Herbal and Homeopathic Vet in North Wales & NW England
Natural Pet Care Holistic Vet
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Natural Pet Care

Vaccicheck Dates

!3th December 2025 at Imperial Pets Dunkirk near Chester\

Next Dates for Titre Testing for dogs in the Chester area

Saturday 13th December 2025

Imperial Pets logo

To book a titre test please contact Imperial Pets to book

Imperial Pets Unit 6, Oakwood Farm Parkgate Rd Chester CH1 6EY
Tel: 01244 880470 Mobile: 07930 051368

https://www.imperial-pets.com/


We are running a small clinic on 13th December 2025 Saturday about 10-12 am

Read more about what a vaccicheck test is on the main web site I will rewrite this this month


Cost £70.00


Sounds Scary: Fear of Fireworks



Sounds Scary Fear of Fireworks and other loud noise

Many many Dogs and Cats are scared stiff by the sound and/or sight of fireworks. Some of similar loud noises such as gunshots, even chopping and hammering in a wee dog I care for can cause massive anxiety. Why I do no know fully but it is a great shame and something I wish I could do more about

Every year in the Pet A & E clinic we get dogs panicked and anxious even getting run over as they run away in fright and are brought in not all recover. I experienced one killed by a train one year, he ran away from an awful bang in fright. Please do not let it be your companion

How can you help your companions 

Follow the advice on nutravet's poster below is a good start

How can we help?

Drugs. Seen perhaps as the last resort but of course can be the most reliable thing the drug Sileo gel revolutionised the treatment of this phobia it simply knocks your dog out for a couple of hours. You cannot go far wrong asking your vet for help.

You can try the following without a veterinary prescription and combine with each other.

Herbs
The herbs I use most (often combined) are Passiflora, Valerian, Scullcap and of course CBD (from cannabis)

Nutravet use Passiflora in Nutracalm – see more below – with GABA and calming B Vitamins. Scullcap and Valerian from Dorset herbs has been used for years with some success in calming the anxious pet See here on Amazon

CBD is a great anxiety reducing herb which in affect we are not allowed to sell or market for dogs the cynic in me thinks it may be big pharma’s pressure on the VMD behind this?

Homeopathic Remedies

I have often used the following with success these are combinations of a handful of homeopathic medicines including Phosphorus which if it fits may be enough on its own

Noise Tonic
, Fireworks from homeopet
Fear of Fireworks remedy



I sell the Noise Tonic and you can get Tom Farrington’s Fireworks from homeport’s website or Amazon


Pheromones and Essential Oils

Pet Remedy is an essential oil spray I have found useful before that we used to recommend pheromones such as those in Adaptil

More important perhaps is a change in


Avoidance and reduced exposure see graphic above

  • Close curtains to hide flashes and reduce the volume of bangs
  • Provide a safe quiet dark space with pheromones or essential oil diffuser
  • Play distracting music / TV
  • Keep your routine normal do not show your stress or excessively console your pet. It can reward the behaviour
  • Do not take or allow pets out when fireworks are expected
  • Read more on the dogs trust site

Desensitisation training in the loner term

So in the long term you should try to reduce the sensitivity of your companion to the noise of fireworks, gun shots or what ever. I recommend you seek the advice of a trained behaviourist or ask your vet but basically the procedure is.

Find a method your pet finds soothing say nutracalm plus a quiet space or den. Use this and then play at gradually increased volumes the noise of fireworks. No rush any sign of fear go back a stage or two. Give praise when he is calm at each stage. Repeat

One recommended CD is Sounds Scary by Sarah Heath and Jon Bowen.

Product information & videos

Read more from Nutravet and here are there Calm supplements…

These are some of our best selling anxiolytics

Nutracalm Capsules for cats and Dogs

The original formulation very successful in calming pets

Nutracalm Chews for dogs
A new easy to administer formation for dogs

Nutracalm for Horses
Yes your donkeys and ponies suffer too and can benefit from the herbs and calming supplements in `nutracalm



Make your own Golden Paste

Make your own Golden Paste

This Recipe is based on the original recipe by Dr Doug English an Aussie Veterinary Surgeon

Please note that some turmeric suppliers have begun to sell “raw” turmeric powder. You’ll know it’s raw if you see that wording on the packaging or their advertising. If the brand you buy is advertised as raw, you will need to extend the cooking time to at least 30 minutes (not the 7-10 minutes mentioned in the recipe). In the past, turmeric has always been cooked in the process of converting it to a powder. Some vendors are now skipping that step in order to appeal to “raw food” practitioners. This is still fine to use, but it does require the longer cooking time to provide sufficient digestibility. Raw turmeric is poorly digested, so little of the active components are available for absorption before it’s excreted.

INGREDIENTS:
• 1/2 cup (125 ml / 60g) turmeric powder
• 1 cup water (250 ml) plus extra water in reserve, if needed
• 1/3 cup (70 ml) coconut oil (use raw, unrefined, cold-pressed)
• OR linseed oil (flaxseed)
• OR olive oil (use virgin / extra virgin)
• 2 – 3 teaspoons freshly cracked (ground) black pepper

Note: the amount of pepper has been increased since May 2016, on Doug English’s recommendations and review of greater success in a large number of cases using the extra pepper. Reduce pepper if you cannot tolerate it. The absorption of turmeric will still be improved by cooking it and adding oil, but it will be less effective without the pepper.

Cracked pepper and ground pepper refer to the same thing. How finely it’s ground is up to the user. If you like to have crunchy bits of pepper in your golden paste, then grind it less finely. If you don’t (and that’s probably most of us), grind it more finely.

RECIPE:
1) Bring the turmeric and water to a boil in a saucepan, then lower heat and simmer until you have a thick paste. This should take about 7-10 minutes and you may need to add the extra water along the way for good consistency.

2) Add the freshly cracked (ground) pepper and oil AFTER cooking, when it has been removed from heat and cooled down (still warm to touch but not burning), about 10 minutes later.

3) Stir in well to mix the oil in everywhere and allow to cool again (if coconut oil is hard, it should melt in the mixture).
Do not use pre-made pepper meal (pre-ground pepper that you buy for pepper shakers). The active ingredient in black pepper (piperine) is oxidised when exposed to the air and also degraded by light, so not much is left in the pre-ground pepper purchased in the store.

Do not add honey or any sweetener. Sugars are not necessary and they provoke inflammation.
The advice for people is:

Try 1/4 of a teaspoon, twice a day (with food and water), and build up to 3 – 4 times a day, for the first 4-5 days.
If you need more effect, increase to 1/2 – 3/4 of a teaspoon 3 – 4 times a day. You don’t need much. Some move on to a full teaspoon for even more effect. See what your body needs and feed small amounts routinely to keep it in your system. As Duggie says: “Little and often is best”.

When adding turmeric to your diet for the first time, if there are any signs of loose stools or upset stomach then you may wish to reduce your serving to 1/8 tsp or so, and remain at a lower amount for a longer period. It will eventually pass and your gut microbiome will soon benefit.

For Dogs and indeed cats the same principles apply : Little and often.

Giving Turmeric Golden Paste To Your Dog
You can add the Golden Paste directly to your dog’s meals by mixing it with some water or kefir. Most dogs don’t mind the taste at all!
• Small dogs and cats should start with about 1/4 teaspoon per day
• Medium dogs can start with 1/2 teaspoon per day
• Large dogs can start with 3/4 teaspoon per day
• Giant dogs can start with 1 teaspoon per day

The suggested dosage to work up to is approximately 30 to 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. An easier way to think about this is 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per day, for every 10kgs of weight (1/2 – 1 tsp for a 20kgs dog). You can do this over a few weeks.

TIP: Turmeric leaves the body quickly, so it’s best to feed smaller amounts a few times a day.

So try making some Golden Paste today and let us know how you get on – post on the our facebook page or forum

Some dogs may smell a little like cat pee after starting Golden Paste. We’re not exactly sure why, but it will eventually go away. One way to eliminate or at least reduce the odor is to add Ceylon cinnamon to the golden paste.
• Add 1 tablespoon to the recipe above, at the end of cooking
• Use Ceylon cinnamon. Do not use cassia cinnamon

The Paste will last 2-3 weeks in the fridge and It can be frozen if you cannot use it all in this time frame

Bone Broth a recipe

Make bone broth
Make bone broth

You have probably heard of bone broth and its benefits, and you might have even purchased it for your dog.
Alexanders Natural make it near to us and there are now a number of suppliers in the UK. Making your own gives you control over the ingredients that you use, which is particularly important if your dog has any food sensitivities or allergies.
Bone broth also provides several essential nutrients, making it yourself can save you money, and it’s easy to make!
To read more about its uses see elsewhere on the website.

Stage 1 simmer

Bone broth has several health benefits for dogs, as it contains collagen, gelatine, minerals, and plenty of protein. It can provide dogs with extra hydration and enhance their appetite. It can also boost their immune system and decrease inflammation.
It’s known to improve gut health and is beneficial for dogs with leaky gut syndrome. It can even detox the liver, provide joint support, and be good for the skin and coat.

Ingredients:
Bones: You’ll need bones, of course. It’s up to you what kind of bones you want to use. If your dog is a big fan of beef, opt for beef bones. You can also throw in a mixture of bones, such as chicken feet, pig’s feet, and beef marrow bones. It’s a good idea to include bones with joints.
Water and (apple*) cider vinegar: To create the broth, you’ll need to cover the bones in water and add a small amount of vinegar with apple cider vinegar being the best option. The vinegar helps extract healthy minerals from the bones and collagen from the connective tissues. (* You could use wine or pear)
Vegetables: Like with the bones, you can add any dog-safe vegetables that you want. Carrots and celery are great options.
Herbs: You can add culinary herbs such as sage, rosemary but use late in the cooking process.

Once the broth has chilled, take it out, skim off the fat layer, and discard. You’ll know that you’ve done a great job if you’re left with a jelly-like substance like that shown above.

Storing

You can store the broth in the pot that you cooked it in or in a container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can also put it in an airtight container and keep it in the freezer for 3 months, Freeze in single meal portions.

Using Bone Broth where when and how

If your dog hasn’t had bone broth before, start them out with a small amount. It is rich in collagen, which can lead to loose stools until they get used to it.

Start with just 1 or 2 tablespoons on their food, and then work up to 2 tablespoons for every 5 kilograms body weight.

When to use

When appetite is lost or after diarrhoea it is an ideal first food for dogs and cats as well
If he suffering from Leaky gut – search the site – chronic recurring diarrhoea perhaps an itchy skin; try some broth (I would also use Cessorex and Adoptrex herbs)

here we go

How can you use it other than sickness
You can freeze it in ice cube trays for hot summer days. Give your dog refrigerated jelly broth by the spoonful.
Warm up the broth, and serve it over your dog’s regular food.
Give your dog a small bowl of bone broth.
If your dog isn’t a big water drinker, add a small dash to their water bowl.

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