VACCINES and VACCSINOSIS
My Seal Point girl Mab’s kittens are seven weeks old and as I start to make my notes for this column of course my mind is now turning towards their vaccinations in two weeks’ time.
We have all heard the heart breaking tales of loss and severe debilitation after vaccines, which caused an extreme reaction. Such reactions are not common but they do exist so much so that they have a medical term of their own: Vaccinosis.
More fun than a box o’ frogs - Mab’s kittens, now aged 7 weeks, take a well-deserved rest after lots of playing all over the house!
As in my studies I am currently heading towards the end of a module on vaccinations and the problems they cause, my heightened awareness has led me to questions I would not have realised before. For this reason I am ever more cautious and have researched carefully for homeopathic remedies and nosodes to encourage the immunity and to support cats and kittens at this time.
But firstly what is a nosode?
To put it as simply as I can, the creation of a nosode is based on a pathological specimen.
The start in making a nosode would be to take a fragment of the disease in the form of either, blood, pus or any other bodily secretion or excretion, depending on what immunity the nosode is aiming for.
A nosode will stimulate the animal’s own body to recognize a disease and to ensure that it provides a suitable level of protection and support to the immune system whilst also assisting in the elimination of the pathogens in a natural way. The body’s white blood cell population is increased as the immune system kicks in to do its own job effectively.
Generally a nosode is a vaccine taken by mouth. The main benefit to my mind is the fact that if it is taken orally this completely eliminates the worry of injection site problems.
Do they work?
Most certainly they do, there is considerable clear evidence to prove this; evidence gathered over the last 200 years that strongly suggests they do actually provide immunity.
However, as we all know the drug industry is a huge money earner for pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers and veterinarians. This is not to discredit anyone in any way, but to become aware that there are problems associated with vaccines and homeopathy can help to support and to prepare animals young and old for the reactions that may occur within their bodies after being given compulsory vaccinations.
Nosodes in homeopathic use are available in many forms, i.e. cat flu, leukaemia, calici, and bowel nosodes to name a few and will carry the ‘energy’ of the disease and for this reason their over use can create a disease situation.
The theory is that in giving a nosode for a certain time prior to initial vaccinations will improve the cat’s immune system firstly and also prepare them for the big ‘double whammy’ of the vaccinations.
How to actually use a ‘vaccination’ nosode for kittens? I found this to be an absolute minefield of bad advice ;so much so that I formed my own opinion and I then double-checked my theories with those more knowledgeable than myself to be certain.
The safest way of dosing is:-
From five weeks of age, dose two times daily for three days, followed by once weekly for six weeks but prior to injection time dose once daily for two days. Have the first vaccination still in the six-week dosing phase, in addition dosing one day after the second vaccination. After this, follow on with a single dose every month until the kitten is six months old.
Why continue after the kitten has had his own conventional vaccinations?
Because in my opinion the fact that adjutants within the vaccine are still very much active in the kitten’s body, therefore by using a nosode in addition will help the kitten’s whole system to correct the balance.
However, without the previous use of nosodes and assuming kittens are going direct for their vaccination, it is useful to know what to have in just in case of a reaction.
For the after effects of vaccination, as a homeopathic remedy in general, Thuja is excellent, but there are several suitable remedies and care should be taken to ensure you choose the correct one.
Appeal For Help:
As I am heading towards a PhD , I am writing a thesis on vaccinations and their problems, and for this reason I would really appreciate any feedback.
I am also researching the possibilities of a homeopathic immunity booster I am in the process of creating. I would like a number of breeders to be willing to test this by using an oral immunity booster on kittens where in previous litters of this mating there have been health problems.
I am not asking anyone to withhold from having vaccines but to administer the oral immunity booster from an early age right through to the kittens settling in their new homes.
All information given will be held in confidence and will be used only for my research paper.
Questions And Answers From Emails Received:-
Q: I have a cat with gingivitis - what are the homeopathic treatments for this?
A: Sorry, it is impossible to generalise there are so many remedies and to achieve a successful result it is absolutely necessary to know much more information, such as:
Close up of a cat’s gums showing signs of infection and inflammation caused by Gingivitis.
Are the gums painful?
Does this condition cause problems for the cat when she is eating?
Do the gums actually bleed?
If they do bleed, is it profusely or slightly?
Are there any signs of ulceration present?
If so, which is affected the roof of the mouth or the tongue?
Is there any sign of pus?
Are you aware of a bad smell from the cat’s mouth, i.e. a foul odour?
I will offer just a few remedies and their descriptions…
Keep those gums healthy!
Arsenicum Album
Arsenicum would in indicated for gingivitis, for a cat that is suffering from gums that are quite painful and is presenting a strong mouth odour. Actual inflammation very often will include mouth ulcers there may be some bleeding involved. Generally for this remedy the right side of the mouth will be most affected and the cat will drink cold water to relieve the symptoms.
Arum Triphyllum
This remedy is more effective for the most severe forms of gingivitis. The clue or keynote to using this remedy will be cracks in the corners of the mouth.
The poor cat’s mouth will be very painful, which makes eating and drinking difficult. To make things worse there will be ulcers that could affect anywhere in the mouth. The tongue is generally very red and there will be a foul odour from the mouth.
Carbo Veg
Other than being known as the ‘corpse reviver’, this remedy has a distinct usefulness in treating conditions of poor vitality and forms of degeneration. Whilst bleeding from the mouth would be an indication, the blood would be a dark red as opposed to the above remedies.
Salivation would be heavy with the cat having swollen gums, receding from the mouth, the gums would have a bluish colour which would indicate Carbo Veg and possibly the use of Lachesis, which also has very useful properties for bleeding, spongy and bluish gums, which cause a burning in the mouth with a swelling to the tongue and the lips.
There are several more remedies well suited to gingivitis with differing symptoms but sadly - as per usual - I have run out of space!
I look forward to receiving your questions and to giving you the best of my attention in the future.
* If you have a homeopathic question for Chris, please e-mail her at:
simplisiamese@googlemail.com
or via
OUR CATS on: OurCatsEditor@aol.com
