Herbal remedies for dog pain I

In my previous blog post, 11 signs that your dog is in pain, I discussed the possible symptoms you can use to identify that your beloved boy/girl is suffering from pain. However, our role as dog guardians does not end there, does it? We are completely responsible for their mental, physical and emotional well being. Thus, our role starts from diagnosing that our pup might be in pain to doing everything we can to help and alleviate the discomfort and pain. Although the first thing to do is to set up an appointment with your veterinarian, sometimes this option may come with its own set of difficulties like:

• Your vet is on leave
• It’s the weekend and your vet is not available
• The emergency pet hospital is too far or you are unable to go due to some reason.
• Or finally as in my case (If you have read my previous blog posts, you know I have been taking care of an absolutely adorable dog, Guy who stays in our locality). When I found him in pain, it was 1 o’clock at night. We do not have an emergency pet hospital nearby. The vet was not available either. So I had to do whatever I could instantly to help him. Also, since he lives on the street, he comes and goes as he wishes. Thus, it is hard to locate him and take him to the vet. 

We are the voice of our dogs

Current update on Guy: He is doing much better, limp is slight and he can straighten his legs. I am still regularly doing physiotherapy to help him heal faster.

Under such circumstances, there are a few things you can do at home to help relieve your dog of some of the discomfort, while you make arrangements to go to the vet. 

First, rule out an emergency. Go to an emergency vet straight away if your dog can’t stand or walk, cries when touched, has a swollen, hard belly or is trying to vomit without bringing anything up, has been hit by a car or fallen, or is breathing hard. If you can’t reach a vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) can help if you think your dog swallowed something harmful. Never give your dog human painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen (Tylenol): they can cause stomach ulcers, kidney failure or liver damage in dogs (FDA).

Herbs are not risk-free either. “Natural” doesn’t mean safe: some herbs are toxic, many interact with medicines, and supplements made for people can contain other ingredients. Please talk to your vet before giving any herb, especially if your dog takes other medicines, has liver, kidney or heart disease, diabetes, or is pregnant or nursing.

Furthermore, the medication recommended by veterinarians like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) come with their own share of side effects. A few of the health risks caused by such medicines are as follows:

• Gastric or peptic ulcers
• Upset stomach
• Kidney toxicity
• Liver damage
• Vomiting
• Reduction in appetite
• Increased lethargy
• Diarrhea

You can find more details about the effects of pain killers (NSAIDs) on your dog here.
Vet-prescribed NSAIDs made for dogs are the most proven way to ease arthritis pain, and your vet will watch for side effects with regular checkups. But if your dog can’t take them, or you want to add gentle support, here are some herbs people use.

I bring you 12 natural remedies (6 in part I of this post and 6 more natural remedies are in part II of this post) you can use to help your dog safely and effectively. Talk to your vet before trying any of them, especially alongside other medicines.

Top 6 herbs (part I) for natural pain relief in dogs:

• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale):

Comfrey has been used as a healing herb for a very long time now. It has the potential to treat a wide variety of ailments especially bruises and sore muscles, applied on the skin. 
The secret behind this amazing compound is the presence of allantoin. Allantoin speeds up the reproduction of the cell. The other compounds present in comfrey like rosmarinic acid have also been observed to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects which make this compound a prime candidate for joint pain management.

How to use:
Do not give comfrey by mouth. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can damage the liver, and the FDA advised removing oral comfrey supplements from the market in 2001. 
Comfrey has also been advised to be used as a herbal poultice. Wrap a handful of leaves in a towel and place the towel in boiling water until the water starts to turn a shade of green. Remove the towel from the water and squeeze to release the excess liquid back in the water. Allow the towel to cool a little and apply the towel compress to the affected region for as long as possible. 

A word of caution: Comfrey contains a compound known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which can lead to liver problems when taken in large quantities. If you use a comfrey compress, use it only on unbroken skin, and don’t let your dog lick or chew the leaves. Another thing to keep in mind is that this compound should not be used on dogs with existing liver disease, pregnant or lactating dogs.

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Herbal remedies can work wonders if used the right way

• Frankincense/Boswellia (Boswellia serrata):

Frankincense or Boswellia is a resin extracted from the bark of the tree, Boswellia serrata. This herb is rich in phytochemicals which can stop leukotriene production (leukotrienes cause inflammation). A study done in 2004 has shown Boswellia to reduce the symptoms of arthritis in 71% of dogs enrolled in the study within 6 weeks of treatment. 

How to use:
Boswellia has been used in many herbal combinations for pain and as an anti-inflammatory remedy. If you are buying packaged Boswellia, follow the dosage instructions on the pack. Use a product made for dogs and ask your vet about the dose. Don’t work out a dose from a product made for people. 

Caution: 
The only side effects of Boswellia as found in the above-mentioned research study were brief flatulence and diarrhea episodes which happened in 5 dogs. The side effect could not be traced back to the drug either. 

• Liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Liquorice’s root is the one with the medicinal properties. It is used in the treatment of arthritis. A lot of studies have shown that liquorice is an effective and fast-acting anti-inflammatory agent. The primary component in liquorice, glycyrrhizin is mainly responsible for acting in an additive manner and increasing the effectiveness of the other herbs in the compound. Glycyrrhizin acts a little like a corticosteroid, which is also why licorice can have side effects, including raising blood pressure. 

How to use:
Don’t give alcohol-based tinctures to dogs, since alcohol is toxic to them. Licorice root can raise blood pressure, so only use it if your vet recommends it and tells you the dose, and avoid it in dogs with heart or kidney disease or high blood pressure.

Caution: Use this herb at a stretch only for 2 weeks. If you feel the need to use it for a longer period, consult a holistic vet. Also, do not use this compound for pregnant, diabetic or nursing dogs.

• Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens):

Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is an African plant which is known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The main constituent of this herb is harpagoside, which can cause a quick reduction in pain and inflammation. These properties make this herb a good choice as a pain reliever for arthritis, rheumatism and muscle pain. 

How to use:
Most Devil’s claw products are made for people, so ask your vet whether it’s suitable for your dog and how much to give. 

Caution: 
Do not use Devil’s Claw in case your dog is pregnant, lactating or diabetic. Devil’s Claw has also shown to interact with other pharmaceutical drugs (hyper- or hypo-tensive or cardiac drugs), thus make sure to consult your vet before administering any other medication to your dog. 

For long term pain management, herbal remedies are a great alternative (Follow Roscoe @theroscoechronicles)

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale):

This is one of the home remedies probably present in everybody’s home. It is known for its amazing benefits to the digestive system like relieving nausea and gas. A less known effect of this herb is that it can relieve arthritic pain too. Ginger stops the immune system from producing leukotrienes (responsible for causing inflammation). Ginger has also shown to increase blood circulation in older dogs who are suffering from reduced mobility. 

How to use:
Remove the skin of raw ginger root with a peeler. Finely mince the ginger and mix it with your dog’s food. Use ½ tsp for dogs up to 35 lbs of body weight and ¾ tsp for dogs who weigh more than 35 lbs. As the ginger flavor is pretty strong, it is advisable to start with very small quantities in order to get your dog acclimated to the flavor of the same before increasing the dosage.

Caution: 
Ginger has a tendency to act as a blood thinner due to the presence of salicylate. Thus, make sure to not use this drug if your dog is scheduled for surgery or is being administered anticoagulant drugs. Ginger has also been observed to reduce the blood pressure, thus consult with your vet if your dog is suffering from any kind of heart ailments or diabetes. 

• Yucca (Yucca schidigera):

This is a desert plant whose root has been shown to possess multiple medicinal and nutritional properties. The primary components of this herb are steroidal saponins. These compounds have shown to bring effective and safe relief in humans suffering from arthritis. 

How to use:
You can either use a low alcohol tincture (⅛ tsp per 20 lb bodyweight of your dog) or the dried and powdered form of the root (½ tsp per lb of food) daily. If your dog is suffering from arthritis, you can also combine yucca with alfalfa, liquorice and dandelion (after consultation with your holistic vet).

Caution: 
Yucca can cause vomiting and irritation to the digestive system when consumed for a long period of time. If your dog vomits or has diarrhea, stop the herb and call your vet.

If you wish to know about the other home remedies which can be used for treating your dog’s pain, the next article I will release will cover the other 6 herbal remedies for relieving pain in dogs.

One final word of caution: Always make sure to consult your regular vet or a holistic vet before starting any of the above-mentioned home remedies. Your vet will be able to guide you as to which course of therapy and herbal remedy is most suitable for your beloved pooch. So do not hesitate to consult your vet before making any decisions.

PS: If you liked this article, please comment and share it with your friends so that more people can be made aware of the herbal alternatives to strong painkillers.

Related reading: Herbal remedies for dog pain II | Signs your dog is in pain | NSAIDs for dogs | Dog arthritis treatment