A 9-month-old male Shar Pei presented with recurrent epileptic seizures that significantly impaired quality of life. The dog suffered 3–4 seizures per day, exhibiting prolonged postictal symptoms including disorientation, weakness, and unconsciousness.
Initial treatment with Bufo rana 200c yielded no improvement. A subsequent prescription of Cicuta virosa was followed by an immediate reduction in seizure frequency and intensity. Finally, Argentum nitriblock 200c restored the dog’s appetite and energy.
The patient has remained seizure-free for 5 months. This case also challenges the placebo hypothesis often cited against homeopathy, as the subject is a non-verbal animal incapable of a placebo response. These findings support the need for further, more extensive studies evaluating individualized homeopathic treatment in veterinary neurology.
Keywords: epilepsy, veterinary, cl***ical homeopathy, canine neurology, case report
1 | Introduction
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in dogs, affecting approximately 0.6–0.75% of the canine population (1). It is defined as a condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures resulting from abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Canine epilepsy is typically cl***ified into idiopathic (genetic), structural (due to brain lesions), or reactive (metabolic or toxic causes) types. Idiopathic epilepsy is particularly common in young to middle-aged dogs, with clinical signs often emerging between 6 months and 6 years of age (2).
Several dog breeds demonstrate a higher predisposition to epilepsy, including Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Poodles. However, less is known about the prevalence in Shar Peis, making this case notable due to the severity of the condition in a relatively uncommon breed for epilepsy (1).
Conventional treatment for epilepsy in dogs typically involves lifelong administration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), such as phenobarbital, pot***ium bromide, levetiracetam, or zonisamide. While these medications can be effective in reducing seizure frequency and severity, they are often ***ociated with adverse effects including sedation, ataxia, polyphagia, hepatotoxicity, and the need for regular blood monitoring.
Furthermore, a subset of patients may experience drug-resistant epilepsy, where seizures persist despite appropriate pharmaceutical therapy. In such cases, alternative or adjunct therapies are often explored, including dietary management (e.g., ketogenic or MCT-enriched diets), acupuncture, and increasingly, integrative approaches such as homeopathy (3).
Cl***ical homeopathy is a holistic medical system based on the principle of “like cures like” and individualized remedy selection (4). Although widely used in human and veterinary medicine, its mechanisms remain controversial, particularly due to the ultradiluted nature of its remedies. Nonetheless, numerous case reports and observational studies have suggested potential benefits, especially in chronic and refractory conditions.
This case report describes a 9-month-old male Shar Pei suffering from progressive epileptic seizures. It explores the effects of individualized cl***ical homeopathic treatment in a canine patient unexposed to conventional antiepileptic drugs.
The positive clinical outcome observed over the course of several months provides grounds for questioning the commonly held ***umption that homeopathy’s effects are purely placebo—especially in non-verbal animal subjects.
2 | Case History
A 9-month-old male Shar Pei was presented with a history of progressive seizures over several weeks. Initially mild and infrequent, the seizures evolved into daily episodes (3–4 times per day), each lasting several minutes with an extended postictal phase (~1 ). Any conventional medicine was administered.
Particular Symptoms during seizures:
- Opisthotonos (arched back)
- Frothing at the mouth
- Involuntary urination
- Vocalization preceding seizures
- Limb tremors (especially forelimbs)
- Unconsciousness and severe disorientation post-seizure
- Green mucopurulent ocular discharge
Mental symptoms:
- Excessive fear of loud noises and strangers
- Avoidant behaviour since puppyhood
- Aggression developed during the seizure phase, previously absent
See videos of seizures here: Seizures
After the seizures: After
(See Figure 1 for complete symptom repertorization, and Figure 2 and 3 for the symptoms covered by Bufo Rana and Cicuta.)
Figure 1. Repertorization
Figure 2. Symptoms covered by Bufo Rana
Figure 3. Symptoms covered by Cicuta Virosa
Table 1. Differential Diagnosis: Bufo rana vs. Cicuta virosa in Epileptic Seizures
| Category | Bufo rana | Cicuta virosa |
| Etiology / Triggers | Sexual excitement, coition, night, sleep, during suppuration or menses | Head injury, fright, noise, touch, errors in diet, cold air |
| Onset / Aura | Often nocturnal, during sleep; seizures begin in abdomen or face | Aura from solar plexus, seizures begin in the head, vomiting may alternate with convulsions |
| Convulsion Type | Clonic and tonic, often violent, with unconsciousness and frothing | Tonic-clonic with tetanic rigidity, bizarre posturing and facial distortion |
| Mental Symptoms (before) | Irritability, anger, no clear mental prodrome reported | Shrieking, fear, anxiety, clinging behavior, biting tongue, face distortion |
| Mental Symptoms (after) | Unconsciousness, confusion, irascibility | Weakness, fear, anxiety, lingering disorientation |
| Loss of Consciousness | Marked unconsciousness during and after seizures | Consciousness loss also present, often with extreme rigidity |
| Autonomic / Vegetative signs | Profuse sweating during convulsions, involuntary urination, salivation | Respiratory arrest possible during seizure, abdominal cramping, distention |
| Facial Expression | Frothing at mouth, facial sweating | Frightful distortion, drawn features, biting of tongue |
| Ocular / Eye symptoms | Not prominent in primary rubrics | Facial and ocular distortion during seizures |
| Limb Movements | Convulsions may begin in face, spread to limbs; opisthotonos possible | Opisthotonos, alternating flexion/extension of limbs, convulsions aggravated by touch |
| Other Keynotes | Useful in epilepsy with ***ual component, especially in males with low vitality | Suited for violent convulsions after head injury or fright, with twisted posture |
| Reaction to Stimuli | Not especially sensitive to external stimuli | Highly sensitive: seizures can be triggered by touch or noise |
| Behavior during seizure | Froths, bites, urinates, loses consciousness, tonic-clonic movements | Screams before seizure, bites tongue, rigid, contorted posture, possible vomiting |
| After effects | Prolonged unconsciousness, exhaustion, mental dullness | Weakness, exhaustion, fear, anxiety, possible return of rigidity or spasms |
(5)
3 | Treatment and Outcomes
First prescription – December 21, 2024 Bufo rana 200c
Prescribed due to the prominent epileptic presentation with unconsciousness and oral frothing. Following administration, seizure frequency worsened—6 times during the day and twice at night. No improvement in consciousness or recovery time.
Second prescription – December 23, 2024 – Bufo rana 200c
Great weakness, falling when walking. Dizziness after the seizures. Walking confused, bumping into things or falling. No changes in the severity or frequency of seizures.
Third prescription – December 24, 2024 – Cicuta virosa 200c
Selected due to observed pre-ictal vocalizations. A dramatic reduction in seizures was noted—only one seizure occurred thereafter, with mild tremors in the forelimbs. A post-treatment phase of weakness and anorexia lasted one week.
Fourth prescription – January, 2nd 2025 – Argentum Nitriblock 200c
Administered due to nervous temperament, startle reflex, and residual weakness. Resulted in immediate appetite restoration and increased energy levels.
Outcome:
The dog has remained seizure-free for 5 months without additional intervention.
4 | Conclusion
Homeopathic treatment, when correctly individualized, can be a valuable first line of approach in the management of epileptic disorders in dogs. The successful case of this Shar Pei puppy provides encouraging evidence for the role of cl***ical homeopathy in refractory neurological conditions in veterinary medicine. Further controlled studies are needed.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Evolution of the case in videos:
Video 1. Seizures
After the seizures: After
Video 2. Today
References
- Fischer A, Volk HA. Editorial: Epilepsy in veterinary science. Front Vet Sci. 2023 May 17;10:1200311.
- Wang M, Zhang X, Jia W, Zhang C, Boczek T, Harding M, et al. Circulating glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels in patients with epilepsy: A meta-blockysis. Seizure. 2021 Oct;91:278–86.
- Löscher W. Dogs as a natural animal model of epilepsy. Front Vet Sci. 2022 Jun 22;9:928009.
- Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine. 2005; Available from:
- Vithoulkas G, Scharnowski FS. Materia medica viva. 1991; Available from:
