Hal & Zen - The Trials and Tribulations of Two Welsh Springer Spaniels    

Herbal Supplements

In the winter of 2009/2010 (following Hal's and Zen's elbow operations) Zen started to lose weight and have rather loose stools.  All the normal solutions were tried:

  • add bulk to food in the form of fibre
  • change food to one designed for sensitive stomachs
  • treat for diarrhoea
  • worm (particularly for Giardia)
  • add a digestive supplement

But none of these solutions worked for the long term - diarrhoea tablets worked whilst they were being given, but the loose stools returned as soon as the medication stopped.

A chance discovery of Dorwest Tree Barks Powder found a possible solution that fixed the underlying condition rather than just the symptoms - "It soothes the entire digestive system and helps to slow the passage of food through the digestive tract, so of great benefit for acute intestinal absorptive disorders..."  After only 2 weeks of the powder being sprinkled on their food, a great improvement was seen in both Zen's stools and his general wellbeing and happiness. 

With such success from a herbal solution I then started to explore other herbal solutions for common problems, with the aim of reducing the amount of chemicals fed.  To date, these are the alternative herbal solutions (and others) which are now being trialled:

Problem Solution Manufacturer's Description Suggested Supplier
(at time of writing)
Digestion   Dorwest Tree Barks Powder

The highly digestible ingredients and low fat content make it an ideal food for those with poor digestion. It soothes the entire digestive system and helps to slow the passage of food through the digestive tract, so is of great benefit for acute intestinal absorptive disorders and can be given both during and in the recovery period following acute diarrhoea.
NB - Hal and Zen are no longer on this supplement, as we have now found a food that suits them well.

http://www.petmeds.co.uk/
Fleas Billy No Mates Billy No Mates! is a very effective, natural flea, mite and tick repellent. The aromatic combination of mint, seaweed, fenugreek, neem leaves and lemon balm should be simply sprinkled over your dog - or cat's food and as well as repelling 'boarders' is great for skin and coat condition. http://www.csjk9.com/
 Worms  Verm-X

Verm-X is ideal for per owners that wish to explore a natural way helping to repel parasites that is gentle on the digestive system.
Verm-X is extremely palatable and has no known resistance.
Verm-X Crunchies are designed to be fed every day throughout the year. This means that you do not need to buy additional reward or treat products for your dogs as our Verm-X formulation can act as a traditional treat whilst functioning as a continual internal parasite control.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/
Joint Joint Aid

…the painless, economical aid for maintaining healthy joints.
Joint Aid for Dogs has been uniquely designed to utilise 11 naturally occurring “nutricines” (feed components with health benefits) to provide extra support to the normal wear and repair of cartlidge, synovial fluid, tendons and joints in the skeletal structure, whilst aiding the natural anti-inflammatory actions of the dogs metabolism to help maintain flexibility of movement throughout its life.

http://www.jointaid.co.uk/
Joint Flexivet Plus

Flexivet Plus is an alternative to the highly priced Synoquin.
Flexivet Plus for Joints is very palatable to most dogs and can be fed directly to your pet or crumbled and mixed with food.
Each chewable tablet of Flexivet Plus contains:
600mg Perna Canaliculus (Green Lipped Mussel)
500mg Glucosamine Hydrochloride
500mg Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
200mg Brewers Yeast; 30mg Manganese Amino Acid Chelate; 45mg Vitamin C

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/
Joint Cortaflex HA

Cortaflex nutritionally supports the health of every joint in the body, providing nutrients for lubrication and flexibility and improving all-over performance.
Wear and tear can be exaggerated by breed conformation and growth spurts. Feed young animals, especially those breeds with associated weakness, Canine & Feline Cortaflex as part of their daily routine to support healthy joints for life.

http://www.cortaflex
supplements.co.uk
Joint Get Over!

'Get Over!' has been formulated for the very active or more mature dog that is starting to shows of old age - especially in cold and wet weather conditions. It is extremely effective and can provide that extra bit of help - without the need for steroids or pricey alternatives.

http://www.csjk9.com
Teeth & Digestion Dem Bones! Dem Bones! are a completely natural treat for dogs containing effective levels of charcoal and herbs to help clean teeth, freshen bad breath and 'eliminate' bad instances of dog gas!!
Hypo-allergenic – no wheat gluten, dairy products, beef or soya
100% natural – free from artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives
Great for digestion (flatulence, bad breath, upset tummies) and teeth
Low fat – low calories * Suitable for vegetarian diets
http://www.csjk9.com
 Teeth Simply 'Seaweed and Parsley'  A totally natural product - made from Canadian Kelp and Seaweed - that is simply sprinkled on to your dog's dinner.
The daily amount fed is TINY so the 100g pot should last an average sized dog (Border Collie) over 8 months! A small scoop is included in the 100g pot.
http://www.csjk9.com
Teeth Dorwest Roast Dinner Toothpaste   Our toothpaste is professionally formulated for veterinary use. Animals don’t have their teeth cleaned as often as us, so our paste is slightly more abrasive than its human equivalent. It is low foaming and has an acceptable meaty taste to make the whole experience more pleasant for both owner and pet. Roast Dinner Toothpaste contains Sage oil which has antiseptic properties and has the ability to whiten the teeth, freshen the mouth and keep gums healthy http://www.vetuk.co.uk
Teeth Petzlife Oral Gel PetzLife Oral Care Gel is 100% natural.
It has been tested by an independent laboratory and found to be perfectly safe for your pets. There are no side effects and is even safe enough for people to use!
The main ingredient  is grapefruit seed extract.
The full list of ingredients: Grapefruit seed extract, Grape seed extract, Thyme oil, Neem oil, Rosemary oil, and Peppermint oil. These are all specially formulated with distilled water and grain alcohol to produce one of the most effective and safe dental products.
  • 100% natural
  • Kills bacteria on contact
  • Removes plaque and tartar without the need for anaesthetic
  • Supports oral health
  • No more bad breath
  • http://www.canine
    naturalcures.co.uk
    General Dorwest Garlic Juice Garlic Juice has natural purifying properties and is ideal for cleaning paws and ears and to soothe scratches and minor skin abrasions.
    Fleas don’t like the pungent odour of garlic, making this liquid useful to comb through the coat to combat this problem, particularly during the summertime when external parasites are more prevalent. May also be dropped directly onto ticks to facilitate easy removal.
    http://www.vetuk.co.uk
    Stress Zylkene Zylkene is a natural product, proven to help manage stress in cats and dogs. It is a food supplement made from a protein found in milk. The active ingredient is a peptide (a simple sort of protein molecule) which is able to bind temporarily to certain receptors in the brain. This has a calming influence which is similar in some ways to tranquilliser drugs such as diazepam (“Vallium”), but without the side effects.
    The capsules are opened and sprinkled on food once daily. The contents seem to taste delicious to most dogs and cats and are easy to give.
    It is possible to provide treatment for just a few days if it is to cover a particular stressful event, such as travelling away for the weekend. However it is perfectly safe in most situations to give for long periods if needed.
    Zylkene is hypoallergenic, preservative free and lactose free. Use for short term or long term stress.
    http://www.petmeds.co.uk/

    It's early days with feeding these herbal solutions - once they've been used for a reasonable period of time I'll update this page with results.

    Last updated: 25 Apr 2011