A Holistic Veterinarian
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A WAY WITH ANIMALS
Everyone in the county seemed to know that Jim had "a way with animals".
He was the herdsman for a large purebred beef cattle ranch on the edge of
town. His ability to raise calves was legendary.
People started telling me about Jim soon after I began practice in the
area. As a young, new graduate from vet school, I didn’t expect to be called
to such a grand operation anytime soon. But shortly after I opened my office,
Jim called me to come out and as he put it, “help him with a sick calf”. It
developed that he had already done about everything that could be done but he
opined that maybe I could give the calf an IV or something to keep his strength
up. To this day I do not know if he called me because he might be able to
glean a bit of useful knowledge from a new graduate or because he just wanted
to give me a trial run. If it was a test, I must have passed because he
continued to call me as the need arose. Over the years, I learned a lot from
Jim. He didn’t have any secret potions, no magic herbs, no tricks up his sleeve
… he just had "a way with animals"!
Looking back, I am thankful that he gave me a chance to further my own
veterinary education by watching a real animal “healer” at work. Jim’s most
important lesson was that there is a lot more to healing than surgery, drugs,
antibiotics, IV’s vitamins, herbs or anything else on the physical plane. He
showed me that there is another whole dimension to healing … that of a caring
touch that carries with it an inexplicable transfer of healing energy from the
healer to the patient. I can’t explain it, I don’t even have a good name for it,
but I know that it exists, for I have seen it at work.
Our modern medical science has not yet advanced far enough to quantify or
explain this type of healing. Without “scientific proof” many will scoff, ridicule
and label as quackery anything that they cannot explain. So be it. To any one
who has experienced this phenomenon, no proof is necessary: and to those who
have not experienced it, no proof would be acceptable anyway.
MIND/BODY CONCEPT
The first book I read on this subject was "An Anatomy of an Illness" by
Norman Cousins, in which he explores the role of humor and a positive mental
attitude in his own recovery from a serious disease. Since then there have been
many investigations into this mind/body relationship showing that the mind can
influence the body in which it resides. If you can accept that, then it’s not too
great a stretch to accept that it is also possible for a mind to influence a body
in which it does not reside.
This knowledge goes back into antiquity. In Biblical times there was the
admonition; “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil …… and the prayer of
faith shall raise him up.” (James 5: 14-15)
Over twenty centuries ago a Roman treatise on agriculture, 'De Re Agricola"
used the phrase … “The master’s eye doth fat the ox, his foot doth fat the
ground”. I interpret this to mean that in order to have healthy and productive
animals or crops the master must be intimately involved in caring for both.
On a more modern note, Dr. Marvin Cain, a renowned equine acupuncturist, made
this short but sage statement, … “Thoughts are things.” He went on to explain
that the positive intent or attitude of the practitioner toward the patient was,
at the very least, an aid to any treatment and at best a powerful healing force
in it’s own right. He also cautioned that a negative intent or attitude could be
deleterious to healing.
THE HEALING TRIANGLE
or the fallacy of double-blind testing.
An essential part of modern medical research is the double blind test to
establish a drug's effect. Everything is done to eliminate any bias on the part
of the researchers. The results of the test group compared to the control
group (which may or may not have received a placebo) gives an accurate
indication of the drugs usefulness … or so it would seem. In reality, the test
only establishes the relationship between the drug and the patient. See
Diagram 1.
A more complete picture of healing is shown in Diagram 2. which portrays the
influence of the practitioner on the patient, on the medication and ultimately on
the entire healing process. If a Doctor treats a patient and administers the
drug with the same clinical detachment present in the test, s/he has failed to
utilize a most important assist to healing. And if s/he relies only on tests and
sight and never touches the patient, s/he is missing one of the best modes of
communication, diagnosis and treatment.
This explains why some practitioners have great success using a drug or
procedure that has been “proven” by double blind research to have no effect.
It could also explain why folks who believe in the beneficial effects of DE have
good results using it as a wormer, while those with a negative attitude toward
DE have negative results. Unfortunately, for some "scientific" types, knowledge
often gets in the way of wisdom.
It also explains why retroactive studies of patients who received a particular
drug as part of a treatment program by a caring physician may show a markedly
greater success rate than would be indicated by the double blind study.
Some random observations …
People that have 'a way with animals' tend to employ a more hands-on approach
to healing such as chiropractic, massage and acupuncture. Acupuncture diagnosis,
is based in part on noting the response when touching certain points on the body.
It is a sort of a Braille reading of the animal's state of health.
I believe that this gift of healing is somewhat species specific. A Vet could be
fantastic with cattle and lousy with horses, not because of a lack of knowledge
but because of a lack of empathy. Most people (vets included) have differing
levels of affinity for different species. I know I did … I could do almost
anything with horses but would frequently get clawed by my cat patients.
I have heard livestock owners occasionally complain that their Vet doesn’t like
or isn’t real good at treating certain species, such as horses, goats, pets or
others. This may be true, not because they don’t like these particular animals
but because their inexperience with them may make them uncomfortable or even
apprehensive when they are called upon to treat them. A fearful or suspicious
attitude on the part of the owner only increases the Vet’s feeling of discomfort
or inadequacy. For whatever reason, if your Vet feels uncomfortable or even
mildly fearful treating certain species his/her results will probably suffer.
Whether a person has a positive or negative attitude towards animals is
especially important when hiring someone to care for your animals such as a vet,
a herdsman, a milker or a trainer. If a person is locked into a position dealing
with livestock and is apathetic or has negative feelings toward his job, the
animals will sense this and that person will probably never be a good herdsman
or develop any intuitive healing skills.
CAN A HEALING TOUCH BE DEVELOPED?
I believe that almost everyone has an innate healing ability, but not all at the
same level. Some, such as horse whisperers and natural born healers have this
gift at a very high degree. Others may have this talent at lower but still very
effective levels. This ability will probably never surface if you do not believe in
it or if you never have occasion to need it. As with many skills, this one is
enhanced by use.
TO CULTIVATE “A WAY WITH ANIMALS”.
You must have as least a partial acceptance of the concept that a positive
mental attitude can affect the health of your animals and you must have a
positive expectation that you can develop this ability.
You must eliminate all fear or negative attitudes towards your animals. It is well
known that animals can detect fear in humans and will often take advantage of
this fear by becoming more aggressive. If you are fearful you will not be able
to develop the rapport necessary for a healing touch. You must be at ease
around animals and enjoy working with them.
You must watch and study your animals as they relate to members of their own
species. To the extent that you can mimic their intra-species body language
they will be more comfortable in your presence and you in theirs.
You must establish a physical bond with your animals by grooming them,
touching them and petting them as often as possible.
Above all else, to have “a way with animals” you must remember that “thoughts
are things”!
