homeopathy

HOMEOPATHY FOR DOGS

What is homeopathy?
In the late 18th century a German physician, Dr Hahnemann, discovered the new system of medicine - homoeopathy which is now recognised by the World Health Organisation as the second largest therapeutic system in the world. A homeopath dispenses remedies based on a wide range of ingredients, not just plants, given in minute quantities. Homeopaths use all kinds of things, including minerals and substances from the animal world. Homeopathy has been used for thousands of years and is based on the law of similars, i.e. treating 'like for like', a remedy is selected that will cause the same symptoms as the illness shown. He found that minute doses of certain poisonous minerals and herbs could cure the symptoms which the poisons themselves would normally cause. So, for instance, a 'homoeopathic' dose of Arsenic will relieve symptoms of food poisoning, whereas giving Arsenic itself would cause similar symptoms to food poisoning. Homeopathic medicines are derived from a variety of plants, animal materials and minerals. This remedy is then diluted homoeopathically and given in minute quantity , thus the immune system is stimulated by the same substance and fights the disease or illness. Due to the extreme dilution homeopathy is safe and free from harmful side-effects.

Our pets are as susceptible as we are to poor nutrition, stress, and lack of exercise. As with us, an animal's mental and emotional health is also reflected in its physical well-being. Homoeopathy takes all of these factors into account and reflects the 'personality' as well as the physical symptoms of the animal. These medicines are prescribed to fit each individual's needs, given in much smaller and less toxic doses that traditional medications, and are used for both prevention and treatment. Homoeopathy should be combined with a healthy lifestyle to achieve good health and old age.

To give your pet a homeopathic remedy it is preferable to give the tablet between meals - the tablets are sugar based so will dissolve, they can be given by hand or placed in the mouth but should be handled as little as possible. They should be stored away from direct sunlight in a dry location and away from strong smells. The remedy can be reduced or stopped if there is an improvement in the animals condition.

As with all complementary animal therapies, you should seek the advice of a qualified veterinary surgeon before using the therapy. There are over 100 veterinary homeopaths who are members of The British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons, which exists to promote homeopathic veterinary medicine.

Homoeopathy is particularly effective for chronic problems such as eczema, colitis, bronchitis and arthritis, which conventional drugs may be unable to deal with.

When giving homeopathic medications, do not give them at the same time as food. The dog's body has to recognize it, and not think that it is part of the food. Homeopathic remedies can be easily contaminated. It is important that you do not touch them. Also, when putting drops in your dog's mouth, do not let the dropper touch her.

Most homeopathics can be bought in a liquid form. Drop a dropperful on your dog's tongue. If using pills, put 3 or 4 in your dog's mouth. Let the medicine dissolve. Do not encourage them to swallow.

Homeopathics are sensitive to light and heat. Keep them in a cool, dry place. When using the medicine, make sure that there is no contamination.

Again, homeopathic medications are sensitive and become increasingly sensitive as you increase the potency. Unlike Bach Flower remedies and some other holistic treatments, homeopathy is not something that you want to self prescribe unless you know what you are doing.

Some Animal Ailments and Their Homeopathic Remedies
Arthritis - Bryonia (see Cough below for detail), Belladonna, Rhus Tox - Belladonna should be used as an arthritic remedy when the joints are hot and swollen. This remedy acts on the nervous system and the skin is often hot to touch. Rhus Tox can be used alone or combined with Bryonia (also see Cough below). When symptoms are worse in cold, damp weather, Rhus Tox is useful. It acts on skin, muscles and connective tissues.

Cough - Bryonia- Animals who respond well to this remedy are usually worse for movement and better for rest, (in cases of cough and arthritis). If a horse has dry cough Bryonia can be combined with Rhus Tox to provide another useful remedy. The Rhus Tox/Bryonia combination is again useful with Arthritis.

Lung problems -MSM - Methlysulphonylmethane has many benefits, and can be help improve blood circulation and strengthen cell walls helping to facilitate tissue repair. MSM also helps the immune system.

Excitability - Scutellaria - Many animals can experience nervousness when attending a show or a veterinary appointment. This remedy is a nervous sedative and is useful in calming highly strung animals together with those who act in an unruly manner.

Laminitis - Aconite, Belladona (see Arthritis above for detail), Nux Vom - Aconite and Belladona can be combined to work with acute laminitis, animals respond well which often have a full bounding pulse and helps reduce any inflammation. Nux Vom - used with digestive problems, helping to eliminate toxins - thus is useful for laminitis caused by congestion of the digestive system.

Warts - Thuja - Thuja has an anti-bacterial action and is useful for conditions where there is an overgrowth of tissue. It acts mainly on the skin, blood and genito-urinary system - commonly used for warts/sarcoids that are found on or near the genitals. The horse can be particularly affected in the scrotum and sheath area by warts.

Thrush - Silicea - Silicea is a tissue salt. Thrush is alleviated as Silicea helps heal dead tissue and promote horn regrowth. It can be used for chronic conditions caused by infection and primarily works on bone and connective tissue. Sandcracks and Navicular can also be aided by Silicea.

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Homeopathy for pets

Catherine O’Driscoll

It is said that animals are our teachers, and mine have taught me a great deal. Sophie, our oldest Golden Retriever girl, was six years old when she first introduced us to homoeopathy, when she started to limp and seemed reluctant to go on walks. We took her to the vet who administered steroids, but the limp gradually got worse - to the point where our little bright star didn’t even want to get out of bed in the morning. Eventually, a diagnosis of arthritis was given, and the arthritis had based itself in her front paws. Pain killers didn’t seem to kill the pain; rather, they just seemed to dope her up. The vet said that the steroids would probably kill Sophie before the arthritis would.

I was telling a very dear friend, Margaret Copley, about Sophie’s predicament and Margaret suggested homoeopathy. I admit that, in those days, I didn’t know what homoeopathy was, but I reasoned that anything was worth a try - the conventional treatment certainly wasn’t working. So we went along to our local chemists, bought a booklet that described the various remedies available, and purchased Bryonia 6c to see if it would help. Well . . . the transformation was nothing short of miraculous! Sophie started smiling again, and dancing, and although not completely pain free at first, her sparkle returned. We were both delighted and relieved.

Shortly after this, Chappie, then nine, also started to have trouble walking. In fact, he was in such pain that the middle of his back pointed up, like a rocket, to the sky. He went through a series of x-rays, and hip dysplasia was diagnosed. Unfortunately, the vet said that an operation would be out of the question due to Chappie’s age and size. The only solution was pain killers which, again, didn’t kill the pain. I asked the vet if he would refer us to a homoeopathic vet but he was violently opposed, telling us that homoeopathy was religious mumbo jumbo, and we might as well take Chappie on a visit to Lourdes. Homoeopathy, he said, was totally unscientific.

But, we reasoned, we had seen homoeopathy work a transformation in Sophie, right before our eyes. Surely it was worth a try on Chappie’s behalf. Frankly, he was in such agony that we seriously considered putting him out of his misery. So I picked up the phone and found another conventional vet who would be prepared to refer us to a homoeopath.

This vet was a trained radiologist, and he x-rayed Chappie again - this time the diagnosis was ruptured cruciate ligaments (the elastic-like substance that enables the knees to move). The new vet agreed to refer us to a homoeopathic vet, albeit tongue in cheek, saying we were wasting our time.

Again a miracle occurred. The homoeopathic vet, Chris Day, gave Chappie acupuncture and, for the first time in months, Chaps was able to hobble out of the surgery unaided. He was also given several homoeopathic remedies to help his body heal itself. One was quite remarkable: when Chappie was given Ferrum Phos powder each morning, he seemed to clap his paws and say, ‘right, let’s go walkies then!’. Slowly, Chappie’s walking improved, and he lived to the age of fifteen, with Rabbit Chasing remaining at the top of his list of accomplishments.

And we haven’t looked back. Today, everyone in our family is treated homoeopathically. Gwinnie was successfully treated to stop her itching and scratching after a vaccine reaction (she was a rescue who had been vaccinated before she came to live with us). Sammie was treated homoeopathically after he was diagnosed with vaccine-induced autoimmune disease - and this enabled him to live two happy years longer than might otherwise have been the case.

Homoeopathy is classed as a ‘holistic’ medicine, that is, it seeks to look at the whole picture: what the patient eats, the environment the patient lives in, the personality of the patient, and so on. The aim is to find the underlying cause of an illness, rather than treat the illness in isolation. So, alongside any homoeopathic treatment, you might also be referred to other specialists such as chiropractors, herbalists and acupuncturists; even healers; and you’d be guided towards making improvements to the patient’s diet.

The nicest thing about all of these treatments, apart from the fact that they generally work, is that none of them has been developed using animal experimentation as its guide.

Through Canine Health Concern, we have pointed hundreds of dog and cat owners towards homoeopathic vets, and we receive letters every week from people whose pets had been written off, but who have been helped using this ‘unscientific’ method of healing. If you would like to explore the homoeopathic alternative for your dog, the first course is to ask your conventional vet to refer you.

reprinted with kind permission from Catherine O'Driscoll
www.canine-health-concern.org.uk
PO Box 7533, Perth PH2 1AD

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Homeopathy in the Aged Dog

British Homeopathic Association

Canine Conditions Alleviated by Homeopathy Treatments

Skin	Musculoskeletal	Respiratory	Cardiovascular
Chronic pruritus (itch) Hot spots Scurf and scale Most chronic conditions e.g. Pemphigus	Cruciate Ligament Damage (in conjunction with acupuncture) Lameness of unknown origin Bruising/Sprains Arthritic and Rheumatic joints with or without bony exostoses Growth abnormalities in pups	Chronic bronchitis (eg Cough) Kennel Cough	Hereditary or Acquired cardiac disease Chronic Haemorrhage

Alimentary	Urinary	Reproductive System	Miscellaneous/Behavioural
Chronic or Recurrent Diarrhoea/Vomiting, both or individually. Liver disease Food intolerances Poor teeth Fussy eaters	Kidney disease Incontinence Recurrent Cystitis Urolithiasis (Bladder stones) Blood in the urine	Infertility Abortions 'Miscarriage' Recurrent infections of the genital tract	Fear of: thunder, other dogs, leaving the house, traffic etc. Bereavement/ Pining Aggression

The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.