Pet Vet

Dear Dr Goldberg:
My 10-year-old rabbit developed a stone in his bladder and consequently got an infection. He now appears well but has no bladder control and we must express his bladder manually in order for him to urinate. Is there a homeopathic remedy that may help?
MM

In my treatment protocol, I would take all of your pet’s symptoms into account. There may be bladder paralysis due to overdistension. If your rabbit doesn’t like new food and refuses to alter his diet--which is what caused this problem in the first place--this is a sign of obstinance. He may also have sediment in his urine. Keeping these things in mind, there are a number of remedies that may be helpful:

• Cantharus (Spanish fly) fits the symptoms if there is pain and anger at that pain. If your pet appears to benefit from rubbing and applications of warmth, then this is a good choice.


• Causticum (potassium hydrate) is a good remedy if there is any residual grief associated with the bladder-problem episode. Pets who don’t like cold drafts or wind also respond well to this formula.


• Arsenicum album (arsenic) is a good for warm pets that seek heat. There is a fearfulness about them and they may be quite fastidious (with grooming and overall neatness). If these best match your pet, then this remedy may be useful.

Bladder stones in rabbits are quite common, especially in older pets. If a stone is not interfering with urination, then I would leave it as opposed to removing it. In this case, the problem is that your rabbit’s bladder has lost its ability to contract. This is no doubt causing him grief. In addition to the remedies above, I would also recommend seeking out a homeopathic practitioner in your area with whom you and your regular veterinarian can work. If you have a computer, try a search for the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy and they may be able to provide you with the name of a local practitioner.

Dear Dr Goldberg:
My two aging felines both have arthritis. Our vet gave them prednisone, but this is no solution. I have tried glucosamine and chondroitin. The combination helps but eventually causes diarrhea. What is the proper dosage for cats?
AMS

Glucosamine is a combination of glucose and an amino acid (glutamine). They have shown benefits in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Glucosamine is the building block of other structures which aid in joint health, one of which is chondroitin. Taken together, they benefits joint health by reducing inflammation and building a healthier joint cartilage.

The daily dose I usually recommend for cats is 250 milligrams of glucosamine. If this causes diarrhea, stop administering it until the diarrhea disappears, and then continue at half the amount. From there, I would try to increase it again slowly, checking to ensure that the diarrhea doesn’t reoccur.