After all, what is disease?
by Safih Choat

As these articles progress, we will delve deeper into understanding in greater detail more aspects that contribute to the emergence of disease, whether in animals, humans, or any other living being.

 

With this, we will broaden our guidelines, reflecting not only that they (diseases) are most often investigated from a single direction, but also that false paradigms (page 26), in relation to what we "hear" about complementary therapies, contribute to them following tortuous paths despite their scientifically proven effectiveness, whether as an adjunct or as a veterinary specialty on the path to healing.

 

On the one hand, the behavioral study of animals, which thus contributes to a better understanding of them, mainly in relation to the specificity of breeds, origin, domestication, and their consequences for the emergence of behavioral diseases, in turn, presents itself in greater depth as a professional specialty, rather than within the teaching of veterinary training.

 

In addition to this, on the other hand, we have to understand that given the numerous aspects covered in the course, others obviously end up missing from the triage of degree of importance, in relation to the others, such as the issue of feeding and stress in hospitalized animals (page 30), as well as the issue of understanding this casuistic dynamic of the disease (psychosomatic).

 

Thus, despite the understandable justification given the multiplicity of preparatory content within professional training, professionals may, faced with this reality, feel uncertain about addressing these aspects with the animal's owner, often prescribing psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics) as the only solution for these cases, where the majority, in the long term, trigger secondary effects (mydriasis, dry oral mucosa, arrhythmia, urinary and fecal retention, vomiting, lethargy, thirst, drug dependence, etc.), suppressing the symptom, but not treating the cause.

 

In this context, we must also consider the heavy workload placed on the student, together with the average age of the student at university entrance, and therefore admit that the experiences and discoveries, the critical training of the new professional, the "feeling", end up coming after the end of the course, through "N" possibilities offered, together with practice. This book is one of them, interconnecting with many others, inviting a rethinking of more viable conduct.

 

Expanding this scope, for uninformed owners, they, in turn, faced with the facts, may seek alternative solutions, either abandonment or euthanasia, as per the cases cited below.

 

Fortunately, in a certain way, diversity is important and beneficial (page 29), mobilizing questioning and the search for new research in the face of these and many other cases of animal illness, in the constant interest of everything that may involve their well-being.

 

As a superficial complement, serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, responsible for sensory control, eating behavior, sleep, wakefulness and mood and consequent behavioral changes, is the target where psychotropic drugs act, inhibiting it.

 

This is what veterinarian and Facis professor **Dra. Sandra Augusta Pinto, a specialist in homeopathy, says in a video interview with Dr. Mário Giorgi, professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences/SP, reporting what led her to study Homeopathy, through her own experience with her pincher dog and conventional treatment:

 

Near the end of her veterinary medicine course, Sandra began to notice that her dog was displaying aggressive behavior, with masturbatory behavior disorders, and jealousy. This began to cause her major problems, including making it very difficult to live with him on a daily basis.

 

Taking the animal to a veterinary colleague, after discussing all the problems, he was prescribed a tranquilizer with a controlled prescription.

 

Returning home very dissatisfied, she then began to question whether there were other therapeutic possibilities that would be less harmful to the animal , since in this only way, the animal would be treated with a chemical (medication), leaving it lethargic, where then, it would not be naturally interactive in the environment and its relationships, so that, when it stopped taking the medication, it would obviously return to presenting the same symptoms.

 

Having learned about Homeopathy, Dr. Sandra took a specialization course and treated her dog herself.

 

"One of the advantages of homeopathic medication was the fact that you could put the medication in water," he reveals .

 

A few days after starting treatment, he began to show signs of improvement in terms of jealousy, aggression (he destroyed many things in the house), vengeful and masturbatory behavior, becoming a sociable dog.

 

Sandra also reports that in most cases she treats, the owners come to her after numerous conventional attempts, long-term use of corticosteroids and antibiotics that lead to possible liver poisoning, kidney failure, or in other words, presenting a chronic state of the disease. In these cases, the involution of the disease goes through a slower process when treated with homeopathy, considering the low vital energy they present after conventional treatment. However, in acute and non-chronic cases, the improvement of their clinical condition can already be observed within 24 hours, when homeopathic medication is administered correctly.

 

Other cases for clarification include that of Bruce and Bob, according to Dr. Maria Leonora Veras de Mello (8), Veterinarian and Homeopath.

 

**Barney - canine, Basset hound, 3 years old.

 

At the time of the consultation, he had a history of many fears at home and on the street. He was afraid of cars, noises in general, smoke, even the smell of smoke. This fear led to violent behavior, due to intense jealousy, he would not let his children get close to their mother, and he had uncontrollable, violent anger. He also showed altered and increased libido, climbing on people's legs and threatening them.

 

He was then castrated in an attempt to become calmer.

 

It didn't have much effect, and one night, sleeping at the foot of the owner's son's bed, the youngest (he always respected the others), attacked him while he was sleeping, and the boy had to go to the hospital to have several stitches put in his head.

 

The owners then wanted to sacrifice him.

 

Homeopathy was tried as a last resort.

 

The symptoms collected from the "Essential Homeopathic Repertory" were: Violent anger, Jealousy with violence, Insults, Abusive, Rudeness, Fear of panic attacks, Savagery, Intolerant contradiction to, Lascivious, Cannot be calmed.

 

Medication was prescribed on alternate days.

 

After 1 month, the dog remained stable.

 

A weekly dose was then recommended, and since then, it has remained unchanged.

 

Bob - Canine, mixed breed , approximately 3 years old.

 

He was taken off the streets and adopted to live in a summer house in Marica/RJ, where the owners only stayed on weekends. On these occasions, their children and grandchildren also went.

 

Some time after he was installed, Bob began to exhibit neurotic behavior, chasing his tail incessantly for long periods of time, or barking at the reflection of the pool water on the wall, and jumping anxiously on the children, biting their clothes, when they were playing pool and the shadows of the cues made patterns against the wall.

 

The owner was afraid that he would go "crazy" and wanted to put him down.

 

After talking for a long time, the lady who adopted him remembered that at first he would chase his tail when planes passed over the property. If they flew in a different direction, he didn't care. He also started to get very bothered when pigeons or birds flew over the airspace of the house. He didn't do anything if they flew over the neighbor's land.

 

It was difficult to medicate him, so homeopathic medicine was prescribed in his drinking water, daily, considering that he might be afraid of the plane falling on him, triggering a series of behavioral symptoms.

 

Many months later, he was much calmer, and got on well with the family.(8)

 

**According to Dr. Elias Carlos Zoby, president of the Brazilian Homeopathic Veterinary Medical Association (AMVHB - 2005), corticosteroids are used to treat seborrhea, one of the most frequent complaints in veterinary clinics, among others.

 

All these drugs that usually [but not all] end with 'sone' [dexamethasone, betamethasone etc.], temporarily suppress the symptoms of inflammation but in no way is this a rational treatment not even from an allopathic point of view.

 

While in normal dogs the epidermis [the superficial layer of the skin] renews itself every 3 weeks, in a seborrheic dog this happens every 3 or 4 days. In addition to this, there is the proliferation of germs: bacteria, forming small pustules with pus; fungi, causing hair loss in circumscribed areas and more dry flaking. Bad odor and generalized hair loss occur in all animal skin diseases that are accompanied by intense itching.

 

Corticosteroids, drugs used in the cases above, for example, have a hormonal effect, and if they are given in excess, and this is the most common in veterinary medicine, they will prevent the functioning of the gland responsible for producing the equivalent natural hormone, in this case cortisol. This will initially cause a disease called CUSHING'S SYNDROME, whose initial symptoms are: increased appetite and thirst, weight gain.

 

The next step, if he doesn't die from the syndrome itself, is that he will become diabetic.

 

According to the Dr., homeopathic treatment, with the choice of remedy being made based on the specific symptoms of the individual with the disease, generally cures seborrhea. It takes time, but it gets there! (9)

 

Given these examples, a question is in order before we go any further:

 

  Would it then be becoming clearer to you, reader, that what we must eliminate is not the symptom but rather the cause, including to better support and direct technological advances and interests and pharmaceuticals?

 

Let us then understand what the disease is, after all.

 

**The word disease therefore means the loss of a state of harmony, or even the disturbance of an order maintained in balance until then.

 

The loss of harmony occurs at the level of consciousness - on the plane of information - and in the body it only shows itself. Consequently, the body is the vehicle for the manifestation, or realization, of all the processes and changes that occur in consciousness.

 

When a symptom becomes manifest in the body, it attracts attention, interrupting (to a greater or lesser degree) the continuity of daily life, often abruptly.

 

A symptom is a sign that attracts attention, interest and energy, and therefore impedes the normal course of life.

 

A symptom demands our full attention, whether we like it or not. This interruption that seems to come from outside causes us discomfort and from that moment on our goal becomes just one: to eliminate the discomfort.

 

Since the time of Hippocrates, medicine has tried to convince patients that a symptom is a more or less fortuitous event whose cause should be sought in the functional processes that it investigates with such dedication. It carefully avoids any interpretation of the symptom, relegating the symptom and the illness to the realm of incongruity, where the signal ends up losing its true function - the symptoms become incomprehensible signals.

 

Let us take an example: a car has several indicator lights that only come on when there is some serious malfunction in the vehicle's operation.

 

If, during a trip, one of these indicators lights up, it is counteracting our intentions.

 

Due to the signal, we felt obliged to interrupt the trip.

 

As much as it bothers us to stop, we understand that it would be foolish to get angry with the little light; after all, it is warning us of a disturbance that we would never discover quickly enough, as it is located in some hidden and "inaccessible" corner.

 

 We therefore interpret the warning given to us as a recommendation to call a mechanic who can fix whatever is necessary so that the light goes out and we can continue our journey. However, we would be indignant, and rightly so, if, in order to achieve this, the mechanic simply removed the bulb.

 

It is obvious that the indicator would stop signaling - and that was exactly what we wanted, but the procedure used to achieve this would be too simplistic. It would be more correct to eliminate the cause that caused the signal to come on, rather than remove the bulb. To do this, however, it would be necessary to look away from the signal and direct it to deeper areas in order to find out what is not working. The signal only wanted to warn us and make us wonder what is wrong.

 

The symptom, in the subject we are now addressing, is nothing more than the indicator light in the example we have just given. What manifests itself in the body in the form of a symptom is the visible expression of an invisible process that intends to interrupt our usual routine through this signal, to warn us that there is an anomaly and to force us to investigate what it might be .

 

In this case too, it would be foolish to get angry with the signal, and no less absurd to try to suppress it, thus preventing its manifestation. What we need to eliminate is not the symptom but the cause. Therefore, if we want to discover what the symptom is signaling to us, we will have to look away from the symptom and look further.

 

However, modern medicine seems incapable of taking such a step and therein lies its problem: it allows itself to be dazzled by the symptom. For this reason, it equates symptom and illness, that is, it is incapable of separating form from content. This is why we do not spare technical resources to treat organs and parts of the body, while at the same time underestimating the Being who is sick.

 

In short, illness is a state that indicates that the Being is no longer in order or harmony at the level of its consciousness. This loss of internal balance manifests itself at the level of the body in the form of a symptom.

 

From this perspective, the symptom is a signal that carries information, since through its appearance it interrupts the rhythm of our lives and forces us to become dependent on it.

 

The symptom tells us that, as Beings endowed with a soul, we are sick, that is, we have lost the balance of the forces of the soul. The symptom informs us that something is missing. It indicates a defect, a flaw. The consciousness has realized that in order for us to remain healthy there is something that we are lacking. This deficiency manifests itself in the body as a symptom.

 

When an individual understands the difference between the disease and the symptom, his basic attitude and relationship to the disease change rapidly. He stops considering the symptom as the great enemy whose destruction should be his priority objective, and instead sees it as an ally that can help him find what he needs to overcome the disease.

 

At that point, the symptom will be like the Master who helps us to be attentive to our development and knowledge, a severe Master who will be hard on us if we refuse to learn the most important lesson. The disease knows no other purpose than to help us to repair the “deficiencies” and to become healthy.

 

The symptom tells us what we need to understand. However, to do so, we need to relearn the language of symptoms.

 

We say relearn because this language has always existed and, therefore, it is not a matter of inventing it but rather of recovering it. The language of symptoms is psychosomatic in nature, that is, it understands the relationship between the body and the mind. By rediscovering the ambivalence of language, we are immediately able to listen to and understand what the symptoms are telling us.

 

The course of academic medicine has been talking about healing without ever taking into account the interactive plane, body - emotions - environment, where healing is possible. Whenever medicine does not manifest the intention of healing through its actions, we will not criticize it. Medicine limits itself to adopting purely functional measures that, as such, are neither good nor bad, and are merely viable interventions on a material level.

 

On this level, medicine can even be prodigiously effective; One cannot criticize all of its methods en bloc, and if there is a need to do so, it will only be in relation to the individual, never in relation to the generality. The underlying question is therefore whether one is embarking on an attempt to change the world through functional measures, or whether one has come to the understanding that such an aim is futile and one should give up.

 

Anyone who has followed our reasoning will have realized that our criticism is directed at both natural medicine and academic medicine, since the former also seeks to achieve a “cure” through functional measures and speaks of preventing disease and the need to lead a healthy life. The philosophy is, in short, identical; the difference lies only in the fact that the methods are less toxic and more natural.

 

Domestic animals have a close relationship with their owners, and it can be said that they establish a certain unity, where owner and animal constitute a cell, to which it adapts in a polarized manner. Rhythm constitutes the basic scheme of all life. If we destroy rhythm, we destroy life, because life is rhythm. For its existence, one pole depends on the other. If we subtract the first, the second will disappear as well. Electricity, for example, is generated through the tension that is established between two poles; if we remove one of the poles, there is no longer any electricity.(1)

 

Behind each polarity, there is a unit, which, once in disorder, affects the other polarity, thus affecting the relationship between them, that is, the cell itself, where the weakest opens the door to imbalance, giving rise to many symptoms and diseases, even in an attempt to learn on both sides.

 

**Over time, diseases of domestic animals have undergone modifications. More infectious and contagious diseases emerge or re-emerge over time; many degenerative diseases are taking hold and, even more, psychological and emotional diseases are also emerging in veterinary medicine.(6)

 

But could the domestication process modify an animal's behavior to the point of making it similar to its domesticator?

 

**According to Fox, as a consequence of domestication (genetic selection, alteration of the social and ecological environment), animals can, throughout their phylogenetic and/or ontogenetic history:

 

1) Suffer atrophy or hypertrophy, increase or decrease in the threshold of response to stimuli of behavioral patterns

2) Omit, reorder or exaggerate one or more components of a behavioral sequence

3) Develop ritualization or emancipation of a pattern or component

4) Develop new behavioral patterns resulting from the development process.

 

It is important to remember that such modifications are the result of artificial selection and therefore have deliberately or unintentionally accentuated or attenuated some inappropriate behavioral patterns of the dog. The study of the evolutionary process shows us that whenever natural selection has occurred, the behavioral modifications were within a relevant adaptive ecological context, that is, such behaviors served to improve the efficiency of an original function with a view to overall fitness (survival and reproduction).

 

In the case of artificial selection, the objectives are different. They are objectives that target hunting, traction, herding, companionship and aesthetic functions. Thus, dogs of the most diverse breeds and for the most diverse functions have emerged. In this way, some components of behavioral patterns have been modified. Thus, we can see the Border Collie performing its herding function with great skill, surrounding and cornering sheep, but unlike its distant relatives, the wolves, it does not attack and eat them.

 

In some cases, artificial selection has favored aesthetic aspects and failed to consider behavioral aspects. An example of this is the poodle, originally selected for hunting but today a companion and beauty dog. In the search for an improvement in their external characteristics, there was an involuntary selection of individuals with more pronounced aggressiveness. Today, what we can see are dogs of great beauty but that commonly attack and bite their owners. In this case, as in other cases, there was no emergence of new behavioral patterns, but rather a redirection of the original ones. It is in this sense that ethology as a methodological model can contribute to the understanding of the behavior of domestic dogs, especially in cases where the animal exhibits unwanted or pathological behavior.

 

Often, veterinarians can also interpret, evaluate or attempt to decipher animal behavior in a projective manner or using themselves as a reference.

 

The error of the anthropomorphic view is not in the fact that similarities or homologies are found between the behavior of humans and animals or because animals evoke feelings of empathy, but in the fact that animal behavior is justified according to human values.

 

When considering the adaptive importance of an animal's current behavior, it should be remembered that these were acquired during the evolutionary history of the species (phylogenesis) and individual development (ontogenesis). One way to study this evolution is to compare the behavior of closely related species. In this case, the study of wolves and other canids can help us understand the meaning of certain behavioral phenomena, their meaning or adaptive value to a particular environment and to the social environment. (7)

 

** A dog's behavior is directly linked to its owner's personality and the education it receives . Since the beginning of time, domestic animals have naturally sought someone within the home as a "model" to follow and they mirror the attitudes of this leader to perform their functions. The "boss" can be the mother, father or child, depending on the animal's view of the stimuli perceived at home.

 

Some people think that the dog cannot be alone for even a moment and dedicate 100% of their attention to the animal. Others train their companion between one break and another in their activities, but there are also those who, over time, get tired of the "pet" and begin to neglect the animal's needs.

 

A well-trained dog is a healthy dog. It is not just about knowing how to sit, lie down, run, fetch or play dead. The animal must be in perfect harmony with its owner, with the home and with itself, thus avoiding the emergence of behavioral diseases.

 

**Canine depression, for example, is one of the most discussed areas today in behavioral medicine at veterinary conferences and meetings. It is characterized as a neurophysiological disorder that can develop in several ways in animals when subjected to situations of stress, fear or anxiety. "The animal begins to show signs of inability to perform some biological activities and even begins to isolate itself socially," revealed veterinarian Juliana Elisa Silva.

 

The disorder can be caused by several factors, including the death of a member of the group, the introduction of a new animal into the home, changes in the environment and long periods of time away from the owner. "When the owner chooses to leave the animal in a boarding house for dogs or with someone else who is not in their hierarchy, they can certainly develop depression," said Juliana.

 

Dogs were made to be free and independent, and if they are educated in this way, there are no major problems adapting to such situations. "A very submissive dog, who was raised in laps and with a lot of pampering, would feel it much more than one with a high degree of independence. In these cases, the family may be one of the factors responsible for the animal developing depression," revealed the veterinarian.

 

According to Juliana, most dogs can be alone for a long time, but animals that are more dependent on their owners, who cry when they are separated for a few minutes, are more likely to develop the disease. "Even when the owner is not going to be away, it is important to develop habits such as picking up the car keys and walking around the house, for example. This way, the animal begins to realize that this is a normal practice and understands that when it really needs to be home, it will only be for a few hours," she said.

 

In many cases, the animal begins to show "separation anxiety" and may bite its paws and even destroy its place while the owner is away. According to Juliana, if the dog realizes from the time it is a puppy that it will be alone for a few hours, it will adapt. "The owner should always provide the animal with options to distract itself while it is alone."

 

Canine depression is no joke. Just like us, animals also suffer from behavioral disorders and require more attention. A good relationship between the dog and the owner is essential for the physical, emotional and psychological balance of both parties.(2)

 

*James Morrisey, a veterinarian at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (USA), states that dogs and cats are very good at picking up on people's stress, as are birds.

​

"I've been working with a parrot that lived with a woman who had a seizure, and the parrot could tell when she was about to have a seizure and warn her," Morrisey told Live Science.

 

In addition to carrying the burdens of people, animals — especially wild creatures — have their own sources of stress. And for these creatures that have non-mental mechanisms for perceiving the world around them, dealing with it is not easy.

Depressive states can alter behaviors, change attitudes and predispose to illness. Anxiety can cause diarrhea, apathy,self-harm and aggression may also increase.

 

Just like humans, animals can become stressed for a variety of reasons.

 

A 2004 study of stress-related illnesses in domestic cats found that the greatest source of stress for these animals is hostile relationships with other cats in the home.

 

"Although many cat owners in the study reported that the most common problem they saw was fear of strangers, this tends to be a short-term stressor," said researcher Danielle Gunn-Moore of the Royal College of Edinburgh (Dick University). "If a cat is living with another cat where there is conflict, that is a chronic situation that causes long-term stress."

 

And a 2006 study found that dogs in shelters suffered from excessive barking from other dogs. "While workers may wear earplugs, dogs do not have that option," said Crista Coppola, an associate professor in the department of veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"Excessive noise in shelters causes stress and can lead to behavioral and physiological reactions in dogs," Crista said.

 

According to veterinarian Luiz Antonio Scotti, assistant professor of ethics and animal welfare at the Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA) in Rio Grande do Sul, the animal's main language is body language. Pet owners should observe these reactions and also respect the five animal freedoms, which are:

​

1- To be free from fear and stress

2- To be free from hunger and thirst

3- To be free from discomfort

4- To be free from pain and disease

5- To have the freedom to express their natural behavior

 

. Pets need space and care. According to the veterinarian, we must understand that they are also living beings with individual needs. "For example, an animal that lives in a stressful environment will also suffer from the disease and develop related diseases," says Scotti.

 

Environmental changes can also cause stress in animals. According to the veterinarian, in the same way that humans get used to places and have difficulty adapting, animals also feel these changes. Sudden changes in temperature can also affect animals.

 

Wild animals in captivity are often stressed by environmental changes and are often housed in inappropriate conditions without enough space.

 

Mark Wilson, a neuroscientist at the University of Georgia, has studied female rhesus macaques. The macaques naturally form a hierarchy, with some females dominating the other animals, who are subordinate.

 

“Subordinate females tend to show increased behavioral anxiety—things like excessive scratching, body shaking, and excessive grooming,” Wilson said.

 

“Basically, the life of a subordinate female seems to be more stressful,” he said.

"Animals tend to live fairly stable lives. That said, however, danger and stress are a part of animals' daily lives."(5)

 

*Recently in Portugal, on May 29, 2008, the 6th AEICBAS Veterinary Medicine Congress was held: Raising awareness of behavioral diseases. The meeting managed to "surpass" previous ones in terms of attendance. Last year there were 180 and, in this edition, 220", emphasizes the general coordinator Eduardo Gomes.

 

As he states, there is a great lack of information in this area, where often the issue is that the veterinarian knows that the animal has a behavioral pathology, can identify it, but does not know how to resolve it .(3)

 

The excerpts covered in the aforementioned congress are below:

 

Behavior and aging:

 

With an internationally distinguished curriculum, in his first presentation at the meeting Gary Landsberg spoke about behavioral diseases that affect animals at the end of their lives. This is the case of cognitive dysfunction, that is, “the deterioration of the animal’s brain as it ages”. In general terms, this pathology “results in a decline in relation to stimuli”, but also “in relation to learning and memory”.

 

According to the specialist, “ the only way to diagnose this disease is by eliminating the possibility of other pathologies that can cause the same signs ”, hence the importance of the exclusion diagnosis. “Any change in the behaviour of a pet may be due to a medical, cognitive, neurological or behavioural problem and, specifically in senior dogs, to many problems. Just because they have arthritis or kidney problems, it does not mean that they do not have cognitive dysfunction. The difficulty lies in making the separation”.

 

The specialist advised that owners of older pets be asked questions: “the important thing is to ask,” he stressed. He also suggested sources of information about veterinary clinics, such as the website www.vin.com (in English), which presents a review of procedures presented at conferences and where students can also leave questions, access to which is free.

 

The company of animals :

 

Jon Bowen, director of the Behavioural Medicine Reference Service at the Royal Veterinary College, began by saying that, while dogs were domesticated over 40 thousand years ago, “as far as we know, for entertainment and food,” cats voluntarily associated themselves with large groups of people where they could find rodents.

 

This is one of the reasons why these felines maintain the behaviors of their ancestors: they are solitary hunters, they feed alone and like to catch live prey, which “has consequences, for example, at the level of metabolism, and therefore of therapy”.

 

Although they are not truly domesticated animals, much of their behaviour is wild: “what is extraordinary about them is that changes in their domestic environment can produce profound changes in their behaviour”.

 

The specialist took the opportunity to make recommendations that can be given by veterinarians during consultations: it is important to have more food than is necessary, as cats eat between ten and fifteen times a day; all the resources that make up their territory should be distributed in such a way that they have immediate access; on average, cats spend 12 hours a day resting, so it is important to ensure a comfortable environment. These felines feel safe in high environments and, as a rule, look for individual places to rest.

 

Nutrition “as therapy”:

 

Margarida Tomé spoke about the signs of pain associated with mobility difficulties in dogs and cats and how these same clinical signs are manifested.

 

The panel's theme was osteoarticular pathologies, which, according to the veterinarian, are "the main cause of chronic pain in dogs." However, while it is easier to notice changes in behavior in this type of pet, it is more difficult in cats, hence the importance of applying mobility questionnaires; then there is imaging, which may or may not confirm the diagnosis.

If this is confirmed, the veterinarian recommended the use of diets based on nutrigenomics, which are already available on the market. Since surgery is not performed in these cases, "this may be an option to minimize pain and improve the animal's quality of life," she argued.

 

Educating behavior:

 

The last panel was a dialogue between individuals who deal with the dog: the owner, the veterinarian and the trainer. The discussion revolved around the importance of educating animals in the context of illness, an idea “that was present throughout the meeting”, and which was highlighted by the head of the Ethology disciplines of the Veterinary Medicine course at ICBAS, Liliana de Sousa. “Teaching the rules should begin the second the animal enters the house. Controlling the place where the dog urinates, for example, is an objective that can be achieved in just three days”, highlighted, in turn, the dog trainer and instructor Hugo Roby.

 

The speakers identified problems that require more complex intervention with dogs, such as pathologies associated with “aggressiveness”, which “represent the main cause of the number of euthanasia cases of these animals”, warned Liliana de Sousa. And although the solutions depend on the case, they almost invariably involve “changing the domestic environment” or the way in which the dog is communicated with, which has to do with aspects such as “their gaze, posture and gestures”, said Hugo Roby.

 

The importance of stimulating the dog’s sensory systems and encouraging socialisation as a way of preventing phobias was another aspect discussed .

 

 “Once a dog reaches puberty, which happens around six months, it becomes very difficult to reverse the phobia. Until then, it can be successfully treated in more than 90% of cases,” said Mónica Roriz, head of Puppy School at the Porto Veterinary Hospital. “Dogs that are very sensitive to domestic sounds, for example, can undergo desensitization treatment to the sound.”

 

Finally, Liliana de Sousa recalled the “almost political” role that the veterinarian must be able to assume, in the sense that “he often has to convince the owner to change his attitude towards the animal and give it training”, to “know as much as possible about the breeder” and, in the case of a pathology, “advise him to seek out instructors”.

 

The ICBAS Professor also congratulated the students on their organizational skills and “for holding a conference on a non-commercial topic .”

 

It is worth mentioning that, in addition to the speakers already mentioned, Fátima Silva also spoke at the meeting, on the panel “Clinical Cases of Dogs and Cats”; Isabel Santos, who spoke about “Feline Idiopathic Cystitis”; and Sue McDonnell, who, in addition to following the practical cases on horses, gave lectures on “Is it Physical or Psychological?”, “Equine Cognition – How do Horses Think and Learn?”, and “Five Most Common Behavior Problems in Horses – Evaluation and Therapy.”(3)

 

As we can see, studying animal behavior is a subject of specialization, and conflicting relationships between owners and pets can be minimized.

 

**Nowadays, veterinary medicine also adopts practices that have long been used in human medicine, such as natural therapy, attempting to take a holistic view of the animal, and is much more dedicated to prevention than to the treatment of diseases in general.(6)

 

** The methodological and conceptual model of ethology seems to be more efficient as a tool for the homeopathic veterinarian to achieve the goal of individualization and arrive at an understanding of animals, with regard to the behavioral phenomenon.

 

Ethology is based on a biological systemic model, that is, it considers the organic system as a whole that relates to both the internal and external environment.

 

The emphasis is on the observation and description of behavior within a natural context, avoiding a priori assumptions. It applies an essentially biological perspective to behavior so that the reactions of animals are seen as aspects of vital phenomena. It is therefore subject to the influences of the mechanisms of natural selection, that is, to ensure the survival (adaptation and reproduction) of the organism in a given habitat.

 

When carrying out a comparative study of the behavioral manifestations of animals, similarities can be observed. All can have territorial, sexual, appetitive, and social behavior, but these will manifest themselves in particular ways depending on the breed, species, or individual, according to the evolutionary process and according to the particular process of adaptation to the environment, even in cases where selection was artificial.

 

Therefore, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the entire repertoire of behaviors specific to the species, as well as all those considered problematic or adaptive.

 

The veterinarian who uses this methodological model should apply it in his or her daily clinical practice to deepen his or her knowledge of the animal he or she is treating and thus choose the most appropriate homeopathic medicine. (7)

 

**When prescribing, it is based on individual clinical and anamnestic data, which is obtained after a detailed questionnaire about the animal's life since birth until the onset of symptoms that are bothering the animal at the time, about the animal's behavioral relationship with the environment in which it lives and the people it lives with, up to a complete clinical examination and the meticulous observation of the animal and its owner.

 

The anamnesis (from the Greek ana, to bring back and mnesis, memory is an interview that seeks to recall all the facts related to the disease and the sick animal) and the detailed and complete physical examination can lead to a diagnosis in many cases, often avoiding unnecessary diagnostic tests and useless expenses for the owner.

 

It is from this perspective that it can be said that the animal's life begins even before it is conceived.(6)

 

Final conclusions :

 

As we have seen, behavioral problems in animals can be managed and minimized in side effects if the veterinarian can delve deeper into the animal's history, taking into account aspects of evolution, domestication of breeds, the influence of artificial selection, individual development, the meaning of the social environment, deciphering animal behavior in a projective way. (Let us remember, as above, that there is a relationship, interaction between emotions, the environment, and the emotional state of the animal, triggering diseases). However, this will only be the result of greater preparation in conducting this diagnosis with the owner, if the owner also observes the daily life of his animal, in other words, his well-being.

 

**It is always necessary to think “What is this animal expressing with this behavior?” Or, better yet, “What is it trying to say with this?”

 

Our brothers who are lower on the biological scale have the same symptoms that we present, except for the anatomical and physiological differences.(9)

 

It is important to open up the possibility of assistance from other complementary tools, minimizing the toxic and side effects of the drugs administered, which suppress the behavior, without treating the cause.

 

Pets have a close relationship with their owners, and the symptom is a signal that conveys information indicating that the relationship is out of balance. In this case, perfect harmony between the two is necessary for the balance to return and the disease to be cured.

 

Finally, there is a greater need for understanding, both on the part of the owners and the professionals themselves, in considering all the factors that trigger stress in the animal, causing psychosomatic symptoms (the owners in observing and providing conditions for its well-being, and the veterinarians in detailing the consultation), as well as a re-evaluation of what disease actually means, opening up the possibility of other horizons and approaches that encompass the variables and possible causes that often limit the form of treatment and Cartesian understanding, of course, considering that education prepares the professional, but it is up to him to constantly seek improvement, not only with regard to new technologies but also to aspects that, however "simple" they may seem, have profound implications, involving and contributing to what is considered disease and well-being.

 

Here's a question:

 

Could there be an important piece missing from this puzzle, which we defend ourselves against with shields and blindfolds, thus failing to understand the scope of Life more deeply, rationalizing, technologicalizing, and disconnecting components that interconnect and interfere in the health of every Living Being?

 

" There is not an “and” between the material and the spiritual plane, between the visible and the invisible, not even a hyphen between them. Spiritual means the center of your being, while material is the circumference of your being. The circumference cannot exist without the center, just as the center cannot exist without the circumference (Adsaran). (4)

 

*A hermit was sitting in meditation in his cave when a mouse approached and began to gnaw his sandal. The hermit opened his eyes, exalted:

 

- Why do you bother me in meditation?

- I'm hungry! - replied the mouse.

- Get out of here, you ignorant man - ordered the hermit. - I seek unity with God. How dare you bother me?

- And how do you expect to find unity with God if you can't even feel unity with me?

 

Notes:

 

**November 21st is National Homeopathy Day

 

Support Material and References used for Research:

 

ANIMAL WELFARE: CONCEPT AND RELATED ISSUES – REVIEW BROOM, DM; MOLENTO, CFM \

 

Animal Behavior - An Introduction to Animal Ecology - Kleber Del Claro

A book that aims to help young researchers better understand the scientific process, especially that related to

animal behavior.

 

* Interview with Dr. Sandra Augusta Pinto – FACIS Professor and Veterinarian

http://br.youtube.com/

 

1- Disease as a Path - Thorwald Dethlefsen and Rúdiger Dahlke

 

2- Dogs are the result of their owners' education - Rafael Leal, 6th semester - Morning

http://www13.unopar.br/

 

3- 6th AEICBAS Veterinary Medicine Congress: Raising awareness of behavioral diseases

http://www.veterinaria-actual.pt/

 

4- Communication between species - Dr. Sheila Waligora - veterinarian - USP/1984 (Intimate life - The call of the trees by Adsaran)

http://comunicacaoentreespecies.wordpress.com/

 

5- Duas Mãos - Quatro Patas

http://www.duasmaosquatropatas.com.br

6- Denise de Mello Bobány - Small animal clinic / Care for small animals

  http://www.portalveterinaria.com.br/

 

7- Dr. Mauro Lantzman - Veterinarian - Homeopath and Ethologist - São Paulo - SP

http://www.saudeanimal.com.br/

 

8- Dr. Maria Leonora Veras de Mello - Veterinarian - General Clinic and Homeopathy - Problems in Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology - Colpocytology - CRMV-RJ/2165: PROPAEDEUTIC, ANAMNESIS, REPERTORIZATION AND TREATMENT IN VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY FOR PETS http://www.homeopatiaonline.com/

 

9- Dr. Elias Carlos Zoby - Veterinary Homeopath - R. Natal, 308. Farol. Maceió - AL - president of the Homeopathic Veterinary Medical Association of Brazil (AMVHB - 2005)

http://www.geocities.com/clinicazoby/corticoi.html

 

 ** FACIS -IBEHE  http://www.facis.edu.br **

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