BLACK WIDOW SPIDER POISONING
IN THE GOAT
Article requested by The K-State School of Veterinary
Medicine, and also
published by
Countryside Small Stock Journal, May/June issue l996.
C l996 Alva Irish,
PhD, DN, DHM, DD, FBIH
A
mysterious case was presented to me involving two pregnant young
goats, of various
breeds, out of a herd of 20, all alike, all pregnant.
All goats
received the same feed, all had access to fresh water,
sulphur salt, dairy
mineral, and a natural protein lick. None of the other
does
presented the symptoms, as described as follows:
The two
does, began with a short cough, watery, then silence, until
the second
stage, approximately two hours later.
Appearance
of the does, was haggard, head low, ears low, but not
Pregnancy toxemia
type, a mild anxious look of the face, and slightly
flaring nostrils. (flapping alae)
Does were
very large in the abdomen, one looked as if she were a
walking medicine
ball.
These does
were of a meat breed, bred for a 300-400% kid crop, so
this feature was
overlooked at first, as kid loading.
The does
(both at the same time) began marching with their front
legs, stiff from
shoulder to hoof, chin tucked in, and obviously in pain
whilst walking.
To graze,
they had to get on their knees. Stiffness of the back was
also observed.
Hind legs were fine. Vulva was swollen to delivery size.
Parturition was a month and a half off. Incontinence of the
urine was also
observed, the tail
hair of these two does was continually wet, and a drop of
urine was
observed to be constantly on the tip of the vulva.
Large black
"freckles" appeared on the pink underside of the tail,
and on the pink
part of the nose and lips.
the messy
appearance, lack of desire to "work", painful, burning soles, etc.
with no
response.
Next, Rhus Tox 1M was given, in spite
of the fact that goats in general
can eat with
relish, poison ivy all day long with no effect. This was given for
the stiffness,
also with no improvement.
No belly
movement was observed in one of the does, indicating that her
kids were also
affected.
Lycopodium 1M was given next, with a small amount of improvement
in both
does, and
repeated the next day. No appreciably improvement was recorded after
the first
initial one.
Phytolacca Decandra 1M was then given,
which worsened their condition,
and Nux Vomica was given to antidote
immediately.
Silicea 200C was then given, and also they were given to
eat several
pine
branches (Pinus Sylvestre)
for weakness of the legs. Some small improvement was
noted, but not
enough to pull them out of whatever had a hold of them.
Calcarea carbonica 1M was given 6
days later, as their legs now bowed
out
at the shoulder blades, so that it looked like their shoulders were held
on
by strings. Both does' right "Spider Poisoning" hoof turned under at
the
fetlock, to the
inside of the foot, so that they looked as if they were
walking
on the sides of their fetlocks. Their tendons appeared to be completely
loose,
and unable to hold their bones together properly.
Their vulvular swelling was worsening, and pushing out from the
inside,
so Sepia 10M was
given immediately. This alleviated the incontinence, and gave
the does more
interest in their companions.
Calcarea carbonica 1M was repeated three
days later, with a little
more
improvement.
Two days
later, Phosphoricum 1M was given, with a little
improvement,
appearance became
brighter after the first dose of Calc, then with the second
dose, and the Phos, appearance (facial) became brighter with each dose.
The doe
that I observed no fetal movement in was given cortisone by
our
local Veterinarian, and lutease 15 days after the
initial symptoms to
abort the dead
fetuses. Three days later, the abortion was completed, with
the
delivery of two very large partially decomposed fetuses.
The other
doe improved enough to graze with the others, and was
carrying her fetuses
well, so she was not aborted.
Pulsatilla symptoms were observed in the aborted doe, so
both she and
the other doe
were given Pulsatilla 1M for inflammation of the
ligaments,
with the result
of much improved stance in both does. Calc Phos 200 C
was
also given, 4
hours apart, to both does.
Another
doe, meanwhile was observed to have the same short cough, and
the
beginning of the same symptoms, and was refusing to move, just like the
beginnings of the
other two doe's illness or condition.
I searched
the bed, and found a nest of
Black Widow Spiders,crushed, and
also found some
in this does' hair. I searched the first two doe's hair coat,
and found
shriveled black widow spider parts in their hair also.
I
immediately administered Ledum palustre
200 C,
the specific
antidote of choice for Spider bite, to
the third doe, and
observed immediate
improvement and elimination of all symptoms.
I administered Ledum to the first
two does also.
The first
two does were heavily treated for liver poisoning, with the
remedies chosen, and
that is probably why they did not expire, the two kids of
the one doe,
obviously did not fare as well, the poison killing them in the
womb.
Had I known
of this progression, I would have been able to administer the
proper remedy at once,
and averted all lameness, and pregnancy complications.
The two
does will not be re-bred this Fall, in order to let
their
bodies
heal from their bout with the spider poison. The one pregnant doe
continues to graze
with the others, but still has weakness residually in her
front
legs, so that she occasionally has to go down on her knees to graze,
but
not often. The aborted doe also has these residuals.
Both does
elbows are flat to their bodies, like normal, instead of
being held away
from their bodies, and their tendons are much stronger, feet
straight,
and knees straight.
The third
doe, a few days later, was given Lycopodium 10M for
watery
coughing, and gouty
symptoms. She immediately began to play in the field, and
was completely
cured.
Fast action
is the key here, so if you see this progression, think
about the Black
Widow Spider first.
I must
mention that CAE, TETANUS, POLIO ENCEPHALITIS, and
CALCIUM/PHOSPHORUS imbalance were totally eliminated as a cause by testing
by the local Veterinarian. No joint swelling or inflammation were ever
observed.
Published
in Countryside & Small Stock journal
Dr. Alva Irish practices On-Line Homeopathy at
http://www.askahomeopath.net
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