August 07, 2019

Calm treats use echinacea for dogs for a variety of benefits

Should You Use Echinacea For Dogs?

Can You Give Your Dog Echinacea?

One morning your dog fails to wake you up in bed. You notice that your canine buddy does not have the usual aura and look. As if he wants to tell you that he isn't feeling well. Dogs are one of the most expressive animals out there, and when your pet does not have that healthy glow and bright look in its eyes, it usually means there’s something wrong.

When your dog is feeling a bit under the weather, you think of conventional medicine and treatment to get rid of the fever or infection. But have you thought about administering echinacea?

Echinacea and Your Dog's Immune System

Echinacea is one of the hundreds of known immune-boosting herbs out there. And while most varieties work the same way, you'd be surprised at how echinacea helps in boosting a dog's immune system. The flowering plant contains the natural antibiotic called “echinacoside.” What’s interesting about it is that behaves like penicillin, which means it kills a wide range of bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungi. So, if you have a sick dog at home, you can use it as an alternative treatment. The same herb contains echinacein, which prevents germ attacks that lead to wound infection.

When your furry buddy suffers from a cough or bacterial infection, the animal’s immune system starts working to provide a defensive wall against the bacteria or virus. The immune system reacts to echinacea in the same manner to that of a bacteria or virus. The only difference is that it does not cause any harm or threat to the dog.

Therefore, when you give echinacea to your dog, its immune system responds by perceiving it as a threat. Since echinacea is harmless, the system has nothing to attack, thereby keeping it charged and waiting for any threat to the dog. In other words, echinacea naturally boosts the dog’s immune system.

The downside though is that after prolonged ingestion, the dog’s immune system will eventually figure out that it does not need to respond to echinacea. Hence, you shouldn’t be using it consistently because the dog’s body will find a way to ignore it.

Effective Use of Echinacea in Dogs

Timing is crucial in the effective use of echinacea for dogs. It must be administered to your dog while it is incubating sickness for it to work, ideally. Therefore, may be too late for the immune system to respond if the dog’s condition or disease is in full swing.

It’s your job as a responsible pet parent to monitor the health of your dog. It does not mean you need to visit a veterinarian every time you suspect something isn’t right. All you need to do is learn how to detect the signs of illness. Doing so allows you to use echinacea effectively to possibly prevent disease.

Echinacea Dosing for Dogs

The best way of using echinacea is to add it daily for a week and then take a few days off. Daily doses of echinacea can do wonders to your dog but refrain from giving it to your pooch when it is under stress or when you’re travelling with it. Some dog breeds are sensitive to echinacea. It is best to talk to your veterinarian about the risk factors before you start giving it to your pup.

So, for the question of whether you can give your dog echinacea, the answer is a resounding “yes.” But you do have to take extra caution because of the risk of allergies and side effects due to pre-existing health conditions that your pooch might be suffering from.