Homeopathy in Veterinary First Aid
As with all articles on this website, the following article is for educational and reference purposes only and does not represent medical advice. If your pet has an urgent condition, seek emergency veterinary care. This information has appeared in both the Holistic Veterinary Society of NZVA Newsletter and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy Journal but has been updated, edited and appears here with permission from both publications. This article was originally written for veterinary homeopaths. If you are a veterinarian and are interested in more information and training opportunities in veterinary homeopathy, click the research/resource button below. The following discussion is related to the use of homeopathic medicines which are made using a preparation involving multiple dilutions and succussions of natural materials to the level of nanoparticles but still containing substances capable of safely and gently stimulating an immune / body system self-healing response.
For more information:
Introduction:
Although most first aid can be routine, there are some emergency situations which can be very stressful. Most seasoned veterinarians deal with emergency conditions without breaking a sweat, but it’s always nice to have some help. I frequently mist Calming Sprayᵃ in the treatment area to calm human and animal alike. A calming response is seen within minutes, easing the next treatment steps.
Homeopathic medicines discussed in the following sections may be given as dry pellet or diluted in water and administered via a syringe, from a spoon or from a dish. The dose may be misted from a spray bottle if oral access is difficult. Frequently it is just fine to place the liquid remedy at the lip margin as it tends to drizzle onto the mucus membranes. Potencies most often include 30C and 200C although very young and vital patients do well with 1M. If you are new to homeopathy, it is best to stick to the low potencies like a 6, 12, or 30C.
It is usually fine to also administer flower essences such as Bach Flower Rescue Remedy or Pet Essences, and apply topical teas, washes and dressings made from the following: calendula, green tea, hypericum, witch hazel, aloe, sugar or honey; but strong herbs and drugs may interfere with homeopathic medicines and/or confuse interpretation of response. Refer to the mini homeopathy Materia Medica that appears at the end of this paper for more details to guide homeopathic medicine selection. This material is meant to complement and supplement standard supportive care measures including intravenous or subcutaneous fluids, oxygen administration, nutritional support and warming or cooling the animal as appropriate. The focus of this paper is on homeopathic treatment and will only cover topical preparations and compresses which complement homeopathy well.
Shock and Fear: Assess the patient’s attitude first. If the usual signs of shock (dullness, bright red and later - pale mucous membranes, rapid heart rate, rapid and later - depressed respiration, low blood pressure and low body temperature) or fear (eyes wide and pupils dilated, cowering, vocalization / hissing, ears back, raised hackles) are present, administer Aconitum napellus first. Responses can be immediate. I recall a few cases in which the patients were in respiratory distress with blue mucous membranes. Literally the second the homeopathic medicine touched the mucous membranes, the tongue instantly pinked up and respiration improved. I have also found Aconitum to be a useful follow-up for a patient treated non-homeopathically for effects of trauma, but who is still suffering from fear and stress having never been well since the accident.
A medicine to consider if the patient is frantic, overheated and wild-eyed, is Belladonna. You may notice that the eyes are dilated and heat radiates from the head or body. If the patient is extremely angry or irritable, a dose of Nux vomica might smooth the next steps. Carbo vegetabilis may be used if the patient appears to be dying and has bluish mucous membranes.
Cuts: If the tissues are bleeding profusely, consider using a few drops of calendula tincture directly. Anecdotal accounts detail cases in which the application of calendula tincture stops hemorrhage immediately.1 Arnica, which is helpful in conditions resulting in ecchymosis and bruising, has anti-hemorrhage effects and may be a good choice to use in cuts and cutting trauma. If the patient is having a difficult time healing from a surgical incision, choose Staphysagria. I’ve found Staph to be helpful even if the site looks fine, but the animal is acting uncomfortable or anxious during the healing process. Calendula is useful for poor healing and suppurating wounds (topically and as a homeopathic medicine).
Hot Spots: In addition to gentle cleansing, you may apply green tea or aloe vera gel. Homeopathic medicines helpful in this condition include: Apis, Arsenicum album, Belladonna, Graphites, Hepar sulph, Mercurius (vivus / solubilis), Nitricum acidum, Rhus toxicodendron.² ³ Consult the Materia Medica for details to guide medicine selection.
Punctures: If bleeding is present, and especially in nerve rich areas, use Hypericum. If no bleeding is present, but later suppuration and purplish swelling, then use Ledum.
Foreign body: For splinters, foxtails, inter-digital cysts and abscesses think of Silicea, Ledum and Myristica sebifera.
Trauma / Bruising: Aconitum for shock; Arnica for initial bruising (and postpartum care); Hypericum for nerve rich injuries (toes, coccyx, tail); Ruta for deep joint and bone pain and as a follow-up to Arnica; Symphytum for fractured bones. An example that I always remember, was of an adult, Standard Poodle, who was treated with Symphytum and splinted for a fracture of two metacarpal bones. Her splint fell off (when she was playing and swimming!) three days later and she was fully weight bearing and comfortable.
Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing by Asa Hershoff, ND, DC, is a useful book for more specific and detailed homeopathic medicine descriptions and indications.
Burns: 1st degree: Urtica urens, 2nd degree: Causticum, 3rd degree: Cantharis. In addition to oral homeopathic therapy, apply compresses of diluted calendula tincture (1 tsp in 1 pint water) or hypericum tincture (1 tsp in 1 pint water); then dress with calendula or hypericum ointment or a combination hypericum/calendula ointment or cream.¹ ᵇ I have personally found that a few doses of homeopathic Calendula resolves minor to moderate burns (cases of burns from jumping on a wood burning stove to poorly healing radiation burns). Dr. Pitcairn recommends initial applications of gauze saturated with urtica urens tincture (six drops to one ounce of water) and one dose of Arsenicum album 30C, followed in five minutes by Bach Flower’s rescue remedy (two drops orally every 30 minutes for three treatments).² Arsenicum is especially appropriate if the picture is of restlessness, chilliness and thirst for small sips. Urtica urens burns typically itch, while Causticum is helpful for burns that never fully heal or keep opening.³
Heat Stroke: Belladonna every 30-60 minutes depending on severity of symptoms. Monitor hydration, urine production and use cool compresses, but not cold baths. Follow standard level of care on top of homeopathic medicine use. Glonoine may be given if no improvement is seen after a few doses of Belladonna.²
Insect bites and Stings: With much swelling and inflammation, use Ledum. Topically, you may use fresh onion, or a drop of urtica urens topically.² I typically use a witch hazel compress. I have also used Lachesis in a few circumstances in which the tissues around the bite have later turned dark blue or purple and are not healing well.
Snake Bites: (Please seek medical help from your veterinarian, but this is a protocol you might use if you are camping or a distance from your ER and can get started while traveling to the clinic).
This protocol is from Dr. Will Falconer.⁵
“Snake bites are most worrisome if the venom becomes systemic, i.e. throughout the body, in which case it can cause widespread problems and even death. We’ll use homeopathy to help to localize the damage from this toxic venom, and keep the patient well until the discharge process can clear the venom.
A dose in this case will be 5-10 drops given by mouth from the shaken remedy bottle.
We’ll begin with Echinacea 10M, and give a dose every 30 minutes for a total of 3 doses, as soon as possible after bite discovery.
Evaluation: most important is, how is the animal acting and feeling?
If mostly normal, with just a puffy and discolored area where the bite was, we are doing well, localizing the venom. In this case, we’ll give doses less often, but stay with the same remedy, perhaps dosing every 4-6 hours, or whenever things look worse.
If the animal is acting withdrawn, has cold extremities (ear tips, feet, etc), has no interest in interaction or is extremely dull in affect, or has difficulty breathing, we’ll change remedies, as these are signs of systemic illness. In this case, we’ll change to Ledum 10M and begin as we did with Echinacea.
If no betterment is gained, our third choice is Lachesis 10M, given the same way.”
Other practitioners have found using Ledum alone has been curative for the manifestations of snake bite injuries.
Eye Trauma: (seek veterinary care if your dog is squinting, has severe ocular redness, corneal laceration, corneal ulcer, or appears painful)
Administer Arnica (oral dose) first, followed by Symphytum a few hours to days later for blunt trauma. Homeopathic Euphrasia officinalis is helpful for corneal irritation, ulcers and abrasions (Aconitum also helpful for abrasions). You can also use an herbal tea (green or marigold) as a soothing compress, or an ophthalmic drop which includes herbal euphrasia.ᶜ Hypericum can be given for lacerations to the cornea.⁶
First Aid using homeopathic medicine is extremely rewarding and effective. Not only is the mechanical tissue injury and resulting pain addressed, but the consideration and treatment of the mental and emotional state of the patient as well. Even if the pet has already been treated allopathically, you may well find that by following up with appropriate homeopathic medicines, the case will nicely resolve lingering patient fear, pain and infection.
Materia Medica⁷ ⁸ ⁹ ¹⁰
Aconitum napellus – addresses shock and fear, hemorrhages are sudden with bright red blood, acute high fever, worse at night and from exposure to cold, dry wind, better in the open air and after rest. Use with acute convulsions.⁶
Apis mellifica – edema and accumulation of fluid, better when sitting upright; swelling with redness or white; hives, as a result of allergies or insect stings (consider Ledum first); thirstless; symptoms improved from cold applications.
Arnica montana – injury, bruising, fear of approach (fear of painful site being touched), difficulty getting comfortable when lying on hard surfaces. Worse at night, during rest and from contact.
Belladonna – dilated pupils, sometimes accelerated pulse, wild mental state, sometimes violent, extremely oversensitive, hot (but limbs can be cold) and cannot tolerate heat, sudden blindness, convulsions, swellings red and hot, usually thirsty but sometimes has trouble swallowing liquids.
Bellis perennis – follows Arnica well, acts upon the blood vessels, removes exudation of many kinds of swellings (useful in aural hematoma), after abdominal trauma or surgery.
Cantharis vesicatoria – this medicine covers conditions that have destructive inflammations and intense pain, thus the patient may be violent with pain.
Carbo vegetabilis – collapse, gulping for air improved by sitting up, bloating, burping, flatulence, cyanosis, extreme coldness of the body but patient likes to be fanned and does not want to be covered, blood is dark and oozing, very weak pulse. Well known medicine for reviving after respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Calendula officinalis – used on skin, eyes and mucus membranes - to cleanse, improve healing and reduce excess granulation and suppuration. Homeopathic doses can also promote healing of injuries and infections of the eyes and skin.
Causticum – in a first aid situation, consider for serious burns, will alleviate the pain rapidly. Also, will help heal old burns.
Echinacea angustifolia – longstanding homeopathic medicine for the treatment of septic conditions, blood poisoning, bites of poisonous animals and venomous conditions. Patient desires cold drinks and has profound prostration and slowed reflexes.
Euphrasia officinalis – for inflammations, discharges and ulcers of the eye.
Glonoine (Glonoinum) – sudden violent symptoms, severe headaches (animal very hesitant to shake the head), sun stroke, alleviates increased blood pressure (may have distinct pulsation over the whole body, back of neck and head); alleviates cerebral congestion with vomiting, confusion, labored respiration. Patient is better with cold applications, pressure and in cold air.
Graphites naturalis – sticky, yellow discharge like honey, in folds of skin with cracks. The individual tends to be chilly and obese, but warmth worsens the itch and eruption.
Hepar sulphuris calcareum – very foul discharges, extremely painful, fearful and resistant to touch (often out of proportion to the actual condition) to the point of aggression. Individuals are chilly and signs are improved with warm applications.
Hypericum perforatum – puncture and crushing injuries to nerve-rich tissues and cornea.
Ledum palustre – affects fibrous tissue of joints, especially small joints of the digits, purple and puffy, edematous, punctures and bite wounds especially if septic; wounded part is cold; helps prevent tetanus; anal fissure (perianal fistulas may respond); skin discoloration long after injury; bruised eye.
Lachesis muta – much bleeding from small wounds, dark blood; chokes when swallows, throat is very sensitive to pressure; inflammation very tender and discolored bluish or purple; better with cold applications.
Mercurius solubilis / vivus – ulcerations, discharges are foul smelling, muco-purulent, yellow and green. Individuals are irritable and distrustful. Lymph nodes enlarged. Signs are worse at night and in damp, cold weather and from any change in weather.
Rhus toxicodendron – restless even in sleep; itch improved by hot water rather than cold; the skin is thick and stiff, dry, scaly and bumpy. Stiffness after rest, in the morning, on first motion or excessive exercise / activity but improved by gentle stretching and gentle continued motion. Weakness can consist of paralysis, trembling and muscular twitching. This individual gets chilled easily.
Ruta graveolens – addresses sprains, tendonitis or cartilage injury. Stiffness is improved with continued motion and rubbing, better with warmth, gentle motion and massage. Knees give way while going up or down stairs. There is no fear of approach. Startling easily from sleep.
Silicea – aids expulsion of foreign bodies and heals chronic suppurating injuries. Relieves clogged, narrowed and swollen tear ducts and corneal inflammation. This medicine is typically not in emergency kits, so will need to be purchased additionally.
Staphysagria – strongly indicated in wounds from a sharp instrument as in post-surgical pain and ‘never well since surgery,’⁶ worse for touch and suppressed anger, better for warmth.
Symphytum officinale – comes from the homeopathic preparation of comfrey also known as knit-bone in folk medicine. Encourages healing of bone injury, non-union fractures and new fractures. Blunt trauma to the eye is also well treated. The patient is worse for movement, touch and pressure; and better with warmth.
Urtica urens – helpful for treatment of minor burns.
References
1. Shepherd D. Homoepathy for the First Aider. 7th Edition, Essex, England: C.W. Daniel Company Limited. 1986.
2. Pitcairn R and Pitcairn S. Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Third Edition, Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale. 2005.
3. Hamilton D. Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs. Small Doses for Small Animals. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. 1999.
4. Hahnemann S. Organon of the Medical Art. Edited by Wenda Brewster O’Reilly PhD. Redmond, WA: Birdcage Books. 1996. Pg. 53-54.
5. Will Falconer, DVM., Certified Veterinary Homeopath, Vital Animal | The Natural Path, Austin, TX.
6. Saxton J and Gregory P. Textbook of Veterinary Homeopathy. Beaconsfield, UK: Beaconsfield Publishers LTD. 2005.
7. Hershoff A. Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. 1996.
8. Morrison R. Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms. Nevada City, CA: Hahnemann Clinic Publishing. 1993.
9. Murphy R. Nature’ s Materia Medica. Blacksburg, VA: Lotus Health Institute. 2006 .
10. Lippe A. Key Notes & Red Line Symptoms of the Materia Medica. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers Ltd. 1996.
Resources
a. Calming Spray – Start with an eight-ounce spray bottle. Add enough vodka to fill about 1/10th of the bottle. Add 56 drops of Calming Solution (www.petessences.com) and five drops each of lavender and lemongrass essential oil. Fill the rest of the bottle with spring water. Shake the bottle a few times before each use to energize.
b. Emergency kits, homeopathic ointments and supplies can be ordered from the following pharmacies:
Hahnemann Pharmacies www.hahnemannlabs.com
Washington Homeopathic Products www.homeopathyworks.com
Homeopathic Educational Services https://homeopathic.com/
c. NHV Natural Pet Ey-Eas for dogs https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/ey-eas-for-dog-eye-problems
