Some of you who are friends of mine over on my Facebook Thyroid Support page have been following the saga of my dog, Belle. She's an adorable 7-year old Bichon, and she was recently diagnosed with mammary cancer, and given a fairly dire prognosis by a veterinary oncologist. So a few weeks ago, I decided to consult with a holistic veterinary practice here in the Washington, DC area.I'm not going to get into the detailed holistic protocol that Belle is following for her cancer here on the blog, but she's generally doing well on a cutting-edge herbal chemotherapy-like treatment, and remains a happy and loving dog who is comfortable and in good spirits, and is loving all the extra TLC she's getting. We are in hopes of a remission for her cancer.
What I do want to mention to you, though, was the experience I had the first time I took her to the holistic veterinarian. For that first visit, we had a long appointment, almost two hours, and the veterinarian spent a long time going over Belle's health history carefully. She wanted to get to know Belle personality, hear about her life history, discuss her diet, and understand Belle's whole situation, including her recent surgery to remove a lump and subsequent cancer diagnosis. She also proceeded to carefully check Belle over head to toe, talking to her lovingly the whole time. Belle turned into a puddle of sweetness in her hands.
The doctor was looking at Belle, and then she said to me, "Okay, Belle's a bit overweight, and puffy, her skin's a bit dry, and you said that she's sometimes lethargic...she's also at the age when we see thyroid problems show up quite a bit. Has her thyroid been checked? Hmmm...."
"I think the paperwork said that her thyroid test was normal," I told the doctor.
She then proceeded to root through what health records we did have -- Belle only came to us last summer from a Bichon rescue group, so we don't have a great deal of information for her, but she had a basic checkup before we adopted her -- and found that a TSH test on Belle had come back in the "normal range.")
"Ok, it was a TSH. But that's just one test!" said the vet. "I like to check Free T4, and Free T3, especially when a dog has a number of symptoms that suggest a thyroid problem."
At this point, my mouth was starting to hang open...
"...and you know, even then, if a dog has enough symptoms and risk factors, I sometimes like to start the dog on a low trial dose of thyroid medication. If they respond positively, well, we have an answer..."
Now my shock was shifting to pleasant surprise...
"...but of course, I often find that I like to use natural thyroid, versus the synthetic medication. It seems to work better in some dogs..."
At that, I had a huge smile on my face, as the doctor went on...
"And thyroid problems are everywhere you know, and we're missing so many cases of it. And of course, the cats have their own thyroid issues -- my own cat is hyperthyroid!"
At that point, I was laughing, and had to explain the situation to the vet, who was looking at me quizzically. The doctor had no idea about my own history as a thyroid advocate, or about my sites, books, etc. All she knew was that she was sharing her particular philosophy and views of thyroid treatment for her patients.
I told her I was laughing because there I was, listening to a veterinarian saying -- of her own accord, and unprompted -- all the things that many human thyroid patients so desperately wish to hear their own doctors say, and how lucky my Belle was to have her as her doctor!
At the same time, as I pondered that appointment later, I realized that it's a really unbalanced situation when a dog can get such an intensive checkup -- and from such an enlightened practitioner. Meanwhile, many of you go to doctors, and are told that your fatigue, hair loss, exhaustion, weight gain, goiter, and TSH test result that falls a fraction of a point within the so-called "normal range" mean that you clearly do not have a thyroid condition, and instead, you're sent home with antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering medication, blood pressure drugs, and advised to "get off the couch, eat less, and start exercising" and to "stop stressing out so much."
I don't really know what this says about our health care system -- whether it's an issue of better care when you're paying out of pocket (in comparison to systems drive by insurance companies and HMOs), or whether it's the benefit -- at least on some health issues -- of seeing a more holistic versus conventional practitione. Or perhaps veterinarians are simply more likely to still practice the "art" of medicine, and are freer to use their own judgment.
But I'll tell you -- there's a veterinarian here in the DC suburbs, and if she was a people doctor seeing people instead of dogs, there would be women lined up out the door, down the street, five days a week, to see her.
More Reading
More on Hypothyroidism and Health in Dogs
What is this vets name and does she treat cats?
What is this vet’s name? Does she treat cats?
What is the vet;s name? Does she treat HUMANS!!!
I always tell my vet that I wish I could be her patient and she laughs and says people say that to her all the time!
I think this is a marvelous story, vets have alot of training and its a wonder to me how well they can do when they are treating the silent majority of our animals who cannot speak for themselves and say “hey doctor i am not feeling good im tired im cold im bloated” they these vets are a remarkable species seeing without words from the patient what the best course of action is ! kudos to beautiful belle for gettig a good doctor and for you mary for not giving up on that first diagnosis and going another route!
Seems that this is the only way to contact you if you don’t have facebook.
Thought you might want to know that Thyax is using your name to promote their product. Look at the ‘article’ they quote on their main page http://www/thyax.com
I removed my thyroid about a year ago, and since then I have lost almost all my hair. It grows an falls right back out. tried dermatologist, endo’s ..name it ..no one knows the problem. my hair grows back healthy and then overnite I get burning, itchy and painful scalp and lose hair overnite as well. I have no idea..I am still on armour and cannot locate any help…
if u can help or reffre me ..email me at knai79@yahoo.com
Hello Mary,
What an excellent article! I dare say your vet is not entirely wealthy. Good care, quality time spent, and attention to detail do not go hand in glove with being wealthy. But, she is clearly both an exemplary vet and human being. Would that we could experience this through our visits to medical practitioners!
My daughter has a severey hypothyroid problem which she intitially had to diagnose herself, (through reading!) despite many visits to supposed ’specialists’. and it was only through a forum on the internet that she was able to locate a doctor in Sydney to treat her. I can’t say that she is restored to health because she stiil struggles with weight and hair loss issues. However, she has been able to resume university studies and hold down a full-time job, simultaneously.
I personally believe that thyroid problems have much to do with the foods that we consume and the additives that are hidden therein.
It’s time to stop trusting food manufacturers, to thumb our noses at their blatant disregard for our welfare, and get back to nature.
As a family we are doing just that. We grow much of our own food. We no longer buy convenience food, and that demands our cooking from scratch. Restaurants are generally avoided.
It’s hard because it demands time and planning, but the results speak for themselves. Ongoing niggling health issues, for which the GP would have reached for his prescription pad, have disappeared.
The reality is that the everage doctor simply doesn’t appreciate that nauture heals. They are so schooled in the quick-fix, drug-oriented solution that the drug companies have promoted. Let’s face it. There’s no money healthy eating!
My friend and I were just talking about this last week.How when animals are sick, the vet really looks in detail for what is wrong until they find out what it is. And then…. they treat the animal’s condition. They don’t disregard the animal’s feelings or say they are just putting it on! Ah, it’s a dogs life.
I first thought about this once when I was doing a search on something particular for thyroid, and kept coming up with VET’S sites and information for dogs and cats! I wished then that it was looked at as in-depth for us mere mortal humans.
I really hate my doctors for not hearing me! For over 10 years I have shared with them the symptoms of hypothyroidism to no avail. (I even shared my sisters, mother and grandmother all had thyroid problems) For all of those years I was tired, sluggish, and very COLD and uncomfortable. I had to leave Austin, Texas to seek help in Houston. It’s a real shame that doctors are not really trained on this. Perhaps, I could still have my teaching job if I had gotten help sooner. Finally, I showed up as a 6 on the blood test. Only then did my Austin doctor consider hypothyroidism.
Doctors: If it looks like a duck, if it acts like a duck, if it moves like a duck… it is a duck!
I am starting to wonder why the quality of medical care is so low in cities without medical schools. Now I don’t really trust my doctor, so I’m looking for a new doctor. Trust is earned and I found out the hard way my doctor was not really trained enough to take care of my medical needs.
Thank you for getting the info. out to help others. I actually diagnosed my own problem thanks to the internet.
Woof woof!
That is quite an amazing story. We also felt the same way about our pet and the information on wellness our vet was giving us (slightly overweight, how much does he exercise, is he getting good quality food, probiotics to aid digestion, etc), while my husband’s last visit to the doctor (he is overweight) was only, “so, are you on any medication?” and no conversation on weight, eating, exercising, probiotics and general health was asked. We need more vets to be people doctor’s!
I am SO sorry to hear about your sweet lil Belle…I lost my “Bailey” a few months ago…so, I understand…maybe her and Bailey are romp’n in the grass up there! I sure hope so. Again, my deepest sympathy.
sgarib
I am so sorry for your loss, Mary. It’s just not right that you lost her so young. I thought losing my Maltese at the age of 10 was bad. That was two years ago, and my heart is still broken. Just wanted to tell you that you are in my thoughts. The only people who can understand how difficult this kind of loss is are those who have been through it. You have my deepest sympathy.
And while I’m at it, thank you for being such an amazing thyroid advocate! I have learned so much from your site. I am a 43-year old Hashi’s patient who is still trying to feel good and also trying to conceive my first child. It might have happened this month. I’ll find out tomorrow. Any way, you’re amazing! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!