One major problem pet owners have from time to time is a behavioural one, which seems to happen at any age of the pet. As I see from my research and talking to pet owners, anything from cats spraying the furniture, to dogs being aggressive with other dogs or humans. Be it a bird, rabbit, cat or dog, often pets are put on medications because of these problems, similar to Prozac for humans. The problem can often be not with the animal but with the owner, and there are many books on training the owner.But you can’t solve some problems just with training techniques. If you are at your wits end, and have tried all of those self-help books with no successful conclusion to the problem, there are herbal remedies. If you’re pet is anxious, hyperactive or nervous there are different herbs for different applications to a problem or sometimes a combination of several herbs that will help.
Aggressive Behaviour:
This is a problem most vets are asked about, and sometimes the solution is putting the pet on drugs. Whent this happens in cats or dogs is often embarrassing for the pet owner in that, when you are with people or other animals and your pet goes berserk, things can get ugly. A dog or cat or bird that chews off its skin is not in a healthy mental state either, and is being driven mad by allergies, flea allergies, or nervous disorders. I once visited a friend whose cockatoo had chewed off all its feathers, because it was left alone too much and got depressed. Pets get distraught if left alone too long, and one solution is a daily visit from a pet sitter. At the end of the day, try increasing your pet’s amount of exercise by taking them for a walk as soon as you can after coming home. It can increase their appetite, and often perks them back to life again as they were miserable without you. If you have a pet sitter who can walk or spend time with the pet during working hours it breaks up the day for your pet. Also it allows for bathroom breaks which prevent mess ups.
Pets that have been abused are going to be nervous, and may stress out easily in social situations. An herb that promotes calmness in humans as well as pets is from the flowers of the camomile plant. As a child my mother gave me camomile tea at night to help me sleep. Bella donna is a homeopathic remedy that helps overly sensitive animals and reduces unwanted behavioural problems. Traumatic situations such as a trip to the vet, thunderstorms a change of owners, or moving are somewhat difficult for pets to get through on their own. The herb Passiflora Incarnata which have been studied for their properties, by medical analysis that it contains flavonoids which are responsible for its calming effect and anti-anxiety properties. Flavonoids are also powerful anti-oxidants that are anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, and antiviral. It is an herb from the tropics used for hundreds of years often called a “ natural tranquilizer”.Tissue salts like Kalium Phosphate is a biochemic which helps in releasing emotional tension in pets that are normally nervous much of the time and pets that are high strung or have tension. Coat and Skin Odours:
Odours are common and result in skin abscesses, allergic dermatitis, dandruff, warts and hair loss. Did you know that puppies have acne also? These are a result of toxic overload and with the skin and coat they are often caused by bacterial and fungal infections. Some pets develop an allergy to fleas and insect bites. A pet can be bathed with an organic oatmeal shampoo, which can eleviate some of the itching, but also herbal remedies can often help the situation. If a pet has a kidney or thyroid problem there are herbs to help these conditions, including dry skin and the itching from eczema. There are herbs to help the grown of fur and the underlying follicles for a healthier coat and shine, which is very important for any dog or cat, especially show dogs.
Pet Asthma:
Asthma in pets is painful to watch happening with the symptoms of coughing, wheezing and distress in just normal breathing. An herb called Skullcap has been used by herbalists for centuries to treat coughing, bronchitis and whooping cough. Homeopathic remedies such as kali.mur soothe the inflammation and fortifies blood and nerve tissues which are stressed out. Phosphorus is also a remedy for pneumonia, deep coughs, asthma, and the associated stress or anxiety of not being able to breathe properly.
Constipation:
Has your dog ever been constipated? If this condition should continue, a toxic buildup happens in the whole system of the dog, so it should be attended to immediately. That is another painful thing to watch your dog go through. A natural remedy for this is as used by humans Psyllium Husks, and Aloe from the Aloe Vera plant. As we now know that our pets eat plants when they are sick, like grass it stands to reason they know what is good for them and so we should also know more about natural remedies for our pet’s good health.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are usually found in cats, and symptoms are difficulty in urinating, obvious pain, constantly licking, cloudy or bloody urine or fever. Usually antibiotics are prescribed which relieve the symptoms rather quickly. However, antibiotics tend to have a general weakening effect on the immune system. If your cat or dog has a re-occurring UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) it may indicate a weakened immune system, so building that immune system up will certainly help avoid further infections.
Whatever the ailment, check into herbs with your local naturopathic pet doctor, for herbal remedy solutions, and to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and further treatment options available for your pet’s health.
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Good stuff Lani, keep up the good work and enjoy Casey, just keep him away from those bees, not to worry, winter is coming….lolol.
Thanks Teri…I fell more enlightened and prepared now should Casey get stung…meanwhile I will endeavor to keep him away from the wasps
Dogs eat bees or wasps for the nectar they carry, and yes they can get stung in their mouth, or throat if the bee is still alive even to the stomach. Dogs do not chew very much so it could become serious and require a trip to the vet.
I would try to keep Casey away from the hummingbird feeder, or place it higher up. Dogs may have allergic reactions to stings so I would keep some Benadryl handy, the usual dose is 1 milligram per pound of weight, or a 25 mg tablet.
My dog Casey helps me kill the yellow jacket wasps that plague my hummingbird feeders…I use an electric flyswatter and Casey eats them!…he can smell them on the ground if I happen to stun one…he can’t wait to get to it…I don’t know if this some sort of delicacy or if he’s been stung in the past and is on a mission to eat them all!..my concern is him getting stung..in the mouth..throat..I wouldn’t know how to handle that…any suggestions?
I am so glad I read this – my sister is into alternataive health and she told me to give my cat an herbal remedy for his urinary tract infection, and I read your article, so I am all for it now. Wow… natural is so beneficial for pets.
Thank you Annette, for letting us know about your dog’s arthritis, I know its very painful for older dogs, and I do hope the natural foods have helped your pet with a very crippling disease. Much praise to you for patience and trying natural foods for your dog.
Jane, its an up and coming trend as dogs and cats become more diseased and drugs fail – people are turning to natural remedies more often. Thank you for your comment.
What a terrific article! I couldn’t agree more with the natural approach. I use a nutritional approach for myself and almost NEVER run to the doctor for anything. I experimented with all natural food for an elderly, arthritic dog and was amazed at the difference in her. She was livelier and even had a little bounce back in her step. When I went back to prepackaged pet foot her condition reverted back. Keep up the great info!
I certainly believe in herbal remedies for myself so why not our pets! Good article.