Clio’s Story

Dear M.A.S.H. Staff and Dr. Margo Roman,

I’m writing to you today in the hope that sharing my thanks and story will help other people appreciate the sound scientific evidence advocating holistic protocols and medicine.

My story begins with the adoption of a 6 month old female Field Spaniel, Cliodhna, through breed rescue. At the time I was a Veterinary Technician working in the greater Boston area. Clio received all the standard vaccinations including Lyme and Bordetella, flea and tick treatments and heartworm pills monthly. She was a wonderfully smart puppy though severely anxious and shy at times but our participation in dog sports helped bolster her confidence some. She ate a premium kibble, Canidae, that was free of Corn, Wheat, Soy, By-Products, and made in the US.
It came as a great shock to me when at the age of one and a half upon returning home from work she was bleeding out of her nose. A cold compress would not stem the bleeding and I quickly made the decision to bring her back to work to see my veterinarian. A blood test revealed she had incredibly low platelets (which clot the blood) and so literally the blood was seeping out through the most vascular part of her body, her noise. Clio received a boatload of medications to get her body to stop killing her platelets, strong drugs often given to human cancer patients. I had to give her other medications to protect her stomach and G.I. track and was told the medications would have strong side effects. Because of numerous relapses she suffered those side effects for a long time. Clio lost most of her fur; constantly had diarrhea, became lethargic and insanely hungry, and had minimal bladder control. After two years the disease finally stayed in remission yet with all my access to testing and industry connections (sparing no expense) no one could tell me how or why she developed her immune disorder.
I could not accept that there was no explanation.
I became increasingly frustrated and started to notice within the veterinary practice I worked animals and their guardians were struggling with issues to varying degrees much the same as Clio and I were. The people that followed the recommendations for yearly vaccinations, fed the suggested food, and kept up with the monthly meds were the ones with the most problematic unhealthy animals.
I became disillusioned and left the field yet Clio always had some sort of ongoing problem be it ear infections, diarrhea, or skin issues and so I was constantly searching for answers.
Do to my scientific background many of the resources I stumbled upon seemed to lack unbiased research. One initial exception presented itself though, studies by a doctor Pottenger from the 1930s and 40s spanning 10 years and many generations of cats physically changing based on food. Cats fed cooked meats deteriorated over generations while raw fed cats had increased virility. I dove into learning about feeding raw and struggled some switching because of her issues. With the help of some raw feeding groups I transitioned her. I immediately noticed a difference. She had more energy and surprisingly less anxiety and her skin and coat were happier! I started listening to other recommendations of people in the groups and even some friends about their experiences and how holistic medicine made a difference.
I was skeptical but no traditional vet had ever figured out why Clio struggled with her health issues and none approved of feeding her a raw diet so I decided to try seeing a holistic vet.
With the guidance of a holistic veterinarian and lots of independent research I came to learn how tradition veterinary medicine fueled Cliodhna’s health issues rather than healing them. I had been just managing her symptoms when they manifested. Her system was constantly trying to push out “the bad” to the surface while I had been forcing it back inside her with medications suppressing her body’s own ability to heal.
This came as a revelation to me. The science made sense and from this new perspective the roots of her health problems were revealed. Her immune system had basically freaked out on itself because it had been bombarded by heavy-duty chemicals and couldn’t function as nature had designed.
Clio’s symptoms gradually decreased and whenever they did manifest I was able to help her body rather than fight it’s own responses. After moving I found out about Dr. Roman at the Integrative Health Pet Expo and transferred Cliodhna’s care to M.A.S.H. When on the website I watched the Dr.DoMore video and almost fell off my chair. Here were veteran animal doctors expressing all the things I had been unable to articulate when in the field as a tech myself. They had all experienced the frustration and actual evidence of how traditional protocols had solved or healed completely our beloved animal friends.
The ultimate test came Thanksgiving of ’09 when Cliodhna ate a pound of trail mix, half of which was raisins. Raisin toxicity, although not as well known as chocolate to most people, is far more serious and potentially fatal. (And also of undetermined origin from a traditional veterinary perspective though some holistic veterinarians think pesticides.) Once I realized she’d ingested the raisins I induced vomiting. The next morning though she would not rise even when I made her breakfast and called to her. This was completely out of character for she had developed a ravenous appetite ever since the immune disorder drugs, hence the eating of trail mix.
I took the chance, knowing how serious her condition was, and went with my new perspective to M.A.S.H. instead of a traditional emergency facility. All my former training told me she needed immediate intensive care but I did not want her sensitive system further compromised by suppressive treatments. I drove from Stoneham past an emergency facility one town away all the way down to Hopkinton.
Clio could not have been in better hands. She immediately perked up with the help of an ozone treatment and some under the skin vitamins and fluids. She was able to come home with me after about an hour and with continued subcutaneous fluids, a homeopathic remedy, and fasting for 48hrs she made a full recovery in a few days. I was so impressed with not only the personal care we both received (I was distraught to say the least…Dr. Roman even gave me glass of ozone) but with how well she responded.
If I had taken the traditional route of treatment I know the protocol would have been at minimum of 48hrs IV fluids, lots of meds, and maybe even a procedure to keep her out of renal failure. Not only would it have been literally at least five times the price but Clio would have been severely stressed with her anxiety and without the person that knows her symptoms the best.
So now, at seven, Cliodhna is the healthiest she’s ever been with a strong immune system thanks to holistic protocols and everyone at M.A.S.H.
Thank you!

Sincerely,

Nicole Penna