:kennel cough herbs
Kennel Cough Herbs
What's in nature's medicine chest for kennel cough and
common winter dog health problems?
Kennel cough is the common name
for an upper respiratory disease primarily
in dogs. These days, when antibiotics often
don't seem to work as well as they used to, it
is necessary to go back to the old fashioned
way of treating chest and respiratory
infections. The treatment of our dogs is no
different.
Kennel cough is usually caused by bacterial
or viral infections which irritate the lining of
your dogs' airways. The condition is known
medically as tracheobronchitis, canine
infectious tracheobronchitis, Bordetellosis,
or Bordetella and it is extremely contagious,
causing problems when dogs are mixing
frequently together.
Luckily this condition is not life threatening
but it can easily be helped with herbal
preparations. This involves supporting
the body's immunity, breaking down and
clearing infected material, introducing
natural antibiotics, normalizing mucous
membranes, strengthening the coughing
reflex and providing natural sources of
vitamin C and iron.
46 | www. h e rmagaz i n e . c o. nz
You can help your dog very effectively by
using herbs for common canine health
problems like kennel cough, colds and
viruses. Herbs can be added to your dogs'
diet to help boost their immune system if
they are recovering from illness, socialising
with unfamiliar dogs, suffering from
emotional stress or just old age. Herbs can:
• help boost the immune system
• help protect your dog against illness
• fight off colds and viruses
• build up strength and stamina
• aid recovery from operations or illness
The following herbs are particularly helpful
in such a situation and are well worth
looking for at this time of year when erratic
seasonal changes can start to create problems
with our animals' good health.
Herb
Action
Rosehips
iron, vitamin C also some copper
Garlic
natural antibiotic, contains sulphur
Fenugreek
lymphatic stimulant, sinus tonic, source of vitamin A
Marshmallow
expectorant and soothing tonic for mucous membranes
Elecampane
allantoin – a healing agent and chest muscle tonic
Coltsfoot
expectorant
Kelp
trace elements and expectorant
Yarrow
iron and bone marrow tonic
Mullein
mucosal tonic and antiseptic
organic acids, astringent tonic
organic acids, astringent tonic
Echinacea
fights viral and bacterial infection
