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So many people believe that only they can utilize the benefits of herbs, but veterinarians and holistic practitioners are beginning to realize that animals can also receive maximum benefit when using the same or similar herbs/homeopathics for different disease conditions.
Jenny Howell Pet Specialist
Like people, an animal’s health begins with the food we as owners feed to it. Unlike what we have heard our whole lives, “Don’t feed table scraps!” we are now finding that an animal responds better and is healthier when we use whole vegetables, fruits, and meats instead of dried processed foods. However, the average pet owner doesn’t have time to fix their pet food from scratch so we use a brand called Natural Choice or Nutro for short. Nutro doesn’t have any preservatives, uses whole meats, and uses whole grains instead of the fillers most foods have. Of course, besides an animal’s food, there are certain supplements that any pet must have on a daily basis. They include, vitamins, minerals, greens, flaxseed oil, and acidophilus. We have a special compilation of vitamins, minerals, and greens in a formula called, “Vita-Dreams Daily Greens”. Not only is this a mixture of vitamins and minerals, but it has whole foods that an animal won’t get in any processed foods. Flaxseed oil is a wonderful supplement that comes in an easy-to-feed form, you just pour it over the food; it aids in digestion and utilization of the minerals in the food. Acidophilus is very important. It is the beneficial bacteria that animals have in the intestines that aid in the healthy digestion of foods. This healthy bacterium also helps the body fight off toxic bacteria that cause dis-eases in the body. Lack of this beneficial bacterium causes autoimmune problems like arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and allergies. Taken with a mixture of yucca (for arthritis) and papaya enzymes (for digestion) this is a very good everyday healthy mixture called Digestive Tract Conditioner. The following is a list of other herbs that may help in preventing and treating some common pet problems. Alfalfa- This salty, neutral and moist herb is helpful in restoring fluid and blood to the organs, especially the liver and spleen/pancreas. It is helpful in anemia, dizziness, and depression. It also contains trace minerals and eight digestive enzymes. Catnip restores the nervous system, eases anxiety, and calms stomach disorders. Chamomile calms the nerves, restores the nervous system, soothes the stomach, and reduces inflammation. If your pet has inflamed gums, rub a mixture of chamomile and catnip teas to reduce the inflammation. Cod Liver Oil provides a wonderful source of Vitamin A and antioxidants that aid in arthritis conditions. Although dogs make some Vitamin A, cats do not, so they need it preformed. The best way is in cod liver oil. Dandelion strengthens the intestinal lining and stimulates bile flow from the liver. It is important to maintain liver and kidney functions when some pets are on medication. Echinacea is a powerful antibiotic that works very well with pets who have anything from a cold to asthma. One has to be careful, however, because an abundance of any antibiotic in the body kills the beneficial bacteria in the intestines and does more harm than good, so two weeks is the longest any animal should be on it. Eucalyptus is a strong smelling extract that is useful in stopping the dreaded flea invasions. We have a product called Insect Shield made by Wow-Bow that has eucalyptus as a key ingredient. Eyebright as its name suggests is used for better sight and is used to clean the eyes. It can also be taken internally, but we find that the EyeWash from Wow-Bow is the best. Ginseng either American or Chinese is used to open up the bronchial tubes in cases of asthma, enhances the immune system, increases appetite, stimulates weight gain, helps modulate blood pressure and even tempers the assertiveness of some males. Licorice Root stimulates the spleen but shouldn’t be used if your animal is hypertensive. Milk Thistle promotes bile flow and is used with jaundice when there is a light yellow color, it is also protects the liver from any harmful substances and should be used in chronic conditions. Raspberry leaves reduce inflammation and bleeding and are used heavily with pregnant bitches to tonify the uterus to ease the birth. Continually using this through the breeding process and duration can cause a faster, easier birth and reduces the number of stillborn. Vitamin C is produced in animal’s bodies unlike ours, but it is often not enough, so we must supplement what they should be getting. It is oftentimes a cure for arthritis if given at the onset and can even ease the pain in progressive conditions. However, it really is an all-around necessary supplement for conditions of the bones, muscles, ears, eyes, heart and pericardium, immune system and glands, kidney and urinary systems, liver and gall bladder, lungs, skin, spleen/pancreas and stomach, teeth and gums, and upper respiratory conditions. We have Crystal-C from Dr. Goodpet that is a buffered version that is easier on a pet’s digestive tract. Thank you for caring for your pet and if you have any questions that you would like to ask our consultant, she is available from 1:30pm-6: 00pm at 1-800-388-4862.