Homeopathic Support for Pets to Solve Autumn Health Problems

By Chris Aukland, Homeopathic Vet and Creator of the Foundation Course in Pet Homeopathy

The world is always changing and we have to be ready for the different challenges that come along.  The same is true for our pets. As the leaves start to change colour and the nights get that little bit darker, start to think about the potential challenges that lie ahead for your pets.

Off to School or University

Many a family has a beloved family pet. Often the children have grown up with them. They have been a best friend and a companion for many years.  Then, this time of year, a couple of things may happen. 

Return to school. It is a regular thing that happens through out the year.  When it has been a long summer holiday, then it can be a bit of a challenge for the beloved pet. If the children are off to a local school, then they will still be around in the evenings and the weekends. And if they are at school away form home, then there is bigger change that goes on. 

Off to university. This is a big change in any young person's life.  For the pet it also represents a big challenge for them. No longer having their favourite playmate around. No longer going on those walks. No longer having those cuddles on the sofa.  It is all change.

Of course with homeopathy we have help at hand.  The remedy Ignatia is so very useful when your pet is experiencing the blues because they are missing the young person that is now in a new routine in their life. It is amazing what a dose of 30c (daily in the water for 7 - 10 days) can do to restore spirits.

Of course you do not need to wait until they start to look sad.  The beauty of homeopathy is that you can give the reminder to the vital force before the issue becomes a drama. 

Same remedy, now given a couple of times a week in the lead up to the change, then perhaps daily for a few days around the time of the young person leaving, can help boost the vital force so it does not get upset.  A bit of prevention and early intervention can go a long way.

Bonfire Night

A bit further on into the Autumn, we get that good old tradition of Bonfire Night (preceded by Halloween which is becoming more commercial and busy).  This can be great fun for us humans with roaring fire, hot drinks and the pretty displays of pyrotechnics in the sky. But for most animals, it is a different story; they generally don’t like the bangs and whistles, and many end up in a state of panic and terror..

Alongside all the regular support that can be given, homeopathy has a lot to offer. If your pet is scared around this time, then the combination remedy AAA 30c (Aconite, Arg nit, Arsenicum) can be a great starting point. If it is happening that very evening, then make a glass of water with a remedy in it, then give a few drops by mouth every 30-60 minutes through the evening. It also combines well with the remedy Phosphous 30c, which is well know for its sensitivity to loud noises.  You could also add in a few drops of Rescue Remedy or SOS essence.

Again, prevention and early intervention are key. If you were to start with a few doses of Phosphorous 30c, three or fours times a week for a couple of weeks before the bangs were due to start, then the animal will have time to adjust and be less sensitive to the challenge. Similarly if you know the date of when the local display will be, add in the AAA and SOS essence a couple of days before the challenge. 

This approach can also be useful for thunderstorms or gunshot noises as one of our farmers writes:

My over-the-field neighbour teaches clay pigeon shooting and my plan was to take my terrier, Maisie, over during a lesson to learn from their laid back gun dog, Beamish, that loud,surprising bangs are actually no big deal; ie not a danger requiring explosive, screaming barking and mad rushing around searching for the noisy culprit.

I was warned of an impending shooting course but couldn't action my plan in time. Instead I sprayed Phosphorus 200c (from my Ainsworth Bovine Kit) in advance of the bangs. The shooting started and the growls and barks began, I sprayed again, two or three times, then, like magic, she just chilled. Not even calmed down, but actually lounged around, the shooting going on in the background as the image shows.

That is literally 'bang on target' for me, and thank goodness for homoeopathy. Having seen this result play out in front of my eyes I will be giving Phosphorus 200c to all my animals as a fear prevention on firework nights.

Old and/or Stiff Pets

Many an old dog can start to feel the cold as the darker days come along. The wet and damp don’t help. A lot of senior pets can have stiff joints that make them less reluctant to get up and move about. And these stiff joints are good at knowing what the weather is up to. If you have a pet that starts to get stiffer in the cold damp days of Autumn, then it is time to use some remedies.

For that classic picture of worse getting up, worse in cold and damp weather, better for a bit of gentle exercise and better in the warm and dry, then our good friend Rhus tox 30c will be very helpful. It combines well with Ruta grav 30c, and also Arnica 30c. This little triple combination of Arnica, Rhus tox and Ruta (also known as ARR or Injury Remedy) can make a huge difference for your animals that are getting stiff on their legs. 

Don't forget, you can see the future and can predict the challenges - this is what prevention and early intervention is all about. If you know the weather is about to turn from dry crisp Autumn days, to damp and cold, then start the remedies early before the joints start to suffer. Similarly, if you know you have a long walk planned on a nice Autumn weekend, then have the Arnica, Rhus tox, Ruta ready to give around that time to help support your old companion to recover well from its romp through the countryside. 

Further Learning: Foundation Course in Pet Homeopathy

The Foundation Course in Pet Homeopathy helps you to understand and manage your pet's health in a completely different way where you become much more in touch with its specific needs and the challenges it may go through in life. Further, you will be empowered to steer your pet’s life to create optimum health and vitality. 

Not only will you learn about specific approaches to common problems such as those above, you will also learn how to create an elegant homeopathy based strategy for the whole of your pet's life, from puppy/kitten, growing up toward adult, onwards to the senior years and final stages. You will develop confidence to know that you can use an integrated holistic approach to support your pet having the happiest, healthiest life.

About the Author

Chris Aukland MRCVS, VetMFHom

Head of Animal Health Programmes at Whole Health Agriculture
With over thirty years experience in wholistic veterinary practice and consultancy, Chris leads and delivers programmes that educate and support animal owners to integrate natural health approaches into their health management.