For symptoms like that I'd probably suggest "Hives" by Hylands (another homeopathic) -- unless you are convinced the dog licked enough off itself TO poison it internally. If the problem seems MOSTLY external, Hives would be safe. It's a blend but a pretty safe one for rashy, sore skin.
The benedryl dosed properly (and if this was tru allergic reaction you could bump it up to the 2 mg/lb high end of the dose with no problem short term -- like for 2-3 days)
But ... nux vomica is mostly for vomiting. I understand poisoning but that wouldn't be the first one I'd use (altho if Hollysmom has personal experience with it that's great, and in homeopathy sometimes personal experience is really important).
I gotta jump in here with a word about homeopathics - that's one of those things that can get all distorted because people ain't gotta CLUE what it means.
Homeopathy is a whole DIFFERENT thing. Not an herbal. Not a medicine. It is a whole different alternative 'modality' so if you are interested, folks, please clear your brains to a clean sheet of paper and listen pretty please??? (No, this isn't gonna be brief, this is ME, remember??)
Homeopathics operate on a principle of "like cures like".
Literally, a thing, that in any kind of quantity would be a BAD thing, when used in an ultra dilute form (literally a homeopathic is diluted SO FAR it is almost chemically unrecognizable as that 'thing') will CURE that thing.
So really often, homeopathics have 'names' that make you shudder. Nux vomica -- yep, that's exactly what it is -- the thing that makes you vomit. (or the thing in the body that triggers the vomit reflex) -- but in the homeopathic form it STOPS vomiting.
The more common form of anti-poison homeopathic is ipecacuana (ok, folks -- remember First Aid 101? What do you give someone who has ingested a non-burning poison? Syrup of Ipecac?? Will make them vomit up the poison??) Yep, ipecacuana is from the same plant they make syrup of ipecac.
But ipecacuana is typically given for things like poisoning. It's also used for muscle spasms (like I've been taking it myself to calm down bronchial spasms from asthma)
Aconite is a deadly poison that will cause heartfailure. However, the homeopathic version of aconite will stop heart palpitations and calm them down.
Ok -- my point here is simply to make you go "Hmmmmm".
My other point here is PLEASE READ.
I shudder when I think of anyone just picking up ANY homeopathic and using it as a cure all without understanding what it will do. Because homeopathics work in a specific way.
In essence, a homeopathic doesn't "do" a thing to work on a symptom (like you take an aspirin to reduce the inflammation causing a headache because aspirn is an 'non anti-inflammatory drug' or NSAID).
A homeopathic, instead, simply nudges the body so the body responds **as it should** to a thing.
Ipecacuana nudges the body to expell toxins ON ITS OWN. But just giving nux vomica or ipecacuana on a regular basis for several days is likely to cause the dog to go thru a healing crisis, where in the dog could get darned seriously ill before it got better.
But the guardian isn't gonna realize that and may think the dog is dying. So I don't want that to happen.
SERIOUS RECOMMENDATION: Please -- if this interests you at all, if you are one of those folks who has said "Hmmmmm" -- PLEASE get a book. Dr. Martin Goldstein's "The Nature of Animal Healing". It will change how you see veterinary medicine. It will explain things like "healing crisis" and honestly you gotta understand that whole concept.
Some homeopathics are incredibly helpful. I've been using homeopathics on Billy and Kee Shu for allergies (atopic/seasonal allergies) and it's doing a lot. But the body is going to respond to it, and purge itself
The principle of homeopathy is body balance -- getting the body to balance ITSELF. The primary principle being that the body *wants* to be healthy.
More suggested reading.
Please go to at least two of the following three websites and READ. Read the definitions of homeopathy, and how they work.
1. [link
http://www.hylands.com]http://www.hylands.com[/link]
2. [link
http://www.boiron.com]http://www.boiron.com[/link] (go to the English part of the site)
3. [link
http://www.abchomeopathy.com]http://www.abchomeopathy.com[/link]
ABC Homeopathy is interesting -- it has a diagnostic tool that will part scare you and part intrigue you -- homeopathy doesn't just look at "oh, your skin is itchy and red". Homeopathy will ask you when it is itchier -- morning or night? is it more red in the lower extremeties or on the trunk? On the face or the hands and feet? etc.
it can feel like endless questions.
My point is educate yourself on this. It's not 'medicine' but it can be incredibly powerful.
An example of a totally naturally occurring homeopathic:
Raw honey. A lot of folks don't know it, but giving a half teas. of raw honey twice daily from a local apiary (bee keeper) to an allergy sufferer can help allergies a lot (dogs too).
How?
When bees collect pollen (from all those lovely plants we're allergic to) some of that pollen actually drops off into the honey the bees make. A tiny minute quantity of it.
By taking 1/2 teas. of raw unfiltered honey you expose the body to a tiny tiny minute quantity of those pollens the body IS allergic to. But on such a small quantity the body isn't overwhelmed by it (as it is simply breathing in all the pollenated air). So in such a small dose, in a sugary form rapidly absorbable by the body, the body 'responds' to the histamines/allergens in the way the body actually *should* respond -- by forming it's own anti-histamines.
Hence -- the body is 'prodded' to do this on its own.
Now, I'm just waiting for someone to claw my face off here and inform me that everyone knows that raw honey causes botulism. It can, in rare rare cases. But bee pollen also has medicinal uses.
But that's the basic principle of homeopathy.
Get into it and it is absolutely fascinating because there are virtually no 'bad side effects'. I wish Suzanne dobermamma was here to help me -- she is THE BOMB on homeopathy. The woman understands what I only wish I knew. *sigh*
To answer the above question -- where do you GET these things.
Most any health store. (or any of the above websites will gladly sell you their products online)
Boiron and Hylands are probably the two most recognizable brands. Boiron's "little blue tubes" will drive you crazy just trying to dispense them. Hylands is more user friendly -- little bottles of 'pellets'.
But the big deal with homeopathics -- DON'T TOUCH THEM. Skin oil destroys their efficacy. (Hence the Boiron 'tubes' -- they are made to take the top off, grip them in your teeth and twist the tube so it plops the pellets into your mouth to dissolve under your tongue).
You give them to a dog by tapping the pellets into a folded piece of paper to measure out. If your dog (like mine have) decides homepathics are*super yummy* because they are sweet, and you can teach them to chew them, you simply dump the pellets on the floor and let them have them.
But if your dog needs a bit of training on that, fold the paper over, and crush the pellets with the back of a spoon til they are dust. Then just sprinkle it into the dog's mouth. It IS sweet, and not bad tasting. approach it right and your dog thinks it's a mega treat.
Watch the directions -- some need to be given pretty often -- allergy ones tend to need to be given every couple of hours. Others are only given twice tmes a day. Timing is always critical. READ.
General suggeston:
If you are a person given to getting a lot of colds/flu -- the first homeopathic I'd suggest you try is Boiron's "Oscillococcinum". Even Wal-mart sells that one (and no other homeopathics I know of). Take it at FIRST SIGN of cold or flu. (if your warning sign is sneezing or sore throat or whatever). FIRST sign ... not tomorrow, but the absolute first sign of flu.
That one is packaged different. 3 little vials of pellets - take one vial (whole thing) under your tongue. Let dissolve and absorb. Repeat every 6 hours for the other two vials. Timing is critical -- it works with your body clock.
But try it -- you'll be surprised. You probably won't come down with THAT cold. IF you took it at the first sign of cold or flu. It's amazing stuff.
What is it? It is actually a virus harvested from duck eggs - a particular French duck that is 'carrier' for a particular type of flu virus (no I'm not talking avian flu here). Again, remember homeopathy is a 'thing' diluted so far that the original 'thing' is virtually unrecognizable.
This stuff works. Try this, have it work for you and you'll probably do more than just say "hmmmmmmm" about homeopathy.
btw -- the package Wal-mart sells is two "batteries" of Oscillo. Two packages of 3 vials. It's about $10. $10 to not get sick twice? Cheaper that getting sick once probably.
Interesting stuff.
Sorry - this WAS long, but I almost had a heart attack when I read the above -- I had visions of someone asking a pharmacist for v ... oh well, you KNOW what I thot. *sigh*
Holler if I can help anyone. Homeopathy has helped ME, personally, a whole lot. And it tends to work well on dogs if done right. There are some holistic vets (like Dr. Goldstein and several others I know of, like Dr. Joel Demers in Titusville, FL who is also nationally known) who actually virtually use nothing but homeopathy)