Tending The Wind

Sachie
14yr old FS Cocker Spaniel
Anxiety and restlessness with possible pain.

History: Sachie was referred on 9/22/05 for anxiety and restlessness of unknown origin, beginning the month prior. Back pain was a possibility with compressive disc herniation at T11-12 and multiple sites of disc dessication and various bony changes, but her veterinarian felt it may also be behavioral with her long history of various fears and anxieties. Bloodwork and urinalysis were normal; her hypothyroidism was well managed. Three weeks of Deramaxx had helped only temporarily, and Tramadol only seemed to make her more anxious. A calming nutraceutical was temporarily helpful. The client reported that she objected to touch on her neck below her ears.

Although no painful areas were found on exam, VOM reads appeared in the upper to mid cervical regions (with milder reads at T10-L5 and pelvis). Along with acupuncture, nutraceuticals for inflammation and anxiety, and homeopathy targeting spinal inflammation and fear (Belladonna 30c), Sachie made intial improvements for the first two weeks and her VOM reads decreased. When she became more anxious again, including screaming fits before and during acupuncture, she responded well to an increase in her calming nutraceutical dose. By 10/25/05 the client reported that Sachie was not showing symptoms, even after hiking; VOM and acupuncture were suspended. Her nutraceuticals were allowed to run out in early 2006 (except her longterm glucosamine/chondroitin), with her anxiety responding just to the Belladonna. As winter approached that year, however, her anxiety attacks became more regular again. Further questioning revealed details about her anxiety that aided in choosing a more specific homeopathic: Among the many situations that made Sachie anxious, the worst episodes were related to being left somewhere (screaming on approach to the sitter’s or vet’s, or in the car) and to times of decreased light (winter, night-time, declining vision). Also, since a pup she had experienced episodes of screaming in the middle of the night about twice a month, waking her from sleep, her anxiety lingering into the morning. 12/1/06 her Belladonna was changed to Stramonium*, and since then the client says she’s had no further screaming episodes save one brief “night terror” this past summer; she no longer screams at the vet, and her ophthalmologist was surprised at their last visit at not having to talk over Sachie’s usual screaming.

* Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) and Stramonium (Thorn Apple) are both of the Solanaceae (Nightshade) family. While both involve symptoms of acute fear from various causes, Stramonium relates especially well to a sense of being alone in the dark or lost / abandoned in the wilderness, while Belladonna relates strongly to terrifying impressions and the approach of danger. (The 30c potency has a total dilution factor beyond Avogadro's number, thus theoretically containing no molecules of the parent substance.)