Munchausen by proxy with pets
As a herbalist with a special interest in natural dog and cat health care, 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 observe uses the family dog or cat as a surrogate and turns into a rare but devastating form of animal cruelty.
Munchausen By Proxy Syndrome involves a primary caregiver or guardian who exaggerates or fabricates the symptoms of an illness, the illness itself, or multiple illnesses in the person (or pet) they care for. MBPS is a factitious (artificially produced) form of mental illness associated with severe mental difficulties. A caregiver will intentionally harm the child or pet, or describe non-existent symptoms of a disease, to gain sympathy for bearing the burden, praise for such devotion, or a deeper relationship with a doctor, veterinarian, or other healthcare provider.
Some time ago I received an email from a potential customer saying: 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 disease in the you have blisters. and peels off like a sunburn. Your antibiotic shampoo removes the flea and tick medicine you were using. Can TripleSure Natural Flea and Tick Spray be used on your skin? Can I also use your DentaSure All Natural Oral Care Spray with all the medications you are taking for your medical problems? I’ll be waiting for your reply.
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 those with MBPS is the categorical denial that I have this dysfunction. Still, I could be wrong in my assumption, and if so, I would not want to increase your unhappy situation.
I replied, “While our natural products would work very well for your dog, it seems like the last thing he needs is more medication. Too often we find that the interaction of multiple medications, especially prescription drugs, leads to more side effects and other conditions that heal. My best advice to you is to find a responsible holistic veterinarian in your area who treats your dog as a complete physiological system rather than a collection of symptoms to cover up. Please 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. I wish him all the best. “
I am still waiting for your reply.
To further complicate the health problems of the victim’s proxy, there are prescription drugs from Big Pharma that focus only on the symptoms and not the root cause of the disease. What’s more, by focusing on the specific symptom that a single ingredient will alleviate, drug designers ignore the remaining spectrum of plant components that nature so richly (and wisely) intended for our complete cure. The consequence of such precise targeting of symptoms is a list of side effects like those in television commercials that the friendly voice-over casts as practically harmless.
Even well-meaning doctors and veterinarians make debilitating mistakes with prescription drugs. Imagine the devastation that a person with Munchausen By Proxy syndrome can cause when their goal is to gain sympathy for their “sick puppy.”
The answer is to be more aware of MBPS and speak up when something doesn’t seem right. Cruelty to animals is a crime no matter how much or how little 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 position 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?
