Leading Voices in Homeopathy

[Lola]

Hi -

My cat had a bladder infection which I was managing for 9 days with herbs. It seemed to be a mild infection (he'd had a serious one 5 years earlier). After nine days of treating with herbs and no improvement I called a homeopathic vet I had worked with in the past. He prescribed Nux Vomica and the symptoms disappeared imediatly. They were gone for 7 days and then came back much stronger.

Re-dosed with Nux which managed it for 5 days, and then 4 days no symptoms. Then relaps again this time Nux did not help, so we tried a series of remedies, the last being Phos which relieved symptoms for 11 days. Then another relapse. Again worked through a series of remedies until Arscinicium which showed immediate relief. This lasted 38 hours, and with a follow up dose he was symptom free for 9 days.

Then another relapse which a follow up dose of Arsc did not help. The vet was unavailable at the time of the last relapse which was making the cat very restless so I made a choice and went back to the first remedy which again showed imediate results. So far he's been 10 days with no symptoms.

Is this normal, all the relapses? Were the remedies given correctly? What is your opinion of a case like this? I had used homeopathic remedies with this vet in the past and with one or two doses the problem was gone. In this instance due to the nature of his illness I had to make a lot of decisions regarding follow up dosing. Should I continue with homeopathic treatments if he relapses again? He is currently on a 2 week dose of Chinese Herbs prescribed by my local vet.

Any suggestions on how to support his healing if he doesn't have a relapse?

Thank for your time.

[DrPitcairn]

Sounds like reasonable remedy choices but since it did not clear up permanently so there must still be a better remedy out there. It might be Thuya or some other remedy having to do with vaccination as this often underlies this problem. I would ask your vet to consider factoring this in.

Best not to use the Chinese herbs at the same time.

Good luck with it. Let me know how it goes.
_________________
Best wishes,
Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD

[Lola]

Thanks for getting back to me.

He's got a few more days of the herbs, after that should I try the Thuya or wait to see if the symptoms return before dosing the Thuya? I will need to continue the dosing without the vet for now. All the other doses were 30C, 3 at 15 or 30 minute intervals.

He was a friendly stray at 5 months old. My vet vaccinated him and now I wonder if it's possible that he got vaccinated twice since he was obviously an abandonded pet. I did some reading and he has the problems from vaccinations - skin and urinary issues.

He's been on raw diet for over 5 years due to skin issues though the diet didn't resolve the skin issues. This is the first year he hasn't had the annual summer hotspots and bald patches, and now he gets the bladder infection. Could there be a connection?

[DrPitcairn]

Now that you mention that there were skin issues, then it is more complicated. You really need to work with a homeopathic veterinarian to figure it out. Could be Thuya but just as well another remedy.
Read my posting on the first page on "Why some homeopathic cases are difficult" and it may help you better understand what is involved.
_________________
Best wishes,
Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD

[Lola]

I do have a question after reading the section on homeopathy. I have been giving the dose by crushing three tablets (not touching them) and then disolving them in 1/4 cup water which is stirred before each dose is given. He gets a quarter eyedropper full. Do you think this makes any difference than giving the tablets directly into the mouth?

Also, since my cat had the dose, symptom relief, and them symptom return with more intensity does that mean he went through an aggrivative cure? Or was it the wrong remedy?

Is there any conflict with giving Bach Remedies at the same time as treatments?

In regards to his skin condition, every May he gets a quarter sized bald spot on his right hip which then grows into various bald spots and patches and clears up in November. Had this since he was 1 year old. This year I noticed it starting on schedule, then he got the bladder infection and we did the homeopathic. This morning I noticed that the bald spot was filled in and his coat looks good. I'm cautiously optimistic that this time he won't relapse. He seems in good spirits.

Thanks for your time!

[DrPitcairn]

[Lola]

I'm not sure if I should continue with the vet I've been using or move onto someone else. At times it's felt like he has rushed from one remedy to the next, and I'm having a hard time evaluating the responses. He wanted to cure the bladder infection before moving onto the skin condition. We've also had some mixups in dosing because I did not know somethings which I felt he should have explained. I don't mind learning but don't want to do it at my cats expense.

Since I don't have experience with homeopathic treatments, I'm not sure what to expect either.

Any indications that you could give me to evaluate his work?

[DrPitcairn]

It is difficult to evaluate homeopathic practice because it is not taught in the veterinary schools so there are various teachings and they do not always present the best way of doing things.

There is a posting that I did that helps make that evaluation and for you to know what questions to ask your vet in making the decision to work with him or her.

Read the posting on the first page of this forum on "How To Find A Homeopathic Veterinarian", parts 1 and 2 as this will guide you in finding one that is using the methods that I think will be best for your animal.
_________________
Best wishes,
Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD

[Lola]

Since I haven't resolved whether to continue with my vet or find a new one, I decided to give my cat a remedy. Reading your book, I felt Merc was a good fit, and did the schedule 2 dosage. I've seen some improvements (playful, scratching post, longer time between box visits, larger urinations) but not a complete cure and it's now been 36 hours.

If he isn't any more improved by tomorrow (48 hours after the last dose) would it be a good time to try a new remedy? I'm thinking of Urtica.

When a remedy is given, does it "wipe out" the previous remedy, or do the remedies act concurrently?

Do you ever go back to a previous remedy where you had a partial or good reaction but not a full cure?

You recommend Thuja for vaccination issues, would that be a single dose?

Thank you for your time!

[DrPitcairn]

A remedy like Mercurius will act for several weeks, usually at least a month. So you would not be moving to a new remedy in a few days unless the condition is gradually worsening and it is clear that the remedy last given is not helping.

One would usually not go back to a remedy that was seen to be inadequate.

As each remedy given then it will take precedence over the ones previously given.

Thuya one of the useful remedies for vaccination effects. There are others, and it is best to determine which to use by looking at the specific symptoms that arrive after vaccination.
_________________
Best wishes,
Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD

[Lola]

Was very uncomfortable this am for an hour, now is resting and seems ok.

Since I"m considering a new vet, is there someone you'd recommend? I'm in Los Angeles.

[DrPitcairn]

Here are the veterinarians in that area that have trained with me in homeopathy. Perhaps one of them convenient to you?

Megan Bamford, DVM
Sun Valley, CA 
(818) 768-0954

Martha Eaton, DVM
Moreno Valley, CA 
(909) 242-3118

Jaqueline Gray, DVM
Valley Village, CA 
(818) 766-7197

Karen Kelly, DVM
Thousand Oaks, CA 
(818) 999-1290

Monica Laflin, DVM
Cardiff, CA 
(760) 436-3215

Audra MacCorkle, DVM
Los Angeles, CA 
(818) 395-3916

Karen Novak, DVM
Caspar, CA 
(707) 964-3448 

Stephanie Oelrich, DVM
Laguna Niguel, CA 
(949) 493-1370

Tracy Reis, DVM
Sherman Oaks, CA 
(805) 259-9273

Evelyn Vega, DVM
Valencia, CA 
(661) 295-9972
_________________
Best wishes,
Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD