F is for …

Fighting – Neutering can calm a dog and transform a Tom cat.  I also suggest worming regularly as it seems to calm dogs and cats  down and cut back on red meat if you are feeding  a high protein diet.  Also check the smallprint on cans if feeding commercial food because they often contain colorants, additives and sugars which may be a cause of hyperactivity.

 

Homoeopathically: Hyoscyamus and anacardium may help. Lachesis is for jealousy and staphysagria is for resentment,

 

Fleas are an ongoing battle.  You don’t want to be so heavy-handed with chemicals that the immune system is impaired but at the same time you dont want the flea to take over and create an infestation as that too will cause disease.  I do not believe in giving chemicals internally but garlic and sulphur can be effective flea deterrents.  The sugars in commercial pet foods may also make an animal more attractive to fleas and they are particularly vulnerable if they have a weak immune system.  It is therefore very important to feed pure foods – whether cooked or commercial – and to supplement with a good canine  or feline multi-vitamin-mineral and antioxidants.  The flea cycle can also create worms so de-worm regularly.

 

The main anti-flea herbs are eucalyptus, citronella, cedar, rosemary and fennel which can be pulverised and made into a flea powder.  You can also make good herbal collars which are made from herbal oils.   Juliette de Bairacli Levy  recommends her lemon skin tonic which is made by putting a sliced lemon into almost boiling water.  It should be left to cool overnight and then put on the coat of the dog or cat  in question.  It can be used on a daily basis as it is harmless.  A flea comb is the other important piece of equipment as it picks up fleas as it moves through the hair and these can then be drowned in hot water with washing up liquid.  If things cannot be controlled herbally then use a chemical spray or spot very sparingly and be on the alert for side-effects and do NOT overdose on any account or use on animals with skin problems..  Just as important is regular vacuuming and washing of bedding – which should be picked up carefully so nothing falls out – to get rid of flea dirt and eggs.A new product which I find works very well on sensitive animals is Johnson’s 4 for Fleas which is entirely herbal and highly effective. One pill and ten minutes later all the fleas drop out dead.

 

 Homoeopathically: Urtica can be given if there is an allergy to flea collars.

 

If you enjoy reading about the animals we would appreciate a donation- however small-towards their upkeep. A bale of hay forinstance costs £2.50. We are all volunteers and all the money is used exclusively for the animals.  There is a Pay pal donation button on the website and also our P.O. Box. 2195, West Chiltington, Pulborough, RH20 2JU Sussex where you can send cheques.

www.abcanimalsanctuary.co.uk

Copyright Alexandra Bastedo.

 Alexandra is a director of Pet Nutrition Concepts www.petnutrition.co.uk which provides veterinary formulated vitamins for cats and dogs. She is also the author of the vet approved “The Healthy Dog” and “The Healthy Cat” books. 

 

E is for …

Ear Mites – A Dr Pitcairn solution which works very well is three quarters of an ounce of almond oil, a quarter of an ounce of olive oil mixed with 400 iu of vitamin E (at body temperature).  This should be massaged in the ear canal and excess oil should be removed gently with a cotton bud.  The treatment should be given on alternate days over a six day period.  After three days he then advises a herbal infusion of rumex crispus every three days for three to four weeks.  A sulphur or Corpore Sano anti-parasite shampoo may also be a good idea if you suspect the mites are outside the ear as well.

Pat McKay in her book Reigning Cats and Dogs recommends cleaning the ear with a solution which is 50 per cent witch hazel and 50 per cent water.

Homoeopathically: Malandrium may help ear mites and calendula diluted 1/10 in water.  Aconitum and hepar sulph are good for inflammation of the middle ear, and merc cor or rhus tox should be given in the case of severe ear infection.

Epilepsy and Fits – Epilepsy is more common in dogs than cats ( though I do have a Tonkinese cat that gets an epileptic fit if he is put in a cat carrier).  The most likely cause is a head injury or it may be inherited.  Some vets now suspect vaccination.  Mark Elliott and Dr Bruce Fogle, the Canadian/British vet, say the latest veterinary thinking is that vaccinations may be only necessary every three years.  They should never be given if an illness is already suspected.  This does present a problem with dog kennels, as legislation at present demands that dogs boarded there have annual vaccinations.  Always seek veterinary advice.  My poodle Noddy had fits as a puppy.  We were advised to lock him in a dark cupboard until they passed so that he did himself a minimum amount of injury.  Diet is important in epilepsy and a hypoallergenic diet should be followed as colourants or allergies may trigger a fit.  Only the purest foods like chicken and rice should be given, alternated with vegetables.  A vitamin B complex – which is excellent for nerves – and vitamin C and zinc will also help.  My golden Retriever, Ben, developed a large lump on his head and started to have fits in his ninth year.  We sought veterinary advice but as it proved to be a tumour and eventually the fits became intolerable for him, we had to have him put down.  On the occasions when I have had to have my dogs put to sleep I have always fed them their favourite treats  and ask for a pre-med injection – that way they hardly notice the needle going in a pass away serenely.

Homoeopathically: Belladonna and stamonium are probably the first remedies to try particularly when the animals have dilated pupils and try to escape from their surroundings.  For chronic persistent cases ignatia may be of benefit.  George MacLeod recommends cocculus 6c as a remedy which can be used long term and may prevent seizures.  He also suggests nat sulph, opium and  tarantula hispanica.

Herbally: Skullcap and valerian are calming remedies for shattered nerves and Bach’s Rescue Remedy can also help bring an animal round and calms its fear.

Essential Oils – Essential fatty acids are increasingly being recognised as an important part of a dog’s diet.  They are essential for cell membranes and cell function throughout the body.  Omega-3 essential fatty acids have beneficial effects on cardiovascular function, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions including eczema, dry skin or poor coat mental deterioration and nerve problems.  Omega-6 (borage oil) can help skin conditions, hair loss, fatigue, anaemia, kidney degeneration, liver problems and arthritis.  When spirulina or chlorella are added to the oils they help to boost the immune system and detoxify the liver, blood and bowels from chemicals and heavy metals.

Eyes – As a general cleanser a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in a quarter of a pint of bottled water is an easily made solution.  For a herbal eyedrop infusion Diane Stein recommends cineraria, rue, sage tea or celandine and the floral essences crab apple, camphor or hawthorn for cleansing.  Cucumber juice is also very soothing for sore eyes.

If there are cataracts, this condition may  be due to nutritional deficiencies, in particular a lack of vitamin C, the B complex, vitamins A, D and E, selenium and zinc.

Richard Pitcairn particularly advocates putting a drop of eucalyptus honey in eyes with cataracts twice a day for several weeks and reports that this procedure has resulted in cataract reductions and cures.

Homoeopathically: Calc fluor or natrum mur 30c may help with recently formed cataracts and silicea 200c us useful with established cataracts.  Ledum palustre or symphytum 30c should be used when there are eye injuries and euphrasia officinalis is good when there are scratches or superficial cuts. 

Alexandra Bastedo is the founder of the abc animal sanctuary on www.abcanimalsanctuary.co.uk , She is also the author of “The Healthy Dog” and “The Healthy Cat” books available from the website shop in return for a donation to the sanctuary. 

She is one of the originators with the homeopathic vet, Mark Elliott, of Pet Nutrition Concepts at www.petnutrition.co.uk which produces high quality vitamin and mineral formulas for dogs and cats,

Copyright Alexandra Bastedo.

 

 

C is for …

 

Cataracts may be related to diabetes so cut back on any fatty or sweet treats and replace them with raw carrots and apples.  Aloe vera juice, blackcurrant oil, beta carotene and vitamin E all help maintain healthy eyes.

 

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by an intestinal parasite called isospora or by eimeria.  There are four types of isospora parasites which affect dogs and are commonly diagnosed in puppies less than one year old.  Although species of isospora are found in mature animals, they rarely cause  serious problems and most infections will be resolved through self immunisation.  The symptoms of coccidiosis are similar to these seen in puppies with giardiasis, namely diarrhoea, dehydration, lethargy, abdominal tenderness and anorexia.  A vet should be consulted immediately if you see any sign of these symptoms as the disease can easily be cured if treated early in young puppies.  Isospora is diagnosed by examining the dogs’ faeces microscopically.  Many dogs will have the isospora parasite but not show any clinical signs of illness and live quite normally.  However, they will shed the disease in their faeces and if the faeces are not removed the disease can be spread to the other susceptible canines.  It is very important to clean thoroughly and disinfect the areas where your dog has been unwell.  It is only the young, weak and immuno-compromised animals that are at risk, as healthy adults do not seem to develop the disease.  Isospora is most commonly seen in kennels and multiple dog households. However I did also take in Duchess and her four tiny kittens who were extremely poorly and  through stool tests were also found to have Isospora. I used Abidec children’s liquid vitamins in small quantities and a little goats’yogurt with acidophilus and fed them a  little scrambled egg and liquidised chicken in cooled boiled water. It took time but eventually they recovered.

 

Constipation can be due to nerves or more usually to incorrect feeding.  Cook pure foods and add oat bran, organic garlic and a little extra virgin olive oil.  Powdered stomach enzymes can also be helpful in correcting the balance of different floras in the gut.  Organic raw meat and raw green vegetables and fresh fruit given on a regular basis should solve the problem.  A touch of raw grated broccoli would be a good start to get things moving.  Oils are immediately helpful and on a regular basis oat bran should be added to your pet’s meal.  If this doesn’t resolve the problem there could be an obstruction and a vet needs to be consulted.  Useful supplements are:  vitamins E & C, zinc and wheatgerm oil.  A piece of rock sulphur in the water may also help. 

Homoeopathically:  Aesculus hippocastanum, nux vom, opium, plumbum and silicea are just some of the remedies that may be helpful.  George MacLeod recommends alumen where there is also sickness, bryonia for dark hard stools and nat mur for general debilitation.  Nux vom can be given for general digestive problems.

Coughs – Vitamin C is most important; at the first cough or sneeze I always give my dogs between 500 and 1000 mg a day depending on the size of my dog.  Vitamins A & D or fish oil should be given twice weekly (always be careful not to overdose on A or D).  Vitamin E works at its optimum level when combined with fish oil and selenium and zinc are also excellent immune system boosters.

Homoeopathically: Bryonia or rumex crispus may help.

Herbally: The best herbs for coughs are St Johns Wort, Echinacea and peppermint.

Copyright A.L.Bastedo

Alexandra is the founder of the abc animal sanctuary of 150 rescued animals and birds. on www.abcanimalsanctuary.co.uk where her veterinary recommended animal health books are available from the shop. The sanctuary is dependent on adoptions and donations however small to support its work and is most appreciative of your help along with our many volunteers who do all the hard work. You can also obtain vitamins formulated by our homeopathic vet on www.petnutritionconcepts.co.uk