Four-legged friends can also benefit from gentle medicine that is effective and free of side effects. Veterinary homoeopathy is now entering the world of complementary animal feed, for the wellbeing of dogs and cats.
With over 60 million pets — equal to the entire Italian population — ours is the most pet-friendly country in Europe. This is according to the latest Eurispes report, which highlights that dogs and cats are the nation's favourite companions. For them, our beloved furry friends, there is something new: the possibility of tackling many ailments with veterinary homoeopathy.
"Owners who already treat themselves with homoeopathy often choose this approach for their pets too, knowing they are doing their very best for them," explains Antonella Caggegi, a veterinary surgeon based in Milan and lecturer at the Italian Medical Association for Homotoxicology. "Not only that. In my thirty years of experience I have found that homoeopathy, including when integrated with conventional medicine in personalised treatment pathways, proves successful in many situations. Several studies have demonstrated this. For example, in elderly dogs or those suffering from chronic conditions (such as dermatitis or arthrosis), the overuse of anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids eventually causes further problems, whereas homoeopathy makes it possible to manage many situations successfully."
Arnica for musculoskeletal problems and calendula for skin lesions are the most widely used remedies. Cuprum is also used during surgical procedures to facilitate muscle relaxation, and Nux vomica for chemotherapy-induced vomiting. Medicines are generally available in veterinary formulations, such as ampoules (which are easy to add to food). "Another 'hot-button' issue where veterinary homoeopathy can prove extremely helpful is that of antibiotic resistance," the expert continues. "Today the law requires that antibiotic use be reduced in companion animals, as well as in production animals, to prevent them from eventually becoming ineffective. The holistic approach makes it possible to prevent these conditions, maintaining a high quality of life for the pet, and then to treat them with effective remedies that have no side effects."
There is also news on the nutritional front. To improve the wellbeing of dogs and cats, Guna, a leading Italian pharmaceutical company in the field of homoeopathy, has just launched the veterinary PETformula range — twelve complementary feed pastes (available from pharmacies and specialist pet shops). Composed of natural substances in synergistic formulations, the twelve feeds cover the main pathological areas and can help, for example, to improve allergic reactions (Allergyformula, with blackcurrant and echinacea among the active substances), gastrointestinal disorders (Enteroformula, with morinda and colostrum), or even behavioural problems (Armonyformula, with tryptophan). They can be administered directly into the animal's mouth or placed in the bowl and mixed with food.
"These complementary feeds also lend themselves to home use. It is better, however, if they are incorporated into an integrative medicine programme that includes, alongside conventional medicines, homoeopathic ones too," specifies Dr Caggegi.