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Your Vet |
Alternative Vet Care | Resources
What a Ride!
My dogs teach me a LOT!
Wow! The things I've learned about vets, and healthcare for animals
has had a profound impact on my life and has, truly and deeply,
changed the way I take care of them AND myself. Because of Panda's
health issues and all that I went through to resolve them, I am
much more involved and aware of their health and mine. I research,
I question, I argue, and I sometimes don't take advice. It took
me almost a year to find a vet I was comfortable with and who perseveres
with me and my questions, my reluctance to do anything without considering
everything. I'm sure it irks the crap out of her when I insist on
doing my own research, but they are my pups and I love them. I will
never again let a stranger dictate to me what treatments my dogs
will receive, with no explanation and, in hindsight, not very good
reasoning for what has been done.
And now I'm like that with my own health, too. Panda's health problems
really changed my life and my health. And my willingness to consider
every possible alternative, and not just those of conventional vet
medicine, may have saved her life. At the very least, I'm quite
sure she lives a very comfy life because I did my research and went
down that road less traveled.
Your Veterinarian
...holds your pet's life in her hands. Please
make sure you feel comfortable with your vet. Get to know him or
her. Find out if his/her philosophy of care is similar to yours.
And if you don't have a philosophy of care--get one! Do some research
and thinking on your own. DO NOT rely solely on a third-party for
your pet's health. Get involved. Get a clue. Be responsible.
And make sure your vet listens to you. Contrary to
what you might think, you know quite a lot about your pet because
you live with him day after day. Make sure your vet values any insight
you may have and asks for your help in determining a diagnosis.
Ask about side effects for any prescription your
vet may give you. Don't vaccinate a sick dog. Be AWARE.
Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine includes such practices as homeopathy,
herbal remedies, chiropractic, and acupuncture. I'm sure there are
other alternative medicines out there but these are the ones in
which I've taken an interest.
Homeopathy
According to George MacLeod, DVSM, "Homeopathy is a branch
of medicine which states that any substance which can cause symptoms
of illness in man or animal can also be used in the treatment
of any condition showing similar symptoms... Observation of an
animal's behavior and how it reacts to any given situation, to
other animals or people, to noise, etc. will in some measure compensate
for the lack of communication by speech...Homeopathic remedies
are obtained from all natural sources...". (source: Dogs:
Homeopathic Remedies, George MacLeod, The C.W. Daniel Company,
LTD., 1997).
Panda has been through a series of homeopathic remedies in treating
her fear aggression. Sometimes, an immediate change in behavior
is apparent right after a remedy was given. Sometimes not. But
it was amazing to see the differences in her behavior. We continue
homeopathic treatment to this day. If you're interested in learning
more about homeopathy, check out the links in the right column.
Holistic Vets
Holistic vets are DVMs with an emphasis on natural treatment.
Many tend to give fewer antibiotics and prescription medicine.
They also tend to vaccinate less, as vaccines can cause adverse
reactions in dogs (and humans, for that matter).
Acupuncture
Both Panda and Tonka have experienced the joys of acupuncture.
It had positive affects on both of them.
When Tonka started favoring his rear leg while playing, I took
him to our regular vet (who is both an acupuncturist and a practitioner
of Chinese medicine). After one session, he was raring to go--in
fact, when he woke me up at midnight for yet another play session,
I decided that unless he really needed it, he most likely wouldn't
get acupuncture again. I don't need a 4 yr old puppy in the house
who wants to play all night long!
Panda went to see if acupuncture could help her constant fear
and anxiety if confronted with anything new or different. The
sessions greatly improved her attitude but she was so fearful
of the vet after 6-8 weekly sessions that I had to park down the
block and walk her in to the office. We decided that the stress
of going to the vet's outweighed any good the sessions were providing
and stopped.
Animal Communicators
It's like a psychic for animals--kinda. Can it be real? Who knows.
Maybe. Maybe not. But if it makes you feel better, who cares if
it's true? I've been to several--most helped me to see a situation
in a better way and that made me feel better. I didn't bet my
dog's life on the answers. I'll tell you, though, some of the
stuff one communicator relayed was pretty funny and very much
like my little princess pooh and idiot Tonka. Take it with a grain
of salt and have fun!
Resources
Finding a vet who practices alternative
medicine
Homeopathy
Here are some links that might be of help:
Acupuncture
Some links that may be helpful:
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