≡ ▼
ABC Homeopathy Forum

 

The ABC Homeopathy Forum

URGENT (reaction to remedy-pet)

Hello. I have a female elderly spayed cat who has had recurrent urine retention that began recently. I thought it was due to cystitis or a urinary tract infection and so gave unsweetened cranberry juice mixed with a little pureed cat food. The symptoms went away but then they returned several days later. I then thought that the urine retention and desire to urinate was the result of a chill, because the urine would release after sitting on a heating pad and the desire to urinate would go away, but I contacted a holistic vet by email (good reputation) for a better solution and he said to give Arsenicum album 30c twice a day. When I gave two pellets everything was fine but because the symptoms were still there after four hours I gave another pellet and within 20 minutes my cat acted as though she had a sore stomach and moved in slow motion. She slept 12 hours(it is now 25 hours since I gave the second pellet)and when she got up she drank alot of water. She is not returning to the litter box repeatedly but acts as though she's had a reaction to Arsenicum albumand is sleeping alot and not eating. I gave her vitamin C and wheatgrass to try and get it out of her system and dont' know how long that takes, whether that homeopathic can damage the liver or kidneys,etc and don't know what else to do. Vets where I live are all conventional so they would be of no help.I thought that homeopathics weren't supposed to have a reaction and it wasn't possible to overdose if given within reason because homeopathics influence the body's energy field rather than its chemical balance so there's no side-effects because there's no chemical to accumulate in the tissues.Please help.
 
  ajtriva on 2007-11-13
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
Sorry you’re going through this with your kitty. 30C isn’t a very strong dose, so it may just be a matter of waiting, or someone more knowledgeable than myself might know how to antidote it. It is an energy medicine, so there isn’t anything to flush out of the system. There shouldn’t be any liver or kidney damage. However, that does not mean that excessive or incorrect dosing cannot create problems, at least temporarily.

It is always a good idea to start with the minimum dose (for instance, just one pellet’s worth), and by the second dose, if not the first, to give as a wet dose that is succussed (a special way of shaking the solution) before each dose. (There are instructions here about how to make it up.) One of the best ways to avoid an aggravation is to increase the potency slightly before each dose. Succussing accomplishes that. Giving pellets each time does not. In this case you went from 2 pellets down to only 1? That may also be part of the problem.

I don’t know if arsenicum was the right remedy - a holistic vet who does not do primarily classical homeopath might not be familiar enough with the remedies. With an elderly cat it may be her vital force is low and she will be more sensitive to stronger doses and more easily aggravated. If you were to try again, wait longer to see if there is a reaction before repeating. You could also present her symptoms on this forum and see if someone has an idea for you.

My overriding suggestion is that if you are feeding any dry food or any grains to stop that entirely, and if possible convert to a raw diet (rawfedcats.com is a good place to start learning about that). It can be very hard to coax a cat into a new diet, but often problems resolve by improvements in diet, with the best diet in my opinion being raw. Take a look at this article which discusses the urinary problems that can develop on certain diets:

blank">http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm

Good luck, Daisy
 
Daisy43 last decade
Sorry, it is rawfedcats.org.
 
Daisy43 last decade
AJ -
My heart goes out to you both. I am a homeopathy newbie, so I cannot help on that subject; but my oldest cat had chronic bladder problems with the same symptoms you describe. Although I attempt to stay the Natural course, there were times when I had to take her to the local vet clinic - once her fever was so high from the inflammation and infection, she may have died without hospital intervention - antibiotics, IV fluids, etc.
I am absolutely with Daisy on the topic of diet. Two years ago I switched my four cats from grain-based kibble to a mix of home-prepared raw, and premium quality canned foods (Merrick and Wellness grainfree formulas). Sylvie has not had a single episode since, all four cats have lost weight, chronic skin and bowel problems have cleared up - it is amazing. Cats are 'obligate carnivores' - they are not designed to digest the high-carb diet we humans feed them, and this diet frequently creates severe health problems.
My favorite website for raw diet advocacy is catnutrition . org, which has educational info, recipes, FAQs, etc.
Best of luck!
LE
 
Catlynn last decade
Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I'm always concerned about the high iron load in raw food(beef) that most rawfed diets seem to adhere to. I would think it would be of particular concern for the older pet because of the high protein and kidney concerns. I have not, as yet, found anything that describes what rawfed diet to give to the older cat and alot of them say to give raw pork . My concern, too, is how to prevent trichinosis and salmonella which could be hazards in feeding raw pork and chicken.Thanks again for your replies. BTW, the problem was a urinary tract infection.
 
ajtriva last decade
High protein in a rawfed diet is a myth, as well as that kidney disease means less protein should be fed. Cats have a very high nutritional demand for protein, but it should be good quality protein (e.g., animal-based, not vegetable-based) to minimize nitrogen waste products. In kidney disease it is more important to limit (or to bind) phosphate, but that is not necessary until excess phosphorus shows up in the blood profile.

The salmonella concern is also a myth. Dogs and cats, if fed a species appropriate diet (e.g., raw), are designed to handle pathogens in ways that humans are not - they have a very acid stomach and a very short intestine. Provided their system isn't compromised by foods like grains which can raise the pH or fiber which can slow down digestion.

Store bought pork in the US is no longer a trichinosis concern, and if you are still concerned just freeze the meat for a couple weeks.

The raw diet should contain a VARIETY of meats, which can also include fish and raw eggs, and over a period of time a ratio of about 10% bone and 10% organ (half of which should be liver) to 'meat' (muscle meat, skin, cartilage, etc.).

Cats need taurine - it is part of a raw diet which includes whole meat and occasional heart, but it is destroyed if the meat is cooked, and to a lesser degree if it is ground.

Cats also need Omega 3 fatty acids. If the meat is not range fed, this can be supplied by a good quality (no soy) FISH BODY oil like salmone oil (not vegetable based oil and not liver oil so not cod liver oil).

Cats can be very difficult to transition. Mine will not eat bone, so I supplement with 1/2 teaspoon of pulverized (in a blender) egg shell. It works great - her blood values are fine!

Of course, most any vet will tell you raw is bad, but they don't have the nutritional background to know better. So you have to do your own research.

Daisy
 
Daisy43 last decade
I should explain about raw diet not being high in protein. Raw is 'whole animal', NOT just muscle meat, which isn't a balanced diet at all. A proper raw diet also contains bone and fat and cartilage, etc., and of course a lot of water. It is not too high in anything. It is exactly what dogs and cats evolved to eat.
 
Daisy43 last decade
One more comment. Your cat has chronic disease, one of the signs of which is the recurrent urinary problem. So, the right remedy, if you can find it, should help. However, the veterinary homeopaths I know stress that the pet should be on a raw diet (at a minimum off all dry and grains) and off all vaccinations, flea meds, etc., if you really want the animal's vital force to fully respond to homeopathic treatment.
 
Daisy43 last decade

Post ReplyTo post a reply, you must first LOG ON or Register

 

Important
Information given in this forum is given by way of exchange of views only, and those views are not necessarily those of ABC Homeopathy. It is not to be treated as a medical diagnosis or prescription, and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation with a qualified homeopath or physician. It is possible that advice given here may be dangerous, and you should make your own checks that it is safe. If symptoms persist, seek professional medical attention. Bear in mind that even minor symptoms can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, and a timely diagnosis by your doctor could save your life.