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Herbals and Pet Care As with human medicine, herbalists have put forth many uses for natural products in pets. The primary problems that exist with herbal use in human medicine also pose a potential threat in veterinary health care, that is undiagnosed problems which may be improperly treated. As may be seen by the discussion below, treatment by these methods may allow infection to occur or flourish untreated or may mask a problem that, if allowed to progress, may prove harmful to the animal. In the opinion of this instructor, the best advice a pharmacist can give a pet owner is to seek professional veterinary care for their pet. In the interest of informing the pharmacist and educating them to treatments that they may encounter in counselling pet owners, following is a list of natural products and their purported value in treating animals that have been published in the lay literature. These are NOT presented as confirmed treatments and should not be recommended to pet owners.

Arthritis and body aches (a common problem, especially in older dogs) -- Herbalists recommend the application of local capsaicin cream. While capsaicin is used in human medicine to alleviate the pain associated with joint injury, it does not treat the inflammation associated with arthritis. Its used in pets has not proven effective in the treatment of arthritis.

Behavioural modification -- Chamomile tea has been recommended for the treatment of pet irritability, valerian tea for hyperactivity, and application of hot pepper sauce or flakes to furniture on which the animal chews. The latter recommendation is the only one that has been recommended by veterinarians in the past.

Periodontal disease (again, a common problem in pets) -- Echinacea tea swabs have been recommended to prevent infection. Additionally, goldenseal flushes have been recommended.

Diarrhœa -- Slipperly Elm Bark infusions, administered orally, have been recommended.

Ear Disorders -- Calendula flush (again to promote healing) and yellow dock tincture as a miticide. As stated previously, these treatments may allow the infestation to progress, ultimately causing hearing loss if not properly treated.

Skin Disorders -- tea (for the tannic acid which acts as an astringent) and aloe

Colds -- In addition to echinacea tea, a natural cough syrup of wild cherry syrup and horehound and mullein tea for sore throat has been recommended.

Dry Fur -- A rubbing compound of olive oil and sage has been recommended.

These represent a few of the natural products that have been recommended by those who support the use of alternative therapies for pets.

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