Dr. Marilyn Sthamann
Lakewood Animal Hospital
1151 Lakewood Court North
Regina, Saskatchewan S4X 3S3
306-545-6487

Biographical Information

I graduated from Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 1985. I have practised small animal medicine in Regina for the past 15 years as a partner in a busy practise. In 1999 I began investigating into complementary medicine. The recommendations and advice of several Canadian holistic veterinarians led me to study homeopathy.

In November 1999 I enrolled in the first professional Veterinary Homeopathy course in Canada. This course was developed by Dr. Richard Pitcairn. He is a graduate veterinarian who has been practising homeopathy for 15 years. I successfully completed the course after nine months of study, in July 2000. This was the prerequisite to applying for certification with the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. At present, I am in the process of submitting case reports for approval and once approved by the Academy, I will be writing a certification exam. (For information on this process and the academy visit the website www.theAVH.org.)

ABOUT HOMEOPATHY

The use of homeopathy represents an entirely different philosophy from that of conventional medicine. A holistic way of thinking, homeopathy involves the treatment of the patient as a whole, mind and body, and includes consideration of lifestyle, nutrition, and other interrelated factors. It does not consider the body as a collection of separate components as does conventional medicine, eg. Cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology.

The individual’s symptoms of illness are recognized as the body’s way of adapting to, and defending against, stress or infection. The idea of homeopathy is to give therapies that augment the body’s own defenses and that support and even mimic them to work towards a cure. An example of the body’s wisdom in creating symptoms as defenses is the common symptom of fever. The fever is recognized as the body’s way of helping to combat infection. To treat fevers, Belladonna and Aconitum are homeopathic medicines that in larger doses cause fever, and in very small homeopathic doses relieve a fever.

Dr Hahnemann was the founder of homeopathy, and he believed that ‘The physician’s highest and only calling is to make the sick healthy, to cure. The highest ideal of cure is the rapid, gentle, and permanent restoration of health; that is, the lifting and annihilation of the disease in its entire extent in the shortest, most reliable, and least disadvantageous way.’ As a veterinarian with both conventional and homeopathic training and expertise, I am able to offer a balanced approach to veterinary care for my patients. I believe this will allow me to have more success in healing than what has been possible with conventional medicine alone.

HOMEOPATHY ASSESSMENTS AND CONSULTATIONS

The first consultation, either by phone or in person entails:

Counseling to provide the proper exercise and emotional support needed to     achieve health.
Taking a brief history of the pet’s illness.
Discussing the process of homeopathic treatment.
Making a plan to offer nutritional support; which may include supplements     or herbal therapies.
Educating the client about the obstacles to cure; such as, previous use of     conventional medicines and the degree of progression of the disease.     Assessing the case will allow us to set realistic goals for treatment.
Discussing the plan to make the transition from conventional medicine to     homeopathic remedies, if the case allows.


On the second visit, by carefully interviewing the client, by observing the patient and reviewing the history of the case, I will be able to begin the analysis needed to identify the most appropriate remedy to administer. After the remedy has been prescribed, the progress of the patient is monitored with scheduled follow up appointments either by phone or in person.

Homeopathic care can be very effective at healing many of our pet’s common medical problems. I have treated a variety of illnesses and injuries including: bladder stones, a variety of cancers, neurological illness, epilepsy, allergies, degenerative neuropathy (progressive paralysis), back injury, and cystitis.

To book an initial consultation appointment, call our hospital at

306-545-6487

References:

The Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy by Dana Ullman, MPH
The Science of Homeopathy by George Vithoulkas
Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine
Edited by Allen M. Schoen and Susan G. Wynn
Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
by Richard H. Pitcairn DVM and Susan Hubble Pitcairn
Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs by Don Hamilton


Internet Sites:

www.theavh.org
www.altvetmed.org
www.homeopathic.org

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