BACK TO ASK THE HERBALIST INDEX
ANSWERS FROM CARLOS:
QUESTION: My Westhighland Terrier dog has nasal cancer, and bleeds constantly from her nose, it has been suggested that I use Yunnan Baiyao, I purchased this in powder form, and have mixed it with her food, but am unsure of the dosage I should be giving her? I have been giving her 1/3 of a teaspoon once a day, her nose bleeds have continues as before but the blood seems to be thicker, can you help in anyway.

ANSWER: Yunnan Paiyao is perhaps the best formula of all the Chinese medicines. I suggest a full teaspoon in her food. You may also put a little directly on the areas that are bleeding.

QUESTION: I was wondering what the recommended dosage of nettle is for a 17 pound cat. I know there are capsules and liquid form but I don't know how much I should give him

ANSWER: I would suggest adding 10 drops of the extract to his cat food daily and monitor how it goes, you may need to increase it to 2xs day.  Vacuum the house often to get rid of dander. You can also add a little turmeric to his cat food to act as an anti-inflammatory. About half a baby's spoon worth once a day.
Good luck to you and your cat.

QUESTION: just adopted 2 7 week old kittens today (have been watching them grow since week 1) unfortunately they have contacted ringworm from some other orphans at the shelter. Someone told me I could use Usnea on them to cure it?  What do you recommend and if this where can I get exactly what I need to order to use on them?  I would appreciate any help at all. 

ANSWER: There are several safe remedies you may want to try such as applying diluted apple cider vinegar to the sites and in a spray bottle where he sleeps and where he lounges at. Dilute 1 part apple cider, 2 parts water. Can be made up to 1/2 Applecider vinegar and 1/2 water.

Another remedy is making an infusion (tea) of Goldenseal and dabbing the areas with a cotton ball. Warning: Goldenseal is not safe for cats to ingest.  The OTC medicine  Clotrimazole has helped many a cat.

Because cats can easily spread ringworm to other animals and humans, it is important for pet owners to keep cats with suspected ringworm separate from other animals and humans and to wash their hands after handling a cat that might have ringworm.  Fungi, including those that cause ringworm, reproduce by shedding spores. These spores can survive for months on surfaces and can be easily spread in the air. It is important to immediately treat pets that have been infected with ringworm. If a pet has a suspected ringworm infection, it should be quarantined until it has been thoroughly checked and treated if necessary.  Clothing, furniture, and surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to prevent ringworm from recurring. Furniture and carpets may be steam cleaned. Surfaces may be disinfected using diluted bleach (one part bleach, 10 parts water). 

As to Usnea, it contains ingredients that are thought to fight germs that might cause infections. It also might decrease inflammation, pain, and fever. You would need to buy the extract and apply it gently with a cotton ball 3xs day. 

QUESTION: My Question is what would the proper dosage be for giving my 17 lb. Shih Tsu dogs organic powered Alfalfa & Myrrh.   Also would like to mentioned that my older Shih Tsu use to get seizures.  For a few years her seizures increased to once a month.  I did online research they mentioned that Taurine helps prevent seizures.  So for a year I have been giving my now 13 yr. old dog 500 mg. of Taurine a day. She hasn't had a seizure in that one year. 

ANSWER: First thanks for the insight and tip on the Taurine. As to your questions 1/4 teaspoon of each should be enough according to their weight.  By the way extracts and tinctures work better and faster. If using these 3 to 5 drops of each one.

QUESTION: I saw a question that someone asked in your "Ask the Herbalist -- Herbs for Animals", and the formulation is identical to my friend's product that she purchased for her little dog, a 12.5 year-old, 9-pound Chihuahua.  Her dog has Congestive Heart Failure and an enlarged heart.  The liquid product she bought has the following ingredients:  (HAWTHORNE 60mg, BALSAM POPLAR 30mg, HOPS 30mg, VALERINE ROOT 20mg, WOOD BETONY 20mg, LOBELIA 10mg, MISTLETOE 10mg, MOTHERWORT 10mg, and PULSATILLA 10mg)  The bottle says to give 1 drop for every 2 pounds of body weight, 2 times a day.  So she is giving her Chihuahua 4 drops twice daily.

Since her Chihuahua has congestive heart failure, and an enlarged heart....she has been giving the prescription medication that her veterinarian prescribed which is, a diuretic called, Furosemide 2.5mg, and a heart medication called Enacard.  She gives her dog this medication twice a day.

My question is:  In your professional opinion, do you think it would be safe to give her dog the liquid herbal product that she bought which has all of the herbal ingredients listed above, along with the prescription medication, Furosemide and Enacard, or could it be harmful?

ANSWER: Due to the fact that the dog is already on medication, it would be far better to consult with her regular vet before adding anything else.

QUESTION: Would you happen to know any herbalists for animals. I have a diabetic dog and she is on 17 different vitamins and still not regulated. These are human vitamins. After learning what they do for the body I even take some of them. Also I was told by my holistic vet to feed her lean roast beef and from what I have read that is not good for diabetic humans. It's been almost a year since she was diagnosed and the home cooked food we have been doing for several months. Since I found this holistic vet. She doesn't seem to be too knowledgeable about the diet. She decided on beef after looking at her blood tests 1 year ago. Just a few weeks ago we decided to take away some of the beef and replace it with white meat chicken. Are there some diabetic humans on a beef diet? From what I have read on your page diet is so very important for regulating BC. I fear her diet is not correct. 
Any light you can shed on this or direct me to a animal herbalist would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: although animals need beef, diabetic animals should only be fed beef once or twice weekly if at all.  You may replace it with soy products. I would suggest you watch for weight gain, nausea or constipation.

I do suggest that you supplement with 1/2 tablet of Chromium Picolinate per day. Chromium is found in cheese, prunes, shredded wheat cereal, raw peanuts, peanut butter, raw mushrooms, thyme, corn, and peas. You must keep an eye on her kidney functions if using Chromium.  These are the 3 herbs I would suggest to improve her wellbeing: Fenugreek, Bitter Melon and turmeric. You may begin with just one in extract adding 25 drops to her food daily. Keep a journal of its effectiveness and introduce the other ones if necessary or eliminate one that is not helping. All of these lower blood sugars.  Your other question will be also answered and placed at the site.

QUESTION: Am hoping you can advise me on assisting my canine companion. She is almost 14 years old, quite spunky, but, has a few growths (those tested thus far non-malignant) the newest of which is on her jaw. Have read about salmon (and it's omega fatty 3s), astragalus, and bupleurum. Are these the best at inhibiting growths? For canines as well? And can these be combined? Or would recommend something different all together?

ANSWER: Tumors are made up of fat cells, and they usually don't cause problems. Unfortunately there is not one sure way to rid yourself of them besides surgery. Please be wary of many "quack" treatments out there. 

I personally give my German shepherd a 1,000mg capsule of Fish Oil daily. Astagalus is the best herb above all others to supplement and help balance the immune system, a teaspoon per day granulated would certain serve her well. Bupleurum is not the herb to use in this instance. What may of some help is Selfheal (Prunella spike), but this should be used with caution and under the care of a practitioner.  Her age works against her as it does for all of us, so try not to worry and stress. As long as she is comfortable and in general good health, then I would suggest just enjoying to the max all your moments together.

QUESTION: Can you give kelp supplement and angel eyes at the same time?

ANSWER: The only Angel Eyes I know of is a supplement for dogs, and yes, you may give both, but to make sure please check with your vet.

QUESTION: Was wondering if Passionflower is o.k. for goats to eat.  I have two 4-month olds that love it, but is there any caution?

ANSWER: There are documented cases that goats eating Passionflower may become sexually active a bit sooner than normal, if they eat a substantial amount daily. Other than that, they should be okay, but please also consult with your vet.

QUESTION: I have a male Border Collie mix that is about 15 months old.  We got him from the SPCA.  We were told by the SPCA when we got him that he had ringworm.  He had a tiny red patch on his left back foot.  The vet wanted to give him prescription meds and shampoos.  I didn't want to put that poison in or on him, so I did research and found ACV is supposed to get rid of ringworm.  Long story short, he did NOT have ringworm, but demodectic mange, which I, after another vet did a scraping and said he did NOT have it, diagnosed.  The small red patch (no ring) on his foot went away really fast with the use of the ACV and his fur grew back.  A year later, his skin just pretty much turned red over a lot of his body overnight.  He made raw spots in several places by licking, biting, and scratching.  

Anyway, I've done research on the web and am treating him with neem oil shampoo baths and olive oil/neem oil or grapeseed oil/neem oil applied directly to the affected areas.  The poor baby also has tapeworms, which I am trying to get rid of with diatomaceous earth.  He also has diarrhea at the moment, which I understand both the tapeworms AND the mange can cause.  I want to start him on Vibactra Plus to fight any secondary infection he might have with the mange.  Can he take Vibactra Plus while still taking slippery elm to combat the diarrhea?  Do you have any tips/suggestions regarding the diarrhea, or will he just have it until he gets rid of the mange and/or tapeworms? 

Also, what would YOU suggest to treat the mange?  I can't believe how well the neem oil has worked on him.

ANSWER: Diet is the first thought that comes to mind. Make sure his diet is high in both protein and fiber. Eliminate the table scraps. Change his water often. You may want to consider a raw food diet. Avoid foods that contain corn in any shape or form. 

Dogs often develop hot spots in certain areas . Sulfadene makes a cheap, but good product to treat these.  Include Fish oil in his diet and feed him fresh garlic in small pieces in his food daily. I would bathe him in an Oatmeal bath. Aveno sells some that are pretty good. Of you can take an old sock fill it with oatmeal and let it soak in the water 10 minutes or so before bathing. Alternate these with the Neem oil baths.

A topical salve made of Yarrow may help stop the oozing.  A Chinese formula named Yunnan Paiyao will be very helpful to stop the bleeding.  Internally you can add to his water 30 drops of extract of Dandelion and 15 drops of extract of Burdock. These will help clean the system of any toxins.

Catnip is a useful herb in treating diarrhea as is Pulsatilla vulgaris. Add 15 drops of the extract to a small portion of water 3xs day.

You can also make an Elizabethan collar to keep him from biting. There is an old timer's solution for treating mange using Hydrogen peroxide and Borax. Bathe the dog with a solution of 2 tablespoons of Borax for every 700 cc of peroxide. Allow to dry naturally. Bathe once a week.

There is also another solution called Happy Jack that some folks have had success with.  If after a few days of treatment you see no result please consult with your vet.

QUESTION: what herbs are good to treat dogs anal gland itching? The dog is a Jack Russell-beagle mix...female. 

ANSWER: Anal gland itching is a tough condition to treat because you may have to try different treatments. I would suggest applying warm compresses to the area for 15 minutes 2-3xs day. A lot of times, this will open the sacs.  You can also try placing your palm over your pet's bottom and gently rocking it back and forth, without squeezing.   The slight pressure will often help the sacs to drain.  Switching to foods with more fiber is also another suggestion. Add minced vegetables to their diet, carrots are great for helping here.   Add also fish oil to their daily diet 1,000 milligrams per day. There is a product on the market named AnalGlandz that is well worth a try. It is purely natural and I would encourage you to seek more info on it.

QUESTION: I have a chihuahua thats 8 years old and weighs 5.5 pounds and he has CHF.  He is on heart meds,  vetmedin and Lasix and the vet was  wanting to add Enalapril but instead I would like to try hawthorne and ginkgo biloba ,but I dont know if it is safe to take with the diuretic lasix. I also don’t know how much to give him, he is a little guy. I know you’re not a vet but people take lasix and herbs too, so do you think this is safe herbs to take with lasix ,I do know this is only advice. 

ANSWER: You are correct we not vets, but we love animals. At one point on my farm I had 3 dogs, 3 cats, 15 chickens, 9 birds, 2 aquariums and a horse.   All have passed, but I still have a faithful German Shepherd companion. 

The Hawthorne is going to also act as a diuretic. You can try giving it, but eliminating the lasix for that day or reducing the lasix dosage. The Gingko should be okay.  Extracts work better and faster. Dosage 10-15 drops. You can never be sure of the shelf-life with pills.

QUESTION: I have some questions about herbs for my two dogs (8lb and 80lb) They are seniors and do have joint problems – the one has skin issues too. I am currently trying to research the best herbs to use in my dogs’ diet (more like a preventative measure). I currently have them on:

Fish oil (1000 mg:) ½ pill for small dog/1 ½ pill for large dog
Flaxseed oil: ¼ tsp for small dog/1 tsp for large dog
Tumeric:  small pinch for small dog/large pinch for large dog
Vitamin E: 100IU for small, 400IU for large
Devil’s Claw: ¼ tab for small, 1 tab for large
Glucosamine: 1 tsp. Small/1 ½ tbsp large (human formula)

Probiotics: small pinch/bit bigger pinch (human formula)
Plus I add a bit of carrots/peas and/or lentil to their food.

So, my question is, does the above sound ok (regarding dosage)? Are there any things there that interact with each other or should be given at different times in the day? With food? Empty stomach? I am also interested in adding ginger, burdock, dandelion and coltsfoot to their diets. Would this be ok, along with everything else? If so, would you know approximate doses?

I have been trying for the life of me to research this information, but am having no such luck. Your help would be greatly appreciated

ANSWER: Wow! It looks like you really love your pups, I am a dog owner myself so I know the strong bonds that exist between owners and pets.                                                      

My first question is, why add so many herbs? If the dogs are healthy and eating well then it would suffice to include chopped Dandelion leaves in their foods to detoxify their system.  

Do it in small amounts for a week then stop. Notice any changes in stool. You may also make a broth of Astragalus root, and include some in their food. Astragalus is very safe and effective to improve and boost the immune system.  You may also add Zinc to their diet it promotes wound healing and helps develop white cells. 

For skin problems add fresh garlic to their diet, as well as celery, watercress, zucchini, mashed potatoes, brown rice and carrots.  

Avoid: pasta, onions, bacon, sausage, bread, cookies tomatoes, salt, ketchup and other products containing sugar. You may want to try a raw food diet.  From what I can see the dosages are okay. You can increase the Probiotics. You can eliminate the Devil's claw, unless it is needed.

QUESTION: I need your advice.  I feed my mare who has ovaries removed chaste tree berries.  She was spayed before I bought her.  She had  very bad heat cycles and they decided to spay her.  Now she acts like she is in heat all the time.  Chaste tree has helped her so much.  My question is when I give her the 1 week off after she has been on them for 3 weeks, she starts to go back to her old self almost right away when she is off the herbs and it take her almost a week and a half to become normal again.  Any ideas on what to do.  She is a safe and sweet mare.  Just won’t stop peeing and winking and has a glazed over look in her eye when off the herbs.  Please help.  Thank you,

ANSWER: You do not say the mare's age, type of feed and feeding habits, exercise she is getting or other health problems she may have had, but we will try and help anyway.

I ask myself and you these questions:

• Am I over-feeding my horse?
• Is the food too high in energy?
• Is my horse being exercised enough in relation to the food intake?

• Is there an outside or climate trigger for this problem?
• Is my horse losing weight?

• Is the barn/stable environment stressful?

• Are her eyes and teeth in need of attention?

The amount of urine a horse produces is affected by their water intake and diet. If she voids only small amounts frequently, it could be caused by a urinary tract infection.  

Urine analysis and blood work need to be done to determine that, and if there is any sort of obstruction or urine follow. Other causes can be renal failure or a tumor.

Please keep in mind that, a horse can sometimes develop a urinary problem if they are treated for unrelated illnesses.

As to a glazed look, a vet would have to determine if its normal or a symptom of Keratitis.

The 3 herbs that come to mind are: Passion flower, Lemon balm and Chamomile.  I would suggest Confidence Plus VF a good product for when there are changes in routine.

Here is a link to a reputable company:

http://www.thehealingbarn.com/equine/nerves_hormones.html

And another, click for distributors near you:

http://equinenaturalchoice.com/Home_Page.html

Well, I hope this helps. Best of luck to you and your animal.

QUESTION: My name is Stephanie & I farm in Devon, UK. I came across your website following a search on herbs for cattle. I'd like to begin treating & supporting our cattle with herbs, do you have any pointers for going about getting hold of simple immunological support preparations and/or specific disease remedies?

ANSWER: Wow! Cattle are not my specialty, so I decided to research the best I could and found the included link that I think will best help answer your questions.

http://www.kingbirdfarm.com/AlthealthcarePASA08.pdf

Please keep in touch and let me know if we can be of further help.

ANSWERS FROM AMANDA:

QUESTION: I need some HELP!!!!  I have a 3yr old female bishon frise who has severe eye tearing. She is on a raw food diet and gets grain free kibble. I am looking for some herbs or a product (not angel eyes because I don't feel comfortable with that one because it is a chemial)  that will heal our little girls eyes. They are severely dark stained and wet all the time. Sometimes I do get gunk out of the inside of her eyes. I bought eye ointment and am using that along with tear stain supplement from Only Natural Pet for almost 3 weeks and haven't noticed any success. Do you have any idea what I could use to try and heal her eyes? Do I need to do a liver cleanse on her to cleanse the liver? I was reading that the liver and eye problems go together. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

ANSWER:  I appreciate your distress about your dog. I am not a veterinarian, nor do I specialize in treating animals with herbs, so I have two suggestions to save you trying this or that... you need good answers and now! Please contact the American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association ahvma.org for a referral or for help online from a licensed DVM. Secondly, check with a specialist such as those at Sunnybrook FarmHolisticPetcare.com.

QUESTION: I have a dog question. I have a 12 year old poodle that possibly has the early stage of congestive heart failure. I do not know anything about how herbal medications are suppose to work but am very interested. I have purchased an herbal combination and would like to know if it should help or not and if not, then what is your suggestion. It is a 100 ml bottle with the following: HAWTHORNE 60mg, BALSAM POPLAR 30mg, HOPS 30mg, VALERINE ROOT 20mg, WOOD BETONY 20mg, LOBELIA 10mg, MISTLETOE 10mg, MOTHERWORT 10mg, and PULSATILLA 10mg. My dog weighs 16 lbs and I have been giving him 8 drops of this combination 2 times a day. Thanks for any help you can give.

ANSWER: If your dog has early signs of congestive heart failure (CHF), you might want to contact a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, www.ahvma.org, for more targeted information as time goes by.
               For now, the formula you are using is reasonable. But for a 16 pound poodle, even an older one, 8 drops twice a day is a little low for a dose. If you are giving it in food (not a bad way to disguise it), try adding a third dose of 8 drops every other day, maybe in a healthy doggie snack. Over ten days see how your poodle is doing.
            The herb combination is helpful for heart and nerve health, not specifically for CHF. Hawthorn is the most important of the mix for CHF, human or other animal. A dose of 15 drops twice a day of that single herb in extract form would be useful when you have used up the bottle you already bought.

ANSWERS FROM LORYHL:
QUESTION:  My Cat just got a bad blood test number on her Creatinine and BUN Levels (VERY HIGH).. After tons of research online to try and find an answer or any help, I came across an article that Stinging Nettle SEEDS only should help cat kidney renal failure. I am interested in what dosage of this would be appropriate for a 8 pound cat?   Do you have any other suggestions on what I can do besides IV therapy shes allready getting to Lower the Creatinine and BUN levels to help her kidneys?  I don’t want to lose her and am desperate for some help.

ANSWER:  We have a formula, called Free n Clear, that will support your cat. Also the blend Giver to My Liver, is important to use with it, you can look it up on our web page, as below.

Take a close look at the cats diet, and please read the download. A natural diet is best for this cat, so do all you can to get that into him.  For the nettle seeds, use 1/4 tspn of the powder, 2 times daily, I suggest that you use the other two blends, as they are complete blends addressing all the organs and systems in the body.

QUESTION:  I just happened upon your website and I have an interesting situation.  My horse apparently ingested some type of toxin in late December.  Because of that all 4 legs swelled up and he suffered a severe case of laminitis.  He is now on medication for life for his thyroid but he has lingering effects of the founder.  Both front feet have holes from the coffin bone shifting but his (L) front foot is still very open and apparently "squishy and spongy" according to the vet and farrier.  He has had pads and shoes on for about 3-4 months with medication underneath.  His (L) foot is the real concern.  The vet says that antibiotics won't help at this point so we discussed putting him back on Isoxoprene to increase blood flow and I also started him on a mix of biotin, amino acids and omega 3's.  Are there any herb mixes that I can give him that might help speed the healing of this foot, topically or ingestable.  He is a fairly young horse ( rescued him so we are guessing 7-9 years old) and in otherwise excellent health.  I need to give him one tab of Bute about every 48 hours to keep him comfortable.  Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. 

ANSWER:  Sorry to hear of the trials. I commend you for being so kind to him, you are a real wonderful person, he is fortunate to have you in his life.

I suggest the following:
- no pelleted feeds, use only oats corn barley, or rolled oats in small amounts, to get herbs into him, for now, you can add veggies and fresh herbs from your garden as well as fruits, to the small amount of grains.
- avoid, worming and vaccines for now, except herbal ones
- use the formula, Garlic n Roses with Astragalus and Schizandra Berries , blood flow , circulation, increases with usage
- use with Liver Up, to detox liver , and Celery seed Rosehips flush, for heavy metals and poison
- use the homeopathics, apis, thuja, rhus tox ( 3 different remedies, we can send to you, or you can get in health store) 30 c, 3 pellets two times daily for two weeks
Also paint his hooves with our Brace Yourself, with DMSO twice daily, 3 days a week, for two months, and do Epsom Salts soaks on his feet every two days for about two weeks.
Get the shoes off and do a balanced trim on him, with a professional trimmer ( contact Randi Peters , editor at the Natural Horse Magazine) and she will tell you who is the best in your area. Do not take the shoes off until you find the right, Natural Trimmer for the horse.
           Increase the blood flow to his feet by using the Garlic blend as above, and also briskly walk and trot him, one and two times daily on pavement and/or cement, as often as you can. This makes the digital arteries, pump the blood, and circulation to the feet, is dramatically increased. I know from personal experience this along with the herbs above has relieved and reversed some of the worst cases of founder we have came across. We have used this on rescues we have done, at our farm, and with clients, here in Idaho and across North America.
            Lots of sun, and natural foliage and herbage if possible. Monitor him, so that he is comfortable with each change, and do each change slowly.
              If you feel comfortable speaking with an Animal Communicator, here is the email, of a wonderful and talented woman, Toni Trimble, a true animal advocate who may help you in this area as well.  toni@angelhandranch.com

QUESTION: I have a cat that is having a kidney issue. I spoke to you over a year ago and at that time the vet thought that she had kidney stones. Now after 2 1/2 years of with this issue the vet now believes that they are tumors instead of stones. Let me give you a brief history
1 - Sept 2006, blood in urine, UTI, ultrasound showed 2 "stones", vomiting.
2 - Continued to try vet and vet "specialist" recommendations, vet diet food, medications (she was on baytril for almost 3 months straight, ureze ) no change, always UTI, crystals, blood in urine and she would hold her urine for days. Urine culture always negative for bacteria.
3 - Had a UT scan, no leaking everything looked good
4 - Started looking into holistic options without any vets help. In Jan 2008 started on raw food diet and on the 17 th started her on your free and clear product. The free and clear started helping her urinate everyday. But the "stones" and blood were still there. She was still getting UTI infections and when she had her teeth cleaned and got a staph infection. She is very sensitive to medication now.
5 - April 9, spoke to you on telephone about the free and clear. You stated to add Vitamin C 100 mg 2x day, COQ10 100 mg 2x and slippery elm bark powder. She did not do well on the COQ10 and I stopped using it on about the 5-6 day. Still using Vit C, and the slippery elm bark was very hard to find but it didn't help.
6 - August 17 started her on Renafood 1/2 2x day and her coat immediately returned back to her gray coat from the brownish color it was becoming.
7 - Started her on acupuncture and he gave liquid herb nourishing formula  (apr nourishing formula) to be given 6 drops 2 x a day. After she completed the 4 weeks she had a bad UTI. So back on the meds.
8 - Beginning of this year, started Blood Pressure meds Enalapril 2.5 mg 1/2 tablet 2x day. Her blood pressure seems to be staying "normal" however, she does get nauseous from the meds so she is now on famodine 1/2 2 x. The bp meds have also help her eyes.
          One time I run out of free and clear and the people at the store convinced me to try Tinkle Tonic and I did and her heart started to skip beats. She is extremely sensitive to change and I will never try something again without consulting someone.
              Now after all of that, the main reason I am writing to you is about the blood pressure and tumor issues. Do you have any holistic treatments for the blood pressure and since she is so sensitive to medications and change, do you think she would be a candidate for the tumor time? Right now she is on raw food diet, with Vit C, free and clear, famodine (Pepcid AC), Enalapril, and Renafood everything is twice a day with meal. I would like to have her on natural products and no "meds" if possible. She has been having this "Stone/Tumor" problem and urinating blood for almost three years and I am still trying to find something to help her. 

ANSWER:  I do suggest the Tumour Time, and keep doing what you are doing, except add putting castor oil, packs, rub in castor oil, on her abdomen, at night clockwise motion, put on lots of it.  I suggest you put her on the liquid COQ10, I can get some of this for you, if you could try it.  I am so sorry, yet so grateful that your cat has someone like you, you deserve a great reward in the heavens, and that is for sure. Let me know if we can serve you further, it sounds like you are doing the right things.

QUESTION: I have a FeLV positive cat and he also has stomatitis, I have put him on a raw diet. Is there any tonic or something else that I could give him to help him. He is much better than before but still his gums are a little red and one lymp node under his jaw is slighty swollen. He is also on oral interferon.

ANSWER: We have a formula called Tumour Time, that has proven very good for the animals, you add to the food, or make your own tincture, with the herbs. I also suggest along with what you are doing, to get Ubiquinol, or pure COQ10, and give the cat, 2 per day of those. This really has proven clinically to be effective also, in reducing the tumours and cancerous cell growth, while strengthening the immune, and over all body systems.  Someday we would like to get our herbs in Japan, so that they are more easily accessible to the Japanese people and their animals.

QUESTION: I have a senior dog that has been on Lasix and Enalapril for one year.  I want to get her off these meds ASAP.  I am currently giving her potassium as a supplement.  I bought Dandelion Root (not leaf) tincture to use as a diuretic.  She still seems to cough. Does the "root" differ from the Dandelion "leaf".  She is on Hawthorn Berry as well for CHF.  Also, would Nettle benefit her too?

ANSWER: Your dog is lucky to have you! It would be good to take him off the medications he's on, but it may need to be done gradually. We have a heart formula for dogs that is all powdered herbs, including Hawthorne, that you can mix each dose into a meatball and freeze. That makes it easy to give. It is a synergistic blend, that will assist his body in normalizing the heart muscle and restoring healthy cells throughout his muscaltory, and cardiovascular system. Also it would be good to give him COQ10, about 400 mg daily, 6 days per week. It is extremely good for heart health. These together would help immensely, and it would give you the opportunity to wean him off the other medicine. We also have a formula called Prime Pet Bone and Joint formula for senior dogs that supports overall health. It also helps support the immune system. I have included here some information on the different uses for dandelion root and dandelion leaf for you. Today, dandelion roots are mainly used as an appetite stimulant, digestive aid, and for liver and gallbladder function. Dandelion leaves are used as a diuretic to stimulate the excretion of urine.  Because of the toxicity of the medicine he is on, some dandelion root to help clean the liver of those toxins is not a bad idea. Nettle in a clinical trial has shown that the juice is diuretic in patients with congestive heart failure. Horse Chestnut is also good for heart health. Each of these individual herbs is good, but I feel that our heart blend which has a variety of herbs that are good for the heart will be really great. Let me know if you want more information on it. I also wanted to give you a heads up on the potassium supplement. Usually with the medicine he's on, it can cause a potassium deficiency, but watch it very closely. A deficiency can become toxic if the dosage is not monitored.

QUESTION: I was wondering if you know of any herbs or other things that can help bring my dairy goats into heat.  There is a buck on the other side of the fence, and it is not working.  They are usually all bred by now, but only a few have come in.  Thanks

ANSWER: Using Dong Quai as a tonic for a time, about 3 weeks of the month, one tblspn, two times daily, and also putting 1/4 c flax meal, or 4 tblspns of the oil, of flax, two times daily, 6 days a week, for a couple of months.  Also make sure they are getting lots of really healthy unprocessed food. Make sure there is no mold or fungus around the nannies. Let us know if you need herbs or we can help further.

QUESTION: Just found your website...it is great. I am an owner of two dogs and am constantly battling vets regarding vaccinations. I lost a dog of vaccinosis and have vowed to not let  any of my pets suffer that again. My dogs now were vaccinated as puppies, before I got them. I had no control over what the owners did at that time. Now as adults, I have chosen to not vaccinate them, except for rabies (which is required by law in my state, every 3 yrs.) I am not even at ease with that. But by law, I feel my hands are tied. Anyway, I do not vaccinate for anything else. Ever. Just wondering what your feeling is on the distemper vaccine? A vet friend of mine told me that after the puppy vacs, no dog should ever need a distemper vaccination again. I am doing a lot of search on the net regarding that. I have read a lot of other views, agreeing with that.  I guess I am just a pet owner, who has seen the effects of vaccine first hand. And I am groping for other views. Any views you share will be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: I am prone to be a big believer in healthy lifestyle and diet, equals, low incidence of disease. I know the University of Michigan, did an ag study, and proved several years ago, by taking titers on the dogs, that the vaccines were lasting up to ten years, maybe more. Rabies, if the dog has to, and there are some excellent herbals for Parvo, and other dog ailments, along with that healthy diet, that are wonderful, and effective.

QUESTION: I attended a workshop this weekend with Toni Trimble. She suggested that I contact you to see if you can help me. I have a fourteen-year-old female cat who has both kidney and bladder stones. She also has two different bacteria, one of which my vet says is very difficult to treat. I just started her on Amoxicillin. She also takes something for thyroid problems. I am supposed to take her in on Thursday for a second x-ray to see if her stones have enlarged since she we discovered them in June. I also had a sonogram performed on her in June. She is losing blood through her urine, and my vet thinks it is possible that the stones are the cause. April also has heart problems, so they are advising against surgery. Toni concurs that April will not survive surgery.

ANSWER: Thank you for the inquiry. Of course we will do all we can to assist you.  Toni is a wonderful advocate to the animals.  We suggest you give her the Free N Clear herbs ( support for the blood in urine and stones), from us and Vibactra drops as a natural antibiotic. Also, to make sure she has the most natural cat food available. Please look at the download for  diet sheet for cats and dogs.  

QUESTION: I am hoping you can give me some advise.  I look after a horse who has not been ridden in almost 2 years because he is not always sound.  I used to lead out trail rides with him in his younger days and I have always been very fond of him.  His main problem is that he suffers from sarcoids.  Ever since I have known him he has had small warts on his muzzle but they always went away on their own. Over the last 2 years he has developed larger sarcoids on his neck ( just flat about 6x5" in diameter but the worst is in his right ear.  It has been removed surgically twice.  The first time it came back extremely quick.  Last October I got a bit more involved with him and the owner had the sarcoid once again surgically removed. It was huge and his entire ear was hanging down.  You have to understand that the owner does care for his horses but it is also a business for him and this horse is not that high on the priority list because he is not ridable.  Hence I have made him my special project and treat him as my own.  I go up 3-4 times a week and spoil him.  When he had the last surgery I did some research on sarcoids and found an herbal salve which I have been using and it seems to have slowed down the growth somewhat.  Having said that, it is now once again quite large and the ear is beginning to droop.  It must be terribly uncomfortable for him.  He has always been earsy but we have somehow hashed out a system that I can smear the salve on (if I am quick enough and have enough treats) I usually have one or two shots and can't smear it everywhere.  It is usually get one good gob on and that's it.  There has to be something which can treat this virus from the inside.  Do you recommend anything and have you heard anyone having success with it.  I would love to give him something internally along with the salve I am using externally.  Although he is boarded outside, I would be willing to go out daily if I need to feed him something.  He is a special horse and I do want to help him.  Looking forward to your reply. 

ANSWER:  Thank you for your inquiry.
We have had many clients with this condition, and we do a offer a sound herbal support program for this.
Suggest the following:
- aloe vera juice is a cancer, abnormal cell killer tape, give 1/2 c daily
- use our Murphys Wound Salve with added bloodroot to tumour
- feed Garlic N Roses with Astragalus and Schizandra Berry, and Tumur Time to the horse, 2 times daily., or full dose once a day
- no processed pellets, or sweet feed, use natural grains, herbs, grasses
- no worming chemically, or vaccinations, except if titers say it is needed, check titers instead of vaccinating unnecessarily
- ride horse if possible, lightly, the herbs above should help with some of the soreness, you can order Free Flowin herb blend to help even more, with soundess issues
- you may need to change the herbs again in 3 months, keep in touch and let us know how they are doing
- smudge the horse with sage, and speak to him as you walk around him in clockwise motion, tell him what you want him to do, to get well, be healthy, know he is loved, safe and it is OK, for him to feel great etc, you will know what it is to tell him, this does help in the healing process, one way or the other, if it is time to be well, struggle on, or pass easily.

QUESTION: Hi I was just wondering which herb is suppose to help with a cyst on the flexor tendon in my horse’s right foot.  If you can let me know that would be great. Do you have anything for repairing a vertebrae in the neck that isn't attached anymore and the others are fusing together. What I mean is that one is barely attached I guess as this is my sister’s horse and she as seen the x-rays.

ANSWER: Interestingly, we suggest two blends for both of the conditions you are asking about. Cannon Blast, to repair bone weakness and injury, and Garlic with Astragalus and Schizandra berry, both blends 6 days a week, the garlic blend will assist in pain, inflammation, circulation, anti oxidant, and over all health tonic, with the two Chinese herbs added to it. These two blends for the flexor tendon cysts, and also add the blend celery seed rosehips flush, to move the calcification, through as it breaks up.

QUESTION: Is there any herbal recommendations to help stop cribbing? I have a sweetest little 13h pony, but he is a compulsive cribber. He just had gas colic today. He does not have ulcers. Is there anything I can do?

ANSWER: We have a formula,  called Poise for geldings, that internalize nervous tension. We suggest this for him. Also you may want to give him our blend, called Easy Rider, for nerve related gas colic. Poise works on the nerves, and Easy Rider on the nerve/stomach area. I believe he would need both, and eventually just the Poise, 6 days a week.
        I suggest 1 tablespoon of Nutritional yeast daily, in feed, no pellets, or sweet feed, or processed foods. This adds B vitamins, for the nerves, and is not a fermented yeast, make sure it is the Nutritional Yeast from a health store only.
       Put a tree branch near him, with bark on it, this will help him too, and not be unhealthy, a live branch, also make sure his teeth are good, sometimes it is a symptom  of cribbing. Out doors as much as possible, with forest and trees around. Natural environment.

QUESTION: I purchased Clean & Clear from KV Pets and I have a question about it.  I bought it for my cat, who is prone to Urinary Track Infections.  When I sprinkled it in his canned cat food, my cat turned his nose up and wouldn't touch it.  I force fed him a little bit but I can't do that every day.  Do you have any suggestions?  Can it be made into a paste?  Then I could swipe it into his mouth.  Any ideas will be appreciated.

ANSWER: Put it in some type of yummy wet food that appeals to him, like salmon, canned, tuna, or some other that he like and put it on or in food, mixed.  You can also add some flax oil, just enough to make a tight ball, and freeze them on a cookie tray, and put down his throat, this is easy too, or use water, to make the paste, or a little meat, to make the ball.  You could make a liquid, and do it by dropperful as well, if you like. Let us know if we can help further. See download on feeding cats and dogs for more ideas.

QUESTION: I would greatly appreciate your advice. Our beloved 10 year old cat, Bela, has developed congestive heart failure secondary to a cardiomyopathy. While he has been placed on appropriate medications, I should like to also incorporate Hawthorn into his regimen. To that end, I have purchased pure Hawthorn berry powder (Mountain Rose Herbs). I need to know what amount of the Hawthorn to administer per day. I cannot adequately express my appreciation for taking the time and trouble of advising me in this matter.

ANSWER: Thank you for the inquiry, and allowing us to be of service. We suggest that you use 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of hawthorn berry powder, two times daily. You could put it in his food, disguised with something he likes though hawthorn is pretty mild tasting. We also suggest, 100 mg pills of pure CO-Q10, 3 times daily  down the throat, or id drops, but these are usually alcohol based. This is a fantastic supplement, and clinically proven to protect the heart, anti aging, and many other health benefits, focusing on the cardiovascular health. Read the download on dog and cat food.  Use a good fish oil, on the food, Omega 3-6-9.

QUESTION: I was given your email by a friend of mine that uses your "tumor time" for her dog.  My 5 year old German Shepherd, Diesel has just been diagnosed with lymphoma.  We don't want to put him through chemotherapy especially given that the remission time isn't very long.  I do, though, want to do everything that I can to keep him happy as long as I can.  So far there has been no change in his personality, activity or eating habits, but his all of his lymph nodes are enlarged throughout his body.  I was wondering if you recommend tumor time for dogs with lymphoma or if there is anything else that you recommend either instead, or in addition to.  I would greatly appreciate hearing from you as my heart is breaking and I'm searching for some hope.

ANSWER: I am sorry to hear that. You can do the following, suggested cleansing, and clean diet with him with herbs:
- Tumour Time as directed
- use herbal blend, Equishield, as well as the Tumour Time together
- COQ10, 100 mg, 4 times daily, with 500 mg, Ester C, 3 times daily
- see downloads, on suggestions for diet
- use Salmon Oil ,pure on his food, or other good Omega 3-6-9 oils
         You can put red clover blossom tea in his water bowl, diluted, We have the herbs you need if you are going to do this. At the least he will be more comfortable and feel well, longer, at the best, remission, you never know what direction each animal or person will go. Giving the best care and options as possible is the most dramatic help you can give, and your love for him.

QUESTION: My cat Frankie, has been diagnosed with feline HIV virus. He get sores in his mouth and throat, and cannot eat or drink  from the disease and I often have to obtain steroid shot from doctor in addition to antibiotics, baytril. I don’t like this plan of treatment , one because of the horrible side effects for Frank, possible diabetes from steroid use, and the continual antibiotics. Not to mention it is very costly
It is happening on a more like three week basis now. It used to be less frequent but when he gets stressed he has a breakout of sores. I am looking to a natural anti-inflammatory that he can take more frequently, even daily. Do you have any suggestions?

ANSWER:  I suggest that you get astragalus, schizandra berry, yucca and tumeric, with equal parts, all powders.  Boil it up, and suspend in glycerine, and give 5-10 dropperfuls daily, depending on how cat is, if he is OK, use less, stressed give more. We can send you these herbs, if you would like. Also wash his mouth out gently with aloe vera, organic gel , if he swallows it, it is OK. This will help mouth sores. Plus get good acidophilus pill, give one half  a day.

QUESTION: I’m writing from New Zealand and wanting to know if you have any ideas as to how i can help my 8 year old mare who has a sinus problem.  She is worse in the winter after she has been worked and puts her head down about at least 2 tablespoons of cloudy coloured snot will drain from her nose sometimes both sides, sometimes only one side.  It is the same when she travels on the track when we get there and she puts her head down.  She doesn’t snort much when ridden i have a feeling that it is sometimes painful for her to do so.  I use a herbalist for myself  and no how good it is so I’m hoping you can come up with something.

ANSWER: Dealing with competitive horses is our specialty! We love them. Is this horse a bleeder? Has it been scoped?  We have several herb formulas that would benefit it.  The lungs and the liver are involved, usually, especially in the competitive horse.  I would suggest our blend Liver Up, and the Easy Breathe blend, with herbal bronchodialators and respiratory.  I suggest you get fresh garlic, and give the horse for now, 3 -4 cloves per feeding,, with 2 tablespoons honey and 3 tablespoons cider vinegar, with 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped up, and parsley leaf fresh also, same amount.  Make sure horse is not on pelleted feed, or pure alfalfa, and check when last vaccinated or wormed.  Hold off on that as much as you can. Use pure, grains, like oats, corn, barley, blend. No molasses, as the molasses they use is low grade for horses.

QUESTION: Ran across your website about herbs for horses and am really interested in finding out what to give my 20 year old Arab mare that is suffering from laminitis real bad. She has very little or no blood flow to the feet. I have tried everything there is to help her out and now she's at the point where she is walking on her toes. I have her on a liver cleanse program and herbs for circulation to the legs and feet. What would you recommend in this situation?  I also have her on joint remedy but it doesn't seem to help much. She's on her last straw and I'm trying to do everything I can to help her out. She's been dealing with this for almost 4 years, but now she's getting worse. She's on very little dried up pasture, basically dirt with very little grass and has freedom to go in or out, she's not confined. I appreciate any help you have to give.

ANSWER: What type of trim or shoe do you have on her?  What is in the cleanse you have her on now?
There has to be an answer for her.  We have had lots of success with our program for this, and these are the things we recommend:
- natural , balanced trim, we can refer someone in your area, if you tell me what state you are in
- close look at vaccines and worming, how often is she getting them? Can you use natural wormers for now? ( we have them) Can you not vaccinate for a little while until she breaks this syndrome?
- we use Garlic with Roses, and Astragalus, and Schizandra Berry Blend, increases circulations, builds immune, inflammation and pain
- seaweed blend, and also our Free Flowin for joints ,pain and getting the feet healthy, from the almost diabetic syndrome these horses go into, with carbs
- water bath soaks, soaks in our Brace Yourself liniment
- homeopathy , Rhus Tox, Nux Vomica, and Belladonna, 30 c, 6 pellets two times daily ,for two weeks, and then as needed, use it if inflamed, in future.  Let us know if we can help you further.

QUESTION: Got a question for you. A friend of mine led me to your site through someone she talks to on a Yahoo discussion board.
        Anyway I have a 12 yr old female border collie. I noticed about a week ago her stomach looked larger than usual so the next day I phoned up the vet and took her in. He took her blood and checked her for heart worms which came back negative. He did mention something about her liver counts being off. But he's talking about doing xrays and liver biopsies and all kinds of stuff. I'm not working so that will be difficult for me but of course I don't want my dog to die either.

Doc gave me some lasix for her but says he really doesn't know what he's treating. Lasix didn't do anything except make her pee her brains out. I had to go away for a week but my family was staying here with her. I got home on Saturday evening and I started giving she and my other dog some raw fruits and veggies and I've taken them completely off the dog food ( I was feeding IAMS Weight Control).  She's not in pain, she still wants to run and play. She is pooping and peeing ok. However today I did see some little pieces of plastic in her poop. She loves to get in to the office trash and eat paper. But that's only if I forget to close the door. It's not very often.
      She's doing ok but she doesn't like many fruits. Her favorite seems to be carrots. I've also been giving some garlic chopped up in their food.  Is there anything else you can think of? Vet said it could be cancer or a tumor. I'm just not sure what else to give to her.

ANSWER: We have several formulas that may help your border collie. Give 'er to My Liver is used to support and nourish the liver and works as a mild detox. Also we have straight Milk Thistle Seed powder or Drops that help the liver. Sounds like you are doing everything that we normally recommend with her diet. Attached is our suggested diet changes. We have Prime Pet that is a blend for overall health. It is also available with glucosamine for older or arthritic dogs. If there is a tumor or cancer we have a product called Tumor Time that has had great results. In many instances tumors have stopped growing and some instances where they have actually reduced in size. We even had some that reduced and disappeared. If you suspect this, it would be good to get started. The longer it grows the harder it is to contain.

QUESTION: I have a question for you. I ordered some of your Tumor Time a couple of weeks ago, it was when you were out of town. Anyway I started giving it to my border collie who turned 12 in June. She still has the big belly and I noticed the skin under her chin is starting to sag. It almost looks like there is a lump under her chin.

I've been making her food. I have a friend that's a raw food person who gave me alot of great ideas. However Dakota is not to enthusiastic about eating anything raw. I get her to eat carrots little pieces at a time, she loves Edamame and she'll eat a little broc or celery if I disguise it with a hint of peanut butter. She's still eating like a champ when she likes what I make. I give her eggs, chicken, turkey, ground meat, brown rice and barley. I'm not sure what else to do for her. I've been putting raw garlic in her food and she'll pick everything else out if she can but I chop it really small.
               She seems to be shivering from time to time but it's the same shiver she does when she is scared because of a thunder storm. She waddles when she walks but I don't think her belly has gotten any bigger. Her breathing seems a little labored especially when she's laying down, I'm sure it's uncomfortable. Her breaths are sort of like she's completely exhaling.
       Last time I took her to the vet he wanted to do all kinds of stuff, I think I told you. First x-rays, then maybe a liver biopsy. I don't want to put her through all that, nor can I afford it.
      Are there any other suggestions you have to offer? She's still in good spirits, wags her tail and trots over to see me and gives a little bark. She's lost a bit of her voice though. Thanks for your help!

ANSWER: I am sorry, it is tough, to deal with, our pets are so much a part of our lives, and families. I admire your fortitude to help her.  I suggest you go to the Wal Mart, and buy, pure COQ10 pills, pure,  no additives, and 100 mg, and start giving her, 6 per day, 3 in AM, 3 in PM.

QUESTION: I have a 26 yr old gelding, breed unknown, possibly mustang/cross ?; however very healthy with no major detrimental issues to speak of.  The one thing that I am attempting to "fix" is his soft stool with a liquid discharge that runs down his hindquarter and tail. It occurs mainly in the spring and he has access to blackberries in the pasture. Aside from it being unseemly, as he is cremola with an awesome golden tail and mane, It bothers me because I don't believe this is quite normal.   Is there any herbal remedy that you could recommend? 

ANSWER: He may be getting some weakness in his bowel, or have slight toxicity, underabundance of friendly flora, or over acidity.  I suggest giving 1/3 c aloe vera juice two times daily for one month. Se how he does on this.  I suggest using our blend, Easy Rider, for stomach imbalance, for about 3-6 months, or for 3 months now, and 3 months, at the end of winter, or the beginning of spring, as this is his problem time.

QUESTION:   Is it safe to give a dog curcumin along with Prevacox?  My dog had his spleen removed because of a large tumor.  The biopsy said it was a hematoma but that there could be undetected cancer cells.  Just in case, I have been giving him Prevacox for arthritis and curcumin for possible cancer but wondered if they are compatible.

ANSWER:  In my experience, if you give straight tumeric, and not the extract, re: curcumin, then it would be safer, I am not sure of the strength of the extract you are using/ Research is good on this, for arthritis and cancer.  We have a wonderful formula, called Tumour Time or Giver To My Liver, that have proven excellent for this type condition, and will help to make sure the dog, gets some benefit. Plus other herbs can be added to help the arthritic pain, and reduce the drug use.  Please make sure you take a look at the dog’s diet, what type of food he is on.

QUESTION: My cat is scooting and I wanted to know if you have any products that will address this? Thanks.

ANSWERS FROM KAREN MALLINGER:
QUESTION: So glad to find that you too have a deep believe in God's pharmacy and also to apply it to our pets and livestock.  Rather than bother you frequently, can you suggest some very good books on natural care of livestock and pets.
 
I was hoping to find something for my "way too thin" toy Aussie.  I really wondered about slowing her metabolism down a bit and wonder about something for her thyroid. I happened on another site and their formula contain kelp {1st thought}, and sargassum and phellodendron. I was hoping to find substitutes for the Chinese ones knowing many times we have American equivalents. I gave up my hopes of a ND degree after buying property and getting back to our roots with cattle, goats, chickens, turkeys and emus and with my husband still driving twice daily 30 some miles north to his mechanic garage, I have to stay home and not able to financially or time wise afford training and travel but still appreciate my knowledge and strife to continue learning and want to use naturals when possible on the livestock as well, but haven't found affordable quality in volume yet.  Since I have to stay home with the garden and livestock, my dream is an outlet to sell natural gardening, livestock and pet supplies.
 
Do you know appropriate substitutes for the above Chinese herbs or do you have any suggestion for formulas that I could make or add to her food. She is the most picky eater I've ever had and I've had pets since I could 'roll over'...hahaha  I thought the goat's milk on her dog food would help-did for a while, but she seems to tire or need something else no matter what food we try or how we try to entice her.  She really wants what we eat, but we only allow a 'bite' now and then out of love for her and not enough for food for her. She won't eat things I've fed to other pets and I'm really concerned since her backbone and hip bones have no meat on them.  I guess I could muscle test her on some "educated guesses" of herbs I have.  I have a few bulks, mostly NSP capsules and PureHerbs liquid ones as well as WaterOz liquid minerals. I'm sure with research I can surely come up with something I have on hand to get her balanced out.
 
God bless you and at your age, I know you will be able to help many people and animals.

ANSWER: I've never seen a "mini" Aussie! Aussies as a breed are very active anyhow and need LOTS of exercise, just like border collies. They are very good in agility or some other sport that allows them to do what they were bred for which is herding cattle and sheep - an all day job, requiring lots of energy!
 
I don't know what you're feeding Rosie, but she needs to be on an organic food if you are not "cooking" for her. Wellness brand and Nature's Balance are two that I like very much. You can try adding more whole grain to her food like some brown rice. But do not, under any circumstances, give her "people food!" You will have a problem on your hands and it is NOT good for her. If you want to share, which I love to do with my Corgis, I give them a piece of the fruit I'm eating. Peaches, Pears, Apples, Bananas, Carrots, lettuce, broccoli - Yes they eat it! They think cause I'm eating it, it must be human food, so they are worthy of it!! Ya gotta love em!
 
Books I'd suggest are Herbs for Pets by Mary and Gregory Tillford, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Pitcairn, Holistic Guide for a healthy Dog by Volhard and Brown and the Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat by Juliette De Bairacli Levy. Sorry, not much on the larger animals, but the first book, Herbs for Pets is all-inclusive and very very good.
 
One last thing, you don't have to give up your dreams of becoming and ND. There are several very good online courses that you can do and take your time with. I know some people think that if you don't have the clinical experience, it's not the same, but the textbooks are the same and the info is the same. NDs are not licensed in every state, so if they are in your state, perhaps you could do some volunteer work or an internship at a later date when it fits with your lifestyle. In the meantime, you can get lots of knowledge from online courses. They are a Godsend in my opinion. Trinity College is one that offers several courses of study and they are Christian Based, so you don't get all the "ooga booga" things along with it!

SINUS PROBLEMS IN CAT
QUESTION: I have a Siamese cat that I adopted from the streets, he was a mess when he found me. i took him to the vet. he is 8 years old and has a serious sinus infection, bacterial  on top of viral also beginning kidney disease. CRF He has been on 3 antibiotics ugh, which still persist! I gave him a tiny amount ( one tenth of capsule) of Natures's Way formula HAS, which really helped dry up his nose. he seemed okay with this. But I am scared, i do not want to hurt him in anyway. But vet has nothing for his sinus congestion. It is not upper respiratory. just sinus. He told me it should be okay, but he just doesn't know enough about herbs. I had to do something. This poor little one had ear mites and fleas and someone must have kicked him in the ribs also. But this has all heal with my care. But this sinus will not go away. I also want to give him herbs for kidneys. I live in small town and no health food store. Please shed light on this little one so I can help him.
 
ANSWER: Well, if you've read any of my posts, you know the first thing I'm going to tell you. Get him on a natural, organic healthy food. Some sinus problems are a result of allergies to the chemicals and preservatives in foods and once you eliminate those, the problem goes away.  With no health food store anywhere near, I don't know how you're going to get your hands on the herbs you need. You can make a nasal drop formula from saline, usnea, oregon grape and calendula. If you need me to make a custom formula for you, I'd be happy to do that. Just write back with the word ORDER in the subject line.  For the kidneys, parsley, pipsissewa, juniper and goldenrod are effective. Also cat's claw and gingko. If you can't find any of these and want me to make a custom formula, let me know.

DOG'S RATTLESNAKE BITE
QUESTION: My 4 months old puppy was bit by a rattle snake and luckily he survived. The vet put him on amoxicillin and pain meds after other initial medications. I am looking for ideas to help with his swollen leg (bit on the foot) and aid for removing the toxins from his system. Any suggestions will be so greatly appreciated!

ANSWER: Yes you are certainly lucky. You need to give your puppy large doses of Vitamin C and Echinacea. The echinacea you can make into a tea and give it on his food or get the capsules and put them in a piece of cheese or meat. Vitamin C, I'd recommend 1000 mg. every day for 2 weeks. If you notice him getting diarrhea, back off the dosage to 500 mg.

COUGHING POODLE
QUESTION: I have an 11 year old miniature poodle who is right now suffering from a choking cough--I know its not kennel cough.  He started this about 2 months ago.  My mom suggested that his teeth were getting in bad shape so we had them cleaned 1 1/2 weeks ago--he had two infected/rotten teeth extracted from the back of his mouth--he is on a small dose of amoxi for the infection--he only has today to finish the meds.  But instead of the coughing improving it is worse--I also noticed that with his blood work his kidney enzymes are up from what they were(2 yr. ago) but they are not out of what they classify as normal--but it just makes me think that these are not normal for him.  Should I give him some herbs for kidney function and what? He eats Canidae (natural dog food), Bilberry for cataracts, Hawthorn for heart support--1/2 capsule,and salmon oil.  He also occasionaly gets white rice, chicken livers, and carrots.  What else can I do?

ANSWER: Hi,  Are we sure there's nothing blocking his airway? What does the Vet say? It could also be allergy related. Or, if you use carpet fresh or anything like that, it can cause an irritation.  If it is a dry hacking cough, you need to go to the health food store and get some coltsfoot, elecampane, mullein, yarrow and marshmallow glycerites. If all they have is tinctures, you can get that, but a glycerite would be better. Combine them, 1 part each and give to your dog 2-3 times a day. 1/4 - 1/5 a ml is the recommended dose per 20 pounds. That's about half an eye dropper full.

QUESTION: What can I give my dog for loose bowels?  I'm feeding him ground beef and
rice, and his bowels are still loose.

ANSWER: My thought is that the ground beef is too greasy. I feed mine 98% lean. Are you cooking it or feeding it raw? How long have you been feeding it? Sometimes, after coming off commercial dog foods, it can takes dogs up to a month to become accustom to eating raw food so give it some time.

QUESTION: Even though you have several answers to the question of scaling, smelly feet in dogs, I need further help.  My 5-year old Bernese Mountain has allergies.  I use the products you mentioned from Pet Medicine Chest.  She chews on her feet endlessly.  I have even given her Valerian Root during the day to encourage a lot of napping.  I use tea tree oil shampoo and a small soft brush to clean her legs.  Then I alternate between applying pure aloe vera gel and Oxyjuv (Pet Medicine Chest).  This relieves it for a
while, but she is gnawing on them constantly.

For their dinner I serve my dogs raw beef or ground turkey.  I also give them organic spinach, carrots, yogurt, and sometimes organic avocados and ground pistachios nuts.  They love those.  Their breakfast is premium dog food...I use Natural Balance Duck and Potato or Karma Organic.  I have a water filter and make sure their bowls are clean.  I have run out of things to do for her.  I put knee socks on her legs during the day when I am at work, but our other dogs help her get them off. Can you offer any suggestions please?

This poor girl is driving herself nuts with the chewing.  Just as an FYI, she started chewing aggressively after I got new furniture, and moved her dog couch outside.  She was very angry that I did that, and has been
chewing to such an extent that she cannot bear weight on her front paw. Thanks!

ANSWER: I had a corgi that licked her feet, but she also cleaned her face like a cat, so I think she had identity issues!

Anyhow, chewing or licking of the feet is normally a symptom of some sort of bacterial or fungal infection in the pads or the nail beds. It sounds like you are feeding an excellent food, so that pretty much rules out parasites. Also, you need to check the environment. New carpet, any type of sprays on the lawn or garden or even things like Febreeze on your carpet can cause irritation and could result in liver damage and poisoning, so be very careful. We used to use the Swiffer on our floors until one of our dogs got poisoned from walking on them, so ensure that the environment is free of anything toxic.

Try some Tea Tree oil neat on the nails and pads. It is anti-fungal and antiseptic. I mix the EO with some almond oil and massage it into the nail beds and the pads. Even if they lick it off, it shouldn't hurt them.

QUESTION: My dog has a corneal ulcer in her eye.  I have antibiotic drops from the vet but I feel that she should be taking an oral antibiotic but prefer the natural ones.  I have been feeding her large doses of garlic (which also help against fleas.  Is there any type of eye-wash that could help and is there something stronger than garlic to use as an antibiotic?

ANSWER: Here's a simple eyewash you can make. Take 1/2 tsp of raspberry leaf or nettle tea, and 1/2 tsp of oregon grape or goldenseal tea. Mix with some pure saline solution you can get at the drug store. Make sure it is the preservative free type. Also, ensure that there are NO particles of herb in the teas - you don't want those in your dog's eye! Strain it through a coffee filter first. Shake the mixture and use an eye dropper to put in your dog's eye. Make sure you are using only organic herbs, as anything else may cause sensitivity.

Also, you should be feeding a quality food. I've addressed this extensively in the column so won't go into it here, but that is the best way to build up your pet's immune system and keep them healthy. The garlic is also an excellent thing to add. My corgis get it every single day.


QUESTION: We just found out that our dog has lymphomasarcoma cancer, he has about 4 weeks to live if we do nothing 8 weeks if we put him on pregnazone and maybe 12 months on Chemo.. we do not want to do the chemo, we are heartbroken and want to know is there anything that would prolong his life and also make him feel good thru this. He looks good right now. Please help us if you know.
 
ANSWER: My heart breaks for you. I lost one of my beloved Corgis to Lymphoma 3 years ago and have still not recovered from it.  The first thing you must do is put your dog on a healthy, organic diet. Go to the pet store and get one of the natural foods. I use Nature's blend, but there are several. I have an Essiac formula for pets in a glycerin tincture form. You can also make a tea out of sheep sorrel and feed that to him. I put mine in the dog's water. I don't know how old the dog is or if surgical removal is even an answer.
 
If there is a holistic vet in your area, I'd certainly contact him right away. You can purchase the Hoxey formula or the Essiac formula from your local health food store as well. It will be in a tincture form that you can drop into his food or if necessary, down his throat.
 
Red Clover, burdock root and dandelion root all help to cleanse the system and improve liver function, which will help as well. Either a tea or a tincture made with these herbs in it should be very beneficial to your dog.

NEUTERING PETS
QUESTION: I'm living on a low income, and live in the country, and don't have a car. Because of this, I've have a problem with getting my cats neutered. Even with neuter programs it's an expense and hassle to  get the animal to it. Local vets require 2 separate visits (one for a checkup and a week later the operation) and this is $60 or so, even with  Friends of Animals.  There is a spay/neuter clinic for $50 but it's 45 miles away.    I have had only female cats and one spayed male (who is blind) but now have several young males I didn't find homes for (and, in a way have gotten attached to, myself).

This has been a worry to me, as they get older and will be going after the females. Someone at a shelter once told me, if I can't get them neutered keep them separated (like in cages) but this doesn't seem like the solution. And my house isn't set up to keep the males shut in one room.

This morning I was thinking "maybe there's an herb, or essential oil of some kind that would repel the male cats, and/or cover the scent of the female in heat?" I know, the scent is strong and the females go after the
males at one point. I don't know much about herbs and can't afford to buy every one, in all forms to test them out (LOL)      I have some lavender (herb) powder, that has a very strong smell.  Are there any herbs (that could be powered, maybe, or made into a spray) that might work to cover the scent and/or repel the males?  Since, I believe the males are attracted to the female, because of a scent?

On the same note, are there any herbs the repel cats? Like if I want to keep them away from my plants or out of a certain area, etc?       I guess the idea of using herbs to prevent unwanted mating is kind of
far-fetched, but you never know. I've had other low-income people say "it's too bad there isn't something we could do ourselves, at home (for neutering them)"       I started out with cats, because I'd take in ones that people couldn't keep, or strays. I have one cat who is 14, who belonged to my mother, who passed away 10 years ago. Because I have a house and live in the country. People in the cities and apartments can't always keep a cat.

I sometimes get lectured, how I shouldn't have cats if I can't afford to have them neutered. Well, I didn't go out looking for cats, and if I could (have them all neutered) I would. At one time I tried calling local humane societies to ask for possible advice and info, got lectures about how "you SHOULD have all the cats spayed and neutered!" When I said I didn't have money to do that, I was told "well, you should anyway". Like I'm a
no-good person because I don't have money and a way to get to a vet to have it done. Since then, I haven't wanted to call people about it again.      I'm doing the best I can, and got to thinking today, maybe there's
another way? Maybe not PERFECT (like neutering) but something that might help?       At least for people who, like me, don't have a way to get their cats neutered. At least at this time.

ANSWER:  This is a real issue for me as there are literally millions of unwanted cats and dogs born into this country every year. Personally, I don't care how far it is or how much it costs, you need to neuter the males. They are the easiest and cheapest to have done and there are plenty of spay and neuter clinics that will do it for reduced rates. If you can't afford that, take them to the nearest shelter. They will neuter them there. Of course you still have to pay to get them back, but at least they aren't running around the countryside impregnating other cats.

There is no herb or other remedy that will prevent cats or dogs or any other mammal for that matter from mating. I don't care how strong the smell. If you truly care as much as you say, you'll find a way to get the males neutered. I know sometime there are specials, the ASPCA has special spay and neuter clinics that they fund. If you are diligent, you can find a way.

LIVER DISEASE IN A DOG
QUESTION: Hi, I have two Jack Russell Terriers - aged 11 and 8.  Both are females. The eldest is suffering from liver disease.   At this stage, I have been using milk thistle in her diet for the past month - 6000 units a day. I am also giving her Hills Liver Diet.  Is there anyone who can offer any information or advice on extra treatments that may help?

ANSWER:  Sounds like you're doing the right thing. Milk Thistle is the best thing you can give your dogs or yourself, for that matter when it comes to the liver. You might also add licorice if the liver is inflamed. Also dandelion root, burdock, root, alfalfa, and red clover to help the body eliminate any residual toxins. Lastly, feed echinacea and garlic to boost the immune system and astragalus or Siberian ginseng to help improve the body's responses to the added stress. Hope all is well with your Jack Russells and they are up and bouncing again soon.

TOXINS IN A DOG
QUESTION:  Heidi is my 7 year old Weimaraner. She has had numerous health problems. Demodectic mange as a puppy. Taken care of with tea tree shampoo baths after one treatment with a vet prescribed remedy which just about did us both in.  At about 3 years she was exposed to Coumaphous, a very strong organophosphate. Our local feed store sold it to use on cattle (too strong for them too) Our vet gave her IV's to keep her hydrated. Her throat was paralyzed and she couldn't eat or drink. He put her on prednisone too. He did not offer much hope.  I finally brought her home. With much TLC she pulled through with no outward problems. 

She now drinks copious amounts of water and has terrible breath. I suspect all the medication has done a number on her kidneys. I really don't want to take her to the vet. He does not believe in alternative medicine.  She is lame on her right front side, but mainly in the evening. I have her on a white rice and rare hamburger diet.  This has helped the bad breath. I also give her a B50, glucosamine & chondroitin, vitamin E-400 iu, MSM-100 mg, flax seed oil and a multiple vitamin. Any suggestions to keep this spoiled lady healthy would be much appreciated.

ANSWER:  Toxins will kill a dog quicker than anything. Don't even want to think what that type of thing is doing to our food supply. Anyhow, good for you for choosing the alternative route when it comes to feeding. Make sure you are including vegetables in that raw food diet as they are important too. Dogs are actually omnivores, not carnivores, and need veggies. Also, I would get some milk thistle and dandelion root to help de-tox her liver. That's where most of the toxins probably ended up. Unless she's showing signs of a kidney infection like urinating all over the place when she was formerly house trained or going every few minutes.

There is a site I like called Pet Medicine Chest that has several excellent tinctures to remove the toxins from the liver. You might contact them as well. But milk thistle and dandelion are a good start. You can buy the
capsules at the health food store or pharmacy. Just sprinkle them on her food or get a tea and use that to moisten her food or pour some in her water. Either way, get it into her if you have to push the pills down her
gullet. (A last resort for me, but I've been known to do it if I can't get them to take it any other way!

Best of luck. Keep me posted on her progress. BTW, taking good care of your animals is NOT spoiling them. I wish more pet owners had your attitude!!

SKIN CONDITION IN DOGS
QUESTION: Hello, I came across your web site and was so glad I could send you e-mail.  I hope that you can help me. I am going crazy trying to figure out what to do. I have spent countless  hours doing all kinds of things to no avail. I have a Doberman Pinscher and a border collie mix.  They both have a skin problem I can't seem to cure. I have changed their diet, I have tried different shampoos, and I have used baby oil and virgin olive oil( with and with out tee tree oil.) There skin is so very dry dandruff is all over them. Also their feet get a horrible smell to them between baths. It smells like stinky gym socks. Or really sweaty stinky feet.
the dogs sleep inside with me so I really really need you're help. PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME

ANSWER: You said you changed their diets. What exactly are you feeding? When you change a dog's diet, it has to be a permanent thing. Are you feeding a healthy, natural diet? If you've been to the website, you know that the major cause of stinky, smelly dogs can usually be traced back to inferior food. Make sure you are feeding an all natural food for your dogs. Not IAMS or Science Diet. Go to the pet food store and ask for the natural dog food aisle. There you will find quite a few selections. As consumers get wiser, the stores are cooperating and there is a much better selection than there used to be. After you have put them on a healthy diet, and they've been on it for at least 2-3 months, if you are still having problems, let me know

RESPIRATORY PROBLEM WITH CAT
QUESTION: Hate to bug ya with this, but--my grey tabby, most angelic lil' cherub on earth, is coughing and sneezing like crazy. This has been getting progressively worse all week.  When she purrs it's a deep, rattly sound....  ???  What types of kitty remedies can I give her?  Maybe a vet will give her antibiotics but I wonder what's available at nature's pharmacy.  I hate to see this darling in any type of pain...yikes...I'd much rather it
happened to me...sigh....

ANSWER: Poor Puss. Has anything in her environment changed recently? Are you using a carpet deodorizer, the kind you sprinkle on and vacuum up? Those things are death to animals' respiratory systems. Have you changed what you use in her litter box? Has she been out in the fields running? Sounds like she has a respiratory problem.

Meadowsweet has been reported to have positive effects on toning cats' bronchial systems. Go to your local health food store and get some Calendula, oregon grape or Usnea lichen tincture. Combine 10 drops of the
tincture with 2 oz of pure saline solution and put 2 drops in her nose. Expect her to sneeze and cough a little.

If this continues for more than a week, I would go to the Vet and find out what's going on. You don't have to accept any antibiotics, but get a professional medial opinion to ensure it isn't something more serious.

OIL OF OREGANO AND DOGS
QUESTION: I have a question about oil of oregano and its use in dogs.  I have a 3 year old Standard Poodle with a chronic infection in her nose.  The insides of her nostrils become clogged with a sticky mucous-like discharge, and if left unchecked, she develops a crusty coating on the outside of her nose that will eventually become a stiff, white, coating all over the surface of her nose.  This has been going on for over a year.  Our vet has been very good; we've tried antibiotics, then prednasone.  The antibiotics work, but only for about two weeks after a 10-day course, then it flares up again.  The prednasone just made her incontinent and gave her an extra 10 pounds.  We had her nose biopsied by a veterinary internist, who shared the results with a veterinary dermatologist.  The results showed a simple infection - no autoimmune problems.  So, Belle, our poodle, is having to take antibiotics two out of four weeks a month. I recently came across some articles about oil of oregano and its ability to cure antibiotic-resistant infections, which I'm convinced is the problem
with Belle.  What I can't find out is whether oil of oregano is toxic to dogs, either internally or externally.  It seems like using the oil on her nose might be problematic because the smell would upset her, and she would
just lick it off.  I was wondering about giving her capsules.  She weighs 75 pounds (thanks to the prednasone.) Thank you for your kind reply.

ANSWER: My first suggestion is get her off the antibiotics as soon as possible. Not only are they expensive, but they could be damaging to your dog. I'm not familiar with oil of oregano as a topical for infections. My
suggestion would be to use Tea Tree Oil, neat. You should be able to find it at your local health food store. Apply it up to 4 times a day.

Of course the next thing I'm going to ask, (and if you've read ANY of my posts on animals, you know this is coming!) What is she eating? I never cease to be amazed at what a simple pure diet will cure. Over half the pet foods out there are full of poisons and garbage that your dog should not be eating. Then we spend Billions, that's right, with a B, on Vet care in this country every year to treat (not cure) maladies that could be eliminated just by feeding a quality dog food.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not slamming Vets. I wanted to go to school to be one. But the documentation is overwhelming and many Vets are leaving "traditional practice" to go back to school and learn the natural way to heal. Go to your local pet food store and ask them where the natural dog food aisle is. There you will be amazed at your choices. Most of them are excellent, some less so. I like Nature's Balance, but Eagle is also very good. Read, read, read those labels. Steer clear of anything that has grain or meal as the first ingredients. Lots of the things we are seeing are nothing more than food allergies. Dogs are omnivores and need meat. Try that for 2 months and use the Tea Tree Oil topically and see if you don't have startling results. You need to get her off the anti biotics, though. As they
just keep adding to the toxicity in the body.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

CAT WITH LYMPHOMA
QUESTION: My cat Squeaker has lymphoma. I just found out about a tea that has cured cancer in humans called, Essiac. I want to try it out with my cat, but I want to make sure it's safe to give to him. The herbs in
it are: Sheep Sorrel, Burdock Root, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Indian Rhubarb Root Here's the website if you want more info: http://www.realessiac.com        If it is safe to give him, what kind of dose should I give. One last note, this cat will not accept any kind of force feeding, pills, liquid etc. I think I will have to put it in his drinking water and see how that goes. He won't eat wet food anymore, so that isn't an option either. Thanks for your help!

ANSWER: YES! Essiac is one of the best things you can give him for any type of cancer. It is safe and very effective. Also, red clover and milk thistle should be at the top of your list.
              How to get it down their gullet is another matter. I have very compliant dogs, but I can't imagine trying to force anything down a cat's throat! Possibly soaking his kibble in the Essiac would work. Just take a couple of bits and put them in a bowl and pour some Essiac on them. Let them sit and soak up the tea. Then offer it to Squeaker. If he turns his nose up at it, leave it there. He will eat it rather than starve, trust me. If he is a particularly stubborn feline, you can try putting it in his water, but you'd have to put an awful lot in, since the water will dilute it. I usually give .5 ml per 20 lbs of weight to start. See how that works and keep me posted.

CAT WITH LYMPHOMA
QUESTION: My cat has just been diagnosed as having lymphoma (Mediastinal), but it's not associated with the feline leukemia virus.  Do you have any advice on alternative methods of treatment (other than radiation and chemotherapy)? Thank you very much for your response!!

ANSWER: The Hoxsey formula or the Essiac formula are used for animals as well as people suffering from cancer of all types. I have a glycerin tincture I made just for my animal clients. It is sweet and so much easier to get down than the alcohol based ones! If you are interested go to my  website at www.allgoodegifts.com and in the Apothecary under tinctures, you will find Essiac Blend.

CAT WITH RINGWORM
QUESTION: I am assisting a friend of mine who runs a cat rescue.  A kitten came down with ringworm and I read the herb to use internally for that is sulphur. The holistic vet recommended (in a book that I have)  6X once a day for 4 weeks and all I could find is 30x.  Would there be any problems with a kitten weighing 3.5#, to take one 30x tablet daily?  If so, could she take it at different intervals?

ANSWER: Sulfur is not an herb.  It is very deep and powerful and I don't know that I would use it on a kitten. Also, 30x is a high dosage for a kitten, even once a day. I know homeopathic pills are tiny, but if you can't find anything smaller, try using a razor blade to cut it in half at least. But my advice is not to use it on an animal that young. my homeopathic references say Thuja at the rate of 30C once a week for 3 weeks. Also, try Tea Tree Oil on the area diluted with a little almond oil or jojoba. Clip the hair around the area. Cats are known for contracting ringworm and it is not actually a worm, but a fungus. In cats it seems to be systemic, possibly due to stress, genetic weakness from inbreeding, diet, vaccinations or all of the above.

ITCHING
QUESTION: I got your name from HerbNet and would like to know what I might give or use on my four year old, 55lb. lab/spaniel? mixed dog for very itchy, scaling skin.  It seems to start just above her tail, on her back with very small reddish/brown lesions.  These enlarge to dry, scaling patches. I do not see any fleas, mites or evidence of bug bites. I have been told by the vet that is not ringworm. No other house pets (dogs and cats) or humans have this She chews till she is bald wherever she can reach, especially her back sides, stomach and tail.  She has received an annual injection for fleas and we have used Prednisone injections and tablets in the past which help minimally.  I have tried tea tree ointments as well as multiple special soaps and lotions from pet stores.  Emu Oil has helped a little.  It seems that she clears up a very short period from late Winter to early Summer. Any suggestions you can give me would be appreciated by both Savannah and
myself!

ANSWER: Spaniels as a breed are prone to skin problems. But the first thing I'm going to ask is, what are you feeding her. 9 out of 10 cases of skin disorders or allergies are directly related to food.  If you are feeding a mainstream dog food, that could be your problem. Even Iams and Science diet are not the best things you can give your dog. Go to the nearest Petco or Petsmart and ask for the natural dog food aisle. There you will find all kinds of wonderful brands. My personal favorite for the Corgis is Dick Van Patten's Nature's Balance. I had a friend with a Jack Russell who had the same problem. Two weeks on a quality food and pure water and that dog has no issues at all! It was truly amazing. There are countless accounts of the same result.  I would try that first. See how Savannah responds. Stay away from the chemicals and the antibiotics as those can just exacerbate the problem. Do you have a bad problem with fleas?  It's funny, fleas will always choose a weak host. If your dog is healthy and well nourished, they won't usually be bothered by fleas. My dogs run in the yard every day and don't have any fleas and I DO NOT use any type of commercial flea product on them. You can put pennyroyal or cedar essential oil on their beds or  I have dog collars that are treated with the oils if you're interested. Go to the website at www.allgoodegifts.com and under Pets in the Herb Shoppe, you'll find them. My Bailey is modeling one!  But I think if you change her diet, you will see amazing results.

ITCHING
QUESTION:  I got your address form herbnet and hope you can help.  We have a 3 mo old corgi female.  At the time we purchased her the breeder informed us that she had had 10 baths at least already....this is at 8 wks of age.  Now I know you are not suppose to bathe puppies til 6mo and feel a lot of her problem stems form this.  She itches CONSTANTLY!  Poor thing cannot stop.  I have been putting "nutricoat" oil on her food for about 3 weeks and no help.  I'm wondering what herbs I might add to her diet for allergies or rub into her
coat (which is very wooly).  ANY help would be great.

ANSWER: I am the Herbalist at Herbnet.com and Maureen forwarded your e-mail to me.  I also own and show Pembroke Welsh Corgis, so your e-mail was of particular interest to me.
First, this "breeder". Are they a reputable breeder or just someone doing it out of their back yard? Lots of people breed dogs thinking it will be a money maker for them, but reputable breeders don't usually make any money on litters after vet bills and shots etc. A puppy this young should NOT be experiencing this type of problem, and Corgis are not known for skin problems. What are you feeding her? The number one cause of skin problems in dogs is the food they eat. If it is any of the off the shelf foods you can pick up at Wal Mart, that could be the problem.  Go to a Petsmart or a Petco and get some of the natural food for her. Dick Van Patten makes a wonderful food called Natures Balance. Get the puppy mix - dry. You can also get canned. If they don't have that brand, find another natural food. There are several good ones, but read the label for meat being the first ingredient, not meat by products, not meal, not wheat or corn, MEAT. And make sure there is no BHA or BHT in it. These are carcinogenic and have been documented in numerous cases of canine cancer. Now, Do NOT overfeed her. The amounts on the back of dog food bags are far more than dogs should eat and are there only for the dog food companies.  1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup in the evening is enough for her while she's growing. After a year, reduce it to 1/4 cup at each feeding. Two feedings are better than one as Corgis tend to gorge themselves if you put the food in front of them! To her morning food add a tablespoon of yogurt or cottage cheese. To the evening meal add a Tablespoon of the canned meat food.
           There is also a wonderful oil we give our dogs, as Corgis do shed quite a bit. It's called Mrs.. Allen's Shed Stop and is full of wonderful Omega Oils, cod liver oil, and vitamins. You can purchase it at Mrsallens.com, but we buy all our dog supplements at http://www.jbpet.com/. They are much cheaper and you can buy in bulk if you want to. Does her skin smell at all? I mean other than the normal dog smell? Stinky? Again, this is probably related to her food. I have a special spray that I made for a friend of mine who had a Chihuahua with horrible dry smelly skin.  I had her change the diet and use the spray daily and within 2 weeks there was marked improvement and now the dog has beautiful skin and coat. You can purchase the spray in 4 or 8 oz sizes on my website at http://www.allgoodegifts.com/ but if you don't change her diet along with it, it is like putting racing fuel in a jalopy - useless!
         Best of luck and write to me any time if you have questions about your Corgi. They are wonderful little dogs - But then, I'm a little biased!!
 

QUESTION: Wellness is made by Old Mother Hubbard, its deboned chicken, salmon meal, fish meal, oatmeal, barley flour, ground brown rice, canola oil, flax seed, snow peas, baby carrots, tomatoes,  sweet potatoes, apples, pears, bananas whole clove garlic, beta carotene, filtered water, omega 3 and 6, potassium chloride, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, vit e, b12, folic acid, vit d3, thiamine monoitrate, calcium iodate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper proteinate, sodium selenite.  Hope this is good, if not I will go to what you have recommended.  Thank you so much for all your help.  Do you think I need to put him on some vitamin to increase his immune system or will the food do that for him alone??  I am doing a lemon dip to his paws for the mange, got it on line, slice a lemon put in warm water, let it steep over night and apply to the paws ( What do you think of that!!! ) is it a waste of time?? Again thanks so much for all you help

ANSWER: Well, Mother Hubbard has some good things and this doesn't sound too bad since it has deboned chicken as the first ingredient in it. However, when you see the word "meal", that means the meat is mixed with cereals and grains that add bulk, but not much else. Still, it's better than most. I would tell you go ahead and use this, but go for the most pure you can afford. Try Dick Van Patten's formulas. Everyone I know who uses them has been thrilled and it's the only thing I feed my show dogs. At this stage a vitamin supplement would be helpful, especially since this is a puppy. You want to give him the best start you can. We like JB Pets Wholesale. They have lots of wonderful supplements and the prices are very reasonable.  Also, we feed a supplement that is like a powder. Mix it with a little warm water and your kibble and it turns into a wonderful gravy that the dogs just love. Smells kinda fishy, but it's full of vitamins and anti-oxidants.  That comes from a place called the Wholistic Pet. Their website is http://www.thewholisticpet.com  They have everything you need. I know it seems like a lot of fuss, but you'd be surprised how much you'll save in vet bills if you simply feed a good quality food. As for the lemon juice, I don't think it will work. Mange is caused by a parasite. To stop the mange, you have to kill the parasite. Lemon juice in water won't do it and may irritate your puppy's skin because of the citric acid. Go to the nearest health food store and pick up a bottle of Tea Tree Oil.  Mix several drops in a bowl and make a rinse out of that. It is anti-fungal and anti-viral as well. You can also use it for scrapes, cuts, cold sores. Just don't apply directly to the wounds. Always use a Q-tip or a cotton ball and don't touch the tip to the implement you are using to avoid cross-contamination.

FLEAS
QUESTION: I have a dog with a terrible flea allergy. We have used several veterinary meds but he still scratches and bites incessantly. Is there an herbal spray that can be made and used prior to going outside to prevent this problem? Also could there be  plant contact, in part, be causing this reaction? I would appreciate any feedback as Scooter is miserable!

ANSWER: I'm going straight to my first question with any type of flea infestation or skin problems. What is Scooter eating? The chemicals and crap that are in the popular dog foods these days are responsible for a myriad of health problems and issues. Fleas don't stay on healthy hosts. They prefer one with a depleted system.
           Get Scooter on a natural, holistic food to start with. Purina is not a healthy food unfortunately. Go to Petsmart or Petco and ash for the holistic dog food aisle. There you will find a plethora of wonderful foods for Scooter, both dry and wet. I like Nature's Balance, but Eagle also puts out a great one that I intend to try on the Corgis. They cost a little more, but how much have you spent at the vet lately? Additionally, I buy the minced garlic in a jar and a small spoonful goes in each dog's dinner every day. Garlic is one of the best flea repellants. Also, you might want to add some EFAs to his diet. I use an oil called Mrs.. Allen's and it's wonderful for the skin and shedding.
          Does Scooter live inside or outside? If he lives outside, you will need to check the area. You may need to do some work if the area is infested with fleas, but I'm suspecting if you get his system back in shape the fleas will hop on to another less healthy host.  I do have a special spray that I made for a friend who had a dog with dry skin. You can find it on the website at www.allgoodegifts.com under Pet Products in the Herb Shoppe.

QUESTION:  I was hoping if I gave you an idea of what Gracie is currently taking (e.g. supplements) you could give me an idea if there were others we could use and provide the dosage for the Red Clover. We currently have Gracie on Essex and Hoxsiac (1 tablespoon) of the Essex in the morning and the Hoxsiac in the evening.  This is a product from Canada Flora Beverage Company. She is on 5 mg of Prednisolone once a day. We put Shark Cartilage and Shark Liver Oil in her food (once a day). She takes 8 capsules of Vita Green (3 in her morning and evening food 2 in cottage cheese as an evening snack). She takes 1 cc of Gravizon 2 times a day.  She takes 2 tablets of Immupro (one in the am one in the pm) – this contains
calcium, zinc and selenium. We give her Probiotics (Natren’s dog formula) once per day. We give her 250 mg of vitamin C though not everyday. Also give her B Maxi Complex (it is not a B12) which has B 12 in it – give
her usually ½ of a gel cap. I am interested in getting her the RED CLOVER immediately and would need to
know the dose.  My mom can purchase it this afternoon and start immediately.Can you provide that information to me?  Also the Burdock is mentioned in the Essex so would we need to give her more (if so what dose).  Same question with the Dandelion and Milk Thistle.  Would it hurt her to try the Wheat Grass and where can I find that?  I did not see it on the GNC site (only something called Blue Green Algae Formula)           If we try any or all of these are there some that we would need to stop? Some we can’t combine?  Or any other words of caution? We don’t want to keep her on chemo if there is too great a risk of hurting her due to the toxic levels.  But I don’t want to (can’t) just give up.  She is our world and such a sweetie.  I want to do all I can to keep her quality of life good and know I did all I could. Thanks for your advice and hope to hear from you soon.

ANSWER: I would ensure she is getting Vitamin C every day. There is red clover in the Essiac formula as well as the Hoxsey formula. If you have access to a health food store, I would suggest the Hoxsey formula before just red clover. It is not a cure-all. I would include burdock root, dandelion root and milk thistle in her diet as well. You can buy these as capsules and try to get them into her food, but she may not eat with it on there. I have a corgi who won't touch anything with herbs in it so I have to resort to sneakier methods. You can also buy the tea and  blend that in her drinking water or try to give it to her via syringe or eye dropper.
          Since she already has the disease, I would ensure you up her dosage of vitamins C, E, B complex and selenium. There is a product called ACES you can get at the health food store. These capsules will have to be put down her throat, or hidden in a piece of cheese or meat. Make sure she is on the healthiest diet you can find. Contrary to popular belief, that is not Science Diet or IAMS. There are plenty of great holistic dog foods out there. Even Petco and Petsmart have them so ask at the front counter where the Health foods for dogs are. They come in kibble and canned. I am a breeder and the difference in my dogs when I moved them to a healthy diet is like night and day.

HORSE WITH SORE BACK
QUESTION: I have a horse/mare that gets very sore in her back and pelvis during her heat cycle.  She's had a pelvic injury in the past but seems to be doing fine except during the heat cycle. She also seems a little more argumentative while I'm riding her but I don't know if that might just be from the tenderness, or is it hormonal?  Any suggestions?

ANSWER:  You didn't say how old your mare is. It's hard to say what the real issue is. Maybe she's just cramping and wants to be left alone during that time, like the rest of us!  I don't know if you've tried a basic liniment on her back and pelvis and if it has had any effect. I would try an oil of the following infused oils:

Yarrow
Comfrey
St. John's Wort

Take the infused oils of each of these and combine.  After a couple of days, you can use arnica oil on her, but sparingly to ensure it doesn't irritate the skin. If you'd like me to make this up for you, I'd be happy to. Just e-mail me with the word ORDER in the subject line.

CAT WITH ASTHMA
QUESTION:  My cat was diagnosed with Asthma - do you know of any herbs that can
help him?

ANSWER: Many people regard asthma as respiratory distress, but in many cases, it is only a symptom f a deeper immune-mediated disorder. Asthma usually occurs as part of a server allergic reaction. Symptomatic herbal treatments for non-life-threatening cases would consist of  coltsfoot, grindelia, mullein leaf, elecampane, yarrow, slippery elm, plantain and marshmallow. If you can get garlic into her food, do it. It is  an excellent immunotonic and has antibacterial and antiviral principles that are exhaled through the lungs. Meadowsweet has been used quite successfully to increase the bronchial tone in cats. A tea is probably your best bet, mixed in her water.  Lobelia tincture may be used at the onsite of an attack, but should be used sparingly as it is potentially toxic if used in excess, I'd be happy to make a custom formulation for you if you like. E-mail me with the word ORDER in the subject line and let me know if your cat is a finicky eater, would accept a tincture, or if we need to go a different way.

TUMOR IN DOG
QUESTION: I am writing because my collie has developed a tumor under her tongue, at this moment we do not know if it is cancer yet test results have not can back yet.  My question is would Essiac benefit her  and at what dosage should I give her she weighs 66lbs. My best friend also told my to give her flax seed oil,  green tea, shark cartilage, one children’s vitamin without iron. I just need some help because she is on  prescribed medicines also and I do not want a  bad reaction to the Prednisone and Antirobe.  She has enough trouble eating and drinking because of this mass,  and would like to keep her around for a very long time since she is so loving!

ANSWER: Essiac is a great start. The dosage should be on the back. Figure a normal dosage for an adult is figured at 150 lbs, so about half. I can't speak about the other chemicals she's getting, as I don't advocate them. Too many side effects and too much money for things that don't really help, in my opinion.  Red Clover is one of the best things you can give an animal with cancer. If you can get some tincture at the health food store, do that. Try to get a glycerin based tincture as they are sweet and animals prefer them to the alcohol based. If not, e-mail me, as I am making some at this very moment. It will take 2 weeks to complete. Put the word ORDER in your subject line so I can pick you out of all the other e-mails I get every day.

I'll start preaching again on food. It is the number one thing you can do right now to reverse whatever is going on with your dog. If she is not getting a healthy, all natural food, get her on one immediately. Go to Petco
or Petsmart and ask them where their natural food are. IAMS and Science Diet are not what I'm talking about.  Nature's blend is a very good one that most stores carry. They have wet and dry. They are a little more expensive, but not as expensive as the vet bills you are facing trust me. I've been there and lost my dog anyway. I learned too late.

Also give her milk thistle to help tone and rejuvenate her liver. If she has a tumor, chances are something else is going on, so building up that organ can only help her. Again, a tincture is the best. A couple of drops under her tongue or squirted into the back of her mouth through the cheek three times a day is all you need.

LYMPHOMA IN DOGS
QUESTION: I am a veterinarian and utilize a combination of alternative and conventional medicines in my practice.  I am currently starting to understand the use of essential oils too.  I also am a vet for a cat shelter
and thus try what I can there too.  Reason for my mail is I am treating a 7 year old spayed female poodle with Lymphoma.  She has been thru chemo and is out of remission with no avail to get her back in.  She seems to be acting and feeling pretty good.  I have her on a number of supplements and using oils with her, my question is do you have any experience with this and if so can you give me your recommendations for supplements and herbal or flower remedies?  We wish to do whatever we can to keep her going as long as she is fairing well and certainly if it were in the cards, a miracle a cure.  I work by the law of cautious optimism.  Her last chemo treatment was last week and the oncologist does not feel it is worth it to continue.  This dog also suffers from bad allergies and we are having a bad year and it is only starting.  So anything to help all of the above is great.  She is currently on some prednisolone to at least help to control some of her allergies.  Any thought or suggestions appreciated. 

ANSWER: Unfortunately, I am very familiar with this and lost one of my beloved Corgis to it 2 years ago. There are many instances of success with herbal treatments, unfortunately, even after bringing the lumps in her lymphatic system to the attention of the Vet, he waved it off as nothing and by the time it manifested in her nasal cavity, it was too late for her.
          My suggestion is to first get your girl on Essiac and Hoxsy formulas. You can get them in any health food store and their reputation with cancer is very positive. You will need to support the liver, kidneys and lymphatic systems. Red clover is excellent for anti-cancer use. It inhibits the activities of carcinogenic compounds, helps improve blood structure, and strengthens lymphatic function. It also contains sterol constituents that are believe to inhibit the production of blood vessels that supply and support newly formed tumors.
         Burdock, Dandelion and Milk thistle are my favorite herbs for the liver to cleanse and de-toxify. You can use them continuously over an extended period of time since they don't  cause added strain upon the filtering organs. If you are in a situation where the toxic buildup of systemic waste must be eliminated quickly, I would suggest yellow dock. It is much stronger and is helpful for heavy metal toxicity. It is also a laxative.
           If the tumors are in the nasal passages, a Wheat grass spray can be used directly up the nose.
I would be happy to make a custom tincture for you if you're interested. If you have access to an herbalist locally who can do it for you, then do that. Time is of the essence as I'm sure you know.

MANGE:
QUESTION: I have a 7 month old Collie pup that has Demodectic Mange on his paws, ( not a lot )  My Vet has told me to bathe him in Mitaban dip ( I have read the warnings on the bottle and do not want to use this )  I have read that it would probably go away in time and maybe its a poor immune system. What can I give him that is safe to help his immune system and his mange.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: All mange is caused by a parasite. And in spite of what you read, if you don't make some changes, it will not just go away in time. Like most parasites, the mites involved with mange seek out hosts with depleted immune systems. Believe it or not, healthy dogs and cats are not troubled by fleas, ticks and mange.  So the first thing you need to do is check your Collie's diet. Most of the brands you pick up in the grocery store are garbage and that's what's in them. Scrapings off the floors of slaughter houses etc. You don't want to know, trust me! I would recommend you go to a major pet food store like Pet Smart or Petco and go the the aisle with the healthy, natural food in it. I use Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. It comes in dried and canned. It may be a little more expensive, but believe me, it will save you hundreds in Vet bills.
        Now, to treat the mange.  Several things can be applied topically. Aloe vera gel, garlic oil, neem oil in water or Tea tree oil in water.  Put several drops of neem or tea tree oil in a small bowl of water and bathe your dog's paws in it or use a rag to put it where the mange is. Also lavender, yarrow, licorice, oregon grape and goldenseal are great for any type of mange.
          You should be able to get the oils in a health food store. The garlic oil you can make with olive oil and some garlic cloves. Just heat the oil at a low temp on the stove and place the peeled, crushed cloves in the oil. Simmer for at least 20 minutes at a low heat. Don't let it boil. Remove from the heat and put the garlic cloves in your dog's food. They will help his digestive system and keep the fleas away. Then put the oil in a bottle and apply it twice a day to his paws.
           You said your dog is a puppy. I'm not sure where you got him, but if it was from the pound or from a pet store, he's probably not in the best health. Build up his immune system as quick as you can by feeding good quality food.
          If you would like me to make a custom salve for your pup, let me know. You can e-mail me with the word ORDER in the subject line.

QUESTION: When we take our cat in the car with us she becomes very agitated, pants, cries, and eventually will empty her bowels and sometimes even vomit if she's eaten recently.  She's obviously motion sensitive because she reacts especially when making turns or on a curving road.  Is there an herbal extract she can be given before the car trip and if so, where would I purchase and how much would I give her?  I hate to use a
sedative from the vet.

ANSWER: Cats by nature don't like fast moving scenery like what happens riding in a car. Do you have her in a crate or is she loose? I would suggest a solid side crate with a cover over it so she can't see the scenery rushing by.  Another possibility is Skullcap. Unlike other sedatives, it doesn't cause drowsiness or dull the reflexes or interfere with motor coordination. If you have a holist Vet, they can give you a tincture. If not, you can try the capsules and putting a little in her food before you plan to take her out. In all cases, she should be crated. Never leave an animal loose in a moving car.
 
QUESTION: I have a cat with Lymphoma and kidney disease! I was treating her cancer successfully. However her kidneys are suffering and I have read mixed reports about aloe vera being something to avoid if there is a kidney problem, and others
saying its actually good for kidney disease. Which is true?! I don't want to be making one problem worse while trying to cure the other. Can you tell me is it safe to give her Aloe in her condition? Can you help??

ANSWER: So sorry to hear of your Kitty's woes, but it sounds like you are on the right track. I am assuming you are feeding a natural, holistic food in conjunction with the aloe treatments you are providing. If not, you're not really solving the problem.  Aloe Vera has strong purgative qualities, but I don't see any evidence that it is dangerous for the kidneys. All of my research shows it to be especially effective for cats in the treatment of fibrosarcoma and FeLV. So it sounds like you are on the right track. What are you using to treat the kidney problems?  Or did you only notice the kidney problems after you started the aloe treatments. If that's the case, I'd speak to your vet about it. Find out exactly what's going on with the kidneys and treat it immediately. This can be done with a blood test and a urine test. I lost one of my favorite Corgis to renal failure and it happens very quickly, so please address it.

QUESTION: Is ginko biloba safe for dogs?  I have a 14 1/2 y/o Westie that is very senile.  Can you recommend anything for canine senile dementia.  He has been seen by 2 different vets.  The holistic vet gave him a series of vitamins, but I have been wondering about herbs.

ANSWER:  You are on the right track with seeing a holistic Vet. One of the worst things you can do, in my opinion, is over vaccinate your dog. Gotu Kola, Horsetail, Blue Cohosh and Spirulina are all excellent herbs for canine dementia and to ease the conditions associated with advanced age. Astragalus is especially well suited as a general tonic for older animals because of its immune system supporting properties.  Dandelion Root can assist in digestion and waste elimination. Make a tea and just add it to the dog's drinking water. This is the best way to get it down them. If your dog is showing signs of renal failure, twice daily doses of ginkgo and hawthorn will help improve the blood circulation and reduce blood pressure. Make sure his diet is healthy. A myriad of problems will disappear just by feeding a good quality, healthy food. And I don't mean Science Diet or Iams. Many of the chemicals used in dog food today are cancer causing as well as being detrimental to the health of the animal.  I have Pembroke Welsh Corgis that I show and I only feed healthy, all natural food. I like Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. You can find it in any Petco. Also ensure that your best friend is getting pure water. Mine get distilled. The chemicals in the water can lead to a variety of symptoms as well.

FELINE LEUKEMIA
QUESTION: I am researching info. on successful treatments for feline leukemia.  Have
you any ideas?

ANSWER:  So sorry to hear kitty is sick. There have been some exciting new discoveries with Aloe, believe it or not. Scientists have recently discovered that acemannan acts as a strong immunostimulant in animals, particularly in cats. It has been found to be especially effective in the treatment of fibrosarcoma and feline leukemia virus. It is theorized that acemannan triggers an increase in the autoimmune attack upon the viruses believed to cause these usually fatal diseases.  Typically, over 70% of cats who become ill with FeLV die within ten weeks of the onset of disease. But in recent studies, 44 cats with confirmed FeLV were intravenously injected with 2 mg per kg of acemannan weekly for six weeks and reexamined six weeks after the treatment was terminated. At the end of the twelve-week study, 71% of the cats were alive and in good health. Acemannan has also been shown to be effective against cancerous tumors in rodents and dogs. It has been FDA approved for veterinary use, so my suggestion to you would be to see if your Vet will do the injections for you.  (Study - M. A. Sheets et al.,"Studies of the Effect of Acemannan on Retrovirus Infections: Clinical Stabilization of Feline Leukemia Virus-Infected Cats," Molecular Biotherapy 3, no 1 (1991) 41-5.)

Cancer in animals is nothing to mess around with. I lost one of my darling Corgis to it two years ago. There is also a tonic that I can make for you if you're interested. Just e-mail me and put the word ORDER in the subject line.

ANSWERS FROM DAVID BRILL
ARNICA
QUESTION:   ,
    I was wondering how safe it is to use arnica oil and/or liniment on
animals-horses and dogs?

ANSWER:  Many plants have been used in the past for animals, much of what we know today as plant medicine was learned from how animals used the plants themselves in the wild.

For Arnica oil, if using an infused arnica oil I would suggest it would be very safe to use it externally; another good herb would be Comfrey.  Arnica would be used for scrape, scratches, bruising, trauma, strains, sprain but not so much deep cuts.   Comfrey has a common name Knit-Bone and was used for scrapes, scratches, trauma, strains, sprain and broken bones, but not deep or puncture wounds.  The story is told that race horses in England that break their legs are returned to racing after using Comfrey poultices on the fractures. 

Another possibility would be homeopathic Arnica or Comfrey. If you are talking about the essential oil of Arnica, I would dilute it in a carrier oil and again only use externally.

VALERIAN FOR CATS
QUESTION: I need a source for very concentrated valerian extract. Basically, I need as
powerful as I can get, in a small tablet or capsule. If this is not available, a
source for the concentrated oil would be helpful (I will put it into capsules
myself, if need be).

I am giving this to a hyperanxious cat; it has worked very well for him so far,
but stuffing two large (500 mg) capsules down his throat is difficult for BOTH
of us! I'm sure that a large portion of what's in the capsules is root powder
which is mostly cell walls and relatively little active substance.

ANSWER: Instead of pills have you tried an alcohol extract of Valerian, it could be masked with a sweetener such as honey or squirted down the cats throat.  We carry Valerian in our store and mailorder every day if you cannot find it locally.

We also have a blend called Rosemary's Relaxing tea or tincture which is a combination of several herbal relaxants.

My other suggestion would be to try a Homeopathic pill which is very tiny and tastes sweet.

HERBS FOR ANIMALS
QUESTION: I am interested in knowing if herbal remedies are safe for our pets. I have two chocolate labs that have terrible skin, dry, itchy, very similar to eczema. I am wondering if their diet plays a role in this skin condition and if there are any herbs I could give them that would be safe.

ANSWER: I am not an expert in herbal use for animal health. There are many natural and herbal products designed for pets which are safe. Yes, diet plays a big role in animal health, HerbWorld has an annual conference on herbs, Herbs for health is 1/3 of the discussions. Last years conference was in Florida and there were several lectures on animal health, including diet for pets and herbal approaches for pet care. You may want to buy a copy of the proceedings and tapes for those lectures. Contact Maureen Rogers at HerbWorld@aol.com  I will copy her this message so she knows you might be calling.  She can also recommend a good starter book for herbs for pets.
For humans this is what I would recommend for dry, itchy and scaly skin. I would try to find a holistic veterinarian in your area.
Skin problems are usually related to the liver, treat the liver and they usually clear up. 
For external use I would make an Elderberry tea, Latin Name: Sambucus nigra (European Species), S. canadensis (USA species) of the flowers to wash on the skin, Elderberry helps with dry itchy skin because it is an emollient.
Oats, Latin Name: Avena sativa, A. fatua (wild oats) is good for itchy skin conditions, cook small amount on stove top till thickened then add to bath waters. Usually stops the itching and is also good for the skin.
Milk Thistle, Latin Name: Silybum marianum is good for the Liver and helps with dry itchy skin. Taken as a tincture would be best.
Burdock seed Latin Name: Arctium lappa is great for dry itchy skin use in combination with Milk Thistle, again as a tincture.
Omega 3 fatty acids such as deep sea fish oil.