What You Don’t Know About Holistic Medicine and Dogs

What You Don’t Know About Holistic Medicine and Dogs

The first form of medicine used by humans is herbs. As a matter of fact, many of the medicines we still use today are extracted from plants.

Animals in the wild also consume plants or herbs with medicinal properties, including dogs. Research has suggested that sick dogs in the wild will seek out certain herbs to help them with injuries and illness. Today, many herbalists recommend using plants as they are more potent, and purer than pharmaceuticals.

Herbal remedies

One of the best things about using herbal remedies for dogs is the fact that you can find them in health food stores for humans. Before purchasing any form of liquid, tablet, or capsule with the intention of giving it to your dog, be sure to consult your vet. While some dogs may be tolerant to certain herbs, others may be allergic or have certain conditions which can make consumption dangerous.

You should also stick with reliable stores with prepared products. As tempting as it may be to give your dog the fresh herb, you aren’t trained on the various properties to select the right ones. Similarly, picking herbs in the wild may be contaminated by chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides which will do your dog more harm than good.

Next, observe your dog closely while using these herbs. Some herbs may be dangerous in large amounts and cause overdose. In other cases, they may interact with other herbs or medication and cause adverse reactions. For instance, ginkgo does not combine well with blood thinners since it affects the blood’s ability to clot. Kelp is another popular herb that can compromise the immune system, or affect dogs with thyroid problems.

Lastly, do not give herbs to your dog while she’s pregnant. It is not yet clear if there are negative consequences, and it’s best to abstain until your dog stops nursing.

Potential treatments

There are herbs out there with the potential to treat issues such as :

  • Halitosis (bad breath)
  • Skin disease
  • Coughs
  • Arthritis
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Allergies
  • Wound treatment and healing
  • Incontinence
  • Bladder and kidney disease
  • Cystitis

Popular herbs include alfalfa, aloe vera, black walnut, chamomile, colloidal silver, cornsilk, echinacea, glucosamine and chondroitin, green tea, and slippery elm.

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