Q and A: Herbal Therapy for Pets

Q: First of all...what is traditional Chinese herbal therapy for pets?

A: As it applies to animals, herbal therapy is a subset of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) that uses herbs to promote natural healing and normal processes that occur in the body. In the Western world, we often consume herbs as teas or supplements, usually as single-ingredient products to achieve a desired outcome. Chamomile can help with sleep. Lavender can help with anxiety. Red yeast rice can be used to lower cholesterol. Turmeric is used for its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger and mint are used to reduce gastrointestinal distress. Well...TCVM takes it one step further. Most commonly, a single herb is not enough to achieve the goals we have established for our patients. For example, for a given patient, we may want to rebuild muscle to combat weakness/atrophy following an injury or surgical procedure, or to offer support to arthritic joints that are painful. You may ask, what herb can accomplish that? The answer is not just one herb, but several herbs combined. TCVM most often incorporates several herbs at different concentrations to create an "herb formula" that can, in fact, achieve some of all of the goals that we have established.

Q: Is it really possible that my pet will take herbs willingly?

A: As with all medications, it somewhat depends. Herbal formulas can be administered in a variety of ways. My preferred dosing methods include the following:

1. In a capsule containing the concentrated, granulated herbal formula. Maybe the capsule will have to be hidden inside a hot dog (this can even work for some cats), or maybe it can just be coated with peanut butter (for dogs).

2. As simply concentrated granules, which some pets (mostly dogs) will consume willingly mixed into their usual food, or especially when mixed into something yummier.

3. As a tincture, which can be flavored. Cats may prefer a flavored liquid formula that tastes fishy, so that the herb flavors can be somewhat masked. This formulation is best for smaller pets.

   
   

Q: Ok...so can you give me some examples of conditions - that occur in pets - for which herb therapy would be an appropriate choice?

A: Sure! The list is endless...but I'll give you my top five conditions that I would readily reach for herbals as part of my treatment plan.

1. Rear limb weakness and pain

   1. Say you have a big dog who just tore its anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which requires surgical repair. Your dog is non-weight bearing on that leg for a few weeks before surgery, and then another 3-6 weeks after surgery. What happens to the muscle in the leg that is not used for several weeks? You guessed it...disuse muscle atrophy. Once the leg is healed from surgery, your dog has to work even harder to bear weight on a leg that is still painful and now much weaker than it was even before surgery took place. It will take months to regain the muscle mass that was lost. What if there was an herbal formula that could maintain your dog's muscle mass even during those weeks that he/she was non-weight bearing to help them return to full weight-bearing function faster and make the recovery process shorter?

   2. Say you have a small dog with a congenital (present from birth) joint abnormality such as a grade 2/4 medial patellar luxation (MPL)...their patellas (kneecaps) pop in and out of the femoral groove because it did not form properly, and as a result, they have episodes of patellar luxation, periodically hobbling around on three legs until the patella returns to the proper position in the joint. It happens more frequently as they age, and eventually all those episodes of luxation result in secondary osteoarthritis in that particular joint. Now, the episodes have become especially painful, and your dog is limping regularly. What if there was an herbal formula that could rebuild muscle to more effectively support and stabilize the patella in the femoral groove...thereby reducing the frequency of luxation, and helping your dog feel more comfortable and stable when walking?

   3. Say you have a big dog again...and they're not as young as they once were. When generalized osteoarthritis (OA) enters the picture, rear leg weakness is a big problem for dogs over 40 pounds. As a result, they start to compensate for their painful hips/knees by shifting a percentage of their weight forward to the front legs...and what is the result? Yes...we are back to disuse muscle atrophy. The evidence: your dog may struggle to rise from sitting or laying down, they "bunny hop" when they want to run or climb stairs, they can no longer jump into your car without your help. They have lost their confidence, and you can see they are in pain. So, what if there was an herbal formula that could rebuild and maintain muscle mass without the need for physical therapy or any additional effort whatsoever?

   4. Say that you have a cat...and they're not as young as they once were. They no longer use their cat tree. They now need to jump on a chair first before they can manage to reach your bed. They may not limp...they hide their pain well...but the signs of osteoarthritis (OA) are all there. They are weak, and they've lost the confidence to jump to heights that they used to reach with ease. What if there was an herbal formula that could give them back their strength by rebuilding the muscle that they lost? What if they could have their confidence returned to them?

2. Urinary tract infections

   1. Say you have a female dog with a condition commonly referred to as a "hooded vulva." The deep-set anatomy of the vulva creates an environment where moisture is retained in the folds of skin surrounding that region, and as a result, yeast proliferates where moisture is retained. Luckily, yeast organisms cannot survive in the urinary tract and won't cause a primary infection...but yeast does make your dog itchy...and she licks that area constantly. The licking introduces bacteria...and before you know it, your dog ends up with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Treatment options are usually 1) surgical correction of the external anatomy or 2) medical management with anti-bacterial/anti-fungal wipes applied daily, as well as management of any UTIs that occur as a secondary complication with oral antibiotics. Lots of people opt for option 2. However, what if, in addition to medical management, there was an herbal formula that could enhance the urinary bladder's natural resistance to pathogens that cause bacterial UTIs? Well, perhaps at the very least, you could avoid treating your dog with antibiotics for those UTIs time, after time, after time.

   2. Say you have a dog that is prone to forming urinary crystals or bladder stones ("crystalluria" or "uroliths," respectively). Both of these conditions result in irritation and inflammation of the lining in the urinary bladder...and secondary UTIs occur frequently. Your dog hates the "urinary diet" that they have to eat exclusively to prevent recurrence of crystal/stone formation. They probably miss their favorite treats the most. Well...what if there was an herbal formula that could itself prevent crystal/stone formation, or another formula that could enhance the bladder's resistance to bacterial pathogens that cause UTIs? Fewer trips to the vet for recurrent UTIs...it's a win-win.

3. Gastrointestinal (GI) sensitivities

   1. Say that your dog is prone to vomiting or diarrhea...you've tried so many different diets, you've lost count. Paying for expensive diets doesn't solve the problem. Nothing sits well with them. You can't offer them new treats, and forget about table scraps. You're tired of dealing with diarrhea, and so is your dog. So...what if there was an herbal formula that could strengthen your dog's GI system? What if they could have the diet they want...and not vomit or have diarrhea as a result?

   2. Say your cat has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Again, you’ve tried every diet on the shelf for sensitive stomachs. They’ve lost weight, they lack energy, and eventually they lost interest in food. They eat because they have to for survival, but they can no longer enjoy the food they once loved. You’ve resorted to daily oral administration of immunosuppressants (usually steroids) to reduce the inflammation in their GI tract and give them some much-needed relief. What if there was an herbal formula that could reduce the inflammation in their GI tract without suppressing their entire immune system?

   3. On the opposite end of the spectrum…your pet is constipated. You’ve increased moisture in their diet as much as possible. You’ve given laxatives when necessary. But the problem isn’t going away, and it hurts you to see them strain every time they have a bowel movement. What if there was an herbal formula that could cure them of that pain?

4. Anxiety disorders

   1. Say you have a dog who suffers from separation anxiety…they may even be prone to anxiety-induced destructive behaviors. They chew blankets or tear apart pillows (and maybe they even consume the fabric which predisposes them to a gastrointestinal obstruction). You’ve resorted to kenneling them whenever you’re away from home, and you can’t even leave them with a toy for comfort. They refuse to eat when you’re gone, so no number of treats will help; they might even refuse to eat if they see that you’re preparing to go somewhere. You hate seeing them suffer, and you dread going to work for a full day when it means they will be at home alone, and you know that they are miserable without you. Maybe you’ve resorted to medicating with anti-depressants or even mild sedatives on those days that you can’t be present with them for an extended period of time. But…what if there was an herbal formula that could give them relief from the anxiety and fear that they feel on a daily basis?

   2. Say you have a dog that, for no apparent reason, licks constantly? They lick themselves (even if they don’t have other symptoms of allergies, or their allergies are well-managed), they lick the furniture, they lick the carpet, they lick you…and they Just. Can’t. Stop. Licking. They lay down for bed at night, and they lick for 30 minutes straight until they can’t lick any more, and they finally go to sleep? But then the licking wakes you up again at 3:00am…why can’t they stop licking? Something isn’t right. Licking is a self-soothing mechanism for pets. So what is the problem, and what can be done? What if there was an herbal formula that could relieve their anxiety…and gradually, the licking behavior disappears.

5. Cancer

   1. The word that no pet owner wants to hear, and no one can prepare themselves for it when it happens. What do you do? Meet with a veterinary oncologist – pursue their recommendations for chemotherapy or targeted radiation therapy? Perhaps (and yes, I’d recommend those options as well, depending on the type of cancer and the degree of progression). Is there anything outside of the world of chemotherapy and radiation that could improve the prognosis and extend the life of your pet? What if there was an herbal formula that could 1) shrink a tumor or slow the rate of growth, 2) reduce the risk or rate of metastasis, or 3) enhance your pet’s natural defenses to cellular mutations and abnormal cell division? Well…there are. Depending on the type of cancer present, it is entirely possible that chemotherapy or radiation will still give your pet the best chance of survival for an extended period of time. But what about the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation? What if there was an herbal formula that could help your pet 1) maintain appetite in the aftermath of receiving treatments or 2) reduce the side effects of such treatments?

Q: So if my pet is already on medications for pre-existing conditions, are herbal formulas safe to be taken with their other meds?

A: Yes! Herbs are very safe and will not interact with any medications that your pet may already be taking.

Q: Are there any side effects with herbal therapy?

A: Side effects are very rare. The only commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal (GI), such as vomiting or diarrhea. That being said, Dr. Rachel has never treated a patient with herbs whose owners reported vomiting as a side effect. Animals with known GI sensitivities are most prone to having soft stools, and occasionally, diarrhea; however, this is usually able to be mitigated by adjusting to or starting with a lower dose of herbs initially and then working more gradually up to the desired dose.

It can be so difficult knowing where to start when it comes to managing your pet's care and their needs. As an integrative veterinarian, I'm here to tell you that answers are out there; you might just need help knowing where to look.

Hopefully, you've enjoyed this Q and A overview on how herbal therapy can be beneficial for pets. If you've never experienced the ✧ magic ✧ of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and herbal therapy, I hope this will be the push you need to give it a try.

Until next time, Dr. Rachel