Can Animals Take Herbs?
Many vets recommend Yunnan Baiyao, but what about other herbal formulas?
Herbs are naturally occurring substances, often food grade plants. They tend to be on the safe side, especially when taken for indicated issues. Many animals can tolerate many of these herbs, just as they could easily eat a piece of broccoli off of your plate and be fine. However, there are some substances that are toxic to animals, and allergies are always possible.
It's best to consult your vet, or to seek one that has specific training in natural remedies. It is also good to know that herbs are not pharmaceuticals, and do not often show up in the bloodstream but rather process through the digestive system like food does. When trying herbs for yourself or your pet, it is best to use a small amount and observe for several hours. Do not use concentrated extracts without professional supervision, these are labeled specifically and tend to be one specific compound from a plant, but not the whole plant. Trying a formula with whole herbs is much safer, which is why most are available over the counter.
Precautions
Our licenses and certifications as herbalists do not include veterinary medicine, so please ask your vet. Remember that you can seek out vets that are open minded about you trying herbs with your pets. There are online resources as well like this site/pdf VetWhiskers, that recommends Curing Pills for motion sickness in dogs.
So basically, use caution, consult professionals, but don't be overly fearful either. If you give your pet herbs and they seem uncomfortable, lethargic, have trouble breathing, or develop digestive upset - get to the vet as soon as you can. Many pet owners give their pet gentle food grate formulas that help with minor health issues with no ill effects.
Curing Pills
If you or your pet have diarrhea or vomiting, this gentle, food grade, over the counter formula might be worth trying. It's always best to start with the smallest effective dose. It is designed to address many different causes of stomach and digestive upset, and is very widely used. Can be used for food poisoning in people.
