Several years ago, I had a cat patient that saved her owners from possibly perishing in a fire during the night. She kept going to their rooms, crying and scratching, until everyone was awake and out of the house. The entire family and the beloved cat escaped without harm, even though the home was lost to the fire.
Another patient, a German shepherd, started biting his owner’s arm while he was sleeping. When the man woke up, he first thought his dog was attacking him. He then realized his left arm was numb, and that he was in midst of a heart attack. The owner was able to reach for the phone and call 911. He lived because his dog alerted him.
In a different case, a cat patient could predict when his owner, a 5-year-old boy, was going to have a seizure. He was able to be treated to prevent a full-blown episode.
I have many patients who are assistance animals, aiding their owners who are blind, deaf, under treatment for emotional and mental health disorders, and neurological diseases like Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and vertigo.
Animals selflessly care for their owners, alerting them to dangers, supporting them physically and emotionally. Assistance-trained dogs and cats aren't the only animals that "read" their owners needs. All of the animals around us have messages for us that we can observe when we spend the time, in quiet moments, observing.
Animals of many species, including dogs, cats, birds, horses and rodents, have a connection with their owners and can hear, smell and feel on a level that most humans cannot perceive. In response to impending danger or emotional events, they may change eating habits, breathing patterns, heart rate or play behaviors.
An example of this level of perception was seen in a 2-year-old Dalmatian named Bean, who began visiting my office in May for acupuncture treatments. Her owner wanted an alternative therapy for muscle tremors or mini-seizures, which didn't involve sedative medications.
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine involve more than just placing needles in strategic points. A diagnosis is made based on pulse, tongue and acupuncture meridian assessments that tell the practitioner about body functions, sources of pain, nutritional deficiencies, physical and emotional imbalances. Needles are placed at strategic locations that help to balance body systems and stimulate neurotransmitters, hormones and pain regulators that aid healing. Chinese herbal medications complement the treatments.
A few months ago when Bean was in the office for treatment, she was more anxious than usual. As I spoke with her owner regarding her own upcoming minor outpatient surgery, Bean’s pulse quality changed. Bean was anxious about the upcoming procedure and concerned about her owner’s health. Her owner initially disregarded the source of her pet’s anxiety and said Bean was probably nervous about other pets in the office. I felt the dog's concern over the owner's health had some real medical basis, so suggested she discuss the upcoming surgery with her doctor before scheduling.
That was two months ago. Today, I saw Bean for a follow up. Her owner reported both she and her dog are doing well. She also said that Bean’s anxiety was well-founded. When she had seen her doctor for pre-surgical blood tests, he noted elevated blood pressures. When an EKG was recommended, she almost disregarded the procedure because she was supposed to have local, not general, anesthesia. Then, she remembered our conversation regarding the ability pets possess to know when their owners are sick. That led her to follow up with a cardiology consult.
Bean's owner was diagnosed with a heart condition requiring treatment. She told me that she would not have consented to the extra tests if her dog had not been so concerned. Fortunately, she was treated before her surgery, and she is now healthier for the changes. Both Bean and her owner have made full recoveries.
If you have pets, pay attention to their behaviors. Observe and listen to their signs of fear and anxieties. When behavior changes occur, or if it has been awhile since you or your pet has had a checkup, be sure to care for both of you.