In veterinary homeopathy, we seek to relieve suffering. This usually translates to a removal of symptoms. The lameness ameliorated, the discharging eye cleared, the inveterate itch soothed, the digestive upset eased.
We conscientiously take the case, list the timeline and symptoms, examine into modalities and historical complaints, and settle on the best match, the hoped-for curative remedy.
In today’s world, patients are often brought in only after months or years of powerful suppressive or palliative medicines, leaving the vital force confused and weak. Thus, the work is difficult and requires patient attention to detail.
In an intake of breath, we administer our carefully-researched remedy, then sit back and wait. When will the suffering cease? Our client has come to us in hope of relief for their companion, and we know that homeopathy has the potential to relieve even the worst of conditions.
But it is so difficult to wait, when years of previous allopathic training have taught us that the appropriate drug stops the symptoms within hours. It’s hard to shake off that expectation, especially with our similarly-trained clients relaying the continual persistence of symptoms and suffering. We all want it to stop. Now.
We forget that the body responds of a piece, as a single vital force, and that health comes from within. Remember this Aphorism (253) from Hahnemann’s Organon: “In all diseases, especially the rapidly arising (acute) ones, the patient’s emotional state and entire behavior are the surest and most enlightening of the signs showing a small beginning (not visible to everyone) of amelioration or aggravation.
When there is an ever-so-slight beginning of improvement, the patient will demonstrate a greater degree of comfort, increasing composure, freedom of spirit, increased courage – a kind of returning naturalness.” [O‘Reilly edition]
If we are looking for the changes described in this aphorism, finding them will give us the courage and fortitude to wait longer. But as Hahnemann wrote, these changes are “not visible to everyone.”
Especially in patients who do not share our language. They can be subtle at first, but if this “increasing composure” is beginning, then surely the symptoms will ease and the patient will begin to thrive. If we look for symptom changes only, we may miss the subtle beginnings of cure, and interrupt the process with a hasty second prescription, in error.
Here are three examples of the changes, apart from symptom relief, that occurred in my patients, in the words of their caregivers. “I chased [name removed for privacy] today around the living room. She was so funny! She’s very very clumsy for a feline. She gallops like a herd of elephants.
I pinch her back a little and say “I’m gonna gitchu!!!” She takes off like a bullet of fire but first gives her obligatory hiss while the tail erupts into a broad, 4 inch wide, bristly brush.
Today she bounded onto the chair in the library, onto my speaker! And THEN into one of the black shelves … Where I almost couldn’t see her. Then, we decided to jettison out of the shelf/box, a few steps and then into the toy box. The snake was readily slayed and her kitten tended to … then a race to the kitchen, all the while the wind blowing and whistling through her furs. It’s been quite some time, a long time in fact, since she’s had such a carefree romp.”
This cat had suffered from 9 months of suppression with steroids, unable to be taken off the drugs without a persistent return of symptoms. She has been off the drugs now for over 5 years.
Another patient, a Chow Chow puppy, came into his new home and promptly attacked his caregiver, drawing blood. When reprimanded for biting, he proceeded to destroy the couch cushions in the living room, and when locked into the bathroom, he completely shredded a robe hanging on the door. This from a dog only 7 months old.
The aggression escalated, until finally his guardians called me. I was reluctant to take on this dog as his elderly caregivers were in a dangerous situation, but they would not be turned away, so I started work.
Homeopathy not only stopped his inappropriate aggression, but helped him mature into a fine adult who gives kisses to his loved ones and guards the property from strangers.
Read his story: “One thing that we noticed is remarkable from our perspective. This is a pup (he’ll be 2 on Nov 1st) that has never barked or guarded in any manner. He is constantly in a 4 – 5 month old puppy stage and goofy as puppies are, going willy-nilly from thing to thing.
He doesn’t respond to training, seeming as though he is much too “young” to understand. By now he should have had his CGC [Canine Good Citizen] title, but he “puppies” around all the time never growing up or understanding. He is in his own world.
He doesn’t guard our house or yard and knowing Chow Chows all my life…..the one thing they do better than any other pup is ….guard. Or bark and announce someone is about….[One] evening while watching TV in the Rec Room, [he] saw headlights of our neighbor getting home from the late shift (10 PM or so) and started barking and ran fast outside all the way to the end of our fence (facing the neighbor’s place) barking all the time.
He kept it up very seriously indeed and I went out to calm him down. I had to go almost all the way to where he was, and with my voice calming him down telling him it was okay before he would turn around to me.
He was very much guarding his yard and formidable in stance and posture and alertness. Most remarkable. He was a serious force to be reckoned with. So perhaps the Rx has helped him to grow up and leave puppyhood behind or perhaps it is finally time (almost 2 years old) that this change happens….it is a remarkable change.”
Not only has this fellow learned to moderate his emotions and check his fear and anger, but he has also learned to navigate stairs by himself, finally, making life much easier for everyone.
The most common description of him now in his follow-up reports is “happy”! From an attacking belligerent dangerous animal to a happy, content and secure adult, this change enabled him to enjoy life again.
And finally, another young dog who suffered from severe digestive issues since coming to her current home at 5 months of age: “Everyone who knows [her] says she is so much different, more mature.
Her facial appearance is different, too. And she still gets excited w/visitors, but she is better behaved w/them. Calmer?….I’m thrilled to have done this treatment w/you. It has helped our family in so many ways.
Psychologically, I am so much better now that I don’t constantly worry about her state of health. My health is getting better, too! Can you believe our Jack Russell is the calm one? Thank you, Dr. Wendy!”
Wait for change. Watch for that indefinable sign of amelioration. As Hahnemann writes at the end of that same aphorism, “This can be easily seen if one observes with exact attentiveness, but it cannot be easily described in words.”