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What is
Holistic treatment ?

Holistic Medicine is a comprehensive mind and body approach which looks at the whole animal, both physically and emotionally, as well as its lifestyle, history and environment.
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Who Am I ?

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Certified Veterinary and Alternate Veterinary practices.

I am Dr. Dean Hawkins, a Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Certified Veterinary Chiropractor. As the owner and medical director of Hampshire Veterinary Hospital, I have long understood the benefits of both conventional and holistic treatment methods. My professional aim is to provide a veterinary centre where pets can receive effective holistic therapies in conjunction with the treatment and care of their general veterinarian.

I place great importance on the well-being of the pet owner. A sick animal can cause great tension and emotion in the owner. I take great care to ensure that both the animal and its owner are treated with the utmost care and respect.

I have created this website to inform you about holistic veterinary medicine, its benefits and advantages and to provide you with information about the different types of treatment.

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Dean Hawkins

Weekly Timetable

  • Monday
    8:00am–7:00pm
  • Tuesday
    9:00am–6:00pm
  • Wednesday
    9:00am–6:00pm
  • Thursday
    8:00am–7:00pm
  • Friday
    8:00am–7:00pm
  • Saturday
    9:00am–3:00pm
  • Sunday
    Closed

What is Holistic Treatment?

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Certified Veterinary and Alternate Veterinary practices.

Holistic Medicine is a comprehensive mind and body approach which looks at the whole animal, both physically and emotionally, as well as its lifestyle, history and environment. The object is a return to health in as gentle a way as possible without reliance on conventional medicine.

I place great importance on the well-being of the pet owner. A sick animal can cause great tension and emotion in the owner. I take great care to ensure that both the animal and its owner are treated with the utmost care and respect.

Diet is an important part of treatment.

Whilst I am committed to holistic care I also recognise that conventional medicines are sometimes necessary and in these cases I will work alongside conventional treatment to try to improve your pet's quality of life.

I use my clinical experience as a Veterinary Surgeon, trained in both conventional and holistic medicine, to achieve the best approach in each individual case.

I use my clinical experience as a Veterinary Surgeon, trained in both conventional and holistic medicine, to achieve the best approach in each individual case.

Alternate therapies

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What I can offert for you and your companion.

Veterinary Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a gentle and safe healing method suitable for all ages of animals from the newborn through to geriatric. The majority of remedies can be safely used during pregnancy.

Homeopathy is based upon the principle of “like to cure like” – this means a substance known to produce certain signs can be employed in the treatment of conditions that exhibit similar signs.

As an example, Rhus tox is known to produce joint pains that are worse on first movement and are worse for cold and damp. A remedy based upon Rhus tox can be used to alleviate symptoms in arthritic animals whose signs include stiffness when getting up after rest and which are worse in cold and wet weather.

Homeopathic remedies contain very little material substance. The substance undergoes a process of serial dilution and succussion to release the energy and healing potential of the original substance.

Because all remedies are based upon natural substances, the side effects often associated with chemically based drugs can be avoided. Homeopathy is also compatible with other forms of natural medicine and in some cases more than one healing system may be employed. For example, the use of homeopathy and herbs in the treatment of canine and equine Cushing’s disease.

Homeopathy can be used to treat a wide range of animal health problems including :

  • Acute conditions – like bruising / haematomas, burns, diarrhoea or cystitis.
  • Deep seated chronic conditions – a remedy is prescribed on the basis of the animal as a whole, including emotional as well as physical factors and external/environmental factors. Examples of such conditions are chronic liver failure, skin problems, colitis and recurrent cystitis.
  • Behavioural Problems – such as over-grooming in cats, over dominance / aggression disorders, separation anxieties, fear of noise (fireworks).
  • Never Been Well situations following routine operations or vaccination.

I also invite you to consult this website about the veterinary profession and in particular veterinary homeopathy. It is in French, however with Google Translation you will have no trouble reading it.

However, these are only examples and I would be happy to discuss how Veterinary Homeopathy can help in each specific case if appropriate.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the relief of pain or treatment of disease by placement of needles at specific points on the meridian lines which run along the body and limbs. This technique can be used successfully as an alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs, to avoid the side effects associated with drug based treatment, for conditions such as:

  • Arthritis
  • Back pain - Muscular or Spondylosis
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Disc Disease

Needles are fine and flexible and are very well tolerated by most animals. However, in cases where the animal is needle phobic, or acupuncture points are extremely sensitive, the alternative of Laser Acupuncture can be used.

This focuses a low energy laser to stimulate the acupuncture point offering relief with less pain.

Both forms of Acupuncture can be used successfully with other holistic/complementary therapies.

A course of Acupuncture usually consists of 3 to 5 weekly sessions, followed by further sessions at longer intervals e.g. two, three or four weekly.

Chronic problems, such as Arthritis, will require subsequent top up sessions, usually every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain improvement.

Herbal Remedies

Veterinary herbal remedies are composed of the actual plant material either in a dried natural form, tablets or liquids (tinctures).

Different parts of the same plant can have different effects. The dandelion can help either the liver or the kidneys depending on the use of the root or leaves.

It is usual to use more than one herb when treating a disease condition; these herbs will work synergistically as well as supporting more than one organ involved in the disease process.

For example, some geriatric mixes will contain herbs to support the liver, kidneys, joints and heart. A wide spectrum of conditions can be treated, e.g

  • Cushing’s disease in horses and dogs
  • Urinary incontinence in bitches
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Skin problems
  • Behavioural problems

Herbal remedies are usually well tolerated by animals in their food but some herbal remedies are contraindicated in some animal species - especially the cat. Herbal remedies can be used alone or in combination with other treatment regimes like homeopathy and acupuncture.

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Bach Flower Essences

Developed by Dr Edward Bach (1886-1936), an English physician and homeopath. Dr Bach believed that physical illness had an emotional component and that we needed to treat the condition on all levels (Holism).

The body is made up of energy that vibrates at a certain frequency. This frequency changes in disease and can help to give rise to clinical signs. The energy of the body can resonate (interact) with any substance which has the same wavelength. All living organism have their own energy wavelength. These include plants as well as animals.

Dr Bach’s research led him to the conclusion that positive healthy states of mind can be restored by the energies found in flowering plants, trees and bushes - amongst other things. The energy of the plants, trees, etc. are preserved in the remedies and utilised in healing. The resonance phenomenon is utilised in many healing methods, including homeopathy.

Bach flower essences can be used in lots of conditions including:

  • Over-grooming in cats,
  • Jealousy between siblings or other animal members of the family,
  • Over dominance problems / lack of confidence,
  • Separation problems,
  • Fears / shock,
  • Pre-anaesthetic / post-anaesthetic depression and recovery.
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Are You Really Meeting Your Animal's Nutritional Needs?

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"Good nutrition can help to prevent disease."

Our soil and plants are woefully deficient in key nutrients. Scientists theorize that mineral deficiencies subject people and animals to more diseases, aging, sickness and destruction of our physical wellbeing than any other factor in personal health.

Nutritional supplements can help in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of conditions, such as temperament and associated behavioural problems, epilepsy, digestive disorders, skin disorders, bone and joint disorders.

Nutritional supplements are not a replacement for a good quality balanced diet.

Some veterinarians are beginning to recommend to their clients that they supplement their animals diet with a daily dose of the omega 3 6and 9 oils and other nutrients for optimum health and vitality.

A properly functioning body does an amazing job at trying to prevent disease and healing itself, and to do this it requires the energy and nutrients of a well-balanced diet. In terms of finding the proper diet for our companions, this means learning to look beyond our own needs, opinions and agendas to address the natural needs of the animals that we care for.

What Can I Expect?

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Once an appointment has been made, contact your Veterinary Surgeon to obtain all relevant clinical notes.

Consultation duration

  • Regular consultation
    30 min
  • Homeopathic consultation
    60 min
  • Acupuncture session
    45 min
  • Chiropractic session
    35 min

The length of consultation varies from case to case but, as an example, a full Homeopathic Consultation and clinical examination will take approximately an hour. A case history will be taken covering the physical and emotional levels of the animal as well as any relevant lifestyle information and past history. Any genetic tendencies will also be noted. The person who is closest to, or knows most about, the animal should attend the consultation.

Often one consultation is all that is required but for deep seated or complex cases follow up consultations will be necessary, normally of 30 minutes duration.

Acupuncture Sessions take 45 minutes and you will be asked to remain with your pet during the session.

In some cases a remedy can be provided immediately but for most conditions a remedy will be posted to you within a week of the examination.

Most remedies are easy to administer to your pet and full instructions will be provided with the remedy.

I always encourage clients to contact me by telephone and provide regular progress reports during treatment.

I have regular times set aside for telephone calls so you will be able to contact me with progress updates as required.