A massive pet food recall has taken place in the United States and other countries due to a contamination of wheat products used in their production. The poisonous agent that is thought to be the cause of the intoxication of a number of pets is Aminopterin. This poison is used in some countries to control rodents (mice, rats, etc). Depending on the individual pet and on the amount ingested, the substance can cause acute or chronic kidney failure.
Kidney failure usually expresses itself through depressed behaviour, lack of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, increased or decreased urination, increased or decreased drinking. In case of suspect behaviour by your pet, it is imperative to take it to your vet. It is very difficult to distinguish the symptoms of this intoxication from many other diseases.
There is no known specific treatment for the intoxication with Aminopterin.
Homeopathy is a very helpful tool in the treatment of kidney failure. To decide what remedy will help your pet, it is necessary to rely on the specific symptoms your pet is showing when it suffers the intoxication. There is no one homeopathic remedy, at this time, that can be advised with sufficient reliability in all suspect cases.
Initially, for each individual pet, a thorough homeopathic assessment needs to be made to decide on the appropriate prescription. It is best to consult your local veterinary homeopath.
It is possible that after a while, when many pets suffering with this condition have been successfully treated with a particular homeopathic remedy, that this one remedy becomes the remedy that is homeopathic to this ‘collective poisoning’.
A few suggestions:
1) As an alternative to homeopathy, it is possible to use the following treatments:
According to Isotherapy principles, one can ask a homeopathic pharmacy to prepare a 30C dilution of Aminopterin. This remedy should be given once only to try and prevent any consequences or symptoms following the suspicion of intoxication of your pet. Once symptoms of the intoxication become apparent, this approach is rarely successful.
Herbal and other remedies to promote good kidney function like: Berberis, Urtica urens, Laurocerasus, Serum Anguillae, Lycopodium, can be used in mother tincture.
2) Using a repertory to find an appropriate remedy, one can start by crossing the following rubrics:
Kidney, suppression of urine
Generals, intoxication after
This repertorisation creates a shortlist of 35 remedies to narrow down the choice of a homeopathic remedy. Further, add specific modalities of time, gastro-intestinal symptoms, possible oedema’s, salivation or other symptoms related to the mouth, temperature preferences or unusual behaviour to your repertorisation, to narrow down the selection even further.
3) Cats tend to respond very well to the remedy Phosphorus when suffering from intoxications. (Use the 30 C dilution twice daily for 3-4 days)
4) There are a variety of preparations available on the market which stimulate the kidney function. It is best to discuss this with your veterinary surgeon.
There is further information available on the following web site: http://www.avma.org/
