Gracie's Holistic Vet Visit...
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| Tue, 06-28-2005 - 10:30pm |
I'm home from the holistic vet's but am not sure what I think. I had hoped she would have a miracle answer to stimulating Gracie's appetite and/or helping to cure her condition.....I know, wishful thinking. Gracie definitely liked the experience better than going to Dr Sharyn's. We went in this vet's home where she had a small room with a few chairs. Tim held Gracie at first since she was nervous but later she sat on the back of the chair where Tim was sitting. The vet was Australian and said she was moving back to Australia at the end of the summer. (That means no more holistic vets in Nebraska). It wasn't exactly what I expected. She didn't want to read Gracie's records from Dr Sharyn. She just had me tell her a bit of the background of how and when she stopped eating and what we were feeding her and what vitamins I was giving her. She at least looked at her x-rays from last March. She also glanced at the last blood test results Gracie had a few weeks ago and noted her anemia.
It wasn't a very structured visit. She just agreed with me that Science Diet isn't very good quality and that the more natural foods I've been feeding her are an improvement, but she felt the homemade diet is the best. (raw or lightly cooked meats, etc.) She mentioned the Pritcairn book I've seen mentioned on numerous holistic sites. She gave me a few copies of recipes from that book. She then gave me a bottle of Chinese Herbal Gastrigen that's supposed to help cats with chronic diarrhea and/or vomiting. She also gave me some digestive enzymes to put in each meal. She also gave some drops of echinacea/goldenseal for cats to support her immune system and finally (after mentioning our cats not getting along and Misha licking the fur off her tummy from nervousness) she custom made some Bach flower liquid with a variety of essences to help with nervousness, aggression, etc. with the cats. I'm supposed to give 4 drops 4 times a day. I am not sure how effective it is putting it in water since who knows who drinks it and when. I am thinking it would be better on their food? She said I should keep giving her vitamin e and c and b complex. She also liked the Pet Promise Symflora powder I mix in her food daily (it has brewers dried yeast, acidolphilus, etc.) She basically said nutritional support and good food is the best I can do and hopefully she'll feel like eating and will have a longer quality of life. She didn't talk much about FIP or the prognosis. I must say I was disappointed she didn't do an "exam". She just pet Gracie once when she was in her carrier and noted her fur texture and otherwise said she looked fine. The whole visit cost me $125.40 and I left there not feeling I'd gotten many questions answered. I guess I will just try giving Gracie some of these natural things and since no one is willing to say she will recover, I will just keep praying and hope she still has a longer time to live still.
One slightly let down and confused furmom,





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Well that is disappointing.
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I agree it is odd she didn't do a complete exam. Yet her advice seemed sound. I use holistic vets here in NY and they use both eastern and western techniques, as Cat mentioned. Maybe she felt the other vet had diagnosed the problem already. Anyway, I've had the Pitcairn book for years and it is very good, as is Anitra Frazier's the Natural Cat. Dr. Pitcairn actually has a website (http://www.drpitcairn.com) but it does not seem as fully set up as I would like. Still there are some links to information. Also, there is a site called http://www.holisticat.com where you can read articles and archives and chat on a message board. My guess is some of the people on that board have had similar situations and can talk about their experiences and what worked for them. Holistic treatments are often subtle and take time; I would follow the advice given you and not give up if you don't see dramatic results. Nothing the vet recommended is harmful; that's part of the benefit of holistic treatments in general.
Cynthia
I'm sorry that the holistic vet was disapointing.
Hi,
Sorry to hear you weren't thrilled with the holistic vet. Frankly the visit sounds very similar to my experience with a holisitic vet and a couple of holistic doctors I've been to for myself and I've been very pleased.
It sounds as if you went there seeking a second opinion or alternative treatment for a condition that your vet already diagnosed as FIP, correct? I tried to go through old posts to find our about your Gracie's condition and if I'm reading correctly it was FIP but there are so many it's hard to read them all.
I think I would have expected a much more thorough exam if there had been no initial diagnosis or treatment. Plus much of medicine is history not just relying on lab and test values which I have certainly learned just dealing with my health issues.
I would follow her recommendation as the more you build up her immune system the better. The Bach flower essences sound like a custom mixed solution for her issues and not Rescue Remedy. Rescue Remedy is a standard premixed essence for sale over the counter at any health food store. You can also buy all the individual flower essences but the key is to knowing how to mix a custom solution for a given condition. I would not put it in her water but in her food or transdermally as Cat suggested. I always use the food as they don't seem to notice it and mine are always wierd when I apply something to their skin.
When I took my baby into the holistic vet here she didn't even make him get out of the carrier. He's such a scaredy cat and I was seeking a second opinion for chronic diarhea and possible IBD so short of her looking at the test results I brought her there wasn't much reason to stress him further. While she agreed with the diagnosis, her method for treatment was different and that's what we went with. That was two years ago and the diarrhea went away 24 hrs after implementing her suggestions never to return.
I wish you and Gracie as much luck as we had with implementing this doctor's suggestions.
Take care, Lynn
Hi Lynn!
Thanks so much for your post and for reading about Gracie. :-) She is a mystery kitty indeed. She just turned one last April and the vet started suspecting FIP last Feb/March when she wasn't eating and was losing weight. She's had numerous blood tests and some findings are consistent with dry FIP while others aren't. Chances are she has it but she is not the typical case that passes away so quickly. She's regained weight up to 5 pounds and still plays and holds steady after so many weeks. I don't like that I've had to force feed her 3 times a day but that is the only way to ensure she eats enough and doesn't lose weight. She only picks at dry food and virtually ignores all other wet foods offered to her. I hope the holistic herbs, vitamins, etc will help. I pray she will be one of the lucky few who survive FIP. I want to give her every possible chance.
What did you give your cat to solve the chronic diarrhea? That's been a problem with Gracie too. Maybe the Chinese herb will help....we'll see.
You're right...the vet mixed a custom blend of several essences. Rescue Remedy was only one small part.
Thanks again for your feedback and for sharing your experiences with holistic doctors. I really appreciate it!
Hugs,
Thanks Cat! I will let you know how the herbs and other things work. I know she mixed several Bach flower essences in one bottle and she told me to add 24 drops of Rescue Remedy when I got home (since I told her I had tons of the stuff still). I hope this new mixture has more of an effect than the RR alone did. I don't really use it on Gracie but mostly on the other cats (especially Boots & Patches to reduce their aggression/jealousy of Misha).
Who knows....maybe the vet assumed I'd already had enough check ups? I was just surpirsed since her assistant had told me ahead of time to bring Gracie since she'd get an exam. I wouldn't call looking at her fur an exam, but like you said...I should just try the remedies and see how things go. I'm glad to hear your vet is getting certified in the Chinese medicine/acupuncture. That's great!
The poor cats are scared of the thunder out. It was even worse last night since neighborhood kids were shooting of noisy fireworks. Do you have that problem where you live? I wish they'd only do July 4 and not make all that noise on other nights. It just upsets animals so much. :-(
Thanks so very much for your suggestions and thoughts on this. Gracie sends kitty kisses your way!
Hugs,
Thank you sooo much Cynthia! I appreciate the links and the encouragement. I am sure the things she gave me will help Gracie. They have to be better than doing nothing, right? I like the holistic approach. I just have to get used to what to expect when consulting with such a vet. I'm glad you've had good experiences with holistic vets where you are.
Hugs,
Thank you (((Leslie)))! I sure hope things will work out for us soon. I hope the treatments make her feel a bit better at least. :-)
Hugs & Sweet Dreams,
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