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Miro was abandoned as a three-month-old puppy at the elevated subway station near my home in Brooklyn. He entered my life at a time when I sorely needed the kind of love only an adoring puppy can provide, and, in return, I have worked hard to give him the best care possible. Miro is a salukiÑa thin, elegant type of sight-hound. He is extremely sensitive to all medications, and finding him appropriate medical care has been a challenge. Miro has an enlarged heart; it can't pump blood effectively. Miro first showed symptoms, such as daily morning coughing, when he was four years old. At seven, he started having difficulty breathing in the summer heat. A cardiologist at the Animal Medical Center, the largest animal hospital in New York City, did an ultrasound of Miro's heart and diagnosed his condition. The conventional drugs used for this disease are typically given at later stages because of their uncomfortable side effects. The doctor and I opted to watch and wait. In the meantime, however, I decided to return to alternative medicine, which I had used before on myself and on other pets. To be begin with, I called the author of a popular natural cat care book who in turn suggested I consult a homeopathic vet. I found a vet in Maryland who agreed to work with me by phone. This is not an easy process as I had to faithfully record and report all observable symptoms. Given my tremendous emotional attachment to Miro, I don't know how objective I was, and owning a dog was new for me. My vet, however, was very patient. She helped me sort out general dog behavior from "Miro behavior," and both from signs of illness. I was not treating Miro for anything specific, just general prevention because of his sensitivities; on learning that Miro had developed heart disease, my homeopath felt that someone with a fresh perspective should take his case. My new homeopathic vet was also very supportive. She felt she could help Miro breathe more easily. Treatment was going well until Miro had a reoccurrence of a chronic ear infection. Miro gets a foul discharge that leaves his ears raw and painful. The conventional treatment, internal and external antibiotics, works to a degree but the infection always flares again. Homeopathic vets think treating ears with antibiotics weakens the immune system and worsens health in the long run. In Miro's case, his coughing increased when he was on antibiotics. My new homeopathic vet was strongly against antibiotics. On my own I tried several ear washes I had read about in natural health booksÑbut the ears just got worse. Tension grew between the vet and myself: I kept insisting she treat Miro's ears; she kept telling me the heart was more important and even mild ear treatment was interfering with the deeper healing. I consulted a third homeopath and the same situation developed. Both homeopaths tried to heal Miro's immune system, anticipating that the body would eventually heal itself of the coughing and ear symptoms. Miro's coughing did stop but, since his immune system was busy healing his heart, it didn't seem to have much left over for the ears. A Cure for the Heart Homeopathic medicine attempted a real cure for Miro's heart. Allopathic doctors consider the heart condition incurable; their treatmentÑblood thinnersÑaims only at management. It might have been that, in time, the ears would have healed with the homeopathy, but the pain had gone on too long. After much soul searching, I discontinued the homeopathic treatment and went back to antibiotics again. Trying for a compromise between the deep healing offered by homeopathy and the symptomatic relief offered by conventional medicine, I had also consulted a "holistic" vet who specializes in herbs. He seemed a good find, but I was disappointed. He lifted Miro's ear flaps and ordered a lab culture just like a regular vet. He didn't take notes or ask many questions. I was given two different kinds of herbal drops. One was a brand which I discovered sells retail for a third of the price he charged me; the other was an alcohol-based custom mixture at $25 an ounce. Alcohol had irritated Miro's ears in the past and I expressed my concerns. The vet's manner was not reassuring. Feeling overcharged and ignored, I sought further advice. It's important to say here that some of my friends and family think I am crazy for dragging Miro to different vets. "Just go to one vet and do what they tell you," they say. It's true; I'm overprotective. I love Miro so much I only want the best for him I want him to be cured. Is that too much to ask? Eventually, I also tried Chinese Medicine, chiropractic and pranic healing, but did not find the "cure" I was seeking. Out of funds and unable to get fully satisfactory results (craniosacral therapy looked promising but would have required more treatments then I could afford by that point), I was thrown back to the only thing I felt I could do on my own--diet. Clinical nutrition has been the single most helpful treatment for Miro. Going on the popular theory that ear infections are often connected to allergies, I eliminated all suspect foods from Miro's diet and substituted others (see list below). He also gets a daily cocktail of assorted supplements. (see insert) If Miro misses even a single meal's worth of supplements he takes a quick downturn, so I know they must be helping. One thing that has really helped has been two dropper fulls of Vitamin E liquid twive a day into the ear. This has been better than any dogwash or anti-biotic cream. And, what is more, it is totally natural, with no side-effects. Do you want to know what I really think? I think Miro's heart swelled because he has so much love to give. I tell you how I know this. Miro is fond of long walks. He likes to greet every dog he meets with a friendly sniff and a wagging tail. He's a regular doggie ambassador. On these long, leisurely walks Miro hardly coughs or shakes his ears. In that precious space, for a few moments, Miro is perfectly fine and all is well with the world.
Alyssa Bonilla was the coordinator of Brooklyn's first dog-run. She lives in Carroll Gardens.
Miro's Anti-Allergy Heart-Supportive Diet
Foods buckwheat steamed tofu ground chick peas sesame tahini steamed vegetables occasional rabbit or fish fruits
General Supplements multi-vitamins multi-minerals lecithin bran enzymes
Heart Supplements carnitine taurine hawthorn extract coenzyme Q-10.
Quantities are not specified as these depend on the size of your dog. For more information please consult any of your favorite natural pet care books. A.B.
Ninety-Five Percent Love
My companion, a seven-year-old Chihuahua named Baby, came into my life when he was just five weeks old, weighing in at two and a half pounds. Baby was tawny colored with huge brown eyes and he and I established a special bond from the day that we met. Being an animal lover and activist, I have not yet been introduced to an animal with whom I could not bond. But Baby was indeed special; we were meant for each other as most people who choose their partners are. During the summer of 1997, Baby became ill. He started to bleed internally. He did not show pain. His energy level remained high and his enthusiasm for life continued unabated. I rushed him to the veterinarian whom I had been using since his birth. I discovered that his platelet count was so low that he was in danger of hemorrhaging to death. He was given elaborate blood tests, x-rays, sonograms and more medication than I care to remember. After six weeks of treatment, his platelet count continued to fall. I was told he would not survive. Every day I held my little pup and spoke to him. I told him how much I loved him and that we still needed each other. It was not time to leave me. I infused him with love. The vet could not understand why my dog was still alive. I told him Baby would live but he disagreed. After six weeks I changed vets. More tests were ordered, new medications were tried and I continued to hold Baby in my arms and tell him that he would get better. Yes, the new medications did work and his platelet count reached a normal plateau. Surgery followed that was extremely dangerous for Baby; he lived through it. The vet admitted he didn't know why. He simply said, "This dog does not want to die." Today, Baby continues his medications. Despite a few minor setbacks, he will be with me for a long time. Did the new medications cure him or was it my love? I like to think it was 95 percent love.
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