Rules of Safe and Effective Herb Use

1. Try to think of the "bigger health picture" when making decisions about using herbs for your companion animal. Herbs are generally poor substitutes for conventional drugs. They are best used as part of a holistic healing effort, where all aspects of an animal's health, not just symptoms, are considered. 2. Use herbs carefully and with common sense. Although herbs tend to be gentler and safer than conventional drugs, some are very strong medicine and can cause harm to your animal if misused. 3. More is not necessarily better. Be conservative with the amount of the herb remedy you use, especially if used internally. No two animals are alike, and some will require a larger dose than others, but always start small. The desired effects of many herbs can often be reached in dogs or cats with very small doses, and remember that even some of the nutritional "food-herbs" can cause health problems if fed excessively. You can add a pinch of garlic, for example, once daily to your dog's food to help prevent worms and lend antioxidant qualities to your animal's diet, but using too much on a continuing basis can lead to digestive upsets or even serious blood disorders. 4. Avoid using a specific herbal product until you know something about the herbs that are in it, and learn whether they can be used safely with your particular animal. Remember, just because the herb works well for your neighbor's cat, doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for yours, especially if your feline has a preexisting health problem. For instance, although safe and effective for improving digestion and blood circulation in most dogs, ginger root might aggravate preexisting inflammation in the digestive tract if used improperly. 5. Buy your products from well-established, reputable manufacturers who are familiar with the special requirements and limitations of your companion animal. Although many of the herbal remedies formulated for humans can be safely applied to dogs and cats, the manufacturers of human products probably know very little about how herbs should be used in animals. It will be entirely up to you and your veterinarian to determine which human herb products may be appropriate for your dog or cat, and the correct amount to use. It is much better to use products formulated and labeled specifically for the type of animal you are treating. 6. Always test for allergic reactions before using any herb for the first time. In my experiences, herb allergies are rare, but it's best to be safe. Place a small dab of the herb product onto your animal's skin. If redness or swelling occurs, your pet may be allergic to it. If your companion passes this simple test (i.e. no redness or swelling), proceed with a very small, fractional dose of the product when you apply it the first time. Watch for watery eyes, sneezing, scratching, rashes, stomach upset or anything else out of the ordinary. With that said, don't be too alarmed if your cat foams at the mouth when given a bitter herb. This is fairly common and seldom points toward an adverse effect. I see this all the time when goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is used to treat gum infections in felines. Goldenseal is very safe in small amounts -- I use or recommend it all the time -- but I can always expect the cat to foam up. Don't you just love cats?