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phylotherapy (natural therapy using medicinal plants) is becoming increasingly popular in the veterinary field, in part thanks to owners who prefer to opt for more natural treatments to restore their health. pets. However, big mistakes are made when thinking that medicinal plants are innocuous because they are natural and it is also common, but dangerous, to think that the effect of a certain plant is the same in humans as in animals.
If you live with a feline and are in favor of the use of natural therapies, you have certainly asked yourself: Can I give my cat valerian? That's the question we're going to solve in the following PeritoAnimal article, keep reading!
The effects of valerian on cats
There are numerous plants toxic to cats but valerian is not one of them, in fact, this plant was included in the United States Pharmacopoeia in the year 1920 and since then no toxic effects produced in humans or animals have been observed. This does not imply that valerian cannot interact with other drugs, since it is true that it potentiates the effect of sedative drugs, so the first recommendation is to always consult your veterinarian if your cat is following a pharmacological treatment to find out if it is appropriate give him valerian.
Although some veterinary sources consider that valerian can be useful for calming nervous cats, it is certain that the main effects of this plant on our feline friends are quite different. Valerian root contains volatile oils that stimulate the cat's nervous system in a similar way as the hormones a cat produces when in heat would. This effect causes a feeling of euphoria, pleasure and well-being.
Even though there is currently controversy about whether valerian is sedative or not for cats, what is possible to say is that, thanks to its effects on the central nervous system, it is a good plant to treat stress in cats.
How to give valerian to a cat
Due to the stimulant effect that valerian causes in cats, if your cat is nervous, it is best to purchase a product suitable for use in felines that, in addition to valerian, contains another type of plant with a sedative character. And if what you want is precisely to stimulate your cat, you can give it valerian as a unique plant, but it will also be recommended purchase a veterinary product.
Although the plant is the same regardless of its commercial presentation, what is certain is that veterinary products have pharmaceutical formulas that are much more comfortable to administer to an animal. In addition, they must also be accompanied by the indication of the recommended daily dose, which should not be exceeded. Also, to take care of your cat in the most responsible way possible, we recommend that you consult your veterinarian before administering any medicinal plant.
Valerian for short treatments
After reading the above points, you can already guess the answer to the question, "can I give valerian to my cat?" And yes. However, valerian should not be given to the cat for very long periods of time, as it can be addictive and you just need to prepare an infusion so that your cat doesn't take his eyes off you.
The ideal is to carry out treatments as short as possible, visiting the veterinarian again whenever the symptoms do not resolve.
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.