Ask the Herbalist:

Pat Hunter ND DMH RC Hom NZAMH
K9 Perspective's Medical Herbalist and Homoeopath.

Pat graduated from Naturopathic College in Sydney, Australia in 1986 after four years' fulltime 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 on this page.

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

Dear Pat,
We have an English pointer who has a problem with a ligament in his leg. It doesn't seem to have been caused by an accident. He now limps a lot. Originally he had the same problem in his left leg. They took the ligament out and moved the whole bottom half of the leg forward. Brackets and screws were used to hold it until it had healed. We did have to have the brackets taken out as they started to bother him.

Now he is having the same problem with his right knee. We would like to try the holistic approach to try and take care of his problem. What can you suggest to use to hopefully prevent yet another operation? - Bill

Hi Bill,
I would use a homoeopathic to heal the ligament. Ruta grav 12C or 30C is the most likely homoeopathic for this. It can be given as drops to your dog, initially twice a day straight into his mouth. After the first week, if the problem has not significantly improved, give him a dose once a day for one more week.

As soon as he shows a significant improvement stop dosing and wait and observe. He should continue to improve and get better. If he starts to go backwards give him another week's course.

Once he is better give him a preventative dose of the homoeopathic Rhus tox 30C before any strenuous exercise for the next few weeks. - Pat

Here is an email that arrived a few weeks ago, and another following the treatment recommended.

Dear Pat,
I have a Border Collie X Springer Spaniel. He is eight years old and has been a heavy dog for it seems like forever. We have done tests at the vets for thyroid and they say there is no problem. We have been very careful about his diet. He is getting very stiff in his legs and I want to get some weight off him but with him slowing down I don't want to risk too much exercise. If he does a lot of racing around with the other dogs, later he can hardly walk. - Bella

Dear Bella,
Even though your dog's thyroid tests showed up as normal it is quite possible his gland is not working as efficiently as it should. I suggest you add a dessertspoon of kelp to his food daily. Also it is important to improve the situation with his arthritis so he can run more freely without suffering pain and further damaging his joints. For this I suggest we use glucosamine sulphate powder and an anti-inflammatory herbal formula which I can make up for you. - Pat

Two weeks later:

Hi Pat,
I thought it was about time to let you know how things are going. He seemed to become more active from the third day. He is more active and also eager to get out in the paddocks and have a run. His arthritis is still troubling him but not as much as it was. - Bella