The truth about cats & dogs; they can benefit from holistic health care too - includes sources for finding a holistic vet

Vegetarian Times, Nov, 1996 by Linda B. White

You can make Frazier's lemon rinse for fleas, adding plantain, lavender or Oregon grape root herbs.

By this point, you may wish you had adopted a low-maintenance pet, perhaps a goldfish. Actually, once you get the hang of natural pet care, it's not so difficult. It does require less time, energy and money than caring for a chronically ill pet. And the other rewards are great too: the satisfaction of conscientious stewardship and the grace of returning the love given to you so freely by your animal companion.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Right Amount of Herb

Start with a small amount of an herb, to get your pet used to the taste. According to Rob Silver, D.V.M., a holistic veterinarian, lecturer and author in Boulder, Colo., the herbs recommended below are extremely unlikely to cause any adverse reaction. However, because cats' bodies lack certain detoxification enzymes, they are more susceptible to toxins than dogs. When treating with herbs, use caution and low doses.

The major drawbacks to herbs are digestibility and palatability, especially for cats. Mixing a small amount of hot water can help with digestion. For taste, Silver suggests mixing the herb with small amounts of food, honey (for dogs), clam juice, tuna juice or molasses.

 Body Weight     Tablets   Drops     Teaspoons
(approx. lbs.)                       of loose herb
Under 10         1/2       5 to 15   1/2 to 1 1/2
10 to 30         1 to 2    10 to 25  1 1/2 to 2 1/2
30 to 50         2 to 3    20 to 30  2 to 3
50 to 70         3 to 4    25 to 35  2 1/2 to 3 1/2
70 plus          3 to 5    30 to 40  3 to 4