Cat & Dog - Veterinary Homeopathy

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a distinct philosophy of medicine that has its roots in eighteenth century Germany, and was subsequently spread in Europe and to the rest of the world.

The underlying basis of homeopathy is the principle that 'like cures like', or that a substance that is capable, in toxic doses, of producing a set of symptoms is also capable, in much lower doses, of curing the same set of symptoms regardless of their perceived cause.

The founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann, speculated that a homeopathic medicine has a temporary effect on the body. As the body rouses to neutralise this effect, similar symptoms from any other cause are likewise neutralised or eliminated. Homeopathic treatment thus involves matching as many symptoms as possible in a patient to the known effects of a remedy.

Remedies are derived from substances found in all three of the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdoms. Many of the early remedies were already in popular use in eighteenth century medicine. Because patients often showed severe side effects when they received standard doses of medicines, early homeopaths directed their efforts at finding the minimum dose that was still therapeutic. Experimental work showed that a remedy could cause less reaction, yet still effectively treat a patient, when it was serially and systematically diluted and succussed (shaken in a specific manner between dilution stages).

By carefully observing patients and recording their symptoms and subsequent response to treatments, homeopaths were able to catalogue and cross-reference the remedies with the symptoms they could treat. Additional information was derived from reports of toxic reactions to various drugs and natural substances. Modern homeopathic practitioners use these reference works, known as repertories, as a basis for determining the correct treatment for an individual case.

What is the history of homeopathy in veterinary medicine?

Often, early homeopaths treated both human and animal patients, and numerous case reports of treatment in dogs, horses, and cattle have been preserved in the works of these pioneers. Vets in the nineteenth century used homeopathic texts that were specifically developed for their profession, as well as information from their medical colleagues. This tradition continues today.

In the latter years of the nineteenth century, homeopathy began to decline in popularity with the development of the pharmaceutical industry. Homeopathy has been undergoing resurgence since the middle of the last century, and has become popular again as a form of veterinary medicine in the past thirty years as animal owners and vets alike explore it as a way beyond the limitations of conventional medicine. Formal training courses are offered and lead to certification status for successful vets; a Veterinary Member of the Faculty of Homeopathy, or VetMFHom.

On which species of animals is homeopathy practiced regularly?

Homeopathy is routinely practiced in dogs, cats, horses, ruminants (eg cows, sheep), and birds. Its use in other exotic species is growing.

Who practices veterinary homeopathy and do I need a referral?

Some aspects of homeopathy, such as homeopathic first aid for self-limiting conditions, can be readily taught to animal owners. Because of the potential for harm if critical and chronic disease is assessed incorrectly, it is absolutely necessary to have veterinary training as well as training in homeopathic theory and practice in order to properly treat animal patients. In the UK, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons considers veterinary homeopathy to be a practice of veterinary medicine and, as such, only licensed veterinary surgeons can practice it legally. As veterinary homeopathy gains acceptance, there are an increasing number of vets in private practice who possess the necessary training and experience.

What conditions are most often treated with homeopathy?

Most diseases can be treated homeopathically. The quickest way to find out if your animal may be a candidate is to ask one of the vets, or at reception. We would be pleased to guide you.

Both acute (short lasting) and chronic (long lasting) diseases are amenable to treatment with homeopathy. From a homeopathic perspective, acute diseases are diseases that are caused externally, such as injuries, poisonings, infectious diseases, etc.

Chronic diseases from the homeopathic perspective include most common disease syndromes such as allergies, arthritis, skin problems, digestive disturbances, respiratory problems, musculoskeletal problems, organ disease, and cancer.

How can my pet benefit from homeopathy?

Homeopathy is potentially of value in any condition, regardless of prognosis from a conventional medical perspective. Some individuals may not be amenable to treatment with homeopathy, and experience little or no improvement despite the practitioner's best efforts. Homeopathy has a reputation of demanding a very high degree of skill from the practitioner. If properly applied, homeopathy may eliminate the need for surgery in certain conditions, or may eliminate the need for long-term medication.

How successful is homeopathy?

Homeopathy has been credited with saving countless lives during epidemics of dysentery, cholera and typhoid fever in the age before antibiotics.

The success of the treatment of chronic conditions will vary according to the age of the patient, prior treatment history, diagnosis, and the patient's vitality.

As with all other forms of medicine, the earlier in the course of disease that homeopathy is started, the better the response tends to be.

Patients considered more difficult to treat include cases that have been previously treated with multiple potent drugs, especially chemotherapy. Patients that have undergone long-term therapy with corticosteroids and other immune suppressants can take longer to respond to homeopathic treatment and sometimes unfortunately not at all.

How safe is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is safe if administered with care by a trained vet. Homeopathic remedies should never be administered without a proper veterinary diagnosis. Despite the popularity of telephone consultations among some human homeopaths, treatment using homeopathy in any illness should be considered inappropriate without adequate monitoring and follow-up evaluation by a trained vet.

When used correctly and by a skilful veterinary practitioner, serious adverse reactions to homeopathic remedies are uncommon, but may occur. When the correct homeopathic remedy has been administered, it is sometimes possible to see a mild worsening of the condition, called an 'aggravation'. Such aggravations should resolve within a short period of time once treatment is, at least temporarily, discontinued.

What is the cost of homeopathy?

Homeopathic remedies are generally very affordable. However, comprehensive homeopathic treatment involves a thorough history taking and physical examination, followed by a patient assessment, case analysis and formulation of a treatment plan, including remedy prescription. It rarely involves a single visit, and costs will vary according to the specific condition being treated, the time spent on the case, and the response of the patient.

Can homeopathy be combined with other types of veterinary medicine?

Homeopathy is useful as an adjunct therapy to manage post-operative pain and to speed healing after injuries. However, as a complete and well-developed system of medicine, homeopathy is effective as the sole form of treatment for most conditions, and is used in that way by skilled practitioners. Under certain circumstances, it can be combined with other forms of treatment.

Homeopathy is most effective when used alone to manage disease. Many animals will be on drugs due to their long standing skin or bowel problem, say. These drugs may slow, or in the worst case, block homeopathic treatment. However, stopping conventional treatment dead and starting afresh with a new form of medicine is not advisable. Gradual tapering of the conventional drugs as symptoms improve with homeopathic therapy seems to be the best way to transition patients.

Caution must be used when mixing homeopathy with some drugs, or with other forms of complementary or alternative veterinary medicine. Pungent ointments, strong smelling chemicals such as camphor, peppermint and tea tree oil, and any strong stimulant medications may interfere with homeopathic treatment.

Combining therapies can make it difficult to determine what is working well, or whether the different treatments are interfering or nullifying each other. Ideally, when two or more forms of treatment are given, they should be separated by one or two days or by at least several hours if a longer interval is not possible.

Veterinary homeopaths have the knowledge and skill to understand the interactions between different forms of treatment and to interpret the patient's response to therapy.

How can I find out more information about veterinary homeopathy?

The best way to find current reference materials, links, and referral lists is to consult the Faculty of Homeopathy website on www.trusthomeopathy.org or to telephone the Faculty of Homeopathy 0870 444 3950 for a list of UK homeopathic vets.

Please talk to us. We'd be happy to find you a fully qualified veterinary homeopath.