June 2005 | Whole Health
Uncommon Healer
Practitioner Profile
by Nancy Ging
Who: Karen Shaw Becker, D.V.M., N.M.D.
Quick Take:. Karen Shaw Becker is an integrative veterinary practitioner for dogs, cats, exotic and wild animals. She owns and operates Natural Pet Animal Hospital & Apothecary and Feathers Bird Clinic in Tinley Park, Ill. She also operates Covenant Wildlife Rehabilitation. Her practices incorporate nutrition, herbs, homeopathy and acupuncture. The techniques used in her practice are gentle and minimally invasive. She includes genetics, nutrition, family relationships, the pet’s unique disease pattern and prior illnesses to assess current health concerns.
Old vs. New: Many animals are in the state of “dis-ease.” The real question is not what the disease is called or what drug will alleviate the symptoms, but why the disease occurred. “The possibility for a lasting recovery or cure can be found only when the true cause of the underlying ailment has been found,” said Becker, adding, “I believe in preventive medicine.”
Knowing the Difference: “Health is on a spectrum; we’re all moving one way or the other. Preventive medicine can’t occur when disease has already occurred,” said Becker. Her goal is to create thriving health, before pathology occurs. This is a proactive process that consists of specific support of Becker’s “three pillars of heath”: the frame (musculoskeletal system), the immune system and diet.
Biggest Myth: “People tend to think their animals are visions of health until disease occurs,” said Becker. She often hears owners say: “My pet was healthy until she got cancer.” Frustrated by this misperception, Becker explained, “Disease occurs when the body cannot function optimally, which leads to biochemical changes, which lead to structural changes, which lead to pathologic tissue changes, which lead to a bad diagnosis.” Another mistaken belief many owners have is that “their pet’s vaccines magically wear off Dec. 31 at midnight.” Not so, said Becker. “Your pet’s vaccines last as long as yours do — a lifetime! Vets make lots of money convincing you to revaccinate your pets on an annual basis. Ask for titers if you need proof.”
Case Study: Rudy, a 4-year-old boxer, experienced a skin rash within 24 hours after his “annual booster vaccine” in January for parvo, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, adenovirus, parainfluenza and corona. “I believe veterinarians should determine if each animal requires additional vaccines based on vaccine antibody levels in the bloodstream, which is called a titer. A protective parvo virus titer is greater than 64; this boxer’s titer was 22,400!” said Becker. “We detoxed him from the vaccine and his rash went away as quickly as it came, within 24 hours.”
Personal File: Becker lives on a private wildlife preserve adjacent to the Kankakee State Park with her husband, two children, four dogs, eight parrots, two tortoises, two lizards, two snakes, one turtle, one chinchilla, one cat and one permanently injured red-tailed hawk. She is a federally licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator and cares for more than 200 wild animals a year through her nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation organization, Covenant Wildlife. Becker frequently lectures on holistic health and nutrition. To learn more, visit her website at www.drkarenbecker.com. To join a waiting list for future appointments, fax Natural Pet Animal Hospital at 708-342-1608 or call 708-342-1111.
Nancy Ging, A.C.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a Chicago-area holistic psychotherapist, consultant and author. Visit her website at www.nancyging.net.
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