Boost a Dog’s Well-being with Safe Herbs

JUMP TO:
Gathering Information
Healthy Diet
Safe Herbs
Indentifying Qulaity Herbs
Dosing of Herbs
Conclusion

Herbs for Dogs? Really? Yes!

When it comes to the well-being management of our pets, many of us want the most natural care possible, just as we would for ourselves. Knowing how best to pursue this can be daunting when wading through an ocean of online information. This article will give you some clear ways to explore natural herbal remedies for dogs while also offering reliable direction on how to seek out quality information about herbs that are safe for dogs.

First, let’s talk about the scary stuff—toxicity. Botanicals can be safe and wonderful for your pets, but an initial healthy pause of caution before you proceed is prudent. As of this moment, let go of any notion that “safe for humans” means “safe for animals.” It is also most important to set aside any ideas that suggest “natural” means safe. These statements can be dangerous for your animals. Remember, arsenic and lead are natural! As an easy example, let’s take grapes and raisins. While those tasty treats may be good for you, they can cause kidney damage and even total renal failure in dogs (same with cream of tartar and tamarinds).

Another critical botanical safety consideration is essential oils and pets. While they may come from safe plants and are often calming and healing for humans, some of these highly concentrated, volatile plant extracts can can cause serious health problems, including acute allergic reactions to the skin, mouth, nose, eyes and ears, respiratory crisis and even more severe toxicity. It’s critical to learn about common essential oils that can be harmful to pets. Unless given some kind of directive from your vet, these are probably better left for human use.

GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT HERBS FOR PETS

So, how can you safely venture into the world of herbs for pet wellness and find quality, reputable information? The list below will help get you going on the right track. Just remember the principle of checking with at least three separate sources when exploring an herbal topic. Botanicals are often used by practitioners in different ways, and when you inquire with multiple sources that can be relied on for well respected information, you’ll have better insights.

1. Veterinarian:

If your vet is not knowledgeable about natural remedies for animals, look for veterinarians in your area that offer holistic, integrative, homeopathic, and/or herbal therapy types of care. If they are this type of practitioner, they are likely versed in the latest research about natural pet care and can provide resources for you.

Therapies that have traditionally been considered alternative or complementary are becoming more readily available in the United States, along with more acceptance of such practices. According to Today’s Veterinarian Practice, “Such trends in veterinary medicine mirror those extensively documented in human health care in which consumer demand has driven an increase in complementary or integrative medicine. The reasons are multifactorial but include distrust of aspects of conventional medical care, a view of natural or less invasive interventions as safer, and, in humans, a recognition of mind-body relationships.”

So, finding a vet willing to work with you on holistic, natural ways to support your dog's wellness, should be easier now than ever. That said, you still want to do your own homework about whatever actions are being suggested by your vet, just as you would with your own health, so you can be involved, informed and aware.

2. Herb Walks:

Herb walks are becoming more widely available and accessible as the herbal renaissance in the US spreads around the country. You can often find these by searching for various herbal and foraging communities in your area, Facebook groups, botanical and nature center education events, etc.

3. Books / Peer-Reviewed Journals:

These are useful tools to help with the task of being involved, informed and aware. As you grab some high quality, reputable reading material to help guide you, your confidence will be boosted in knowing what questions to ask your vet so you can be more in control of your pets' health decisions. How can you determine if a book is high quality? Research the author, check their credentials and experience. If they are simply a writer who has written a book, they are probably not the best source. Look for long-term practicing clinical and community herbalists who work specifically with animals.

One of the books that inspired some of the first holistic veterinarian practices in the United States and Europe is Juliette de Bairacli Levy’s book, “The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat.” Juliette is often known as Juliette of the Herbs and her natural rearing practices have influenced animal care practice across the Western world.

From the Whole Dog Journal, “Readers of canine health books and magazines, including this one, can be forgiven for assuming that holistic dog care or natural pet care is a recent breakthrough, something developed during the past two or three decades by a handful of revolutionary veterinarians and researchers. Not so. Today’s holistic dog care movement began over 70 years ago when Juliette de Bairacli Levy defined “natural rearing.”

One of Juliette’s friends and students, Swanie Simon, is one such reputable practitioner of herbalism and natural rearing with animals. She is a holistic, traditional animal herbalist and provides an education portal and YouTube channel that offers contemporary insights and resources similar to Juliette’s teachings, coupled with her own practices from over 30 years of working with and treating animals. She also offers a free online herbal dog walk on her animal herbalism website.

4. Education

Websites that provide learning opportunities for consumers, practitioners and product makers. Below is a list of places to find reputable practitioners, blog articles, courses, etc.:

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association From their website, “The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) is a group of member veterinarians and allies who are elevating the veterinary profession through innovation, education, and advocacy of integrative medicine.”

The AHVMA Journal is “Published quarterly, this is the only peer-reviewed scientific journal focusing exclusively on integrative veterinary medicine,” according to their site.

Mark Veterinarian Manual. According to the NIH page on Mark Manuals, “As with its print predecessor, the online Merck Manuals continue to be a reliable and trusted source for medical information.”

College of Integrative Veterinarian Therapies (CIVT) “CIVT is committed to providing the highest quality education in natural medicine for animals drawing on the expertise and knowledge of leading veterinarians and educators across the world,” from the CIVT website.

The Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association (VBMA) “The Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association is a group of veterinary professionals and herbalists dedicated to developing responsible herbal practice by encouraging research and education, strengthening industry relations, keeping herbal tradition alive as a valid information source, and increasing professional acceptance of herbal medicine for animals.”

Animal Herbalism “Empowering animal friends and practitioners to restore & maintain their pet's health naturally.”

HEALTHY DIET FOR DOGS

Most poignantly, Swanie Simon says, “One of the biggest things is nutrition. You can’t fix things with herbs if you’re eating garbage. The best diet for an animal is one that maintains its health and that the animal can eat. The best thing you can do for a cat or dog is fresh food [cooked or uncooked].” That said, Swanie emphasizes that if your dog has been eating a diet of all processed dog food, their digestive system may need time to switch over to raw foods, especially older dogs that are not accustomed to raw. So, pay attention to signs like gas, diarrhea and vomiting (these can also be signs of more serious conditions, so consult your vet). There are bitter herbs that can help dogs with digestion just as they do with people.

According to Simon, “Today, we tend to use herbs like drugs, taking this for that and so on. But in order to truly help our best friends using herbs, it’s not enough to just learn some facts about herbs. You need to understand how a body functions and how imbalances occur. Without finding a root cause and correcting that, you’re basically just putting a bandaid on a problem.” Good reason to do our own homework!

SAFE HERBS FOR DOGS

Once you’ve made sure your dog’s diet is not countering your efforts to support their wellness, it then makes sense to consider adding herbs. You first want to identify, with the help of your vet, what type of support you want to add. This will guide your decision on where to start. For dogs, plants can be a good source of general vitamins, minerals and nutrients. For specific support, we will look at some common herbs to help prevent familiar doggie ailments (the below herbs are generally safe, but just as with people, learn what responses they should elicit so you know what to keep an eye out for in case of an adverse response). That said, if symptoms arise and persist, always check in with your vet as there may be cause for medical concern.

Below are some common herbs that can be found in your yard and in or around areas where you might walk your pups. Of course, never pick and use any plant unless you are absolutely certain (beyond any doubt!) that you have the correct plant. Some plants can be highly toxic and even deadly. Additionally, make sure you are gathering from an area that is not sprayed with harmful chemicals, near road runoff, not in a possible pee area, etc… and unless invasive, only gather up to 10% of any one stand of herbs. Gather in areas you know are clean, or purchase herbs from a reputable herb company.

These herbs listed are traditionally used to help with dog health and are generally safe. However, just as with people, learn what responses they should elicit so you can know if you see an adverse response. As with any animal or human, plants can cause allergic reactions. When starting to add herbs to your dog's diet, start with single herbs, one at a time, so you can easily identify an allergic reaction. Once you’ve gotten them on a diet that works for them, introduce one herb and see how it goes. Also, there are many herbs that are good for the same things and also overlap with systems they have action on. Don’t take all the suggestions below and just put them together! One or two of something may be all you need.

If a new symptom arises and persists, always check in with your vet as there may be cause for medical concern.

General Wellness

Think of herbs as nutrition. Just as we support our diets with extra vitamins and minerals, so we do with our pups. Herbs are full of essential nutrients. You can sprinkle plants like nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), burdock (Arctium lappa), chickweed (Stellaria media), and dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) on your dog’s food throughout their lives. At any age, you can use adaptogenic herbs like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), tulsi (holy basil—Ocimum tenuiflorum) and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) that work on the whole body and can boost overall wellbeing while working synergistically on all systems. Simon notes that adaptogens should be used curatively as general tonics, “These type of herbs should be used as a “cure“ for 2–4 weeks once or twice a year and not constantly. Ashwagandha for example, has an affinity for the endocrine system, so it would be the best one for endocrine disruptions—hypothyroidism is a common problem in dogs.”

HERBAL PREPARATION

Regarding preparation of these general wellness boosters, most can simply be sprinkled fresh onto food and eaten (chopped finely). Some may need to be given powdered and others poured over food as teas. Root herbs can be chopped and eaten raw or even cooked. Glycerite tinctures can be tolerated by dogs and some herbalists use alcohol-based tinctures, but be aware that dogs can be sensitive to alcohol toxicity.

IDENTIFYING QUALITY HERBS FOR YOUR DOG

Nothing beats growing herbs yourself, so you have full and complete control over quality. That said, the feasibility of this is not always available to most folks. When foraging for herbs, see the recommendations above.

As for purchasing herbs, your trifecta of criteria is smell, color and taste. Herbs should have a strong aroma, good color, and flavorful taste. When herbs are old and stale, you will not find these three things present. You also want to inquire about where your herbs are coming from and if they are sourced from a reputable company who has quality control in place.

DOSING OF HERBS FOR DOGS

Again, it’s recommended to first consult a professional. If you are feeling educated and comfortable providing herbal support, remember that the size of your dog matters when deciding how much of an herb to provide your dog. What you would give yourself is not what you would give your dog (unless your dog weighs the same as you!). If you have a little 15-pound Shih Tzu, you’ll likely not give them the same amount of something as you would your 100+ pound self. For those of you with giant 150-pound dogs, well, you are in a different category!

More herb doesn’t necessarily mean more help. Always use recommended safe amounts. Also, fresh herbs contain more water. If you’re using dried herbs, they will be more concentrated than fresh, so keep that in mind when reading about amounts. A general conversion that you can calculate from is 1 tablespoon of fresh herb equals 1 teaspoon of dried herb.

According to Simon, “You can start with a lower dose and gradually work your way up to the final dosage. Some dogs will need a smaller and some the higher dose. This way you can work out the best dose for your individual dog. Also with allergic dogs, use single herbs in small doses to be sure the dog is not reacting allergically to that herb. If you start with herbal mixes, and the dog reacts, you won’t know which herb he’s reacting to. Unless you have an acute condition that needs quick treatment, there’s no harm at all in incorporating herbs into the diet slowly.”

Conclusion

For dogs, plants can be a good source of general vitamins, minerals and nutrients. They can also provide effective therapeutic actions. Knowing the what, why, how much, when and when-nots is essential. Hopefully this article provided you with great insights on how to begin. We would love to hear your herbal-wellness-for-dogs stories!

Disclaimer: Information and statements about the products on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or for prescribing any medication. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.