Alternative Care For Canines
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Many pet owners are using herbal medicines and alternative remedies for their animals. While some of these products can be very helpful, others are actually harmful to pets. Without professional advice and correct dosage rates, it is unwise to give medicines, herbal or otherwise, to your pets which have been prescribed or recommended for humans.
The best way to address the issue of natural supplements for pets is to become informed about what treatments are available and how they can be used. Following are some of the treatments currently being used by veterinarians and pet owners to treat animals:
Glucosamine and Chondroitan - These may be the most well known and commonly prescribed nutraceuticals for pets. They are not herbal supplements: glucosamine is derived from shellfish tissue, and chondroitan is derived from animal products. They are given to animals suffering from arthritis and joint pain, in order to rebuild the cartilage that cushions and protects joints.
Echinacea - Echinacea is a well-known immunostimulant. It is said to improve the immune system and help pets fight off infections, diseases, and even cancer.
Aloe - This thick-leaved plant is used for animals much like it is for humans as a soothing, itch relieving ointment that is applied directly to the skin. It is also said to help heal cuts and protect them from infection. As aloe breaks down quickly and is hard to store over time, the best way to use it is simply to break a leaf off an aloe plant.
Ginger - Chinese medicine has been using this root for centuries as an anti-inflammatory and an aid for stomach problems. Ginger is said to help animals with car sickness and digestive problems like gas and diarrhoea.
Vitamin C - This vitamin, which is considered a powerful anti-oxidant, is abundant in most fruits and some vegetables. It is also available in pill form and as a liquid that can be mixed into a pet’s water. Anti-oxidants are said to help combat the aging process and slow damage to the body’s tissues, as well as to help prevent cancer. It has also been suggested that vitamin C can help treat hip dysplasia, arthritis, and urinary tract problems.
Milk Thistle - Pets with liver problems such as hepatitis may be given this supplement. It is supposed to protect the cells of the liver from toxins.
Saint John’s Wort - Though it has gained fame in human medicine as a treatment for depression, this herb is used as a treatment for viral infections and neural disorders in alternative veterinary medicine.
Ginkgo - Again, this herb has attracted a great deal of attention in human medicine. It is said to work by expanding the blood vessels in the brain, thereby increasing blood flow. People take it to increase their memory and improve their brain function, and some veterinarians are using it to treat animals that exhibit cognitive dysfunctions, the animal equivalent of senile dementia.
Slippery Elm - The bark of this tree is used as an aid to the digestive system for pets that suffer from constipation and upset stomach. It has also been used as a cough suppressant and a poultice (an herb that is boiled down into a paste, cooled, and applied to the skin).
