Content
- dog mast with worm
- Is a dog mast good or bad?
- Medicinal Plants for Dogs
- Aloe vera (Aloe vera)
- Valerian (valerian officinalis)
- hawthorn (Crataegus Oxyacantha)
- Milk thistle (silybum marianum)
- Arnica (Arnica Montana)
- Chamomile (Chamomilla feverfew)
- Harpagóphyte (Harpagophytum procumbens)
You may have already heard about the mastruz, also called the Santa Maria weed, which has the scientific name Chenopodium ambrosioides. the herb, a lot used in Brazilian folk medicine, is easy to recognize: with small yellow flowers, it grows anywhere with moisture in the soil and forms shrubs up to one meter in height that spread over the ground.
Among humans, the mastruz has a reputation beyond positive: it is said that it provides a series of health benefits and is used for different purposes, even against the effects of leishmaniasis. Is all this proven? Another very common question is about the effects of the herb on animals, as it is so beneficial to humans. In the end, is a dog mast good or bad? That's what PeritoAnimal investigated and tells you here in this article.
dog mast with worm
The use of homemade recipes with the mastruz is a common practice in Brazil that has been around for a long time. However, there are few studies that prove its effects. beneficial. Using the dog mast with worm is one of the most popular uses, but little is known about its effectiveness.
In the text home remedies for dog worms you will find eight already known and widely used options.
It is believed, also in popular belief, that the masthead is quite effective in strengthening the immune system; to combat respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and tuberculosis; and for the relief of inflammation, particularly joint problems such as osteoarthritis.
Many people, empirically, also use the herb placing its leaves in wounds to speed healing. Based on this, a study carried out by the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN) decided to verify the effects of mastruz against leishmaniasis. The result found, and published in 2018 by the university, was that yes, the masthead helps fight inflammation aiding in healing and therefore has an effect against the disease[1].
In addition, the herb is sought after to improve poor digestion, reduce blood pressure, fight bacterial infections and even prevent osteoporosis. In other words, it's a blessed plant, isn't it?
However, it's not because it's so good for humans that it's necessarily going to help puppies. Therefore, it is good to find out about the poisonous plants for dogs in this other article here from PeritoAnimal.
Is a dog mast good or bad?
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the mastrich (known in English as epazote or wormseed) it is considered toxic mainly for dogs, cats and horses, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea[2].
The book Veterinary Herbal Medicine (Herbal Veterinary Medicine, free translation), edited by Susan G. Wynn and Barbara J. Fougère, also ranks masthead oil as one of the most toxic to animals[3].
In a video published on his YouTube channel, the veterinarian Edgard Gomes reinforces that the big problem with the mastruz is the ingestion by animals, which can be extremely dangerous due to the toxicity of ascaridol, present in the herb. On the other hand, the utopian use of the plant, in a collar, for example, can be effective in the animal[4].
Another study, this time carried out by a student and published in 2018 by the Federal University of Piauí, sought to discover the medicinal plants most used with animals in a specific territory of the state and proved that the use of the mastruz is widespread in the region. It is used mainly to fight dislocations, fractures, skin infections, verminosis and to stimulate the appetite of animals.[5].
The study, however, emphasizes that there is little scientific evidence about the plant's effectiveness.
The bottom line is that, despite popular belief and popular usage, you must be careful with the dog mast, as the aforementioned entities and the specialist warn, even due to the lack of a considerable number of conclusive studies on the subject. Therefore, we also suggest giving a read on this tips to prevent the dog from eating the plants.
Medicinal Plants for Dogs
While there is still a lot of doubt about the use of a dog mast, there are several others therapeutic plants that can, yes, be used to combat some type of problem in dogs and are recommended by experts. But it is worth noting that these "friendly plants" are not always harmless plants.
Medicinal plants are characterized by having a plant drug, which is the part or parts used therapeutically, which obviously have one or several active principles that will modify the physiology of the organism.
The active ingredients that contain medicinal plants follow the same process as pharmaceuticals: on the one hand, the animal's organism releases the active principle, going through the phases of absorption, distribution, metabolization and, finally, excretion. On the other hand, this active principle has a certain mechanism of action and a pharmacological effect.
Medicinal plants for dogs, if used properly, can help a lot. But it's good to pay attention because they can be contraindicated in many situations. and interact with different drugs. Here at PeritoAnimal we will mention some good options:
Aloe vera (Aloe vera)
Aloe vera or aloe vera juice applied externally decreases skin inflammation, has anesthetic properties and, in addition, favors the regeneration of skin cells. It can also be applied internally to improve the dog's general health, alleviate gastrointestinal diseases and improve immune system response.
Valerian (valerian officinalis)
Valerian for dogs is an excellent choice for calm the nervousness, relieve insomnia and lessen the pain and inflammation, not being a very well known property, it also acts as an excellent muscle relaxant.
hawthorn (Crataegus Oxyacantha)
White hawthorn acts as an excellent cardiac tonic, being very useful to prevent congestive heart failure in elderly dogs. It is generally not used on young dogs unless they are suffering from heartworm disease, where hawthorn can help the dog survive the disease.
Milk thistle (silybum marianum)
Milk thistle contains a strong active principle called silymarin, which acts as a protector and regenerator of liver cells. It is useful to improve the health of puppies in any context and especially necessary in cases of polypharmacy, as it will help the liver to metabolize drugs without doing any harm.
Arnica (Arnica Montana)
This is an excellent plant to treat trauma, as it relieves pain, reduces inflammation and prevents the formation of bruises. It is advisable to use it topically or through the application of a homeopathic remedy.
Chamomile (Chamomilla feverfew)
Dogs can also benefit from this popular medicinal plant, which is very useful as a mild sedative and is especially suitable for dogs. stomach problems, such as heavy digestions or vomiting.
Harpagóphyte (Harpagophytum procumbens)
Harpagóphyte is one of the best natural anti-inflammatory for dogs, it is useful in any condition that causes inflammation, being especially indicated for muscle and joint problems.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.