Our ethos at The Veterinary Wellness Centre is to combine traditional veterinary medicine with holistic care. Most of all we listen to our clients and patients, and treat mind, body and soul as equally important. We like to celebrate our brave and brilliant patients, so this is the story of Joey.
Joey is a border collie who was rescued by KWK9 rescue centre in Wick, Caithness. He was wild as a puppy! Before long his trust in Karen allowed his true personality to shine: joyful, fun, and bursting with energy. Call it what you like – “heart dog”, best friend, faithful companion – anyone who meets Karen and Joey can see that they are each other’s family. They spent many hours hiking and enjoying the beauty of Scotland.
Karen first contacted me because she noted Joey was just not quite right. Being a student of human herbal medicine, she wanted to find a vet who understood how herbs and pharmaceuticals can be used alongside each other. She had been to see her first opinion vet three times (The Wellness Centre was not yet open, we were operating as referral-only service Botanical Veterinary Care). They diagnosed a suspected muscle strain, and started him on some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which made no difference, and advised antibiotics that Karen declined because she wasn’t convinced there was a bacterial infection.
Feeling a bit lost, Karen asked me to come and see Joey. We went for a walk together along the pebbly beach at Musselburgh, so we could chat and I could observe Joey. Between listening to Karen I watching Joey I could see:
He was very keen to go for a walk initially.
He tired very quickly.
He walked with a stiff gait.
He had a soft, persistent cough.
Back at the flat, I did a hands-on examination and discovered:
There was no source of pain for Joey.
His heart rate, pulses, and lung sounds were all normal.
He quickly became extremely tired, almost seeming sedated after a quick examination.
His eyelids were dropping, eyeballs withdrawing into their sockets, and eyes flickering to the side.
Karen was extremely concerned, and so was I. I liased with the primary care vets to get Joey in for full investigations the following day. Blood tests did not bring their investigation forwards, so they referred him to a specialist centre. There, scans and xrays revealed megaoesophagus (a condition where the oesophagus (food pipe) dilates (expands) and loses motility (movement). This triggered further investigations which resulted in a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. This is a disease where there is malfunction in signal transmission between nerves and muscle. This includes smooth muscle (like the oesophagus) and skeletal muscle.
Myasthenia gravis has a mortality (death) rate of 50% at one year post diagnosis. Karen was devastated and advised that it might be kindest to euthanize Joey. However, she believed in Joey and wanted to give him a chance.
Joey was started on a pharmaceutical treatment by the referral centre, supported by holistic treatments from me:
Acupuncture to modulate his immune system
Herbal medicine:
Lions mane mushroom capsules for neuroprotective effects, increasing myelination and NGF.
Herbal tincture:
Astragalus an adaptogen, immunomodulatory, antioxidant; Peppermint an anti-emetic, antispasmodic, carminative; Dandelion root an alterative, cholagogue, digestive hepatic; Lemon Balm an antimicrobial, circulatory relaxant, nervine; Milk thistle a hepatic antioxidant; Liquorice an antispasmodic, demulcent.
Nutritional support:
Initially a specific canned diet fed in small meatballs, with added zinc to reduce reflux and improve his immune system, with added probiotic to support his digestion and immune system. After some time the canned food was replaced with a home-cooked recipe I created especially suited to Joey.
Occupational health:
Exercise restriction, and use of a special chair to keep him sitting upright while eating (to reduce reflux from megaoesophagus).
Although it hasn’t been smooth sailing, Joey has gone from strength to strength. We are now one year post diagnosis and he is thriving! He is no longer taking the pharmaceutical medication or needing acupuncture, but he remains on the herbal medicines and special recipe. He hasn’t had to see the specialist vet in many months.
Brave Joey is fit and well again.
He can now cope with holidays hiking in the Highlands, eating and drinking from a normal height, and is back to being a shining light of joy and fun. Karen took Joey for a celebratory photoshoot with the talented CatsDog Photography to celebrate, and we think they show what a superhero he is!
Joey is a superhero!
Karen is obviously delighted, and has this to say about him:
“Miriam really tuned in and listened to me to understand what was going on and observed Joey at a much closer level than others. She was able to spend enough time with us to look at his behaviour and bodily/cognitive functions at a level that hadn’t been possible before. She referred us to the right person immediately and whilst it was a very difficult outcome with Joey being kept in intensive care for 6 days whilst a neurologist investigated, the actions of Miriam resulted in us having a diagnosis.
Joey was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition that is hard to manage and adjust to, but with the appropriate herbal remedies, supplements and dietary changes tailored to him by Miriam, I was able to shift Joey into a stable state and the improvements were instant and rapid.
Now, one year on, Joey has a fantastic fun-filled normal collie life and is bouncing with energy! It feels like a miracle although it has not been an easy road!
We continue to use herbal remedies daily and his bespoke diet will always remain. I have no intention of stopping working with these as they’re such effective and helpful treatments and the proof is in Joey’s health right now!
Being holistic in my ways, I was always keen on a more natural approach and had never been able to find anything or anyone like Miriam at Botanical Veterinary Care/ The Veterinary Wellness Centre in Edinburgh or the surrounds (I’m in East Lothian).
Without the support from Miriam (I should mention the emotional support and reassurance I’ve had as well), I don’t think Joey would have improved so rapidly. Joey now only needs his yearly check up and his good health really shines through him.
Joey has recently visited us at The Veterinary Wellness Centre for a health check which he passed with flying colours. We look forward to treating Joey for many years to come!
Joey and Karen are back to their old adventures.
Photos kindly provided by Karen and Cat and Micheal of CatsDog photography www.catsdog.co.uk
