Dear Pat,
My young male dog has had balanitis a couple of times and I don't like to have him on antibiotics. Are there any other things I can do with him if he gets this again? - Sonja Goodeve
* Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans penis, usually caused by infection.
Dear Sonja,
Homoeopathic treatment of this problem is often successful. It is a matter of having the correct homoeopathic to give. There are three which can be the most likely ones to choose from. You would give him the one that fits best.
Aconite or Belladonna is best given when it first flares up. If he has had the infection for a few days then you would need to choose from the following:
Thuja if the discharge is greenish-grey.
Merc-sol if the discharge is green and a bit nasty looking.
If this doesn't fit with what you have seen happen, you may like to consult a homoeopath for them to pick an appropriate one for him.
Washing his penis with Calendula tincture or diluted Citrus seed extract or Manuka oil drops can be very good also for this problem.
Also as this is recurring with your dog, I would suggest an immune booster of some sort is required in order to help his immune system to fight infection. Herbs such as Echinacea and Olive leaves will do the job. - Pat
Dear Pat,
We have a very elderly standard poodle. She has slowed down a lot lately and was getting breathless sometimes with exercise. The vet has said her heart isn't pumping as efficiently, but there is nothing too wrong with it. Is there anything you can suggest for us to give her to help? - Stephen Jools
Dear Stephen,
I suggest using the herb Hawthorn to help strengthen her heart. You can get this in liquid or in tablet form. It is okay to give her a preparation for a human and give her a child's dose daily in her food. - Pat
To read about bloat and stomach problems in dogs go to the previous page
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