Monday, June 5, 2017

Will Herbal Supplements Relieve a Dog's Allergy?

For the last two weeks, we have been treating Oz for secondary bacterial and fungal infections related to his allergies. We are happy to report that he is feeling and acting like his old self again.

Oz - will herbs help a dog's allergy

The vet prescribed both antibiotic and antifungal medication to get Oz well again. Thankfully, he did not need to be on any steroid medication to reduce swelling or itching. The round of antibiotic will be completed soon but he needs to stay on the antifungal a bit longer, as fungal infections can be sneaky and pop back up again.

We hate to have Oz on so much medication but for this illness we really had no choice since he had infections in both ears and on other areas of his body. I have been researching to find a way to build up his immune system in hopes of minimizing future allergic reactions and much of my reading has been on herbal medicine/supplements.

So much of how we look at disease and illness in Western culture is in isolation from the rest of the body with the goal being a cure to remove or suppress the symptoms. That is definitely what the new CADI injection does for a dog’s allergies – it just blocks the itch so a dog won’t scratch but does nothing about treating the actual allergy.

On the other paw, Eastern medicine looks at the body as a whole in order to determine the deeper underlying cause of a disease or illness. It then uses herbs to strengthen and boost the body’s systems to help it heal itself.

Since Oz is still on medication, I thought it may not hurt to start adding an herbal supplement to his diet. I wanted the supplement to include herbs that can help with allergies and building up his immune system, herbs like:

Astragalusone of the most popular herbs in the traditional Chinese medicine system that is used to treat upper respiratory infections as well as to increase energy and strengthen the immune system;

Echinacea another herb popular for treating colds and flu but that is also considered a great immune system booster;

Fo-Ti also known as He Shou Wu, has historically been used to treat eczema, better known as atopic dermatitis which is part of Oz’s allergy; and

Licorice Rootan herb that has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which has been used to treat hay fever and other allergic responses.

There are so many herbs and many are used for several different things, it all seemed so overwhelming. In my research, I finally did find an herbal supplement that included the above herbs (plus even more beneficial herbs) from a brand I trust. We have started Oz on Dr. Harvey’s E-Mune Boost once a day as an additive to his food.

Will the herbal supplements help boost Oz’s immune system so his body has less of a reaction to allergens? I don’t know but for this dog mom it is worth a try.

Do you give your dog herbal supplements?



15 comments:

  1. We hope the new herbal treatment will work. Allergies are just horrible.

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  2. I hope so much that the herbals are like a magic potion to help Oz... they sometimes can do miracles, I'm sure.
    We use only some coconutoil, by now we haven't seen a result, but maybe it needs a while... like all good things :o)

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  3. Finley's on some herbal supplements for her allergies - they do help some. Not enuf, but some.

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  4. Paws crossed this helps you wiv the itchy scratchy stuffs Oz
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  5. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh no Oz my darlin' friend I'm so sorry to hear that fungal stuff crept up on your BUT WTG showing it just who was boss. Kitty kisses it is gone for good soon. The hot humid weather is what that mess loves.
    Hugs madi your bfff

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  6. Kaci and Kali get orgamic apples. It keeps the doctor away.

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  7. I hope it works for you, Oz. Mom has me on NaturVet AllergyAid and it's working for me.

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  8. We're sending purrs that everything works and you feel much better Oz! Allergies aren't fun especially when we can tell our peeps what's bothering us. Kitty kisses to you!

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  9. Oh we hope it helps! Mama put me on Amazing Turmeric for Dogs in hopes it would help my lump on my leg and also wif it's anti inflammatory properties help my itchies. The verdict is still out though.

    xoxo,
    Matt (& Matilda)

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  10. We have never tried herbal remedies, but can't wait to hear if they work! Arty is also prone to fungal/bacterial flare ups due to his allergies.

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  11. I love Dr. Harvey's E-Mune Boost. I hope that you used my 10% discount code from my blog. ☺

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  12. I do like a mix of both Eastern/Western medicines. That's why I like my vet so much because she's good about that! Good luck with your supplements. Maybe at the very least it can at least extend your time before needing another of those itchy shots. Or maybe it will work even better. Paws crossed!

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  13. We just started using some
    Lily & Edward

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  14. We like to use natural supplements when at all possible. Mabel took Dr Harvey's E-Mune boost when she was battling and recovering from demodetic mites
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

    Pee es
    Mom says yes the collages are a lot of work but not as much as you might think. Once she gets the main template done she just has to swap the students pictures and change the name. And she enjoys doing the stuff

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  15. I agree it is worth a try, and I hope it helps him! We don't use any herbs right now, but it's definitely something I would always consider. We do use fish oil and curcumin as supplements to help boost the immune system and give other benefits.
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier