HERBS AND SPICES FOR YOUR DOG"S HEALTH

Humans have used herbs and spices to add flavour to their food and to treat ailments for thousands of years.So, it should not be surprising that there are many herbs and spices that are good for dogs. Holistic medicine for dogs includes the use of herbs and spices to treat and ameliorate ailments and diseases. 

Herbs and spices can also be added to your dog’s food as part of a healthy diet. One of your dog’s best defenses against ailments and diseases is healthy immune system. A healthy diet supports a healthy immune system. Whole raw foods can be an excellent addition to your dog’s daily diet – fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, eggs, yogurt, herbs and spices. In addition to the health benefits, dogs do like the taste of many herbs and spices. 

Herbs and spices should not be indiscriminately given to dogs. Some herbs and spices are very powerful and can have side affects will others are mild and less likely to cause issues. Before you decide to give a herb or spice to your dog make sure you know its use, side affects, toxicity (if any) and safe dosage. 

My dogs eat the following herbs and spices…Aloe Vera, Basil, Caraway Seeds, Flax Seed, Fennel Seeds, Garlic, Rooibos Tea or Green Tea (decaffeinated), Parsley, Rosemary, Turmeric and Ginger. These herbs are all non-toxic and beneficial for dogs, but like any other food stuff should always be provided in a safe amount. You can refer to the dosage chart at the bottom of this article. While these herbs are non-toxic, they can interfere with conventional western medicines – this is discussed further below. These herbs are safe for pregnant and nursing dogs.

Here is a little information on the benefits of each of these herbs/spices…

Aloe Veracontains amino acids, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, C and E. It has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agents and is an anti-oxidant. 100% pure Aloe Vera juice can also be taken internally to boost the immune system, help reduce the symptoms of allergies and to help the healing of wounds. Aloe Vera gel can be used topically to help wounds heal – 100% Aloe Vera Gel is best. Daily dosages for my dogs are as follows ½ tbs for my 4lb dog, 1tbs for my 8 lb to 25 lb dogs and, 2 tbs for my larger dogs 30 to 70 lbs.

Basil is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, electrolytes and oils that are essential for optimal health. Basil is an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant. Basil is well known for its multiple disease preventing and health promoting properties. You can use fresh basil or dry basil.

Caraway Seedsare rich in dietary fibre, vital vitamins, and minerals, anti-oxidants (cancer and disease fighting). Caraway seeds are considered a warming herb – meaning they help the body stay warm. Caraway seeds are also good for muscle health (anti-contraction).

Cinnamon (Ceylon Cinnamon) is an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-septic, warming and soothing, calming, carminative (anti-flatulent). Cinnamon is said to have one of the highest anti-oxidant levels of all food sources. Cinnamon can help remove the alfatoxins present in foods. Cinnamon is also good for keeping teeth clean and fighting bad breath. I use the powder form ( ground cinnamon).

 

Flax Seeds are rich in omega-3 and fatty acids, anti-oxidants, nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimal health. Flax seeds also help pass toxins out of the body. There are two types of flax seeds – brown and yellow (golden), both are similar in nutritional value. Daily dosage should be in the range of:
1/2 tsp for tea cup dogs 2 to 4 lbs;
1 tsp for toy dogs 5 to 15 lbs;
1 tbs for small dogs 16 to 25 lbs;
1.5 tbs for medium-small dogs 26 to 39 lbs
2 tbs for medium-large size dogs 40 to 70 lbs
2.5 tbs for large dogs 71 lbs to 90 lbs 
3 tbs for x-large dogs 91+ pounds

Fennel Seeds are rich in dietary fibre, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, rich in vitamins, minerals. They also help protect the body from infection, disease and caner. Fennel seeds are good for the urinary tract. They also help in the absorption of food stuff – thereby helping to keep your dog’s teeth clean and helping with digestion.

Garlic You may have heard that garlic is bad for dogs. Well, garlic has been used for many years by holistic veterinarians. The confusion about whether garlic is good or bad seems to have arisen from confusion with its close cousin, the onion. Both garlic and onion contain thiosulphate, the substance responsible for causing ‘Heinx Factor’ anemia in dogs. However the amount of thiosulphate found in garlic is much lower than in onions, in fact the amount in garlic is barely traceable!  The fear of garlic is a new one – propagated by rumor on the internet and not proven by any facts or study. For an extensive list of foods that dogs should not eat you can click here.

When garlic is ingested in reasonable amounts there are no harmful affects, but there are plenty of beneficial qualities…

• Garlic contains germanium – an anti-cancer agent;


• Garlic helps to regulate blood pressure;


• Helps strengthen the body’s defences against allergies;


• Helps regulate blood sugar levels; 


• Garlic is high in vitamins, minerals and nutrients:


• Calcium, Potassium, Zinc;


• Protein;


• Vitamin A, B, B2, C;


• Garlic is an aid to fighting and treating:




• Diabetes; 


• Liver, heart and kidney disease;




• Garlic is a natural flea repellent and de-wormer.

Please do not add garlic in a mixed form to your dogs diet (i.e. garlic steak spice – this is not pure garlic and can make your dog very ill). When I refer to garlic I am talking about garlic in its pure form – garlic cloves. A safe dosage for garlic is 1 clove/30lbs of body weight per day. I use finely chopped fresh garlic, you can also use dried, ground garlic. You can read more about garlic here.

Ginger is an anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, carminative. Ginger also Ginger helps in the absorption of food stuff – thereby helping to keep your dog’s teeth clean and helping with digestion. Ginger also helps in treating nausea such as motion sickness. Ginger helps boost healthy blood circulation, so it is very helpful for a dog that is prone to vascular damage of the extremities. My Boxer, Robbie has very short fur and is particularly susceptible to vascular damage (i.e. frost bite of the extremities, including ears). In the winter I add about 1 tbs of finely chopped ginger root to his daily salad.  You can also use dry, ground ginger.

Green Teais rich in anti-oxidants and is helpful in fighting some cancers. It is also calming. Make sure you use de-cafinated Green Tea.

Rooibos Tea (Red Bush Tea) is naturally anti-viral, anti-allergenic and a mild anti-anxiety mediator. Rooibos tea is also high in vitamin C, rich in antioxidants (37 to be exact), several minerals and alpha-hydroxy-acid. To give your dog’s immune system a boost you can also add rooibos tea to your dog’s drinking water or food. Rooibos is naturally caffeine free and low in tannin. The USDA has confirmed that rooibos tea is capable of reducing cancer, heart disease and other illness. It is also excellent for dogs with chronic skin allergies. If your dog suffers from anxiety it can help to relax and de-stress your dog. The only caution – if your dog is suffering from iron deficiency do not give him/her rooibos as it slows down the absorption of iron. You can read more about Rooibos Tea here.

I add the juice of one fresh lemon to a freshly steeped pot of green tea or rooibos tea and pour the resulting tea into a large bottle that I store in the refrigerator. Once a day I add the tea to each of my dogs’ meals.

Parsley is high in fiber, rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals which help fight cancer and enhance the functioning of all organs. It also helps the body pass toxins and fights bad breath. Fresh Parsley is best but you can also use dry parsley.

Rosemary is high in fiber, rich in vitamins, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti fungal, anti-septic, disease preventing and health promoting properties. You can use fresh or dry rosemary. 

Turmeric is high in fiber, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, rich in vitamins and minerals and offers protection against anemia, arthritis, cancer, stroke (cardiovascular health), neuritis, memory disorders. You can use powder (most commonly available), crushed or fresh root. I use the powder form (ground turmeric).

If your dog is overweight you might want to try adding either turmeric or curcumin to his/her daily diet…new research by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that curcumin helps to speed up metabolism…

Curcumin is the most active curcuminoid found in turmeric, and provides turmeric with:
Its bright yellow colour. Curcumin is well known for its…

• Anti-inflammatory properties;




• beneficial for traumatic from accidents and trauma as it helps lower serum levels which would otherwise cause massive inflammation leading to the shut down of the heart and other organs;


• beneficial in the fight against rheumatoid arthritis.  




• 
  Cancer fighting properties:
  




• Inhibition, and;


• Treatment;




• Cardiovascular health properties, and;


• As mentioned above – metabolism boosting properties.

Like turmeric, curcumin is safe for dogs. If you would like to learn more about the health benefits of Curcumin and Turmeric for you dog you can read this article.

Introducing Herbs to Your Dog’s Diet
My dogs have ever had an allergic reaction to the herbs or spices that I give them, but just like with any other food stuff, some dogs may react to a herb or spice when other dogs will not. I always recommend that if you are going to introduce a new food stuff to your dog, introduce only one new item at a time. Wait a few days before introducing the next new item. Allergic reactions can range from runny eyes and nose, sneezing, itching, swelling, diarrhea or vomiting.

How to Incorporate Herbs and Spices Into Your Dog’s Diet

You can make your own dog food that incorporates herbs and spices. If you would like to try a recipe you can take a look at these Homemade Dog Food Recipes (grain free and wholesome grain options) or these Homemade Dog Treat Recipes that I developed for the health of my dogs. These recipes incorporate many of the herbs and spices noted above.

You can sprinkle the herbs and spices over top of your dog’s food and then drizzle with coconut oil and/or olive or sweet almond oil - I do this with my dogs’ fresh food.


When Should Herbs & Spices Not be Introduced to Your Dog’s Diet

While certain herbs and spices do not create a hazard by themselves they can interfere with the conventional medicines. If your dog is on any of conventional medicines please make sure you consult your veterinarian before you introduce herbs or spices to your dog’s diet. The following provides a list of some of the medicines that some herbs may interfere with…

Anti-inflammatory (i.e. Rimadyl) - please note – turmeric and curcumin will not degrade the effects of glucosamine, chondrotin or MSN, and therefore can be used with turmeric and curcumin

Aspirin
Antibiotics
Cardiac drugs
Central Nervous System drugs
Chemotherapy drugs
Diabetic / Hypoglycemic drugs (i.e. Insulin)
Diuretics (i.e. Furosemide, Diazide)
Hormones (i.e. Thyroxine)
Steroids

To See a More Comprehensive List of Herbs

• That are good for your dog;


• That are dangerous for your dog;


• Many beneficial uses of herbs;

You can read this article. 

Daily Herbal Intake Based on Dog’s Weight
The table below provides a general guideline for herbs/spices based on your dog’s weight. The information provided in the table is an extract from Dr. Kidd’s Guide to Herbal Dogs Care.
 

Dog’s Weight	Sprinkles (on dog’s food once/day)	Teas	Capsules/Tablets	Tinctures
1-10 lbs	a small pinch	less than 1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2 capsule, 1-3 times/day	1-3 drops, 2-3 times/day
10-20 lbs	a bigger pinch about	1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2-1 capsule/tablet, 1-3 times/day	3-5 drops, 2-3 times/day
20-50 lbs	2 pinches-1 teaspoon	1/4-1/2 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 2-3 times/day	5-10 drops, 2-3 times/day
50-100 lbs 10-	2 pinches-2 teaspoons	1/2-1 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 3-4 times/day	20 drops, 2-3 times/day
Over 100 lbs,	up to 1 tablespoon	up to 1 cup 3 times/day	adult human dose	adult human dose

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