Herbal anti-anxiety extracts

[tanza]

@AJs:

As I'm sure you already know, (you've been in dogs a long time) this isn't always true. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) comes immediately to mind. Dosage for dogs is a lot more exact because of the liver toxicity that can be caused.

We have to be careful with these statements. While it is up somewhere that the opinions on these threads are not actual medical treatment, a lot of novices look to more experienced folks for advice.

I would never recommend medical treatment for any dog… and this was just about Rescue Remedy... since what is in was listed, I found nothing in there that would cause concern...

But you are totally correct.. this is not a Vet Medical site... nor should anyone on this list offer treatments... or medications... In the case of Acetominophen... I have never use that on any of my dogs... so never even crossed my mind someone might...

[nkjvcjs]

@tanza:

But you are totally correct.. this is not a Vet Medical site… nor should anyone on this list offer treatments... or medications... In the case of Acetominophen... I have never use that on any of my dogs... so never even crossed my mind someone might...

It is amazing what crosses people's minds to do. Tylenol will kill a cat really quickly, it causes liver failure and hemolytic anemia. Ibuprofen can cause bleeding ulcers and kidney failure in both dogs and cats. Dogs are less sensitive to tylenol than cats, but lower doses that one might expect can be toxic.

When I worked at the vet clinic, we had several pets come in whose owners gave them tylenol or ibuprofen to help with pain while they get them in, which meant that we got to administer activated charcoal, and pump their stomachs, or try to treat for anemia and organ failure on top of whatever the initial injury was. We even had one guy who was an ER doc come in with his dog who had broken its' leg, and he had given it a massive dose of Motrin before bringing it in thinking he knew what was best.

-Nicole

[AJs Human]

An ER doc should have known better. An unset broken leg can cut blood vessels. Ibuprofen has the same effect on blood as aspirin…that is, it "thins" the blood and prevents it from clotting. That's why we (EMT's) give morphine in the field for things like that.

We also have to be careful with herbal remedies. If they are designed for pets, that's one thing, but the metabolism and physiology are different for animals than for humans.

Ms. Nicole, is there a website for over-the-counter meds with dosages and recommendations somewhere?

[nkjvcjs]

@AJs:

Ms. Nicole, is there a website for over-the-counter meds with dosages and recommendations somewhere?

I wish so much!!!

I have my EMT license too! Right now I am not using it though, because I am working on my PhD in Pharmacognosy, which is the study of drugs from natural products. One of my pet peeves is that many people do not recognize that many "natural" remedies are also extremely toxic!!!!! Just because something is derived from a natural product does not mean it is any more safe than a synthetic.

[AJs Human]

Herbal remedies work because many of them are the basis for refined medications: Fox Glove (digitalis) is the base for Digoxin, a heart med; Nightshade (Bella Donna) is the base for Atropine, a med used for heart arrhythmia and to enhance surgery medications; Yew bark is used to make a chemotherapy drug; Willow bark is used to make aspirin; Oregon Grape root (valerian) is a mild antibiotic; Ephedra is the base for Ephedrine, which was further refined into pseudoephedrine, a powerful decongestant and base for methamphetamine.

I'm not saying anyone would give the above named plants to their animals or children, but we do have to keep in mind that just because something is an herbal remedy, it does not mean it is safe. We have to be careful with all remedies to be sure of dosage and safety. Most herbal remedies sold at health food stores are safe. However, the thing to keep in mind is they are not regulated for strength or efficacy by any agency.

My point, though, was that just because something is safe for humans…that does not mean it is safe for animals. I think it was well taken. People need to remember our pets are not little humans. While they are mammals, they have different nutritional requirements and different metabolic processes than we do. A faster or slower metabolism can greatly influence what a substance will do inside any particular body, theirs and ours.

[Kananga]

@AJs:

Herbal remedies work because many of them are the basis for refined medications: Fox Glove (digitalis) is the base for Digoxin, a heart med; Nightshade (Bella Donna) is the base for Atropine, a med used for heart arrhythmia and to enhance surgery medications; Yew bark is used to make a chemotherapy drug; Willow bark is used to make aspirin; Oregon Grape root (valerian) is a mild antibiotic; Ephedra is the base for Ephedrine, which was further refined into pseudoephedrine, a powerful decongestant and base for methamphetamine.

I'm not saying anyone would give the above named plants to their animals or children, but we do have to keep in mind that just because something is an herbal remedy, it does not mean it is safe. We have to be careful with all remedies to be sure of dosage and safety. Most herbal remedies sold at health food stores are safe. However, the thing to keep in mind is they are not regulated for strength or efficacy by any agency.

My point, though, was that just because something is safe for humans…that does not mean it is safe for animals. I think it was well taken. People need to remember our pets are not little humans. While they are mammals, they have different nutritional requirements and different metabolic processes than we do. A faster or slower metabolism can greatly influence what a substance will do inside any particular body, theirs and ours.

That's rather well said. I keep human and canine herbal remedies separate. I simply don't want my B to be a guinea pig with an uncertain dose.

I'm glad there are companies that make herbal remedies that are canine specific. It allows us to administer ingredients that we know are meant for dogs and not us humans. Otherwise I wouldn't even try giving my B "human" herbal ingredients as I have no idea what the appropriate dose is nor do I fully know if it's safe to give to a dog.

[Nemo]

@Vicki:

Great information - I agree, ladies, that many human compounds are dangerous for animals.
That is why herbal remedies for pets should be administered by a vet who is familiar with herbals treatments.

+1 "All natural", "herbal", etc. are not by definition "safe" for animals or humans, which unfortunately some people confuse. The risks can be just as great as for man-made drugs if used improperly.