I’d like to use homeopathic treatment. Where should I start?

Homeopathic treatment is a scientific and systematic approach that can be used safely in animals, just as it can in humans.

It considers the patient as a whole and, unlike conventional medicine, also supports improvement at the behavioural, mental and emotional levels. For this reason, homeopathy does not have a standard prescription for a particular disease.

Symptoms are signs the body uses to show the state of its defence mechanisms. Illness can therefore be understood as a cry for help from a life force that has fallen out of balance.

In veterinary practice, when choosing a remedy for a cat or dog, we observe the patient and gather their symptoms, just as we would with a person. Of course, unlike human patients, our animals cannot tell us what is wrong. :)

That is where the difficulty begins. They cannot describe what they are experiencing, how they feel or what is troubling them. They may also experience illness differently from humans. If we choose a remedy for a cat or dog based on how we ourselves would feel, we may get it wrong.

We need to distinguish carefully between symptoms that are signs of illness and normal physiological characteristics. Cats and dogs also differ from one another, so understanding each animal’s normal bodily processes matters. That is why you should consult your vet when seeking a remedy for your pet. Gathering symptoms and choosing a remedy based only on your own assumptions can lead to serious mistakes.

If you are considering homeopathic treatment for a concern about your pet, my advice is to have them examined by a vet first and, if the vet considers it necessary, have the appropriate tests carried out. I can almost hear those familiar with homeopathy asking: “But we don’t choose remedies based on the name of a disease. If the diagnosis isn’t what determines the remedy, why do we need tests?” Let me explain with an example.

Suppose your dog is in heat and has vaginal bleeding, but the bleeding lasts longer than it should. You choose a remedy based on that symptom alone. She does not improve. You feel sure you have chosen the right remedy, so you increase the potency, but she still does not improve. A week passes. You then take her to the clinic, where an ultrasound reveals a uterine tumour and the vet determines that she needs surgery. Valuable time has been lost, and your dog’s life may have been put at risk. My point is that examinations and tests can provide important guidance when choosing a remedy. We must not skip them.

We should avoid trying remedies based on a single sign. Doing so can confuse the overall picture and make it harder to identify the right remedy. Ideally, if you are considering a remedy for your cat or dog, work together with a veterinarian trained in homeopathy.

I also strongly recommend learning about homeopathy yourself or taking a course in acute homeopathy. Understanding the process can help you observe your pet and recognise what needs to be monitored during treatment.

With love, and wishing you and your pets good health.