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HEALING A 'HEAD' PROBLEM
A 16 year old spayed female cat suddenly began mewing and yowling very loudly day and night for no apparent reason. The past year had seen this cat exhibit a few ‘shaky’ episodes which lasted a few minutes with no apparent after effects and a small raw area of skin around the neck which would heal and break down again every few weeks. The cat did not attempt to scratch this area. |
She had become a little thin but had recently started to re-gain her weight and was now back to her old graceful figure. She had also started to use an inside mat for a toilet but when given a litter box was more than happy to use that. However, since the meowing had started, little well-formed poos appeared on the bathroom floor on an occasional basis.
Her appetite was good although she appeared to be drinking a little more than usual, vision and hearing excellent, her behaviour around the family uneventful. She was vaccinated only as a kitten, did not have a flea problem although she was a very outgoing farm cat, and was wormed on a regular basis.
Over the past year she had stopped her farm roaming and preferred to lie around the fireside, only going outside to toilet occasionally.
Two years ago she had had a dental and reacted poorly to the anaesthetic. |
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All blood tests were normal apart from slightly elevated urea. The Vet diagnosed dementia and recommended the cat be euthanised.
A herbal wash of Calendula, Heartsease, Red Clover, and Figwort with a colloidal silver base and a little Vetadine was used for the raw skin area. She did not wear a collar.
She was given a homeopathic dose of Berberis and Merc sol plus a herbal internal preparation including Bacopa, Ginkgo, Gotu Kola, Schisandra, Bladderwrack and Hawthorn. An Omega blend of 3, 6 and 9 plus Borage Oil was added to her daily diet.
Recovery appeared to go well, the skin area cleared, the shaking stopped, the little poo incidents disappeared — but the meowing continued.
Revisiting the case, it was noticed that all of these ailments started just over a year ago.
Was there an event or trauma that happened around that time that could have precipitated these changes?
After much soul-searching the cat’s owners remembered there had been a mangy feral tomcat hanging around the barn about a year ago who actually beat up on this gentle female until he was ‘despatched’.
Her homeopathic remedy was changed to deal with any residual feelings of trauma from that event.
Two days following the remedy, the cat shut up (thank goodness) and has continued to purr peacefully ever since. She is still a little apprehensive about venturing too far from the house. |
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SENILITY OR SOMETHING ELSE?
The beloved family dog of 18 years was definitely an inside dog but when he suddenly started to stare at walls, follow invisible objects, jump at shadows and get stuck in corners, the owners began to worry about him.
He no longer greeted his family with tail wagging, barely raising his head to notice their presence.
At night he would pace the house and seemed to forget where his bed was. He had exhibited a few ‘senior moments’ over the past couple of years but nothing like this.
He still had excellent control of bowel and bladder, his appetite was good although he appeared to be happy with less food. Weight remained the same, and there were no physical signs of anything untoward.
Following an extensive veterinary examination his vision and hearing were found to be excellent. |
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It was concluded that the old dog was just ‘losing the plot.' The owner took him home to say the family’s last goodbyes.
A close friend’s chance remark to the owner led to a phone call. After a long chat with a sobbing owner, the friend said that the owners had just last month put their other dog to sleep. This old (19 years) dog had been the 18 year old’s best buddy; inseparable since youngsters, they had shared everything, even their bones!
The owner mentioned at the veterinary visit that the dog had started this behaviour after his mate had died but it was thought unlikely that this would trigger such odd behaviour.
There were several methods of prescribing that we could have used for this dog but we chose to start with the underlying triggering cause rather than the ‘old-dog syndrome.
Homeopathy has a treasure chest of grief remedies and those that suited this old dog included Natrum Mur, Aurum Met, Ignatia and Causticum. Prescribing on a constitutional basis led us to choosing a closely matching remedy but we also felt that he would benefit from a herbal preparation including Bacopa, Nettles, Oatstraw and Valerian. This was added to an appealing chicken broth, which he preferred, rather than chunks of food.
His behaviour changed over a period of a few weeks and he gradually returned to being the lovable tail-wagging mutt of the past.There were moments one could see where he really missed his buddy, especially at meal-sharing times, and no doubt he would like to join him. He will, in his own good time, not at the premature push of a needle. |
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A SIMPLE CASE OF SNAKE
A male Dachshund, 3 years old, had a problem with his left eye, which was not producing any tears. This eye was nearly always shut and his left ear had a history of long-standing chronic inflammation. |
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At 12 weeks of age he had severe pneumonia, which was treated with heavy medication.
He was a very jealous dog, showing aggression and possessiveness around the new dog.
When we explore homeopathic remedies that may suit this Dachy we look at the whole picture. This is a case where the obvious ‘one-sidedness’ seemed to jump out, he is also jealous and snappy.
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Let us compare two remedies, that of the bee, (Apis) and that of the snake (Lachesis).
Apis
Jealous, hard to please
Controlling, esp. with family
Eyes — hot tears, keratitis
Ears — red, inflamed, sore
Pneumonia
Worse RIGHT SIDE
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Lachesis
Jealous Aggressive
Ear infection
Chest oppression
Worse LEFT SIDE
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Three weeks after the treatment there was normal tear production again; a complete eye and ear recovery was made. His levels of aggression diminished to manageable levels.
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PRINCESS
November 2007
A yearling cow returned from leased grazing in a very poor condition. She was emaciated, tucked up, ribby and weak. Her coat was dull and ‘dead’ looking. The Vet diagnosed Facial Eczema.
She adored the seaweed the owners fed her but was not making progress. She was also not cycling.
We instigated a homeopathic program of several remedies. She was given Tuberculinum as a constitutional (recommended for all dairy cows once or twice a year).
Then commenced on the Facial Eczema Nodose, and a combo remedy of Zinc, Chelidon. China, Phos Ac and Alfalfa. Normally this number of remedies would not be combined but it was difficult for the owners to medicate her often so we took a chance.
August 2008
We had lost contact with the owner but when they contacted us about their cat we received the following report:
Princess had completely recovered over a period of three months and was now a picture of health and cycling normally. |
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| AN EXERCISE FOR NON-PROFESSIONAL HOMEOPATHIC ENTHUSIASTS: |
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A 5 year old cow suffering chronic recurring mastitis in left hind quarter throughout the previous lactation. |
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That quarter had remained dry during this present lactation. |
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The cow was spare in frame, had quick and effective response to unwelcome stimuli. |
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Examination of udder only possible with much shuffling, tail weaving and sporadic and accurate defecating! |
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She was a good milker, with a good appetite. |
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She could be aggressive with other cows. |
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Bouts of mastitis had occurred especially during or after cold, windy, damp weather. |
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She was given ______________________ in a 30c potency once daily for 3 days, followed by a 200c potency once weekly through the dry period.
When she next calved there was milk in all four quarters, with sporadic clots appearing in the previously affected quarter. |
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She was given Silica 30c once daily for 7 days. |
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There was no recurrence of the mastitis. |
Email your answers and reasons for choice of remedy to: info@animalhealthmag.com
A small gift could be on the way for the most well thought-out reply.
Remember to include your email, and postal address. |
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