The truth about cats & dogs; they can benefit from holistic health care too - includes sources for finding a holistic vet

Vegetarian Times, Nov, 1996 by Linda B. White

Although some vets say clients have had success raising cats on a vegetarian diet, Fox notes there are no objective studies demonstrating it's safe to do so. "I'm very concerned," he says, "about these vegan cat foods that read like a chemical soup with all these synthetic additives [to provide missing nutrients]. It's getting so far away from fresh, whole foods that I think it's ethically questionable and scientifically dubious."

WHEN ILLNESS STRIKES

Natural Medicine can be an effective way to care for an ailing animal, using the same modalities you would use yourself: homeopathy, herbs, even acupuncture. When following the suggestions for home care, keep in mind that if your animal worsens or fails to improve after two or three days, you should call your veterinarian. If she is very sick or severely injured, take her to the veterinarian immediately. Here are six of the more common animal maladies and tips for treating them holistically.

Abscesses. Abscesses are, for lack of a more eloquent definition, pockets of pus. They commonly complicate puncture wounds, especially from cat fights, where needlelike teeth create deep wounds with a narrow exit that quickly heals over, sealing in bacteria. Abscesses also can occur when foreign bodies such as porcupine quills or splinters become embedded in the skin.

Remove any foreign bodies that protrude from the skin and wash the wound with soap and plenty of water. If you're aware a fight occurred, Pitcairn says you often can prevent abscesses from forming by giving your cat the homeopathic remedy Ledum. Look for a potency of 3 0C (this will be on the label) and give one pellet or tablet every 4 hours for a total of three treatments. As a general rule of thumb, Pitcairn prefers homeopathic remedies over herbs because the remedies taste good, work rapidly, are without side effects arid, except in acute illness, aren't given frequently. Also, if you choose the wrong remedy, the worst that happens is nothing.

If infection sets in, you'll notice a localized swelling that is hot to the touch and tender. To improve immune function and help fight the infection, you can give your pet three daily doses of echinacea and vitamin C (250 milligrams [mg.] for cats and small dogs, 500 ma. for medium dogs, 1,000 ma. for large dogs). Another immune booster and potent antimicrobial agent is garlic. You can mix raw minced garlic 1/2 to 3 cloves a day, depending upon the size of your animal) into the daily food ration. If your animal refuses raw garlic, says Anitra Frazier, a long-time vegetarian and author of The New Natural Cat (Plume, 1990), mix the minced clove with a small amount of equal parts water and soy sauce, let it stand for a few minutes, then strain out the garlic and mix the liquid with food. Other alternatives include "deodorized" garlic in capsules or liquid form.

To increase blood flow, which brings more infection-fighting white blood cells to the area and carries away waste products, alternate applications of hot and cold, wet washcloths. (Check the hot washcloth on yourself first; it should be as hot as you can stand without burning yourself.) You also can soak the washcloth in a tea of echinacea or oregon grape root. Pitcairn recommends the homeopathic remedies Lachesis muta or Hepar sulph calcareum, both in the 3 0C potency, 1 pellet every four hours for three treatments. Volhard finds the homeopathic remedy Silicea useful for expelling foreign bodies.