PET CARE/ A'PAW'THECARY

ANIMALS ARE HERBALISTS TOO, BUT....

domestication usually prohibits them from seeking the botanical diversity they require. A nutritious diet full of whole foods, herbal supplements, lots of love, exercise and of course plenty of rest will keep your animal friends in great shape. Regular grooming, good food and cleaning of your companion's "living" and sleeping areas are keys to flea prevention. Remember: Dogs and particularly cats lick themselves, so use caution when applying flea products. Stuff their pillows with aromatic herbs like cedar, bay, lavender, wormwood and sage.

CULINARY HERBS TASTE GREAT TO PETS!

While culinary herbs are excellent for enhancing flavor, many of them also contain a wealth of medicine. Good examples include oregano, ginger, thyme, rosemary, turmeric and cayenne. Furthermore, many culinary herbs are considered tonics, which means they have the ability to enhance several body systems at once. The best known culinary herbs have been used by millions of people for millennia, so unless your animal friend is allergic to herbs, their safety is well-assured. Start with a tiny sprinkle atop your pet's food - some pets enjoy the taste!

TEAS, TINCTURES AND PILLS FOR PETS

Teas are almost as easy to administer as sprinkles. Simply make a cup of tea from a teaspoon or so of the herbs you want to use, and (after you have poured your own cup) wet your pet's food with some of the tea. Tinctures put some of the herb's chemical constituents into liquid form. The idea is to draw out the plant's active chemicals and alcohol is the best extracting agent for most of these constituents. Remember though - for our pets - nonalcoholic tinctures only! For your fluffy companions, we use vegetable glycerin, which is nearly as effective as alcohol. Capsules and tablets are the most common way for humans to take herbal medicines, but they are not the easiest, nor the best way, for pets. It is tricky to determine correct dosages and most animals do not enjoy the pill-taking process.

DETERMINE THE DOSAGE

Think small - a little pinch of herb sprinkles is enough, perhaps about a teaspoonful or so for bigger dogs.

Start early - get your pet accustomed early to the taste of herbs.

Tonic versus therapeutic - herbs are best applied as a general tonic, or perhaps to enhance specific systems that are under attack from some disease process. They also have benefit as therapeutic medicines for curing disease. But the therapeutic use of herbs often requires higher levels of an individual constituent extracted from the plant.

Be patient - it may take 30 to 90 days before you will see any significant results from the herbs. Give them a chance. If your animal has a condition that can't wait 30 days to resolve itself, you probably need to think about a faster-acting, more-potent medicine - perhaps in addition to herbal support.