Doc's Blog!, Updates
Your Dogs Need Herbs Too!
Mar
Announcing HerbPet.Com!
Having been a practicing veterinarian since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, I’ve had a lot of experience taking care of dogs. In fact, it was a dog that officially began my journey as an herbalist. It was a black Labrador. She was in liver failure. Unfortunately, modern medicine really doesn’t have diddly for liver failure cases. I’d been treating her in my hospital for about a week. I had her on an IV and was giving her supportive medications but we really weren’t making any progress. Her gums and the whites of her eyes were dark yellow with severe jaundice and she was only weakly responsive.
The owners were really attached to her and had a sweet young child that adored her. So, giving up and letting the poor dog go wasn’t something they were prepared to do. And so we carried on, doing our best to keep her comfortable and waiting for the inevitable. One day a friend of mine came into the clinic. He saw the dog and asked what was going on with her. I told him about her troubles and that I didn’t think I was doing her much good. He said, “You should call Mickey. He’ll have some stuff that can help her.” Mickey Young was a fellow from church. I didn’t know him very well other than that he was a very nice guy and had been a National Finals Rodeo Bareback Bronco Champion back in the day and was an accomplished cowboy. Turns out Mickey was an herbalist.
I called Mickey and talked to him about the case. After I described the situation he said. “You need some #27. I’ll bring some over.” An hour later Mickey and I did a “drug deal” in the parking lot that involved a Ziploc bag full of green powder. He told me to mix the powdered herbs with a little water and squirt them into the dog with a syringe a few times a day. I figured I had nothing to lose. The dog CERTAINLY had nothing to lose…so I stared giving the herbs.
The next day, the dog wanted to eat something for the first time in a week.
Two days later, the jaundice was gone.
Three days later the dog was chomping at the bit to go home!
I saw Mickey a week or so later and told him the dog had gotten better. He looked at me with a perfect poker face and said “Yeah, they usually do.” After many years as a successful herbalist, I have to say, I’ve still never been able to master that poker face.
After that, my study of (and experimentation with) herbalism became an obsession. I spent years using herbs in my veterinary practice. Those years of study and practice eventually lead to me having a completely inappropriate confidence level using herbs on humans. I mean heck, if worked on a dog it’ll probably work fine on a human right? Let’s slap some weeds on it and see what happens. Eventually I went to naturopathy school (they made me teach the herbal medicine section) and started my human practice. So, if you were a dog, you went to the vet building and if you were sick as a dog, you went to the naturopathy building. Either way, we’d get you straightened out.
A lot of folks are surprised when they hear about herb use in animals. But the fact is that almost all of the oldest herbal literature from China and India are works on the use of herbal medicines in dogs and horses. Human herbalism, it seems, was an after thought.
Dogs are natural predators (tell your Yorkie that…he’ll get really excited!).
In nature, the primary prey animals of dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals, and all of their cousins are herbivores. We tend to think of predators as being “Meat Eaters” but the fact is that an enormous amount of the food they eat is plant material contained in the bodies of herbivores. That’s right, when a wolf pack kills a deer, the first thing they eat is the salad bar, which in the multiple stomachs of a deer, contains 15 or 20 gallons of tasty plants!
Sadly, the pet food industry seems to feel that the only plant dogs need in their dog food is corn. And what does corn do for dogs? It’s broken down into simple sugars to increase fat, inflammation, and disturb normal gut flora! Sadly, we’re doing the same thing to our dogs’ diets that we’re doing to our own; too many simple carbs and not enough real food.
What dogs really need are real plants…plants that herbivores would eat, not just factory-farmed corn.
In addition to the nutritional benefits, herbs are wonderful medicines that can resolve a number of issues for dogs. Over the years, nearly every dog that has walked out of my veterinary practice has done so with a little bag of herbs to help with something that ailed it.
When I created the herb formulas that we sell here on HomeGrownHerbalist.net I did so with the intent of making the formulas useful in either humans or dogs. But I’ve decided it’s time to zero in on some formulas that are optimized to be the best possible blends for what a dog needs.
So, today we are launching a new website, HerbPet.com. It has herb formulas that address common things your dog is likely to need some help with. Because, even though the HomeGrown Herbalist formulas work well in dogs, the fact is that dogs aren’t little humans. Don’t tell your Yorkie that! He’ll be really disappointed that you could even think such a thing! The new site will also have a doggie blog that relates more to animal needs.
We’ll be having a Grand Opening Sale for a few days. So swing by and have a look. Your doggie will thank you. :0)
Use Coupon Code “MYDOGNEEDSHERBSTOO” at herbpet.com checkout for 10% off your first order!
Doc Jones
Dogs Need Herbs Too!
Click Here To Visit HerbPet.Com
Congratulations Doc! You are a fine herbalist & man! Dogs and humans are going to be thrilled to have these products you created!
I’ve been poking herbs into dogs for so long, I thought it was time to make the labels match better. LOL
As always you’re doing something fun and new. It’s just so darn much fun to play with herbs isn’t it!
Now everyone’s’ pet children’ can benefit from the fun!
You’re the best!
It is fun. I’ve sure seen some amazing results with herbs and critters over the years.
Thanks Doc! You are amazing! Once I get a new computer, maybe I will finally get around to starting my Home Grown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine courses. I am so bad, but I let life get in the way because I started working outside the home just before I signed up. I thought I would have time.
Linda, I fear there are many like us, sadly… lol… signed on last summer and haven’t looked at it since 🙁 … Life has a way of getting in the way… if only the spinning of the world would slow down enough to give me another 2 hrs in the day I might catch up!
I’ve had a year like that too. Life is made of different chapters where we’re able to do and focus on different things. :0)
do they work on cat’s too?
Yup. :0)
GREAT! Is that on the instructions?
Yup. Dosing instructions on each product page are the same for dogs or cats based on weight.
Hey Doc! Thank you for the new website for dogs! I love my dogs and eill definitely be checking out your ernsotem
Gof bless you+
This is great! I know cats aren’t able to process all the herbs that dogs do, so some may not be good for cats. I hope there will be some herb goodies for cats, too!
All the formulas will work in kitties…if you can get them to take them. :0)
It’s really nice to hear from you! This is good news! It’s sometimes hard to find credible resources for pet care. Thank you for doing this! Are you going to share some herbal advice for kitties, too? After all, kitties leave paw prints on their loved one’s heart(s), too!
Yup. We’ll be blogging about dogs and cats both.
I’m currently working on a new series of modules on veterinary herbal medicine for the HomeGrown Herbalist School.
I am so glad! That’s going to help so much!!! Thank you!!!
Congratulations, This is wonderful news. I will certainly pass this info on to family and friends with 4 footed companions. Would like to find help for our 14 yrs canine girl with grand mal seizures along with pharma .
how much are the classes for veterinary herbal medicine?
We don’t have a separate course for veterinary herbalism. I just do everything in the HomeGrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine. Much of it is the same between animals and humans.
https://homegrownherbalist.net/about-the-school/
Please add good herbs for kitties!
Anything we do for dogs on HerbPet.com and anything we do for humans on HomeGrownHerbalist.net can be used on cats as well. It’s just hard to get them to take them.
Any suggestions for THAT fun filled challenge??!!
Fishy smelling canned food will often be enough to cover the herbs.
So what was in “#27…a Ziploc bag full of green powder”?
A liver tonic formula. I currently use these two formulas; Liver Support and Liver Builder for liver cases.
https://homegrownherbalist.net/?s=liver+support&post_type=product&title=1&excerpt=1&content=1&categories=1&attributes=1&tags=1&sku=1&orderby=date-DESC&ixwps=1
Are these products only for dogs? Would they also help cats? I don’t have a special concerns right now, but it may help to be prepared.
Yup. They’ll work fine in kitties. You just have to convince your kitty to take them. :0)
I wish you would come up with a program for cats! Until recently, I’ve been giving my cat your Immunity Support & Herpez that you recommended for the condition she had prior that my vet didn’t know what to do for (forget what you called it). I had to stop because she wasn’t able to keep anything down for almost 2 wks. For no reason known, she started throwing up every few minutes-food, water, foam, nothing-till at the end she had blood in it & her stool. Went to the vet several times. Blood work & urine were great, no physical findings, nothing seen in x-ray. Gave a shot to calm gut down last 2 visits. Finally I have her eating again, but still don’t know what caused this & what to do if it happens again. I know you would know because you are a gifted vet. Thank you for being an entertaining healer!
Hi Mary, There are two principle causes of vomiting in cats. The first is hairballs. The second, oddly enough, is asthma. Have your vet listen to her lungs and see if she’s squeaky.
As to herb formulas for cats, all of the formulas on HomeGrownHerbalist.net and on HerbPet.com are usable in cats. The only tricky bit is getting cats to take them voluntarily. Sometimes they will and sometimes they won’t. Cats are hard-wired to identify food only be smell. If it doesn’t smell like food, they won’t eat it even if they’re starving. Dogs on the other hand are hard-wired to think things that fit into their mouth are food…so they’re a little easier. :0)
For cats and herbs, the best bet is usually to mix the herbs with some strong=smelling, fishy canned food. Dosing by weight is the same as for dogs. See the Info & Dosing tab on each product page.
That’s got to be it. You’re brilliant. It’s definitely not hairballs. She has been sneezing tiny little sneezes like 4 to 6 in that many seconds off and on during this same time. So, it’s asthma instead of real sneezes. Should have known since I have asthma and mine is way worse lately too. Going to tell my vet when I go back next wk. so I can get her some real help. Thank you very much Doc! Shear genius!! I’ll also try to get her back on the herbs I got from you tomorrow.
Asthmatic cats are usually more wheezy than sneezy. But certainly worth ruling out. :0)
She’s doing both. She’s been trying to tell me what was wrong with her. She wouldn’t move from beside by the humidifier when we used it recently. Is there an herb for asthma? Thank you for your wisdom!
I’ve used this one in lots of cats.
https://homegrownherbalist.net/product/resp-azma-tincture/ as needed.
I’m so excited to hear about your newest venture! You’re awesome Doc. And once again, we appreciate all the hard work you do for us! Thank you
Thanks Karen. :0)
What an amazing thing, thank you Doc Jones! As a cat person myself, does the same apply to cats? Maybe geriatric cats? If so, will you make supplements for cats too?
All formulas we sell on HerbPet.com and on HomeGrownHerbalist.net can be used in cats as well. See the reply to Mary M. for the whole scoop on getting herbs into kitties. :0)
No worries Linda. Life’s a journey not a race. You’ll have lifetime access to the school so it’ll be there when you need it. :0)
Dear Doc,
Our Irish Setter, Rocky passed away three months ago, he was 14. He used to love eating the herbs , especially plantain out of my hand as I picked them. Unfortunately Rocky had many cysts and lumps on his body and then eventually his hip got very bad and he could no longer get up. We are eventually going to get another Setter and I prayed that the Lord would provide a Veterinarian Herbalist, I specifically asked Him for you to start posting your doctor skills and look what He did! I am elated and thanking God for this announcement, you Doc are an answer to my prayer❣️
Irish Setters are wonderful kids. Some of my most amazing herbal lessons and results were with a little Irish setter pup many years ago. He showed up at my clinic at about 6 weeks of age unable to walk, presumably due to some hypoxia at birth and brain injury. After a few weeks of herbs, I got him walking and acting like a regular puppy…and then he got sudden-onset juvenile cataracts and was abruptly blind. I then worked on that with other internal herbs and some herbal eye drops I concocted and a few weeks later he could see. It was an absurdly unexpected outcome on both counts. The dog lived a long healthy, happy life…super sweet happy guy. God is good. And His herbs….amazing!
What is your cataract formula? I assume it would work for humans too…(?)
I’ve only used it on sudden-onset juvenile cataracts. old age-related cataracts in humans are different critters.
I use herbs for cats, too! Dogs and cats, even horses and goats respond well to herbal medicine
Yup. Me too. Goats are the easiest to dose. They think herbs are candy. :0)
Congratulations on your new venture Doc!! May God bless your work! Thanks for all you do to bring healing to both man and beast!
Thanks Jayme.
Will you be expanding into other animals too? Dogs and cats are nice, and we have both, but its much harder to find help for other kinds of animals. There is only 1vet in the area that will see my goats and none that can/will help me with my pigs. While I try and do the best I can it would be nice to have someone i can ask questions when I get stumped. Chickens too are impossible to find help for. Maybe if I was a real farm instead of just a backyard homestead I could get help…
I’m going to write some new lessons for the school on veterinary issues. All of our HomeGrown Herbalist formulas can be used in livestock species without issue.
Hey Doc! Thank you for the new website for dogs! I love my dogs and will definitely be checking out your store
God bless you!
Thanks Arnie. :0)
Sweet! Will you be making an herbal wormer?
We inadvertly started feeding two feral cats. Long story there, but the short version is the younger one, highly food motivated, decided we were okay. Hubs named the cat Bilbo. Turns out Bilbo is a girl and took a chance and allowed us to see her kittens. Now all five live with us.
I’ve been putting in diatamaceious earth (DE) in their food, and they have puked up worms. I did get an OTC wormer from a local feed store for round worm but would like to have a plan B given supply chain shenanigans. All local vets are booked three months out and won’t prescribe an Rx without seeing the cats. Ahem.
The kittens seem to be part goat. They eat lots of stuff.
I am continuing with the DE. I might be able to sprinkle herbal stuff in okay, since one of their foods is sardines with little pieces of kale. But I’m not sure which herbs would work best.
They’ve chewed on a fuschia plant, ate half of the garlic bulbs I had dried, chewed on a dead rosemary branch, and chewed a little yarrow. So I’m hopeful they might take to an herbal remedy or two!
We have an herbal wormer. Cats don’t like it much.
https://homegrownherbalist.net/product/intestine-worms-tincture/
Thank you, Doc! I look forward to checking out the new website. Unfortunately, my 11 y/o Llassa Apso/Yorkie mix is either part cat or he has me totally buffaloed. (Probably the latter) It’s extremely difficult getting any type of medicine into him. The only treats he will eat is duck jerky (allergic to chicken). I chop his heartworm and flea/tick preventative very finely and mix in with his homemade dog food (ground beef and liver with as many ground up veggies as I can sneak in and chia and flaxseed to prevent constipation) and then have to pray he eats it. Any suggestions?
If he won’t eat the herbs with some wet food. they can be mixed with a little water and syringed in or used in the form of a tincture.
Can you please cover the following in your upcoming video? Heart worm prevention, flea and tick prevention, and severe allergies in dogs (my horse-sized dog is super tough but soooo sensitive to allergens – he gets sick to his stomach, skin sores and infections, ear infections – bacterial and fungal and yeast, and it can even impact his breathing if it gets too bad. If he eats something cold like green beans as treats from the fridge or ice he will instantly vomit). We also have a goat who tests negative every time for parasites and does not have pnuemonia but has a chronic cough. She plays like every kid but still coughs and she’s not chewing cud afterwards as often as I’d expect after she coughs. Would love to do an interview with you or help edit your content in exchange for a walk on my property – I even have a cabin you can stay in. It sleeps 8-10. I live near Branson, MO in the Ozark mountains and have over 100 acres of forest, pasture, springs, creeks, and ponds. We moved here just 10 days before my husband was diagnosed with cancer and we are trying our best to raise as much healthy food for our family as possible. As a former pharmacy technician (pre-pharmacy student before my kids were born prematurely and I became a SAHM), I have always tended towards western medicine, but am now starting to learn about more natural methods to heal our bodies and prevent disease. My favorite tip of yours is from your First Aid video – to prevent stitches – GENIUS! Contact me via email if you are interested in doing a walk here and bring the fam! So much to do and see here especially over the summer – Table Rock Lake, SDC, water park, Bass Pro Shop’s aquarium in Springfield is amazing, and more. We have such big plans for our homestead and are just getting started now that my husband is healed. His mother now has cancer and because 3/4 generations of his family on one side and 2/3 generations on the other side of his family have had cancer I am trying to do everything I can to prevent our children from having to deal with having cancer themselves. They’ve already been through enough just having watched 5 of our loved ones go through cancer, surgery, chemo, radiation, and two deaths. Two are in their 5 years and 1 is currently in treatment. Sorry for the Nobel. I’m serious about the vacation opportunity. I’d love to meet you and your family and I love win-win possibilities.
Jennie I’ll be sure to cover those questions in the webinar.
Thanks for the invite.
Can I give my 5# dog cramp bark for Hacking cough do to heart disease. And how much? I bought the 10 pack powder and considering your scool.
I am 64 years old. A little late in life for school, but it fasinates me. She is 16 years old and in such pain. Both her shoulder ligaments are out of wack. And recently her hip is making her limp.(she got stepped on by her 50# sister a few years ago) So they think it’s all catching up to her. But she runs like the road runner when food is involved. Even if she just ate (doggie damtia)
Anyway back to the cough. I was told it heart disease from bad teeth. I have them brushed when she us groomed but she won’t tolerate it anymore. She had 2 sets of teeth when she was a baby those were removed and she’s had many teeth removed over her life. She’s too old to have more removed. She is Hacking all night. Sometimes 30 hacks in a row. Average 5-8.
Poor thing is exhausted. Her rib muscles must hurt too. Vet gave her a an anti inflamatory for teeth and joints. I was giving her CBD oil, not really liking the idea, but desperate to help her. Also vet gave her a sedative so she sleeps all day. Poor sweetie.
So can I give her cramp bark and how much.
Thanks ever so much,
Carla Schmidt
Big fan
Cramp bark is safe in dogs. For a dog that size, I’d give 1/8 teaspoon of powder mixed with her food. That said, if she has congestive heart failure, the cough is the symptom, not the problem. The problem is fluid in the lungs. There are medications that can help that. There are herbs as well. Some can be mixed and some can’t so I really can’t advise on that point without more information.
I stopped buying dog food and have been feeding them brown rice, Cooked chicken (homegrown), venison or beef , veggies and berries but i’m concerned they aren’t getting all the nutrients they need. I have 2 springer spaniels 1 with unknown allergies on Apaquel and we want him off, and one that gets sick alot but better now that he is off of dog food – any recommenations?
There are some doggy multivitamins out there that can cover any bases you might be missing but it sounds like you’re on the right track.
Doc, I need some herb ideas for treating seizures in our Australian Shepherd Mix. We don’t really want to go on anti-seizure meds.
I’ve used herbs on some siezuring dog cases over the years. None of them work nearly as well as the medications.
Do you do pet consults? If so, how much?
Shoot me an email and let me know what’s going on. :0)
https://homegrownherbalist.net/contact-us/