Hey Guys, I put this case forward before and I have been trying to muddle along, but I find myself a little confused. This is the case of the dog with re-occuring ear infections (primarily in the right), he also suffers from periodic "fits" where he becomes extremely restless/anxious, starts to lick everything (as though he is trying to induce vomit), becomes all red and produces notable swelling and redness of the mouth, throat.
During his last "bad" time in the summer, he was given sulphur LM1, hep sulph 200ch, belladonna 30ch, calc carb LM1 and finally merc LM1 (which produced an agrevation, causing the other ear to be affected as well, also increased the pain, bleeding and inflamation in general). Eventually a dose of antibiotics cleared the immediate infection.

2 weeks ago, I noticed the ear was foul again and this coincided with another "fit" that was stopped again by a one time dose of merc 30ch (I have stopped other "fits" in the past with merc 30ch). I took him in for re-examination, upon exam we found an ear polyp in the right ear (which is why he keeps getting infections).

I am confused why merc is so clearly effective for the "fits" (which I now conclude must be related to the ear). However the merc appears to agrevate the ear in stronger potency. Boenninghaasen lists Calc carb over merc as well as lyc, sil, sul (may be others I can't recall at the moment)for ear polyps. I assume if the ear infections are 2ndary, a more indicated remedy for him would be calc carb or perhaps lyc. But then again this entire case still befuddles me.

Anyone have some advise, or see something I don't here? THX

PS I'm not likely to operate, having been through this procedure before, incident of regrowth is high even if you take most of the ear (which becomes an issue over money and pain & suffering); also controlling the bleeding may be a problem at surgery due to some of these polyps having a tendency to bleed profusely (very vascular in nature).

Hi Krista,
The below isn't re polyp in inner ear as I think your dog has but sending along for interest.

Hoyne's Clinical Theraputics - Thuja

Polypus Auris . - Has proved curative.
CASE 397. To - day a case has turned up which is very likely to prove that polypus in the ear can be cured without the snare, which may also prove a delusion, for I have seen them come back again, This man had a very good - seized one, showing outside the external meatus, and making him deaf in damp weather, when it swelled, and of course, occluded the passage - and nasal polypi will also enlarge in wet weather. The polypus had a small aperture in it, and was pear shaped; it often discharged a fluid, with a snapping noise. If there polyp are enlarged follicles, we can understand why Thuj. should act so powerfully on them. It was more for experiment's sake that I kept steadily to this medicine, touching it externally with mother tincture, and using internally the first decimal. It soon made it transparent and shrank it, and now it is not a fourth of the original bulk, and has interacted well within the ear. Two reasons prevented me from removing it; the first was its thick pedicle, and the operation is excessively painful, even at the quickest; and secondly, the success of the Thuj. points to a sycotic origin. Now nearly four months have elapsed, as far as I can guess without reference, and, with the exception of a few doses of Sulph. , at the beginning, and Calc. carb. , midway, he has been all along on Thuj. 9. Not only has his hearing improved, but his health, manifestly; and I trust it will prove "lignum vitae" to him, and give him a renewal as far as this life is concerned. Dr. Ussher.

CASE 398. Mr. A., aged sixty - three; auctioneer. The orifice of the left meatus was blocked up by a polypus, of the raspberry - cellular variety of Toynbee's classification; pale red in color. and bleeding readily when touched by the probe. On detaching the edges from the rim of meatus, much muco - pus issued; he complained bitterly of shooting pains, and found nothing allay them but stout; he was deaf. Thuj. 12, given for a month, caused the disappearance of the polypus; but the otorrhoea continuing, Merc. s. 4 was given, and in two weeks he polypus returned. Thuj. 12 was ordered, and finally, the 30th, when it disappeared, and the otorrhoea also. Dr. R. Hughes.

Jahr's Manual-Thuja-ear
Glandular swelling. Burning heat in the face and cheeks.

Boericke-ear-Thuja
Chronic otitis; discharge purulent. Creaking when swallowing. Polypi.

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Krista, it might clarify things remedy wise if attention's paid to some of the mental/emotional characteristics of the dog, particularly when the ailment is present.

I thought of lycopodium when I was reading over the case, and wondered if perhaps he might show you some of those behaviours we associate with that remedy--do you get a sense of any mental state with this doggy?

__________________
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.<br />C.G.Jung

Thanks for replies, I intend to look into the case a bit more over the weekend. The only behavior changes I note when he is having the ear troubles, are associated with his "fits", other than that he is in "normal behavior" which for him is a big scaredy-cat (afraid of anything new or strange; if I throw a stick or ball he hides in the bushes, if the garbage trucks are out, he won't go outside and he is incredible "vacant" upstairs- but this is "normal" behavior for him). I'll have a look thru Lyc and thuya -although I still don't understand why merc works so well for the "fits" but makes the ears worse? But according to the case study gpm quoted, it obviously happens.

Well, my only suggestion would be that the "fits", being of a more neurological/psychological nature, are far more serious than the ear infections. We're not really seeing an aggravation so much as an acute arise--something to indicate the need for another dose and potency of the remedy given, or points out another remedy more suited to the entire case. The ear stuff should definitely not be suppressed, though, or the case will regress.

If the merc. is curative on the "fits", then we should see less serious pathology extravasize--ear infections are less serious than neurological/psychological pathology. If we could treat the ear infections with homeopathy and avoid using the suppressive antibiotics, the case may actually progress towards cure.

Just an idea.

[ 02. November 2003, 12:50: Message edited by: ChaChaHeels ]

__________________
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.<br />C.G.Jung

to understand what is happening with this interplay between the chronic and the acute disease tendencies, you could have a look at organon par 195.
similarly, organon par 222 - although the latter specifically refers to mental-emotional acute flare-ups - it's the same principle.
for elaborations on the theme, also see chronic diseases.

KKrista,

Consider:

Condition indicating vaccination causation.
1 dose sulpur 200c.give time and then think to follow silica 200c. Behavior in general may change;maybe mood aggravation after sulph.Wait then take case anew


"Fits are part of the symptomology" Merc only fit partially; possibly due to merc content in vaccination (Thimerosal) ; giving indications of merc and responding as such; -when a remedy given gives rise to new symptoms ,these and the original are to be considered as part of the dis-ease.

"licking" as 1 symptom points lyc;but not neccessarily 'whole'. Causation is VERY important.

Any of these symptoms occuring when given vaccine: Arthritis - Diarrhoea - Allergies -Dry eye/conjunctivits - Epilepsy - Loss of appetite Nervous/worrying disposition - Skin problems - Nasal discharges - Vomiting - Weight loss - Behavioural problems - Tumour or growth." oint to causation.


John Stanton

[ 03. November 2003, 03:20: Message edited by: john stanton ]

Could there have been a vaccination involved?

__________________
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.<br />C.G.Jung

Hello, thanks for your thoughts. I don't think vaccination is a factor. The dog was dumped at the spca at 8 months. He was emmaciated and scared. He was given a parvo/distemper subQ injection and an internasal bordetella vaccine at that time. Within 2 days he became very depressed and stopped eating, I took him him and he soon afterwards developed parvo symptoms. He was put on IV, given IV antibiotics, anti-nausea and was given two plasma transfussions. He made it through and I took him home for keeps.

For the last 7 years, he has lived with me, been feed a natural diet and not given any vaccines or dewormers (or insectacides). I know for sure that he never had a rabies vaccine. His troubles started in earnest 3.5 years ago, and to this day I can not discover the "trigger".(the dog is currently 8 years old and pointer/lab/?? combination, he is tall, lean and about 70lbs-32 kgs, good set of teeth, currently dull & greasy chocolate brown coat which tends to "bloomie" somewhat at his rear-heance the ??-breed)

The polyp is blocking passage of the ear canal which was why, after 4 months of suffering, the antibiotics worked (they cleaned up the infection within). This obviously is no long term solution and at the time I was well aware that it would not be the end of the problem (I just needed to give the poor thing some relief!) and I have been waiting for it to resurface.

I also theorize that the polyp might occasionally be pressing on a nerve, or perhaps the itchyness of the infection or affected eqilibrium may be the cause of his "fits", kind of a mania, if you will. I think I really need to concentrate on shrinking the polyp. I'm not sure its right to look at the infection that hard as it it clearly caused by another condition (the polyp)-(sulph not working in the past).

Lyc did not jump out at me but is in the running. I still come up strongly for merc and then calc c and lyc.

Thanks for the references Anna, I will try to have a read through again later in the week. Unfortunately I have a chem midterm Wednesday that I should be studying for right now!

[ 03. November 2003, 15:17: Message edited by: kkrista ]

"He was given a parvo/distemper subQ injection and an internasal bordetella vaccine at that time. Within 2 days he became very depressed and stopped eating, I took him him and he soon afterwards developed parvo symptoms. He was put on IV, given IV antibiotics, anti-nausea and was given two plasma transfussions."

Notice what you write; the above are vaccines.; and the after symptoms.Just because time goes by,do not be eagar to dismiss--vaccination causation.

Research with unbiased mind.

Not sulph LM1; Sulph 200c.

John Stanton