Frequently Asked Questions
Is herbal medicine safe? - Yes, when used correctly, and prescribed by a professional, Medicinal Herbs are gentle and effective on the body. The danger comes when an owner is using google as the point of reference, and self prescribing. This may led to combinations of herbs being used that can cause harmful side effects. Always consult an experienced, trained professional practitioner.
How do I give the herbs to my pet? - Depending on the animal, and the condition in need of treatment; your pet may be prescribed TCVM traditional chinese Veterinary Medicine, or Western medicinal herbs in a liquid tonic.
The TCVM is in a fine powdered form, that is best mixed with food. if you feed raw or tinned food you can simply mix it into that, if you feed biscuits then you could either dampen the biscuits with water, or mix the herbs in coconut oil that stir this through the dry food to coat them. Another idea is to use something tasty like tinned sardines or salmon in spring water, to add the herbs to. Then feed this as an entree before the main meal. It is always best to gradually introduce new flavours to avoid issues, 9/10 pets don’t notice they are there, but if you have a fussy eater take a few days to build up to the recommended dose.
With the Western liquid tonics, these are concentrated formulations and should be administered directly into your pets mouth. The dose will be a small number of drops, such as 3 or 5 drops per dose, which is usually 2 x day to be given before meals. They are absorbed via the mucosal lining of the mouth, straight into the blood stream, hence why they are not put into the food, as most of their efficacy will be lost via the digestive tract. However, if your pet is not willing to let you pop the drops straight into their mouth, then I suggest a small spoonful of yoghurt, coconut oil, nut butter can be used to mix the drops into and allow them to lick them up that way.
How long will I need to use the herbs for? - Every animal is different, and every type of health concern will require different types of herbs and different lengths of treatment. This is the beauty of Natural medicine, a treatment plan can be created to be specific to your pets needs. I see your pet as an individual, with a unique set of symptoms, and the herbs I prescribe can be tailored to their particular picture. One size does not fit all. So the duration of treatment depends on the needs of your pet. Your pet will lead the way.
What about side effects from the herbs? - When prescribed correctly by a trained and experienced professional, herbal medicine is incrediably safe, with no side effects. The body knows how to use them, and they become the tools used by your pet to restore health.
Can I use Herbs with the medicines my Vet has prescribed? - In most cases herbs and veterinary medicines can be integrated well together. An experienced Animal Naturopath will be familiar with any contraindications and knows how to safely combine herbs with veterinary medicines. In cases where both types of treatment are used, herbs can often reduce the side effects of the chemical medicines, and may lead to the dose of the veterinary medicine being reduced.
Does Natural Medicine really work? - Absolutely with out a doubt YES! Animals are a great advocate for the power of Herbs. I have been in practice for well over a decade, and I have helped thousands of cats and dogs restore their body to health. The animal has no preconceived idea or bias about herbs, they eat them, and because the body knows how to use them, it is able to take them as tools to restore a balanced healthy state. Some pets take the herbs for a short time and get back on track. Some take them seasonally. and some require a low dose long term as a missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle to keep their body on track. Your pet will get its sparkle back! Please read my client Testimonials on the home page of this website for beautiful heartwarming stories.
My pet has been back and forth to the vets for years, I have spent a lot of money on drugs and the problem keeps coming back, could natural medicine help? - Obviously there are no guarantees in life, but I can say that I have helped many cats and dogs in this very situation. Some owners have spent thousands on their pets, and have made very little progress. These animals can be helped, some may need a combination of herbs and vet medicines, some may come off their veterinary medicine all together, the thing is its not magic, it can take a few months of treatment to restore health, but during that time there will be slow but sure progress towards balance and health; the body simply wants to be healthy after all.
How long before I will see results with Natural Veterinary Medicine? - The Western Liquid tonics start working on a faster level that the Powdered TCVM chinese herbs. They are prescribed to form different layers of symptom relief and long term metabolic changes. Rough rule of thumb is it can take 1 month of treatment for every year the condition has been an issue. But always bearing in mind that every animal is different, so I will let your pet lead the way and tell us what they need.
What Pet Health Conditions can you treat with Natural Veterinary Medicine? - All common conditions respond well to natural Veterinary Medicine. The most common issues I treat in clinic would be skin conditions, and gut issues. But I do have a high number of clients with seizures, cancers, renal issues, liver issues, pancreatitis, arthritis and other musculoskeletal issues, and allergies. They all respond to herbs, some require Veterinary medicines plus herbs to keep the body full of energy, and reduce side effects, but most are helped by herbs as the sole treatment.
I am very confused and frustrated by what to feed my pet can you help?- Yes I absolutely can. Pet food is expensive, so you want a choice that your pet enjoys, but provides the correct nutrients for their life stage and species. There are so many different options avaliable and I am not biased to a brand or type, but I am passionate about Bioavailability for your pet. This means can your pet break down the food correctly, and absorb the nutrients to maintain a healthy metabolism? or are you hard earned dollars coming out your pets back end as waste?
I have a new Puppy or Kitten, and I want them to stay healthy can you advise me on this?- Absolutely! I love consultations with new pet owners! Preventative health is another key passion of mine. How we can keep our pet happy and healthy for life. Feeding them a bioavailable diet, keeping them as toxin free as possible. I can advise you on all those things.
I hate giving my pet those chemical wormers and flea treatments, is there another way that works?- Yes there is, I have advise on flea treatments, and I formulate a worming tonic that is given every 3 months to ensure the lifecycle of worms and the eggs hatching can be kept under control. Its gentle and effective if there are worms there, you will see them come out in the stool. This is available to purchase from my website store.