Homeopathic Help!

MaximumImpact

Last week my 4 year old dog has a large lump removed and today we recieved the devastating news that the biopsy had detected cancer. To be precise, squamous cell carcinoma....The vet has been fantastic but can only tell us that time will reveal if it has spread or not.

He is fine within himself and we have had some hopeful signs, such as the wound healing very quickly, that he didnt niggle or bite at the lump before removal, weight gain and him being just as bouncy as normal....

Due to previous experience, we have decided that we will not be putting our lad through any kind of chemotherapy and will just take each day as it comes.

Does anyone have any knowledge of any homeopathic remedies that will help him, not in regards to the cancer but just his general health and wellbeing?

Mankysteve

MaximumImpact wrote: »

Does anyone have any knowledge of any homeopathic remedies that will help him, not in regards to the cancer but just his general health and wellbeing?

Yeah they don't work any more than the placebo effect.

Don't waste your money.

You'd be better off investing in some high quality food and vitamin supplements. Rather what is essential Tap water/sugar tablets. Speak to your vet about proper supplement rather than someone who trying to fleece you of your money.

devildog

There are vets out there that practice homeopathy alongside pharmaceutical drugs and it may be a good idea to see if there is one practising in your area.
If there isn't or you don't want to go down that route you may want to contact someone like Dorwest who may be able to suggest general tonics to keep him in the best shape or a homeopathic practioner(human) who may be able to advise.
I have a relative who always treated her own dogs this way as opposed to seeing a vet and do know that there are many animal owners who treat them this way albeit in smaller doses relative to their size/weight.

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi MI, I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear this.

DMs dog has just had 2 mast cell tumours removed (had been to vet previously but they are apprently hard to diagnose & they thought 1 was a Bursitis lump and the other a "fatty lump") so I can appreciate what you're going through.

She's decided against "aggressive" treatment - partly as it would involve a 2 hour (each way) journey to the vet's in the city every week for treatment and Miss K doesn't travel well and is a wreak when away from home (and that's even before the treatment). DMs vet said the stress of this would probably be worse for her than the cancer.

She's also now recovering well from surgery (had a nightmare with one of the wounds splitting after the stitches were removed, being stapled, them then breaking open and having to be restitched - she ended up being stitched/stapled for the whole of March). One lump was completely removed (with a good clear margain) but the main lump was on her knee (back leg) joint and was really hard to get at due to the ligaments etc (they couldn't get it all) however this one has healed brilliantly. However, her lymph nodes are clear which is good news.

Miss K is back to her happy bouncy self, eating well and enjoying life. Like you, we'll enjoy each day we have for as long as she stays like this.

I'm sure you're already feeding a good quality food so that's a good start.

We're also in the "finding out" stage but have come across the following website which I'm working my way though and has some interesting information: http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/dog-cancer.html

Good luck

MaximumImpact

Thanks for the replies, after consulting with the vet and a friend who has some knowledge of homeopathy, we have decided to go down the Essiac Tea route along with some other herbs and supplements.

Luckily I have a vet with an open mind who isn't sponsored by Hills........

Mankysteve

MaximumImpact wrote: »

friend who has some knowledge of homeopathy, ..

If they know about it they'll not recommend it.
I really urge you not to go along these,. There only after your money and will not help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy

Please dont waste your money on these fraudulent people.

Oliver14

MaximumImpact wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, after consulting with the vet and a friend who has some knowledge of homeopathy, we have decided to go down the Essiac Tea route along with some other herbs and supplements.

You might as well just give your dog water. It's cheaper and actually has some science to back up it's rehydration abilities unlike homeopathy that has no basis in science.

I heard some comedian the other day talking on homeopathy and it's advocates saying it's been used for thousands of years his reply was ' Yes then it was tested and the stuff that actually works is now called medicine'

Don't wast your money use the money to make your dog as happy and comfortable as you can. No matter what the yoghurt weavers say Essiac tea does not cure cancer it just lines the pockets of con artists preying on the vulnerable.

davetrousers

Does the OP actually understand what homeopathy is? I'm often surprised that some people just think it's like herbal medicine (probably because they both start with the letter h).

Regardless of how it might/or might not work, when tested to see if it does actually work, the results conclude that it is no more effective than a placebo. So how can a dog experience the placebo effect?

Raggs_2

Actually dogs and other animals can be affected by the placebo effect rather interesting research into it. Don't have it to hand at the moment, but in essence I believe it revolves around the extra attention recieved etc, boosting endorphins (in a very similar way that massage and laughter can help etc).

Homeopathy is obviously nothing more than placebo affect.

http://darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com/2010/06/homeopathy.html

There you go, very thoroughly explained (in cartoon strip form ). Just to add, it was found that when treating like with like (arsenic for shortness of breath), although many of the patients suffering with the chronic shortness of breath diseases, died when given high doses of arsenic, many more of them survived when given infinitesimally small doses of arsenic.... amazing logic then concluded that diluted arsenic was a cure...

I have no problem with herbal stuff, though people don't seem to realise many things that are "herbal" are just less efficient versions of actual medicines. A wonderful example of which is people proclaiming that Salicylic acid from willow bark is a natural pain killer, and thus far better than any other "chemical" painkillers. In truth, aspirin is a modified version, modified to reduce the rather nasty side affect of salicylic acid (causing stomach ulcers).

Mankysteve

Raggs wrote: »

I have no problem with herbal stuff, though people don't seem to realise many things that are "herbal" are just less efficient versions of actual medicines. A wonderful example of which is people proclaiming that Salicylic acid from willow bark is a natural pain killer, and thus far better than any other "chemical" painkillers. In truth, aspirin is a modified version, modified to reduce the rather nasty side affect of salicylic acid (causing stomach ulcers).

Indeed there are some great natural chemical that can help. But they still need to tested to make sure they actually work before i would use them.

snowman2_2

Homeopathy has never been proved to work and many NHS trusts are stopping to pay for it eg the NHS in Greater Manchester. Homeopaths often refuse to use standard scientific tests stating that they don't work well with the way homeopathy works. I can't see water or lactose tablets being much help.

Herbalism is different and there are herbal remedies that may help. Penicillin, many other antibiotics, aspirin etc all started off as herbal remedies. Hopefully we can identify the active ingredients, purify them and mass produce them so many people can benefit. Going back to the OP though, I would feed a good quality diet and be vigilant, spotting any regrowth early. A squamous cell carcinoma is likely to be locally recurrent so you need to keep an eye on the area and see your vet quickly if it comes back.