Page 18 - Spring 13

Nala – a case of helpful aggravation By Rachel Clement, UK
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Nala was one of those skin cases that make your heart sink as they enter the clin- ic – her odour filled the entire building! Despite the smell she was a 4 year old Newfoundland who had been diagnosed with chronic hyperplastic dermatitis by her own vet and after blood tests was [found to be] allergic to “almost” everything, espe- cially common grasses. She was on Piriton and Cephalaxin antibiotics.
On examination she had generalised seb- orrhoea with patches of alopecia and “hotspot” pyodermas with the worse area of lichenification on the right elbow. The skin condition had started the previous year approximately 6 weeks after her sea- son but also coincided with the clients hus- band leaving and taking the other dog with him – Nala “chewed herself to pieces” overnight.
She had been with the owner since a puppy – she was a handful when young but has settled now. Described as a “mummy’s girl” she loves people but is happy to go off by herself. She loves other dogs and is very excitable. She loves food and is ever hopeful for more. She loves tea, carrots, cheese, fish and is a thirsty dog. The itching is worse at 6 am and noon (possibly when the Piriton wears off).
Mind: desires company, yielding Head: hair falling, greasy
Stomach: appetite ravenous, thirst-large, infrequent
Perspiration: oily
Extremities: elbow-skin thickened
General: indoors-desires, food-desires tea, cheese
Remedy: Natrum muriaticum 6C 1 bid for 2-3 weeks.
Follow up 1
Owner says “like a light has been switched on”. Nala is now back to being a very naughty dog. Was spayed at her own practice last week – some bleeding post operatively so was on fluids for 2 days. She is still on antibiotics and anti- histamines. There is less scratching and she has gone back to sleeping in her old place.
Treatment: continue Natrum muriaticum 6C 1 bid for 2 weeks.
Follow up 2
Now finished antibiotics and anti-histamines. Skin is slowly improving – she is like a puppy again – stealing things.
Treatment: Natrum muriaticum 30C 1 bid 7 days.
Follow up 3
Skin has flared up and she is hyperactive – goes “mad” when she greats people and appetite has increased.
Treatment: stop remedy and revisit 2 weeks.
Follow up 4
Still scratching but skin is still slowly improving and has whitish discharge from both eyes. Has had a few skin eruptions and a pyoderma on the dorsal tail has flared up.
Treatment: Nat mur 6C 1 bid for 1 sid then Nat mur 30C 1 sid as needed.
Further follow ups
Everytime I increased the potency of Natrum muriaticum, Nala developed periods of hyper- activity but the skin slowly improved – the odour was only slightly noticeable when close up and she developed a lovely full grown Newfoundland coat. She was appeared extremely sensitive to increases in potentcy, but the periods of hyperactivity were a very useful way to assess when the potency was too strong and the owner was very happy with the results as despite having to deal with a large energetic dog she was happy to see Nala back to her naughty old self!