Our pets give us unconditional love and loyalty and we should pay just is much attention to their diet and care as we do our own. Animals respond to the use of herbs better than humans do. Almost any herbal treatment that is fit for human use can be used for your pets. Reduce the dosage to adjust for the difference in size (your pets are usually smaller than you are) and give the herbs in capsule form. Capsules may take a little longer to work, but keep treatment going until your pet shows improvement.

Animal Cuts and Scrapes

Put a large handful of spearmint or peppermint in a container and cover with white vinegar. Allow to steep for 2 weeks. Strain. Apply to any sores on the animal or use to clean an area after the animal has had surgery. Stops the wound from itching while healing and the animal is less apt to scratch the area and tear the wound open again.

Animal Ear Care

Clean the ears of your pets by dipping a cotton swab in worm­wood oil. This should prevent any problems with ear mites.

Basil Fly Repellent

To help keep flies from the barn, plant plenty of sweet basil around the barn area. Planting it close to the house will help keep flies away from there, too.

Bed Fleas

Sprinkle the bed with lavender oil and place fresh fennel under the bedding. Bugs hate the smell of fennel, so plant plenty near your kennel area. You can also stuff your pet’s pillow with pen­nyroyal, eucalyptus, peppermint, red cedar shavings/rue, or sas­safras shavings.

Bird Cakes

We feel it is important to feed our wild friends. Mix together 1 cup of peanut butter, 2 cups wild bird seed, 5 cups corn and 1 cup melted suet. Spoon into paper-lined muffin tins. Add a string to the middle of each “muffin” if you plan to hang then, up in trees. Refrigerate until used.

Bird Tonic

Canaries and parakeets love to eat shepherd’s purse. Simply’ break off the top flowering stem and place in the cage. Very good tonic

Canary Aid

Add a clash of saffron to your canary’s drinking water. This is said to help them sing more. Saffron is a stimulant so it sure would make them feel more like singing.

Cat and Dog Repellent

There are areas that your pet is not welcome to invade. Cats can’t stand the smell of ginger, so sprinkle that around your flower beds. Cayenne pepper is another good spice to use in keeping your pets from garden and flower beds. Once they get a whiff of the cayenne pepper they do not return.

Cat Pillow Flea Repellent

Mix equal parts of chamomile and catnip. Add twice as much pen­nyroyal. Stuff a pillow with these herbs and they will love you.

Cat Toy

Cats love the smell of valerian. Stuff a toy mouse and they will become quite frisky. Horses also enjoy the smell, and will try to reach for it. Valerian has a calming effect on most animals and they will become playful when given a chance to calm down. Many people use it to bait mouse traps, as mice too enjoy the plant.

Dry Shampoo for Your Pets

Split a vanilla bean and place it in 4 cups of orris root powder or cornmeal. Cover and let sit for 1 week. Sprinkle over the animal and brush it in thoroughly. Then brush it out.

Eye Wash

Put 2 tablespoons of comfrey root and 2 tablespoons bruised fennel seeds in 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Steep until cool. Keep refrigerated and use by putting in the eye with an eye dropper.

Fenugreek Tonic for Health

Nothing is better to give your pet or farm animal than fenugreek tea. Place 2 teaspoons of fenugreek seeds in 1 cup of boiling water. Allow to steep 15 minutes. Strain and add at least once a week to their drinking water. Removes excess mucus from all the systems.

Flea Powder with Fennel

Mix and grind 1 cup each of rue, wormwood, rosemary, fennel and peppermint. When the herbs have been ground to a powder, dust the animal with the herbal mixture, working it in as you go.

Flea Powder with Pennyroyal

Mix together 2 tablespoons each of powdered wormwood and rosemary. Add 4 tablespoons of powdered pennyroyal, and 2 tea­spoons of cayenne pepper. Use as often as you would a commer­cial flea powder. Caution: Do not get this into the animal’s eyes.

Flea Repellent

This is also good for treating mange. I have never used this, but those that have swear by it. Simply apply WD-40 to the spine of the animal. It runs down the sides of the animal and keeps fleas away.

Flea Wash

Add 1 cup fresh or dried rosemary to 4 cups of boiling water Cover and steep until cool. Strain. Wash the dog and rinse well. Pour the herbal liquid on the dog and work in well. Leave the rosemary tea on the dog and let it dry.

Fly Repellent

Pennyroyal makes an effective and safe fly repellent for livestock. Put a large handful of pennyroyal in 2 cups of water. Boil for 5 minutes. Mix the herbal liquid with equal amounts of mineral Oil. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and shake vigorously. Spray on the animal, in the stalls, and on the wood around the barn door.

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