#1 got to find another way

Willy was my soulmate, and I regarded him as my baby since I didn’t have any children of my own.
When he turned 12 years old, I began to notice that he was gradually developing a nasal discharge. It was a subtle change, so I was not overly concerned by this development initially. After all, Willy was still active, and he continued to eat and drink well. Overall, I noticed no abnormal symptoms except occasional nasal discharge, so I didn’t think much of it.

During the next 6 months, his discharge became more frequent, and he began sneezing a lot. Willy’s once clear discharge became slightly bloody.

My worries intensified as I watched his conditions worsen. I took him to a specialist whom I worked with before, and there Willy obtained a CT scan and rhinoscopy. The specialist informed me of his condition shortly thereafter. Willy was diagnosed with nasal aspergillosis-nasal fungal infection.
In an attempt to provide him relief, he received a nasal flush under anesthesia-a standard procedure. Despite this treatment, he developed severe aspiration pneumonia. The doctor recommended another course of treatment, but I said no. His pneumonia was so severe, and I didn’t want to put 12-year-old Willy through the risk again.
The doctor then prescribed 3 different oral medications, which at that time cost $800 per month. This was a steep price, but I loved Willy and wanted to provide him with relief no matter the cost.
I followed the instructions and gave him medications for 6 months, but unfortunately, I didn’t see any change in his condition. Regardless of what I tried, his state deteriorated.

I was so desperate at this point. Willy still loved eating, but blood discharge began increasing until it was occurring several times daily. He sometimes had difficulty breathing because blood would clot inside his nose. Yes, I thought about euthanasia many times. But he was fine once the bloody sneezing stopped.

I conducted extensive research to find alternative ways to treat his condition. I was not expecting a complete cure, but I was searching for something to make his old life more comfortable and easier.
Luckily, I found one article that was about homeopathic treatment for nasal aspergillosis in a dog. It was only a case study of one dog, meaning that many people would say “it is not scientifically or statistically reliable.”
I didn’t care about the level of the study. I cared about the possibility. So, with nothing to lose, I gave it a try.

To my delight, Willy’s condition got much better. His nasal discharge decreased substantially, and he was in much better spirits. It was not a complete fix, but his life became easier.
A little over one year later, his nasal condition got worse again. I had to make the decision that any pet owner dreads, and I decided to say goodbye to my best friend Willy. He was 14 years old.

After losing Willy, I still regretted my decision and felt guilty. I know he lived a good life, but I can’t help but think that had I known more about holistic medicine, he may have had a better life and suffered less. Had I been more informed about preventative medicine, I could have fed him wholesome, nourishing food and helped him create a strong immune system.

I have had several other dogs since Willy, but I have never forgotten the regrets that I have about how I handled his last few years. I’m still learning a lot, but I have committed to giving all of my dogs the best lives possible by offering them preventative, alternative medicines.

​Veterinarians work hard to save animals every day-I know this because I work with them. However, I think veterinary medicine significantly lags behind the advancements of human medicine, especially in terms of preventative and alternative medicine. Vet schools simply don’t teach about how to prevent certain ailments-they only teach about how to treat them.

To say that something is “scientifically proved”, I think a study needs to meet level 1 or 2 criteria. This means that a certain level of evidence must be derived from the sample size, multiple scenarios, time, and labor. Natural products like foods and herbs are not patentable, which means it is not a profitable business. “Scientific studies” cost millions of dollars, and there is simply not much funding available for studying natural veterinary medicine.

How to take care of pets is ultimately an owner’s decision. I am not saying conventional medicine is wrong-I am simply suggesting that we have a lot of unknowns in medicine. So, I don’t want you to give up on a natural remedy or treatment for your pet because your veterinarians say that it is not scientifically proven.

Information—especially as it relates to medicine—changes so quickly and dramatically. The information I present here may be outdated a few years later. However, I hope I can give some new insight into caring for your pet. At the end of the day, we all want our pets to live long, comfortable lives.
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The particular study that helped Willy can be found here:
Epstein S, Hardy R. Clinical resolution of nasal aspergillosis following therapy with a homeopathic remedy in a dog. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2011;47(6):e110-e115. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5560