Homoeopathic Treatment of Small Animals

Details

Homoeopathic Treatment of Small Animals, Principles and Practice, 3rd edition, by Christopher Day, was published in 1998.

This book covers the homoeopathic treatment of domestic pets such as dogs, cats, fish, birds, rabbits, mice, etc. In addition, Day relates some stories of his treatment of more exotic pets such as lizards, tortoises, and pythons.

This was one of the first homeopathic veterinary books in English that covered the philosophy of health and disease within the context of homeopathy.

Day additionally discusses his model for veterinary homoeopathy and his use of potency. He has provided a useful complement to other veterinary treatises suitable for the pet owner or the veterinary surgeon.

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Heritage

The first modern text that went beyond the "therapeutic" approach of the other books and discussed the larger issues of health and disease in the homeopathic context. Day provides some interesting models of the workings of homeopathy and for the selection of the potency.

Julian Winston writes:
The models that Day has hypothesized are contained in the first 37 pages of the book and should be read by all interested in homeopathy, not just those interested in the veterinary application of the art.

From:
The Heritage of Homoeopathic Literature
copyright 2001 by Julian Winston
Reprinted with the permission of the author

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Reviews

Two Reviews:
1. THE HOMEOPATH
2. THE BRITISH HOMEOPATHIC JOURNAL


THE HOMEOPATH
Caroline Hayon is an Associate Member from Southampton.

Christopher Day's book 'The Homoeopathic Treatment of Small Animals' is concerned with the treatment of small domestic pets, especially cats and dogs, including small anecdotes on how tortoises, lizards, fish and Cleo the reticulated python were treated homoeopathically.

Many people will remember seeing the vet Christopher Day on the QED television programme on homoeopathy which was broadcast in January 1991. He presented a very convincing case for the effectiveness of homoeopathy. He has a rural practice which treats both farm animals and domestic pets and has been actively involved in research into, and the furthering of, veterinary homoeopathy.

This book is an introductory work on homoeopathy for use by veterinary surgeons and pet owners.

The first seven chapters discuss the philosophy and principles that underlie homoeopathy in general and veterinary homoeopaths in particular. They are mostly concise and cover everything from the story of Hahnemann through to the vital force and alternative methods of approaching treatment with a detailed discussion on how to take a case.

The chapter on case management and potency is a brave attempt at one of the most complex issues in homoeopathy but may leave the new comer to homoeopathy dazed and confused.

The middle section of the book deals with the practical aspects of using homoeopathy on small animals. Due to the enormous amount of material which is covered in these chapters there is not nearly enough depth and if you wish to treat an animal you will need to refer to materia medicas and repertories.

The content of the chapters is organized by ailment rather than by animal although there is a short chapter on diseases for specific animals. The reader is assumed to have a reasonable knowledge of the ailments before using this book.

Towards the end of the book there are some interesting chapters on homoeopathy in the prevention of disease and the use of nosodes as homoeopathic vaccinations. These chapters may prove especially useful to those who are already familiar with the philosophy and principles of homoeopathy, but again newcomers to homoeopathy may find these chapters confusing.

In the final part of the book there is a chapter of case histories and a short materia medica. Presumably due to restrictions of space the materia medica does not contain all of the remedies mentioned throughout the book, which reinforces the requirement that alternative materia medicas and repertories are needed in order for this book to be at all useful.

The Homoeopathic Treatment of Small Animals is an essential reference book for vets and pet owners to be used with other relevant books. Some sections of the book are perhaps beyond the scope of the pet owner and other sections may appear too obvious to a veterinary surgeon; this is perhaps inevitable in a book that attempts to cover so much ground in only 203 pages.

We can only hope that one day Christopher Day will have the necessary time to expand this book to a volume of two or three times the size giving us the benefit of his vast experience of veterinary homoeopathy.

There are many interesting snippets of information throughout this book and at no time does it become dry or dense. The only shame is that in the appendix of useful addresses the Society of Homoeopaths is not mentioned, perhaps this could be corrected when this book is reprinted.

The Homoeopath Vol.11 No.3 1991
Reprinted with permission from the Society of Homeopaths




THE BRITISH HOMEOPATHIC JOURNAL
- reviewed by Francis Hunter, MRCVS

This is a book that is eminently suitable for veterinary surgeons and breeders but also has a lot to offer the ordinary pet owner. In addition Christopher Day's book could well suit members of allied professions, such as dentists, chiropodists, nurses, both human and veterinary, and also members of the medical profession itself, who wish to get a sound beginning in the basic principles of this fascinating subject.

From Hahnemann's treatment of typhus in Napoleon's retreating army in the opening chapter to the veterinary surgeon's and home starter list of first remedies on page 146, Mr Day has the ability to hold the reader's attention. In fact not only to hold our attention, but to take us with him, painstakingly and logically step by step, through his subject.

I like the analogy on page 10 between bomoeopathy and judo, both gentle but at the same time very powerful arts in the right hands.

Chapter 2 - When to call the Vet - is set out both clearly and concisely. Diagnosis is even more important when the patient cannot speak for itself. The similarity between the problems set by a young child for its parents and the doctor and likewise those of the pet for its owner and the veterinary surgeon is well established.

The relationship of homoeopathy to conventional medicine and diagnosis is further elaborated in Chapter 15 and is most noteworthy. The two main aspects of Christopher Day's book-the principles and practice-are clearly set out on page 20. In fact Chapters 1-7 are so well thought out, and written with such clarity and logic, that they are a lesson to us all, professional man or layman alike.

Accurate history-taking is the essence of all medicine, but is particularly important with homoeopathy, and this point is well stressed and could form a good exercise for the pet owner too.

This is a difficult book to review in that in its 153 pages it contains so much of interest. I like Mr. Day's concept of potency, and his knowledge of materia medica is profound, and the number of remedies with which he is obviously familiar is indeed impressive.

In Chapter 8 we come to the symptoms of disease with some recommended treatments and it is at this point that we realize that the book is seriously intended for the thinking person, who is prepared to go into great detail in trying to select the correct remedy. For instance there are no less than 21 possible remedies for the treatment of conjunctivitis, according to the presenting symptoms.

Dog and cat breeders will be particularly interested in the comprehensive and valuable section on conditions and problems with the female sexual system.

Case histories can easily become too anecdotal to be of much value to others, but in Chapter 16 Christopher Day manages to make his cases both absorbing and instructive. The candid way in which they are presented is refreshing, and the logical way in which they are set out makes them easily understood.

This book has a lot to offer and gives us a new veterinary book to complement those of George Macleod. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to all in the veterinary profession, and other professions allied to medicine, who wish to take a serious and critical interest in homoeopathy.

FRANCIS HUNTER, MRCVS

The British Homoeopathic Journal
Volume 74, Number 1, January 1985
Reprinted with permission from the Faculty of Homeopaths

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Contents

Ch.1 - The Nature of Homeopathy --1-21
Ch.2 - When to Call the Vet -- 22-28
Ch.3 - Getting Started - Advice, Courses and Books -- 29-32
Ch.4 - Putting Principles into Practice 1 - Taking the History in the Veterinary Clinic -- 33-36
Ch.5 - Putting Principles into Practice 2 - Selecting the Remedy -- 37-44
Ch.6 - Putting Principles into Practice 3 - Managing the Case -- 45-53
Ch.7 - Putting Principles into Practice 4 - Care of the Remedies -- 54-55
Ch.8 - Symptoms of Disease with Some Recommended Treatments -- 56-115
Ch.9 - The Modalities -- 116-118
Ch.10 - The Generalities and First Aid - Measures -- 119-128
Ch.11 - Specific Diseases -- 129-142
Ch.12 - Mental Problems -- 143-146
Ch.13 - Special Problems of the Young and Old -- 147-151
Ch.14 - Homeopathy in the Prevention of Disease -- 152-154
Ch.15 - The Relationship of Homeopathy to Conventional Medicine and Diagnosis -- 155-160
Ch.16 - Selected Case Histories -- 161-170
Ch.17 - A Short Materia Medica of Some Key Substances -- 171-188
Appendices -- 189-220
Index -- 221-232

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