This week we had a bit of a problem in our household in the form of a sick cat. Our household has many animals with the bulk of them being my daughters “children” as she is not able to have them with her at this time.
She has two long haired cats; Aarik and Boomer and a collie mix dog; Patch.
For the most part we all get along with a few shining exceptions to the rule.
But several days ago I went to pick up Kris' cat Boomer and about got my hand taken off at the wrist. He was in big pain and I realized he had a problem urinating. This is a real issue with some animals; especially cats as they're prone to UTI infections and stones.
Of course the day I noticed this was Saturday.....great....double the cost at the vets.
Normally I have some things for animals in my medicine cabinet for all illness.
Cats however are much more selective in what they can ingest without issue.
In fact; many things that I can eat or drink are actually toxic to cats. Dogs are not quite as particular to their health but they also have things they cannot eat without problems.
I was sure Boomer had a UTI or a stone as he was having bloody urine and was distended in the stomach. So away we went after a quick call to the vet. Our veterinary office is located in a near by town; approximately 35 miles from my farm. Boomer was very uncomfortable but after we got him catheterized and a shot to help this issue; we were home again. I realized that he was not drinking enough and was probably not getting to the bathroom in a timely manner; which made me realize that I needed another cat litter box. Ideally you should have have one more cat litter box than cats in your household but I simply do not have enough room for four cat litter boxes! I actually had only two but found a place to put another one in the upstairs area; which is perfect for him as that is his sanctuary. Hopefully this will help but I also realized that I need to have some more basic herbs on hand for my animals.
The first thing you think of in any situation with an animal is how to stop pain. There are many things you can do for an animal in pain but there are also some things extraordinarily dangerous as well! The next thing to consider for your cat or dog is what to do to help the immune system; then there is the issue we've had to deal with; urinary tract infections. Also another thing to consider is eye and joint health as animals have these issues frequently and can cause serious problems if left untreated.
All these factors are important to the longevity and quality of health for your pet.
I will address only cats in this section as the list for dogs is much longer and should be addressed separately.
Here is a small list I've compiled but covers the basic needs of an animal. I also don't wish to give you the idea that this should be all you do for your pet. As I'm not as learned in veterinary herbs as in humans; I do suggest strongly that you consult your pets doctor before using these recommendations.
Eyebright works well to wash infected eyes and to sooth inflammations of the eye. Please consult your vet if conditions don't improve as the animal can go blind if it does not heal in a timely manner.
Poppy Seed is a good remedy to numb the pain and as a sedative.
Slippery Elm is a great herb to help inflammation; good for bladder spasms.
Ginger is a wonderful treat to help the stomach of upset; It's stimulating qualities are good to help remove toxins as well.
Milk Thistle is a very old remedy for the liver and is tops at helping with gall stones. It has properties of boosting the immune system and is known to help animals with tumors and diabetes.
Catnip is the age old remedy of being a stimulant to cats if smelled and interestingly enough; a sedative if ingested. It is not effective on all animals as a stimulant with approximately only 50% of cats responding to it.
Hawthorn is an effective herb to treat cardiac issues in both cats and dogs. It is long known to help by opening the blood flow to the heart; thus improving circulation and healing.
Another help for the cardiovascular system in cats is Ginko Biloba; especially the effects of aging.
Couchgrass otherwise known as Quackgrass is particularly effective in helping the urinary tract with properties of being anti inflammatory and as a demulcent. This would have helped Boomer immensity.
Dandelion is very effective in helping to cleanse the kidneys and work as a blood cleanser which is why people used to make dandelion tincture in the spring as the first sprouts came out of the ground. It tends to be a diuretic so keep this in mind when using this herb. This herb can cause issues with an already inflamed gall bladder so consult your veterinarian before using.
Bugleweed has been an effective way to treat types of thyroid disease in cats with great results; in hyperthyroidism only. Do not use with an animal suffering from hypothyroidism.
Chamomile and Valerian are both effective in treating agitation in cats; with soothing, calming properties. You can also use Lavender Essence on the skin under the coat on the back of the neck for extra help to calm an animal.
One flower essence I love to use for a nervous animal is to use Nature's Sunshine
Rescue Remedy. This combination of flower essences is perfect to help calm the cat or dog in tense situations. Put 4 to 6 drops on the skin under the coat at the back of the neck; repeating two or three times a day as needed.
It's important to remember that God gave us these beautiful creatures and it's up to us to give them the best life they can have. They can't speak to us as a child would so we need to be especially vigilant in their behavior and actions to note health changes. With herbs, essential oils and flower essences; along with a great diet and exercise; we can have a healthy, happy animal for years to come!
http://petremedycharts.blogspot.com/2010/08/herbs-to-treat-heart-disease-in-dogs.html
http://www.naturalark.com/herbpet.html
http://lostcatsofstarclan.wetpaint.com/page/Medicine+Cat+Herbs
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