Question:
What exactly is "natural" about a solution containing dilute arsenic? Homoeopathy is a 19th century crank science, it has no tradition
behind it (as herbal medicine does) - just another bunch of macho
theorizers using their patients to experiment on. What does the cat usually lie on? Could there be something in your
house it's reacting to, like house dust mites? If you have central
heating, carpets and double glazing, your house will be heaving with
mites - you might be able to reduce them with wet-dry vacuum cleaner
and a steam cleaner, but it's better to make their environment less
welcoming for them.
Answer:
I read some recommendations here regarding Dr. Goodpet's
natural products. Since many articles on cat allergies mention the first
thing you should think of is flea bites, I was wondering if I should try
one of their natural remedies in lieu of the steroidal prescriptions like
Triamcinolone and Prednislone. Even Gentaved and Tresaderm have multiple
ingredients. Various vet sites say that one flea bite could cause an outbreak to an
allergic cat. My cat doesn't show any signs of fleas (although I found
one small dead insect on her tail about 5 months ago), and she doesn't
really scratch either. She just licks her hind legs
excessively and leaves patches of hair missing. This product is called Scratchfree: http://www.goodpet.com/library/pharmacyFiles/scratch.asp Scratch Free is a homeopathic remedy formulated for the temporary relief
of pain, itching and scratching associated with hot spots, eczema flea-
bite and allergic dermatitis. It soothes and aids in healing. Scratch Free is formulated with the following substances: Berberis
vulgaris 6x, Mezereum 6x, Thuya occidentalis 6x, Solidago virgaurea 6x,
Arsenicum album 8x, Pix liquida 8x, Lycopodium clavatum 8x, Anagallis
arvensis 8x, Sulfur 10x, and Petroleum 10x. This product is called "Flea Relief". http://www.goodpet.com/library/pharmacyFiles/flea.asp Flea Relief is a natural homeopathic medicine that helps relieve itching,
scratching and biting caused by fleas, ticks, mites and lice. It also
aids in the healing process. The combined ingredients in this remedy are
designed to activate the body's own self-repair and healing mechanisms
against itching, swelling, eczema, and sore spots. One of the ingredients
-- pulex irritans -- is flea extract. Thus, this formula actually uses
flea to combat flea! Ingredients: Apis mellifica 3x, Urtica urens 3x, Pulsatilla 3x, Sulphur
6x, Lycopodium clavatum 6x, Ledum palustre 6x, Mezereum 6x, Pulex
irritans 12x. Flea Relief is a liquid and can be given orally or in water
or on a little bit of food. I've also heard that catnip on a regular has a calming effect on the
animal in that it reduces their desire to lick the granulomas. Homeopathy holds that, as a medicine becomes more dilute, it becomes
more effective. As a result, what you have is basically overpriced
water, with only a few atoms of the supposed medicine. So, I don't
think the cat is likely to be poisoned by the white arsenic. On the
other hand, it isn't likely to be helped by the homeopathic medicine,
either. What little effect homeopathic medicines have is by the
placebo effect (the patient expects to get better, and so does so).
Since the cat doesn't understand that what is being given to it is
supposed to cure it, I would not expect any placebo effect to happen. I don't know if you've been reading my posts over the last two years, but
I've tried changing foods, Prednisolone, Triamcinalone, Gentaved, Tresaderm
, an anti-depressant, an anti-allergy med, etc. I've been to the vet over
a dozen times either on visits or to pick up meds. I've written feline
specialists who think my vet is on the right track, though they recommend
full blood workups. From what I've read here, everyone who's had the blood
tests for allergies still winds up without the desired result. I had her take a blood test several years ago for something else, and the
yelping, squirming, and frightened look on her face was enough to make me
avoid them unless absolutely necessary. The vet and his assistant had to
put a cone on the poor thing so she would see the procedure. It just seems after reading the posts here, and on other sites, that skin
problems are nearly impossible to cure in cats.
