About What We Treat
We have all types of patients and they have varying needs.
Health Maintenance Cases
More and more clients are trying to get started on the right track before their animals are obviously ill. They have discovered, from prior experience, reading, their own health issues or decisions, that this is the direction they want for their animals also. We offer them; well pet visits, general holistic guidance, health maintenance exams, chiropractic adjustments, vaccination guidance and county licenses.
Working Animals
Many of our patients are athletes. We treat horses, ponies and, of course, working dogs. The horses compete in everything from endurance to dressage to jumping or some are now trail riders and some are retired.
Our dogs compete in conformation, obedience, agility, flyball, rally or other sports. We help with their emotional and their physical. The local cases also receive regular chiropractic tune-ups, acupuncture and laser therapy.
We will also, often, see them for injury related issues and need acupuncture, chiropractic and laser therapy.
Chronic Arthritis or Injury-Related Cases
Then we have the more severe back and joint cases. Animals with chronic back, neck, hip or knee issues may require ongoing treatment at regular intervals. Often these have been on other types of therapy like cortisone or NSAIDS and the owners want to reduce their need for these medications OR the medications stop helping as much and people want a better way. These cases can be approached in many different ways. Many respond wonderfully to a balance of homeopathic care and appropriate supplements and nutrition.
When we think of chromic arthritis or joint issues, we usually think of the more hands on therapies like acupuncture, therapeutic laser, chiropractic, moxibustion and supplements. However, homeopathy alone has been very effective in a vast number of these cases and we often have to advise clients or referring veterinarians that do not have local access to a trained homeopath.
Organic Issues
These are the cases that are usually referred or find us through the internet or a friend. The chronic kidney cat or dog, tooth and mouth inflammation (stomatitis), asthma and other lung issues, eye disease, thyroid, autoimmune, cystitis, IBD, neurologic disorders, seizures, pancreatitis, heart disease, liver disease , adrenal issues, diabetes, anemia, allergies, skin conditions and many other issues are all very commonly treated with homeopathic therapy or a combination of homeopathy and other modalities.
These patients are often on prior medication and we DO NOT insist they be off their medication to be treated here. Sometimes we can reduce their need for the drugs, often we can stop the drugs over time or replace them with more natural alternatives. The best result is to help the condition to heal so the drugs are not needed. This is, of course, the ultimate goal but we also realize that this may not always be possible given the animal’s age or other challenges and we do our best to help you find the best course and combination of treatments.
Behavioral Problems
Fears, aggression, reactivity, sensitivity, separation anxiety, Storm Anxiety, Fears, Aggression, Separation Anxiety and other behavior issues are very often treatable with homeopathic therapy, Flower essences, supplements and nutrition
Reproductive Issues and Urinary Issues – Leakage, Cystitis, Stones
Cancer Cases
Many clients start searching the internet after their animal has been diagnosed with some form of cancer. Often it is when conventional therapy has failed or looking for a less drastic alternative to chemotherapy or radiation. We are often asked “have you treated this type of cancer successfully and what are your percentages?” it seems cancer cases are always thought of in percentage success rates. I am sometimes tempted to borrow something one of my many teachers used to say. When asked if he treated cancer his reply was “No, but I treat cases where one of the symptoms is cancer” This may be too fine a distinction for a new client to absorb but there is a perceptual difference when you look at a case this way. It is hard to not think of the tumor as the enemy and the disease itself but, from homeopathic perspective, the tumor is just another symptom, another manifestation of the central imbalance and the failure of the body to regulate itself.
We treat cancer cases in many different ways. If already getting chemo or radiation then we work to keep the body and immune system strong and minimize the side effects. If chemo has been tried and failed then we approach it as a new case and try to get the body to start fighting to slow or reverse the progression through homeopathic, herbal and nutrition. We are familiar with almost every aspect of cancer therapy having been exposed to so many cases over the last 20 years in holistic practice (and 16 years prior to that in conventional practice) that we have familiarity with just about anything out there so far and can give you our honest, straightforward evaluation.
This also applies to those of you faced with this awful situation and not sure how to proceed. We do not try to convince you this is the only way or the right way for every case. We look at your situation, your pathology reports, and your animal to help guide you in making decisions. We can only advise, we will not bully or try to scare you, we approach all our cases with that attitude and have gone through enough worry and sadness (and joy) with our own animals and lives that we can relate.
That, naturally, takes us to the last category, the hospice case.
Potential Hospice Cases
We would love to see animals before they get ill, guide you to help them stay healthy and happy but, unfortunately, we live in an allopathic world and most sick animals come to us having been through all kinds of tests and therapies before they find us as final resort. That is why I say “potential” hospice cases. Our view is that ANY case has the potential to cure or, at least, improve with therapy. Some do not and we provide guidance and counseling to help you determine when it is time to let them go. One of our articles “Time to Say Goodbye” addresses our views and experiences with these cases and, if this is one of the your concerns, you should take a few minutes and read through it.
Conclusion
I hope this give you a better understanding of the types of things we treat (pretty much everything) and how we approach our cases. Since each case and situation is unique, it is difficult to discuss specific therapies for each situation but we have many tools in our tool box and want the opportunity to help you and your animal with our experience and expertise.