Viewer
Viewpoint And
now, a few words from our viewers...
The
Cats are Talking... About Chronic Disease
Having watched animals and their illnesses for the last twenty-odd years of practice, I am seeing a disturbing trend. Have you noticed it, too? When illness strikes our pets, it is long term, chronic, and difficult to cure. The best that conventional medicine seems able to do is to (barely or briefly) control symptoms, but these poor creatures never get back to a normal, enthusiastic level of health. We've all seen these animals: they are allergic to something and itch a lot; they have thyroid problems and lose their hair or their body weight (depending on whether they have too little or too much thyroid function); they have stiffness and pain in their joints; or their teeth get filthy regularly, and they don't stay clean with our best efforts at dental hygiene. Why is this becoming so common? When I look at it carefully, it's apparent that we are not raising healthy pets. Oh, we try, we follow the veterinary line that says we should vaccinate every one every year, we should feed only one kind of food from a bag or can, we should brush teeth regularly, control fleas with the latest chemicals, but where is this getting us and our four-footed companions? The cats are telling a story about this that I want to share with you. Back twenty some years ago, dogs were the most popular pet in America. Cats were less popular, and, therefore, had less likelihood of being brought to the vet. As the years went on, more people lived in smaller spaces, led busier lives, and had less time to care for a dog, but wanted that special companionship that a pet can bring, so cats grew in popularity, until, by the mid-80's, they overtook dogs in numbers owned per capita. And where did the conscientious pet owners get their advice on raising the healthiest cats they could? From their local veterinarian, of course. What was the definition of giving the best care? Vaccinating annually, feeding Science Diet, brushing teeth, treating for fleas, etc. Just like it had been for years before with the canine population. Interestingly enough, the diseases that are quite common in cats now were virtually unknown in the late 70's when I was in veterinary school. We had two donated diabetic beagle siblings who lived in the hospital and taught us about this strange disease. It was something we never saw in cats, and it was pretty uncommon in dogs for that matter. We learned of hypothyroidism from several canine cases, but cats didn't have thyroid problems, and hyperthyroidism was not in the books or the exam rooms. We saw horrible skin allergies in dogs, with crusts and scabs and red feet and unending itchiness, but we didn't see cats with this disease, either. Well, if you've been observant in recent years, you know that these chronic diseases are fairly commonplace now in the feline population. As are heartworm (again, a dog disease originally), asthma, kidney failure, inflammatory bowel disease, dental calculus and decay, heart disease, and cancer. Why? Could it be that the cat is now following the same road that the dog has gone down? I think so, and what's more, I think we need to redefine what is the best way to raise a healthy animal. More veterinary care in the usual preventative way has backfired, and I think we are actually causing these chronic diseases to become more prevalent. While prevention is still most important, it's not best done by annual vaccines, toxic food, and topical flea poisons that warn us not to get them on our skin. And guess what? Wild cats like the lynx and bobcat are not experiencing these chronic degenerative diseases. Wolves don't die of heartworm disease or have dirty teeth. And nobody is dropping them heartworm pills monthly nor brushing their teeth. Might we do better to follow their example (fresh, healthy food, no/minimal vaccines, no toxic chemicals)? I think we will all be happier and see less disease in all species when we do. I know this approach works. Experience has borne it out in daily practice on hundreds of animals. Question the norm! Don't raise an average animal in the common way. The cats are talking. Are you listening?
Back to Viewer Viewpoint Table of Contents Do
you have something to say to the VetMed viewers? NOTE:
The views and opinions expressed in the Viewer Viewpoint
Previous
Features
Previous Features - Check out other articles from your Guide Veterinary Medicine Home Page - Main page for VetMed at About.com Library of Topics - Browse the site library of topics |
