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What's the alternative?
Over the last decade, both vets and horses owners alike have become
interested in alternative therapies in looking for safe, effective and
ecologically sound methods of treating patients. This lhas led to
a rediscovery of certain treatment modalities such as homeopathy and
acupuncture, and a re-emergence of these techniques to treat disease in
horses. We can offer these services to our clients, particularly
for those cases proving difficult to treat with conventional medicine.
Homoeopathy
The word 'homoeopathy' means 'similar suffering' and
uses the principle "like curing like". What this
means in everyday terms is that a substance that can
produce a set of symptoms in a healthy animal may be
used to treat an ill animal who has the same set of
symptoms. To prevent any toxic effects the
homoeopathic medicine is used in the smallest amount
that will provoke a healing response. It has been
found that the greater the dilution of the
homoeopathic medicine the more powerful its healing
properties become.
Homoeopathic medicines are prepared by taking a
solution of the concentrated ingredient and diluting
it many times. Vigorous shaking of the preparation
is vital at each stage of dilution. Each stage is
known as a potency. As a result of this high
dilution, homoeopathic medicines are considered to
be free of causing any known side-effects.
Animals vary in their reaction to an illness and
therefore different homoeopathic medicines may be
needed for animals with the same medical condition.
On the other hand the same homoeopathic medicine may
be used to treat many different illnesses. Some of
the medicines however have the same effect on a
particular ailment in all animals. For example
Arnica is universally recommended for bruising.
History
As long ago as the 5th century BC Hippocrates, the
Father of Medicine, was aware of the homoeopathic
approach to illness and the role of nature as a
healer. Homoeopathy as it is practised today was
established in the late 18th and early 19th century
by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.
He gave us 3 principles:
- A substance that causes symptoms in a healthy
person or animal can be used to treat these
symptoms when they occur in an ill person or
animal.
- Diluting the homoeopathic medicine increases
its curative powers and prevents unwanted
side-effects.
- Homoeopathy treats the whole person or animal
and not just the illness.
Homoeopathy is very popular and widely used
throughout Europe. France, Germany and Holland all
have a large number of doctors and vets who
prescribe homoeopathic medicines. Research has
confirmed the efficacy of homoeopathic medicine and
the old idea that it only worked psychologically has
been disproved.
Additional support comes from the fact that animals
also benefit from homoeopathic treatment and it is
unlikely that they will react psychologically to a
medicine they often do not know they are being
given.
Principles of Treatment of Animals
Homoeopathic medicines are available for a wide
range of common conditions, from cuts and bruises to
stomach upsets. Minor ailments can be treated easily
by yourself but more complicated conditions must be
treated by a professional. If the symptoms persist,
or are severe you must seek the advice of the
Veterinary Surgeon
Homoeopathic medicine can be used by most people and
animals, but as there are many different
homoeopathic medicines available, and as each person
or animal responds to illness in a different way, we take care in matching your symptoms to a particular
homoeopathic medicine and ensure that you carefully
follow the instructions before taking it. Very
occasionally after taking a homoeopathic medicine
the symptoms may become slightly worse. This effect
will be brief and is a good sign that the body's
natural healing energies have started to counteract
the illness. After this, the symptoms will subside
as your animal regains its health. If symptoms
persist, again speak to the Veterinary Surgeon
Giving the Treatment
In people, homoeopathic tablets should be dissolved
under the tongue or simply chewed, not swallowed.
For animals the tablet can be crushed to a powder
before being given straight into the mouth. Do not
mix with the food - in fact food should be avoided
for 30 minutes before and after taking a medicine,
if possible. In difficult animals it can be mixed
with the drinking water - this is the standard way
of treating farm animals.
Avoid strong smelling supplements in the diet like
garlic and peppermint. The dose is so minute that it
can be easily contaminated, so tip the pill into the
cap of the container and avoid touching with your
fingers. Once the symptoms start to lessen you
should increase the time between doses. Only restart
treatment if the symptoms begin to reappear. Your
animal can come to no harm by taking a homoeopathic
medicine that is unsuitable for the symptoms you are
seeing. There is no conflict between conventional
medicines and homoeopathic medicines and indeed both
systems of therapy may sometimes be used together to
complement each other. In most cases when starting
homoeopathic treatment your animal should remain on
current conventional medicines.
Storage
Homoeopathic Medicines being very dilute the
medicines are sensitive and should therefore be
stored in a dry place at room temperature, in their
original container and away from strong smells such
as perfume, aftershave, coffee and moth repellents.
Although they are perfectly safe, as a general rule
all medicines should be kept out of the reach of
children.
More Information
For further information speak to Mike Spicer. He can
be reached 01625 433321 or 01625 501500 and is
usually in the surgery between 8.15 and 9.00 am. The
receptionist will be pleased help you reach him at
other times.
Acupuncture
Veterinary acupuncture developed over 2000 years ago from observations from vets in ancient China. It was noted that the careful placement of a needle into a certain area on an animal's body relieved pain in a given area or reduced signs of generalised ill health. Energy channels or "meridians" were mapped out across
animals' bodies, generally running from the limbs up towards the head. The Chinese would say that in disease there is a blockage of energy flow along these meridians, and that stimulating the animal at specific points along these channels would help to restore normal flow of energy around the body.
Whether you believe the theory or not, it's hard to argue with the evidence. Stimulating specific points in horses can greatly improve the horse's recovery rates from certain diseases.
Acupuncture is most useful at alleviating longstanding pain in animals - the classic examples are horses with arthritis, bad backs or chronic hindlimb or pelvic problems. Acupuncture can also be used to increase a horse's own resistance to disease, being useful treating allergies such as sweet itch, COPD, or improving performance.
If you think that alternative therapies may help your horse, give us a ring at the surgery, and we will be happy to advise you.
Mark Tabachnik has an interest in acupuncture, particularly in horses. His mobile number 07881 915508.
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