Pet medicine

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Kennel cough in dogs (contracted from other dogs) causes inflammation of the voice box and windpipe. For this and other less serious infections that result in coughing, an herbal cough syrup containing wild cherry bark and horehound will help coat and soothe the throat. It is available in health-food stores and has dosage guidelines on the label; reduce the dose according to your pet’s size. On the other hand, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and foreign bodies in the airway all cause acute coughing that will require a veterinarian’s help to overcome.

If your pet has a deep, hoarse cough or a sore throat (you can tell whether your pet has a sore throat if it reacts when you touch that area from the outside), try giving it mullein tea (made just like echinacea tea) once a day for as long as a week. Humans use mullein to bring up phlegm and soothe a sore throat. With a small dropper or ear syringe, squirt the liquid into your pet’s mouth.

DRY HAIR

An herbal medicine chest makes caring for your pet’s minor ailments as easy as treating a child’s scraped knee.

When you stroke your cat and sparks fly, you know it’s just static electricity. Humidifying the air with a room or furnace humidifier will make everyone in the house more comfortable. Applying an oil conditioner when you bathe your pet can reduce static and restore shine to dry hair. For a medium-sized dog, mix 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 teaspoons dried or 2 tablespoons fresh sage (adjust amounts according to the size of your pet); massage the mixture through the fur and onto the skin, then rinse with warm water and dry with a towel. For really dry hair, cover your pet with a warm, wet towel for about five minutes before rinsing.

Additional reading

The following two books offer useful, easy-to-understand information about a variety of approaches to the care and treatment of animals.

Pitcairn, Richard H., D.V.M., Ph.D., and Susan Hubble Pitcairn. Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, 1995.
Schoen, Allen M., D.V.M., and Pam Proctor. Love, Miracles, and Animal Healing: A Veterinarian’s Journey from Physical Medicine to Spiritual Understanding. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995.

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