Your Pet Health Questions Answered!

Teething Puppy-Aargh!

Q: "I have a five-month-old puppy who is chewing everything in sight. She has already chewed my favourite shoes and is even chewing books and wood. Can you help?"

A: Your puppy is definitely teething at this age. There may be pain associated with the process and perhaps she feels better by chewing on various things. A number of useful remedies might help, given orally at 200C potency as needed every one to three hours or until she feels better. If there is no improvement after four doses, try a different remedy.

Chamomilla - Useful when there is great sensitivity. Puppy wants something one minute (food or toys) and refuses it the next. May be a lot of whiny behaviour. Swelling of the gums and a sour smell to the mouth. One cheek may be hot and the other cold. May experience diarrhea with teething. Will be better in the cold and wants to be carried.

Rheum palmatum - Restless, irritable and weepy. An overwhelming sour smell to the puppy's mouth and there is much thick ropey salivation with teething.

Mag phos - Restless and carries things from place to place. The pain is intense so the puppy must change places often. Generally more painful on the right side. Worse after going to bed. May be swelling of the tongue and glands under the jaw. They are worse from touch and better by pressure (pushing the face against something).

Ant crud - Puppy seems angry and irritable. Dislikes getting attention and does not want to be touched. The tongue may be thickly coated and mucus in the mouth. Teeth may often bleed.

Aconite - Intense fear and easily startled during teething. This may manifest in hiding behaviour. Fever during teething, with a desire for open air. Does not want to be touched. Gums tend to be hot and inflamed.

New Kitten Concern

Q: "My newly adopted kitten is four months old. After a few days at home, she began to sneeze and her eyes began to water. She often will sneeze many times in a row. Can you give me some advice?"

A: Your kitten is most likely suffering from an upper respiratory infection, which is often viral in origin. I often see newly adopted kittens in this same situation and I feel the cause may be stress and exposure to viral agents.

The first thing to do is to limit the exposure to other cats, as it seems this is a contagious problem. Second, I recommend steaming your kitten by putting her in the bathroom while the shower is running for about 10 minutes twice daily. Also use the following homeopathic list as a guide.

Aconite - A useful remedy if onset of sneezing is very rapid and if there is any fever. If the kitten has any fright or exposure to cold air since she has come home, then I would expect it to work well.

Allium cepa - This is homeopathic onion. Useful for symptoms such as runny eyes that have a bland (non-irritating) discharge, and a runny nose with an acrid (burning) discharge (where the nose or below it may be red). Also very useful for sneezing.

Euphrasia - This is eyebright. Useful for sneezing and eye discharge where the nasal discharge is bland but the tears are burning. As such, the pet rubs the eyes until they're quite red.

Pulsatilla - Very useful when the kitten is whiny and very clingy. Often wants to be held and comforted. Discharges may be yellow and the kitten tends to prefer being near open windows.

Administer the appropriate remedy in 200C every four to six hours for four treatments or until there is any improvement. If your kitten stops eating or becomes lethargic, I would suggest you seek the advice of a holistic veterinarian.