Holistic vets

I was just curious to see if anyone has experience with holistic vets. As everyone knows, Buster suffers from megacolon and experiences severe constipation. I've done everything the vet has suggested but he still requires numerous and expensive enemas. I'm at my wit's end!

Now I'm contemplating meeting with a holistic vet. There is a place in Oakland that people say are amazing. It's just very expensive ($250 for the initial visit) and I don't know if I could afford it. If I felt confident about their services, then I would find some way to pay. The first session includes a thorough meeting plus accupuncture, if necessary.

Any advice would be great!

My vet has a traditional and holistic practice, and I personally have gotten amazing results from acupuncture. My concern is that for an initial visit, that seems VERY high-priced.

But if you are hearing that it's a great vet, you might want to give it a try.

I live in poo dunk ... my intial visit was 55$ or 31$ for the exam ... then add treatment accupucture is 50-55$ ... I WOULD NOT recommend treatment that first visit

Thanks for your replies. Everything is over-inflated in the Bay Area, unfortunately. People are definitely willing to pay top-dollar for alternative health treatments. So many people recommended this vet, so I suppose I'm willing to pay top dollar. The vet that I scheduled an appointment with is a graduate of Cornell, which is a top veterinary school. Plus, he is a GI/nutrition specialist. I really do like my traditional vets but western medicine is not doing the job at this point. I'll keep you updated.

It sounds like a very good vet. I take my dogs to a holistic vet for acupuncture and hydrotherapy, and she's great. I am lucky in that my regular vet is also holistically geared (but doesn't do acupuncture) so I get good information/treatments from her as well... I have also used chiropractic services for my dogs and may be taking my cat in because my regular vet recommended it for her as well.

Thanks for everyone's input on this matter. Buster and I just arrived home from our appointment with the holistic vet. The vet was super smart and he spent a full hour with us. Buster also received acupuncture treatment for megacolon and I'm hoping it works. Now he's acting pretty mellow. The vet also suggested a Chinese herb as an alternative for Cisapride, so I may start using that too.

I hope this works because I just spent $250.00 and I'm flat broke

My acupuncurist does work on her cats. Maybe you can find one close by as well.

I've heard of lots of people having good luck w raw diets when their kitties suffered from digestive problems...

Originally Posted by saya

My acupuncurist does work on her cats. Maybe you can find one close by as well.

I've heard of lots of people having good luck w raw diets when their kitties suffered from digestive problems...

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Yeah, the holistic vet was raving about raw diets today. I have a bag of frozen raw meat that I purchased recently. Anyway, he hasn't pooped yet and I'm bummed out. I hope this acupuncture really works because if it doesn't - it was $250.00 down the toilet.

Accupucture is a slow acting quick fix... ie it often shows some signs the first visit but for a full affect it takes from 2 to 12 treatments... IF CONSIDERING RAW ... you need to consult with a vet who knows about it ... RAW IS NOT just some meat thrown in a bowl

Originally Posted by sharky

Accupucture is a slow acting quick fix... ie it often shows some signs the first visit but for a full affect it takes from 2 to 12 treatments... IF CONSIDERING RAW ... you need to consult with a vet who knows about it ... RAW IS NOT just some meat thrown in a bowl

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The vet told me that he would poop in a few hours or at least by tonight. He felt very confident about it. As for raw diet, I'm not so sure I am ready to travel down that road now. I'm so overwhelmed with Buster's medical issues and all the meds he requires.

Have you tried psyllium for your kitty? It's supposed to help with the constipation and was given to me as something to try if the pumpkin didn't work for my cat.

Originally Posted by stephanietx

Have you tried psyllium for your kitty? It's supposed to help with the constipation and was given to me as something to try if the pumpkin didn't work for my cat.

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Psyllium is well a bit harsh for a fiber as it is insouble /....

Originally Posted by stephanietx

Have you tried psyllium for your kitty? It's supposed to help with the constipation and was given to me as something to try if the pumpkin didn't work for my cat.

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Yeah, I tried that back in March. My vets don't want me to use that anymore because it bulks up and makes it more difficult to pass through.

Anyway, the holisitic vet wants me to start using Laxatone again. This is a nightmare! My cat refuses to put it near his mouth!! Anyone have any suggestions?

This is what I've tried:
1) Putting on paw - he shakes it off and gets all over the carpet
2) Put it on his nose - same as above
3) Put it in his mouth - runs to his kitty condo and hides
4) Use a syringe - it gets stuck and gooey.

Help please!

try filling up those little pill hider treats w the laxatone and then pinching off the end.

I used these with Bea when I had to give her antibiotics, it worked fairly well

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, he won't touch those because he had a negative experience with Pill Poppers when some of his liquid medication spilled out. He started foaming at the mouth, etc. I can't believe he still remembers that experience. He won't even eat a Pill Popper plain without anything in it!

I mix it in some wet food usually of a fish origin

Sure-fire way to get kitty to ingest the laxatone:

Put a big dab on your two forefingers, hide it behind your back (pointing up so none drips off onto the floor) and sneak up on your kitty calling softly like you would when asking if you can pet it.

Then pat kitty's cheek with the non-sticky hand while quickly reaching around to give a good firm, downward-swiping pat with the goop on your fingers, so that it smears into kitty's coat on the lower back (just behind the tail where they like to be scratched) and haunch. Kitty can't shake it off that way and has no choice but to lick it off.

This is how I get hairball meds into my sweetest boy, Ferris. The little dickens HATES the taste of Petromalt, but he needs it because he is a complete fluffball.

Thanks everyone for your help! Yesterday I was feeling very depressed because Buster only pooped nuggets. I called the holistic vet and told them that the acupuncture didn't work and they suggested I try the Chinese herbs. If that didn't work, then we would consider an enema on Monday.

So, I picked up the senna leaf (fan xie ye) granules and mixed it in his wet food last night. Once again, he pooped only a few dry nuggets. Nonetheless, I continued with the regimen and put it in his food this morning. Amazingly, he made a decent poop an hour ago! I guess I can hold off on the enema for now.

The point of my story is that herbs and alternative medicine may be a viable option for people. I don't think the acupuncture worked but I'm glad the vet prescribed these herbs for me because my traditional vet is very westernized. It's something to consider if you're hitting a brick wall with certain medical conditions.

omg...he pooped again as I was writing this post! Hurray!

gotta love oriental medicine

...and Buster pooped two more times since I last wrote that post! Maybe the acupuncture worked in conjunction with the senna leaf.