Should You Use a Natural Dog Remedy instead of a Prescription?

There is a natural dog remedy for nearly all types of medical conditions. You may be tempted to use these, but you may be afraid they're not as effective as a prescription drug. When it comes to evaluating how effective natural dog remedies are, the answer cannot be a general one. Some dog conditions can be cured with natural remedies, while others can only be helped.

What Are Natural Dog Remedies?

Natural dog remedies are an alternative cure to traditional veterinary medicine and may be practiced by alternative veterinarians. There are numerous natural ingredients that can be employed to improve the condition of the dog. The ingredients used will depend on the dog's condition and his overall health. Some natural remedies will address the dog's deficient immune system, repairing it and offering support, which should result in an overall improvement. Other natural remedies will aim at healing the dog's condition. The greatest advantage of natural remedies is the fact that they will cause no side effects.

Disadvantages of Natural Dog Remedies

The main disadvantage of natural dog remedies is the fact that they may take up to three months to start curing a given disease. This means that they cannot be applied in urgent medical problems.

When to Use Natural Dog Remedies

Natural dog remedies can be used in combination with other traditional drugs, typically without disturbing the effects of the drugs. However, natural remedies may be used as a self standing treatment. Natural dog remedies could be used in the following circumstances:

  • When the medical condition is not urgent or life threatening (such as allergies)
  • When the dog is allergic to numerous prescription medications
  • When the dog doesn't react to prescription medication
  • When the dog is in a terminal stage (with cancer, for example) and there is no prescription drug that can alleviate the pain or other symptoms
  • As preventive measures for different conditions the dog may be prone to
  • In conjunction with prescription medications, to offer an immunity boost

In any case, a specialist should be consulted first. Natural remedies may not have side effects, but they can interact with different medications and the dog's condition can get worse. Avoid using natural remedies that are recommended for humans, as some natural ingredients (i.e., garlic or onions) can be toxic to the dog.

If your dog doesn't show any signs of improvement after two weeks of natural treatment, it should be discontinued. Even though it takes up to three months for a natural cure to be effective, the dog should show signs of improvement starting from the first week of treatment.

Dog Reactions to Natural Remedies

The reactions of a dog to natural remedies will vary from one case to the other. Some pets may respond very well to the treatment, while others will show no signs of improvement. The dog's response will depend on his age, breed, disease and how well suited the treatment is.

 

Comments