Page 8 - Autumn 23

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Panic attacks
When he has a panic attack it builds over an hour or so. He begins pacing, panting, scrat- ching at his bed. Wants atten- tion but his
owner can’t reach him, he becomes beside himself and zoned out from her.
He has always been a neurotic type of dog but the condition got much worse since having a dental which involved a general anaesthetic and several molar extractions. Since then, he has been continually whining and not wanting to be left.
Has been put on Gabapentin which makes him sleepy but doesn’t solve the problem. This has been going on for a month.
Past history
Had autoimmune haemolytic anaemia when he was 2 years old and was very poorly needing steroids for 6 months. He was frightened by a train that approached him suddenly, when he was a year old and has had a phobia about them since.
Castrated at 4 years old, as he became very territorial.
Mental
• Very sensitive to noise
• A real goody two shoes will always obey the rules • Tidy
• Doesn’t like being left or any changes in the house
Generals
• Will paddle but not a swimmer
• Loves comfort
• Gets too hot by fire or in sun
• Used to be boss of the group but now has become
very vulnerable
Treatment
As we had such a strong trigger factor I decided to give him Staphysagria 1 M once daily for 1 week. I also gave him a cocktail of Stramonium 1M / Aconite 1M to be given every 20 minutes when he started an attack.
Results
After 2 doses of Staphysagria, Sinbad was totally back to normal. He was taken off the gabapentin and needed no further treatment for 2 months. At that point his owner had gone away and he was with a dog sitter. On a walk a bird flew up in front of him and gave him a big fright. He startled, building into an attack. The dog sitter gave him 3 doses of the stramonium / Aconite mix and it settled. She followed it later with a Staphysagria and he has been fine since.
I thought I would report this simple case as it is the sort that gives you faith that homeopathy really does work!
Sinbad – 13 y/o standard poodle with anxiety issues by John Saxton, UK