Our expert interview this month is with Alan Slater, a homeopathic vet and a great friend of Green Pantry.
Alan has more letters after his name than anyone else we know (yes seriously!)
Alan J Slater BVMS, MRCVS, MSc, MSc, DC, DAC, MMCA, GCC Reg. no 01135, DVetHom, DHM, DipAyu [ln] OSDipCTh, DipLC, BSc[Hons][Psych], BA[Hons][Music], DipMus, DipCBT, CertCK, FBIH
He continues to study and learn and is currently working towards a Diploma as an Ayurveda Practitioner and also doing a GCSE in Sanskrit.
Having been a traditional vet for many years, he is now a practicing homeopathic vet and gives us his expert knowledge about what he does and how homeopathy helps.
What is a homeopathic vet and how did you get into it?
A Homeopathic vet takes a holistic approach and provides whole-body treatments instead of simply treating specific symptoms.
I was a ‘conventional vet’ and came across this and saw how good it was for things that we didn’t have a conventional medicine to help. So, I decided to go and explore more about it and study this further.
We recommend and develop bespoke homeopathic remedies which we put into a solution and give to dogs.
What do you like most about homeopathy?
The best thing about it is the high success rate, making both the animal and therefore the owner happier. It works for humans too!
And one of the other great things is that there no side effects at all to this type of treatment versus traditional medicines.
What are the most common issues you see and deal with every day?
The most common issues I see are gastrointestinal and/or skin problems. The skin issues are usually what brings people in but the gut and the skin are in fact very connected so often the issues are linked.
Lameness or mobility is another very common issue. This is not only as dogs get older but could be for various reasons. I do a lot of preventative work for joints and mobility. It is not only people coming to me when there is something specific to cure.
We do as much preventive work to stop dogs having issues as we do help cure specific issues.
How do I know if my dog would benefit from seeing a homeopathic vet?
Look out for behavioural changes, especially when a happy calm dog becomes belligerent or unwilling to do what it is told. This change in temper could be because they are in pain.
There are also homeopathic remedies to help dogs with temper – be it aggression or anxiety. This has become very true since covid when many pets stopped being socialised. The number of pets on anti-depressants is increasing all the time and there is a more natural alternative.
What are your top tips for pet owners?
Make sure they are doing the correct (age related) exercise and consider including hydrotherapy. A lot of people get a puppy and take it out for long walks which can damage their joints when soft. On the other hand, some dogs are treated more like fur-babies and get no exercise at all as often carried about.
Hydrotherapy is great for dogs as it is very easy on the joints.
Invest time in proper training to help the dog’s emotional intelligence and health. A dog likes to learn and they need teaching. The onus is on the owner to invest time into this and outsourcing it doesn’t have the same results if not done with the owner as it can confuse the dog.
Socialisation with people and other animals is critical. Dogs, like humans, are social creatures and we need it. It is good to mix up where you walk them for example to allow the dog to use all its senses and experience new places and smells, noises, etc..
How does the right food help?
I am a big believe of you are what you eat or GIGO (garbage in / garbage out).
A proper diet with as few additives and preservatives as possible and quality ingredients is really important. People should always read the label and not simply take the ingredients for granted.
People also need to make sure their food is properly stored and looked after. Kibble can go mouldy if not correctly stored.
What are your own favourite pantry ingredients?
Magnesium – A magic ingredient and good for so much!
Devil’s claw – Works wonders for arthritis and joints.
Green lipped mussel – Great for many things including inflammation and skin conditions.
And finally, tell us about your own dog?
We have a Belgian Shepherd called Doris. She was found in a bin during Storm Doris when she was just two days old. We have had her for five years.
