The Alternative Medicine Cabinet for Your Pet: What’s on Your Shelf?

As a responsible pet parent, you know it’s important to keep certain items on hand in case of emergencies and in situations where you cannot get your pet to the veterinarian right away. I keep a number of products in my medicine cabinet for my own dogs. And as a dedicated advocate of Standard Process, I’m aware that whole food supplementation works at the cellular level and can take time to produce an effect in the body. However, there are some products that do have an immediate effect, and I’ll discuss a few of them here.

Montmorillonite: For when your dog’s gotta go a little too much (diarrhea). A very good friend and veterinarian mentor of mine says she’s seen good results for her four-legged patients with a montmorillonite product from Southern Botanicals called Intestinal Cleanse 2. It contains montmorillonite clay (an adsorbent) along with some other awesome organic ingredients such as apple pectin, willow charcoal, slippery elm, and marshmallow root. She states, “It has been testing very well for me and it works well for my patients. I use the capsules and dose it at between 1 and 2 capsules twice daily, preferably on an empty stomach and coated in butter or coconut oil or a little bit of food to administer.”

VF Antronex for Pets: For when you’d rather not use Benadryl to treat those intolerable itches. Antronex contains an extract from beef liver (Yakriton). This product supports liver detoxification, particularly the removal of histamine from the system. As histamine is removed, itch can improve or resolve quite quickly, within several hours or days. Many dogs only need to take Antronex for several weeks or intermittently during allergy season.
—Dosage: Large (>51 lbs.): 2/twice daily; Medium (21–50 lbs.): 1/twice daily; Small (<20 lbs.): 1/twice daily. Once the itch is under control, taper to lowest effective dose.

Ligaplex I: For the weekend warrior with sprains and strains. Ligaplex I contains manganese (for collagen formation) and buckwheat (for capillary integrity and circulation). Therefore, it’s best used for recent injuries. Ligaplex offers nutritional support for ligaments, tendons, muscles, and connective tissues. The purpose of this product is to improve strength and integrity of ligaments and tendons. One of the reasons for injury pain is joint laxity, allowing excess movement and inflammation.
—Dosage: Large (>51 lbs.): 2/twice daily; Medium (21–50 lbs.): 2/twice daily; Small (<20 lbs.): 1/twice daily.

USF Ointment: This unsaturated fatty acid ointment is great for cuts, abrasions, burns, and more. The normal epidermis contains cholesterol, lecithin, and fatty acids. USF ointment provides these factors to the skin to promote healing.
—Apply topical to the skin as needed.

Congaplex: Pets can catch colds, just like people. A nutritional supplement that supports the immune system can help the body more effectively fight off infection associated with fever, colds, and upper respiratory factors and be very useful in a fast recovery. Give at higher levels to begin with, then taper off.  It’s best to start with 1–2 capsules every 30 minutes for the first hour, then half a capsule every hour for six hours, followed by 1–3 capsules twice a day for one week beyond the presence of clinical signs.
—Dosage: Large (>51 lbs.): 2/twice daily; Medium (21–50 lbs.): 2/twice daily; Small (<20 lbs.): 1/twice daily (per the Veterinary Clinical Reference Guide).

Orchex: For our nervous Nellie’s anxiety and behavior issues. Orchex is a glandular product that supports male endocrine health (also safe and effective for females). This includes all parts of the endocrine system and autonomic (sympathetic/parasympathetic) nervous system. It can also act as a nutritional/physiologic tranquilizer, when the patient is out of balance enough to need Orchex for that. Unlike a drug, Orchex is not a tranquilizer—it’s a balancer. Physiologic tranquilization occurs by restoring balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, as well as the endocrine system. These foods/glandular tissue ingredients do not stimulate a metabolic reaction, nor do they force the body to do anything. They give the nutrients needed to restore balance to the system. When the endocrine and nervous systems are in balance, anxious and hyperactive behavior improves. Orchex doesn’t cause a depressive effect like a drug.
—Dosage: Large (>51 lbs.): 2/twice daily; Medium (21–50 lbs.): 2/twice daily; Small (< 20 lbs.): 1/twice daily.

It’s always recommended to follow up with your veterinarian in any illness or trauma. But making sure to keep these products on hand can help keep you and your pet comfortable until you see your veterinarian.

Image from iStock/damedeeso. 

Tracie Hoffman, VT

Tracie Hoffman is a veterinary technician with over 20 years of experience. She is able to use her knowledge of conventional veterinary approaches and her expertise in whole food nutrition to create better options for doctors and their staff. Although she is most present with Colorado Standard Process West clients, Tracie offers assistance via phone and email throughout the region. She hosts lunch and learn programs, reviews cases, provides protocols and assists clinics with start-up, client education and advertising. She has also developed a number of complementary veterinary reference aides, available from SPW. If you would like to contact Tracie, please email her at THoffman@standardprocesswest.com.