Sophia is an adorable rescue pup safe and warm with her adoptive parents in Mexico.
Her history includes hepatitis and elevated liver enzymes, a luxating patella (dis-locating kneecap), allergies and some emotional ”issues”.
Are Sophia’s allergies really the main problem?
They are prominent and problematic. But are they really what needs to be fixed?
Sophia’s case is a great example of the benefits of observing and describing all of the symptoms. Especially in dogs and cats that have multiple health challenges.
Not focusing just on the most prominent and obvious symptoms.
Sophia had gone to the vet many times to try and help her itchy skin and rashes. The other problems were not considered to be related to her allergies.
It’s a big mistake to treat allergic symptoms as separate from the whole individual.
It was only during Sophia’s holistic evaluation that the other problems were even mentioned. They weren’t the focus of attention for her guardian or her veterinarians.
Treating one set of symptoms and diagnosis will not permanently resolve the underlying problem.
In this case, Sophia had been diagnosed with allergic skin disease related to environmental and food allergies. Many potential allergic triggers were found through extensive (and expensive) testing.
Special diets, fatty acids, anti-histamines and eventually steroids were used to control her itch. She didn’t itch while she took the steroids. As soon as she stopped them however, the itching returned.
When taking the steroids Sophia drank so much that she urinated all over the house. These treatments affected her quality of life. In addition, they only helped temporarily because they did not look in detail at the specific symptoms.
General symptom descriptions like “itching” or “a rash” only allow partial treatment. The underlying imbalance needs to be individualized to acieve the best outcome.
Because Sophia’s current treatment method was not working, her guardian started looking at other approaches. Ones that both looked closer at her specific symptoms as well as the rest of her life.
Holistic treatments are based on Sophia’s total symptom picture including her lifestyle, environment, and all physical and emotional symptoms.
The whole-istic approach takes into account the totality of symptoms. Sophia’s liver, joint and behavior issues were important parts of her totality. Not just her skin symptoms.
When they were considered within the context of her total being the drugs and supplements were eventually able to be stopped. Sophia’s itching didn’t return. Thanks to her new found internal balance.
Sophia was now fine when exposed to triggers that used to cause extreme itching. Her diet no longer had to be restricted. She ate a varied fresh food diet and remains itch free years later.
Not only that, but thanks to Sophia’s new holistic lifestyle her liver abnormalities resolved, she’s walking better and is calmer and not as anxious. She is having a richer and happier life!
You can also learn how to approach dis-ease treatment holistically. Proactively prevent dis-eases and manage them more effectively.
That’s what we do every day in our supportive Holistic Actions! Community. Join use below.
Be well.
Dr. Jeff