Indiana was running out of options. He had been suffering from severe bone destruction in his head as a result of an advanced and uncommon fungal infection known as "nasal aspergillosis." He was in extreme pain- even picking up a toy with his mouth was too painful. He had received the finest and most advanced care at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, but was not responding. His doctor had discussed euthanasia with his guardians.

The owners decided to get a holistic opinion with Dr. Epstein. At the time of the first consult, they were paying $800 a month for antifungal drugs, although their most recent purchase was reduced to $300 a month thanks to the discovery of a Canadian pharmacy! Indiana was not responding to these drugs or to the numerous other antibiotics that were prescribed for the secondary bacterial infections.

At the first visit, Dr. Epstein discussed how homeopathy could help. She had the owners stop all of the medications and begin probiotics for a couple weeks until the homeopathy consult could be scheduled.

Two weeks later, at the homeopathy consult, Indiana was starting to feel a little better. The side effects of the drugs had probably been causing some of his depression and malaise. Dr. Epstein then prescribed the homeopathic remedy Aurum metallicum and Indiana never looked back! Over the course of the next few months, all of his symptoms resolved: his depression, facial pain, nasal discharge, erosion of his planum nasale (the black "nose" on the dog), and destruction of the bones in his head. After the first homeopathic prescription, Indiana began to play with other dogs, readily using his mouth for the first time in months! Over four years later, Indiana remains a normal dog, with some scarring in his left nostril as the only sign that something had been wrong with him.

To find a homeopathic veterinarian near you, visit:  www.TheAVH.org.