43 – Partnering with Professionals in Caring For Your Ill Pet
“When it rains, it pours.” I don’t know to whom to attribute that quote, but I’m pretty sure it was someone who dealt with pets in some manner. Several weeks ago I had a series of discussions with dog owners I highly respect regarding serious health problems just discovered in their pets. Descriptions of the different issues were followed by the same question: “ do you know of any resources where I can learn more?” At the same time, my own three legged wonder mix, Dodi, was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I started researching every article I could find on the topic. Why do we do this? We all have veterinarians we love and trust. Why don’t we just sit back and accept what we are told?
There are many people who place all trust in their chosen professionals. These people don’t ask questions, accept what is told to them even if they don’t understand, and follow instructions without question. Maybe professionals like to have this kind of client as they certainly must be easier to deal with. What about the other kind of owners, the ones who, like me, respect and trust our vets, but still ask questions, still seek more information, still look for more or different answers? Are we thorns in our vets’ sides? Maybe, but I like to think our vets understand our need to be partners in the care of our pets.
What are we looking for? Perhaps we want to know what caused the problem, was it something we could have prevented? Our research can lead us to theories, but we’ll probably never have definitive answers for our individual cases. Genetics pops up as a component in many health problems. Our attempts to produce “the perfect dog,” seem to have increased their health problems. Canine health registries have been developed to certify our dogs are free of orthopedic problems, heart problems, eye problems, yet we see an increasing number of breeds developing cancer at earlier ages or born with breathing problems that are life threatening. In recognition of the problems being created by man, the British Kennel Club is announcing reforms: (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/02/crufts-dog-show.html ).
Perhaps genetics had little to do with the problems. Could the cause be environmental? Not all of our dogs are purebred, but they all face challenges in the quality of their environment. We start researching toxins our dogs encounter. The EPA is now reviewing all spot-on flea and tick meds: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/flea-tick-control.html . What about the sprays we use on our yards for weed and pest eradication ( http://www.chem-tox.com/pesticides/ )? How about the additives put on kibble to make it more appealing in taste (remember the food recall of 2007? It is still happening: http://www.petsready.com/pet_food_recalls.php )? What about over-vaccination? Vaccines are highly potent and linked to serious, adverse side effects. Yet, many pets are still subjected to yearly vaccinations though every three years is legal and recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, the World Small Animal Veterinary Medical Association, and more (http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog4dogs/2009/06/25/changing-rabies-vaccination-laws/). Wouldn’t we all get yearly MMR vaccinations if the yearly vaccine made us more immune?
We want to know more than just what caused the problem. We also want to know what we can do to help our pets. We trust our vets have been well-trained in treating a wide range of problems in dogs using conventional medicine. However, complimentary and alternative medicines and treatment modes are becoming more accepted by the public and we want to know what else might be available using non-conventional methods. Unless your vet is a holistic vet, alternatives to conventional care will be left to you to research. Whole Dog Journal has excellent articles covering a wide range of treatments - both conventional and alternative - for many ailments. A sample of articles on cancer care can be found at http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32917273_ITM .
We know that the food we put into our bodies affects our health and dietary changes are sometimes necessary when we become ill. The same is true for our pets, so we seek information as to how to feed them to optimize their health. There is an overwhelming amount of information out there. Investigate as many viewpoints as possible. One of the most comprehensive sites for a variety of information is http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/HEALTH/diet.htm . A more concise site is http://www.dogaware.com/ . Dogwise.com carries a good selection of books that address nutrition for dogs. It may be easier to contact a specialist. Just as a dietician can help design a meal plan to help a human with health issues, a canine nutritionist may save you hours of research and help you avoid costly mistakes. The University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine recently offered a public seminar on animal nutrition by Dr. Bartges, hopefully more will follow.
Partnering in the care of your pet may seem like a foreign concept to some and an unquestionable necessity to others. Those of us in the second group are thankful to the vets who accept and appreciate our need to be involved, to address our fears and concerns in a constructive manner. Luckily, the news was good for most of the dogs involved in the health issues mentioned earlier in this article. The owners still continue their research, but it gives us peace of mind. After all, is it really possible to know too much about our pets’ health?
Jan Casey owns Smiles and Wags, providing reward-based training and behavior consultations in Cookeville, TN. She can be reached at 931-510-0119 or jan@smilesandwags.com.