Herbal allergy treatments for symptoms related to food, skin, inhalant, contact, parasite and insect allergies in cats and dogs.

The immune system is a complex array of cells that are found throughout your pet’s body. Immune cells are designed to function in conjunction with one another to provide a fortified defense against unwanted invaders. It is an intricate system that keeps your pet healthy and protects them against all sorts of invaders including allergens, viruses, bacteria, microbes, parasites and toxins.

The immune system is also directed at facilitating normal function and is not intended to be suppressed or stimulated. In cases of dysfunction, an animal body requires whole body systemic support. If your pet’s immune system is weakened, every body system is at risk. 

Corticosteroids (steroids) such as prednisone are commonly prescribed medications for dogs and cats to relieve symptoms such as itching. Corticosteroids are a synthetic drug which limit inflammation and relieve pain and itching. When used correctly, they are typically fast acting, and can typically relieve itching, decrease inflammation, and reduce redness, swelling and pain in less than 24 hours.

At the same time, they also compromise and suppress the immune system and decrease the ability of wounds to heal as well as increase the chance of infection. Corticosteroids also fail to address the underlying cause for symptoms of disease or disorder in your pet.

It is vital when administering steroids such as prednisone that the medication is used correctly, at the right dose, for the proper length of time, and in the right patient.

Overwhelmingly, conventional veterinarians use corticosteroids as the primary and often, only drug, to address most diseases and conditions. Corticosteroids have serious side effects and if used long term, can seriously undermine your pet’s health.

Dogs and cats develop allergies just as humans do, and for the same reasons. An allergic pet will scratch, itch, bite and experience hair loss in isolated or general areas of the body. An allergic reaction occurs when your pet develops a hypersensitive response to a foreign substance or irritant and creates a histamine attack to ward off the invaders. Allergic responses can be generated by anything your animal interacts with and it is vital that you isolate and diagnose the allergen trigger. Accomplishing this can be very difficult.

Types of Corticosteroids:

There are three types of corticosteroids:

Mineral corticoids

Sex steroids

Glucocorticoids.

In conventional veterinary medicine, glucocorticoids are the predominant type of steroid used, particularly in addressing allergy symptoms. 

Corticosteroid products are typically end with "-sone", such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, triamcinolone, and others.

These different medications are classified by their strength and time of effectiveness in the body.

The duration of a corticosteroid means how long a dose exerts its effects on your pet’s body. Some corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and betamethasone are very long lasting and can act for weeks and last in the body for several months and are very harmful if used repeatedly and for long periods of time.

Here is a list of common corticosteroids and their duration:

Although steroids are fast-acting and can bring quick relief, holistic vets are reluctant to use these drugs due to their side effects. There are a number of serious short and long term side effects associated with corticosteroids, including:

Short term side effects:

Increased appetite

Increased water intake

Increased urine output

Long term side effects:

Immune system suppression

Decreased ability to resist viral, bacterial, or fungal diseases

Gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers, pancreatitis, and GI bleeding

Skin problems such as skin infections, hair loss, acne, and excessive bruising

Eye problems resulting in glaucoma and cataracts

Heart and cardiovascular system problems, such as high blood pressure and water retention

Metabolic imbalance resulting in obesity and increased blood and lipid fat

Kidney and liver diseases

Diabetes and changes in glucose metabolism

Changes in calcium utilization resulting in osteoporosis, muscle weakness and possible cartilage destruction

The most serious and potentially life-threatening long-term side effect of corticosteroids on a dog's body is the possibility of a total shutdown of the adrenal glands.

Glucocorticoids are produced by the adrenal glands and the levels of these hormones within the body are monitored by the brain and the pituitary gland. Long term use of glucocorticoids can confuse the animal body because when a higher than normal level of hormones are present, the pituitary glands sense no need to produce more hormones and can turn off the adrenal glands completely. This response may not hurt your pet if a low dose steroid regimen was administered for a short period of time. But if your animal has been given a high dosage and extended glucocorticoid regimen, and then the medication is stopped abruptly, the glands cannot adapt and adrenal failure can occur. Adrenal failure can be deadly.

As a pet owner, you are wise to carefully consider the administration of corticosteroids and potentially, avoidance of steroids. You are also wise to consider herbal options that may deliver the same results with less or no side effects. It is important to understand that natural remedies may take longer to realize results, but also work to halt histamine response and limit as well as correct allergen triggers, thereby treating the underlying cause for all types of allergies.

Many veterinarians, holistic and conventional alike, believe that short-term use of corticosteroids can be beneficial and effective in treating some problems such as itchiness and skin inflammation caused by allergies. Because steroids are fast acting, they can quickly relieve discomfort caused by allergies, however, due to the numerous side effects, glucocorticoids and corticosteroids should never be used to treat animals with chronic allergies.

There are two reasons long-term steroid therapy should be avoided:

First, steroid medications can only alleviate the symptoms and cannot treat the underlying cause. Your pet will only have relief as long as steroids are administered. Once the steroid regimen is stopped, all symptoms will return. Herbal remedies are preferred because they address root causes of illness as well as the symptoms associated with diseases and conditions.

Secondly, long-term steroid therapy use will greatly damage your pet’s health. Eventually, your pet’s immune system will shut down, enabling a perfect and dangerous possibility of developing a debilitating or even life-threatening health problem.

Herbal Remedies:

Herbal remedies are used to promote healthy immune response and support the immune system; to act as an immune tonic to naturally fight off allergens without the side effects of antibiotic therapies; to identify and correct histamine response and to help eliminate all types of allergies; to cleanse, detoxify and purify the body through elimination of excess waste and toxins; to function as an anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, immunologic, blood cleansing and body purifying agent that address histamine triggers that are often responsible for allergic reactions and to assist recovery from illness or infection. 

The Daily Paws – (learn more) is used as a multi-system nutritive for daily maintenance of all body systems, with emphasis on a healthy endocrine system, promotes healthy skin and shiny, glossy coats due to its high mineral and vitamin content, and is used to maintain body temperature, (important in immuno-compromised animals), and for a multiplicity of conditions and diseases including for allergies, arthritis, cognitive disorder and cancer, for urinary disorders to alkalinize (higher Ph) acidic urine and for blood purification.

Yummy Tummy – (learn more) promotes Probiotic digestive, urinary, bladder and gall bladder support, for all types of digestive disorders, promotes proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients, for bladder (cystitis) and kidney (pyelonephritis) infections, for urine leakage and urinary incontinence, as a natural, plant-based steroid alternative, provides important support for cramping, pain, discomfort, Gastroenteritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disorder (IBD), prostate inflammation, BHP, prostatitis, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS) and for Candida albicans.

I Feel Good –  (learn more) promotes healthy immune response, reduces inflammation, provides dermal support and growth of healthy cells and tissues in the body’s defense mechanism, reduces the histamine trigger for contact allergies, seasonal and chronic allergens, pathogens, skin rashes, infections, hot spots, inflammation, swelling, hair loss, itching and geriatria (dull coat, lethargy), for all types of arthritis, including Degenerative Joint Disease, Osteoarthritis, Osteroporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and symptoms associated with rheumatism, including pain, strains, injuries, muscle pain, swelling and lack of mobility.

Related Products:

Life’s An Itch - (learn more) is used to promote optimal immune response, reduces allergic (acute and chronic) reactions, relieves viral and bacterial infections, hot spots, remedies skin allergies and irritations, soothes itchy skin and coat in dogs and cats, and works to cut recovery time and prevent recurring infections. 

Joint Ease Super Dog & Cat – (learn more) contains plant and marine extracts that promote preventative and reparative support to rebuild tissue, joints, bones and muscles, supports healthy immune and inflammatory response, for rheumatism, for arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatism, Degenerative Joint Disease, Intervertebral Disk Disease and arthrosis, for muscle pains, strains, injuries and other degenerative joint related diseases, for pain, as a pain reliever for swelling and lack of mobility, for overall optimal health and function and as a natural alternative for tumors and cysts.

Shake Ur Groove Thing – (learn more) promotes healthy bowel function and purification, gentle parasitic detoxification and body clarification, used for cramping, pain, constipation, gas and bloating, supports correct balance of intestinal flora and helps calms the digestive system, for anal fissures, fistulas, hemorrhoids, food allergies and hypersensitivities, as a general skin support, and provides a healthy solution for waste and toxin removal, including pesticides, environmental toxins, chemicals related to flea and tick products and drugs regimens such as NSAID’s and synthetic glucosteriods and corticosteroids.

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