Comparative efficacy of homeopathic and allopathic treatments against Foot and Mouth disease in cattle

Abstract

The study was conducted in crossbred Frieswal bulls (Holstein–Friesian X Sahiwal) during an outbreak of FMD and 24 FMD-affected animals were randomly divided into two groups–homeopathic treatment group and allopathic treatment group–consisting of 14 and 10 animals, respectively. Animals in the homeopathic treatment group were treated with Sulphur 200C @ 20 drops orally once, Kalium iodatum 200C @ 20 drops orally twice a day for 3 days. Calendula mother tincture was used for washing and topical application over the oral and foot lesions. Animals in the allopathic treatment group were treated with intramuscular injections of strepto-penicillin twice a day for 3 days, meloxicam once a day for 3 days along with washing of oral and foot lesions with potassium permanganate (1:1000) followed by topical application of 2% boroglycerine over the oral ulcers. The animals were closely inspected for 12 days for recording clinical signs. The mean rectal temperature in the animals of homeopathic treatment group was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower than those of the allopathic treatment group on days 2 and 3 post treatment. Appetite score improved significantly (p less than 0.05) in homeopathic treatment group as compared with allopathic treatment group on day 3 post treatment. Healing scores of oral mucosal lesion were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in the homoeopathic treatment group than that in the allopathic treatment group on days 2, 3, and 5 post therapy. Healing of foot lesions was significantly (p less than 0.05) better in the homeopathic treatment group than that in the allopathic treatment group on day 3 and 5 post treatment.