By Pat Kearney

Tarragon came out her crate one morning in mid March with her back legs completely paralyzed. She had injured her back the day before jumping a very low fence and slipping on the ice crusted snow. I had seen her do it and heard the yelp, and watched the very slow careful progress back to the house.

She had all the routine veterinary protocols but no x-ray. The diagnosis was very obvious. But because I am fortunate to have a retired neighbour, who is a MD practicing in homeopathic, holistic, chiropractic and acupuncture disciplines, she also got home visits. From day one she had a twenty minute whirlpool bath everyday. Her crate rest was in a large house crate with about six layers of heavy pile blanketing under her.

She was started on Arnica and Hypericum 30Ch, five drops every day. After two weeks the Arnica was replaced with Conium Maculatum 30Ch, a week later this was increased to 20Ch and a week later increased again to 1M. The Hypericum was similarly increased. At the two-week point she was also given Manganese and Vitamins E & C. She had two chiropractic adjustments within the first ten days and two acupuncture treatments dovetailing with the chiropractic. Her back legs were massaged daily with Hypericum Oil - rubbed in against the grain of her coat.

All her homeopathic pellets were dropped into a small amount of warm water, dissolved and given orally by syringe and on an empty stomach. The Conium can be a bit tricky because if taken too long it causes the symptoms it is supposed to cure - it is derived from Hemlock.

She has a permanent gaiting disability but she can run etc. and has gained back total bowel and bladder control. On March 14 all bets were off as to if she would recover at all as she had absolutely no reflex or pain stimuli response. Don't know what the magic cure was but the prednisone was a very short term [10 days max] treatment.

Her tail started to wag within the two-week point, a week later she was starting to try and use her back legs and regaining some bowel and bladder control. By the sixth week point she was up and gaining strength and has continued doing so.

I have maintained her on Glucosamine with Chondrotin and she has had a couple of 1 week sessions of Conium Maculatum, 30ch. 5 pellets three times a day when her back legs seem to be weakening (the ramp onto the deck is my way of assessing when she is having a bit of a problem).

We have a homeopathic pharmacist in Almonte who discovered a text written by and for a homeopathic veterinarian, it is British and not a new publication but has the advantage of giving very concise dosages - DOGS - Homeopathic Remedies by George Macleod MRCVS DVSM, Vet FF Hom. 1983 with several reprints. ISBN 0 85207 218 X, I had to order it (from The Miller"s Tale.Almonte) it was around $26.00

Thought you might be interested if you ever have another of those backbreaking whirlpool sessions!!!!!

Pat

Pat may be reached via email: drisheen at ican dot net