Companion Animals and their Health
Increasingly companion pets are being diagnosed with the same illnesses that their human owners are struggling with. This is not without reason. Our environmental stresses and the commercial foods we buy for them affects their health as seriously as the food we buy for ourselves can affect our own health. The pet foods offered through the commercial pet food industry is every bit as devalued of nutrition if not worse that the commercial foods offered to their human owners. Pet food products freequently use ingredients not recommended for human consumption and other raw materials not fit for consumption by anyone, two or four footed. One only needs to remember the Mad Cow scare, how the feed had been manipulated. Our pets therefore are falling pray to the same illnesses as their human owners; allergies, diabetes, kidney problems, arthritis, lethargy, heart and liver problems, cancer, anxiety, fearfulness and other illnesses at an increasing rate. These are health problems that were rarely seen 2-3 decades ago, certainly not on the scale they are now. If you are interested in finding out more about this problems check out books and resources at the end of this page.More information on Food for Comapnion Animals. Click here
If you are concerned with the health of your four footed companion, give me a call, I will be happy to talk with you. I will be happy to work with you if we can, but I want you to inform your veterinarian and am happy to talk with him/her about any concerns. Here are some of the animal I have helped in the past.
Bodil has worked all her life with animals she has owned, from birds and, fish, through dogs, cats, rabbits and snakes. She has a special fondness for the many wonderful animals she has come to know and an immense respect for the power of nature. Bodil wants to point out that she is a Nationally certified and Resigtered Herbalist, not a replacement for a licensed veterinarian, but she is always willing to consult with you
For other animals Bodil Has worked with, see below
Schatzie a 3 year old Australian Border Collie female is an engaging young dog, much loved by her human family, an older couple. Schatzie had been diagnosed with periodic blood in the urine. Sometimes there were microscopy traces, sometimes a pink tinge was visible, when she would get excited and piddled on the floor. She had been seen by her veterinarian and when the initial treatments were unsuccessful, she was seen by a professor of veterinary medicine. Tests showed one kidney to be significantly reduced in size, the other was suspected not to be functioning fully either. The owners had been told to enjoy their dog fully, but most likely she would have to be put down at some point.
I was asked to consult on her and see what I might be able to suggest. We worked with her for a couple of months and nothing seemed to help completely. I was also concerned by the effects of the slow bleeding on her blood count and so changed her diet. Sometimes days would go by with no blood, then wham, there it would be again. I consulted with several other practitioners and we finally came up with a new tack. We put Schatzie on a herbal pill form often used for chronic UTI's and more chronic urinary inflammations in humans. At first nothing happened and after another couple of months the owners stopped the treatments all together . Then several months later, the owners called and said that for a long time now, there had been no traces of blood. The problem had completely disappeared. It was great news.
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Hazelnut is 13 years old. She is diabetic, blind and has a mild case of hind leg neuropathy. But the most vexing thing for this sweet cat was a deep, ulcerating sore on one of her thighs. She had been tested for any number of pathogens and been treated with various antibiotics for weeks on end to no avail. The owner called and asked if I could do something for her, he was so very fond of her and I said I would try hard. The fortunate things with herbs, also Chinese herbs is that increasingly they are tested against a number of pathogenic organisms and can be very useful also where antibiotics no longer seem to make any difference. I see this in my practice again and again, other practitioners do as well.
I put her on a veterinary pro biotic to strengthen her gut flora and created a herbal mix to be taken internally and also used as a topical wash with herbs in it to protect her digestion. The owner was also to keep a compress on the sore for a while to keep it moist, so the skin would not dry over and lock the infection inside. She was to be treated twice a day. It didn't resolve over night, it took a few weeks, but in time the sore healed from inside and today 4 months later, she is her old self again.
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Sheeba was an older female German shepherd. When she was 10 years old, she was diagnosed with rectal cancer. The owner's brother was a veterinary doctor and he said the cancer was spreading fairly rapidly, in fact it was inoperable and therefore no heroic measures were started. The family was understandably very upset, the children especially. The problem that had arisen during this early phaze was that Sheeba was loosing bladder control especially when she became excited and it was a problem keeping diapers on her. The owner called me and asked could I possibly do something for them. After a little research I found a formula that I felt would work and the vet gave his OK. I also changed her diet. The vet's view was that if it worked, great, but he wasn't particularly optimistic or with much belief in it. In any event within a week the dog started slowly gaining some control over the bladder and after 2 weeks she was no longer piddling everywhere. The family was able to enjoy her fully during the last 2 months of her life.
Resources:
Books
Foods Pets Die for, by Ann N Martin by New Sage Press
Pet Allergies; Remedies for an Epidemic by Alfred J Plecher, DVM and Martin Zucker
Foods and Pet needs: The Big Bad Woof
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To make an appointment
email: Bodil or
call 301-270-1582
