When supporting our animal’s urinary concerns or fertility/pregnancy care it is vital to involve your health care team. This includes mother’s and their babies, as it is crucial they get all the professional care possible. One strategy we can include for these systems is having an Applied Zoopharmacognosy Practitioner that can offer some helpful remedies. You can talk to your holistic veterinarian and ask if you are uncertain about offering herbal care for your pregnant animal.
Zoopharmacognosy And The Urinary System
Incontinence can become an issue with older animals, the bright side is a zoopharmacognosy practitioner can offer up some licorice root powder and sandalwood essential oil for this type of concern. Even though essential oils are for inhalation, they work beautifully for the urinary system. Particularly for inflammation and infection of the urinary system, which can be a common issue for cats especially.
Zoopharmacognosy And Labour
Raspberry leaves help animals (including humans), strengthen their uterine contractions at the time of labour and tone the uterus right after birth. This helps to minimize blood loss during delivery. Foxes have been observed eating raspberry leaves at the time of labour. Essential oils which are uterine tonics that can aid in birth are:
- Jasmine essential oil
- Basil essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Rose essential oil
Zoopharmacognosy And Breast Feeding
It is not uncommon for some mothers to have some struggles with lactation, especially with multiple babies which is pretty normal in the animal kingdom. Herbs and essential oils which have a calming effect are great to offer as stress and exhaustion can deplete mom’s supply of milk.
There are herbs that help to stimulate milk production for the mother and her babies. These milk making herbs that you can offer to mom are:
- Oat Straw
- Raspberry Leaf
- Nettles
- Barley Grass
Zoopharmacognosy And Mastitis
Mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland, udders/teats. It is a condition that is very painful for the nursing mother, and to make matters worse, it could lead to infection. To help alleviate this, we can use the soothing and cooling properties of aloe vera gel applied externally. Lavender and German Chamomile herbs can be applied as well. There are also a number of essential oils that can be applied (never neat) to help alleviate this condition which are:
- Geranium Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Clove Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Fennel Essential Oil
The herbs or essential oils can be mixed with the aloe vera gel for added effects and dilution of the essential oils.
These are some wonderful self-medicating aids to help out your animal with urinary tract issues and reproductive support during pregnancy. If you are unsure of how to help your animal, be sure to contact your holistic veterinarian or holistic practitioner.