May 12, 2008
by Dr. Alan Ward, DVM, Plano Animal Clinic
Viral diseases have long been considered the scourge of the
animal population, both wild and domestic. The viral disease
of canine distemper is no less devastating to a dog than small
pox would be to a human. Yes, a few survive, but most die. The
advent of vaccinations has saved the lives of millions of domestic
animals, just as vaccines have saved the lives of millions upon
millions of people. Unfortunately, many pets get exposed to viruses
before they are vaccinated or before the vaccines have time to
take effect.
This is especially true of young dogs and cats in animal shelters.
Over the years, we have seen many heartbreaking cases of newly
adopted kittens and puppies presented for their checkup with
their excited new owner. While they may have appeared healthy
at the time, many of these puppies and kittens would later break
with viral disease and die a horrible death within six to eight
weeks, especially puppies with canine distemper virus.
In 1999, I began trying a combination of alternative therapies
on these sick, sick puppies. (Conventional antibiotics did nothing
for them.) We had two puppies in succession survive. They did,
however, develop a secondary seizure disorder called ‘myoclonus’ (rhythmic
twitching), but they did survive. I altered our treatment protocol,
and with a little luck and the grace of God, we saw a major change.
The puppies began surviving without side effects—no seizures,
no myoclonus. They were normal.
From these humble beginnings came a treatment protocol that
has worked in a high percentage of distemper cases. Approximately
80% of over 120 cases treated (as of March, 2008) have recovered.
This is remarkable, considering that any veterinary textbook
or veterinary school teaches and believes that canine distemper
is virtually incurable.
A fascinating fact began to emerge . . . This treatment protocol
also worked for other canine viral diseases, such as parvovirus
and hepatitis. I have also adopted this protocol, with minor
modifications, to feline diseases, such as feline leukemia (FeLV),
feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and feline infectious peritonitis
(FIP). We have treated dogs with distemper from as far away as
Laredo, TX, and cats with FIP or feline leukemia virus from across
the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex.
While it is always better to prevent diseases through vaccinations
whenever possible, it has been very gratifying to see these patients,
which would otherwise have died, survive and thrive. Treatment
for these desperately ill puppies and kittens is now available.
They don’t have to die.
About Dr. Alan Ward, DVM
Dr. Ward was born in Dallas and grew up in Richardson, Texas,
one of three children, graduating from Berkner High School in
1974. He did his undergraduate and graduate studies at Texas
A&M University and began his veterinary career in 1980. Practicing
at two different locations in Dallas before moving to Plano,
he became the new owner of Plano Animal Clinic (PAC) in 1984.
He is married to Telma Ward, a native of Brazil, and they have
two grown sons and two grandchildren. Their older son served
one tour in Iraq as a U.S. Marine, and their younger son is graduating
from the University of North Texas this year (2008). A member
of his local, state, and national veterinary associations, Dr.
Ward takes advantage of continuing education opportunities to
keep abreast in the fields of conventional and alternative veterinary
medicine.
Dr. Ward has a strong interest in research and has designed
and implemented a number of the treatment protocols used at Plano
Animal Clinic. These protocols, known as PAC alternative therapies,
include treatments for viral disease, glaucoma, inflammatory
bowel disease, heartworm disease, and others. He takes a whole
body approach to healing the root causes of illness, as opposed
to symptomatic treatment of clinical signs. His methods are geared
toward helping the body heal itself, and in so doing, he has
seen many animals recover from illnesses he would not have thought
possible 10 years ago.
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 Pets are part of the family in the majority of American households,
where nearly three-quarters of families with school-age children
have at least one companion animal. These animals are often treated
like members of the family, but if the family is experiencing violence
they can become targets as well. Pets are often an important source
of comfort and stability to the victims of abuse, particularly children.
But abusive family members may threaten, injure, or kill pets, often
as a way of threatening or controlling others in the family.A 1997
survey of 50 of the largest shelters for battered women in the United
States found that 85% of women and 63% of children entering shelters
discussed incidents of pet abuse in the family. Children who have
witnessed domestic violence or who have been the victims of physical
or sexual abuse may also become animal abusers themselves, imitating
the violence they have seen or experienced. A study conducted in
1995 noted that 32% of the pet-owning victims of domestic abuse reported
that one or more of their children had hurt or killed a pet. Similarly,
a 1983 study noted that children were reported to be abusive to animals
in more than a third of a sample of pet-owning families referred
to New Jersey’s Division of Youth and Family Services for suspected
child abuse.
It is essential for those who respond to family violence to be
alert to this connection. Professionals in domestic violence intervention,
law enforcement, child protection, human and veterinary medicine,
education, and animal care and control should get to know their
counterparts in other professions and work together to establish
strategies for a coordinated response to these needs.
In fact, professionals who help families in crisis are increasingly
recognizing the role that animals play in the dynamics of family
violence. Many law enforcement agencies are training officers who
respond to domestic violence calls to be alert for signs that a
situation is life-threatening. These include situations where the
batterer has threatened suicide, is displaying a firearm, or has
hurt or killed a family pet.
In addition, local domestic violence shelters and animal protection
organizations have begun partnering to develop “safe havens” for
the pets of domestic violence victims because many victims delay
leaving the abusive batterer out of fear for their pets’ safety.
All too often, batterers punish victims for leaving by abusing
or killing the pets. Yet, with the help of over 100 safe haven
programs currently operating around the United States, many domestic
violence victims no longer have to choose between their safety
and their pets.
The HSUS’ First Strike® campaign can help in the process
of bringing professionals together from a variety of agencies.
They facilitate workshops and provide educational materials specifically
for various professionals working to prevent family violence. For
more information, please call the First Strike toll free line at
1-888-213-0956.
References
Ascione, F. R. 1995. Domestic violence and cruelty to animals.
Paper presented at the 4th International Conference on Family Violence,
Durham, NH, July 24, 1995.
Ascione, F. R. 1997. The abuse of animals and domestic violence:
a national survey of shelters for women who are battered. Society
and Animals, 5(3): 205–218.
DeViney, L., J. Dickert and R. Lockwood. 1983. The care of pets
within child abusing families. International Journal for the Study
of Animal Problems, 4(4): 321–336.
*Article downloaded from the HSUS website.
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