How, though, does the knowledge of herbal alternatives tie in with owning an animal? Think about it for a moment. What do wild animals, or even your pets, typically do when they are not feeling up to par? Most dogs instinctively seek out appropriate herbs in the form of grasses when they are sick. How many times have you witnessed your dog eating grasses?

Many man-made drugs are simply compounds based upon active principles found in many herbs. One simple example could be caffeine found in coffee. Herbalists differ from most traditional medicinal methods at this point however.

Herbalists believe in the use of the entire substance - not in simply the use of one part. They believe the whole is much greater than the sum of one or more parts.

Basically, herbs work much slower than traditional medicines (t.m.'s) though they do many things t.m.'s don't- such as detoxify the body, stimulate movement of the bowels or urination, and add vitamins and minerals to the patients system which are already greatly needed.

Herbs for your dog have also been used to treat other kinds of animals over the centuries for such illnesses as arthritis, worms, diarrhea/constipation, diabetes, epilepsy, mange and cataracts, among others.

Juliette de Bairacli-Levy is an author who emphasizes the use of herbs in the treatment of many ailments in connection with pets. She also emphasizes the importance of freshly gathered herbs, natural diet and fasting.