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Monday 25 November 2013

Elvis' Cruciate Ligament damage. An expensive operation? Or Homeopathy?

Elvis is an 8-year old black Labrador, a lovely dog, very friendly, very laid-back, very undemanding. Everyone loves him, not least me!

Then, on 3rd November he had an accident, he was hit by a car, was thrown across the road, and ran back into the wood we had been walking in, traumatised. I spent 2 hours looking for him, in pitch darkness. Eventually he came hobbling up to me, head down. I got him home and gave him Arnica for the shock, and for the bruising that he must undoubtedly have.

Elvis spent a restless night, clearly in considerable pain and discomfort. I gave him Arnica, in high potency, throughout the night, and even put some in his drinking water. He seemed somewhat easier in the morning, even wagging his tail. We took him to the vet, where he was examined and then X-rayed. When we picked him up the vet diagnosed serious cruciate ligament damage to his rear left leg. The recommendation was that he went to a specialist vet for an operation. The estimate for the operation was £1,500.

To a homeopath, ligament damage immediately means the remedy 'Ruta Grav'. I began giving Elvis this, in high potency, alternating this with Arnica. After two days he was brighter, eating and drinking normally, and tentatively walking about in the garden. The improvement was quite dramatic and so I suggested that rather than putting him through a traumatic operation I continued treating Elvis for two weeks. This was agreed within the family. I continued giving him Arnica and Ruta Grav, but after several days added Calc Carb as a 'constitutional' remedy. This also seemed to add to the speed of his recovery.

Indeed, his recovery was rapid, beyond my expectations. We kept him quiet, and did not take him for walks initially. Within a couple of days he was most put out when my dog was taken for a walk, and he was left behind! Within two weeks it was clear not only that he did not need an operation, but that he was walking and trotting quite normally, and entirely without pain. Elvis rarely ran at the best of times before the accident, but during one walk in the wood towards the end of the fortnight we came across a young dog who just wanted to play. Elvis was happy to oblige by chasing him - without any great discomfort, as far as I could see.

When he trotted, if you watched very closely, he threw his left rear left very slightly outwards; but even this was improving at the end of the two week. There are two significant things to consider in this story.
  • First, very clearly, the power of homeopathy to deal with even the worst injuries, in this case an injury that a conventional vet thought required an expensive operation.
  • Second, equally clearly, was the lack any similarly effective conventional treatments. All Elvis was offered were strong painkillers, followed by an operation. This was the only option we were given.
Conventional vets have a treatment monopoly in Britain. For example, no Homeopath is allowed to treat animals in this country. I can treat my own animal but I would be breaking the law the treat anyone else's animal, and charge for doing so. It is a monopoly that the Conventional Medical Establishment would like to extend to the treatment of humans!

So let's compare the treatment options for Elvis - in terms of effectiveness, safety and cost.

Effectiveness.
  • Homeopathic Arnica dealt with the bruising, and Ruta Grav dealt with the inflammation effectively, allowing Elvis to get back to normal more quickly than I thought was likely or possible. Any ligament damage will probably self-heal with the aid of gentle exercise.
  • A cruciate ligament operation, especially for a dog of Elvis's age, would have meant a considerably period of discomfort and recuperation, even if the operation was entirely successful.
Safety.
  • Homeopathic remedies are safe, and free of side-effects and adverse reactions.
  • Any operation constitutes a risk, and contrary to common assumptions, are not always successful. Homeopathy avoided the need to take these risks.
Cost.
  • The total cost of conventional treatment for Elvis would have been close to £2,000, and probably much more.
  • The cost of homeopathic treatment, even if a Homeopath had to be paid for his/her services, would not have been more than about £200. 
Yet the main thing is that, following a nasty operation, Elvis is well, and enjoying life in his own, inimitable way!