Kathleen Brown - 10 Herbs for Happy, Healthy Dogs

Kathleen Brown

Thousands of years ago, animals relied on the medicinal powers of plants for healing. They were instinctively drawn to herbs growing in fields and woods as natural remedies for a wide assortment of ills and aches, cuts and scrapes. In fact, animals most likely introduced the benefits of botanicals to early man, who watched these creatures forage for healing plants.

Centuries later, herbs continue to benefit all animals, including our now domesticated dogs. Instinctively, household dogs still seek plant remedies for their ailments. How many of us have watched our dogs tug on leashes to munch on a patch of grass? My dogs frequently nibble on various herbs in my garden, and one is particularly fond of my large lemongrass plant.

Herbs are Mother Natures green pharmacy. When used properly, they provide a bounty of gentle, safe healing goodness. And they usually are free of the side effects commonly associated with commercial products and medications. Although there are hundreds of herbs, Ive selected what I believe are the top 10 herbs for dogs. These herbs earned this ranking because they are safe, easy to obtain, and easy to administer and they address a wide range of common health conditions affecting our canine companions.

The herbal remedies suggested in this bulletin are safe and effective; if any precautions are advisable, Ive noted them with each recipe. However, if your dog is taking any prescription medicine, I encourage you to seek the advice of a holistic-oriented veterinarian before supplementing with herbal remedies, because herbs and drugs can have harmful interactions. If you decide to branch out from the relatively safe and gentle herbs discussed here, you should seek the advice of a qualified professional before giving these new herbs to your dog. And always, always follow label directions.

Health Is Not Herbs Alone

Certainly, herbs serve a vital role in maintaining your dogs health, but you should also ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise, is fed a diet that meets its nutritional needs, and receives lots of TLC (tender loving care) from you. All these components work in harmony toward improving the physical and mental health of your dog and extending its life.

I remember the first time I had to give my horse a shot. It took quite a while to work up the courage to plunge in the needle, but over time I became comfortable administering medicines of all types to my animals, large and small. Giving herbal medicines to dogs is a snap compared to giving them to horses, but its still a little intimidating at first. Its a good skill to have, though, because in an emergency you may be the quickest source of help for your dog. In addition, at-home herbal remedies are cost-effective because you dont have to run to the vet every time theres a minor problem. There are several techniques that work well, and with a little practice, youll become comfortable with them.

Fresh or dried herbs can be finely chopped and sprinkled on top of your dogs commercial food or mixed into one of your homemade recipes. Fresh herbs are generally more potent than dried herbs, but dried herbs have a longer storage time, and theyre available to everyone, even those who havent the time or space for gardening.

If youre lucky enough to have your own garden, you can harvest and dry the bounty yourself, thus ensuring organic quality and freshness. Or you might try purchasing locally grown herbs from reputable growers. If these are not options, obtain the best-quality dried herbs available organic, if possible from dependable sources.

Fresh or dried herbs can be finely chopped and sprinkled on top of your dogs food.

Sip, savor, smile. Ahhh, theres something relaxing and inviting about brewing and drinking a cup of herbal tea. Well, surprise: Your dog can drink tea to its health, too! Make the tea just as you would for yourself (see page 8 for instructions). Cool it completely before pouring it over your dogs chow.

If your finicky dog wont touch food thats been contaminated with medicine, simply use a large plastic syringe (available at most veterinarians offices) to squirt the tea along the dogs lower back teeth. It isnt necessary to open the mouth completely; just insert the tip of the syringe into the side of the mouth toward the back and push the plunger. Then hold the mouth closed and massage the throat gently until the dog swallows.

Tinctures, also known as extracts, are potent liquid botanicals packed into tiny glass bottles with eyedroppers. Tinctures are even easier than teas to give to your dog. Just drip the recommended number of drops into your dogs food or water or pour the dosage into a plastic syringe and squirt it onto your dogs tongue.

If youre using tinctures with an alcohol base, dilute the dose by half in water or mix the drops with a bit of hot water a few minutes before administering to allow the alcohol to evaporate.

You can administer teas and tinctures by squirting them along the dogs lower back teeth from a plastic syringe.

Eardrops are used to treat a variety of ear ailments, including mites and various ear infections. In addition, the ear is filled with tiny capillaries, and medicine applied to the ear is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. To administer, drip a small amount into the ear; tilt the head back; and, holding the ear closed, massage gently. Then do the other ear.

Drip a few drops in the dogs ear, tilt his head back, and hold the ear closed, massaging gently.

Capsules are made from ground herbs packed in a vegetable- gelatin casing. To administer capsules without your dog noticing, hide them in a favorite food, such as meat, peanut butter, or soft bread. To administer the capsule directly, tilt the dogs head back, open the mouth wide, place the capsule over the tongue toward the back, and close the mouth. Hold the mouth closed and stroke the dogs throat gently.

Some commercial varieties of capsules come with special coatings that help the herb slide down your dogs throat and pass into its stomach without a fuss. You can also make your own capsules at home. The supplies are available at most health food stores. I recommend purchasing a plastic tray that enables you to fill about 50 capsules at once. The gelatin capsules come in several sizes, most commonly 00. Making capsules at home is time-consuming, but I think its worth the trouble, because you can customize the blends your dog needs and ensure freshness and viability too.

To administer capsules directly, first pry open the mouth and place the capsule on the tongue in the back of the mouth. Then hold the dogs mouth shut while gently massaging the throat until the dog swallows.