Olivia RudolfThe vet who looks differently
Blog

Understanding what your animal needs.

Honest articles on holistic veterinary medicine, animal communication and life with dogs, cats, horses and small pets — from over 30 years of veterinary practice. No jargon, no promises.

Wildlife10 September 2026

Found a hedgehog: when it needs help — and when you have to leave it be

Not every hedgehog out in daylight is ill. Vet Olivia Rudolf explains the signs that call for action, the weight that matters — and why milk is the worst thing you can give.

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Small pets9 September 2026

Keeping a guinea pig alone: why a quiet animal is not a content one

A single guinea pig makes no noise — and that is exactly what gets misread. Why solitary keeping is not allowed in Switzerland and what the animal actually needs.

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Cat5 September 2026

Tooth resorption in cats: when teeth dissolve from within

Tooth resorption dissolves your cat's teeth from within — painful and almost invisible. How to spot it anyway, explained by a veterinarian.

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Small pets1 September 2026

Rabbit with diarrhoea: when it becomes an emergency

Rabbit with diarrhoea? Why real diarrhoea is an emergency, how it differs from soft droppings and caecotrophs, and when it needs a vet immediately.

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Small pets27 August 2026

Putting a tortoise into hibernation: what matters

Hibernating a tortoise: the right temperature, how much weight loss is normal, and which animal must never go into the fridge at all.

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Dog25 August 2026

Dog body language: reading the quiet signals

Dogs announce almost everything in advance — only quietly. Which signals most people miss, why wagging is not a smile, and when the vet comes first.

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Horse18 August 2026

Coughing in horses: when it is not only the lungs

Coughing in a horse is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Vet Olivia Rudolf explains why the air in the stable works harder than any medicine.

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Small pets11 August 2026

Rabbit not eating: why every hour counts

Rabbit not eating? That is an emergency, not a case for waiting. Vet Olivia Rudolf on the signs, the most common cause and what you can do right now.

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Dog8 August 2026

Arthritis in dogs: what really helps beyond painkillers

Vet Olivia Rudolf on arthritis in dogs: the most effective lever has nothing to do with medication — and what the evidence says about joint supplements.

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Dog4 August 2026

Dog allergies: why the symptom is rarely the cause

Vet Olivia Rudolf explains the three kinds of allergy in dogs, why blood tests for food allergy are worthless — and what actually helps.

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Dog31 July 2026

Dog afraid of fireworks: what really helps on 1 August

Vet Olivia Rudolf explains what really helps with fear of fireworks and thunderstorms — acutely on 1 August and in the long run. Without the myths.

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Animal communication28 July 2026

Animal communication in Switzerland: what it really is

Animal communication explained by a vet: what actually happens, where the limits are, and how to recognise trustworthy support in Switzerland.

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Animal communication21 July 2026

Learning animal communication: five steps to start with

Learning animal communication without the mystical kitsch: five concrete steps from a vet that teach you to read your animal’s signals.

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Cat14 July 2026

Cat not eating and sleeping a lot — what is behind it

Cat not eating and sleeping a lot? What lies behind it, when 24 hours is the limit and when it needs a vet immediately — from a veterinarian.

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Dog7 July 2026

Dog shaking: the most common causes — and what you can do

Your dog is shaking? From cold and stress to pain: the most common causes, the warning signs that mean the vet right now, and what you can do yourself.

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Holistic30 June 2026

Holistic veterinary medicine: when it makes sense — and when it does not

Holistic veterinary medicine explained honestly: what it can do, where conventional medicine stays indispensable — and how the two work best together.

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Animal communication23 June 2026

Animal communication: experiences honestly weighed up

Why experiences with animal communication differ so widely, how to spot a useful account — and what you can realistically expect from a session.

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Animal communication16 June 2026

Is animal communication credible?

What is scientifically proven about animal communication, what is not — and seven warning signs that reveal a dubious offer at once. From a veterinarian.

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Animal communication9 June 2026

How does animal communication work?

A vet explains step by step what really happens in an animal communication session, what is proven about it — and where science does not follow.

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