Veterinary Homeopathy

The Princess and the Pea: Thin-Skinned Sensitivity

Written by Ronit Aboutboul

Homeopathic Veterinarian Ronit Aboutboul shares a case of a cat who mirrored her owner’s personality.

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Belle

Belle was a beautiful, delicate and somewhat reserved Ragdoll cat. At only 15 months she presented with a long list of symptoms. Her owners were most worried by her chronic gingivitis (Homeopathy for Gingivitis) for which she had been already treated by a specialized veterinarian. The laboratory tests suggested an autoimmune gum disease. She was getting a special anti-allergenic diet, daily tooth brushing and various sophisticated supplements; yet she was still suffering from allergic symptoms. She had a sensitive itchy skin and red inflamed gums.

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Belle’s gums prior to the remedy

Avichai, her conscientious caretaker, was looking for alternative and natural treatments that would relieve her symptoms. He had conducted a long and thorough research before choosing to bring her in for a homeopathic consultation.

As a kitten of four months she suffered from gingivitis with red inflamed gums along with a respiratory infection. Several months later she started losing her teeth and she was itching a lot. The treating veterinarian had concluded that she was either allergic or hypersensitive and switched her food to a specialized commercial diet. Her itching then escalated and she seemed to react to any slight change of diet, new food supplement or veterinary product by itching.

Avichai explained that she chose to keep away from visitors although she did seem attached to the family members whom she followed everywhere. She didn’t like to be separated from them, even if only by a closed door; and she would then whine and complain until the door was opened for her. She was playful and even restless at times, choosing not to stay on anyone’s lap.

“She rests and sleeps for long hours when she is alone at home. The house looks always tidy when everyone returns home at the end of the day; she never makes any mess. She seems to have a set daily routine with sleeping, playing and eating time slots.” Avichai said. “She itches often- especially around the head. When in heat she is very restless, sleepless, and anxious, and seems exhausted from trembling. “She can spot the tiniest quantities of supplements when added to her food and refuses to eat.”

Her gums were inflamed, showing a thin red line just above the teeth. She had blood streaked scratching marks on her head. When she was started on her homeopathic treatment she showed the first signs of improvement in just a few days; she was itching less and her gums became pink and healthy again.

Over the next weeks her skin and gums kept improving, slowly but surely. Three months later Avichai called to report an aggravation in Belle’s skin and gums condition. He mentioned that he was going through a stressful period and suggested that Belle’s condition might be affected by his own circumstances. He was observing Belle closely and it had occurred to him that they might both be influencing each other. His sensitivity was reflected in his cat’s condition and both were affecting and reflecting each other.

With the homeopathic treatment Belle recovered a healthy and balanced state while her human caretaker gradually relaxed and let go of his anxiety over his cat’s health. He plans to receive homeopathic treatment himself.

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Belle’s Gums Healed

Belle’s homeopathic remedy, Arsenicum album, is a remedy for insecure, delicate, highly strung types who tend to react both physically and emotionally to the slightest stress. Nervousness, trembling, restlessness and excitement can be easily brought on by any disturbance. With their restlessness and hyperactive tendencies they can easily get exhausted. They may be all right for a while, busy, happy, restless, and mentally active, then suddenly become drained, depressed and nervous – easily frightened by anything and everything.

Fine features, fine skin and fine hair make for a delicate physical appearance that matches the meticulously tidy personality of Arsenicum album. This delicate barrier that protects them poorly from the outside world, from stimuli and from perceived aggression, opens the way for allergic reactions. Easily catching cold, they may react with violent sneezing attacks to cold weather or any other environmental disturbances.

Belle’s protected life suited her Arsenicum traits but her overprotective caretaker’s attitude seemed to have enhanced her inherent sensitivity, resulting in hypersensitivity symptoms. The cat was reacting to the human’s meticulous care, reflecting his anxiety through her physical reactions; with the homeopathic treatment she regained a balanced physical state while her care taker overcame his Arsenicum anxieties.

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Princess Belle

About the author

Ronit Aboutboul

Dr. Ronit Aboutboul graduated as a veterinary doctor in Toulouse, France, in 1988. She completed her homeopathy studies and has always practiced veterinary homeopathy combined with conventional medicine. She travelled to Honduras, Central America, where she joined a ‘Vétérinaires sans Frontières’ project, and also worked with local wild life in the jungle. In 1996, she opened a veterinary practice in Tel Aviv, the ANIMAN Veterinary Clinic, where conventional medicine was practiced alongside homeopathy and other alternative medicines. She worked to spread the word of integrative veterinary medicine in Israel. At present, Dr Ronit Aboutboul shares her time between consulting and treating animals in Israel and around the world, lecturing and teaching the veterinary homeopathic approach both locally and internationally. “Easy and simple, elegant and minimalistic” is my motto in approaching my cases and choosing a suitable treatment for them. www.animanvet.wordpress.com

2 Comments

  • Lovely story and great remedy choice. Now if only I can figure out what to give my cat for gingivitis which she has despite eating the best grain free foods. It’s hard to diagnose based on just personality and a few symptoms.
    Thanks for this lovely accounting of Belle’s diagnosis. More articles from this writer please.

    • Thank you Martha 🙂
      Alas, gingivitis has become a very common condition amongst cats in the last 10 years …
      Even though the local symptoms are sadly similar- redness, ulcers, salivation, pain and loss of appetie- I still try to take each case individually and find a single remedy.
      I would be happy to take on your cat’s case if you wanted my professional help.

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