Traditional Vet Vs. Holistic. Thoughts?

Anyone take their furkids to a holistic vet after treatment failure with a traditional? How about the other way around? Or even a combo of both traditional and holistic? 

I'm considering a holistic vet, and would also consider having a "treatment team" of sorts, combining both types of docs, if that's even possible. Seems to me that one of my current traditional docs is against anything holistic, so I don't know if she'd be willing to consider alternative therapy.

I'd like to hear thoughts about the two types! Thank you!

Mitzi

P.S.  By the way, I'd like to give a BIG shout out to:

-mrsgreenjeans 

-AdventureMe

-PeppermintPlant

-Denice

and

-cprcheetah

You guys all have my sincerest thanks for your help with the craziness I had going on a few weeks ago!   Big round of applause for ALL of you!! 

Here's the thread for reference: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/272083/...ons-on-extreme-meds-diet-regimen#post_3490543

I believe LDG had good results from a holistic vet after traditional treatments didn't work. You could PM her for more info if she doesn't see this.

I wouldn't describe my experience with my traditional vet as treatment failure, exactly. But I was beginning to feel like the solutions they presented - more medications, essentially - were not the answer to my cat's problems. My cat is/was dealing with: a couple of very severe constipation episodes, struvite crystals in one urinalysis, possible mild asthma, and unexplained severe vomiting. You can read more about my cat here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/272867/...ion-urinary-crystals-food-sensitivites-asthma.

A month ago, I started thinking about going to a holistic vet because I wanted someone to consider the big picture of my cat and not just each separate issue. At the same time, I was learning more and more about feline nutrition and thought I should change his diet. Amazingly, many of his problems went away after the diet change - in the past month, there has been no vomit, no hairballs, no coughing, no sneezing. He has eliminated regularly and consistently, both kinds. We've had a few bumps in the road as I've tried new foods, but nothing major.

But I still want to know WHY certain foods or substances are causing problems. And I guess I wanted some validation of my approach. So after doing a lot of research, I selected a holistic vet who works in a practice that integrates traditional Western veterinary medicine with holistic treatment. She confirmed I'm on the right track and suggested a few adjustments.  Our visit was just this week, so it's too soon to tell.

I think if you can integrate the two, that would be great and best for your cat. Traditional veterinary medicine is definitely important and necessary in some cases. And traditional veterinary medicine handles many problems superbly. But for things that lack a clear cause, holistic treatment might be a better option. I think GI problems with no obvious diagnosis may fall into this category. And holistic veterinarians seem to have much more knowledge regarding nutrition, which I really think is the foundation (for cats and people!).

As to how to approach your regular vet, that's tough. I am wrestling with the same thing, myself. They know we stopped the antibiotics and asthma medication. They know I rejected any more steroid shots. I think they know, but don't approve of me weaning the cat off the constipation medication- something I've been wanting to do for months and the holistic vet suggested. Do I tell them that I got a second opinion from a holistic vet who thinks we should see how he does without this medication? And approves of my food choices? And recommends raw? As you can see, I have more questions than answers on this one, though I have some luxury of time until our scheduled visit in June for a cardiac ultrasound.

They each have their strong points.  A holistic vet looks at the kitty as a whole and how things affect the kitty as a whole.  A conventional vet tends to look at and treat a specific condition which can be a tunnel vision approach to an illness or condition.  Many people here take kitties to both a holistic and a conventional vet.  Some have gotten a consult from a holistic vet and incorporated supplements and diet suggested by the holistic vet but continue to get their medical care from a conventional vet.

When looking for a holistic vet you need to make sure that he or she is truly a holistic vet.  Some conventional vets have added it to their websites, signs etc purely to bring in business rather than taking a holistic approach.  You should also be prepared for sticker shock.  Holistic vets do charge a lot for that initial consult but those are the vast majority of their business.  Many people don't go back after that simply because that is all they wanted, others only go very occasionally much less than to a conventional vet.

My vet offers a wide range of treatment options, she approaches all of my cats as individuals and provides treatment accordingly.  She practices traditional medicine as well as homeopathy, acupuncture, message therapy and other stuff along those lines.  I was unsure at first but she has been amazing and the fact that she offers so many ways to come at a problem has been helpful.  She doesn't want to drug my cats up like some of the other vets I've been to do and she always wants to try the gentlest solution to the problem first.  Sometimes meds are needed as a first defense but not always.  She is interested in their personalities and slight changes in behavior as well. 

I think if you could find a vet that works in holistic and traditional medicine you should give them a try. 

I agree with all the above posters.
I haven't taken Ritz to a holistic vet, mainly because it's a 50 minute drive one way from where I live and Ritz hates hates the cat carrier. I'd have to weigh the stress of the drive versus the results/information. But I have been seriously thinking about it for over a year. (I'd get my twin sister to drive while I comfort Ritz.)
My traditional vet doesn't know (and doesn't approve) much about feeding raw or FHS, but he has a great bedside manner.
The holistic vet I would go to has on her web page that she works in conjunction with your regular vet; for example, she does not do dental cleanings (Ritz' second cleaning in 2.5 years is the end of March) and requires that you email her all records from your regular vet before the initial consultation
By the way, I was referred to this holistic vet by my (human) nutritionist, who practices Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Here is a link to holistic vets. And Denise makes a good point: "holistic" is a buzz word, sometimes used to attract patients, but the practitioners have limited knowledge.
Also I have pet insurance, and it covers holistic practices as long as they are given by a vet--I believe perhaps 80% or 100% minus deductible.

I think there are vets who are traditional but who will embrace alternative practices, and that's my pick. 

However my choice is also to go to a vet who only deals with cats.  My veterinary clinic is a Cat Clinic that has one holistic/naturopathic vet (still traditionally trained) and the rest are very good, keep up to date and respect my wishes with various things (like not having a dry diet that so many vets seem to think is OK).

The vet practice I use is listed as "holistic" but I'm not exactly sure why.  The owner is traditional and will push Hill's and Royal Canin on customers (better than Meow Mix I suppose).  He wasn't terribly receptive to raw feeding when I spoke to him a few years ago, but the new vet that replaced one of his partners is excited about me feeding raw although he doesn't know much about it.  The only question he had for me was if I fed supplemental taurine.  Anyway, this isn't about raw feeding, just that I'm surprised to see the owner still push dry kibble to customers for their convenience without educating the owners about healthier options (wet).  Then again, maybe he knows his customers better than I do and the cat is better off with Royal Canin dry than Meow Mix dry.

Bottom line, like your own healthcare providers, I think you have to shop around.  And, like your own healthcare, be your cat's advocate.  We have lots of info and rubbish at our fingertips that makes this easier and more difficult all at the same time.  The key is understanding qualifications and what makes for good research.

I think many "traditional" healthcare providers are against holistic providers...in the human or animal world. Holistic providers show us that when you use their measures, you can often prevent needing a traditional doctor. If everyone knew the benefits of a good holistic team, traditional doctors wouldn't make as much money. Of course they're going to try to prevent that...unless you have a good doctor that really cares more about health than making tons of cash.

I used to work in hospitals, even went to pre med school. I know work for a holistic health spa. We do chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, homeopathy, aesthetics, infrared sauna, light therapy....before working in the field, I was taught that it was a sham. Now, however, I've become a true believer, as I've seen "miracles".

If you have the option of treating your pets holistically, I'd say go for it. Because on the flip side, a good holistic practitioner will tell you when you NEED traditional medicine as well.

Great post!

Mani said:

 
I think there are vets who are traditional but who will embrace alternative practices, and that's my pick. 

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I completely agree.  I took my first cat to a holistic vet when she was older, I had stopped giving her vaccines and basically just wanted her to live as long and as comfortably as possible with CRF.  But when she passed and we got new kittens, the holistic vet didn't do vaccines and I wanted the new kitties vaccinated as they were going to be indoor/outdoor cats....anyway, I've been through four vets since then, looking for a conventional medicine vet who was also open to supplements and 'alternative' treatment.  Not easy to find!!  A couple of them flat out refused to listen to anything I had to say about herbs or supplements or anything that didn't come as a prescription.  

The last vet I found, I set up an appointment to interview her to make sure we were on the same page before I started schlepping in cats and then finding out we wouldn't "mesh" after I'd paid for exams!  She's more traditional so hasn't necessarily suggested any herbal or nutraceutical options as a first course of treatment, but is open when I talk to her about "alternative" treatments I've learned about and/or want to try.  

We take the team approach. Western Medicine failed an FIV+ feral we rescued. He had "allergies" with terrible diarrhea and ate his abdomen and forelegs bare of hair.

We work with a very traditional vet - he has great instincts, isn't perfect but is very good at diagnostics, has worked on interesting problems in our kitties and will research and go to great lengths to find solutions - within the traditional framework. He's also a great surgeon, and we won't have anyone else work on our kitties if they need surgery.

We work with a local vet. She is very sweet, very good, and great at handling feral cats that others can't.

But neither of them could help Chumley. So we searched http://www.ahvma.org to find a Chinese Medicine trained D.V.M. Someone that could combine both traditional or alternate, or that could pick and choose.

We don't use that vet exclusively now because it's a long drive, and we don't like the practice where she works. It's business oriented, not overly friendly (SHE is, but she doesn't own the practice).

But all three of them know about each other and why we see who for what, and we keep the kitties records currently all three practices. And we may start at one vet, and pursue treatment through another.

But based on our experience, Chinese Medicine deals with immune-related problems FAR better than Western Medicine. Of course, I'm sure that just as there are good D.V.M.s and not-so-good DVMs, I'm sure there are good TCM vets and not-so-good TCM vets. We got lucky, and where our traditional vets couldn't resolve Chum's diarrhea for around 6 months, she had him fixed up inside of a few days. Where our traditional vets couldn't stop his "over grooming," her treatment was clearly working within a week. Chumley, treated via TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) does not need ongoing therapy (herbal or otherwise). He does not have "allergies." He is now a very healthy kitty. He still has FIV, but hopefully with her guidance, we've slowed the progression of the disease.

On the flip side, we took one of our cats to her because he had "a hairball problem." Well, it turned out hairballs weren't the problem: he had a large cancerous mass in his stomach. She did not suggest we pursue alternative treatment, she sent us to an oncologist. As the chemotherapy put him in remission, NOW we are using nutrition and supplements to help keep him in remission.

I prefer a "whole cat" approach, but it isn't always the best option for health results. This is why I like the team approach.

I have been to both with my kitties.  Like everyone else, there are pros and cons for each.  I think they are both useful and helpful.  My experience with the holistic vet was not a great one, but I think it was mainly some of his practices, such as expressing urine in the exam room in front of the owner, that turned me off to him.  I have a friend who now works at that clinic and she has insisted that some of those practices change before she started working there.  (She had worked for him previously as well.)  I'd go back to him if I needed to, but thankfully, my kitties have done well with our current vet. 

Also, sometimes an animal communicator can help; while they obviously can't treat the illness, they can perhaps offer some insight into what the genesis of the illness. I wouldn't necessarily advise seeking help first from an animal communicator, but it is, in my opinion, a viable option. The one I used gave me some insight into Ritz' sometimes voracious appetite. I may consult her about Ritz' FHS.

Denice said:

 
When looking for a holistic vet you need to make sure that he or she is truly a holistic vet.  Some conventional vets have added it to their websites, signs etc purely to bring in business rather than taking a holistic approach.  You should also be prepared for sticker shock.  Holistic vets do charge a lot for that initial consult but those are the vast majority of their business.  Many people don't go back after that simply because that is all they wanted, others only go very occasionally much less than to a conventional vet.

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Great point that didn't even occur to me Denice! I found two holistic vets within a 50 mile radius who I'm planning on checking into and I will definitely make sure they are practicing what they claim to be. One of them has these credentials listed on her website: "Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified TCVM Practitioner and Herbalist."  The website seemed completely geared towards holistic medicine. The other vet sounds promising as well, and I'm really liking what I read about her:

Pamela Fisher, DVM decided to become a veterinarian at age 14 after witnessing an unsolved disease which affected many horses in her hometown. She graduated with a BS from The Ohio State University and and continued her studies there at the veterinary school where she graduated in 1982. After many years in traditional small animal practice, she felt that alternative choices would greatly benefit our pets and she pursues holistic education seminars across the country. Dr. Fisher has practiced holistic veterinary medicine for 15 years and is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Association, Ohio and American Veterinary Medical Associations. Today she uses holistic and alternative methods to increase the vitality and health of our pets in northeastern OhioAnd thank you for the forewarning of sticker shock. I figured it would be expensive, but I guess a part of me was hoping it would be less so than traditional medicine. 

ChestersMommy said:

I think many "traditional" healthcare providers are against holistic providers...in the human or animal world. Holistic providers show us that when you use their measures, you can often prevent needing a traditional doctor. If everyone knew the benefits of a good holistic team, traditional doctors wouldn't make as much money. Of course they're going to try to prevent that...unless you have a good doctor that really cares more about health than making tons of cash.
 

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I agree, it does come down to money, unfortunately. I once read a post on yahoo answers written by a vet school drop out. He left traditional to go for Chinese medicine, and said that traditional vets are pretty much trained while still in school to steer patients towards procedures for profitability and practice to enrich their expertise. I felt this could be true when, on my last vet visit, they seemingly held Blondie "hostage" in the treatment area during consult. It was like the doc didn't want to discuss procedures with Blondie in my arms, lest I would decide to not do them. I felt like they were thinking it would be much easier for me to agree to surgery of some sort if he's already back there. This is how I felt, anyway. It could have been their protocol for various other reasons, but simply put, I didn't like it!

Ritz said:

Also, sometimes an animal communicator can help; while they obviously can't treat the illness, they can perhaps offer some insight into what the genesis of the illness. I wouldn't necessarily advise seeking help first from an animal communicator, but it is, in my opinion, a viable option. The one I used gave me some insight into Ritz' sometimes voracious appetite. I may consult her about Ritz' FHS.

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What exactly does an animal communicator do? I've not yet heard of them. I am open to anything that will help Blondie!

I believe animal communicators can tune in to a cat's psche in a non-verbal, sub-verbal way. Call it woman's instinct, ESP if you will. I think animal communicators can sometimes pick up on nuances to the genesis of an illness or problem (especially behavioral) that vets cannot. With that information, maybe you could guide the vet in the right/different direction.
In my case, I was concerned that Ritz had become 'distant' from me and I wanted to have answers to some specific questions like, how would she feel about my adopting another cat; how would she feel if I hugged her up, why was she throwing two or three times a week. The animal communicator basically told me via Ritz: I'm [Ritz] fine, you're the one with the problem.
The animal communicator was 90% accurate in the dynamics between me and Ritz and Ritz' basic personality. I asked her what Ritz' favorite thing to do was, and she told me.
At the time of the reading, FHS wasn't an issue.
I did ask why Ritz was throwing up so much, and "Ritz" suggested new medication, some digestive enzymes. I never really followed up on this, although I do give her probiotics and have recently started giving her on a regular basis a freeze dried treat to absorb escess acid before dinner. She goes 11 go 12 hours without food.
Concurrent with using the animal communicator, I used a homeopathic vet, which is NOT the same as a holistic vet. He suggested some crystals made up of herbs/essences. I didn't see much of an improvement but that may be because I was putting them in food not on her paw and not on a consistent basis. Ritz is a very skittish cat and wouldn't sit still long enough for me to put them on her paw or neck area, even though the crystals taste that sugar.
I would like to check back with the animal communicator to see if I am less of a problem (:--I'm in therapy now) and what IS it with her FHS, particularly since the worse episodes seem to coincide with meal time.

The animal communicator I used and highly recommend is Ellen Kohn at www.enlightenedanimals.com
The homeopathic vet is Dr. Gerald Wessner at http://www.holisticvetclinic.net.

I believe @LDG used an animal communicator and homepathic vet (same one as I did) for medical issues as well.

I believe in thinking inside the box--until nothing has worked and then you think outside the box--outside mainstream medical/vet modalities. I believe you should first consult with a qualified vet, one who is open minded about alternative therapy (accupuncture, chiropractor) and nutrition (raw feeding) and somewhat cost conscious. And if that doesn't seem to improve, then research other areas.

Good luck.