Homeopathic Treatments in 17 Horses with Stereotypic Behaviours

Abstract

Many stabled horses perform a variety of stereotypic behaviours such as cribbing, circling, wall kicking, self-mutilation, weaving and headshaking. It is difficult to know why exactly each horse performs these behaviours, there may be specific causal factors for these activities in the horse. Homeopathy can contribute to the treatment of these disorders, because it approaches the organism as the sum of the specific characteristics of an animal when it is in a state of health or illness, at the physical, mental and psychological level. The application of homeopathic laws during anamnesis allows us to achieve a deeper understanding of the horse, considering all its special characteristics. This study has been conducted with 17 horses showing one of the stereotypic behaviours of cribbing, circling, wall kicking and self mutilation. Homeopathic remedies are determined specifically according to the constitution and stereotypic behaviour problem of each horse. One month after the begining of the treatment, the symptoms of stereotypical behaviours were found to be decreased and after two months considerable regression were detected. Cribbing and self-mutilation were completely treated. Circling and wall kicking were decreased. To our knowledge, this study is the first report to cure the stereotypic behaviours of horses with using homeopathic remedies. This study suggests that homeopathy is as an effective therapy method which is used uncommonly in stereotypic behaviours of horses.