As an herbalist with a special interest in the natural health care of dogs and cats, I can observe many different relationships between owners and their pets. Over the years, I have seen a small number of pet owners exhibit some strange psychological behavior. This behavior follows the classic symptoms of Munchausen By Proxy Syndrome (MBPS). The only difference is that the syndrome I see uses the family dog or cat as a proxy and becomes a rare but devastating form of animal cruelty.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy involves a primary caregiver or guardian exaggerating or fabricating the symptoms of an illness, the illness itself, or multiple illnesses in the person (or pet) they care for. MBPS is a fictitious (artificially produced) form of mental illness associated with severe mental difficulties. A caregiver will intentionally harm a child or pet, or describe nonexistent symptoms of illness, to gain sympathy for bearing the burden, praise for such devotion, or a deeper relationship with a doctor, veterinarian, or other health care provider.
Some time ago I received an email from a prospective client stating: My dog has kidney disease, high blood pressure, Cushing’s disease, pulmonary hypertension, bladder stones, diabetes, and now a skin condition caused by Cushing’s syndrome. where you get blisters and he peels like a sunburn. His antibiotic shampoo removes the flea and tick medicine he was using. Can TripleSure Natural Flea & Tick Spray be used on his skin? Can I also use your DentaSure All-Natural Oral Care Spray with all the medications she is taking for her medical problems? I will be waiting for her response.
Rather than a responsible dog lover, she sounds more like the proud owner of a pity party with four legs and a tail. But a common trait among MBPS patients is the outright denial that have this dysfunction. Still, I might be wrong in my assumption, and if so, I wouldn’t want to add to his unhappy situation.
I responded, “While our natural products would work great on your dog, it seems like the last thing you need is more medication. Too often we find that the interaction of multiple medications, especially prescription medications, leads to more side effects.” and other conditions they heal from. My best advice to you is to find a responsible holistic vet in your area who will treat your dog as a complete physiological system rather than a collection of symptoms to cover up. Visit the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. at http://www.holisticvetlist.com and find a professional with experience in the use of healing herbs and whose real interest is saving your dog’s life. Wish you all the best”.
I am still waiting for your reply.
To further complicate the victim’s proxy health issues are Big Pharma prescription drugs that target only the symptoms and not the root cause of the disease. What’s more, by focusing on the specific symptom that a single ingredient will relieve, drug designers ignore the remaining spectrum of plant components that nature so richly (and wisely) intended for our complete healing. The consequence of such precise targeting of symptoms is a list of TV commercial-like side effects that the friendly voice-over casts as practically harmless.
Even well-meaning doctors and veterinarians make debilitating mistakes with prescription drugs. Imagine the devastation a person afflicted with Munchausen Syndrome by proxy can cause when their goal is to win the sympathy of their “sick little dog.”
The answer is to become more aware of MBPS and speak up when something doesn’t seem right. Animal cruelty is a crime no matter how little or how much a person is aware of their actions. In the case of a defenseless dog or cat, it is always better to err on the side of caution.
Call your local SPCA, Humane Society or Animal Rescue. Put yourself in the shoes of your best friend. If the person you depend on is also the person who hurts you the most, wouldn’t you want someone to speak up for you?