Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 7. Time for Change for Wonton the pug.

Wonton had his eighth appointment today.  He remains seizure free for the past 11 wks!  His skin is still a very significant issue and so I'm concluding that his original, and only remedy thus far has stimulated only a partially curative response.  A fabulous partially curative response, for which we are very grateful, but partial none the less.  We have unfinished business.  So the remedy has been changed to match the current symptom picture, ie., the entire group of all the new, active symptoms, as well as the symptoms from the history.

In cases that respond well to homeopathy we often see this reversal of problems.  They sometimes show up very obviously in the reverse order of how they first appeared.  Wonton had rather severe dermatological issues months or years prior to the seizures.  In fact, suppressing the skin problems may have contributed to the expression of the seizures.  Now we have a chance to heal the "bad chemistry" rather than drive it deeper.  It is likely that treating the skin with suppressive medications would bring back the seizures.  We are looking for a true cure here, and Wonton's wonderful owners are being very patient and dedicated to make this happen.

I feel confident about the case and hope to see Wonton resolve some of his skin issues quickly so he can have some fast comfort.

Notes on Neoplasene for treatment of Cancer in Dogs, Cats and all Animals -

In my veterinary practice I treat more cancer than anything else.  Neoplasene has been extremely useful for increasing longevity and quality of life in my patients.  Doing mostly phone consultation work with patients at long distances, I am often asked for some qualifying details on the use of the new "herbal chemotherapy"  (my label for it) Neoplasene.  Here is a bit of background for understanding this promising new choice in cancer treatment.

History - It is not registered as a prescription drugs as are most chemotherapeutic pharmaceuticals.  The formulator, Dr. Terry Fox, wanted to get the drug out on the market quickly, into the hands of those who could immediately create great benefit with it - veterinarians.  To present it as a drug for humans would have initiated a plethora of legal hoops to jump through and would have cost millions of dollars.  The drug would not have reached patients for years, and it's price would have been much, much greater.  The FDA has visited Dr Fox and examined his facilities and manufacturing practices.  They were satisfied with allowing him to go forward with Neoplasene on the market for animal use only, through sale exclusively to licensed veterinarians.


Neoplasene is a chemotherapeutic agent. Like any other chemotherapy treatment the use and optimal protocol needs to be prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian with Neoplasene experience. This will help ensure positive results and avoidance of many severe or extreme problems. Neoplasene can be well indicated after debulking surgery, although surgery if sometimes not in the best interest of the patient.

Neoplasene is contraindicated in cases where conventional chemotherapy treatment is used. Conventional chemotherapy attacks and depresses the immune system (and other systems needed for optimal health), while Neoplasene stimulates, uses, and needs the immune system (and other systems) for best results. Neoplasene is also contraindicated in cases where antiinflammatories or steroids (like prednisone) are used, though there are exceptions for certain situations. It has been designed to work best in combination with a comprehensive approach including optimal diet and supplementation, as well as homeopathy.

Often the most difficult obstacle for the oral form of Neoplasene (the most commonly used form) is palatability for dogs and cats.  It can be mixed with a strongly flavored food or syringed directly by mouth.  This is something best worked out on an individual basis.

Neoplasene is not a magic bullet, but it is very powerful.  And as is true for all things that are powerful, it can create apparent miracles or (when used without advanced medical knowlege) it can cause great harm.  It may not be appropriate in every case.  But where it is applicable the benefits can be extraordinary.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 6. Good News for Wonton the pug.

The last post for Wonton stated he had been seizure free for 6 wks (would have had 3 in that time period prior to my treatment) and that his itchy irritated skin was better.

The overall news is good. He has had several rechecks since that time and he is showing a curative pattern of change in his physiology. His road has not been as smooth as Arden's which gives a great opportunity for learning.

6.27.11
One seizure during the first week that the new, higher potency of Thuja was given. This is not totally unexpected. A homeopathic drug stimulates the patient's body to get active and change in a good way. En route some symptoms can get stirred up. This is, in part, because our bodies - dogs, cats, people - all use inflammation as a temporary stage to heal dysfunctions. Of course, when we get stuck in this stage, which happens all too often, we wind up with chronic inflammation and that can wreak havoc on a system. In the temporary stage, on the way to health, this inflammation can cause symptoms to flare up. So Wonton had a seizure. Still a great record.

He also is having more swelling, redness, and itchiness (inflammation!) in his right ear and face. These are old symptoms revisiting, very typical. It may be coincidental - a slight change in diet or environment or it could be a seasonal effect, but we hope it is the due to the reaction stimulated by the remedy. Then it is likely to resolve on its own and usher in a higher level of health.

7.26.11
No seizures! The main issue now is the inflammation and itching of the ear and face, with a new area of irritation in the axilla (arm pit). This is wonderful news. The focus of pathology is now much more superficial - at the level of the skin. Conventionally this pattern is not often acknowledged as a path to improvement/cure. It is obvious with something like an abscess. "It's coming to a head," we say, and we know that's a good thing, as the deep infection pushes its way to the surface. This is true for all curative processes. Wonton's seizures are deep seated in the neurological system. As they have diminished, superficial pathology is flaring. This is called peripheralization, and it is one of the techniques the body uses to heal.


Note, too that these are old symptoms that are revisiting. Wonton had facial swelling after vaccination (vaccinosis) years ago that was suppressed, not cured, with conventional treatment. He also had itchy face and paws last year that was suppressed, not cured, with conventional treatment.

Sorry for the itchies, Wonton, but we welcome them. Now we have the opportunity to cure these issues for good.

I prescribed a higher potency of Thuja and will recheck Wonton in September or October, as needed. Let's wish him luck!

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 5. Arden is near graduation!

Arden, the very happy lab came in for a recheck appointment on 6.21.11. His report? NO seizures. Not one. On one day in the previous month he had a moment of a "vacant look" accompanied by tongue smacking. It lasted about 30 seconds. It could have been a very mild petite mal. It could have been something funky tasting he picked up off the ground. We'll never know. It doesn't matter. He is in a very curative pattern, and I hope almost finished ("graduates" I call these patients). Record speed for a seizure case. I like to tell my clients that I like them, but I hope I don't see them very often!

The rest of the 6.21.11 Arden report -
Still calmer and more even tempered. No longer hyper, just energetic. Starting pet therapy training! Amazing. Left hind lameness is gone. No longer eats family's clothing, just carries it around. Ears are fine. Coat looks and feels softer, sleeker, "like silk."

This case is near finished. Treatment was the next higher potency of the same remedy - Thuja occidentalis 1M, and the next recheck is set for 6 months.

I started this case in January. This is what the process of true cure looks like. Arden's chemistry was like a couch potato who needed to train for a marathon. It takes time for the body to change its physiology. When it does, the change is generally permanent. It is reset to the devine default. Just as when a person's body with a fever returns to 98.6. It tends to stay there as that is the default, until of course, something else interferes with the natural functioning.

So there you have it. An "incurable" disease on its way to nonexistence, via homeopathy, proper diet, supplementation, and mostly accomplished by phone consultation with great team work between doctor and owner. Nice job everyone.

I like Arden's mom. I hope I don't talk to her for a while. : )

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 4. Arden's Good News

First follow up on Arden, the exuberant lab - 3.3.11

Arden is "doing beautifully" per her owner! She has had a remarkable, immediate behavioral response. Her owner, Mary, can see she is "more even tempered" and "a lot less hyper"! She is coming to call better when she is outdoors and giving up her stolen items (a favorite past time of hers) more readily. This alone is astonishing, that a personality that has been firmly in place for the lifetime of this dog has changed dramatically in one month! This alone is life changing for this dog and her family. What's just as pleasing is the seizure report.

There have been none. It has been a total of 3 mos seizure free, including this last month on the start of her treatment with me. This is the longest amount of time Arden has had between seizures. Could it just be coincidence? Sure. She has had 3 consecutive months without seizures before. But it is also possibly a very good start to her road to cure. It is all the more likelywhen considered in context with the improvement in personality and the skin report. The itching/chewing of the paws and tail have stopped completely! Again, a severe lifelong problem resolved in a month! If you have followed the entire Arden/Wonton thread of blog posts you may recall that Wonton the pug had similar skin issues, and a similar, immediate improvement. Interestingly, Mary also reports that the coat texture has changed. The fur is softer to the touch. This is a common response to my treatment.

Do note that these improvements, at their current level, may not be permanent, yet. While the end result of a cured case will be the enjoyment of these improvements permanently, they may wax and wane over the course of treatment. That is why assessment of the progression of a chronic disease hp case is so difficult and best left to a well trained, experienced professional. It is too easy to react quickly to an improvement fading and want to switch remedies or quit altogether. Patience is a vital skill for a homeopath. And a homeopathic client!

Going forward - the supplements and diet are continued, and Thuja is given at a higher potency to stimulate her chemistry to rise to the next level of healthier function. A recheck is set for two months. I am so excited for Mary and Arden. This is such a great start.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 3 - Wonton's Amazing Start

The story continues happily.

First some background on Wonton, the pug. Now 6 yrs old Wonton has been suffering from seizures for 4 years. That's most of his young life. They are grand mals that happen about once every two weeks. He also has some chronic dermatitis, with much rubbing of his face and licking of his paws. Very uncomfortable. He has had multiple adverse vaccine reactions - acute facial swelling, generized pruritis, rashes, hives, urticaria. He has also suffered from chronic otitis (ear infections) treated palliatively with topical corticosteroid/antibiotic ointments. His personality remains true to his breed - happy, sweet, bright.

His treatment included a customized supplement protocol, a grain-free home-prepared diet to correct his dysbiosis (poor bacterial mix in his stomach and intestines) and the homeopathic drug Thuja occidentalis. You might notice this is the same hp rx as for Arden, our other seizure case in this blog thread. This is just coincidence. Supplements included a good multivitamin (most multivits on the market are poor quality), and another to help with the environment in his GI tract. This is very important. The environment in the stomach and intestines will dictate the environment in the rest of the body, including even the brain.

First Follow Up Appointment - 3.14.11
Amazing! Wonton's owner, Jenna, has been seizure free for the first time since he was two yrs old! It has been six weeks. He should have had three in that time frame. Once he showed signs of starting one but it never came. I have been a doctor in practice for 26 years and practicing homeopathy for 24. I am still amazed and delighted like a child every time I see results that seem so miraculous like this.

Understand that the homeopathic drug did not do what conventional drugs do. The Thuja did not suppress the seizure chemistry, or alter the brain chemistry in any way. All it did was stimulate Wonton to change it, to correct it himself! Like a coach that trains an athlete, Thuja gave the instructions and Wonton's body did the work. This is why homeopathy can truly be called curative. Once a patient's body returns itself to normal chemistry, a state called homeostasis, it tends to stay there. Homeostasis is the default for body function. That is why, when done properly, there is no need for homeopathic treatment after cure is reached. The body is in "balance" and tends to stay there.

Wonton's paw licking has also decreased by approx. 90%. He used to lick for 20 minutes at a time. Now it is just 1-2 minutes. That's a huge difference. There was an aggravation of his occassional tendency to vomit. He had one week where he vomited three times. A typical flare up of symptoms during a move toward cure.

This is a very promising beginning for Wonton!

The Thuja dose was increased and a recheck set for one month.

Wellness Brand Pet Food Warning - 1

Yesterday I had a phone consultation appointment with a client who lives in the midwest. I have been treating one of her cats since July 2009. It has been a great frustration and sorrow for me as Queen Rose "Smith" had severe symptoms that included severe pain that was poorly responsive to any treatment. It turns out she is likely a victim of the Wellness pet food thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is a member of the B vitamin complex. The deficiency disease is called Beriberi, still a common disease of impoverished countries, but not here in North America! After several months (and a significant financial investment with all her vets) Queen Rose was "cured" within days of starting vitamin B complex injections. Wow. This is yet another example of why I recommend variety as one of my primary dietary guidelines. Variety is so very important - in brands of commercial foods, in flavors within a brand, in types of meats and veggies in home prepared diets. Had Queen Rose's family been able to implement this simple principle from our very first appointment she would likely have responded very quickly. Severe oral pain and anorexia prevented any change in diet at that time. We wrongly trusted her Wellness brand diet to provide adequate nutrition for a curative response to my homeopathic treatment. Brief info on this recall and other current food recalls are listed on the AVMA website and can be viewed at http://www.avma.org/petfoodsafety/recalls/2011/default.asp. Note that the "best by" expiration-type dates listed at this site may not be accurate. This thoughtful client has been feeding Wellness almost exclusively for years to a very large, closed population of cats as she is a wonderful, big-hearted rescuer providing superb care to her crew. She has been experiencing severe problems in several individuals over several years. It has cost thousands of dollars. Many of her loved ones have improved relatively instantly with the supplemental B vitamin injections. So, the problem may be worse than Wellness knows, or worse than they are willing to admit. This is an enormous problem. More to come...

HolVet makes national news

CBS news has started airing the brief segment they produced two weeks ago at my practice. It features two of my favorite little miracles. Enzo, a very happy Yorkie who no longer seizures and a mini doxie thriving two years after a diagnosis of brain cancer (also with seizures).

You can view it here...
Holistic medicine not just for humans anymore | Eyewitness News 9

I'm very proud of the feature and I hope it will open minds and offer choices to many pet owners. Spread the word!

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 2

Background on our seizure cases…

Arden P.

Arden P. is a beautiful, happy, 3 yr old black lab – easy excited and restless in the office. Her photo is not quite ready, yet. I met her Jan 31st. I liked her immediately as she pounded my chest to greet me! She did a great job of self soothing by carrying and shaking a small dog bed that I have in the exam room. Her owner has done a fine job of working with her to redirect her energy. I’m so blessed to work with such wonderful clients.

Arden’s seizures are grand mals, 2 wks to 3 mos apart. A very unusual characteristic is that she does not lose consciousness completely. She is aware of her family around her and can be comforted by them during the seizure. They started in Dec of ’09.

Note, she was given routine annual vaccines 2 days after one of her seizures! This constitutes medical malpractice. No vaccine is tested or approved for use in individuals with any chronic disease. This is a very big issue with me. Most of the pets I treat have vaccine related damage. But that is a huge topic for a huge blog thread at another time. Suffice it to say, it was not in Arden’s best interest.

Also of interest as a homeopathic case, Arden used to eat clothing, once needing surgery to extract a sock that was obstructing her stomach! Can anyone relate? She has very itchy paws and tail, and a “yeast infection” that was suppressed with corticosteroids in ’08.

I assessed Arden as having vaccinosis (chronic postvaccinal disease), sub-optimal diet (a grain-based kibble), and a generalized yeast infection (not just in her ear, though that is where it showed up).

I always give two prognoses to my patients at the first appointment. For Arden, her prognosis for improvement is excellent. I have little doubt that we can make a difference in the quality of her life. Her prognosis for full cure is good. That means a better than 50% chance for full cure, which is defined as no seizures, no meds, and expires as an old lady from natural causes. After all, that is the job of all doctors – to get you to the point where you don’t need them anymore.

Her treatment started with a homeopathic drug for vaccinosis, Thuja occidentalis, in a potency high enough to stimulate a curative change in physiology without excessive aggravation. Aggravation is the phase of curative change where things look worse on their way to getting better. It is similar to the phase of an abscess coming to a head before erupting and draining, or a fever that spikes just before it breaks. Arden also received appropriate nutraceutical supplements, and started a grain-free diet.

Arden’s response to this first step in her treatment will be evaluated at her first follow up appt in early Feb. Let’s all wish her the best!

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases

I have just started two cases of seizures this week – Arden, a beautiful, bouncy, active, three yr old black lab, and Wonton, a sweet, mellow six yr old Pug. I am treating both by classical homeopathy, and the generous owners have agreed to allow me to blog the cases as they progress. It is a rare opportunity to witness the unfolding of a treatment of a serious and complicated problem.

It is a professional risk for me, I suppose, to commit to documenting my work as it happens, whether I succeed or fail. However, I have given these both these critters a good prognosis, so I am confident we will have some improvement. Also, while it is not legal or ethical to make guarantees in the field of medicine, I do, always, make just two guarantees to every client. One – professionally, I will give you my best. Two – personally, I will treat you like family. On these two counts I cannot fail.

The other aspect of such an open door dynamic, an online reality show if you will, is that even if there are challenging issues, setbacks, surprises, or troubles, there will be something to learn and that is one of my main two goals. The other is to inspire.

Homeopathy is not magic. It can’t cure every patient. However, it can cure many with conditions we conventionally label as “incurable”. When it does that, it surely will seem like magic to many. Of course, those diseases we call incurable are only those which we cannot resolve by standard, popular protocols.

It is interesting to note that both these dogs were diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy. I will give a free phone consult appointment to the first responder to post the definition of idiopathic. Google it. It is very enlightening really. It is a blatant example of how the medical community gives fancy Latin descriptions to create fearful sounding medical jargon, and it can sometimes be quite meaningless, despite the professional and technical aura it creates.

Seizures are all too common in dogs. I was just filmed (do we say filmed anymore? …taped? …dvd’ed?) for CBS News. They are soon to release a series on holistic medicine. It will air nationwide. I’ll keep you posted on that date. The importance to this story is that they asked for two local, successful cases to film as part of the segment. One is a brain cancer, the other is a seizure case. It really hit me as I sat down to compile notes for this blog how horribly common are seizuring canines. It is a sad sign of the times. I want to change that.

Arden and Wonton have just had their first appointments. I will blog their intake with photos as soon as I get them. Let’s all wish them a smooth and successful journey.