IF IT'S NATURAL IT MUST BE GOOD, MUSTN’T IT ?
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINES FOR ANIMALS
by Mary Boughton, MBE of Dorwest Herbs
Chairman of the National Office of Animal Health’s Companion Animal
Sub-committee
Member of the British Herbal Medicine Association's Veterinary Committee
In these days of green consumerism and environmental awareness, anything
natural has come to be perceived as good and by implication safe for
people, animals and the environment. But how many times does one hear
someone make the mistake of assuming that because something is natural
it must be good and also be safe ? It is of course a common fallacy
but one which is widely held. Many of the most toxic and dangerous substances
known to man are natural but they are by no means accepted as being
safe. Arsenic and lead from the mineral kingdom and yew berries, death
cap mushrooms and foxgloves from the plant world are all good examples
of this, being natural and toxic. However, many very common substances
can be toxic when taken to excess; alcohol, coffee and even water will
kill if large enough quantities are consumed.
So are all natural treatments safe and should we be giving them to our
animals ?
HERBAL MEDICINE
Let’s look at herbal medicine first as it is the oldest form of
medicine. Plants used medicinally are commonly referred to as herbs
and the general supposition is that they are all safe. Certainly those
available for general sale are accepted as having beneficial effects
and very few side effects, whereas others such as digitalis or opium
poppy are strictly controlled under the poisons regulations. Nevertheless
over 80% of conventional medicines have been derived from plant compounds.
Most herbal medicines licensed for animal treatment are used for chronic
or non-life threatening conditions such as arthritis, skin conditions,
travel sickness, anxiety etc. but some licensed herbal medicines are
used in the treatment of more severe conditions such as epilepsy. Herbal
medicines are now widely used in veterinary practice alongside conventional
medicines and are a very useful form of treatment.
They have very few side effects or adverse reactions, which is something
of great concern to owners and offer a holistic approach by working
in harmony with the whole system to deal with the root cause of the
problem rather than purely alleviating the symptoms.
It is important that any medication given to animals, natural or otherwise,
is appropriate for it and this means that it must have been formulated
for that species of animal and have withstood the test of time - a long
time in the case of herbal medicine which has been used for centuries
by all civilizations. Some people mistakenly think it is good to give
their animals medicines or supplements that have been formulated and
manufactured for the treatment of people, without considering the possible
consequences of this. They believe that "if it's pure enough for
me it must be the best possible for my dog or cat". This is a totally
and potentially dangerous belief and can have dire consequences. For
example, the most widely used human medicine, aspirin, is fatal if given
to cats. Yet many people continue to give human medicines and supplements
to their animals convinced that they are giving them the best. The digestive
system and metabolism of domestic pets is totally different from our
own, the life span is shorter and their medication needs to reflect
these differences. Unfortunately some manufacturers who are inexperienced
in animal nutrition and treatments actually perpetuate this myth by
using this 'human quality' tag to endorse their products. Always use
a licensed herbal medicine if you can as this will have been properly
evaluated and many veterinary practices now use them and also sell them
in their waiting rooms.
There are under 30 licensed herbal veterinary medicines in the UK and
these are manufactured by just a few companies, who have been specialising
in herbal medicines for many years. The major manufacturers have advisory
services either by telephone or through their stands at dog and cat
shows so that product information, assistance and advice on the use
of these medicines is always available from trained and experienced
personnel. There are virtually no authoritative books on herbal medicines
for animals although I have recently published a brief guide called
‘Herbal Medicines foo Dogs’ other holistic treatments do
touch on the subject.
HOMŒOPATHY
This is a complete system of medicine that aims to promote general health,
by reinforcing the body’s capacity to heal itself. It works on
the principle of “like cures like” and the remedies are
made from a tincture obtained from plant, mineral or animal sources.
Homœopathy is often confused with herbal medicine but the two disciplines
are entirely different – herbal medicine involves the taking of
a plant, or part of a plant, which has a direct physiological effect
on the body whereas homœopathy uses greatly diluted amounts of
a substance which if given in large doses would cause the symptoms that
the patient is suffering from. At these great dilutions however it promotes
the body’s ability to heal itself. There are two basic ways in
which dilutions are described, the X or decimal scale and the C or centesimal
scale, which is the classical scale used by Samuel Hahnemann who was
the founder of homœopathy. All you need to remember in order to
compare the two scales is that a 6C is equivalent to a 12X, a 15C to
a 30X and so on. The strengths, or potencies, seem unusual to understand
at first as the more diluted the 'mother tincture' from which the remedy
is prepared, the stronger the effect. So a 1C remedy is the least potent
and a 30C is the strongest and the highest normally available for self-administration.
The higher the potency the quicker and deeper its reaction.
The remedies should ideally not be touched by the hand, as this may
effect the remedy, and neither should they be given within 15 minutes
of food if possible. Dispensers are designed to enable the tiny sucrose
tablets or pillules to be administered straight into the mouth of the
animal without being touched. In the past, some homœopaths advised
that the remedies should not be given with strong smelling food or medicines,
such as garlic.
However today's foremost homoeopathic vets confirm that that there is
no need to discontinue giving garlic or any other strong smelling foods
while also giving homoeopathic remedies, indeed herbal medicines work
well alongside homœopathy.
The following books are an excellent source of easy to understand information
on this subject:-
"People are Pets" by Francis Hunter, MRCVS, VETFFHom and Steven
Kaye, PhD, MRPharmS
"Homoeopathic First Aid for Pets" by Christopher Day, MRCVS,
VetFFHom.
AROMATHERAPY AND MASSAGE
The use of essential oils has become very popular in recent years and
can be very beneficial to our animals as well as ourselves. The oils
are mixed with a carrier oil, usually sweet almond oil, and are mainly
absorbed through the skin or diffused in the air. Oils are often used
in conjunction with massage for soothing muscles but can also have a
beneficial affect on pain and inflammation. Many affect the animal’s
temperament by either aiding relaxation or stimulating the system, depending
on the particular oil used. Some oils should only be used by those properly
trained in aromatherapy, others need to be diluted before use, so always
make sure that you use extreme care and stick to the basic aromatherapy
oils which can be safely used on your dog or cat. Some volatile oils
can be dangerous for animals with certain conditions such as epilepsy,
or during pregnancy so always make sure that you check the oil’s
properties before using it. The most commonly used oils which are perfectly
save to use on all animals are Lavender and Chamomile but you should
refer to books on the subject before trying any others. Remember to
always buy the best quality oil that you can afford as a high quality
oil will always be more effective.
A useful book for those wanting to know more on this subject is “Veterinary
Aromatherapy” by Nelly Grosjean, publoished by C W Daniel Co Ltd
ACUPUNCTURE
Many holistic vets use and offer acupuncture treatment and orthodox
ones are increasingly doing so also. It is a form of medicine that has
an affinity with homœopathy as they both work on an energy or dynamic
plane to treat the body. In acupuncture the energy of the body is considered
to flow along pathways throughout the body and these are called meridians.
It originated in the Far East and involves the insertion of fine acupuncture
needles along these meridians in the body to stimulate or slow down
the energy flow. It should only be carried out by a properly qualified
person and when used on animals may only be done in conjunction with
a vet or upon veterinary referral. It has proved to be particularly
useful for pain relief but can help with a wide variety of conditions.
FINALLY
To return to the 'natural' theme and what is and isn’t safe and
proven to help your dog or cat. Herbal medicines that are licensed for
animals are safe to use, have minimal side effects and are effective
in their actions. Their licensed status confirms this. The other forms
of therapy are generally unregulated with regard to their use in animals,
with the exception of homœopathy which has a registration system.
The many products sold as supplements are not designed to be used as
treatments but just as additions to the diet. Always bear in mind that
anything that you give to your dog or cat should have been formulated
especially for them, manufactured by a reputable company, and given
in the recommended quantities. Only give human medicines and supplements
to your pet after consultation with your vet and always purchase from
a reputable company to assure a high quality product.
By using your commonsense and being discerning in your choice, you can
safely use complementary therapies for your animals where this is appropriate,
but they should not take the place of proper veterinary advice when
this is required and acupuncture should only be carried out under veterinary
supervision. Together with good quality food they can all make an important
contribution to your pets condition and well-being. They give the benefit
of the oldest forms of treatment, and upon which much modern medicine
has been based. It may be natural but by following sensible guidelines
it is also safe !