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Knowing your dog, knowing the treatment By Pamela
Nations-Weissman Many people do not realize that there are numerous herbal
and homeopathic remedies that can save them thousands of dollars on their
veterinary bills. This is not to say that I feel that traditional veterinary
procedures are not important. In fact, I believe in achieving balance in all
areas of life, including working hand in hand – or should I say hand in paw
– with your veterinarian. The point is that by expanding our knowledge of
simple herbal and homeopathic remedies and knowing when and how to use them
properly, we can save money, time and avoid the unnecessary stress that
countless trips to the vet’s office can cause to our sensitive pets.
Learning to pay close attention to our furry companion’s energy level,
eating, drinking, bowel movements, eyes, ears, skin and so on is the first
step to stopping minor problems before they escalate into major ones
(thereby making a trip to the vet’s office unavoidable). Since our dogs
cannot verbalize when something is wrong, it is our job to pay attention,
take note, and then take appropriate action. I know what my dog Cypress
wants by her eyes, grunts, sighs and overall body language. I accompany her
into our yard every time she goes potty. This enables me to know if she has
a problem and give her the correct remedy. For example, one day Cypress
seemed to need to go out every half hour or so to urinate. After a few hours
I noticed that when she squatted, not much urine was being released. Then
and there I knew she had a bladder problem. I gave her three cranberry gel
caps (Note: She is a large dog, smaller dogs will require a reduced dosage)
every three to four hours along with two capsules of an Ayurvedic herb
called Gokshura . By evening there was less urgency to urinate, and by the
following morning she was much better. I continued the treatment for two
more days in lower dosages to ensure that the problem would not resurface.
Had I not gone out with her each time, she could have suffered for a very
long time and the end result could have been disastrous. Another reason to
accompany your dog to the bathroom is to observe the condition of their
stool. If it is runny, I give Cypress catnip capsules, peppermint extract,
evening primrose, coriander and cumin. If she is constipated a dose of
goldenseal, cod liver oil and flaxseed oil usually does the trick. Another
sign to watch for is frequent burping, gas or stomach grumbling. This can be
alleviated with ginger extract, peppermint and catnip. It is good to know
which herbs and homeopathics to have around for emergencies.
Goldenseal/Echinacea alcohol free extract can be used for a wide variety of
problems including a weakened immune system, eye infections, ear infections,
cuts and scrapes. For eyes and ears, dilute a small amount with water and
wash the affected area several times daily while simultaneously
administering orally two to three times a day until the condition improves.
Once the problem subsides, give your dog acidophilus capsules morning and
evening for at least one day to replenish the friendly intestinal bacteria
which goldenseal’s antibiotic activity destroys. Now let’s talk about
stress. Stress is a major cause of many our pet’s ailments, so by being more
sensitive to your dog and the things that cause them stress you can prevent
many stress-related ailments. For example, we had recently moved to Florida
and had not previously experienced the Fourth of July in our new home. My
husband has a job that frequently requires him to travel abroad. This, in
and of itself, will increase a dog’s stress due to separation anxiety. Add
to this already stressful reality loud thunderous booming of fireworks for
hours on end and it is enough to send any mild mannered pet over the edge.
Even I became stressed out, so I could only imagine the effect this had on
Cypress. The remedy was to first close all the curtains, then turn on
soothing music loud enough to drown out the fireworks while speaking to your
pets to calm them. Next, give your pet some homeopathics for stress such as
phosphorous, ignatia amara or stramonium. You can find a good homeopathic
calming formula at my website: www.alternativetao.com, then clicking on the
Dr. GoodPet link. There you will find a product called, “stress calm” which
is excellent in these situations. If you do not have homeopathics, you can
give your pet some herbal extracts for stress such as black cohosh, passion
flower, skullcap, valerian, chamomile and catnip. Also there are herbal
remedies made especially for stressed out pets. One that comes to mind is
Animal’s Apawthecary – tranquility blend. It contains valerian, skullcap,
oats and passion flower. You can find this by going to my website, then
clicking on the Mountain Rose Herb link where they sell many herbal pet
formulas as well as single herb extracts. Finally, always provide fresh
purified drinking water for your dog. I have several water bowls
strategically placed throughout the house and on the deck to encourage my
pets to drink since they are older and sometimes don’t feel like making
lengthy trips to a single water bowl. This as well as fresh air, exercise
and quality petting time will ensure a happy, healthy and long life for your
furry friend. Most of all do not forget to schedule regular annual checkups
for your pet with their veterinarian (every six months for older dogs), and
always be mindful of what your pet is trying to tell you.
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