Pet Corner: Best Heart Health for Pets

(Page 3 of 3)

May/June 2003
By Randy Kidd, D.V.M. 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Nutritional Supplements for the Heart

RELATED CONTENT

Your cardiac patient should be on a low-sodium diet. Include a moderate amount of daily exercise, without undue stress or overexertion. Supplements to consider include vitamins A, C, E, B6 and folic acid, the vitamin-like compound carnitine and minerals selenium and magnesium. Also consider essential fatty acids such as flaxseed oil (for omega-3 fatty acids) or evening primrose or borage oil (primarily for omega-6s). Whether to use one of the supplements depends on each individual case. The one supplement I almost always prescribe for heart problems is Coenzyme Q10, as it is specific for cardiovascular diseases. (For dosages of these supplements, check with your holistic veterinarian.)

Be sure your cat’s diet contains adequate amounts of taurine, an amino acid essential for a cat’s heart health. Taurine is added to most brands of cat food and is readily available as a supplement. It is also found naturally in mackerel and clams.

Tips for Feeding Herbs to Pets

Dr. Kidd recommends administering herbs in fresh or dried form — just sprinkle a little atop your pet’s food (about 1 pinch for a cat or small dog or 2 to 3 pinches for a large dog). Another option is to make a tea from the needed herbs, then pour the tea over the food. You can add bouillon to the tea to increase palatability, or you can hide the herb in a small amount of your pet’s favorite food.

If you choose to use capsules or tablets, remember that the dosages on product labels are for 150-pound humans. Adjust the dose to your pet’s weight.

Some animals may balk at the taste of herbs and will require a more intrusive approach. In this case, make a tea and administer it with either an eyedropper or a syringe. Hold your pet’s head up by lifting at the muzzle. Make a pocket of your pet’s lower lip by inserting your finger into the corner of the mouth and gently pulling the lower lip away from the teeth. Squirt the tea into the pocket and keep your pet’s head tipped up until he or she swallows.

Randy Kidd holds doctorates in veterinary medicine and veterinary and clinical pathology. After practicing traditional veterinary medicine for 10 years, he opened Honoring the Animals, a holistic practice in Kansas City, Missouri.

Information provided in “Pet Corner” is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified veterinarian.

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Herb Companion readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Herb Companion?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Pay Now & Save 50% off the Cover Price
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Subscribe to The Herb Companion-

Your guide to the many uses and even more pleasures of nature's most helpful plants!

The Herb Companion is the smart and easy complement to your own healthy, vibrant lifestyle! In every issue you'll find information on using herbs to:

  • Transform simple dishes into spectacular meals
  • Make gardens as useful as they are beautiful
  • Replace harsh chemicals with natural alternatives
  • Help find fulfillment, balance and good health
  • And much more!

Yes, send me a one-year subscription (6 issues) to The Herb Companion. I'll pay just $19.95.

Save Even More Money By Paying NOW!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our Earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You save an additional $5.00 and get 6 issues of The Herb Companion for only $14.95 (USA only).