Name: Sky

Breed: Labrador

Sex: Male

Age / Imprinting: 2 years / yes

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Acute allergy in the neck area to the active ingredient of anti-parasite pipettes.

Sky’s allergy manifested as inflammation, pain when touched, severe irritation of the affected area and scabs. Anti-inflammatory drugs did not improve the situation and neither did cortisone. The allergy became more and more acute and was accompanied by recurrent infections that do not respond to antibiotic treatment.

(Refer to ‘Preparation of a Flower cream’, p.23.)

Rescue Remedy (physical shock due to intoxication) + Crab Apple (cleanse) + Agrimony (agonizing itch) + Beech (irritation) + Vervain (inflammation).

TREATMENT

After one week of treatment (three daily applications) the scab had disappeared and the area had completely regenerated.

Pipin (detail)

Name: Pipin

Breed: Mixed

Sex: Male

Age / Imprinting: 3 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Swollen and infected cutaneous lumps with secretion of pus and abundant liquid matter in the interior. Considerable pain, sensitive to touch.

The vet performed surgery to open one of the lumps, and confirmed the presence of grass seeds inside. Together we assessed the application of a Flower Remedy cream over the lumps and for the time being ruled out any further surgery.

REMEDIES ADMINISTERED AS A CREAM

(Refer to ‘Preparation of a Flower cream’, p.23.)

Crab Apple (cleanse) + Elm (pain sensitive to touch) + Vervain (inflammation) + Vine (liquid causing pressure, pus).

TREATMENT

Twenty-four hours later (four topical applications) one of the lumps exploded; there was a large discharge of pus and the grass seed surfaced. The grass seed was extracted with some sterilized tweezers and we continued to apply the cream to all the lumps (two daily applications). The problem was resolved in three weeks.

Misia

Name: Misia

Breed: Mixed

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 3 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Swollen cutaneous lumps. Infectious conjunctivitis.

Misia was found in deplorable conditions, very malnourished, with the skin of her abdominal area irritated and open and the area surrounding her eyes red and swollen. She also presented infectious conjunctivitis and was in heat. The vet certified that she had been poisoned and that she was very malnourished. After being admitted to a veterinary clinic for several days, she entered the Amics dels Animals de la Noguera shelter. As well as presenting a general state of panic, her face expressed desolation, exhaustion and great sadness.

(Refer to ‘Preparation of Flower eye-drops’, p.24.)

Beech (irritation) + Crab Apple (cleanse) + Olive (lack of vitality) + Vervain (inflammation).

TREATMENT

With sterile saline solution and the above-mentioned remedies, we prepared eye-drops and applied 2 drops in each eye, three times per day. After each application, a few drops were poured on a sterile gauze and placed for a few seconds on the area around the eyes.

Chispa

Name: Chispa

Breed: Mixed

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 11 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Swollen skin lumps. Infection and obstruction of the anal glands (anal sacs).

Chispa was an old dog that presented with an abscess: a swelling which was warm and when broken discharged blood and pus. She developed a fistula as a result of infection of the anal glands.

The anal glands or sacs are two pouches located on either side of the anus. Normally these glands are emptied during defecation. Sometimes they are not, and their content becomes denser, making it more difficult to empty them. This situation is called impaction, and to resolve it the dog usually adopts the characteristic posture of sitting on its back paws and dragging its anus on the floor while moving slowly. This soothes itching and pain in the anal area. Impaction may be complicated by an infection that manifests as fever with some haemorrhaging. If the infection is not treated rapidly, an abscess can form, which usually requires surgical intervention.

(Refer to ‘Preparation of a Flower cream’, p.23.)

Crab Apple (cleanse) + Star of Bethlehem (scarring) + Vervain (inflammation) + Walnut (cut, blood-clotting).

TREATMENT

Due to Chispa’s weight and old age, her owner did not want to risk surgery. We decided to prepare a cream, and a sterile gauze was soaked in it and then held for at least one minute on the anal area. We used a sterile gauze instead of directly applying the cream in order to make sure that the cream was in contact with the anus for the minimum amount of time needed to be effective. When the cream was applied directly, Chispa would lick the area constantly. Given the fact that she had easy access to the treated area, we decided to make four applications per day instead of two to three, which is the usual procedure. After ten days the anal glands stopped seeping blood. Despite this, a preventive treatment was continued for two months, applying the cream with a gauze two times per day. Chispa’s anal glands have not bled any more and we were able to avoid surgery.

OBSERVATIONS

Prior to local treatment with Bach Flower Remedies, Chispa had received oral treatment with antibiotics and a stomach protector, and a cream with anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic and vasoconstrictor properties was applied locally. These treatments failed to definitively resolve the infection and inflammation of the anal glands. When receiving medical treatment Chispa improved and her anal problem remitted, but after a few weeks she would suffer a relapse, even if the vet had manually cleansed her anal glands.

Lluna

Name: Lluna

Breed: Mixed

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 7 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Inflammation and infection of the third eyelid.

Lluna presented recurrent infections and inflammations of the third eyelid.

The third eyelid produces tears and protects the eye from external aggressions. All animals have this additional protection, which must be carefully preserved as it carries out very important functions. If the third eyelid remains over the eye for longer than usual this may indicate the presence of infections, lesions over the ocular globe, ulcers and wounds.

(Refer to ‘Preparation of Flower eye-drops’, p.24.)

Crab Apple (cleanse) + Beech (irritation) + Vervain (inflammation) + Holly (rage).

We decided to include Holly (rage) in the formula because it is a negative characteristic of Lluna’s character and, moreover, because the third eyelid would suddenly and abruptly flick out from under her eyelid.

TREATMENT

Two drops of the eye-drop preparation were applied to the affected eye, four times per day. Over the following 48 hours the infection disappeared and the third eyelid returned to its original position. In spite of this quick improvement, treatment was continued for ten more days, applying the eye-drops only two times per day.

OBSERVATIONS

In the beginning an eye-drop preparation was prepared with the three first remedies, but only the infection remitted and swelling of the third eyelid continued. The problem was not completely solved until Holly (rage) was added to the formula.

Lluna has presented this problem again every time that a new animal has entered her home, but in all cases, the third eyelid has swollen without becoming infected with no further treatment required.

How Bach Flowers can help in the treatment of the cutaneous conditions of an animal with Leishmaniasis

Nyolis

Name: Nyolis

Breed: Mixed

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 5 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Clinical symptomatology is very diverse, but the following are some examples: skin lesions (alopecia, scabbing, ulcers), lesions in the joints, weight loss, muscle atrophy, haemorrhages, increase in size of liver and spleen, limping and, when the disease is in an advanced state, signs of kidney failure. Ulcers are mainly located on different parts of the head (snout, ears, around the eyes, etc.).

REMEDIES ADMINISTERED AS A CREAM WITH ALOE VERA

(Refer to ‘Preparation of a Flower cream’, p.23.)

Beech (irritation) + Crab Apple (cleanse) + Star of Bethlehem (traumatism) + Hornbeam (local energy) + Olive (revitalizing) + Centaury (weakness) + Clematis (disconnection).

TREATMENT

Aloe Vera is used as the diluent vehicle because sometimes when Flower Remedies are applied in a neutral cream base the treated area becomes even more reddened. The affected areas were treated three times per day for 15 days. The skin ulcerations healed, reducing irritation and redness in the area. Treatment was continued for two more weeks. After one month, alopecia and scabbing had disappeared.

OBSERVATIONS

The last four remedies in the formula are energy contributors. In most skin problems Olive + Hornbeam are used, but in Leishmaniasis, being a disease of infectious aetiology, the animal must overcome the characteristics of the disease without giving in, and reconnect the energy flow in the necrosed areas.

Misia (detail)

Name: Misia

Breed: Mixed

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 3 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Sores and burns on the skin.

Besides being in a general state of panic, her face expressed despair, exhaustion and great sadness.

REMEDIES ADMINISTERED AS A CREAM

(Refer to ‘Preparation of a Flower cream’, p.23.)

Crab Apple (cleanse) + Beech (irritation) + Holly (rash) + Olive (revitalizing) + Star of Bethlehem (traumatism) + Vervain (inflammation).

TREATMENT

Wilma (detail)

Name: Wilma

Breed: Labrador

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 6 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Inflammation of the mammary glands after giving birth.

Although treatment for swelling and redness of the mammary glands was carried out with Vervain, we decided to add Holly (jealousy) to the cream because the mammary area was hot and Wilma expressed jealousy every time her owner petted the puppies.

Lluna

Name: Lluna

Breed: Mixed

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 7 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Rapidly growing cutaneous nodule with a similar size and shape to a lentil, black in colour, with a very hard texture. Not painful when touched. It was very localized and the area around it showed no inflammation.

REMEDIES ADMINISTERED AS A CREAM

(Refer to ‘Preparation of a Flower cream’, p.23.)

Chicory (retention) + Crab Apple (cleanse) + Rock Water (hardness) + Vine (liquid causing pressure).

The cream was applied in the morning and evening for 15 days. The nodule stopped growing but maintained its original appearance, texture and size. After 20 days of treatment, its size began to diminish rapidly, and on the 21st day the nodule was completely reabsorbed.

OBSERVATIONS

One of the transpersonal applications of the Chicory remedy is to manage retained accumulations (including liquids such as water or blood, fat or faeces). In this case Vine, which follows the pattern of fluid pressure, acted synergistically with Chicory to release the content of the nodule and dispose of it safely into the bloodstream.

Noa

Name: Noa

Breed: Greyhound-Labrador cross

Sex: Female

Age / Imprinting: 4 years / unknown

REASON FOR CONSULTATION

Traumatism caused by a fall. Limping on one leg.

While running through the mountains, Noa jumped from a height of about two metres. When she reached the ground she began walking with the leg tucked up, not letting it touch the ground. She stopped often and soon after she refused to walk. When any part of her leg was touched she didn’t complain, nor when we manually moved her joints. We also confirmed that there was nothing embedded in any area of the affected foot.

Even after resting for four hours she still walked with the leg tucked up without it touching the ground. At first glance, there was no inflammation visible to the naked eye. We decided to prepare a cream with Bach Flowers.

REMEDIES ADMINISTERED AS A CREAM

(Refer to ‘Preparation of a Flower cream’, p.23).

Hornbeam (specific weakness) + Elm (overwhelmed due to overload of any type) + Star of Bethlehem (traumatism).

In the absence of pain, sensitivity to touch or swelling, we were not sure what area of the leg was affected. We therefore decided to apply cream every half hour to the whole leg and carpal area, performing a gentle massage until the cream was absorbed (approximately one minute). The massage was intended to divert the animal’s attention and prevent her from licking her leg immediately after each application.

After the fourth application Noa’s limp disappeared.

OBSERVATIONS

Although the animal did not feel any pain when palpated, we decided to administer Elm because we interpreted that the traumatism had been caused by an overload in one area of the leg when it hit the ground. Elm would also give energy to her muscles.