supplements
Let’s assume you are providing healthy daily amounts of omega fats for your dog or cat. You did your research. You know that there are lots of supplements on the market that contain ethyl esther forms of the omega fatty acids which are cheap substitute chemicals.
Tru Tip
Easy test: If you take a fatty acid supplement oil or take oil out of a capsule and let it sit in a styrofoam cup for about 15 minutes, if it is ethyl esters form, which you do not want, it will eat a hole in the cup.
You know that you can feed oily fish like mackerel, sardines and anchovies to provide omega 3’s without using a supplement. Or cooked egg yolks a few times a week. You know that heavy metals in the oceans such as mercury accumulate in the muscles and tissues of apex predators like salmon and other large, long-lived fish. You purchase only from trusted sources that have heavy metal tested the fish oil or you purchase krill or New Zealand perna mussel supplements. You may even have researched seaweed sources of omega fats and you wonder if you can keep your dog vegan or vegetarian with the rest of the family. (You can for DHA and shiny coat. You cannot if you want anti-inflammatory effects of omegas.)
More In Depth Fish Oil Supplementation Information
You may even be a veterinary technician, veterinarian, or pet parent who knows that their dog or cat needs at least 180 mg of EPA per 10 pounds (US) body weight to provide anti-inflammatory doses of EPA. And you know cats cannot convert plant sources of omega 3’s like flax and borage seed into any anti-inflammatory molecules in their body. You may even know that dogs covert only 2% of plant omegas into useful anti-inflammatory factors. You do your homework.
What Most Pet Parents Do Not Know About Fish Oil Supplementation
We Cannot Logic an Answer About How Much Omega Supplementation Your Pet Needs
Did you know that each individual dog or cat can vary wildly even from litter mates fed the same diet in their omega fatty acids composition of their red blood cell membranes? Did you know measuring the omega fats in the red blood cell membranes is considered the standard for measurement and it is a highly technical procedure fraught with opportunity for poor quality test results?
Valid, Accurate, Affordable, Simple Omega Fatty Acid Testing Now Available
Dr Truli now offers Omega Fatty Acids testing for her cat and dog patients. It takes 1-2 drops of blood and the laboratory is the premier human grade testing company, OmegaQuant. Recent research results (2017-present) have delineated arachidonic acid (AA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ratio levels that demand higher omega-3 supplementation or feeding to reach therapeutic benefits. Sometimes a pet needs four times the label dose of omega 3’s to feel the benefits for their hips, knees, joints, heart and kidneys!
Why Test?
Why not just give more omegas? The biggest reason is that omega fats can accumulate in the body to toxic levels. Too much is not better. Another reason is they may be difficult to digest for some pets. And of course, good quality supplements are not inexpensive. Testing and knowing saves money.
Why Not Just Give More Omega Fats to My Pet?
- Too much may be toxic
- Difficult to digest
- Expensive
Dr Truli can help registered patients with testing, protocols and options for effective, environmentally sound, and safest omega supplements to provide your fur family. Testing may be incorporated into discounted annual blood work packages, added on to Essential Vitamins D3, B6, B12 Testing, or run by itself. Contact Dr Truli today to find out how to schedule an appointment about omega-3 benefits and how to get your pet started off on the right paw.
Phone/Text 813-714-7863
Email: DrTruli@VetVMD.com
Further Reading:
If you are just starting learning the basics: Tufts University Petfoodology
Basic Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Pets
Beneficial Effects on Kidneys when dogs are fed diets high in omega-3’s
Peer-reviewed research about omega-3 levels needed to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in dogs:
Increasing blood omega-3 levels helps relieve arthritis symptoms in older dogs
From the Desk of Dr Truli,
In this time of change and contemplation, I offer guidance and assistance. Veterinary medicine is an essential service. As an essential service provider, let me outline several ways I keep you and your family safe while helping your pets with their medical needs. Keep in mind I am an experienced surgeon trained in sterile technique and experienced in biosecurity practices.
As you know, private house call service is uniquely controllable. I am healthy and I am in contact only with my husband and my house call clients. We have no vet team to protect or to cause an inadvertent breach in Covid-19 susceptibility. If you are healthy and have not traveled in 20 days or been in contact with someone who has, and your pet is ill or in discomfort, we can reasonably provide house call medical services.
I have options if you are practicing 6-feet social distancing with absolutely everyone, as many people are. I can meet your dog outside your home and they can have an exam and acupuncture on your lanai or other outdoor space. The dogs really enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while getting their treatments!
The other in-person option is I bring your pet to my SUV and perform their exam and medical care in my vehicle. This is a little unsettling for some cats and a few dogs, but still more relaxing than hospital care. Most medium and large dogs love it and cooperate just fine.
Many heath issues can be resolved with a combination of remote and in-person care. We can schedule videos, pictures, and teleconferencing and if I can confidently diagnose the issue remotely, I can have medicine or herbals delivered to you.
As always, I am delivering supplements, medications or herbals to your door if it is a better option than by mail.
I can provide referrals for specialty care. Current waiting lists for many specialty services are clocking in at 3 to 4 weeks! Be advised I provide in-depth care such as ophthalmology, dermatology, orthopedic and neurological examinations. As a licensed veterinarian, I can access the critical care specialists on your behalf and fast-track your pet’s wait time in an emergency.
I’m committed to meeting your needs while keeping communities safe. More than ever, I believe in supporting health through partnership with Western Medicine, plant-based Medicine and whole food-based solutions.
Yours in health,
Doc Truli
Dr Sandra Truli Springer, VMD, MS-TCVM, CVA, CVFT, CVTP, CVCH, CTCVMP, CTPEP
From the Desk of Dr Truli
March 19 2020~Spring Equinox
We are healthy and here for you and your family! For appointments, telemedicine, or refills, please contact me any time of day or night. Texting is best. Email is great. Phone calls will be returned as soon as possible when you leave a message.
Text (813) 714-7863
Email DrTruli@VetVMD.com
Call 813-714-7863 or toll-free (877) 378-7854
It is my honor to serve and assist you in the health care of your family. Recently, I have received a few inquiries with regards to the safety and availability of house call services and products due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and I would like to keep you informed about my precautions and preventive measures at this time. I have assembled the following information to help ease any confusion or stress you may be feeling and to help with alternative options if you need special accommodations.
Regarding Veterinary Medicine and Continuing to provide services:
* Veterinary medicine is designated an essential service.
* I follow all CDC recommended guidelines to prevent illness for myself or others.
* I ask that clients with respiratory symptoms, travel within the last 20 days or contact with ill persons call, text or email me to discuss appropriate alternative consultation and care.
* Short-notice cancellations are encouraged if needed to protect our community.
* My family is healthy. If I or my family exhibit any symptoms, I will notify you as soon as possible and provide telemedicine or facilitate referral for care for your pets.
* Telemedicine consultations are readily available for all my registered clients. Whenever possible, we can develop a plan and provide refills or products that are needed to ensure continuity of care.
* I am accepting your referrals for new clients on a case by case basis.
Regarding dogs and corona virus infection:
* No cases of dogs infected with the novel virus have been documented world-wide. Dogs may carry corona-virus on their body and you should minimize your dog’s exposure to unknown people and yourself if you are symptomatic.
* My preferred reference laboratory, industry-leader Idexx Laboratories has developed a Coronavirus-Covid-19 specific assay for testing dogs should the need arise.
Regarding supply of medicines & herbal formulas:
* I have been in close communication with my suppliers, Jing tang herbal, Standard process, veterinary distributors and Covetrus-Vet’s First Choice. In addition, I am monitoring the FDA physician’s pharmaceutical availability list and anticipate minimal or no disruptions in medication availability.
* The herbal medicines I prescribe are drop-shipped from Jing Ting Herbal in Reddick, Florida. Here is the news from Reddick:
* We have fortunately stocked a high volume of herbal ingredients and items, so product availability has been minimally impacted and you may continue ordering from Jing Tang for what you need as usual.
*We are in constant communication with our manufacturing partners and ingredient vendors; so far, there is no sign that there will be any large-scale supply shortage.
*We will be relocating to Jing Tang’s new production facility in Ocala next week. This is a state-of-art, cGMP compliant production facility with over 30,000 square feet, and is equipped with top-of-the-line machinery. It was designed and built with the goal of satisfying the growing demands from veterinarians all over the world
Regarding Shipping and Receiving Packages:
COVID-19 is generally thought to be most often spread through respiratory droplets, according to the CDC’s website: “because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
As always, if you have questions, please contact me any time of day or night. Texting is best. Email is great. Phone calls will be returned as soon as possible, just leave a message.
Text (813) 714-7863
Email DrTruli@VetVMD.com
Call 813-714-7863 or toll-free (877) 378-7854
I’m committed to meeting your needs while keeping our community safe. More than ever, I believe in supporting health through partnership with Western Medicine, plant-based Medicine and whole food-based solutions.
Yours in health,
Dr Truli
Dr Sandra Truli Springer, VMD, MS-TCVM, CVA, CVFT, CVTP, CVCH, CTCVMP, CTPEP
Waiting for Dinner
Taking Some of the Worry Out of Home-Cooking
I am starving!
If you cook for your dog or think you would like to, you are likely concerned about the responsibility to provide the necessary and balanced nutrients your dog needs.
“I help my clients provide wholesome real food for their dogs every day. It is the majority of my veterinary practice,” says Doc Truli.
You need a checklist of resources to assure wholesome balanced food for your dog. read more…
