Page 16 - Winter 2011

Australian cattle dogs are known for hiding underneath the stairs of buildings and biting people coming in or out. It is a curious habit, but one I think I can now largely explain. Most of the time these dogs require snake remedies, and Australian cattle dogs often run very well on Lachesis.
There is a great contradiction in these dogs. They are good-natured animals. They like affection and enjoy company, and are fun and even beautiful pets. They can be loyal and good companions, and are not intent about taking alpha status in a pack. However, one of the great keynotes for prescribing a snake remedy is that they will bite in a manner reminiscent of a “snake in the grass”. They will bite if confron- ted in a manner they don’t like, or if a person goes too close to their owner or their food or toys. Owners of such dogs are often a bit wary of their pet and will stand back carefully. They have seen the animal strike before, and are familiar with its suddenness, unex- pectedness, and speed. The first time such animals bite it is often surprising, as it seems
to come out of nowhere.
The bite is not a full-on attack, but a sudden lunge with very little follow-up. Often the animal will jump forward when it bites. Sometimes it will be silent, but some- times it will growl. Sometimes its intent is to frighten, not to hurt, and this is also similar to snakes, which give dry bites in nature to ward off an approach.
Although they are known for biting, these dogs will not be confrontational at the gate for a robber. Instead they will hide and attack the robber when they want, in a sneaky fashion.
Another feature of them is that they often hide, in cupboards or underneath furniture, and will attack when they are disturbed.
The characteristic of what Jacques calls “animation” is also present in these animals. Snake animals are often black or dark in colour. They are in good health and very strong, often athletic. They are shiny and have big muscles, which they love to use. They love outdoor play and can become boisterous to the point of roughness. They have an intensity even a heat that manifests mentally as well as physically. They love outdoor air, as it is less close or warm, but they are temperature sensitive and will not like getting too warm or too cool. Even smaller, lighter breeds that require snake remedies will love the outdoors and full-on play or hunting.
When the owners of such animals are asked to describe them, they will often say that their dog has chased snakes. They also some- times use a snake-like hand signal with their fingers pointed forward in a “striking” position when they talk about their animal. I have seen some animals that have responded to this family of medicines flicking their tongues in and out.
The other reason why I mention the cattle dog is that they have slant, sly eyes. It may sound breedist but it is as if the conformation shows what is on the inside – they watch you
Snakes in My Surgery By Henry Stephenson, Australia
out of the corner of their eyes. I have also observed this characteristic in other breeds that require a snake remedy.
The remedy in other animals
Another breed that often requires snake reme- dies is the black poodle. The dogs are jealous and will bite, for example when they are being brushed and clipped by their owners. I have seen some that must have heavy sedation before they can be clipped or brushed.
The same effects are observable in people. The family of a snake being will be careful, as they know what can happen suddenly. People who require snake remedies lose their temper easily. They also remember a slight, and will take revenge.
One owner of a vicious cat helped me decide which snake remedy to use when she pointed out a triangular pattern on the top of her cat’s head and neck that matched a cobra pat- tern. I could pick up the cat without difficulty and pat it and even take its temperature, but if I touched its mouth it would bite viciously.
In another case of successful treatment with Lachesis, an old lady showed me her arm and told me her cat had bitten her, leaving two neat round punctures. “She sank them right in, with venom,” she said.
Cats are close to the energy of a snake. They hunt often, and will hunt snakes at times. They are quick and athletic, and when they open their mouths they poke out their two top fangs and hiss loudly. Sometimes a hint will be the slightly bluish mucous membranes in the mouth.
I recently saw an Elaps dog who needed a snake remedy. It was a very pretty dog with very
long eyelashes that it would flutter at the nurses and me. We thought she was beautiful, but the owners were very frightened of her. The reason for this became clear one day when she flew at my throat as I was giving her some tablets: she had taken the first tablet without complaint, but the second one provoked a sudden attack. Before that incident I had given the dog a thou- sand remedies, with no effect. The attack was so snake-like – frightening and unexpected – that it was clear what was required, and the administration of a snake remedy cured her of long-standing autoimmune disease. I am now wary when she flutters her eyelashes.
Physical symptoms
There are some physical problems that I have often observed in animals requiring snake remedies:
• Autoimmunehemolyticanaemiaandother autoimmune problems
• Auralhaemathomasandhaemathomas,or bleeding anywhere
• Spinaltroublesandarthriticproblems– they want to slither, not walk
• Liverproblems
• Fightingbetweendogsoverhierarchyand
status
• Throatproblemssuchasparalysis,gag-
ging and coughs
• Heartpathology
• Cancersonskin(Ihaveusedthesereme-
dies to cure metastatic mast cell tumor) • Blackscaleonteeth
• One-sidedissues
• Excessivebarking
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