Herbs: Building a Healthy Immune System in My Puppy

Here are some herbs that are known to help build a healthy immune system in our beloved pets: Dogs are naturally carnivores, so you will want to chop fresh herbs finely or use dried herbs over food in order for their bodies to digest it well. But, in nature, you will see dogs eating the foods that they know that their body needs...it is amazing!

If you use dried herbs, the powdered form seems to digest better and they seem to accept that more readily.

It is best to select organic herbs and start off using smaller amounts to make sure that your pet does not have any allergies to anything. Begin with one herb at a time, so you know what it is that they might be allergic to if they have a reaction. Overall, herbs are much safer than anything else that you can give them. If you aren't sure, call a natural veterinarian and they will be able to help you: https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/#!directory/map/ord=lnm

We would not do herbs daily, but give breaks in between and just use once a month or so, to build their immune system and keep them healthy.

We are not veterinarians, we are just sharing things we have either read or tried that have worked well for us. Enjoy learning new things so you can keep your animals healthy and hopefully the will be with you for a very long time.

We have found these ways to be the easiest to getting our dogs take the herbs:

1. Powder form over food

2. Make a tea and add it to water

3. Put it in a capsule and give it to them like you would any other pill or vitamin

4. Plastic squeeze bottle and squirt a little at a time in side of cheek

• Turmeric: for joint pain, liver, gastrointestinal issues and immune system-it is a powerful anti-inflammatory and is also antimicrobial, so it is also used to fight cancer.

  • To use: sprinkle 1 TBSP over food

• Aloe: Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Great to put over sores, relieve burns or irritated skin. This also works well if used internally to help digestive issues.

  • To use: Rub (externally) on the area that is hurting

• Echinacea: This is great for building the immune system as well as arthritis in pets

• Dandelion Root: Bladder stones and urinary tract infections. This is also a natural prebiotic that can help the good flora in their digestive system and it is effective in cleansing the liver. These flowers are more nutritious than kale. It can also be used to replenish needed vitamins for older dogs.

• Ginger: Helps with nausea and oxidative stress along with building the immune system. It helps with bloating and gas or any other digestive issues.

• Calendula: It is a known antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial. It makes a great salve for wounds, cuts, and scrapes. Calendula helps wounds heal more quickly.

• Slippery Elm: Helps with diarrhea and upset stomach. It also helps with sore throat, compromised immune system, coughs, and wounds. Any animal suffering from infection or inflammation will benefit from this. Use: 1/4 tsp twice daily mixed with milk or yogurt small dogs, 1/2 tsp twice daily mixed with milk/yogurt medium dogs, 1 tsp twice daily mixed with milk/yogurt large dogs.

• Milk Thistle: This is a great liver detoxifier. It is also considered an anti-aging herb. It is often used to fight cancer. It is known for regenerating liver issues. It flushes out medication and residues from vet drugs. This helps dogs with allergies as well in flushing out things that the dog might be allergic to.

• Nettle: A nutritious herb that provides vitamins and minerals to the whole body. It is a natural diuretic, hemostatic, and astringent. It is also used to treat diabetes in animals, kidney support and bone health. Use 1/8 tsp for small dogs, 1/4 tsp medium dogs, 1/2 tsp large dogs.

• Licorice Root: It is known for reducing joint pain and arthritis. According to The Whole Dog Journal, "The anti-inflammatory activity of licorice root is primarily attributable to a chemical called 'glycyrrhizin' which is present in the plant." This is also used to treat skin conditions.

• CoQ10: Is great for supporting older dogs with congestive heart failure. According to Whole Foods Magazine, CoQ10 is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like antioxidant the body needs to maintain natural energy production inside the mitochondria of cells. Vets use this supplement to slow the progression of heart failure.

• Parsley: This is helpful for bad breath as well as dental issues. It is also a natural anti-microbial to help your dogs immune system.

• Peppermint: Helps with fresh breath and digestive issues.

• Chamomile: To calm the nerves of your pet.

• Rosemary: Loaded with antioxidants to help your puppy's immune system. It also helps remove any free radicals or toxins in their body to keep them free of sickness and disease.

• Burdock Root: A detoxifier, helps with skin issues, and digestion. Small dogs use 1/4 tsp daily, Medium dogs 1/2 tsp daily, Large dogs 1 tsp daily.

• Alfalfa: Often called the "King of the herbs", is great for inflammation, detoxing, and digestion, joint pain, autoimmune diseases. Use 1/4 tsp small dogs, 1/2 tsp medium dogs, 1/2 tsp large dogs daily.

• Ginseng: Produces energy, blood circulation, boost nutrient absorption, strengthens the immune system and rids the body of toxins and free radicals. Use 1/8 tsp small dogs, 1/4 tsp medium dogs, 1/2 tsp large dogs

• Basil: It helps a dogs body to deal with stress...it is an adaptogen along with being a great herb for the immune system.

Here are some common health concerns and herbs that can help:

1. Dog Allergies: nettle, liquorice root, ashwagandha, ginseng, echinacea, calendula

2. Anxiety: chamomile, valerian root, lavender

3. Joint Health: turmeric, ginger, boswellia

4. Digestive Issues: peppermint, fennel, ginger, marshmallow root, slippery elm bark

5. Urinary Health: cranberry, marshmallow root

6. Sking and coat health: burdock root, calendula, ashwagandha, cleavers, chickweed, dandelion, yellow dog

7. Respiratory health: mullein, licorice

8. Dental: peppermint, neem, echinacea, seaweed, chamomile, sage

9. Eyes: billberry, astaxanthin, ginseng

10. Weight management: Eating healthy (raw diet) garcinia cambogia, seaweed or kelp, milk thistle, dandelion (make sure to get a veterinarian to help you with this as well).

11. Senior Dog health: ginseng, turmeric

Here are some things taken from this book: (these herbs are beneficial for dogs and cats) This book is packed full of valuable information if you plan to treat your dogs (and cats) naturally, so we recommend it for everyone with those intentions.

To make a standard infusion you need:

• One large handful of the fresh herb or 2 heaping TBSP dry herb

• cut up small if the herb has large leaves

• Prepare with a pint of cold water

• Cover well, then simmer until near boiling (do not boil)

• Pull off the heat to sit for 4 hours (do not strain)

• Make a fresh infusion every 3 days, two or less days in hot weather

To make a strong infusion you need:

• Place the herbs in a pan with a 1/2 pint of cold water per handful of herbs

• Heat to boiling point, boil for no longer than 3 minutes, then set aside to brew for at least 7 hours (overnight is even better)

• Throughout the heating and steeping periods, keep tightly lidded to prevent escape of steam and volatile properties of herbs.

• After steeping, pour into a jar without straining, and cover to keep dust from getting in, but allow entry of air.

Dose: The average dose is the amount given to a cocker spaniel size dog=2 TBSP in the morning and at night and given at least 30 minutes before eating. Decrease dose accordingly for larger or smaller breeds. There is no risk of giving too much with herbs, like medicines, except that which is poisonous for a dog...of which it is important to stay away from anyway.

The best way of administering the infusions is from a plastic squeeze bottle with a pointy tip. Just squirt it into the dogs mouth near the side of his/her mouth.

Here is an example of some things that you will find in the book above:

Abrasions: From an ill-fitting collar, an accident which tears off the hair, skin disease which causes biting or itching

• Treatment: Make an infusion of young leaves of blackberry and apply externally twice daily. Add witch hazel extract as well. If you don't have blackberry leaves, elder flowers and rosemary leaves can be used instead.

Arthritis: Having an overly acidic diet is the chief cause

• Treatment: Internal dosing with rosemary brew; also feed chopped, raw parsley and comfrey leaves mixed in with the meat. Comfrey is often called the arthritic herb. Boiled nettles are also curative. Externally massage the area with a lotion of four teaspoons olive oil, one part linseed oil, to which add a 1/2 tsp eucalyptus oil. Sunflower oil is also good, used in place of the linseed.

• We also recommend turmeric. We have found great success with people and animals with using turmeric powder in food.

Hip Dysplasia: A stumbling gait of hind legs. Usually due to faulty diet, deficient in natural bone-forming foods and lack of exercise. Puppies are not born with hip dysplasia, though there is a tendency to inheritance if the parents have not been well reared. The abnormality develops slowly over the years when insufficient dietary care and good exercise are given to keep the limbs normally healthy.

• Treatment: There is none. It is best to give a natural rearing diet plus provision of ample exercise. Give bone-forming cereals, especially oats, sufficient fiber, and natural calcium in the form of big, raw bones to gnaw, raw eggs, but not too many eggs-3-4/week in the month. Give buttermilk, cheese whey, white cheese-they are rich in calcium-grated coconut and sufficient safe oils (sesame, sunflower, etc.)

  • Give puppies these things so they do not develop hip dysplasia: vitamins, particularly C and E, for they are known to prevent bone weakness. Dried fruits are all potassium rich, especially figs and dates. Give crushed sunflower seeds, also drops of evening primrose in milk. Evening primrose grows wild on sand dunes or can be obtained from herbal shops.

  • Once the disease has developed, feeding raw, finely minced comfrey leaves or giving comfrey tablets has achieved cures. Dosage of comfrey would be 1 TBSP minced comfrey leaves with midday and evening meal, or three comfrey tablets morning and night for an average dog, to be given 5 days a week until ailment is cured. Honey may also be given. It is very bone building: it says so in the Bible.

We recommend Doc Jones herbs and information. He is a veterinarian that has also thoroughly studied and safely used herbs on his puppy patients: https://homegrownherbalist.net/search-results/?q=dog

Here is another veterinarian and pioneer with both herbs and a more holistic approach to animals: https://www.drharveys.com/products/type/dogs/supplements?utm_campaign=2-QRY-Consideration-Prospecting-Products-Dogs-Breakout-New&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_term=&gad_source=1

Veterinarians and health professionals disagree on what is safe and unsafe regarding herbs for animals. Here are a list of herbs, I would ask your veterinarian about before using to be sure that you are giving your puppy the best: (small amounts of some of these are okay, but check with your veterinarian first)

• Garlic and Onion

• Pennyroyal

• Tansy

• Comfrey

• Wormwood

• Borage

• Pennywort

• Autumn Crocus

Here is an article that we found helpful about herbs to avoid for dogs and cats: https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/best-worst-plants-for-pets/

Please read our blog about food grade diatomaceous earth here.

Although this information is not exhaustive, we hope that it is a good start to help assist you in your journey of keeping your loving dog happy and healthy. Please consult your veterinarian if you have any questions.