Homeopathy for sick animals

Patna zoo is reputedly the first in the world to use homeopathic medicines to treat ailing animals.

The Patna zoo has reputedly become the first in the world to use homeopathic medicines to treat ailing animals.

HT Image

Until now, only allopathic and herbal medicines were used to treat captive animals. But authorities at Sanjay Gandhi Zoo have decided to enlist the aid of homeopathy practitioners to nurse sick animals.

Zoo director Ranvir Singh told IANS that the continued allopathic treatment of wild animals, particularly carnivorous ones, is known to have a bad effect on their skins. Homeopathy is believed to have no side effects.

Since there is no allopathic cure for skin cancer, zoo authorities have decided to set up a committee of homeopathy doctors.

Last month herbal medicines were being used to treat a white tiger suffering from skin cancer. Now homeopathic doctors will treat the animal.

Homeopathic remedies, which are taken in an extremely diluted form, are based on the principles that "like cures like" and that a single remedy is meant for all symptoms.