Frustrated? Homeopathy May Help

By Christina Chambreau, DVM, CVH.

Have hope. Regardless of how many approaches you have tried, there are always many more. Reading the many approaches in this magazine you can explore each one. At some point you may realize that you are merely controlling, not completely resolving the behavior or health challenge. Maybe one problem improves a bit, then another appears. You have worked on your own thoughts and emotions to help your vibes be positive.

Now may be the time to try homeopathy, with a trained veterinarian or trying a homeopathic medicine on your own. Often homeopathy is confused with “holistic”. It is a unique and powerful way to heal with its own principles and remedies.

A small, 70 year old woman consulted with me because 8 different trainers with different approaches had been unable to help her German Shepherd stop pulling and misbehaving on walks. She had really followed all of their suggestions and the dog was much better behaved in many ways. Especially on hot days, Joey seemed to be very reactive and did not listen well, especially on the late afternoon walks. He actually dislocated her shoulder on one walk when he wanted to chase a squirrel. She loved walking him and did not want to just hire a dog walker. All of the pulling behaviors had begun after his last rabies vaccine. With careful homeopathic prescribing and continuing to be consistent with her training, Joey stopped his almost maniacal behavior completely and would only react with some excitement to stimuli and no pulling. After his next Rabies vaccine, he seemed a little more restless, so she repeated the homeopathic medicine and he returned to great behavior.

A mixed breed terrier started with growling at them at 4 months, then in dog classes where he was considered a problem pup. At six months he developed itching, oozing skin problems that resolved with drugs, then reappeared several times over the next year, finally not responding to conventional treatment. His behaviors were bizarre. Barked so much they resorted to an electronic collar. He was so smart he only needed it for a week, then only barked appropriately. He frantically would dig holes in the yard yet stopped after a few times of putting he feces in the hole. He gives strangers and visitors more attention than his family. He avoided walking or even going near water and shiny objects. He is very demanding. With careful prescribing, he quickly began showing more interest in the family and listening, the skin slowly improved and within a year he was a favorite dog at the training classes and at home.

Home care can succeed as well.

Susie was a 5 year old collie with an unusual fear. She lived in a home with a gas stove which made a clicking sound when turned on. One day, just after the stove was turned on, the smoke alarm malfunctioned and went off. Ever since that day she became more and more sensitive to sounds, even the click of knitting needles. Susie would begin to howl and race around the house with dilated pupils. Reiki and Rescue Remedy did not help. Because the problem was manageable (prevent noises), her guardian, who had read about homeopathy, decided to treat Susie herself. She listed all the symptoms and gave Belladonna which fit the physical and mental issues. Starting with 30c in water, repeated for a few days (homeopathic medicines should not be given continuously), Susie was 50% less reactive. After a few months of dosing carefully with 200c , then 1M she slowly improved and was never triggered by noises again and needed no more treatment.

As you can see, you can try homeopathic medicines yourself. I do recommend learning some of the basic principles first. There are several books that can help you learn and your gift is an overview of homeopathy report.

Are you intrigued? Forty years of prescribing homeopathically have made me quite passionate about its benefits. It is one of the best approaches to deeply heal animals and prevent future problems. Most importantly, the principles and philosophy are easily learned and will help you navigate the many choices, not just homeopathic medicines, to have healthy, well behaved dogs in your life.

Samuel Hahnemann, a medical doctor in the late 1700s recognized and used the basic principle of like cures like in clinical practice very successfully. His textbook, The Organon, is still the basic textbook today. Though written for the treatment of humans, he and other homeopaths also treated animals and the basic principles apply.

He, and later homeopaths, tested substances (minerals, herbs, body substances) on healthy people and recorded the changes. When symptoms matched an ill person or animal, regardless of the disease, the result was a return to complete health with all symptoms eventually resolving. The medicines are diluted and energized so there are no molecules of the original substance – just the energetic template that does the healing when properly matched.

His goal, paraphrased from the first 3 paragraphs of The Organon:

• Goal is to return the patient to health, to cure.
• Best cure is a rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, following clear guidelines.

Key points to get this deep healing:

• There is one energy field (vital force) with which each dog is born.
• When triggered by something it is sensitive to (food, environment, trauma, toxins, etc.) the imbalanced field produces symptoms to get back into homeostasis.
• All symptoms from birth to death, including behavioral ones, reflect the underlying field.
• When we find the homeopathic medicine (from the 7,000 or more made by the pharmacies) that matches this field, all current symptoms resolve.
• The skin and the aggression; diabetes and the anxiety; fear of noises, slowness to learn and separation anxiety; etc.
• The dog remains healthy for much of her life after successful homeopathic treatment (may need different medicines over time and professional treatment).
• Response to any treatments, homeopathic or others including training and lifestyle ones are the key to know when to try something new. Suppression is when the current symptoms too quickly resolve, then more serious ones appear. Palliation is when you get some relief and treatments must be continued and over time there is general worsening. Moving towards the desired cure is indicated when they feel better overall (improved BEAM and resolution of the EWS – Early Warning Signs of Internal Imbalance) and the symptoms slowly resolve and no further treatment is needed. Sometimes there are no changes.

Homeopathic medicines for behavior problems

The following are a very brief description of few that may be useful in any behavior problems. You would only try one at a time and evaluate the response. Also read the remedies in the resources. If none seem to match, you would need to consult with a homeopath (see the article on Finding a Holistic Veterinarian

(1) ACONITUM NAPELLUS (Monkshood) – have this one in your first aid kit

1. Great fearfulness or terror, restlessness. Any behavior, emotional and even physical symptoms begin after a sudden fright, trauma.
2. Fever, early infection, may be worse at night, after exposure to dry, cold weather, or draft of cold air, with increased drinking

2) ARSENICUM ALBUM (white arsenic)

1. Restless, timid, fearful, hides yet does not want to be left alone, startles easily, separation anxiety.
2. Fastidious, very chilly animals, complaints recur annually, thirst for frequent, small sips of water.

3) BELLADONNA (Deadly nightshade):

1. Sudden onset, aggressive, fearful, strong symptoms, growling, hard to train, disobedient, desire to run away, destructive
2. Strong, robust animals
3. During an episode of fear, or in general since the fear began:
   • Hot (with cold paws), red, dilated pupils and red eyes,

5) PHOSPHORUS (Mineral Phosphorus):

1. Fearfulness – startling easily; fear of the dark; being alone; separation anxiety; dark; thunderstorms; noises; loves company and being social
2. Thirsty for cold water, dripping faucets, vomiting ~20 minutes after drinking; blood in any discharge; easily bleeding

6) PULSATILLA (Windflower):

1. Timid and fearful, especially of dark. Weepy and clingy when ill. Much better for
2. petting and cuddling. Sad, seeming to not pay as much attention or forgetting training. Separation anxiety.
3. Seeking cool spots, feels better in cold weather, prefers open air, thirstless

How to give

You can purchase at most health food stores. Most common are blue tubes with small tasteless pellets in a 30c strength. Ignore everything on the label except the name and the potency. They do not expire and the quantity does not matter. Put a few pellets (2-4) into a ½ C of water in a small bottle. Shake 10 times before giving each dose. Put a few drops in the mouth. If not easy to do – put on the nose or paws to lick, or in a tiny amount of cream cheese, cottage cheese or other very bland food. How often you give is determined by the response. If better, repeat a few more times, then stop. If you are not sure, give a few doses more frequently (every 1-4 hours) for 3 doses. Record what and when you give it.

With long term behavior problems give one dose twice a day for three days, then wait a week. Record any changes, mental or physical. If slightly better, repeat. Within a month there should be significant. You may need a higher potency, so you will need to have studied a bit or consult with a professional.

To summarize:

• Before homeopathy:

1. Is there any training I can do to resolve or help this problem?
2. Could this be normal considering the breed or the circumstances?
3. Has it been ever since a particular event?
4. Try different approaches that focus on the behavior issue – training/relationship building, animal communicator, TTouch, Flower Essences, Healing Touch For Animals, WEBB, etc.

• Trying homeopathy

1. If worrisome physical issues or severe behavior challenges, consult with a professional homeopath.
2. Make a list and measure any physical and emotional/behavioral symptoms.
3. See how many fit the brief descriptions above or in the reference books.
4. Pick one to try and purchase.
5. Give a dose. Before repeating, review all the symptoms for the response happening. If super good, wait before repeating. If slightly better, repeat.
6. Stop giving once there is definite improvement or if there is a worsening of any symptom.
7. If nothing happens you can try another medicine if it seems to fit.
8. Be PATIENT and carefully observe.
9. Consult a professional if no improvement as a different medicine may be needed.
10. Finally, your loving relationship in every moment with your dog is the key.

Resources:

Read the articles in Healthy Happy Dog magazine by Dr. Feinman, and many others, empowering you to love, regardless of the circumstances. To learn more about homeopathy, check out articles on my web site, schedule a consult with me and begin reading a few of my favorite animal homeopathy books:

Homeopathy for Cats and Dogs by Don Hamilton (especially chapts 2 & 3) Beyond Flat Earth Medicine by Tim Dooley – great intro for humans – free – http://www.drdooley.net/Book.pdf Practical Handbook of Veterinary Homeopathy by Wendy Jensen Veterinary Homeopathy by John Saxton and Peter Gregory Homeopathy: What to Expect (and 101 cured cases) by Ed Debeuklaer Homeopathic Treatment of Small Animals by Christopher Day Your Dog and Homeopathy by Atjo Westerhuis

Also, check out homeopathy and behavior articles at my website.

For free you can browse the homeopathy and behavior threads at Holistic Actions.

As a member you will have access to hundreds of pages and classes on homeopathy as well as homeopathy for behavior problems.

Dr. Christina Chambreau graduated from veterinary college in 1980 and has been helping families be healthy for over 40 years. She now is faculty at the Holistic Actions Academy and offers Virtual Pet Health Advising, including teaching you about homeopathy. Get your free Overview of Homeopathy gift here.