7 December

For Red, A Balanced Preventive Treatment

by Jon Katz
For Red, A Balanced Treatment

I took Red to see Dr. Suzanne Fariello at the Cambridge Valley Vet this afternoon, she wanted to administer some acupuncture treatment for mobility and immune system support and she wanted to talk to me about looking ahead and agreeing on what kind of preventative treatment might benefit Red and keep him healthy.

Red has had two severe bouts of tick-borne infections, he recorded four separate tick-borne infections, the highest Dr. Fariello has ever seen. They are, we both know, very likely to recur. Each time they do recur, Red suffers another blow to his immune system, eventually one of those attacks could kill him.

Dr. Fariello concedes that there is a lot vets don’t know about the tick-borne diseases, which are epidemic now in many place and difficult to treat.

I appreciate Dr. Fariello’s balanced approach to veterinary medicine, she mixes traditional and holistic and non-traditional medications. She is recommending a balanced approach to keep Red limber and support his immune system, which has, she believes, been weakened by this infectious recurrences of the tick diseases.

She also has noticed a cataract spreading in one eye, and said there is a highly regarded veterinary eye specialist near Albany. I said I don’t believe in taking dogs to specialists for complex surgeries, it seems unethical and extreme to me. She said he would be able to see find with one good eye and one slightly impaired eye.

We both agreed that I should start red on a Chinese medicine called Wei Qi Booster, a herbal blend that would help stabilize him, she said. And we will continue the acupuncture treatments every 4 to 6 weeks. I think preventative medicine – laser treatments, massage, acupuncture, and now, herbal medications, has helped Red stay strong and healthy, and I feel he has many good years ahead of him and much important work to do.

I like the idea of balanced treatment, Dr. Fariello knows her science, but it open to new ideas. She is one of the many reasons I do not look for veterinary advice or diagnoses online, she has worked hard to learn what she knows, and I’ve been the results of her approach more than once.

It’s a gift to be so in sync with a vet, it is so important for the welfare of the animals, and I know consider her a friend. From Rose to Frieda to Izzy to Lenore and Fate and Frieda and Red, we have been to the fire many times.

Besides, she is smart and funny and fun. I always remember not to forget having fun, even with a vet.

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