by Alexandra Bastedo www.abcanimalsanctuary.co.uk
Peritonitis can be fatal and you should demand instant veterinary attention as well as blood tests and X-rays. When Kipling my young dobermann was ill the hair stood up on his back, he had an uncomfortable hunched walk, he stopped eating and, finally, I saw blood in his motions. His condition was mis-diagnosed for seven days. “It is gastro-enteritis” was the vet’s verdict one day, then “It’s an enlarged prostate.” When he died on the operating table a week later the vet said “If we had got the diagnosis right on the first day he would still be here.” That was little comfort so act quickly. However, experience pays off and when the same thing happened to my present dobermann, Nellie, “It may be gastroenteritis” they said- I demanded that they operate anyway and they found an obstruction- a corn on the cob – which had NOT shown up on the X- ray and would have killed her. In fact on that same day another dobermann died of the same thing because the vets had not operated in time. When I spoke to the vet he said that sometimes they are reluctant to operate in case there isn’t anything and the owner objects to the cost of an unnecessary operation. I said I thought the situation should be explained because if there is a blockage and it is left too long it can kill.
HOMEOPATHICALLY: Cantharis, carduus mar and tub bov could be beneficial. Arsenicum album 6c would be appropriate if the dog was restless, cold and drinking a lot. Mercurius sulphuricus could help if there were trouble breathing.
HERBALLY: Give echinacea to boost the immune system.
Diane Stein suggests that as much as 100mg of vitamin C can be given per hour for puppies and 250mg per hour for adult dogs. I would also supplement with half a teaspoon of cod liver oil combined with vitamin E 100iu, a vitamin B complex and zinc 15mg.
Nutritionally home-cooked food consisting predominantly of, chicken, turkey, or rabbit with a little rice, broccoli, cabbage and beetroot with chicken liver twice a week should all improve the immune system.
FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS- FIP.
Having experienced the disease first-hand with Byron, the British Short- Haired Tip, whom I rescued at the age of ten I can mercifully say that the outlook need not be as gloomy as some vets or indeed some books would suggest. However, what I did find out was that antibiotics- Byron had three courses of different ones- were not the answer, as after each course the disease returned.
Byron had the disease particularly badly as he had fluid on the lungs and a distended abdomen as well. However with my “nothing to lose” philosophy when dealing with a particularly fatal disease I reached for every alternative medicine at my disposal in liquid, powder, capsule, tablet and syringe form with food or in water. This is what I gave him: Nutritionally home-cooked food consisting predominantly of chicken, turkey, or rabbit with a little rice, broccoli, cabbage, and beetroot with chicken liver twice a week as for dogs.
For Byron who was a large feline I gave after food: Vitamin C 500mg twice daily, Vitamin E 50iu once a day, cod liver oil half a teaspoon daily, zinc 15mg once a day (with evening meal), kelp, B complex 50mg daily, digestive enzymes- half a teaspoon kept in fridge, selenium 50mg and for anaemia a child’s liquid supplement.
HOMEOPATHICALLY: Cantharis, Carduus Mar, Lycopodium. Mercurius sulphuricus, Tub Bov, or arsenicum album may be appropriate.
HERBALLY: Slippery elm, nettles, echinacea and organic garlic.
According to Richard Pitcairn the FIP virus can sometimes be triggered by the Feline Leukaemia vaccination. A flea infestation would certainly not help either as it could cause anaemia.
copyright A.L.Bastedo
Alexandra is the author of “The Healthy Cat” and “The Healthy Dog” books which are veterinary recommended. A few signed copies are available on our website www.abcanimalsanctuary.co.uk as donations for all our rescued animals.
Alexandra and the esteemed homeopathic vet, Mark Elliott, also founded Pet Nutrition Concepts on www.petnutrition.co.uk to provide top of the range vitamin supplements for cats and dogs.
