by Susan G. Wynn, DVM

Physical Traumatic Disorders

Physically traumatized animals present to veterinary hospitals after a variety of events. Attacks by other animals may result in punctures by sharp teeth, bruising with severe pain due to internal tearing injuries, often ending with abscess formation. Animals hit by cars may present with fractures, shock, bruising, lacerations, degloving injuries, diaphragmatic hernias, pneumothorax, and of course, internal hemorrhage and organ rupture or damage. Animals may also be burned by exposure to boiling liquids; white animals may even experience sunburn, especially on the tips of the ears. Young puppies and other animals may experience electrical shock by innocently chewing on electric cords. One should not forget surgery as a source of physical trauma; the extent of bruising and pain will depend on the nature of the surgery.

Acutely injured animals should always be evaluated and treated conventionally, on an emergency basis, for shock, uncontrolled hemorrhage, respiratory distress, etc. After stabilization, one should consider using routine physical trauma rubrics such as ones below.

Common Physical Rubrics: Use and Overuse

• Generals, Burns, x-ray, from
  This may be useful for animals undergoing radiation treatment for tumors.
• Hemorrhage
  Sub-rubrics as to blood color and severity of bleeding should be used carefully here. During surgery, for instance, when animals on inhalant anesthesia are well oxygenated, "bright red hemorrhage" may be difficult to control at the surgery site; Phosphorus is often helpful here.
• Injuries, bones, fractures of
• Operation, ailments from
• Sprains, distortions
  This rubric should be used only when a veterinarian has determined a sprain is present, since animals have metabolic bone diseases and shifting polyarthropathies may mimic "sprains". Also, some animals have been known to bear weight on fractured limbs, making them appear only sprained.
• Pain
  This rubric deserves a discussion all its own, as relates to animals. We are unable to discern the important distinguishing characteristics of the different types of pain (cutting vs. tearing etc), and animals often exhibit no signs of pain at all, except perhaps in the form of mild depression. Palpation can sometimes pinpoint the location of the pain, which may be helpful, and conventional medical diagnoses may actually be helpful in this case - knowing that a disease process causes muscle versus joint bone pain might provide clues as to the type of pain. Still, one should avoid the use of sub-rubrics in this case, if at all unsure of the source and type of pain in the patient.
• Paralysis
  Paralysis occurs from a variety of causes in animals; since slow growing tumors or inflammation of the spinal cord may also cause paralysis, one should treat traumatic paralysis only if it occurs with a sudden onset.
• Shock, from injury
• Wounds
  Specific wound type should be applied where possible in this case.

Injury rubrics found in system sections such as "Extremities" may be occasionally useful. Dogs, for instance, frequently rip out toenails while "rough-housing", so a choice like "Extremities, Injuries, Fingers, nails, of" might be used, provided the practitioner remembers also to consider the rest of the patient.

Emotional Trauma in Animals

Psychosocial studies have determined that, in humans, the most severe sources of emotional trauma and stress-induced disease include loss of a spouse and loss of job, among others. Companion animals evolved from very different social structures. Wolves, like people, are gregarious and live in groups. However, sexual relationships and raising of young are accomplished differently from humans. Wolves raise litters of pups that become independent by the time the next year's litter arrives. Humans invest a great deal of energy in fewer children over a longer period. Monogamous relationships, also, are not prominent as they have been (traditionally) in humans. In wild felids [animals belonging to the cat family - Ed.], a solitary existence is actually the norm, except in lions. Social interactions for wild felids, then, should be viewed differently, if not as less important, than in humans. Lastly, wolves and wild cats roam large areas, while our domestic pets are forced to call smaller areas "theirs".

Thousands of generations later, our domestic pets retain some of these characteristics, while domestication changed many of them. For instance, loss of a child or spouse should not be given the emphasis in working up a domestic animal's case. On the other hand, the human caregiver has become a part of the "pack".

What, then, is the relationship of a dog or cat to its human? When the pet and owner are separated, how is it perceived by the pet? Was a pup or kitten hand raised by a human or by a natural canine or feline mother? how do cats and dogs who live together view each other as companions? In domestic pets, is confinement to a house or yard stressful (compared to the range to which its ancestors had access), or does it represent a comfortable haven?

These questions require a working knowledge of animal behavior to determine which pets are emotionally traumatized and which are exhibiting normal responses. There is no room for anthropomorphism here. Although a discussion of companion animal behavioral problems is beyond the scope of this paper, those behaviors which seem to represent emotional trauma to the animal will be discussed.

A recent discussion of animal behavior problems delineated 6 "etiologic" categories:

1. genetic
2. problems caused during developmental stages
3. ethogram deviations
4. disturbed social interactions
5. disease related behavior
6. adaptation inabilities

From a homeopathic point of view, traumatic events during the pre-adult phase and disturbances or threats causing social interaction changes are important sources of emotional trauma. Signs of emotional distress under these conditions might include sudden and/or persistent fear behaviors and separation anxiety.

A discussion of the behavior history is certainly part of the homeopathic history, but questions unique and important for the animal patient might include:

1. Does your pet hide during certain times or after specific events?
2. Does your pet bite strangers or certain people (this is often a fear induced aggression, as opposed to a territorial or dominance response)?
3. Does your dog destroy objects, bark, or otherwise misbehave while you are absent?
4. Is your pet "clingy"? Does this happen at certain times?

Fears

How do we know, for certain, what animals fear? A dog with specific fear of loud noises or thunder is easy to identify, but cases where an animal refuses to go near certain areas gives one only the impression of fear, and not a specific source. I often use the following rubrics:

• Mind, Fear, approaching, of others
• Fear, happen, something will
• Fear, misfortune
• Fear, men
• Fear, people
• Frightened easily
• Hide, desire to
• Anxiety, with fear
• Ailments, from fright

Separation anxiety; Loss of companion

Separation anxiety is an important conventional diagnosis, and one of the primary reasons dogs are surrendered to animal shelters. The etiology probably varies, but this is common in dogs who have been adopted from shelters before - it is possible that these animals fear abandonment again. Separation anxiety is often characterized by bothersome behavior while the owner is away from home. Dogs may destroy furniture, dump over garbage, bark excessively, drool and tremble, or defecate and urinate in the house. This emotional condition is vital to identify correctly, as many owners will claim the dog is "retaliating" for some undetermined crime. "Separation anxiety" is not the only use for homeopathic treatment for this feeling of loss. Hospitalized and boarded animals may feel "forsaken", as well.

Useful rubrics might include:

• Mind, forsaken feeling (this is the most important)
• Fear, alone, of being
• Fear, solitude
• Anxiety, when alone

Some homeopaths use the "Delusions" rubrics in these cases. I do not, since we are not able to assess delusions in animals, and in their minds, they probably are truly forsaken.

Grief

Animals definitely exhibit grief when they lose an owner or another companion animal. This companion animal certainly does not need to be of the same species, as I have observed cats grieving for dogs and vice versa. Signs of grief vary widely, including lethargy, loss of appetite, hiding, exaggeration of pre-existing behaviors, including aggression, and the appearance of old or new physical symptoms.

The most important rubrics used in this case would be:

• Mind, grief (sub-rubrics not generally useful here)
• Ailments, grief, from
• Ailments, death, parents or friends, of

Conclusions

It is worthwhile to remind the reader of the "Ailments from" rubric - we frequently see animals develop physical symptoms from emotional trauma such as loss of a companion, moving to a new house, etc. Animals exhibiting lethargy, depression, anorexia or more dramatic physical signs should always be examined by a veterinarian to evaluate for the presence of developing physical disease. Although physical signs by which to prescribe a homeopathic remedy are not yet evident, holistic veterinarians may be able to recommend dietary improvements and owner management tips to support the homeopathic treatment.

Treatment of physical and emotional trauma of animals may often resemble the treatment of human trauma, especially for acute physical trauma. Although suspected emotional trauma should be treated only under the advisement of a professional familiar with animal behavior science, use of the homeopathic emergency kit for an injured animals may well save lives. Familiarity with these remedies will be a boon to the pets of the homeopath.