Does Homeopathy Work for Dogs?
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As much as I hate to admit it, our lovable family pet is dog aggressive. We adopted him from a shelter when he was about three years old, we think. It took him just a few days to warm up to us. But it’s clear he doesn’t like other dogs.
This could be because he was left in a shelter. Or, it could have been because he got into an earlier scrape. This would explain why his mouth is misshapen. The vet said this was caused by some sort of “trauma.”
In any event, our spaniel has a history of trying to attack much larger dogs.
This is likely what happened one night, when we let him out into the backyard around 9 pm. A few minutes later, he came back in with a bloody ear.
All of the vets in our area were closed. The nearest animal hospital was a lengthy drive, which I would have had to make with a bleeding animal and two small children. My husband was working, about an hour away. My homeopathy kit saved the day.
Canine Homeopathic Medicine
Many pet owners wonder if homeopathy works for dogs. Although mainstream doctors, including a number of veterinarians, discount this type of medicine, first developed about 200 years ago in Europe, a small but growing number of vets appear to be jumping on board. Canine homeopathy is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, allergies and joint problems.
There are a limited number of veterinary homeopaths that do treat animals. In an emergency, people often call their human homeopaths for help.
Anyway, because I was dealing with an emergency, I needed to act quickly. Because I know a fair amount of homeopathy myself, I didn’t need to contact my homeopath, because I already knew what she’d tell me.
The remedy I needed to use was Calendula, and not arnica, as I’ll explain in a minute. Calendula is the first remedy typically recommended for an acute wound with bleeding. Arnica, a well-known injury remedy, should only be used if there’s no external bleeding.
At least this is my understanding, as I’m not a professional homeopath. I need to make clear, to anyone reading, this, that I am only sharing my own experience, and not offering medical advice.
Calendula for Dogs
I have a complete range of homeopathic remedies in different potencies. I dropped one pellet of calendula 30c in a bottle of spring water and waited a minute for it to dissolve. Meanwhile, I hunted for a clean compress to apply pressure to the wound. I put a little of the liquid remedy in my dog’s mouth, and put more of it directly on his wound.
Then I noticed a slight increase in bleeding, which made me a little nervous, until I remembered that homeopathy can temporarily aggravate symptoms.
After about 10 minutes, the bleeding had totally stopped. The next day, the wound appeared to be healing nicely. It looked much smaller than it had appeared the night before. By this point, there was no need to see a vet, because our dog was happy and playful, with a relatively small wound that clearly did not need stitches.
Homeopathic Care for Pets Book
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Arnica for Dog Injuries
If I had just one homeopathic remedy to have on hand, though, it would undoubtedly be Arnica Montana. That’s because injuries that don’t involve external bleeding seem to be much more common than open wounds with gushing blood. It also works for people, as well as pets. (Please check with your vet before giving a homeopathic remedy to a pet, as I’m not an animal care expert, just a Mom sharing her experience.)
Arnica was the remedy that probably prevented a more serious outcome when my two preschoolers took a lid from a plastic bin and slid down our stairs. At the landing, was a metal radiator. They both hit their heads, and were immediately given Arnica. We worked closely with our pediatrician, and were ready to rush them to the emergency room, if we needed to. Fortunately, we saw none of the signs associated with serious head injury.
Homeopathy for Dog Diarrhea
The incident with my dog’s bleeding ear was not the first time a homeopathic remedy relieved his symptoms. Shortly after bringing him home, he developed diarrhea. Regardless of whether it was a stomach bug, a reaction to something he ate, or the stress of being in a new house, there was one remedy that made a lot of sense. This was Arsenicum, usually the go-to remedy when symptoms of food poisoning arise.
Homeopathy for Dog Joints
Natural Pet makes a number of homeopathic formulas for dogs and cats, designed to address specific medical conditions, such as anxiety, allergies or joint pain. The joint and hip formula shown below is a combination of about two dozen individual remedies that are known for their potential to help joint pain.
Although you will probably see best results if you bring your pet to a veterinary homeopath, whom can prescribe an individual remedy based upon a careful case study, this product might be something to consider if you live far away from such a practitioner, or if the consultation fees precludes this possibility.
The directions on the package say to add a half cap of the formula to your dog’s water bowl, every time you fill it. But if it were my dog, I would go with what professional homeopaths call the “minimum dose,” which is how my own homeopath prescribes.
This is what she would tell me to do. Give your dog one dose and see what happens. If you see good results, don’t give another dose unless the symptoms return. Your dog may only need one or two doses, ever, as homeopathy has the potential to bring about deep healing. If nothing happens, consider giving another dose. If you see any new symptoms, then discontinue the remedy.
Homeopathic Joint Formula for Dogs
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Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
I am not a medical professional, so my story is only designed for discussion purposes only, and not to be read as medical advice. I take no responsibility for treatment decisions or outcomes. Please discuss any health concerns with a veterinarian.
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