Case Study One

Bracken is a ten year old tri coloured Collie dog. Bracken  began to show signs of arthritis in early 2006. Bracken started showing stiffness after rest and difficulty in rising, he has become less active and slower getting around. The on set has been slow and subtle. The situation peaked when in June 2006 when he woke his owner at 2am making crying sounds he was unable to stand on his back end. The following day he was taken to the vets wear he was diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis. Of particular concern were the  hips/pelvis area although there was general all over stiffness. Bracken was prescribed Metacam to give him some pain relief he is given 20kg dose  of Metacam once a day given at 7.30 am.

Bracken is a very lively dog with a ‘ball fetish’  he is also a noisy dog  and its felt suffers from not only hyperactivity but also running on adrenalin his adrenals seem to be pumped up most of the time. He will always greet visitors with a high picked whine and bark. He is a very gentle and obedient dog with no aggression in him, but some what noisy at times. He is a very sensitive character eager to please, with a slightly anxious nature about him. If he is in pain or discomfort he lets his owner know straight away by looking particularly pathetic!

Bracken has Degenerative osteoarthritis.

Degenerative osteoarthritis is a, condition of movable joints that result in changes to the cartilage surfaces and their surrounding tissues with cartilage erosion and new depositions of bone to develop changed and irregular surfaces leading to joint pain, stiffness, swelling and limitation in movement with deterioration with age.

 Essential Oils

Seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus L.) i has anti-inflammatory and purifying property’s. Seaweed stimulates the circulation cleanses and hydrates. Also Seaweed can benefit the endocrine system. Seaweed contains Vitamins A B1 B2 B12 folic Acid niacin C D and K  it also contains protein sodium amino acids Fiber  carbohydrates and essential fatty acids. In elderly animals it should be used in small doses so the liver is not over worked.  When test it strengthened all weaknesses.

Carrier oil

Sesame oil (Sesamum indicum) rich in vitamin A B&E and calcium Sesame (Sesamum indicum regained the strength of the muscle test.

 The oils were to be offered daily once in the morning once before bed, Brack’s could inhale or inhale and lick the oils. If licking only 3 drops to be offered at each session.

Reactions to Oils

Day One – Bracken is reluctant to approach the oils and shy’s away when offered, I am wondering if he thinks its medication I am going to give him.

Day Two – Bracken watches Albert has have his oils so I encourage him to come over and join in……..he gently sniffs Seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus L.) and immediately tries to lick the bottle, He has three drops he gently licks from my hand, he continues licking long after visible traces of the oil have gone.

Day Five – Bracken seems perkier and not as stiff he is still licking and inhaling 3 drops twice daily.

Day Six - Bracken had his first acupuncture test……then slept all day

Day Severn – Bracken deeply inhaled the oils today and licked three drops again, he seems to be loosening up.

Day Ten – Still licking and inhaling twice daily but not stiff in the mornings reduced Metacam to 10kg dose.

Day Fourteen – More acupuncture its commented that Bracken looks to have gained a small amount of weight and seems much more relaxed.

Day Eighteen - Reduced Metacam to 5Kg dose.

Day Twenty One -  Vet is happy for bracken to stop on Metcam and is delighted with his appearance, he is still licking twice daily at Seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus L.).

Day Twenty four – Still no stiffness he’s still slightly tucked up but only having seaweed no Metacam he seem to have new lease of life. Licking and inhaling Seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus L.) twice daily.

 I am very impressed with Brackens response to EOT. He had an ‘a’ star initial reaction to the oils. He now jumps up onto the bed (not to be encouraged as it doesn’t help his joints though!) in the morning as apposed to talking five minutes to get him self stretched and up as he did before. Bracken is still ball mad and I will throw his ball short distances a couple of times for him but I try to avoid him running about like a maniac as this puts unnecessary  stress on to his joints.

He appears to have put a small amount of weight on not much and his weight will be monitored as excessive weight gain would be detrimental to the osteoarthritis. He is much perkier in himself and his general condition has greatly improved.

 As the Metacam dosage was decreased slowly and over several weeks till my vet advise it was ok to stop giving Metacam. I have seen no downwards progression in Bracken since I have stopped.

Case Study Two

Amber has recently had her first season; she became very unsettled and attempted to ‘Bonk’ the other dogs in the house. Amber was isolated from the other dogs during her season as she was very boisterous with them causing them to be jumped on and chased. Her behaviour since her season has been aggressive resulting in her biting (no skin was broken), one person and jumping at one person with ferocity luckily her owner was present and managed to hold Amber back. This is very out of character for Amber as she is a very placid dog normally whose bark is much worse than her bite so to speak.

Her Skin around her nostril offside has become dry and sore she has not been seen to be rubbing her rostral area but it is inflamed. Her owner has attempted to apply Aloe to her nose but Amber quite easily licks the Aloe straight off so this has been stopped as it appears to be aggravating the problem.

Amber also has what appears to be a lick Granuloma on her offside fore. Located proximal, of her dew claw. A lick Granuloma is an open sore perpetuated by constant licking. These lesions are thought to be due to stress or boredom in some dogs and even to be an obsessive/compulsive disorder in others. Lick Granulomas can occur secondary to allergies. Granulomas also can occur secondary to injuries, no injury to this area of Amber has been noted. It is suspected that Amber created her lick Granuloma either due to running through fields high in grass seed thus her Grauloma is due to an allergy and exaggerated the problem when she was separated from her male companions during her season. It is felt that not having the companion ship of her pack boredom reared its ugly head so Amber began to lick the Granuloma more and more.

Essential Oils Chosen

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Sweet, herbaceous. A clear almost sweet smelling oil  excellent for mental clarity. High doses may be carcinogenic due to its methyl chavicol content. Avoid in cases of liver problems and for long periods of time As maybe toxic.

Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) can be a dermal irritant but a very earthy smelling safe oil excellent to for nourishing and coat and skin conditioner. It also helps to stimulate the regeneration of healthy cells. When tested Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) only strengthened the test in a minor way.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) was the all over strengthener I was surprised at the strength basil gave to the test. Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) just gave it that little extra.

Carrier oil

Grapeseed vitis vinifera contains vitiame  E and is a good plain base

There are no known contraindications and its non toxic. This was the first carrier I tested for and was an instant success keeping all muscles strengthened.

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Reactions to Oils

Day One – Amazing reaction to Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Amber did not want to lick the oil but inhaled for 30 seconds then laid down, her eyes were glazed and dopey looking and she looked as though she was fighting sleep. I went to remove the bottle and leave her in peace but she lifted her head as if to say ’no more please’  so I held the bottle 6 inchs from her she rolled to her back and went into a deep sleep after approx 3 minutes. A definite need for the oil ‘A’ Star reaction.

Day Two – Today Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) was offered first (incase she became sleepy on the Basil (Ocimum basilicum) again) she was a lot more interested in Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) today and  began to lick at the bottle so three drops were offered to here all of which she very lightly licked from her owners hand. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) again produced the doppy sleepy look and she immediately lied down and chilled out however today she indicated that she wanted to lick the oil by licking at the bottle, one drop was offered and she lightly licked it then moved her head away so no more was offered.

Day Three - Very much the same as day two as far as reactions to oils. The Granuloma is healing at a great rate of knots.

Day Four - Same A star reaction to Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) has been rejected today though with Amber walking away when it is offered.

Day Eight - Amber is now gentling licking both Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) twice daily. Her Granaloma and rostral inflammation is healing well her personaily has return to its no aggressive state and amber seems a lot more chilled out and relaxed.

Day Ten  - Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) is being rejects quite regularly, but still being offered at this stage.

Day Twelve – Inhalation only of Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) still licking basil.

Day Fourteen – Amber has rejected Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) again, I will keep it in the mix as she almost seems as if she not sure if she wants it or not

Outcome

Significant improvement to Ambers temperament while on the oils but this is to be followed up with more training. Both Ambers Granuloma and rostral inflammation have improved dramatically. The Granuloma is now healed and there are very fine hairs appearing on the site, so I am hopefull that the hair will full grow in time. When Amber decides that Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Carrot Seed (Daucus carota L) are not the oils for her I will retest her and find her new oils, when that time comes  Roman Camomile (Matricaria recutica) will be one oil that I retest for as it promotes hair growth.

The healing of the Granaloma has been at a remarkable rate I would herald the Oils a success. Since being on the oils Amber has shown no interest at all in licking the Granuloma I can honestly say not once have we had to tell her to leave it or not to lick it. It has given it time to heal without being made sore again by the constant licking. Maybe Amber would have healed quicker on conventional treatment but then we would not have seen the added benefits of Amber’s personality changing her more settled being and a total about turn on the aggressive behaviour that she had begun to show.

Amber became more relaxed and inclined to listen too and follow her owner after a comparatively short period on time on the oils. Her whole personality began to change for stroppy hormonal and anxious to settled responsive and loving.