FAQ
A: Some leave the entire decision of handling their deceased pet up to their veterinarian and/or friends. Unfortunately, by doing that some owners have told us later that they didn't really understand what exactly happened to their pet. It is important that you know about the alternatives available to you. All veterinary clinics throughout Southeast Alaska have been invited to work with us in providing a dignified disposition befitting your special bond. You may instruct your clinic to call us, or you may call us directly. Once we receive consent, your pet will be picked up and brought back to our facility. Should your pet die at home, we offer transportation; all that is needed is a call from you to our main office (463.5022).
A: Absolutely. Please contact our office or, if you prefer, have your veterinary office contact us. In addition to Juneau, we've already helped pet owners in Haines, Skagway, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Gustavus, Sitka, Wrangell and Tenakee Springs. Please don't hesitate to inquire, we have a thorough understanding of the few steps required and can arrange transport for your companion.
Q: How long will I have to wait to receive my pet's cremated remains and do I have to drive to your Office to pick them up?
A: Our average turnaround time is 14 days or less from the time we receive your pet. This every other week availability helps keep costs lower as we don't have enough volume to operate our crematory effeciently every day. We therefore utilize our own cold storage for deceased pets until they are cremated. Twenty four hour expedited services for a fee are available upon request. An appointment will be made for owners to pick up their memorial. We also can securely ship the urn to your address.
A: Yes. Fortunately we have accredited resources on our Animal Cremation page. We chose these counselors certainly based on credentials but also because they display an understanding and appreciation of the human animal bond. Please call for more information if needed.
A: This question has a new subtle element to it. Adding the word "valid" into the question seems to imply that there are invalid and valid alternative veterinary medical treatments. And in that sense, it would be reasonable to ask why we wouldn't offer "valid" treatments. Fair enough.
We maintain that many if not most so-called alternative therapies have no useful place in the ethical pursuit of scientific, efficacious medical care. The best answer we can give while being brief is the summary provided by Stephen Barrett, MD of Quackwatch.org: "This question is unanswerable because it contains an invalid assumption. Alternative is a slogan often used for promotional purposes and not a definable set of methods. Methods should be classified into three groups: 1. Those that work; 2. those that don't work; 3. those we are not sure about. Most described as alternative fall into the second group. But the only meaningful way to evaluate methods is to examine them individually, which we do."
As a licensed veterinarian and Member of Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Dziuba is observant of her
oath that specifically states she will apply her
scientific knowledge
to her practice of medicine. It is unfortunate that some practitioners have abandoned or forgotten that part of their oath. Therapies that are not effective or scientifically implausible will be discouraged. Dr. Dziuba understands that alternative "treatments" promising relief are sometimes difficult to ignore when your companion is ailing. We've all been there. But it is precisely in those difficult times when critical thinking is needed.
Certain claims may also be particularly difficult to ignore when one compares them to their own experiences with human alternative "treatments." When it comes to a claim such as "alternative 'treatments' worked for me therefore they might work for another species" the first thing science based doctors do is consider the evidence. We've assembled a list of a few examples demonstrating varying degrees of evidence:
.
Faith based: magic, incantations, miracles, wishful thinking
Weak study: poorly designed though amenable to scientific analysis, at least in principle.
Improved study: multiple studies that are better designed and typically withstand intensive scientific scrutiny.
Gold standard: random clinical trials. These trials have important methodological advantages over all other types of medical studies namely, the scrupulously honest parameters developed to overcome the innate biases of both the patients and clinicians.
Bridge Veterinary Services is passionate about healing. When something is unknown, we will express our lack of understanding. But one thing we will not do is subject your companion to treatments that defy reason. To those claiming "what's the harm?" (External Link) regarding alternative medicine, we would echo, "a veterinarian also has the moral and ethical obligation to provide therapies to animals for which there is good evidence of effectiveness1." (1Ramey, D., Rollin, B., Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Considered, Iowa State Press, 2004.)
To help you sort through data when reviewing treatments for your companions, an ideal first step is to find research that was developed with no conflicts of interest (i.e.: a company that paid for the study while manufacturing the product being studied has a conflict of interest). If you are a client of Bridge Veterinary Services, feel free to exercise your confidential veterinary-client relationship to discuss alternative "treatments." We don't want you to accept or reject a treatment because of our advising, but rather because the evidence supports or rejects it.
A: Please call the office (463.5022) to request copies of medical records. After practicing equine medicine since 2003 in Juneau, those services were discontinued in 2010. Bridge Veterinary cultivated a referral relationship with Alaska Equine and Small Animal Hospital over the last couple years and we are pleased that their veterinarians have travelled to Juneau to provide services for our former clients and their horses. Their contact information can be found on their website:
www.aesah.com