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› articles by michael goldberg, dvm
Homeopathic Treatment of Intestinal Problems One of the most common problems that I see in my practice centers on the digestive system. I find that the simple act of switching the diet of both dogs and cats to a fresh food diet seems to have a very noticeable effect on their health. If you don't believe it then try it! The same goes for us humans. The fact that more nutrition goes in and can be processed through the body, the more likely that injuries and illnesses can be successfully abated. The digestive system is a maze of tunnels that is actually considered external to the body. Basically it is a barrier to keep the bad stuff out and let the good stuff in. In theory this is great, but quite often too much bad can get through and wreak havoc within the body, or there may be irritation to the actual intestinal lining which can also wreak havoc. There are many functions that the intestinal system has in order to weed out the bad stuff but sometimes this fails. Certain things get in to the body through the intestines and cause allergies. Parasites, viruses and bacteria can also be associated with digestive illness as well. Stress can play a role as well in the reactions of the intestines. Other organs such as the liver and the pancreas can also play a role in digestive upset. Symptoms It is beyond the scope of this article to go into all the possibilities of what may be the problems but there are two broad categories of intestinal disturbance that we see with our pets. The symptoms of digestive upset are usually vomiting, diarrhea, or some degree of both. Again these categories my be further divided into chronic problems (lasting longer than a few consecutive days) or acute problems (those that usually are self limiting and end with the pet improving or rapidly getting much worse). The following applies to acute conditions. Remember that with chronic conditions, you may be better off in the long run to work with a practitioner who specializes in chronic treatment with homeopathy. What I would like to discuss are the different symptoms of gastrointestinal problems and give you some helpful tips on what to do. Regurgitation and Vomiting In both dogs and cats, the act of vomiting or regurgitation can be normal. In nature, this is a good defense mechanism against the ingestion of harmful foods and toxins (most notably in dogs which are more prone to scavenging than cats). Cats have developed a keen sense of smell and taste to help them with being more selective than dogs as to the dangers of certain foods. The cat is also less equipped to detoxify than is the dog (common example being the dangers of acetaminophen in cats, as they cannot adequately metabolize this in the liver). If you're still with me then you can see the advantage in vomiting for these species. What to do if your pet begins to vomit? If you are fairly sure the pet did not ingest any toxins like antifreeze, prescription or over-the-counter medication, then a 24 hour fast is recommended followed by boiled meat and rice in small amounts usually 4 times a day until the pet feels better. If there is repetitive vomiting with the pet becoming very lethargic, you should probably get a check up, as your pet may be dehydrated. Quite often there will be a problem with chronic vomiting in which the vomiting has been infrequent (1-2 times weekly) but is becoming more and more frequent. In cases like these there may be something progressing and you should consult your veterinarian. Homeopathic remedies might help... Arsenicum album - this remedy is very useful for that dog or cat which is restless, chilly and seeks water in small amounts quite often. The pet may search for a warm area to perch which makes them feel better. This remedy is the number one remedy for food poisoning (for that dog who gets into the garbage every so often!) Nux vomica - this remedy is very useful for vomiting from the effects of toxins. It is sometimes used as a homeopathic detoxification from the overuse of drugs and anesthetic. The animal is usually thirsty and may be very sensitive to pain (intestinal pains) and can be irritable from these pains. Ipecac - vomiting repetitively with a green color or vomiting small amounts of blood can indicate this remedy. Phosphorus - these pets have vomiting very shortly after ingestion of the food or water (once it has warmed up in the stomach). The pet is usually thirsty for cold water but this is also regurgitated after it has warmed up. There may also be red blood in the vomit. Pulsatilla - this remedy is very useful when your pet is clingy and whiny and this behavior is accompanied with the vomiting. Another caution I should mention is the possibility of an obstruction or a blockage of the bowel. These conditions are very serious and more common in young dogs and cats. Generally they will vomit repeatedly until there is nothing left in the stomach (sometimes 6-12 times during the day). These should get professional attention. Diarrhea This topic is not exactly dinner conversation but it seems so common that it needs to be addressed as many times you can handle most things at home. The first consideration though is to determine whether there is a cause that you can identify. The caution again is that if your pet is very lethargic, there may be something serious going on and if there is no response to home treatment then you should seek the advice of a veterinarian. Let common sense prevail. For example if there is constant straining for periods longer than a few minutes, there may be an obstruction or blockage. If there is a large amount of fluid loss in the form of watery diarrhea, then your pet may be dehydrated as well. Again, the resulting diarrhea is usually the body trying to rid itself of unwanted material or toxins. The other common finding is a parasitic infection in which may be diagnosed if you bring a sample in to your veterinarian. The most common findings in my practice as to the causes or contributors to this are dietary reasons, parasites or viral, as well as stress (anxiety). The more chronic diarrheas are often food intolerances or stress related conditions. A weakened immune system may also be the culprit. What to do if your pet has diarrhea? Again the first thing I usually recommend is to fast the pet for 24 hours to see if the diarrhea will stop or firm up a bit then to follow with a very bland diet of boiled meat (usually chicken) with boiled rice. Slippery elm can be used as well to help control the diarrhea. Boil a teaspoon in a cup of water then turn the heat down and stir until it is thickened. Let it cool down then mix in some honey. You can give this ranging from a teaspoon to small dogs and cats to 4 tablespoons to giant breed dogs and it can be repeated up to four times daily. Other useful ideas are to give a pinch of acidophilus and/or a probiotic (which aids in recolonizing of the good bacteria) for about ten days. The following homeopathic remedies may be very helpful... Arsenicum album - this remedy again is very good for diarrheas that may be due to food poisonings in which there is restlessness and chilliness. The diarrhea often is very smelly like that of rotten meat these pets also feel better in the heat. The remedy is especially useful when there is diarrhea accompanied with vomiting China officionalis - this is a good remedy when there is feverishness alternating with chill and there is weakness with the diarrhea from loss of fluids. Colocynthesis - this remedy is very useful when there are a lot of cramps associated with the diarrhea. These may be noted when the pet must curl up in order to be comfortable (where the cramps are better when legs are bent upwards). This is also useful when only a small amount to eat will cause the diarrhea. Mercurius - these pets are usually shifting from colder to warmer areas, as temperature extremes are difficult to endure. There is also a lot of straining and there is usually mucous associated with the diarrhea. They are commonly irritable as well. Nux vomica - again this remedy is very useful for the effects of using a lot of drugs. There is usually a strong urge to go. The causative factor is commonly getting into garbage or over-indulgence. There may be thirst and irritability as well. Phosphorus - I have found this remedy useful for forceful diarrhea that is quite sudden. The pet is usually thirsty for cold water and the anus usually is open so the diarrhea just shoots out. Podophyllum - this is very useful when the diarrhea is gushing and forceful. Commonly there is mucous in the diarrhea. Pulsatilla - this remedy is used for diarrhea, which changes every time there is a bowel movement. No two are exactly the same. There is also a whiny and clingy aspect to the pet and usually they feel better when they are outside in the fresh air. How to use these medicines... Firstly there is the question of potency. I usually use 30c or 200c when I deal with an acute problem. As a general rule, you can repeat the remedy as frequently as every 10-20 minutes if it is a very sudden onset. If the pet is comfortable then use it every few hours for a total of three doses unless there is dramatic improvement after one dose (then I usually stop). With homeopathic treatment, if there is improvement after a single dose of remedy, the body has begun to heal and there may be no need for another dose. If there is relapse after improvement, that is the time to repeat the dose. If there is no improvement after 3 consecutive doses then I usually try a different remedy. References: Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health of Dogs and Cats. Rodale Press, 1995. Richard H. Pitcairn, Susan H. Pitcairn Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for Small Animals. North Atlantic Books, 1999. Don Hamilton, DVM The Holistic Veterinary Handbook, Galde Press, 1997. William G. Winter, DVM Read more Articles by Michael Goldberg, DVM... |
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vancouver animal wellness hospital Michael Goldberg, DVM; Sue Hughson, DVM 105 e. broadway, vancouver, bc v5t 1w1 / phone: 604.738.4664 / fax: 604.738.4694 Hours of Operation: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 9am - 6pm, Tuesday & Wednesday: 9am - 7pm, Saturday: 9am - 5pm © Copyright 2004-2006. vancouver animal wellness hospital. All rights reserved. › Contact Us › Privacy Policy › Sitemap › Home |
