Page 13 - Autumn 19

AVH conference
Illinois, 25-27 October 2019 Report by Sara Fox Chapman
The Academy or Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH) held its annual conference from 25-27 October, in Lombard, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. More than forty registrants attended lectures at the National University of Health Sciences, a 15 minute walk (or 5 minute shuttle ride) from the Crowne Plaza hotel.
I plan to attend the AVH conference whenever it does not conflict with the BAHVS conference, or other essential life events! There was a lot to learn, enjoy, and think about at this conference, the theme of which was Radical Cures with Homeopathy.
Wendy Jensen, co-author of the New World Veterinary Repertory, carefully analysed patients’ symptoms to obtain a curative response with homeopathy in three chronic cases: an Arabian mare with a melanoma (biopsy verified) in her throat latch area, a cat with persistent nasal plugs, and an Airedale with chronic lameness. Wendy showed us the non-curative responses and progression toward cure; I find seeing how others work through cases particularly helpful.
Tara Timpson gave two presentations at this conference. The first discussed homeopathic treatment of respiratory infections in horses. Susceptibility is influenced by the stresses of weaning, training, and housing, and the environmental effects of
dusty or poorly ventilated housing and feed contaminated with pesticides or GM products. She described homeopathic treatment of an outbreak of respiratory disease in a herd of seven horses, how it manifested differently in individuals, and how it was resolved.
Tara’s second presentation discussed homeopathic prescribing in a no-kill animal sanctuary. Tara is one of the vets at Best Friends in Utah, the largest US no-kill sanctuary. As you can imagine, such a setting poses unique opportunities for homeopathy, as well as significant challenges. Tara presented four cases: acute trauma in a Golden Eagle, delayed union fracture in a miniature horse, acute respiratory disease in a kitten, and mastitis in a Nigerian dwarf doe. By working through these with us, we could follow her remedy choice and case progress.
Sid Storozum’s presentation, ‘Lost and Found: The Art of (Veterinary) Medicine’, examined how the practice of medicine and veterinary medicine have changed over time. The client – patient centered relationship has morphed into something where corporations drive treatment and ‘wellness’ protocols, and practitioners are pressured to promote practices that may not be in the best interests of the patient. Vertical integration on all levels of human and vet medicine drives this culture. Homeopathic and holistic practitioners are swimming against the tide, yet we are able to make a difference in the lives of many patients. There is evidence that more people are finding holistic medicine as they become disenchanted with the conventional model.
Rosa Ramirez gave two presentations at this conference. Rosa practices in Mexico, where distemper is widespread, and she illustrated how homeopathy offers an alternative
to euthanasia for distemper patients. Patients that are presented to her clinic are usually those that have a poor response to infection and go on develop neurologic signs. Rosa presented videos of a case, showing how the dog responded to the homeopathic medicines.
The next presentation showed how homeopathy can improve average life expectancy, in a case of a Cocker Spaniel severely affected with tetralogy of Fallot, where the typical life expectancy after diagnosis is one year. Despite some issues with owner compliance, the dog is doing well for over three years after starting homeopathic treatment.
Lisa Melling presented fascinating cures of congenital nervous system disorders treated with Calc carb. Severe ‘swimmers’ syndrome in a litter of Lab puppies responded well to Calc and supportive physiotherapy. A 280 gram 3.5 week old boxer with congenital dwarfism, hydrocephalus, and cleft palate responded to repeated dosing with Calc, with near complete closure of the palate and resolution of the hydrocephalus. The boxer’s final weight was just over 11 kg, and she had a bit of a wonky gait, though normal otherwise.
Martha Lindsay worked through three excellent chronic cases with us: a Lab with hypertrophic osteodystrophy, a Yorkie with Legg-Perthes (avascular necrosis of the coxo-femoral joint), and a whippet with an oral squamous cell carcinoma. Again, the beauty of this presentation was not just seeing the patient response, but understanding Martha’s thought process and case analysis.
The rest of the conference was devoted to Andre Saine’s discussion of his radical cures, also attended by the university students. Andre has expanded the boundaries
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