Truffles the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

In late January of 2007, my Pembroke Welsh Corgi bitch, Truffles, injured her neck by some unknown method, and as a result could not bear weight on her left front leg.  Truffles was prescribed six weeks of crate rest, prednisone, and pain killers, but the treatment that most facilitated her recovery was the acupuncture and Chinese herbs prescribed by her holistic vet, Dr. Tracy Lord.  Truffles continues to this day to see Dr. Lord for acupuncture, chiropractic and other holistic treatments.  Truffles recovered fully and returned to tracking in the late spring of 2007.

On Sunday, August 2, 2009, at the Tracking Club of Maine’s Variable Surface Tracking Test, held at Colby College in Waterville, ME, Truffles, now age 10, passed on Track 3 under judges Ed Presnall and Mary Thompson, to earn her VST title and with it the title of Champion Tracker (CT). To earn this title a dog must obtain all three AKC tracking titles–Tracking Dog (TD), Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) and Variable Surface Tracking (VST). The CT title says to the world that she has demonstrated proficiency in following human scent in open fields, over obstacles and at age, and in urban conditions including through parking lots, sidewalks and around buildings.  Truffles’ track was 657 yards long, 3 hours 10 minutes old, and it took her 31 minutes to complete.

Truffles is now CT Heronsway Harbor Sweets, CDX, VST, AX, AXJ, VCX.  She will be seeing Dr. Lord on Wednesday, as usual.

Michele Gillette, Hanover, VA

Acupuncture in Sea Turtles

One of the most frequent questions that I get asked as owners are passing the time waiting for their dog or cat’s acupuncture needles to be taken out ( this is a time period of anywhere between 10-20 minutes on average) goes something like this…  So, what is the most interesting animal that you have ever done acupuncture on?  It was never a question I particularly  enjoyed as I never felt that I had a great answer.  Most of my practice is dogs and cats with the occasional rabbit or pocket pet thrown in.  Past this, I occasionally see  injured wildlife- usually small mammals or birds.  So, until recently, my best answer to this question was generally along the lines of squirrel, rabbit, guinea pig.

Over the last year, however, my attitude toward this question has changed.  I can now claim to  having treated two sea turtles.

About a year ago the dedicated folks at the Marine Stranding and Rescue Center in Virginia Beach, VA  brought two sea turtles in to a clinic where I was working for evaluation and possible acupuncture treatments. Both turtles had problems with mobility.  There was a small green sea turtle named Frosty who was about the size of a dinner plate and a large loggerhead sea turtle who weighed upwards of two hundred pounds.  His name was Atlantis.

We decided to give it a try as other therapies were not improving the turtles’ conditions.  Amazingly, we found references to a few acupuncture points in turtles, so myself and a second acupuncture trained veterinarian began with these.  I coupled these treatments with chiropractic adjustments on their necks.

The initial treatments went well, but it was decided that the stress of the hour long trip would be too much on the turtles on a regular basis.  Thus began my travels to Va Beach to the Stranding and Rescue center.  This center is an arm of the Va aquarium which too is based in Va Beach.  The Stranding and Rescue center is off site from the main aquarium to ensure that the rescued animals and their caretakers do not expose any of the aquarium stock to disease.  It is an old warehouse filled with many massive tanks temporarily housing everything from turtles to seals.  The goal for every animal who comes into the center is release back into the wild.

Frosty originally arrived at the Center with a scar over his shell, suggesting some type of trauma.  His issues all involved severe weakness in his hind flippers, and it was thus presumed that he had sustained some sort of spinal injury secondary to trauma in the wild.  Atlantis, on the other hand,  was at the Center being treated for other issues when he suddenly developed a head tilt, inability to float flat in the water and loss of mobility in his front flippers.  It was not clear whether these symptoms were the result of a brain lesion, infection or some other unknown pathology.  When first brought in for acupuncture, both of the turtles had plateaued in their recoveries and the fear was that they would not be releasable.

Both of these species of sea turtle are listed as threatened in the endangered species act and the green sea turtle is also listed as endangered.  Given this status, release was especially significant.  I should note here that I am referring to both of these turtles as “he”, but we did not know their sexes.  One female sea turtle has the potential to lay 100 plus eggs per nest and a loggerhead may lay four to seven nests in one laying season.  These eggs are then left unprotected and the majority of the hatchlings will never make it through their first hours of life, but given the dwindling numbers of turtles in the seas, each one can make a difference.

Both turtles took well to their treatments and did not fight either their adjustments or their ever changing acupuncture point protocols.  As time went on, I learned that the turtles’ shells are very sensitive and began acupuncturing them through their shells as well.  Frosty, a firecracker of a turtle, responded first and showed a steady pattern of improvement in strength and mobility.  Atlantis was more difficult to judge, he would seem better some days and worse others.  I finally added some Chinese herbals into his protocol, and we began to see the improvements that we were looking for.

The happy ending to this story is that both turtles were released into the Chesapeake Bay in late June of 2008.  Tracking devices were placed on them at the time so that the stranding and rescue center can keep track of their progress and potentially learn more about the habits of these elusive creatures in the seas.  I am honored to have been able to be a part of their recovery.

Track Atlantis and Frosty’s Travels

Chiropractic Adjustment in a Dog

This is Bus the French Bulldog. Bus had surgery yesterday and we’re just going to do some acupunture and chiropratic on him.

Bus having been lying on his back for surgery will benefit from chiropractic adjustments.

I’m going to start at the head and feel him chiropractically to make sure he’s doing okay.

An adjustment with these guys is not hard to do, and will correct the imbalance.

Chiropratic is a very low force adjustment. Most dogs and cats don’t mind at all.  It’s very rare for pets to get upset. The dogs and cats who receive chiropractic adjustments dont need to held in place. Most dogs and cats even start to like it…once they learn what’s going on. Most pets actually get better and better as this go on. 

Bus has never been treated before this is the first time I have performed chiropractic adjustments on him.

Veterinary Acupuncture

For thousands of years acupuncture has been used to re-balance the total energy system of animals’ bodies to facilitate health and healing.  It effectively treats many varied conditions such as arthritis, disc disease, nerve pain, kidney failure, liver failure, cancer, and heart disease to name a few.

According to Eastern medicine, when an animal is healthy, there is a strong and even circulation of energy, life-force, or Chi which runs along well defined channels on the body surface and deeper within the body cavities.  These channels are called meridians.  These meridians are associated with internal organs, muscular and joint structures, and the nervous system.  Acupuncture points lie within the meridians, and are areas from which the flow of Chi can be influenced.  Thus influencing the associated organs, joints and the like.

For those who prefer to look at this from a more scientific point of view, we can shift and assess acupuncture from a western viewpoint.  Specific acupuncture point stimulation has been shown to produce many measurable results within the body.  These include increasing oxygenation and blood supply to areas treated; aiding in production of endogenous cortisone and other anti-inflammatory substances; releasing internally produced pain killers such as endorphins; and improving immunity by increasing white blood cell and antibody production.

Holistic Veterinary Medicine

What is holistic veterinary medicine?

Holistic medicine is a term that means different things to different people. I call myself a holistic practitioner and by that I mean to convey two different things. First is that I look at the whole of the animal and work to come to a treatment plan that will benefit my entire patient and not just address one presenting complaint. Secondly, I will use the whole of medicine to come up with the best treatment plan possible.

Many veterinarians use different terms to convey this same or a similar sentiment. Alternative veterinary medicine, complimentary veterinary medicine, integrative veterinary medicine are but some of the different terms you may come across. I could use any of them comfortably but I feel that holistic medicine best conveys my attitude toward medicine.

Many of my patients come to me from conventional practices and are already involved with a treatment plan. Arthritis cases are on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, seizure cases on phenobarbital, neurologic and cancer cases have often been prescribed steroids. And I do not feel that these animals have necessarily been done a disservice or that the conventional medications are even a big problem. My ultimate goal in practice is to improve the quality of life of my patients, and if that means steroids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, seizure medication or the like- they should have them. Western medicine is not the enemy. It is, however, but one of the many branches of medicine, and in many cases, it does not have all of the answers.

I will not typically pull animals off of previously prescribed medications when they come to me. This is assuming that what is presently prescribed is actually improving the overall quality of the patients lives. In such cases, I will often begin by adding in supplements, herbals, spinal manipulation, acupuncture, and/or homotoxicology remedies; and addressing diet and lifestyle issues in an effort to further improvements or decrease the dependence on the conventional medications. It is only after we see gains, or I feel that an animal is stabilized with the complementary modalities that I will talk to clients and often their regular veterianarians about reassessing the need for conventional medications.

The modalities chosen to achieve this end can depend on the presenting condition of concern, the patients overall condition and energy, owners constraints, and animal temperament. Some animals have conditions that would likely benefit greatly from acupuncture or manipulation, but the animal is not one who will do well with repeated visits to the veterinary office. Others will not take supplements/medications from their owners at home which limits choices of treatments to compliment the in hands on therapies. All cases have their challenges, but ultimately I need to be able to look each animal in the eye and feel confident that what I am doing is a part of a treatment plan aimed at health.

We must always remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of life that makes it so precious.

Yogi’s Story – Acupuncture & Alternative Veterinary Medicine

The year 2007 did not start very well for our golden/lab/chow mix companion dog Yogi. He had just turned 10 in December and had been in general good health until one day in the second week of January.

He jumped down off the sofa and yipped, then came up lame in his left front leg, unable to put any weight on it. Almost as soon as it happened, it was fine. He had had strains and sprains before but when the same thing happened again after a few days, I took him to the local veterinary emergency clinic. After x-rays and an exam, the vet diagnosed arthritis, recommended crate rest for a week, and prescribed a strong analgesic. We did that and everything was fine for a week or so. One day when he was playing in the back yard with our other dog Rusty, he let out a yelp! His left front leg was basically unusable and it appeared to be “hanging” from his shoulder. It was awful to watch and I knew we were not talking about just arthritis. It continued to happen more and more often.

What happened in the next three weeks was a flood of vet visits and an emotional roller coaster. Knowing that it would help the lameness, our vet put Yogi on the steroid Prednisone; it made him a very different dog – he was hot, angry, constantly panting, ravenous, and so thirsty that he drank all water in sight; of course, he then had to eliminate every 3-4 hours. We had to hire a pet sitter to come in during the week just to let him out during the day and we had to schedule “middle of the night” outings so he could pee. He lost weight and muscle tone and looked very ragged; his personality changed drastically and he was not the same dog.

To try to get to the cause of his lameness, we went to a specialist who diagnosed “nerve root tumor” (a very dire prognosis) and recommended surgery/amputation with a preliminary MRI ($1300) to determine the extent of the tumor. We scheduled the MRI and then cancelled it after considering the costs, the benefits, and the possible complications. We went to another veterinary oncology surgeon who concurred with the diagnosis but recommended performing a CAT scan ($700) prior to possible surgery/amputation. We scheduled this for a day in late February.

Neither Yogi nor I slept much the night before. I knew it was a bad omen when, amidst yapping dogs, constant activity, and gruff receptionists, he had diarrhea in the waiting room. I told the doctor, through tears, that I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) put my dog through any more traumas. Many days and dollars later, we still had no good solution to Yogi’s situation.

What happened next is nothing short of a miracle. We went to our vet again, this time with the question, “Isn’t there some way to allow Yogi to live out the rest of his life, however long or short that is, in peace and quiet?” She referred us to Dr. Tracy Lord, explaining that she was a holistic vet who used natural cures and acupuncture; Dr. Lord had been able to help another client’s dog and our vet was pretty sure she could help Yogi. I called Dr. Lord the very next day!

It was a beautiful spring day in March when Yogi and I went to Williamsburg for our initial consultation. Immediately upon meeting Dr. Lord, I felt comfortable with her and I could tell Yogi did too! She listened intently to our story, looked at his referral information, asked me some questions, and then proceeded to talk to Yogi! She gave him an acupuncture treatment that he didn’t seem to mind! By the time we left her office, we had developed a plan of action including changes in diet, alternative drug therapy, natural supplements, and continued acupuncture sessions. I knew that this was the answer to our prayers!

Now, five months later, I can honestly say that Dr. Lord has transformed Yogi into a vibrant, healthy dog…even better than he was before! When I think about what we might have done if we had taken the advice of “traditional” veterinary science, I cringe and then thank my lucky stars that we found Dr. Lord. She is a loving, concerned person who has given us our dog back; he is whole, happy, and affectionate again.

He has not had a single episode of pain or limping since we began her course of treatment. He “talks” to her during his acupuncture sessions because he knows she makes him feel better…he has never done this before and he doesn’t do this with anyone else! No matter how much longer he is with us, I know that he is living a happy life. On a recent visit to the mountains of western NC, Yogi and I took a long walk: he was wagging his tail as he followed the scent of wild animals in the woods, splashed in the cool mountain stream, and just enjoyed being a dog! We have Dr. Lord to thank for that!

The Yin and Yang of food

One of the most important things that we can do for pets is to feed them properly, and while it is not that difficult to achieve a balanced diet, it is a bit more complex when we use food to help achieve optimal health. In Traditional Chinese medicine, foods are looked at much like herbs. Foods can heal. Foods can balance or unbalance the body. All foods have energetic properties, and the foods you feed your pet will affect their constitution, their affect, and can help to alleviate or exasperate personality traits, disease symptoms, and behaviors. Hot natured pets will tend to do better with cooling or neutral foods as cold natured pets will do better with neutral to warming foods. Thus the question of what foods are best to feed my pet is not a “one size fits all” answer. The first thing you need to do is to determine whether your pet is hot or cold natured.

The yin and yang of pets

Some characteristics of a hot natured, yang, animal ….

These animals are often nervous and on edge. They may have a red tongue, pant excessivly and seek cool floors on which to lie. Often you will note that these animals have very poor energy in summer heat, and show signs of excessive thirst. They will avoid warm beds, couches or carpets. These animals tend to get more acute, sudden illnesses with intense symptoms which go as quickly as they came.

Some characteristics of a cold natured, yin, animal ……

These animals will be cool, calm and collected. They may have a pale tongue which is often wet. They may prefer warm places to sleep, or wish to be covered or cuddled for warmth. These animals generally do not like to be out in the winter but will bake themselves in the sun or in front of the fire place until you fear they may combust. Cold natured animals tend to be more slow moving and sleepy and may catch colds frequently.

The temperature of foods

Food also has tendencies toward yin or yang. The temperature or thermal nature of foods does not refer to the temperature at which the food is served, but the way the food makes the body feel once consumed. Cooling foods can cool both the body and the psyche. Conversely warming or hot foods will affect the entire body as well. Foods, like bodies, all have BOTH yin and yang properties, but some have more of one and some more of the other.

Warming foods are often used to aid digestion. They can also improve circulation and may help ease the pain of arthritis if it is worse in cold weather.

Cooling foods will calm the mind and cool the body. They can also be useful when inflammation is a problem.

Neutral foods are the harmonizers of the diet and are often added to balance or temper the more extreme qualities of other foods.

EXAMPLES OF WARMING FOODS

tuna, turkey, salmon, lamb, venison, chicken, chicken liver, shrimp, trout, oats, cabbage, squash, kale, quinoa, dried ginger

EXAMPLES OF COOLING FOODS

clams, duck, egg, tofu, prok, millet, barley, wheat, whole wheat bread, lettuce, celery, broccoli, spinach, tomato, kelp, banana

EXAMPLES OF NEUTRAL FOODS

beef, beef liver, chicken gizzards, rabbit, sardine, string beans, aduki beans, kidney beans, yam, polenta, rice, corn, rye, potato, beet, turnip, carrot, eggs, cod, brown rice

In addition to their thermal properties, foods can moisten or dry, clear excesses or stimulate in cases of deficiency.

FOODS THAT MOISTEN

potato, sardines, tofu, wheat, pork, mussel, citrus, barley, , string beans, dairy

FOODS THAT DRY

lettuce, turnip, asparagus, amaranth, rye, mackerel, celery, garlic

This is only the tip of the iceburg so far as the true qualities of foods go. Before choosing or changing a diet for your pet always consult with your veterinarian for recommendations and understand that each body is different. The simple question…what is the best diet for my pet???…. may not have a simple answer.