Dogged by Pets’ Pain, Owners Go Holistic

Eight years ago, the fluffy white mutt was living outside a bar, surviving on popcorn she begged from patrons.

She was delivered to a shelter, and the day she was scheduled to be euthanized, Barbara Myhre adopted the little dog. She named her Suzie and soon discovered that the homeless life had damaged Suzie’s health, forcing the dog to take drugs to correct a thyroid problem.

Today, Myhre accompanies Suzie once a month to acupuncture treatments administered by a holistic veterinarian.

Myhre is one of a growing number of pet lovers turning to alternative pet care and holding up their animals as proof that it works, if only in smallways.

Holistic veterinarians may use several kinds of alternative medical treatments, including Chinese herbs, healing touch or chiropractic. They often focus on healing the whole animal instead of treating its symptoms.

Suzie is a patient of certified veterinary acupuncturist Jacquie Swartz, owner of a small practice in Boise. Her recovery was slow until Swartz began acupuncture treatments a year and a half ago.

“You know what’s nice about dogs? They have no preconceived ideas about needles,” Myhre said.

As Swartz pricks Suzie’s skin with ultra-thin, flexible needles, the dog barely blinks. Occasionally, she sends a questioning glance at Swartz, when the vet finds a point that is particularly sensitive.

Myhre said the thyroid problem has improved so much that Suzie no longer needs medication. Her coat is glossy again. And although she continues treatment for new, age-related problems -- including thirst, a distended belly, a sore back and trouble climbing stairs -- Myhre is confident that acupuncture will continue to help.

Like most dogs, Suzie is yawning and relaxed by the end of the session.

“Animals respond really well to acupuncture and Chinese medicine,” Swartz said. “They are very sensitive to energy, and that’s what is being manipulated with acupuncture and herbs. You know how people say dogs can smell fear? It’s kind of the same thing, because they’re picking up on the energy around someone.”

For that reason, Swartz, who formerly used only traditional western medicine, will not perform invasive procedures in her office. “I don’t do any X-rays, surgery or euthanasia here, so the office is pretty clean as far as energy goes,” she said.

A schnauzer named Nickel seemed to think so, eagerly sniffing at Swartz’s lavender-scented hand lotion.

Owner Lynette Goode believes that acupuncture saved Nickel’s life.

“She had severe arthritis, couldn’t get up the stairs and collapsed all the time. We tried putting her on traditional medication but it threw her liver all out of whack and caused even more problems,” Goode said. “Our vet told us just to bring her home and love her until the pain got to be too bad, and then we’d have to put her down.”

Goode was unwilling to accept the news without a second opinion, and brought Nickel to Swartz. She says she was skeptical about acupuncture -- and her husband thought that she was crazy.

By the third treatment, she said, Nickel was noticeably improved. A few visits later, Nickel was able to stop taking hormone medication for an incontinence problem. Her arthritis calmed.

The results have Goode almost convinced.

“I’ve decided acupuncture is great for my dog, but I’m still not sure for me,” she said.

Few veterinarians practice holistic medicine, herbology, acupuncture or chiropractic in Idaho, although the practice is on the rise nationally, said Craig Smith, a staff consultant with the American Veterinary Medical Assn.

“We do not keep statistics on this, but I can tell you that over the last five or so years, we are receiving more telephone inquiries about alternative medicine both from the public asking where they can go and from veterinarians asking where they can get training,” Smith said.

On the advice of a friend, Boise family counselor Rand Martel took one of his large Russian Borzoi hounds for treatment by veterinary chiropractor Ellen German. Bailey was running when he suddenly stopped and yelped in pain. Afterward, he was only able to walk or trot.

Chiropractic on animals is not done by hand. German uses a Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation Activator, a hand-held device that delivers a quick, precise amount of pressure with the touch of a button.

German starts the exam by demonstrating the machine on Martel’s arm and then using it against her own hand on Bailey’s side to get the hound used to the sound and feel. Then she uses the activator along Bailey’s spine, pointing out to Martel where muscles seem tighter or out of alignment.

About two days later, Bailey is able to run again.

“He hasn’t had any complaints since -- it really made a difference,” Martel said. “After Dr. German was done, I spent another 15 or so minutes just talking with her about the holistic approach. I’m going to take a more aggressive holistic approach with my hounds now, giving them vitamins and fish oil.”

German said owners need only observe their pets’ behavior to see if acupuncture or chiropractic works. It won’t cure a broken leg, she said, “but you make sure the animal gets the best treatment possible no matter what form it comes in.”

Some pet insurance companies, including Pet Care Pet Insurance and Pet Assure, cover holistic pet care, which tends to be less expensive than traditional drugs.

One common arthritis medicine costs about $1 a day for a smaller dog, Swartz said, and it requires frequent blood tests that can cost more than $100 each time. Swartz charges $105 for the first acupuncture treatment, then $40 for follow-up sessions, which can be scheduled as infrequently as every few months.