Western meets Eastern medicine. 

I went to an all day continuing education seminar December 2, 2009.  It was part of the Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (SEMA) continuing education series.   I also attend the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) seminars.  I am a member of both associations and enjoy the opportunity for review and learning new items.  These seminars are for graduate, licensed practicing veterinarians.  Those veterinarians wishing to stay current attend.  I learn from people with more knowledge in a subject area than I may currently have.   Things and treatments change.

This seminar was a most unusual presentation of combination oncology (cancer) treatment, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.  There are two board certified Oncologist that are also Certified Veterinary Acupuntureist (CVA).  Dr Betsy Hershey  from Phoenix, AZ  was the presenter.   The other is Dr Erin Bannik from Oakland Veterinary Referral Service in Bloomfield MI.

The use of acupuncture is a helpful in reducing nausea, inflammation and reducing pain.  If you do not know how it works, it does not matter.  By aligning energy fields and use of "pressure" points it activates an energy flow from manual needles, electrical or a heated method.   It may sound intimidating but similarly you do not need to understand the workings of an internal combustion engine to be able to drive a car.  When you use the right amount of energy (gas pedal) and do not try to occupy the same space as another vehicle you control the cars energy safely.

Using other holistic and traditional Chinese medicine may be a larger leap of faith for us Western thinking and conventionally trained individuals.   The medications and herbs required in addition to having exotic sounding names are difficult to pronounce.  I trust the medications of colleagues I trust.   This is the same trust and faith clients use when they bring pets to me for diagnosis or treatment.  I do have difficulty pronouncing names of Chinese mendicants.  To me they sound like either Ho Chi Min or Sum Ting Wong.

One of the Alternative Medicine sessions concentrated on an American plant called Blood Root.  This plant in the right case of clinician, cancer and critter shows some incredible possibilities.

If a tumor can be debulked (surgically reduced) in size but cells of the tumor are found at the surgical margins they are considered dirty.   Some neoplasia types consist of long finger like cells that indicate further treatment of some modality.   When clients are financially restricted and chemotherapy and or radiation fees limit options Blood Root might be beneficial.  The presentation was interesting, six or seven out of eighteen cases were going well at least two to four years post treatment.  This does mean there were issues with eight or nine case that did not respond favorably.  That means some died, had metastatic tumors develop, tumor was over a hock and encroached on tendons with resulting need for amputation of a limb, or an owner requested euthanasia. 

This is not an elegant medication and does entail bandage changes daily.  With tissue necrosis, (rotting) and falling off during early bandage procedures.  A strong odor is noticed at first.  Those that went through Blood Root healed up well and normal hair covered as location dictates.  This is a procedure restricted to outer body locations.  Using this around body openings or a cancer of the internal organs would not be practical or humane.  Blood Root does have an incredible ability to seek out cancer cells nuke them and leave normal tissue in place.  The challenge of bandaging some body parts will result in loops and tie over bandages.

Please do not call my clinic and request an appointment for any of the above treatments or procedures.  I do not do them.  I do wish to be aware of what is available for our clients and their pets.  It is important for me to know who needs a treatment and who does the best with a specific method of treatment.

My own dog Clover had bone cancer (osteosarcoma).  I understand the need for oncology treatment, surgery and chemotherapy.  It gives me a better insight of the process attempt to heal a cancer patient.  I understand chemotherapy enough to know people that really know chemo should do it.   They have the equipment and capabilities to do it in the best interest of the animal and their people. 

It was one year ago that MSU Veterinary Clinical Center held  an open house  for the pets nominated as their miracle pets for 2008.  This was for the survivors of incredible events, surgeries, chemotherapy and in memory of those pets that gave their best but went to heaven.   Clover was in the last group.   I appreciated the opportunity for closure with her.  My clients tell me they have the best pet.  I appreciate the strength of both the statement and the love it speaks about the animal human bond.   There is completeness having pets.  I maintain they are not a luxury but a basic need hard wired into animal people.  They are many other things a body could be doing.  Poop pick up is not for the faint of smell.  

Many different paths lead to healing.  Seeing possibilities of different modalities and newer applications of plant extracts to treat a nasty disease like cancer or other dastardly diseases is exciting.  Understand improvement in treatments may come faster if a curious imaginative mind is able to find a combination that works.   There is a management maxim that states, "Doing things the same way gives the same results". 

Some new is good. 

For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.                   
The outside of a pet is good for the inside of a human.