PREPARING FOR INITIAL CONSULTATION
The situations and conditions which have a definite affect on the patient's well-being are especially important - these circumstances reflect the inability of that particular patient's system to deal with changes in his/her environment, thus demonstrating important information about the constraints on the patient's freedom to respond to his environment in a positive way. The importance of the caretaker's careful attention and notes cannot be over-stressed!
To prepare for an initial consultation, I ask that you make a timeline beginning with when the pet came to you, and going through the present. Include any visits to the vet, treatments undergone, responses to treatment.
During our initial consultation, we will also be talking about daily habits and personal characteristics of your pet, including such things as how much water he/she drinks, the character and nature of any discharges, what temperatures are most comfortable, what the appetite is like, what his/her disposition is like at home and away from home, how he/she interacts with you, with strangers, with other animals, what kinds of fears there are, and anything else that is peculiar to this animal. This is the kind of information that we use for remedy determination.
EXAMPLE QUESTIONS
Here are some examples of the questions that will be asked in a telephone consultation:
  1. How much water does the patient drink, and what is the pattern? Small amounts infrequently, large amounts infrequently? Does s/he cough afterwards? Is there a preference for hot or cold water? For running water?
  2. Are there specific foods that the patient really craves? Is averse to? Any that result in problems? Does s/he desire to eat things that are not food?
  3. What is the preference with regard to ambient temperature; i.e., would s/he rather be in a warm room? On cool tile? Under blankets?
  4. What is the sleeping pattern? Sleep all night? Wake up and eat during the night? Sleeping position - on back, on side?
  5. How does the patient react to strangers? To other animals? To thunderstorms? To being left alone?
  6. Has there ever been any reaction, general or localized, to previous vaccinations?
  7. Are there times of day, or seasons of the year, which are especially difficult for the patient?
GETTING WELL
People often want to know how long it will take for their animal to get well. This is variable, depending on how long they have been sick, how much they've been suppressed, how much energy they have for response, and how accurate our prescribing is.