| Supplements, Herbal & Natural Treatments |
One Stop Shopping: When you buy a product through the links or advertisements on this website, you
help cover costs of research and maintenance, in addition to my full time hours of keeping the information
current and correct. I will only recommend certain products that I feel are safe, effective and worthwhile. I
will never recommend something that could be potentially harmful to your pet in any way. The merchants I
recommend are trusted and the goal is for you to find as many products in one place as you can. If you see a
product that isn't currently listed on site, feel free to contact me with the information and I'll be happy to
look at it. Our mission is first and foremost to help pet parents and their furry little loved ones. You'll find
the products listed on the pages that coincide with that need.
As with food labels, it's best to read the labels of supplements that you're giving your cat due to irritants
and possible toxins. Many supplements and herbal remedies contain artificial sweeteners and additives that
are widely documented as irritants to the human GI tract. These can be especially damaging to someone
who has any gastric disorder such as celiac disease, crohn's disease, ulcers and pancreatitis just to name a
few. So you can imagine the damage it can do to a cat's already irritated and diseased GI tract and even
those that aren't yet sick. It's just good parenting to avoid these additives altogether and there are plenty of
natural treatments that are offer a "clean" product. Even so, always check with your vet and make sure
that the human supplement or product you're giving your cat isn't going to be toxic or cause further,
irreversible damage to your cat. Be sure to always read both the active ingredients on a label and the
inactive ingredients as well.
Please see the toxic/Unsafe page on information about sweeteners, essential oils including
Tea Tree Oil, certain spices and other harmful ingredients.
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES should not be used without working with a licensed homeopath.
Homeopathy does not work like other remedies in that you don't take it to "relieve a symptom".
Homeopathy works on a deeper level to correct an imbalance in the system, whichever system is involved,
and it may take more than one remedy to correct a problem. Homeopathy is usually done in the classical
tradition, which is one remedy at a time and only one dose, then you wait to see how it works. Most
websites sell homeopathic combination remedies that may or may not be appropriate and may or may not
work. ALWAYS read the instructions, cautions and comments on any product before using!
To learn more about homeopathic remedies see "The Society of Homeopaths"
www.homeopathy-soh.org/research/evidence-base-for-homeopathy-2/animal-studies/
help cover costs of research and maintenance, in addition to my full time hours of keeping the information
current and correct. I will only recommend certain products that I feel are safe, effective and worthwhile. I
will never recommend something that could be potentially harmful to your pet in any way. The merchants I
recommend are trusted and the goal is for you to find as many products in one place as you can. If you see a
product that isn't currently listed on site, feel free to contact me with the information and I'll be happy to
look at it. Our mission is first and foremost to help pet parents and their furry little loved ones. You'll find
the products listed on the pages that coincide with that need.
As with food labels, it's best to read the labels of supplements that you're giving your cat due to irritants
and possible toxins. Many supplements and herbal remedies contain artificial sweeteners and additives that
are widely documented as irritants to the human GI tract. These can be especially damaging to someone
who has any gastric disorder such as celiac disease, crohn's disease, ulcers and pancreatitis just to name a
few. So you can imagine the damage it can do to a cat's already irritated and diseased GI tract and even
those that aren't yet sick. It's just good parenting to avoid these additives altogether and there are plenty of
natural treatments that are offer a "clean" product. Even so, always check with your vet and make sure
that the human supplement or product you're giving your cat isn't going to be toxic or cause further,
irreversible damage to your cat. Be sure to always read both the active ingredients on a label and the
inactive ingredients as well.
Please see the toxic/Unsafe page on information about sweeteners, essential oils including
Tea Tree Oil, certain spices and other harmful ingredients.
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES should not be used without working with a licensed homeopath.
Homeopathy does not work like other remedies in that you don't take it to "relieve a symptom".
Homeopathy works on a deeper level to correct an imbalance in the system, whichever system is involved,
and it may take more than one remedy to correct a problem. Homeopathy is usually done in the classical
tradition, which is one remedy at a time and only one dose, then you wait to see how it works. Most
websites sell homeopathic combination remedies that may or may not be appropriate and may or may not
work. ALWAYS read the instructions, cautions and comments on any product before using!
To learn more about homeopathic remedies see "The Society of Homeopaths"
www.homeopathy-soh.org/research/evidence-base-for-homeopathy-2/animal-studies/
| Copyright © IBD Kitties 2008-2012, all rights reserved |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
HERBS should always be researched before giving to your pet regardless of whether the product label or website states they're safe.
For instance, goldenseal should only be given for up to 7 days, then given appropriate time off before starting again if needed. Goldenseal
can cause liver damage if given for an extended amount of time both in people and in pets, but especially in cats! Cats tend to have
several side effects with goldenseal such excessive production of bile, vomiting, salivation, foaming at the mouth and lowered blood
sugar. So no matter what the label says about giving it consistently and indefinitely, you should NEVER do this. A wonderful book I use
to always check is "Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life". ALWAYS read the instructions,
cautions and comments on any product before using! And again, you should work with a holistic vet for proper guidance on
what your pet needs.
Flaxseed Oil, although not toxic, is not able to be converted in a cat's system: Flaxseed oil is of limited nutritional value to cats. There are
two essential fatty acids for cats, linoleic and arachidonic (both are Omega 6 fatty acids). These fatty acids are essential in the sense that
a cat cannot produce them within the body, so must obtain them through diet. Flax seed oil contains around 13% linoleic acid but no
arachidonic acid. Cats do not have the pathways to convert linoleic acid into arachidonic acid, so another source of arachidonic acid is
necessary. Cats can only obtain arachidonic acid from animal products, so if you want to give your cat an essential fatty acids oil, consider
a fish-based oil instead.
Cosequin, which is widely used for arthritis and joint pain in animals, can occasionally cause stomach upset and GI distress in cats with
any form of GI issues. This does not happen with all cats and is still safe to use. However, in cases of stomach upset or irritation, a vet
applied shot of Adequan has been substituted and worked very well. Adequan bypasses the GI tract and goes straight to through the
cat's system to act immediately. It usually requires a shot every month or so.
For instance, goldenseal should only be given for up to 7 days, then given appropriate time off before starting again if needed. Goldenseal
can cause liver damage if given for an extended amount of time both in people and in pets, but especially in cats! Cats tend to have
several side effects with goldenseal such excessive production of bile, vomiting, salivation, foaming at the mouth and lowered blood
sugar. So no matter what the label says about giving it consistently and indefinitely, you should NEVER do this. A wonderful book I use
to always check is "Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life". ALWAYS read the instructions,
cautions and comments on any product before using! And again, you should work with a holistic vet for proper guidance on
what your pet needs.
Flaxseed Oil, although not toxic, is not able to be converted in a cat's system: Flaxseed oil is of limited nutritional value to cats. There are
two essential fatty acids for cats, linoleic and arachidonic (both are Omega 6 fatty acids). These fatty acids are essential in the sense that
a cat cannot produce them within the body, so must obtain them through diet. Flax seed oil contains around 13% linoleic acid but no
arachidonic acid. Cats do not have the pathways to convert linoleic acid into arachidonic acid, so another source of arachidonic acid is
necessary. Cats can only obtain arachidonic acid from animal products, so if you want to give your cat an essential fatty acids oil, consider
a fish-based oil instead.
Cosequin, which is widely used for arthritis and joint pain in animals, can occasionally cause stomach upset and GI distress in cats with
any form of GI issues. This does not happen with all cats and is still safe to use. However, in cases of stomach upset or irritation, a vet
applied shot of Adequan has been substituted and worked very well. Adequan bypasses the GI tract and goes straight to through the
cat's system to act immediately. It usually requires a shot every month or so.