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Veterinary research

Very little research has been done in veterinary homeopathy. In fact, there are barely 30 research papers published in the entire peer-reviewed journal literature. From those papers, we have highlighted 13 that report positive findings for homeopathy:

Table 1 shows the conditions and species for which there is statistically favourable evidence for homeopathy in published RCTs (randomised controlled trials), where comparison has been with placebo or with another medication. In two of these studies, homeopathy was at least as effective as antibiotic treatment.

Table 2 gives the conditions and species for which positive findings have been obtained in research that did not have a control group (clinical outcome studies).

In collaboration with Bristol University Veterinary School, the British Homeopathic Association has recently published the pilot findings of a research initiative studying atopic dermatitis in dogs¹⁴. We are now designing a multi-centre clinical trial.

**Table 1: RCTs with positive evidence for homeopathy**
Clinical condition	Reference(s)
Infertility in cattle	1, 2
Mastitis in cattle	3, 4
Infectious diseases in pigs	5
Neonatal weight loss in pigs	6
Helminth parasitism in sheep	7
Salmonella in chickens	8

**Table 2: Other clinical studies with positive findings**
Clinical condition	Reference
Mastitis in cattle	9
Kennel cough in dogs	10
Epilepsy in dogs	11
Cushing's disease in dogs and horses	12
Stillbirth in pigs	13

References

1. Williamson AV, Mackie WL, Crawford WJ, Rennie B. A study using Sepia 200c given prophylactically postpartum to prevent anoestrus problems in the dairy cow. Br Homeopathic J 1991; 80: 149–156.
2. Aslan S, Findik M, Kalender H, et al. Improvement of postpartum fertility of cows by Pulsatilla miniplex. Wiener Tierärztliche Monatsschrift 2000; 87: 359–362.
3. Searcy R, Reyes O, Guajardo G. Control of subclinical bovine mastitis: utilization of a homoeopathic combination. Br Homeopathic J 1995; 84: 67–70.
4. Varshney JP, Naresh R. Comparative efficacy of homeopathic and allopathic systems of medicine in the management of clinical mastitis of Indian dairy cows. Homeopathy 2005; 94: 81–85.
5. Albrecht H, Schütte A. Homeopathy versus antibiotics in metaphylaxis of infectious diseases: a clinical study in pig fattening and its significance to consumers. Altern Ther Health Med 1999; 5: 64–68.
6. Soto FRM, Vuadan ER, Coelho CdeP, et al. A randomized controlled trial of homeopathic treatment of weaned piglets in a commercial swine herd. Homeopathy 2008; 97: 202-205.
7. Zacharias F, Guimaraes JE, Araujo RR, et al. Effect of homeopathic medicines on helminth parasitism and resistance of Haemonchus contortus infected sheep. Homeopathy 2008: 145-151.
8. Sandoval CH, Morfin LL, Lopez BB. Preliminary research for testing Baptisia tinctoria 30c effectiveness against salmonellosis in first and second quality broiler chickens. Br Homeopathic J 1998; 87: 131–134.
9. Varshney JP, Naresh R. Evaluation of a homeopathic complex in the clinical management of udder diseases of riverine buffaloes. Homeopathy 2004; 93: 17–20.
10. Day CEI. Isopathic prevention of kennel cough – is vaccination justified? J Int Assoc Vet Hom 1987; 2: 45–51.
11. Varshney JP. Clinical management of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs with homeopathic Belladonna 200C: a case series. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 46–48.
12. Elliott M. Cushing's Disease: a new approach to therapy in equine and canine patients. Br Homeopathic J 2001; 90: 33–36.
13. Day CEI. Control of stillbirths in pigs using homoeopathy. Br Homeopathic J 1984; 73: 142–143.
14. Hill PB, Hoare J, Lau-Gillard P, Rybnicek J, Mathie RT. Pilot study of the effect of individualised homeopathy on the pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis in dogs. Veterinary Record 2009; 164 (issue 12); 365-370.