Lyssin After Rabies Vaccine
By Susan Beal, DVM (as posted to the Wellpet List)

Ronni et al, Greetings,

You wrote asking about the use of homeopathic Lyssin. In the post you referred to, I spoke of using Lyssin 30c immediately after a Rabies vaccination in order to circumvent the long term side effects of the Rabies vaccine.

This issue of routine use of homeopathics after vaccinations, or as "detox" or "antidote" for vaccination is a large one.

Lyssin, the rabies nosode, appears to have specific action when given with minutes to a few hours after the Rabies vaccination. I do not recommend it for use as a general "antidote" to prior Rabies vaccinations.

There are many remedies that are appropriate for use in animals who are displaying symptoms of Rabies vaccinosis, Lyssin being just one possible remedy choice.

Each individual animal responds to a vaccination in its own unique manner. In my experience, to counsel the routine use of any single remedy in any and all animals after a routine vaccination is not optimal. There are many remedies in the vaccinosis rubric (the list of remedies appropriate to use for dis-ease moderated by vaccination), and each individual needs to have the unique remedy selected that is fitting to the individual case.

Not all animals vaccinated have the characteristics of Thuja, for example. To randomly and routinely use Thuja after vaccinations is dishonorable to the unique needs of that individual, and may indeed cause more problems than it prevents.

In my practice I have chosen not to give any remedies after vaccination, with the exception of using Lyssin with minutes to hours after the rabies vaccination.

We will do a follow-up with the patient after the vaccinations (for example at the next scheduled puppy visit), and assess if there have been any side effects to the vaccination. If we see symptoms appearing at that time (and this could be as simple as an itchy or dirty ear, itchy body or feet, or some puppy pimples,....), this tells me that the animal has chronic disease that needs to be addressed. It also tells me that the individual is not a candidate for further vaccination at that time (if ever,,.....). We then take the case, and dispense the homeopathic remedy appropriate for that individual.

(If we ignore the earliest symptoms of the imbalance, or treat them in suppressive manners, the individual will go on to develop even deeper and more serious disease)
The choice to use Lyssin in your animals should be one that is made after consultation with a homeopathic veterinarian. The actual physical giving of the remedy can be done by the client or the veterinarian, depending on the situation. I have some clients to whom I send the remedy, and they administer it after their primary care veterinarian administers the rabies vaccination.

The use of homeopathic remedies in the treatment of chronic disease is a complex issue, and requires the help and counsel of an experienced homeopath.

While acute prescribing for certain self-limiting situations is possible (such as Arnica for trauma), I find that many of my clients initially do not recognize chronic disease for what it is. Instead they tend to treat those situations which are symptoms of deep chronic disease as individual and unrelated problems. They seem to feel that their animal companion has a sudden ear problem, or a bout of vomiting or diarrhea, or a cystitis, or a skin condition that is an isolated event. They then try to self prescribe for the symptom, rather than put the symptom in the broader context of chronic disease

Part of my work as a veterinary homeopath is to instill an understanding of the character of health and wellness, and the manner in which disease functions in the body. The advice to seek the care of a holistic practitioner is not given in an attempt to keep the client out of the loop, or to reinforce the need for veterinary services and control.

Consultation with a holistic practitioner is a means to educate the client/care-giver about the appropriate use of supplements and medicaments, foster recognition of chronic illness, and to try and instigate treatment at an early time. This would be in order to prevent so many of the chronic illnesses and life-threatening situations with which we are presented everyday.

My ideal job is to foster health and wellness, not to repair illness. Remember, the true definition of doctor is that of counselor and teacher.

I trust this provided more questions than answers, but also gave you some useful information.

Sincerely,
Susan Beal DVM