The following case example nicely shows how effective a local remedy can be, but also makes clear how short-lived that effect can be. A deeper-acting remedy was needed to complete the healing process. The patient is Sam, a six-year-old, unneutered female Staffordshire Bull Terrier in which a Sicca syndrome (dry eye) was diagnosed. Because conservative treatment had failed in this bitch, she was brought to me.
09.11.2010: Initial consultation
The main complaint is a thick, white discharge from the right eye. The diagnosis of Sicca syndrome had already been made.
The problems had started six months earlier, after a benign cyst had been surgically removed.
Sam rubs her eyes on furniture and other people’s legs.
She is currently being treated with a 1% ciclosporin solution and eye drops for lubrication.
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Patient history
The bitch was routinely and annually vaccinated, and she also received prophylaxis against canine heartworm. She had suffered from pad ulcers several times. After a kennel stay in 2006 she developed a lick dermatitis on the left carpus. In 2008 she vomited for several days following a vaccination. In the same year a false pregnancy (pseudopregnancy) was noted. In mid-2010 a benign cyst was removed from the right hind leg.
Physical findings
Examination revealed corneal abrasions in both eyes. The fluorescein test was positive. Sam was light-sensitive. A sample was taken from the discharge of the right eye.
A thick lick dermatitis was visible on the left foreleg.
Temperament
Sam was described as an independent dog. She is lively and wants to please her people. She knows when she has done something wrong. She was never trained; her owners say she did not need it. Although she is a very lively dog, she sometimes simply sits and does nothing. She snores in her sleep.
First prescription
The practice was busy and there was only little time for a repertorisation. At this stage we decided to treat only the main complaint and to examine the bitch again a week later. Kali mur. D6 was prescribed to be given orally four times daily. We also advised the owners to use the ciclosporin less frequently.
Comment: Kalium muriaticum was prescribed because of the striking, white, thick and sticky discharge. Other, less specific symptoms were also taken into account for the prescription, e.g. the corneal changes. C6 was chosen to achieve a broad, local effect.
15.11.2010: Follow-up appointment
Sam’s eyes had improved noticeably. The discharges only occurred now and then. The bitch had stopped rubbing herself. She was also more active again and seemed generally happier.
Prescription: continue Kali mur. D6 and stop the ciclosporin.
Comment: The symptoms had improved more than expected. The remedy should be continued, but the ciclosporin discontinued.
19.11.2010: Third appointment
The owners had booked an appointment because the dog’s condition had clearly deteriorated again. The eye discharges had increased and Sam had started rubbing herself on the carpet again.
Prescription: Euphrasia eye drops were prescribed for local use and additionally Ignatia LM2 for oral administration twice daily.
Comment: The sudden deterioration suggested that the local remedy was no longer sufficiently effective, especially after the ciclosporin had been stopped. We now also had to consider the patient’s constitutional features. Her history suggested she was a very sensitive animal: she had developed a stress-related lick dermatitis (the time in a boarding kennel apparently still affected her) and a Sicca syndrome following a surgical procedure (which must also have been stressful for her). This stress caused her a lot of distress, expressed in physical symptoms. She was also a very yielding dog. Although Ignatia is not listed in the rubrics ‘Mind; Desire to please others, to gratify’ and ‘Mind; Independence, self-reliance’, it was nevertheless considered. The relevant rubrics are too small to exclude Ignatia simply because of the missing listing. Also, Ignatia is not listed in Synthesis v5 under ‘General; Vaccination, complaints after’. Perhaps it will be listed in later editions.
Euphrasia was additionally prescribed to support the healing process and to relieve the troublesome eye symptoms.
08.12.2010: Fourth appointment
Three weeks after the first dose of Ignatia an improvement in the eye was observed. The discharges became less frequent, the photophobia decreased and Sam no longer had to rub herself so often. She was able to open her eyes in the morning; previously both eyes had to be wiped moist first.
Prescription: Ignatia LM3 twice daily
Comment: Good response to the prescription; the remedy is continued at a higher potency.
30.12.2010: Fifth appointment
This time the corneal abrasions were completely healed. No photophobia. The lick dermatitis was dry and healing.
Prescription: Ignatia LM4 twice daily for 21 days, then once daily until the bottle is finished.
Comment: Both conditions – the eye and the lick dermatitis – are healing. A good response to the remedy. Treatment is continued until the eye and granuloma are completely healed, then a check-up will be carried out.
31.01.2011: Sixth appointment
Both eyes were normal and Sam’s lick dermatitis completely healed.
Comment: Ignatia appears to have led to complete healing; further treatment was not necessary at this time.
10.08.2011: Follow-up
Sam’s eyes and leg are fine. No treatment has been necessary in recent months.
Comment: No further treatment necessary.
Discussion: Locally acting remedies can be successfully used to support treatment. However, this case showed that the effect can be very short-lived. The deeper-acting remedy not only healed the main complaint (the Sicca syndrome) but also the chronic lick dermatitis, which the owners had considered incurable.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Staffordshire bullterrier; Spcenter; CC BY-SA 3.0
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Category: Cases
Keywords: Sicca syndrome, pad ulcers, lick dermatitis, pregnancy, photophobia
Remedies: Ignatia, Kali muriaticum
Original article: Interhomeopathy.org
