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If tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms are great for us, surely they’re great for our pets too? The simple answer is YES THEY ARE! Read on to learn what you need to know about giving tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms to animals.
Like anything, there are some things to consider before dosing your furry or feathered friends with tonic herbs, and this article will make sure you are informed before you bust open a jar of SuperFeast herbs to mix with your kibble.
Which Herbs Are Safe?
In terms of what herbs to take, it’s safest to stick to the medicinal mushrooms when working with animals - they can take definitely take other Chinese herbs, and animals that are under a lot of stress or strain will benefit from Jing herbs and others, but we recommend that you consult with a professional before experimenting with your precious pet. We have a great article that dives into how and why herbs work on our animal friends, check it out here.
How Much Do I Give My Pet?
With animals, the correct dosage of herbs can be hard to determine, as it is based on the preparation of the herb, the animal’s species, size and constitution, the unique characteristics of the disease and the animal’s tolerance and response to herbs. If your pet is ill, it is best to work with a herbalist, Chinese doctor or veterinarian who specialises in animal herbalism and pathology to obtain an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
That said, if your pet is generally well, animals love and thrive on tonic herbs, just like humans do, and for those interested in supporting their pets’ longevity and general wellbeing with tonic herbs, we recommend the following doses for SuperFeast’s herbal extracts.
Animal Herbal Dosage Instructions
The table below outlines the final dose you’ll be giving your pet, but it’s important to build up to this dose over a few days (we recommend 5 days).
When starting to feed your pets medicinal mushrooms and tonic herbs, start with 1/3 of the recommended dose twice daily for two days, and monitor for adverse effects.
If there are no adverse effects, try upping the dose to 2/3 of the recommended dose for another three days. If all is well, give the animal the recommended dose based on the table below.
Remember that our extracts are potent - a little goes a long way.
Adverse Effects
Adverse effects include: vomiting, drooling, nausea, diarrhea, lethargy, losing interest in food etc. Please do not ignore these symptoms!
If your animal exhibits adverse effects, discontinue use of herbs for two days, and try once more at the 1/3 dose for 2 days, then 2/3 for 3 days. If the animal continues to suffer adverse effects, do not give them the herb/s. Try something else or check in with a practitioner.
|
Animal |
Size |
Ideal Dosage & Frequency |
|
Dog |
Small |
1/4 tsp, twice daily |
|
Medium |
1/2 tsp, twice daily |
|
|
Large |
1 tsp, twice daily |
|
|
Cat |
Small |
1/8 tsp, twice daily |
|
Large |
1/4 tsp, twice daily |
|
|
Horse |
Foal |
1-2 tsp, twice daily |
|
Pony |
2-4 tsp, twice daily |
|
|
Adult Horse |
3-5 tsp, twice daily |
|
|
Rabbit |
Small |
1/16 tsp, twice daily |
|
Large |
1/8 tsp, twice daily |
Medicinal mushrooms are also great for birds, bees and probably many other animals, but the dosages for these animals is less clear. Again, consult with a great herbalist or vet for advice appropriate to your situation.
If you wish to consult with someone who can support with illness and healing, we recommend Donna from I Love a Dog.
Further Reading:
The Power of Mushrooms - Equine Wellness
Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs - Dogs Naturally
Xie's Chinese Veterinary Herbology - Huisheng Xie, 2010
