Page 18 - Winter 14

Apis Series – a compilation of four canine cases by Lori Leonard, Australia
This is a compilation of four canine been. A week later, the submandibular lymph had alopecia of his caudal rear legs cases, which had different presentations nodes were normal sized. The penile sheath and abdomen. A fecal sample was negative. I
and which all responded well to Apis.
August 2014: “Daisy” is a 3 year, 8 month old spayed female black Puggle. She was presented to me because the dog was restless and snapped at the person, when she touched the dog’s ear. The person thought it was possible that “Daisy” had suffered a bee sting. The lower third of the dog’s right ear was reddened and thickened. I dispensed Apis 200C #3 to be given night-morning-night. She completely healed; her ear is not thickened and she allows her people to touch it.
Whatever happened to this dog, it was not witnessed by a human thus it is a mystery. If she truly were stung by a bee, this approach would be isopathy rather than homeopathy. At this time of year in Virginia, we have bees, hornets, wasps, spiders, and snakes, which can inflict bites or stings. Two of the keynotes of Apis are redness, and swelling.
January 2014: “Ozzie” was an 11 year, 1 month old neutered male brindle and white American Bulldog. He had firm and enlarged submandibular, pre-scapular and popliteal lymph nodes. His rear legs were edematous. Initially “Ozzie” was managed with passive extension/flexion and massage, three tinctures from Animals’ Apawthecary®, tramadol and gabapentin. About 21 days later, “Ozzie” was presented for continued swelling of his rear legs, and leaking of urine while lying down. I dispensed Apis 200CK #3 to be given morning-night-morning. The person reported two days later that the dog acted like he felt much better; he was more mobile than he had
was red and indurated. Heart and lungs sounded normal. I dispensed Apis 200CK #12, to be given once daily. I saw the dog three days later, and he was doing well. He was not as swollen at his sheath/inguinal area and was more pink than red in that area.
This dog was euthanized because his quality of life deteriorated, probably due to underlying chronic disease and/or lymphoma. However, even though he was on multiple conventional and herbal medications, the addition of Apis helped the dog’s swelling and improved his emotional state. This is an example of using homeopathy for palliation and support, knowing that cure is not possible.
April 2014: “Rosemary” is 6 year, 11 month old spayed female Weimeraner. I saw her because her right rear 3rd toe was very enlarged and the 1st and 2nd toes were inflamed. I suspected a sting or bite as the cause of the swelling. I dispensed Apis 200C #3 to be given night-morning-night. We heard from the person ten days later that the dog’s toes were back to their normal size and color.
Apis’ keynotes of swelling and redness were used to choose this remedy.
December 2013: “Cole” is an 8 year, 9 month old neutered male black/grey Yorkie-Poo. He was presented in December (winter) with varied complaints; loose stool and vomiting, rubbing his face all night long, and difficulty breathing in the night. This dog was restless and had a systolic heart murmur grade II-III/VI. His upper lips were red and swollen and alopecic. The skin above his eyes was red. He
de-wormed him and dispensed some bland food and probiotics. Also I gave one pillule of Apis 200C in the office. I heard from the person two days later; the dog’s stool was firmer, he had no vomiting, and had stopped rubbing his face. It is unknown what was causing this dog’s signs. He could have had a hypersensitivity reaction to his food or something in his environment.
When using so many modalities at the same time, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly the effect of each specific therapy. However this dog’s redness and itchiness and rubbing stopped. I don’t believe that a de-wormer would cause that response. If he had a dietary intolerance, changing the food could have caused the face rubbing to subside; although it is doubtful that would have happened in 48 hours. In any case, the dog improved. Restlessness, swelling, redness, itching at night (in this case, rubbing his face) were used to select Apis in this patient.
I learned that Apis is useful not only for edema or ascites where the fluid accumulation is marked; but also for local swellings that fit the remedy picture. Apis will help chronic edema, not just acute conditions.