Expert: Dr. Christina Chambreau - 4/16/2011

Question
I have a goat, about the size of an aussie shepherd, and I just recently had my vet come out to check him out. I called him out because my goat couldn't walk. Almost at all. So the vet said he most likely has a fractured hip or pelvis which causes him to just stand and not want to walk at all. And because of that, he won't lay down. I'm very very worried about him because I'm afraid of what more this could cause. His ankles are getting a little swollen and you can tell he just wants to get off his feet. Do you think it would hurt him more if I laid him down myself? But of course very gently with some help. And I would certainly stand him back up after a while too. Anything to make sure he isn't in any pain. Do you have any advice? Thanks

Answer
I am so glad you contacted me. Like your veterinarian, when I only had my conventional veterinary training, I would have had no solution for your goat. The holistic philosophy has taught me that there is an underlying vibrational imbalance that causes most problems (even healing from fractures if that really is the problem) and the healing goal is to resolve that imbalance. To better understand this perspective, read the first few chapters of Don Hamilton's Homeopathic Care of Cats and Dogs or the few pages in my book, the Healthy Animal's Journal (available at Www.ChristinaChambreau.com). Now that the multitude of holistic modalities is available, I can tell you to never give up. Try one after the other, and record the changes with each. I cannot say if it would hurt your goat to lie him down because I do not know if there are fractures. I would get Reiki and Rescue Remedy first, then try to lie him down and let his response guide you.

Please go to my web site and sign up for the newsletter - www.ChristinaChambreau.com. You will get a FREE report on Natural Flea and Tick prevention. On the products page, there are many great supplements which may help your animals be healthier.

If you were trained in different healing modalities and had a number of reference books available (see below - YOU BE THE HEALER) you could help by using Reiki, T-Touch, HTA, flower essences, supplements, homeopathy and more.

1. Even before you are trained in Reiki, you can ask for this energy healing that cannot hurt and may help (See REIKI, below, for web sites to request healing, as well as Deena Spears and Donna West). It can be done from a distance, and some offer it for free. This will help the discomfort.
2. You then need to find a holistic healer (see below) to work with you and your goat. You may need to spend some more money for X-rays, or you may find that the holistic healers can help enough that he begins to walk and lie down with your help.
3. Rescue remedy from the health food store can decrease pain and stress. Put 4 drops in an ounce of water in a jar and give a few drops every time you are with him. You cannot use it too often. It is totally safe. It is great for people too - for anxiety, stress, shock, grief and more.

FIND A HEALER
I strongly recommend finding an integrative veterinarian with whom to work. This is a person trained in many different approaches, including using conventional drugs only when absolutely needed. Working with one can increase the chance that your cherished companion can live a long and healthy life after recovering from this current problem. There are good ones and great ones, and a few homeopathic veterinarians will consult by phone or email. Read my comments at the end on working with and selecting a holistic veterinarian.
You can go to the web sites for each type of holistic practice and use their referral list to find one near to you: Start calling the exotic or large animal ones to see which ones have expertise with goats.
1. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine: www.IVAS.org & www.TCVM.com
2. Homeopathic veterinarians (these can often help you by phone if no other holistic practitioners are nearby that you like): www.theAVH.org  
To find homeopathic practitioners for yourself, and homeopathic products, go to
http://www.nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/products-and-services; http://www.homeopathicpharmacy.org/members/; http://www.nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/resources/practitioners
3. Chiropractor - www.animalchiropractic.org
4. Wide range of other treatments: www.AHVMA.org, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
If you wish to consult with me by telephone, go to my website and read about my practice.

There are also lots of practitioners and approaches that are used by trained people that you can find by searching the Internet.

YOU BE THE HEALER  
I also strongly recommend getting some training in understanding the wide range of approaches to health so you can be in charge of what you choose for treatments for your animals.  You will also have a lot of reference books on home remedies and treatments so that you could look in the books to see some possible treatments for this or other problems. You can learn Reiki (which can take the "bad" out of vaccines and any needed drugs, or even make food healthier), massage, HTA, TTouch, acupressure, flower essence therapy, aromatherapy, all of which are 100% safe to use for any problems (see REIKI below). There are many more approaches you can do to help heal your animals with some training since they need to be used more carefully - homeopathy, herbal medicine, Chinese herbs. In addition to classes (see below), there are many very good list serves filled with people experienced with not vaccinating and feeding raw meat diets. Go to yahoogroups.com and look for “Just say no 2 vaccs” and “Raw Paws”. As with human health approaches, there are many different opinions, so you need to experiment and see what makes your animals more or less healthy. Keeping a journal can help you decide what is working and what is not working (www.HealthyAnimalsJournal.com). The newest is at www.thereconnection.com. While the web site is only about people it works wonders for animals even with no diagnosis. Donna West at dwestbear@comcast.net can treat animals, even long distance.



REIKI:
From the book, Healthy Animal's Journal - "Reiki: Personally, I think every person who lives with or works with animals must know at least Level I Reiki. The practitioner places her hands upon the animal (or it can be done from a distance – even internationally - as some animals are too sensitive for direct touch) with the intent for healing to occur. The energy flows through the healer into the animal. It is a very good adjunct to any healing modality, especially to relieve pain and inflammation. It also "takes the bad out of" things. By doing Reiki on smelly water in restaurants I have been able to drink sweet tasting and smelling water. Use Reiki anytime that you must give injections, vaccines, drugs, flea or heartworm drugs, or other substances with potential toxicity. Do you work in a grooming salon, or kennel, or veterinary clinic, or barn or anywhere animals are being seen? Use your Reiki on any treatments to be given and to calm the animals. People have reported getting animals to eat by doing Reiki on their food. http://www.reiki.org . http://www.ReikiTails.com is a great practitioner in Maryland who knows a lot about cats. Get a free treatment at www.interdimensionalhealing.com. Great information on Reiki - http://www.reikicourse.org Kathleen Prasad is a wonderful teacher and works with my favorite sanctuary and holistic education center, BrightHaven www.brighthaven.org.  Kathleen leads a free monthly telechat for anyone trained in Reiki and using it with animals. http://www.animalreikisource.com/ If you cannot find a Reiki Class near you (same class for people and animals as it connects you through an "attunement" to the healing energy of the universe, making you a channel of healing), three groups offer long distance, free, attunements. http://theholisticcare.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13 http://www.freereikiattunement.com Another group that offers Reiki attunements, classes and training on-line www.ReikiBlessings.com and animal classes, too www.animalhealers.homestead.com/ A client of mine is using Christine, Her name is Christine at cbearse@earthlink.net, www.awakeningrainbows.com. To receive free distance Reiki send her your first name only, city and state, and whether or not you have had any Reiki training.  She invites you to include your pets as well.  She uses a teddy bear and does a full body Reiki distance treatment for one hour each Sunday evening from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. EST.  Barbara Mariano, in CA (remember they do this from a distance) - http://www.barbaramariano.com/ Janice Shettle – Maryland – does hoseses, dogs, cats and people – excellent 443-801-4507

Another wonderful healer, Deena Spears works long distance with Tuning. www.Singingwoods.com. I have seen many animals and the people in a home be healed by her work on one individual – all benefit.

A new type of healing taught around the world is Reconnective Therapy and it works on people and animals. www.TheReconnection.com. Donna West can work long distance – www.Reconnecttome.com, as can many other practitioners.