Holistic Remedy for Lyme Disease

If your dog has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, holistic veterinarian Richard Pitcairn, founder of Animal Natural Health Center in California, recommends homeopathy. Lyme disease in dogs produces a range of symptoms, including signs of arthritis, painful joints and lameness. Fever is sometimes present but not always. Treatment varies depending on the symptoms.

Acute Treatment

• Aconitum napellus (monkshood) 30C is best used at the first sign of illness if a high fever and restlessness are present. Give one 30C pellet or tablet every four hours until the symptoms are gone. Restrict food for 10 minutes before and after treatment. If your dog shows signs of improvement (reduced fever and lameness, for example), stop using the medicine. If symptoms persist 24 hours after this treatment, use Bryonia alba 30C as the next step.

  Remember, do not combine homeopathic remedies. Wait at least 24 hours between medicines.

Treatment for Pain

• Bryonia alba (wild hops) 30C is best administered when your dog lies quietly but cries out in pain when he moves. Give this medicine when the dog is reluctant to move because of pain. Give one 30C pellet or tablet every four hours until the symptoms are gone. Restrict food for 10 minutes before and after treatment. If your dog shows signs of improvement, stop using the medicine. If symptoms persist 24 hours after this treatment, use Rhus toxicodendron 30C as the next step.

Treatment for Mild Pain

• Rhus toxicodendron 30C is indicated for the dog who is sore and stiff, especially upon getting up from lying down, but whose joints seem to limber up and stiffness to diminish after he moves around. Give one 30C pellet or tablet every four hours until the symptoms are gone. Restrict food for 10 minutes before and after treatment. If your dog shows signs of improvement, stop using the medicine. If symptoms persist 24 hours after this treatment, use Pulsatilla 30C as the next step.

Treatment for Refusal to Drink Water

• Pulsatilla (windflower) 30C works well for dogs who behave submissively or refuse to drink water. Give one 30C pellet or tablet every four hours until the symptoms are gone. Restrict food for 10 minutes before and after treatment. If your dog shows signs of improvement, stop using the medicine. If symptoms persist 24 hours after this treatment, use Mercurius vivus 30C as the next step.

Treatment for Red and Inflamed Gums

• Mercurius vivus (or solubilis, the element mercury) 30C is beneficial to the dog with red and inflamed gums, bad breath and a tendency to drool or salivate, in addition to fever and lameness. Give one 30C pellet or tablet every four hours until the symptoms are gone. Restrict food for 10 minutes before and after treatment. If your dog shows signs of improvement, stop using the medicine. If symptoms persist 24 hours after this treatment, it's very likely that you're dealing with an illness that requires the expertise of a licensed homeopathic veterinarian.

Tips for Administering Medicine

• Homeopathic medicine can be purchased in most natural food stores. It is given orally. To administer more easily, fold a square Post-it note in half and drop medicine into the fold, straight from the bottle. Do not touch the pellet with your fingers. Enlist the help of a friend or family member to hold open the dog's mouth. Drop the pellet into his mouth and cup the muzzle gently for 30 seconds to allow the pellet to dissolve completely.

Warnings

• Do not combine homeopathic medicines. Allow 24 hours between treatments.