Re: [Alpacasite] Inner Ear Infection

I know nothing of homeopathy, but would suggest you investigate acupuncture.
THere were lecture notes regarding acupuncture in alpacas in an earlier
compendium from the Ohio State conference.

In humans there are options to boost immunity and general wellbeing that
might be adjunctive to your ongoing efforts if they can be expanded to an
alpaca.

On 12/5/05, stonyridge_alpacas <stonyridge@bctonline.com> wrote:
>
> Hello all Alpacasiters especially Homeopaths,
> To start off, this is a lengthy post regarding a chronic, lingering
> illness with a young cria. Please, if you are not interested in a
> long journal of our experience with multiple treatments feel free to
> disregard. It has been such a puzzle for me that I am hoping that
> some of you more seasoned alpaca breeders may have some input to
> share. Conventional medicine has been given ample opportunity to
> help this little girl, so now we are on the homeopathy road, and I
> would love to hear from anyone who has had similar experience, and
> any of you who are experienced with homeopathy, I would welcome any
> input. I am currently monitoring this animal with both the input
> from my camelid vet, and the homeopathic vet so believe I am doing
> what I can, but I would be interested to hear from anyone else who
> has dealt with a similar situation.
>
> I KNOW that inner ear infections are not rare in the alpaca
> community, and our vets have plenty of experience with them with
> both positive and negative results. I'll try to sum up our
> experience:
> 5/14: cria born at 14 lbs with very low IgG. We transfused her with
> 1 pint of plasma, and she was an active, healthy cria, growing
> sometimes 1 lb a day, but given her low numbers we were not
> surprised with her low immune system.
> 7/19 to 8/1: 28.9 lbs at two months old: She presented with elevated
> temp, head tilt and 2 lb weight loss. A CBC showed an elevated white
> blood cell count 3x's normal. Put on course of Nuflor antibiotic
> every 4 days for five injections till 8/1. We knew we were working
> with some internal infection either ear or other head area abscess.
>
> 8/5 to 8/18: 35.5 lbs New CBC, levels just slightly on high side of
> normal, but given her history we put her on another course of Nuflor.
>
> 9/4 to 9/24: 40.5 lbs Elevated Temp. New course of 5 shots Nuflor
> over 20 days. At approx. 10-12 days after the last shot, her temp
> would spike, and she would begin to lose weight again. We tried a
> third course of antibiotics, at which point we opted for an x-ray
> which confirmed an inner ear infection.
>
> 9/28: 45.3 lbs Elevated Temp. She was taken in to clinic to x-ray to
> see if we could pinpoint infection. We were referred to OSU for the
> possibility of surgery in an attempt to drain fluid shown in her x-
> ray. This was not a surgery that had been done at OSU, and they were
> hesitant to go down that road. I consulted on the phone with WSU,
> with a similar response. They did respond that Ohio State had
> performed such a surgery, but with not much success.
>
> 10/2 to 10/23: Weight down to 44lbs. After the economics VS emotion
> lecture from my vet, we decided to give her one more round of
> antibiotics, and let nature take it's course.
>
> In the meantime I decided to investigate the Homeopathic route, and
> consulted with a local vet. Given our long course of antibiotic
> treatment, there was some "normalizing" work to do. Now, I need to
> say here that I have NO experience with homeopathy, so am following
> instructions, but not really sure about how to interpret the
> observations in her behavior.
>
> The homeopathic treatment to date:
> 10/28: Silica 2x day for 2 days (51 lbs)
> Thymus 1 tab per day
> White Spleen 1 tab per day
> Colloidal Gold 2ml 2x per day
> 10/28 to 11/8: Low appetite, still nursing. Lost 6 lbs over 10 days.
> 11/2: Spike temp to 103degrees
> 11/5: Temperature normal, nervous eye twitch on side of ear
> infection with green drool on stall floor where she was laying down.
> Consulted with vet, and increased Thymus to 2 tab per day, and
> Silica 2x day for two weeks.
> 11/5 to 11/23: Stabilized weight after gaining back 2 lbs.
> Complications of raspy breath, and gunky discharge from nose and eye
> on affected side of head. She seems to not have any immunity to any
> thing that comes along.
>
> 11/28: Slight unsteadiness in walking. Still runs to catch up with
> mom, but when walking slight toe dragging is noticed in right front
> leg.
> 12/3: Head tilt seems to be gone, some favoring of right ear but
> much improved. Not drooling when awake: We are on a wait and see
> path. She seems comfortable, I am keeping her blanketed and in the
> barn with her mom whenever it is raining. (often this last couple of
> weeks.)With any breaks in the weather she is out with the herd,and
> keeps up with the group.
>
> Anyway, she seems to be in a holding pattern, weight has leveled
> with no gain, and we are in a two week wait and see before we make
> any changes. I know the homeopathic route is not at fast as I am
> normally used to in our American medical system of medicate or cut,
> but my hope is that some of you more experienced homeopaths out
> there might have some experience you might like to share.
>
> Feel free to contact me off list.
>
> Thanks,
> Linda Buttolph
> Stonyridge Alpacas
> www.stonyridgealpacas.com
> stonyridge@bctline.com
>
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--
Barbara Troje
Nizhoni ALpacas
Kanab, UT
btroje@gmail.com
435 644 2791

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