Can Ayurveda Benefit Dogs? Explore a Shocking Turn in an Ayurvedic Doctor’s House Visit!

The ringing phone broke the silence of the evening, and the urgency in Peter’s voice sent a shiver down my spine. “Doctor, please come urgently,” he pleaded. Peter was an old patient of mine, and his whole family came to me for treatment. I asked him to bring the patient to my clinic, but he was hesitant. “I’ll come to pick you up after your clinic hours,” he said before hanging up the phone.

As the evening wore on, my anxiety grew, and the clock seemed to tick slower with each passing second. By 9 PM, Peter was waiting outside my clinic in his car. As I got in, he uttered the words, “Oscar is not well, doctor. He is having skin issues.”

We arrived at his home, where the entire family was waiting anxiously in the living room. I knew them all – they were my patients. Peter’s mother, a cheerful woman from Karwar, greeted me warmly and ushered me to the sofa. She laid out a grand feast of lemon juice, sweets, and Goan delicacies. But as I looked at the spread, all I could think of was the patient.

“Where is Oscar?” I asked, but my question fell on deaf ears. The family continued talking, praising my treatments, and ignoring the patient’s condition.

As I sat there, listening to their idle chatter, my worry grew. What was wrong with Oscar? Was he in pain? Was he suffering? I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that settled over me.

After finishing his dinner, Peter finally arrived. Strangely, he asked me to join his family at the table while he went to eat alone. Perhaps he was really hungry. Although I felt relieved to see him, my relief was short-lived because he still didn’t bring Oscar to me. Instead, he joined in on his family’s conversation, which left me feeling frustrated and ignored.

Time ticked by, and still, there was no sign of Oscar. I began to wonder if this was some kind of prank, but the concern etched on Peter’s face told me otherwise. 

As I was losing hope, I suddenly heard a shuffling sound. I turned my head towards the entrance of the room, where a white, furry figure appeared. 

“Sir, he is Oscar,” Peter said as if reading my mind. It was a Siberian husky, but my heart sank at the sight of him. His once-glossy fur was now dull and lifeless.

“But I am not a veterinary doctor. I don’t treat pets,” I said, feeling slightly annoyed.

“Sir, we all take only Ayurvedic medicines. None from the family takes allopathy. So, we want our dog too to be cured with Ayurveda. He is family too,” Peter explained.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then I looked into Oscar’s sad brown eyes, and my resolve hardened. He may be a dog, but he was still a living being that needed help.

I examined Oscar carefully and found that he had fungal infection patches and also a severe case of dandruff. I suggested to Peter and his family that they bathe him with Neem oil and Karanja oil, and to use herbal shampoo. They agreed, and I set about treating Oscar with the same care and attention that I would give to any human patient.

Days turned into weeks, and I kept in touch with Peter, curious about Oscar’s progress. To my delight, he responded well to my treatment, and his infections cleared up completely.

Years later, I bumped into Peter at the market, and he greeted me with a wide smile. “Doctor, do you remember Oscar?” he asked. “Of course,” I replied. “I suggested Neem oil and Karanja oil for his treatment.”

“Yes, doctor,” Peter said, his smile growing wider. “That was a magic remedy. I have suggested this to hundreds of pet owners, and all of them loved it!”

As I walked away, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. I may not have been a veterinary doctor, but I had helped a living being in need. And that, to me, was the most important thing of all.

(Note: The name of the individual in this article has been changed to Peter to ensure their privacy.)