What are natural anti-inflammatories for dogs? These are plants and herbs that offer natural inflammation relief and are safe alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs. Here are 5 natural anti-inflammatories for dogs.
Natural Anti-Inflammatory for Dogs #1: Ginger
Why use it?
Ginger is a natural remedy for digestive problems such as stomach upset, flatulence, and nausea. It also acts as a natural inflammation relief for dogs.
Ginger prevents the production of inflammatory chemicals called leukotrienes. The plant promotes good blood circulation in geriatric dogs too, which helps improve their mobility.
Precautions:
Ginger has blood-thinning properties. Thus, avoid giving it to your dog if he is about to undergo or just had surgery. Administering it to pooches that are given anticoagulant drugs is discouraged as well.
Ginger also possesses the ability to lower blood sugar and blood pressure. It may have an effect on dogs with diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Consult a holistic vet to ensure that it is safe to administer on canines with these health issues.
Recommended application and dosage:
Mince the ginger root and incorporate it into your dog’s food. If your dog is a small animal, use ¼ tablespoon of minced ginger.
Dogs weighing up to 15.8 kilos (35 pounds) should ideally have ½ tablespoon. For large and giant dog breeds, give them ¾ tablespoon.
Feed minced ginger to your canine companion 3 times a day. The root has a strong taste, so we recommend that you mix small amounts of it in his dog food. Slowly increase the amount once your pooch gets used to its taste.
Natural Anti-Inflammatory for Dogs #2: Turmeric
Why use it?
Turmeric is one of the natural anti-inflammatory foods for dogs. It has over 2 dozen anti-inflammatory compounds, making it effective for pain relief. The curcumin found in turmeric helps reduce inflammation and fights off free radicals at the same time.
For this reason, turmeric is commonly used in relieving pain caused by different ailments in humans. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties work on dogs too, as it is known to soothe dog joint pain.
Precautions:
Turmeric is a natural blood thinner. Thus, observe the same preventive measures as you would with ginger.
Ingesting too much turmeric may cause digestive problems. Make sure to give your dog the right dosage.
Recommended application and dosage:
Add turmeric into your pooch’s food 3 times a day. Make sure to use turmeric that is of medicinal quality. Do not go for cooking turmeric since it does not have the best quality of curcuminoid compounds.
The suggested dosage of turmeric for dogs is around 15–20 mg per 0.45 kilo (1 pound) of body weight. It is approximately 1/8–1/4 teaspoon per day for every 4.5 kilos (10 pounds) of body weight.
Note that turmeric has low curcumin bioavailability. This means that the amount of curcumin used by your dog’s body is meagre.
To address this dilemma, combine turmeric with black pepper since it contains piperine. According to a study, this will increase the curcumin bioavailability by 2000%.
Natural Anti-Inflammatory for Dogs #3: Boswellia Serrata
Why use it?
Boswellia serrata is great for pain management since it has phytochemicals that inhibit the production of leukotrienes.
Research shows that Boswellia serrata can effectively reduce arthritis pain and inflammation. It was able to greatly decrease clinical signs of arthritis in 71% of dogs after 6 weeks of treatment.
Whilst clinical research about Boswellia serrata‘s natural anti-inflammatory effects on dogs is limited, the results of these studies imply that the plant does affect their bodies in a good way.
Precautions:
Boswellia serrata rarely causes a side effect if administered to dogs. In some cases, it can induce gas or mild diarrhoea in pooches.
Recommended application and dosage:
Give Boswellia serrata to your dog once a day. It would be best to mix it with his food to avoid gastric upset.
The ideal daily dose of this all-natural anti-inflammatory for dogs is 5–10 mg per 0.45 kilo (1 pound) of your dog’s weight.
Natural Anti-Inflammatory for Dogs #4: Comfrey
Why use it?
Comfrey is used in many health remedies for dogs, from simple pain to cancer. The herb also has natural anti-inflammatory properties that are good for managing dog joint issues.
Aside from that, comfrey can hasten the healing of cuts, scrapes, and even broken bones when applied externally. It contains a healing compound called allantoin, which speeds up the reproduction of cells.
However, this does not mean that you can skip getting your dog checked by the vet. Make sure to talk to your veterinarian to create a specific treatment plan for your dog.
You can consult a holistic vet afterward to help you decide if comfrey is beneficial to your dog’s treatment.
Precautions:
Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). This compound can cause liver damage if consumed in large amounts. Thus, oral ingestion of the herb is not advised. Stick to external applications instead.
Administering comfrey on lactating dogs as well as dogs with liver disease should also be avoided.
Recommended application and dosage:
Use comfrey leaves to make a poultice. Place a handful of the plant’s leaves in a towel. Wrap it securely and put the towel in a pot of boiling water.
Let it steep for 30 minutes before removing the towel from the pot. Allow the comfrey poultice to cool and start applying it to the affected area of your dog.
We recommend placing an E-collar on your dog beforehand. This will keep him from licking the poultice off and keep him safe from potential liver damage.
Natural Anti-Inflammatory for Dogs #5: Horsetail
Why use it?
Horsetail supports dog joint health because of its wonderful ability to heal bones and connective tissue injuries.
That’s all thanks to its bioactive silicon, which is crucial for the formation of collagen in bones, cartilages, skin, and other connective tissues.
Horsetail also contains salicylic acid, which helps control pain and prevents inflammation. Hence, it is proven to greatly aid in mending postsurgical trauma.
To help alleviate arthritis pain and inflammation, horsetail can be combined with comfrey and other joint supplements such as chondroitin, fish oil, and glucosamine.
Precautions:
Horsetail is not recommended for dogs with thiamine deficiency. The plant contains thiaminase, which is an enzyme that inactivates thiamine.
For the same reason, dog owners should avoid using it if their dogs have heart problems or hypertension.
Horsetail can change the flavour of breast milk. Thus, pet owners should avoid administering it to lactating pooches.
Recommended application and dosage:
Administer ¼ teaspoon of horsetail daily per 9 kilos (20 pounds) of body weight. Use a tincture when giving it to your dog.
Horsetail can also be used as a warm compress to alleviate pain and inflammation. To make this, crush the plant and soak it in warm water.
After 15 minutes, wrap the horsetail in a cloth and then apply it to the affected area. Repeat this 2–3 times a day. If your dog shows signs of redness or discomfort upon administering, discontinue its use.
Why opt for natural anti-inflammatory for dogs?
Conventional veterinary medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed to dogs dealing with the pain associated with arthritis or soft tissue and orthopedic surgery in dogs.
However, this drug is not without dangerous drawbacks. Although it treats pain, NSAIDs can cause short-term adverse events, including vomiting, diarrhoea, and lack of appetite.
Administering other pharmaceuticals increases the risk of severe side effects. Long-term use in dogs can lead to permanent liver and kidney damage and gastrointestinal disorders.
The effects of NSAIDs can sometimes be detrimental rather than helpful to the well-being of affected dogs. Hence, pet owners have the option to look for safer alternatives.
This is where natural anti-inflammatory for dogs comes in. It works great to alleviate your dog’s pain and reduce inflammation with fewer and milder potential side effects.
If you plan to go for natural anti-inflammatory for dogs, talk to your vet before introducing holistic treatment to your canine friend.