Natural Pet Health Remedies

Natural health care for pets has become quite fashionable. In fact, there are holistic veterinarians who specialize in many of these treatment options, which may include herbal remedies, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, supplements and more. However, “natural” does not mean the treatment is automatically “safe” and most of these require a veterinarian’s expert advice to use safely. After all, if you expect an herbal remedy to act in a positive manner for health--if it’s used incorrectly, it also has the potential for causing harm. Herbs are medicines that can interact with “regular” prescriptions and potentially cause overdoses or even counteract and nullify other treatments. Bach Flower Remedies are unique, though. They are considered a type of “vibrational” healing that affects the emotions of the pet. What’s more, if you choose the wrong treatment, it won’t cause any harm--it simply won’t do anything. Choosing the right one can have incredibly positive benefits…or in some cases, not help at all. Every pet is different so what works for one may not be as helpful for another. There are 38 individual Bach Flower Remedies. Each benefits a different emotional state. Sometimes combinations are used for greater effect--and the pre-mixed “Rescue Remedy” often is available alongside the other 38 individual essences. Rescue Remedy is recommended for any kind of acute (sudden) stress. Gentian is said to help general depression, Gorse for severe depression and Star of Bethlehem for grief. Centaury helps with excessive submission while Vine works for aggression. You can find these at health food stores. They can be a bit pricy, but the bottles last a long time. They’re used by mixing only 1-2 drops of the undiluted remedy in a one-ounce glass dropper bottle, adding spring water, and shaking at least 100 times. Refrigerate and the bottle will last two weeks. You give the pet four drops four times a day until the behavior changes--it may take a few days to two weeks to see a difference. You can also add to yogurt and offer as a treat.