Ask the Herbalist:

Dear Pat,
I have an Airedale (Holly) which has had an abscess removed from under her chin. Prior to that (two months ago) she had opened up another one in the same place.

She currently has a small sore under her chin which I am hoping will not develop into anything. Is there any treatment for abscess or perhaps the prevention of them so this won't keep happening? - Carol, Hamilton, New Zealand

Dear Carol,
Yes, there is silica (a homoeopathic preparation) which I use for this problem. It can be used to both treat the little sore developing under her chin and also as a preventative. You would give her a few doses until the symptoms changed and then stop dosing (it may only take two doses or it could take six or seven). Then you wouldn't need to repeat the dose unless she showed signs of it developing again.

Silica comes in a dropper bottle and you would give her about five drops twice daily for a maximum of seven days. The important thing is to stop the dose the minute you see it taking effect. This should be all she needs to get rid of the problem altogether. If not, I would go on to use a herbal formula to build up her immune system. - Pat

Dear Pat
I hope you can help me. Phoebe is small staffy-cross bitch who began chewing on palm dates then started swallowing some. (The dates had been chewed by flying foxes.) Then she vomited them back. But she got septicaemia and was very ill for nine months. The vet didn't think she would make it.

I've been giving her something for her immune system and she has put on weight and has a very shiny thick coat that she never had before.

The problem now is her continual scratching at her face and ears (the vet found nothing wrong). It's usually after she has been lying down. She usually sleeps with her head up on something. I believe she has what I call reflux! She is always burping and swallowing. I am wondering if the acid from her stomach is burning her oesagphagus?

I'm wondering if the sphincter at the top of her stomach is damaged because of the dates being vomited up? I mentioned this to my vet and he just brushed my concerns aside (that was a year ago). What is your advice and do you have something to treat her? - Elaine Queensland, Australia

Dear Elaine,
Your diagnosis does sound very likely correct to me. That combination of symptoms - burping, scratching at her face, especially when she lies down and her history with the vomiting could well indicate a reflux problem. The oesophagus may feel like it is continuously burning.

I have Slippery elm powder that you can mix into milk and give her once or twice and day especially around a time when this happens most. This will protect her oesophagus and also promote healing of the tissue.

I think this would be the best place to start. I could give her liquid herbs as well for her to take internally for skin itching and liver-digestive system, but I think that the powder may possibly do the job on its own. - Pat

Pat Hunter N.D. D.M.H. RC Hom NZAMH is K9 Perspective's Medical Herbalist and Homoeopath.

Pat graduated from Naturopathic College in Sydney, Australia in 1986 after four years' full-time study. She qualified as a Medical Herbalist, Classical Homoeopath and Naturopath.

She practised in Sydney for seven years before returning home to New Zealand in 1993. She has been running Pat's Healing Centre in Waipu, New Zealand, since 1996. Her many patients include of course dogs. She lives with the three dogs pictured in this column.

Pat has a website and you can read about her clinic, the animals she treats and the medicines she uses. Visit her at: www.animalherbs.co.nz