Veterinarian Testimonial: Dr. Mark J. Thomas, DVM
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Dr. Mark J. Thomas, DVM regarding ApocapsAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
James Jacobson: We are going to be recording, Mark.
Dr. Mark Thomas: OK.
James: First of all, let me get your name if I could.
Mark: Mark Thomas.
James: And Mark, you are a veterinarian in where? Is that upstate New York?
Mark: Yes, Lowville.
James: Lowville. So, tell me about your experience with Dr Dressler’s Supplement.
Mark: Oh first Dr. Dressler, Demian is a close friend and we were just discussing his recent project with Dragon Paw and I said I think I may have a case for this, 11-year-old Newfindland named Sebastian was a case of gingival fibrosarcoma that was starting to become somewhat invasive around the teeth and the extending gingival. On the radiograph there were some lytic lesions, the tumor likely starting to eat away at bone to some extent. So certainly, for an eleven-year-old large breed dog, surgery is not really an option given there were some lytic regions in both the mandible and maxilla. So, the plan was essentially just to send him home and monitor things and keep him comfortable. So, a few weeks after the initial diagnosis, started Dragon Paw and first off the client recognized that within a few days the dog had quite a bit more energy.
And was really doing well, more active, good appetite. Then we tracked the tumor with some photographs over time. And certainly the tumor has regressed, not completely but significantly. Originally, the tumor had involved, sort of encased, one of the incisors completely where you couldn’t see the incisor, regressed to the extent that the incisor is now visible, and it’s about six weeks now to follow up with some more pictures. Believe it is still regressing per conversation with the owner, they feel it is getting smaller. We will see what the follow-up photos show.
James: Would you have expected that from a supplement as opposed to chemo?
Mark: No, honestly I thought that best we can potentially prevent the progression or slow the progression. I really didn’t expect or believe that there would be regression. It was pretty dramatic.
James: Is there anything else that you can attribute the regression to? Are there any other drugs?
Mark: No, the dog, actually the dog was on Prevacox, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for osteoarthritis. It’s an old dog, being a little painful at times. We actually discontinued that per Dr. Dressler’s recommendation that we didn’t want to have any interactions with the Dragon Paw given that it does have some non-steroidal activity. So, the dog is not on any other medications or supplements and there wasn’t any other procedure performed besides the biopsy of the mass.
James: So, this has been six weeks and you have seen those changes and the client reports there has actually been even more regression since you have last examined Sebastian.
Mark: Yes, we will be following up with additional blood work and photographs again here next week. And blood work, we have been monitoring hematology, chemistry and thyroid levels throughout a regular basis and they’ve all remained normal. So, no changes on blood work. Certainly, owner continues to report that he is active.
James: That increase of activity coincided with Sebastian beginning the supplement?
Mark: Yes, it did. It was about two or three days after beginning the supplement that they saw the increase in activity level and actually to some extent comments that he… What I think would be potentially related to decreased pain. He was more comfortable and, therefore, was more active.
James: It will be interesting. Are you going to test this supplement with any other of your clients?
Mark: Yes, we have some other cases that we are interested in trying to supplement with similar type cases where surgery or chemotherapy either is not indicated or owners chose not to go that route. So, we are at least at this point feeling that this is a faith product and certainly at least in this case showing some pretty dramatic effect so anxious to try this in some other cases.
James: What would you say to another veterinarian or another dog lover who had a dog in this situation?
Mark: Certainly, can’t think of any reason not to give it a try. Again, this is just one patient on this supplement, not seeing any adverse effects, but I know from Signor Dr. Dressler, the supplement has been very safe and well tolerated in the other patients he has used it in. So, certainly no reason not to give it a try. I think certainly Dr. Dressler is trying to get more data on responses and what tumors would be more sensitive or receptive to this treatment. Initially, Dr. Dressler was a little less optimistic that we would have success given the aggressiveness of these types of tumors, the fibrosarcoma and the location of the tumor that we would likely have less blood flow to bone, gingiva and then other areas and may not get as good a response as you would expect in other cancers and other organs. But, we certainly haven’t experienced that. Again, seeing the regression has been quite a pleasant surprise.
James: How surprised are you that you are seeing this result from what is effectively a bioflavonoid?
Mark: Quite surprised. I am not one to discredit natural or alternative supplements. But, on the other hand, I can’t say that day to day it is something that I routinely prescribe or utilize. And I am also a type of individual who generally likes to see some peer review data behind some of these products that we certainly don’t want to cause any harm, but we’re going to have some likely benefit. So, both myself and the client are real pleased with the results that we have seen so far and then again, therefore, anxious to try it on some other cases.
James: Any other comments that you would like to share with us about your experience?
Mark: Oh, just, Dr. Dressler is certainly someone I have known for many years now. He is an individual who is certainly committed to the wellbeing and welfare of pets. I commend him for taking the initiative to research and perform the trials on a product like this which again, probably as a supplement gets less attention or potentially researched because it is not a “drug.” But obviously, we know from history of pharmaceuticals that there are plenty of natural compounds that have very powerful properties to them and obviously Dr. Dressler and his colleagues have come across a combination of products that obviously have some effect. So frankly, when we first saw this dog in late November, early December, I honestly thought that perhaps we would maybe have three to four months of quality life before that tumor had spread significantly. And granted we don’t have a control case, but we are approaching that time now and the tumor has regressed. So, even in something like this, if we gain a number of months or a number of years would be great. That eleven-year-old Newfindland would likely to succumb at this point to some other health-related issues as opposed to this fibrosarcoma.
James: Pretty amazing. So, Dr. Thomas, by closing, give me a little bit background about yourself. How long you have been a practicing veterinarian? Where did you go to school? Tell me about your hospital.
Mark: I’m a 1997 Cornell graduate along with Dr. Dressler. We were classmates and I have been in private practice since graduation in northern New York. We are a 14 veterinarian mixed-animal practice.
James: Great. And would you encourage your other colleagues in your practice to utilize the supplement?
Mark: Yes, actually about a month ago, I passed on the information to our other veterinarians and actually reminds me I do need to give Dr. Dressler a call and get some supplement sent out for a few other cases, feline cases, another canine case from my colleagues that are real interested in trying the supplement.
James: Awesome. Mark, thank you so much. I really appreciate your time and I am glad we were able to connect on the phone.
Mark: Great. This works out well. I’m glad. And you also received the testimonial from the client Bob Hanno?
James: I think Dr. Damian CCed me on your email. But, I’m not sure I got that one or not. We are compiling all of these and they are really helpful because as you can imagine, it’s just hard to get veterinarians to take something like this pretty seriously.
Mark: Yes.
James: So, it is really only through peer review and other events talking it up we get some credibility and people try it out and when they start seeing the results, I guess that will be what speaks for itself.
Mark: Yes. Great. OK, well certainly if I can be of any sort of further help just drop an email there or phone call.
James: Thank you very much and obviously we have permission to use this to tell people about the supplement.
Mark: Certainly, yes.
James: Thank you. I will talk to you later. Thanks a lot. Take care.
Mark: Good evening. Thank you.
James: Bye-bye.
Mark: Bye.
