cheryl33 Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Hi all, well my worst nightmare is coming true _ Henry's skin is going bad again He has a small patch about the size of a 5p by his eye, which is where it started last time. I don't know what has caused it but I am not having the vets pumping steroids into him again. I can't bear to see him overweight and lethargic and just miserable again I'm going to try to the homeopathic route this time, but please can someone tell me if holistic and homeopathic are the same? There is an holistic vet in Lymm, but a homeopathic one in Shrewsbury. What's the difference and also, do I have to be referred to them by my vet? He was reluctant to last time Sorry for ramblings and loads of questions, I'm devastated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Holistic means they will look at animals as a whole, and not just concentrate on the ailment, so they would be looking to see if there were any other issues that could be causing the illness, and then adjust their feeding, enviroment, that sort of thing, they will use alternative/complimentary therapies rather than normal treatments. Homeopathic generally means they will just use homeopathy to cure but the ones I've known do use other treatments. As far as I know you can just go to one without a referral, I did, out of courtesy, you should inform your vet what your doing, but it's entirely up to you which type of vet you go to. Hope you find a solution for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Grose Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Celeste has explained the difference well - I would just add that some homeopathic/holistic vets require a referral so best to check with your chosen one first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl33 Posted September 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 thanks guys, will give them both a ring and see what they say. I have spoken to my vet this morning and he wants me to take Henry in for more flipping testing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Grose Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Well, of course he does. He is seeing loads of money walking away from him. Personally, I would be firm and say that you want to go the holistic route and therefore will be seeking an alternative opinion before you go down his expensive road that probably won't cure the problem anyway. If it gives you any hope that homeopathy can help - Barty has been having some remedies for the last two months and I am definitely seeing some improvement in his back. Barty wears his heart on his sleeve and therefore when he is feeling well, you definitely know it. He even climbed up on my lap this week for a cuddle which he hasn't done for two years !!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl33 Posted September 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Thanks Anne Barty He has has tests done over the last 3 years and I don't want to put him through it anymore. He was drained Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Cheryl your vet will need to refer you but they can't refuse to - if they do, then I would tell them you're going to look at finding a new conventional vet that will refer. My usual vets are very conventionally minded and probably think I'm a bit barking but they've never tried to refuse to refer me, the receptionist has always faxed over the dog's history without problem. If they didn't, I'd look for a new vet. Our vet is a "holistic" vet who offers homeopathy and acupuncture and works with supplements, advises on diet etc. Really knows his stuff, unfortunately a long way from you or I'd recommend him! Homeopathic vets are fully qualified vets in the usual way by the way - something not everyone realises - and have just gone on to specialise in homeopathy etc. We've used homeopathy and other things, including Reiki, to treat Minnie's hayfever as a first resort and it's definitely helped a great deal. Good luck, really hope you can find something to help Henry Oh, you should look at your insurance policy too and see if they will cover it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Sorry to hear about Henry Cheryl, if I can do anything please let me know. In the meantime I would spend as much time researching the 2 kinds of vets your thread is about, and see if there are others here in Cheshire or on merseyside as Shrewsbury is quite a trek. Call the RCVS to see if they have anyone close to you as well, or speak to the PDSA to see if they have a list of vets that specialise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 If you are looking for a holistic vet, I'd look at the BAHVS (British Association of Homeopathic Vets): http://www.bahvs.com/findavet.htm Not sure who is in your area though, sorry With regard to the holistic/homeopathic vet names, it might just be different terms they use, the ones I've encountered offer more than just homeopathy and as already explained, they look at the animal as a whole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl33 Posted September 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 thank you so much xx I'm, getting a few bits tonight from PM's (thank you ) to try and keep it under control or getting worse till I can get him to a vet xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyMalc Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 I have to say i've not had the most brilliant experiences with the holistic vets I've seen with Mal, but then I'm forever looking for natural ways to deal with any problems that come our way, so maybe I'm holistic minded after all. What I would say, after Mal having been misdiagnosed on several occasions by several vets, is see if your insurance would cover a referral to the Liverpool Small Animal Hospital for tests. There is not much point in treating anything if you haven't got the right diagnosis. Mal was tested for leishmaniasis 3 times by the vet, who sent blood samples off to some lab, and every time it came back either "undecided" or "negative". When Mal was at L'pool Hospital, the oncologist he saw wasn't at all sure of Mal's condition, so he called in their dermatologist and within the same day, leishmaniasis was confirmed, treatment started and within a few weeks the condition had cleared up and Mal was - as you saw! - a lot livelier. If either one of my two now would have something that my current vet didn't seem to be able to treat effectively, I'd immediately ask for a referal to Liverpool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 I can only second what Mal says about Liverpool, can't recommend them highly enough You could also start looking at Henry's health from a holistic point of view - what do you feed him on, what does he come into contact with, etc. Is he fed an all natural diet? I would be looking to remove anything artificial from his diet so that at least you will know he is eating healthily. The holistic vet sounds like a good move as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 Sylvia, at Many Tears, recommends Dermacton cream for Westie skin problems. http://www.freewebs.com/manytearsrescue/aromesse.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl33 Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 thanks guys Billy, Alex, thats for the L'pool hospital. They are an option I have considered before Anyhoo, just an update. I went to the vets on Friday afternoon and got some more Malacetic shampoo. The vets wants to titre test him again (this was done in 2007) so I said no, he isn't keen to refer him to a holistic vet. I nipped to see the one in Lymm on Saturday (she takes care of Adam's mum's horses when they are poorly) and she gave me some good advice. One of the girls at the kennels has dropped off a holistic-y type book as well which I will read through. I've been putting tea tree oil on him, plus giving him his usual cod liver oil and primrose oil capsules. I did change his food briefly last month but he didn't like it, so he is back on Arden Grange. I'm reluctant to change again as I have seen very good results with him being on this. I thought it might have been stress, what with OH living here part time, or me working longer hours, so who knows? x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl33 Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 rhank you for the Dermacton link as well. I have never heard of that and the results look brilliant I will order some when I get paid (only cos I;ve already spent almost £140 of our holiday money already!) xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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