Herbs For Dogs
from Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments
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Herbs For Dogs from Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments |
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You are here: Home > Herbal DogKeeping Articles > Do-It-Yourself Supplements Do-It-Yourself SupplementsAs a Medical Herbalist, I don't see the need for a lot of commercial mineral and vitamin supplements preferring to suggest that natural sources of such things are preferable, usually cheaper, and more easily assimilated than the commercial variety.Let us consider some of the Vitamins and Minerals one at a time. Vitamin A: Is found in Eggs, Fish Oil, Carrots and Leafy Green Vegetables and is therefore much better fed as such, rather than as processed supplements. Vitamin B: Is found in all grains, and the idea of giving Vitamin B supplements to animals which have grain in their diet is a complete nonsense. Vitamin B12 is a little harder to get and is best found in the herb Comfrey, which can be included OCASIONALLY AND IN SMALL QUANTITES, and in these doses is a valuable supplement. Bioflavinoids: Can be supplied with a little Buckwheat to provide Rutin especially for healthy blood vessels. Calcium and Silica: Are found in Bones, Cereals and Leafy Greens. I contend that diets high in dairy food and calcium supplements are inappropriate and detrimental for pups and for adult dogs. This mostly because the balance between Calcium and other minerals and fat, while suitable to growing calves, is not suitable for either dogs or humans. The specific cereals I strongly recommend be included in all dog diets are freshly ground Millet and Linseed to which can be added some Buckwheat and fresh Wheat Germ. The Calcium to Silica and other mineral balance found in Millet and Linseed is absolutely perfect for the growth, health and strength of bones and for the health, strength and elasticity of ligaments. In other words this simple cereal combination does it all. Vitamin C: Is found in fresh greens in abundance. At times of illness, shock or unusual physical stress, a few Rosehips Tea Bags steeped in boiling water and allowed to cool will provide massive extra amounts of Vitamin C and Iron to aid in recovery from such an episode. Choline: Is found in bitter vegetables and the leaves of Dandelions and is critical for effective liver function. A dandelion leaf can be included sometimes in the vegetable component of the raw food diet. Otherwise let a few dandelions and other weeds and grasses grow around the yard and watch your dog seek them out for liver support, occasionally. Vitamin D: Is synthesised by the action of Sunlight on Skin and found in Fish Oils. Not needed so much for the working dog living outside, but could well be important for the house pet waiting inside all day for its owner's return. Cod Liver Oil provides the entire Vitamin A and D requirement. Vitamin E: Is found in fresh wheat germ along with the whole range of Vitamin B's and is the commercial source of both E's and B's. A little fresh wheat germ included with the cereal components of the raw food diet is all that is required. Anything more expensive or more processed is a nonsense. Iron: Is found in Meat, Wheat Germ and in Green Vegetables especially Parsley and Nettle and Rosehips. Trace Elements: Are all found in Kelp. It all boils down to Meat, Offal and Bones, Eggs, Millet and Linseed, Green and Root Vegetables, Wheat Germ, Cod Liver Oil, Kelp and a small amount of table scraps. To this I would add Garlic as a protection against infection and a sulphur source, the inclusion of the odd weed like Dandelion and Comfrey and the odd exposure to Rosehips. Robert McDowell Herbalist August, 2000 [ View the Print-friendly Text-Only Version of this page ] © 2003 Herbal-DogKeeping.Com. All Rights Reserved. |
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