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 Animal/Pet Case Study

Food Allergies/Bowel Problems - 7 yr. old Poodle

Animal Type:	Dogs
Illness/Condition(s):	Allergies
Treatments Used:	Animal/Pet Therapies, Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture
Date of First Treatment:	2/1/2007
Date of Last Treatment:	10/1/2007
Total Number of Treatments:	10

Original Assessment:
Syri is a sweet seven-year-old black poodle whose constant struggle with bowel problems caused her—and her people—great distress. After countless visits to vets and specialists, the question is whether conventional treatment helped Syri or caused her more problems. I will leave that for you to decide.

After months of diarrhea and reactions to medications, Syri and her people came to me for help. Her belly was swollen with fluid, patches of hair were missing and she no longer had any hair on her tail. It might sound as if Syri had been medically neglected with that history. In fact, she had been seeing an internal medicine specialist and a team of conventional veterinarians. After a series of ultrasounds, bloodwork and other diagnositics, it was determined by Syri’s conventional veterinary team that she had severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), possible intestinal perforation and recurrent Giardia infection.

Syri was treated for her symptoms conventionally with a combination of metronidazole, prednisone and azathioprine. Despite (or because of) this treatment, she became lethargic and her liver enzymes soared. An ultrasound revealed her liver and pancreas were inflamed. Worst of all, this approach had not addressed her initial symptoms. In fact, she was getting worse. Syri’s medical team believed they were doing their best by her. But they did not question whether she was intolerant of her many medications and try a different approach. Instead they used more and not less.

Syri next spent three days in intensive care with suspected acute pancreatitis. Other medications were added: Metoclopropramide, Cephalexin, Pepcid and a Fentanyl patch for pain. At night her people listened to her labored breathing and loud stomach gurgling, wondering when the next crisis would send them into intensive care.

She underwent more testing. Her liver values had grown even worse and now her white blood cell count was high. Out of desperation, Syri’s people brought her to their massage therapist, who showed them how to massage her belly and relieve gas pain through touch. She also recommended a holistic veterinary approach.

Treatment Overview:
When I met Syri and her people in February 2007, they had almost lost hope. Despite some initial skepticism by her person, a conventional nurse, we proceeded with a holistic approach of NAET allergy testing and found Syri had multiple food allergies. She was allergic to most proteins (including chicken, the main protein source in her prescription diet) as well as all grains and dairy. It was Syri’s allergies that were starving her blood of protein, resulting in a buildup of fluid in her abdomen and life-threatening gastric distress.

NAET testing showed us that duck- and turkey-protein sources would work for Syri. So we immediately switched her to a no-grain diet of turkey, duck, one duck egg, roasted yams, beet greens, zucchini, fish oil, calcium, digestive enzymes and probiotics, as well as Chinese and Western herbs. She also stopped all conventional medications.

Treatment Results:
After 10 treatments of acupuncture and allergy clearing, Syri regained her full health and even her missing hair! After 10 months, her liver results were normal, she had gained weight and no longer had fluid in her abdomen.

Additional Notes:
I often work with conventional veterinarians to combine the best approach of Western and holistic veterinary care to animals like Syri—animals whose problems have no straightforward answer. I was trained as a conventional vet, and I believe in an approach that combines both conventional and holistic methods. I only wish veterinary programs prepared more vets to reach out to a holistic veterinarian when conventional treatments are no longer helping. How many other Syris are out there, suffering needlessly?

But in Syri’s case, thanks to the suggestion of the family’s massage therapist and the dedication of her people to adhere to a homemade diet and holistic regimen, she is now a healthy poodle with a beautiful coat, and life is looking a whole lot better.

Case Study submitted by: Dr. Donna Kelleher (wholepetvet)

Whole Pet Vet	Animal/Pet Therapies, Chiropractic, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Acupuncture	(360) 739-7343
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