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As old as the father of medicine, Hippocrates, homeopathy is a very popular and scientific system of medicine that was fully organized and described by Sammuel Hahnemann in the early 1800s. Hahnemann, a chemist, linguist and medical doctor, was translating a pharmacology textbook, when he read that Cinchona bark, used those days to treat malaria, was thought to be effective because of its extreme bitterness. Unsatisfied with such explanation, he decided to take small doses of the drug by itself, to see what happened. To his amazement, he developed intermittent fevers, sweats and all malaria symptoms! Observing this similarity between the symptoms produced by a disease and the drug used to treat it, he started studying other active substances.

For many years thereafter, he experimented with numerous plants, minerals and animal-derived products. He showed that each of these substances could elicit a curative response to rid the patient of the disease which resembled exactly what an excessive exposure to them would provoke. Examples are the use of the bee sting (Apis) in acute inflammation and swelling; Ipecac for vomiting; pepper (Capsicum) for burns. Hahnemann founded homeopathy based on one simple, verifiable and reproducible principle, Similia similibus curentur, or 'like is cured by like, known as the Law of Similars.

Rather than control and counteract symptoms, homeopathy works with the body in the healing process. Since one's symptoms reflect the attempt of the body to regain homeostasis, or balance, the tiny homeopathic dose sparks that reaction, acting as a catalyst to the person's own ability to heal. Going with the body enables the homeopath to use immaterial doses, since the patient is already oversensitive to that specific type of influence.

(Allopathic, or conventional, medicine antagonizes the body's efforts to self-heal and must necessarily be stronger than the body's reaction.) These minute doses of homeopathically prepared medicines (called remedies) do not have side effects. They can, however, cause a temporary aggravation, which is almost a summation of the disease with the remedy. This (sometimes called the healing crisis) is usually short-lived and followed by a period of great relief. The existence of this brief aggravation, and the response to homeopathic treatment on children and animals such as dogs, cats, birds, horses, cows, clearly demonstrate that homeopathy does not work by placebo effect. A Lancet study (9/20/97) reviewed 89 double-blinded clinical trials, where the authors conclude that homeopathy was 2.45 times more effective than placebo.

Homeopathic remedies were always studied individually; therefore response of the body is deeper and longer lasting when one finds the exact remedy needed by the patient, rather than using combination remedies which are readily available over the counter. It is also important to realize that homeopathy and conventional medicine sometimes have an antagonistic effect, and often your practitioner will help you taper off the drugs which may preclude response to these natural remedies.

Homeopathy is a powerful and important tool for the holistic veterinarian. It can be used in acute and chronic diseases and it is safe and effective. The result after treatment is usually a stronger body, a decreased susceptible state, a greater sense of well-being! Thank you for giving your pet the chance of becoming stronger and healthier!

There is wealth of new information on pet vaccines that indicates we over-vaccinate our animals.  Evidence shows that pet vaccines against viral diseases actually elicit the same kind of long-term immunity that we have come to expect of human vaccines. We give our children a series of vaccinations when they are young but we do not repeat these vaccinations every year.  We rely on the immunity that they have built up as a result of the childhood vaccinations.  New studies show that we can also rely on the puppy and kitten vaccinations the same way.  This newsletter tries to explain how this works.

Puppies and kittens are born immunologically naive, that is, since their immune system is not yet developed, they are unable to produce any antibodies. When the infant suckles its mother's milk (the collostrum), it ingests and absorbs a spectrum of antibodies.  These are anti-bodies that the mother has developed against viruses (wild and vaccinal) that she herself encountered during her pre-pregnancy life. This happens in the first few hours after birth and constitutes the infant's "passive immunity," as it was passively acquired from the mother, rather than actively made by the baby.

The passive immunity dons the youngster with antibodies against common viral aggressors but lasts only about 3 or 4 months.  By the time this passive immunity wears off, the youngster's own immune system is fully developed and capable of producing its own antibodies as needed.

Just as the passive immunity protects the baby from real viruses, it frequently interferes with vaccinal viruses. When we vaccinate puppies and kittens before about 3 months old, they use their passively acquired immunity to fight off the viral particles in the vaccination.  You could say that the vaccines 'spend' the youngster's passive immunity.  This may make them temporarily more susceptible to the very viruses the vaccinations were designed to protect them against!

Once the youngster's own immune system is developed and their passive immunity has worn off, vaccinations are reliably effective.  The vaccination reaches the youngster's own immune system, where the viral particles are tagged, antigens are identified, and the antibody production starts. The first vaccination produces a type of immunity called primary.  When the youngster is given a booster shot, it elicits the formation of memory cells, establishing a secondary response.  This response will remain in the youngster's memory cells for a long time, if not forever.  There are numerous ongoing, independent studies designed to determine the duration of immunity of every particular vaccine marketed for pets.

There are exceptions to this modified vaccination schedule for pets: bacterial vaccines, which elicit a poor immune system memory. People may need "booster shots" to deal with certain bacterial particles (ie., tetanus). Canine vaccines that are bacterial are kennel cough and leptospirosis.  Dogs could be required boosters for these.  There may also be legal requirements to follow, namely, Rabies vaccinations.

Vaccines have a place in wellness programs when they pass the following scrutinity:

1. The disease they protect against is serious, even fatal, like canine and feline distemper and parvovirus
2. The disease exists in your geographical area (that is, there will be exposure)
3. The vaccine is safe and effective (it works, and it won't cause any serious problems in itself)

There are several commonly used vaccines that immediately flunk this test for one or more reasons:

1. Canine coronavirus is not fatal nor serious.
2. We don't have either leptospirosis or lyme disease around here and the vaccine is neither safe nor effective!
3. Kennel cough is not a serious problem nor is the vaccine effective enough to justify its use (nevertheless it is required by so many kennels!).
4. Cats have been harmed by feline leukemia vaccines, which are neither safe, nor effective
5. FIP vaccines are ineffective and may intensify disease.
6. Finally, the vaccine against Chlamydia often provokes clinical symptoms in the vaccinated cat and even their companions!

Healthy kittens and puppies 3 and 4 months old are the best candidates for well-selected vaccinations. By this time, their passive immunity is running low, the vaccine will be minimally interfered with, and the young immune system is quite ready for challenge. That is the time when they start being exposed to a broader world, going to puppy classes, the park, the groomer, the vet, the back yard. Each individual should be evaluated for risks they run in their lifestyles (a show cat may differ in needs from a single cat in an apartment!)

Recommendations may vary by geographical area. In the Seattle area, we recommend a minimal amount of immunizations. Dogs should be protected against Distemper and Parvovirus. Cats should be protected against Panleukopenia (kitty distemper). State law requires Rabies vaccinations every three years.  Those are the only vaccines that we recommend at MercyVet at this time. We do not recommend annual boosters.  These lack scientific validation and verification.

Ask your holistic veterinarian about nosodes, a homeopathic alternative to vaccines… and keep your pet strong, happy and healthy, through good nutrition and a clean, rich environment!