Cyd on Chalice, her work boat Cyd with Belle on Chalice, biscuit watching Cyd with Alice in the back of our Mini Clubman estate
Cyd with a big stick on VIC 80, her house boat Cyd jumping for a stick tied to a tree Cyd with a teddy at Pat's house

.home | Cyd's story: part 1 or part 2 | index of holistic health issues | Daisy 'n' Seven | email

WELCOME TO CYD'S SKIN PAGES | This site is to share with readers the skin problems suffered by Cyd, a female English bull terrier whom we acquired from Bull Terrier Rescue in 1993.

Skin problems are very common in bull terriers. We had to put Cyd to sleep on 29 November 2002 as her kidneys failed but I wanted to share the changes in her skin and health as we withdrew Cyd from conventional (allopathic) treatments and turned towards holistic treatments such as natural diets, homeopathy and herbal supplements. Of course we cannot claim these disciplines will be successful in all cases but Cyd's progress was nothing less than astounding. Now read:

Part One: How antibiotics failed to cure Cyd's skin and why I decided to try homeopathy. This article first appeared in "DOGS today" April 2000 issue. 

Part Two: How homeopathy did not provide the results I hoped for but herbal supplements did. This article first appeared in "DOGS today" February 2002 issue.

Holistic Index to learn more about health issues in dogs such as natural diets, kidney disease and skin problems, the effects of vaccines and using homeopathy and natural supplements. Go straight to Cyd's new page Cure Your Dog. 

Or click on the thumbnail images below to see Cyd's story in pictures.

Cyd had required medication at Bull Terrier Rescue thus her skin was under control when we took her home in August 1993.November 1994: as long as Cyd was on antibiotics her skin and feet were fine.Februray 1996: when Cyd wasn't on antibiotics the top of her nose would graze easily and bleed profusely.August 1996: when Cyd's feet were sore we (or our gullible friends) had to carry her across the pebble beaches.September 1996: Ship's Dog! note the bloody nose and the shaved patch on Cyd's side from recent allergy tests.March 1997: When Cyd's feet got very swollen and painful we bought her some boots..February 1999: although Cyd's skin was much improved on antibiotics, she developed kidney dysfunction, so I stopped her medication and turned to homeopathy.February 2000: Cyd developed bald patches and open wounds after taking high doses of homoeopathic remedies for a year

December 2000: very red feet during a Christmas Day walk; by now Cyd was just having herbal supplements (no antibiotics or homeopathy).March 2001: feet still sore but Cyd is clearly not bothered.May 2001: Cyd reluctantly shared her house with Belle after Belle's owner (Hannah's mother) died unexpectedly.Cyd had to share her boats too!.September 2001: Cyd's skin has been hugely improved by herbal supplements; she's a bit overweight too!.1 January 2002: Cyd's 12th birthday (possibly); she has developed a sore patch on her back leg but is happy and lively.1 January 2002: a mince pie for the birthday girl

February 2002: Cyd's fur is now thick and glossy but she has developed bald patches due to previous treatments.March 2002: Cyd is a bit blind, a bit deaf and was recently diagnosed with a heart murmur, but still enjoys murdering squeaky toys.June 2002: Cyd developed a couple of red shiny patches on her skin.in just a couple of weeks on adjusted herbal remedies the red skin patches started to fade before disappearing completely.August 2002: happy on the beach but the previous month Cyd had a 'heart attack' and collapsed after chasing a ball too energetically.November 2002: Cyd's fur look very grey but amazingly it grew back in the bald patches on her skin.Nov 2002: a few weeks before she died, Cyd was happy to take it easy (and still preferred our bed to her new bean bag!)

The photograph with the orange border is  © "House Beautiful" magazine where it appeared in the Dec 2001/Jan 2002 issue. 

All other photos taken by Hannah.

It's not all doom and gloom!!! Cyd and Belle, although both long passed on, turned us into bull terrier converts and we now own two sisters called Daisy and Seven. They have been brought up on a natural diet with herbal supplements. They have not been vaccinated but have received a homeopathic nosode instead. They have been treated with homeopathy and condition-specific supplements where required and have only visited the vet to be neutered. The lessons we learned from Cyd have - so far - enabled us to raise two feisty bull terriers who are fighting fit! Visit Seven and Daisy here.

If you'd like to see how Hannah and Mark spend the rest of their time then visit Northern Light Charters for whale-watching and bird-watching cruises plus dive charter holidays around North West Scotland. You can email Hannah or Mark here.

Website published by Hannah Thompson to share holistic health information with dog owners worldwide