This is the letter I wrote to JAVMA (Journal of the American Vet Med Ass.) which they would not publish. I still strongly believe however that every pet owner should be informed, by their veterinarian, about every available treatment option. 

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What follows is an excerpt of an article from a popular pet health site. In it the author discusses the importance of being fully informed when deciding what is best for your pet. My comments (as well as my response to a comment to my comment) can also be read there. Continue…

I wish more pet owners were offered this wonderful treatment option. There are dozens of great reasons to choose it for preventing and treating disease. Here are my top 10:

10) Hundreds Of Years Of Clinical Experience

9) Based On Scientific Framework vs. Conjecture… Continue…

A 6 yr old, male, neutered Weimaraner was treated homeopathically for nasal aspergillosis after failing to respond to two treatments of topical (intranasal) clotrimazole and oral amoxicillin trihydrate/clavulanate potassium. Continue…

Integrative and alternative veterinary practitioners come together in an 18 minute documentary about the need for quality veterinary health care. Continue…

The following is an excerpt from the book, Raising Cats Naturally: How to care for your cat the way nature intended

WHAT THE HECK IS HOMEOPATHY?

Homeopathy is a wonderful healing art that was discovered by Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843) in the late 1700s while he was working as a translator. Hahnemann was a medical doctor and a chemist. Disenchanted by medicine at the time, he stopped practicing medicine and was translating medical texts to support himself and his family. While translating a book by a physiologist named William Cullen, Hahnemann disputed the author’s explanation of how Peruvian bark (cinchona) cured malaria. He did something that was unheard of in his time — he took several doses of Peruvian bark that caused him to develop fever, chills and other symptoms similar to malaria.

Similia Similibus Curentur — “Like Cures Like.” Any substance which can produce a totality of symptoms in a healthy human being can cure that totality of symptoms in a sick human being.

Hahnemann spent the rest of his life developing the healing art he coined “homeopathy” from the Greek words homoios meaning similar and pathos meaning suffering. Homeopathy recognizes the symptoms evidenced by any living being as evidence of the disease and it is these symptoms taken in their totality that will guide the physician to the correct medicine to cure the patient, not just the disease. The totality of the symptoms is an expression of the essence of the disease.

Homeopathy works on a dynamic or energetic level. Hahnemann used the term “vital force” to describe the spirit–like energy force that maintains the life of the individual. Without the vital force, the body dies. When the vital force is in a state of balance, health exists. A cat (or any living creature) with a strong vital force (not to be confused with immune system because they are two different things) will be able to withstand exposure to certain disease stimulants with little disruption. One with a weak vital force, however, will be pushed to a state of imbalance with the slightest provocation.

This may be a difficult concept to understand, but a cat with a strong vital force will express a lot of symptoms when ill (or in a state of imbalance). For example, he may have a high fever and lots of discharge if sick with an upper respiratory infection. A cat with a weak vital force will express few symptoms and they will often be very weak, like a chronic low–grade fever. Obviously, it is much easier treating a cat with a strong vital force because there are often a lot of symptoms to go by. A properly prescribed homeopathic remedy will work with the cat’s vital force to remove the disease state. Treating a cat in this manner works to improve the vital force and because the symptoms are not suppressed the cat’s overall immune system is strengthened as well.

The immune system is an internal force consisting of various components like the skin, nose, mouth, thymus, spleen and lymph system, designed to keep infections organisms out and destroying the ones that get in. If your cat has a competent immune system, he will be able to deal with infectious organisms without needing medicine of any kind. A kitten is born with a weak or undeveloped immune system. As the kitten matures and his immune system is challenged, preferably in a natural manner instead of by using vaccines, he develops natural immunity.

Conventional medicine views symptoms as something that must be crushed, wiped out, and stopped. If a cat has a runny nose or runny eyes, an antihistamine or antibiotic is prescribed; if diarrhea or vomiting is the symptom, anti–diarrhea or anti–vomiting medicine is given; for any inflammation or suspected inflammation occurs, steroids (an anti–inflammatory) are used. With conventional medicine, each symptom is treated using an opposing (or anti) medicine and the symptoms are suppressed, which does not cure the disease and may cause harm to the cat.

Conventional doctors blame disease on pathogens like germs, bacteria or a virus. They do blood tests, cultures or stool tests to find the culprit then they give the disease a name. Homeopathy does not name diseases, the practitioner makes note of symptoms no matter how minor or unusual and it is the symptoms that lead to a cure. People will often ask me what remedy is good for this disease or that disease? There is never one particular remedy for a disease condition. For example, a cat with inflammatory bowel disease would receive a remedy based on the symptoms the cat was expressing, not the inflammatory bowel disease. There are many different remedies for a disease like inflammatory bowel disease — it all depends on the symptoms.

A breeder taking a litter of kittens suffering from an upper respiratory infection into a conventional veterinarian’s office would probably receive the same drug or drugs for all of the kittens. Even if one of the kittens in the litter were not showing symptoms, that kitten would probably receive the same medicine as the sick kittens, “just in case.”

The same kittens taken to see a homeopath would quite possibly receive a different remedy, based on that kitten’s totality of symptoms or symptom picture. The homeopathic remedy prescribed to each individual kitten would take into account the kitten’s particular personality, temperature preference, and food preference as well as the symptoms attributed to the upper respiratory infection. If one of the kittens had soft stool, passed gas or had a cough in addition to the eye and nose symptoms that would be taken into account. Nothing about that kitten would be ignored or thought of as not part of the symptom picture or disturbance. The whole kitten is treated — not just the disease. If there was a kitten in the litter that was not showing symptoms, he would not receive a remedy, “just in case.”

A conventional veterinarian seeing a kitten with upper respiratory symptoms and runny stool would probably culture the kitten’s mucus and stool to define what organism or organisms caused the illness. The upper respiratory symptoms would be treated with one drug and the runny stool with another. Both drugs would be prescribed in an effort to stop the symptoms. Both drugs would probably have their residual side effects as well. The antibiotic would destroy the healthy bacteria in the kitten’s system and if the kitten had runny stool because of some toxin in the kitten’s food, the toxin would not be expelled from the kitten’s body as quickly as it should because the anti–diarrhea medicine would prevent diarrhea.

“The physician’s highest calling, his only calling, is to make sick people healthy — to heal, as it is termed.”
— Samuel Hahnemann

The above paragraph contained in Hahnemann’s Organon of Medicine is the first “rule” of homeopathy. Stop and think here. With the exception of some surgeries, emergency medicine, and antibiotics in the case of some life–threatening bacterial infections, does conventional veterinary medicine ever make sick animals healthy? Or does it merely suppress the symptoms (usually temporarily) or manage the disease?

Does conventional veterinary medicine even know what healthy is? Conventional veterinarians are taught what disease is and how to try to cure it with drugs. If an animal may be exposed to a virus (or even if they may not be exposed), you vaccinate to prevent the animal from getting the virus, or you treat the virus with a drug that will make the symptoms go away. If some part of the animal is causing a problem, like for example impacted anal glands, you remove the offending anal glands. If there is inflammation, you make it go away with steroids. A conventional veterinarian rarely gets to the root of the problem or tries to figure out why the problem is occurring. He looks at the symptoms and prescribes a drug or therapy that will stop the symptoms. On the other side of the coin, does conventional veterinary medicine really know what a sick cat is? Is the cat that runs under the bed whenever company arrives or is licking himself raw sick? The cat with tissue damage is surely sick, but what about the one that bites if he is petted for too long? What most conventional veterinarians do not understand is the cat that is sucking its tail or licking herself raw is sick and tissue damage is on its way. If they could find a way to treat the cat now with something that is not going to suppress the symptoms before the tissue damage occurs, they would be ahead of the game.

Getting to the root of the problem would never happen during a 15–minute office visit. A typical initial appointment with a homeopath may take as long as an hour or two. Do not be scared away by the initial consultation fee for a homeopath. Multiply a conventional veterinarian’s office visit fee by four and see what it comes to. The appointment with a homeopath does not end with the consultation. After it is over, the homeopath begins research to find the right remedy for your cat.

In several places throughout this book I say that I believe commercial cat food causes various feline ailments such as feline urinary tract disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and several others, but that is not quite true. Some cats live their entire lives on cheap store brand dry cat food without ever showing symptoms of disease. They die in their sleep at a ripe old age. There are some people who work at extremely stressful jobs, eat fast food almost every day, get little sleep, smoke and drink and never get sick. These scenarios are not terribly common anymore. That cat that lived to a ripe old age on cheap food probably lived outside, hunted to supplement the dry food and may not have been vaccinated on an annual basis. Cats do not live that way these days. They are indoor couch potatoes who are taken to the veterinarian for medicine for every sneeze or runny eye, vaccinated every year, and fed processed food.

It is the underlying susceptibility or sensitivity to a particular disease process that allows the cat to get sick. Susceptibility to particular diseases passes through the generations. No matter what conventional veterinary reports say, cats are not getting healthier. They are succumbing to serious chronic disease and dying at young ages. Even if they live to old age, what is the quality of their life if they have a chronic disease and receive daily medicine, fluids, and eat a prescription diet? I am not concerned with a 16–year–old cat with failing kidneys. Organs fail with old age — that is normal. I am concerned with an 8–year–old cat that dies from chronic renal failure. There is something wrong with that picture.

“My barn having burned to the ground,
I can now see the moon.”
— Zen haiku

Every single symptom your cat exhibits is there for a reason — it is an express of the disease state your cat is suffering from. It is only by careful observation of these symptoms that you can successfully cure your cat. Sneezing, runny eyes, coughing and fever are good signs of immune response on the part of your cat — especially if it is an acute illness like an upper respiratory infection. A cat that spends weeks or months with a little bit of discharge and a low–grade fever is not showing a strong immune response. Diarrhea and vomiting are an attempt to move the toxin quickly through the system to prevent damage to the vital organs. The body heals through excretions – do not stop this normal process. Stopping these symptoms is done to the detriment of the cat.

Of course you should contact a veterinarian, preferably a holistic veterinarian, if any symptom, especially a high fever, vomiting or diarrhea, persists for longer that a few days.

Miasms

“Miasm” was a term coined by Samuel Hahnemann to explain an underlying tendency to get sick. In lay terms, a miasm is a weakness or susceptibility that leads to disease or illness, often passing through the generations, although not all miasms are inherited. Some are created by drug toxicity or faulty treatment (such as use of steroids) and those caused by infectious miasms (natural diseases). These “created” miasms can also pass through generations.

Today, manmade toxins, such as those contained in the environment and even in commercial pet food need to be included into causes of disease as well as vaccine miasms that are becoming increasingly common in cats. Chronic illnesses that include several factors of causation, stress, natural diseases (infections), drugs, toxins and vaccines, are extremely difficult to cure, even with homeopathy. It needs to be done by an experienced homeopath and it takes a great deal of patience and observation skills on the part of the caregiver.

What you need to remember is disease or illness does not necessarily come from viruses or bacteria, it comes from within the cat. It is an underlying susceptibility to that particular influence. Bacteria and viruses are opportunistic; they go for unhealthy or susceptible creatures.

The disease and the creature are linked on an energy level. A miasm is a weakness in the creature’s vital force that allows an opening to form, letting in the disease.

How do homeopathic remedies work?

In health, your cat goes about his business and everything is great — he is in a state of equilibrium. Then one day, something, whether it is a virus, bacteria, trauma, or toxin, attempts to push your cat’s vital force off balance. Your cat will start to show symptoms of disease — his vital force needs help righting itself. The vital force is unable to cure itself — it needs help. You can do one of two things — you can take your cat to a conventional veterinarian who will examine your cat, maybe perform laboratory tests and give your cat something that is going to make the symptoms go away; or you can take the cat to your homeopath, tell him the symptoms your cat is exhibiting and the homeopath will prescribe a homeopathic remedy that can cause symptoms very similar to those your sick cat is exhibiting.

Remember, the homeopathic remedy you give your cat is working on an energy level, just like the vital force is. You cannot see the vital force working — you can only see the symptoms. The energy of the homeopathic remedy (think of it as an artificial disease) is going to be very similar in action to the energy (or the natural disease) that caused the disturbance in your cat, but it is somewhat stronger. The artificial disease replaces the natural disease and then fades and the vital force takes over again. The difference between treating a cat with homeopathy compared to conventional treatment is with homeopathy the disease state is removed, not the symptoms. When the disease state is removed, the symptoms go along with it.

Sometimes a homeopathic remedy will work quickly. Usually this occurs in an acute case — something that comes on suddenly, often violently, like a sudden fever, vomiting or diarrhea. An acute disease or disorder should resolve quickly with a properly chosen homeopathic remedy. If in an acute disease a remedy does not work rapidly, you have the option of trying a different remedy. With a chronic condition, something that comes on slowly, homeopathy is probably not going work as quickly as conventional medicine. This is where so many people leave homeopathy and go back to conventional medicine. They do not want to wait for a cure. Patience is probably the hardest thing to learn about homeopathy. Caregivers do not want to sit around and watch their cat scratch, ooze mucus or have diarrhea.

“When clouds form in the skies we know that rain will follow but we must not wait for it. Nothing will be achieved by attempting to interfere with the future before the time is ripe. Patience is needed.”
— I Ching

Choosing a competent homeopath is very important. It takes many years of study and practice to become good at prescribing. Improper homeopathic treatment of a case can sometimes cause more damage than conventional medicine because homeopathy works on a deeper (energetic) level than conventional medicine.

I have seen some miraculous cures in my cats by using homeopathy, but rarely does it happen overnight. I see some parallels between Buddhism and homeopathy. In Buddhism suffering is thought of as opportunity. If you can get through the suffering and be aware throughout the process you grow. Everything changes and even if it seems like your cat has suffered for months during homeopathic treatment, it will change, I promise you that. In homeopathy, sometimes the cat will have to suffer a bit longer before a remedy works. It may take several remedies before you see a cure. Covering up the suffering as conventional medicine does with its antibiotics and steroids is not curing the condition. It is sweeping it under the rug. Ultimately, the symptoms will come back, sometimes worse than they were to begin with. There are no quick fixes or magic bullets in life.

When I first discovered homeopathy I wanted to cure the World with this wonderful medicine. I started fostering cats, bringing in more than I could handle at the time. Almost as soon as I acquired a cat I would schedule a homeopathic consultation. While I do not think I ever caused harm to a cat, I probably wasted a lot of money in homeopathic treatment. Usually, the cats that were treated were not exhibiting clear symptoms. You cannot really learn about a cat when you have only known her for a month or two. Without a clear–cut symptom picture, it is difficult to find the right remedy. Again, patience is the key. While you can learn about the cat’s temperament and preferences on a day–to–day basis, often you need to wait for something to cause the cat’s vital force to act. Then you have symptoms to work with. A properly chosen homeopathic remedy used during an acute disease will often cause the animal to exhibit new symptoms that will lead you to a long-term remedy. This is known as the cat’s “constitutional remedy.” The acute disease will help you to discover where the cat’s sensitivities lie, what underlying susceptibilities he has. Wait and watch.

“You can do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm”
— Colette

Because I use homeopathy to treat illnesses in my cats, I have to be extremely diligent and observant in their care. I have to keep my numbers down. There is no way I can care for or treat a large number of cats using these methods. When I had more cats than could comfortably live in the environment I provided, they got sick more often. Cats do not deal well with overcrowding or stress. They seem to be more sensitive to stress than other animals. Cats are highly spiritual creatures and homeopathy works really well with them, but I have to walk a fine line with their care. There are obstacles to cure: poor quality diet, bad hygiene, stress and vaccination. I do not think I would be as successful using homeopathy if they were fed a commercial diet, vaccinated every year and lived in cages or overcrowded conditions. Homeopathy is probably not going to help a person that gets sick after working 60 hours a week at a high stress job, eating a steady diet of fast food and sleeping four hours a night. A cat living in crowded conditions without exposure to sun and fresh air, eating meat flavored cereal and that is vaccinated every year is probably not going to respond to homeopathy either.

Where do homeopathic remedies come from?

Research on the action of homeopathic remedies, called “provings,” are conducted using healthy humans and in some instances by studying accidental poisonings. The term “proving” comes from the German word, prüfen meaning to test. Homeopathic remedies are tested on healthy humans. If there is no other reason to use homeopathy, use it because the medicine is not tested on animals. No laboratory animals suffer through horrible experiments to test homeopathic remedies before they are used on humans. Each subject involved in a proving is asked to keep detailed notes throughout the process. The information obtained from a proving is compiled in the Materia Medica then the information from the Materia Medica is indexed in the Repertory.

Homeopathic remedies are not given in their crude form. That is why very dangerous substances like deadly nightshade, arsenic and snake poisons can be used safety. Use of remedies in their crude form, even if given in very minute amounts or diluted caused illness or aggravations in Hahnemann’s early patients. He wanted to be able to use the more poisonous materials like arsenic or mercury, but he was afraid to test such dangerous substances in order to discover their curative ability. Hahnemann experimented by diluting the substance many thousands of times. Much to his amazement, he discovered the more diluted the remedy, the more powerful and long acting it became. Homeopathic remedies are not simply diluted. Each dilution is vigorously shaken throughout the process (called “succussion”). This dilution and shaking makes the remedy stronger. Conventional potencies are so diluted that there are no detectable molecules of the original substances left. All that is left is the energy or essence of the substance. Homeopathy is an energy healing modality.

A 30c potency is a serial dilution of 1 to 100 made thirty times (1060). A 30c potency is a relatively low potency, with 1M (102,000), 10M (1020,000) and 50M (10100,000) potencies being used in practice today. A 1M potency is far more powerful and long acting than the 30c potency. That is what those numbers (6c, 30c, 200c, 1M) mean on the side of a homeopathic remedy vial. Do not let anyone tell you it is necessary for an aggravation to occur before your cat is cured. Aggravations are not necessary and should be avoided at all costs. A single homeopathic remedy should be given in the lowest potency necessary to cure the patient.

How to Find a Homeopathic Veterinarian

Back when I started using homeopathy with my cats the problem with using a homeopathic vet was finding one. There were not too many practicing homeopathic vets.

Today, it seems that everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. I am not surprised. It happened with raw diet and natural medicine (herbs and supplements). Do an Internet search for raw diet, BARF (an acronym for “bones and raw food” or “biologically appropriate food”), or natural health for animals and you will find web page after web page selling products. All these combinations and concoctions, all to help your dog or cat get over whatever ails them. Many of them are nothing more than empty promises of quick fixes — and are no better than conventional medicine.

If you go looking for a natural remedy for a skin condition, you will find hundreds. Remedies, even if they are natural, can suppress just like conventional medicine.

There are seminars available for veterinarians to learn homeopathy. A conventionally trained veterinarian cannot become a homeopathic veterinarian after taking a few seminars on veterinary homeopathy. It does not happen that quickly. They have to change their whole manner of thinking to become good homeopaths. This process takes many years of careful study. When looking for a homeopathic veterinarian, keep a few things in mind and ask questions. Interview the homeopathic veterinarian before you put your money down.

Look for a homeopathic veterinarian that practices 75–100 percent homeopathy. Nothing less will do. If the homeopathic veterinarian practices Chinese medicine, acupuncture and homeopathy, he is not specialized enough. He needs to focus close to 100 percent on homeopathy. A good place to start is on–line at The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy or by telephone at 866–652–1590.

It is usually not a good idea to mix healing modalities. You probably should not use acupuncture and homeopathy at the same time. They both use energy to heal and may counteract each other. If you are using herbs and homeopathy and your cat improves, you will not know what actually worked, the homeopathy or the herbs. It is best to keep it simple and use one type of healing at a time. This does not mean you cannot make an herbal tea to bathe your cat’s eyes and nose if he has a cold. Use of herbs on the surface is usually not going to confuse things. You should avoid giving herbs or even extra nutritional supplements orally while using homeopathy. It could confuse the symptom picture.

You do not have to go to the vet. If you can find one that meets the qualifications I have laid out below in your own state, great! You may not be able to. Many homeopathic veterinarians do telephone consultations. Some states may have legislation pending preventing telephone consultations with out of state veterinarians. You may need to check into this. Prior to a telephone consultation, you can have your animal’s records sent to the homeopathic vet. You should send a picture of your cat as well.

Find a homeopathic veterinarian that has been in practice for more than a few years and one that has taken human courses. For example the Devon School for Homeopathy offers a wonderful correspondence course. Many good homeopathic veterinarians have studied with human homeopaths. Homeopathy works the same for humans as it does for animals. It’s the principles of homeopathy that are important, not what you are healing.

You will want to ask the homeopathic veterinarian if he or she believes aggravations are necessary. Although they may occur and should be very mild, aggravations are not necessary to heal. Ask the veterinarian if he has read the Organon and what edition he practices by (it should be the 5th or 6th edition). If the veterinarian has not read or does not know what the Organon is, he is not a homeopathic vet. Ask the veterinarian when he last read the entire Organon. The Organon, written by Samuel Hahnemann, is considered the “bible” of homeopathy. The Organon explains exactly how homeopathy should be practiced. A good practitioner reads the entire Organon at least once a year.

Keep in mind you will probably have to wait to get an appointment with a good homeopathic veterinarian. If you are thinking of using one, find one now and make the appointment so the veterinarian will have a record of you so that if you really need him in a crisis, he’ll be available.

Finally, read up on homeopathy. Have some idea of how it works. If you question something, then ask the vet. Communication and observation are imperative when you are using homeopathy. You need to watch and make note of everything, no matter how minor. Keeping a journal is an excellent idea.

The most important thing you need to know is homeopathy is not going to act immediately, or at least it shouldn’t unless you are working with an acute case. It should work slowly. Slower the better — patience is the key.

Buying Homeopathic Remedies

You can buy homeopathic remedies individually at most health food stores. That can run into a lot of money if you are going to be using homeopathy on a regular basis. I have the Washington 30c kit that is a set of 50 remedies in 30c potency that costs about $80.00. This kit is worth its weight in gold. You can purchase this kit directly from Washington Homeopathy or by calling (800) 336-1695. You can also purchase it from Homeopathy Overnight or by calling 1-800-276-4223. Both Washington and Homeopathy Overnight carry single remedies. Natural Health Supply or by telephone (888) 689-1608, carries LM remedies, amber bottles and vials suitable for preparing LM homeopathic remedies, as well as single remedies and kits. For more obscure remedies or nosodes, Hahnemann Pharmacy (888) 427-6422 With whatever remedy you purchase, ask for the #20 pellets. The small #20 pellets are easier to administer to cats because it is more difficult for them to spit out the tiny pellets. If you have to use the larger pellets, it is usually best to crush them between two clean spoons and then administer the powder.

I almost always use the 30c potency in my cats. It seems to be the potency that works without causing aggravations. With the 30c, especially in an acute illness or disturbance, I can switch remedies after 12 to 24 hours if it does not work. It’s always best to err on the side of caution and use low potencies. Try to not to give remedies too frequently, give the remedy time to work. Patience and understanding of the principles of homeopathy are paramount.

How to Administer a Homeopathic Remedy

I love using homeopathy on my cats because it is so easy to administer remedies. I have a few cats that are notoriously difficult to pill. I could not imagine having to administer medicine once or twice a day to these cats! I am so glad I discovered homeopathy!

Homeopathic remedies should not be given within 30 minutes of your cat having food in his mouth. You should not mix homeopathic remedies with any food except milk or cream. If your cat likes milk or cream, you can dissolve a few pellets in a clean glass saucer of milk or cream. Let your cat drink the milk or cream. He does not drink all of it in order for the remedy to work.

If your cat will not drink milk or cream, pour a few pellets, no more than three or four, into the cap of the remedy vial. Do not touch the pellets, the oils in your skin can contaminate a remedy. Gently open the cat’s mouth and toss the pellets in. If you are using a remedy that is in the larger pellets, you may need to crush them into a powder between two clean spoons. I have found cats spit out the larger pellets. If it is in a powder or the tiny pellets, they usually cannot spit them all out. Even if only one pellet got in the cat’s mouth, that is all you need. If any drop on the floor, throw them away.

The same potency usually should not be administered more than once. If you need to give the remedy again, you should use the liquid method of dosing which changes the potency of the remedy ever so slightly. Dissolve one 30c pellet in a sterilized glass jar, or better yet, an amber vial (see resources) containing four ounces of spring water or distilled water. Put the cover on the jar strike it against the palm of your hand (brace your arm against your waist) five times. You can also put a towel on a countertop as a pad and strike the jar against the countertop. Draw off one spoonful of the water from the jar and stir it into a clean glass containing another four ounces of spring or distilled water. Stir the water in the second glass about ten times. Then give your cat a spoonful of the liquid from the second glass. You can use a glass eyedropper or stir the liquid into a bit of cream or milk. The liquid method of dosing is very gentle and often works better the dry dosing in sensitive subjects. Now comes the hard part. You wait for the remedy to work and watch for new symptoms.

The above is an excerpt from the book, Raising Cats Naturally: How to care for your cat the way nature intended

©2003-Michelle T. Bernard, all rights reserved 

Order this wonderful book at Lulu.com

 One of the questions most frequently asked at the weekly online holistic animal care chat I used to run was, “What is holistic?” I think that’s a definition you should get from your veterinarian before deciding if he or she is “holistic” or not.

Some vets truly are interested in finding less harmful alternatives to conventional medical treatments, and I applaud them. Some have realized that acupuncture is effective in controlling pain and inflammation, without the side effects of steroids. Good for them! Some have come to believe that there’s no good reason to give annual vaccinations, and I think that’s great.

But it doesn’t make them holistic, no matter what they call themselves.

Some vets have been trained in veterinary homeopathy, maybe even well-trained. They may have studied acupuncture and nutrition, may know a great deal about herbs, remedies, diet. When a cat comes in with a hot spot, they know just what herb or salve or remedy to use to make it go away. When someone wants to help their hyper dog, they can always find the acupuncture point that soothes him.

But none of that makes them holistic, either.

Holism is a different way of seeing, and I’ve known allopaths who were more “holistic” than some of the holistic practitioners I’ve met. If you are peddling suppression, practicing allopathic medicine using homeopathic remedies, and looking for a “substitute” for cortisone, you are not thinking holistically.

Thinking holistically is not so much about the substances they prescribe, but the way they see your animal. Do they look at the WHOLE animal, at the mind, body, spirit, genetics, environment? Or do they just lunge for a “fix” for the complaint that brought you in?

Some vets, who have come out of a longtime allopathic practice and have become disillusioned, are very holistic in their thinking. They experienced a real “conversion” of the way they perceive sickness, health, and the life force. Others came into veterinary medicine with holistic stars in their eyes, and have always practiced that way. But there are a fair amount of vets out there who advertise themselves as “holistic” who really aren’t, and there are a lot of folks getting very disillusioned with those vets.

The best way to find a vet, holistic or not, is to ask your friends for recommendations, and buy 15 minutes of this vet’s time for an interview. (Sometimes I bring a dog in for something like a heartworm test or blood panel, just to get something concrete for my investment. However, I have also just paid for a 15 minute appointment, brought no animals, and spent the time interviewing the vet about his or her attitudes and beliefs and practices.)

For those of us looking for a holistic vet, this process should include questions about what “holistic” means to them, how they became involved with holistic medicine, what training they have had, how long they have been practicing holistic veterinary medicine, and perhaps what some of their experiences with it, both good and bad, have been. Try hard during this process not to talk too much yourself; some people will unconsciously try and please you with their answers, and you are looking for what this vet really thinks, not what they think you think.

I frequently refer people to the page on “Obtaining a Referral to a Holistic Veterinarian” at www.naturalholistic.com, or the AltVetMed website when they are looking for a holistic vet, but that must be only a FIRST step. Ask the vet for references, try and interview them, and try and work with them on simple problems before dumping your twelve-year-old with cancer on them. Badly practiced holistic medicine does more harm than well-practiced allopathy, in my opinion, and should be avoided like the proverbial plague. (Nothing does as much harm, in my book, as poorly practiced allopathy, of which there is a frightening amount out there.)

It might seem harsh, but it’s true nonetheless: caveat emptor is the motto of the marketplace, even when that marketplace is holistic veterinary medicine: Let the buyer beware.

Copyright 1999 by Christie Keith

Finally there’s a better way to keep your pet healthy for many years. Look through the holistic binoculars to see what’s really needed. Form a healing team with you in control.
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This is an excerpt from Dr. Chambreau’s wonderful Healthy Animals Journal.  Journaling for your pet provides invaluable information for your veterinary homeopath. Continue…

There are many ways to treat cancer including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Among these, surgery is the oldest and most commonly used form of therapy. Continue…

I am writing this at five in the morning. For years, this has been the hour I get into my office and begin my work. I am armed with my computers, phone, fax, files and several walls of books, old and new, which I have painstakingly collected over the years. I generally put in long hours in this office learning as much as I can about cancer treatment. Some people consider me a bit obsessed with the topic. But I want to be able to share accurate information with cancer patients and their families…and that takes study.

My work has often taken me away from my home and family, as I travel frequently to investigate new treatments around the United States, Europe, Mexico and elsewhere. I have visited dozens of physicians, clinics, hospitals and labs to meet innovative doctors and to interview their patients. I evaluate their data firsthand. I also try to make time every work day to do a phone consultation with a cancer patient and his or her family about their own individual circumstances.

What motivates me to keep up such a rigorous schedule after thirty years in the field? What keeps me charged up and vitally engaged with my work? Simply put, it’s hope. There are no ‘magic bullets’ for cancer. But I have seen dramatic improvement in the lives of some my clients and subscribers. This certainly keeps me very hopeful and determined to make an even greater contribution to the cancer research world. I hope to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families as they deal with the many difficulties presented by this disease, including some insensitive doctors and intrusive insurance companies.

What exactly is cancer? What is its relationship to normal biological functions? These questions fascinate me. The last time I saw Nobel laureate Linus Pauling, he said that what kept him going was reading the top scientific journals and keeping up with the latest findings. And he was past 90 at the time. I understand that passion.

Please Read More From Dr. Moss:
 

NB: As readers of my site and clients already know, I advise exploring all treatment options.  Especially in cases of serious and potentially fatal sickness.  Dr. Moss provides a wonderful service.  Please peruse his site or call him for a personalized consultation.–Dr. Jeff

Please note: The information provided here is meant to supplement that provided by your veterinarian. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of information at this site. Nothing can replace a complete history and physical examination performed by your veterinarian. -Dr. Jeff

What Should I Know About Declawing Cats?

• Why Are Claws Important to a Cat?
• Why Do Cats Scratch?
• What Is Declawing?
• What Risks Are Associated With Declawing?
• What Are the Alternatives to Declawing?

BEFORE HAVING YOUR PET DECLAWED, READ THIS ARTICLE TOO: Above all, don’t declaw.

Why Are Claws Important to a Cat?

A cat’s remarkable grace, agility, and sense of balance are in part due to its retractable claws, which allow it to establish footing for walking, running, springing, climbing or stretching. A cat’s claws are also its best defense mechanism.

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Why Do Cats Scratch?

The outer part of a cat’s claws regularly becomes frayed. When the cat scratches, it pulls off this outer part and exposes sharp, smooth claws. Scratching is also a way of fulfilling a cat’s strong instinctive need to mark its territory. Not only do cats mark objects visibly by scratching them, but the scratching deposits secretions from glands in the feet that can be smelled by other cats. Scratching can also provide valuable stretching and foot exercise.

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What Is Declawing?

The standard declawing procedure calls for the removal of the claw and the first bone of the toe. The operation is usually performed on the front feet, and is actually an amputation comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. The cat experiences pain in the recovery and healing process.

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What Risks Are Associated With Declawing?

Medical Risks: . An incorrectly positioned cut during declawing surgery can remove too much of the toe, taking with it part or all of the toe’s pad. But if the whole claw is not removed, misshapen claws can grow back. In addition, if a bone fragment is left at the surgery site, it may become a source of infection. Both claw regrowth and infection necessitate additional surgery. Post surgical blood loss is another concern, but great care must be taken that bandages wrapped tightly to control bleeding do not cut off circulation.

Safety Risks: A declawed cat must never be allowed outdoors; its ability to defend itself or escape from danger has been seriously impaired.

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What Are the Alternatives to Declawing?

Introduce a scratching post. Buy or make a scratching post that’s tall enough so the cat can stretch completely when scratching, and stable enough so it won’t wobble when being used. It should be covered with a heavy, rough fiber like the back side of carpeting. Make the post a fun place to be by placing toys on or around it, or by rubbing it with catnip, and put it in an accessible area. If you’re trying to discourage the cat from scratching a particular piece of furniture, try placing the post in front of it, gradually moving the post aside as the cat begins to use it regularly.

Train with a dual approach: encourage the cat to claw the right things, discourage him from clawing the wrong things. Each time you bring the cat to the scratching post or he goes on his own, praise him, pet him, and spend a minute playing at the post. If the cat begins to scratch where he isn’t supposed to, call him by name, firmly telling him “no”, and move him to the scratching post. Put his front legs up on the post and make scratching motions with them. Or keep a spray bottle filled with plain water handy and squirt him on the back when he claws the furnishings. The favorite household scratching area can be made less attractive by attaching tape that is sticky on both sides or a piece of cotton scented with bath oil to the area.

Keep the cat’s nails trimmed. Cutting the nails regularly may help keep a cat from scratching furnishings, or at least reduce the damage done by his scratching. Get your kitten used to having his feet handled and his nails clipped while he’s young. With an older cat, it may help to begin by handling the cat’s feet under pleasurable circumstances. Then introduce the clipping procedure by approaching the cat while he’s relaxed – or even napping- and clip only one nail per session. Praise your cat while you clip the nail, and reward him with a treat.

If you’re in doubt about what the proper nail length looks like, watch your veterinarian trim the nails. The only equipment necessary is a good pair of nail clippers. Never use scissors, since they can tear the nail.

Slide the blade onto the nail you will be trimming. Before cutting, look for the pink “quick” that runs down the center of the nail. The clipper blade should be about 1/8″ forward of the quick, and the nail clipped with one smooth squeezing action of the clippers.

Be extremely careful not to cut into the quick. If this happens, the cat will experience pain, and bleeding is likely. The bleeding may stop without assistance, or you may need to hold a soft cloth on the nail or apply a little styptic powder. If you trim a small amount of nail every couple of weeks, the quick will tend to recede.

Copyright © and reproduced courtesy of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Humane Education Society. For more information, contact Beth Shapiro, MSPCA/AHES Publications Department, 350 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130; (617) 541-5107