Will natural remedies help my dog?

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In recent years, the use of nutraceuticals and herbal supplements have made it into the mainstream. Advertisements claim that these natural and alternative remedies may boost immune system function, improve memory and mood, help you lose weight, and support many other benefits.

Veterinary medicine has begun to include some of these supplements for pets as well. But can we be sure about the safety and effectiveness of these treatments?

The Positive Side

Advocates of these alternative therapies remind us that medicines have had plant sources for centuries and that one-quarter of our prescription medications today still do. Additionally, many of our synthetic drugs once had a plant source. Plant-based medications have been effective and dependable for generations.

Herbal remedy proponents believe these alternative medicines work synergistically and have greater effect than traditional prescriptions, which generally contain concentrated extracts. They claim that plants contain many nutrients and chemicals that interact with the active ingredient, making it easier to be used by the body. Miraculous cures have been credited to remedies, such as echinacea and ginseng, where traditional treatments have failed.

Called nutraceuticals because of their whole food makeup and relative safety, the Food and Drug Association does not regulate these treatments. They are considered nutritional supplements rather than drugs. Some holistic veterinarians believe that they contain beneficial nutrients that would be available to animals in a natural environment but not in processed pet food.

The Negative Side

Not all veterinarians endorse herbal remedies. Some aren't confident of their safety because they are not extensively tested, approved, and regulated by the FDA as prescriptions drugs are. They argue that there is not enough information on their long-term effects and that scientific evidence of their effectiveness is lacking. Most evidence comes from pet owners who are not trained in noting side effects or identifying other possible causes for a positive response. They also note that dosage guidelines have not been established, so users are forced to use trial and error to find the right dose.

And one fact that proponents see as a positive, opponents see as a negative. A whole plant contains many different chemicals, and naysayers argue that the effects of a neutraceutical are more unpredictable than that of a single  [Continued]

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