The Best Cleansing Herbs For Dogs

Your dog’s environment is not as natural as it used to be. He’s exposed to countless chemicals and toxins daily. Knowing natural ways to counteract the harmful effects of pollutants can help. Here are three powerful natural cleansing herbs for your dog to help detoxify and nourish.

1. Burdock Root

Burdock root, or Arctium lappa, is a common weed plant that’s full of fiber and nutrients that help keep your dog’s body running smoothly. People have been using it for hundreds of years to cleanse toxins through the skin and liver.

Benefits Of Burdock Root For Dogs

Cleanses The Liver 

All detoxification pathways stem from the liver, including the skin. Burdock root supports normal detoxification processes through the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system. This makes burdock root an excellent herb to use when transitioning your dog to a raw food diet.

Supports Digestive Tract Health

Burdock root contains the prebiotic inulin, which feeds the good bacteria in the gut. Maintaining these helpful bacteria helps to support your dog's immune system. It also contains glucoside-Lappin, which aids in reducing occasional loose stools due to changes in diet. Burdock root also helps fat digestion by stimulating bile release from the gall bladder.

Antioxidant Protection

Burdock root contains quercetin. This is a well-researched flavonoid that helps balance the histamine response and helps eliminate free radicals. 

Supports Skin Health

Burdock root stimulates blood circulation to the surface of the skin, which may help your dog heal faster. You can use burdock root whether your dog has flaky or oily skin, as it’s good for a variety of skin conditions. 

How To Give Your Dog Burdock Root

You can buy teas, powders, tinctures, capsules, and even natural root. Burdock root doesn’t taste very good to dogs, so a decoction is a good choice:

• Combine 1 cup cold water and 1 to 2 tsp dried or 2 tbsp fresh herb in a pot. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let stand for 10 more minutes. Strain the liquid and store in a container with a tight lid.  
• Refrigerate for up to a week. Pour liberally over food

2. Chlorella

Chlorella is a type of microalgae, which is a single-celled organism that grows in water. It is technically not an herb and is available in powder form to add to your dog’s diet.

Benefits Of Chlorella For Dogs

Here are some reasons to add chlorella to your dog’s diet. 

Supports The Body From Exposure To Heavy Metals

Your dog may encounter heavy metals from pesticides, vaccines, processed pet food, environmental pollution, and flea or tick medications. Chlorella helps reduce oxidative stress from this exposure. 

Antioxidant 

Chlorella helps remove damaging free radicals and supports normal detoxifcation.

Supports Skin Health

A plant pigment called chlorophyll which may also improve your dog’s skin and coat, support eye function and proper digestion.

How To Give Your Dog Chlorella

Quality can vary among brands of chlorella, so make sure to do your research. When possible, you want to choose a product that contains Chlorella pyrenoidosa species. 

Add 50 mg per 25 lbs of body weight one to two times daily to your dog’s food. If your dog is getting treatment for a specific condition and needs a boost to his immune system, you can double the dosage. 

3. Dandelion

The benefits of this valuable weed for both people and animals have been well-researched in the past few years. You can use every part of this plant, including the stem, flower, leaves, and root.

Benefits Of Dandelion For Dogs

These are a few of the ways dandelion can help your dog. 

Rich In Essential Nutrients

The leaves of dandelion contain vitamin A, C, K, D, and B complex. They also offer important minerals such as zinc, iron, manganese, and calcium. On top of all this goodness, dandelion also contains protein.

Helps Maintain Blood Sugar

Dandelion is good for supporting diabetes health, due to its ability to help maintain blood sugar levels. If your dog’s diabetic, discuss the possibility of using dandelion in his diet with your holistic veterinarian. You may need to adjust his blood sugar medications.

Antioxidant

Dandelion also contains polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which all help support a normal inflammatory response. The leaves and flowers are also high in antioxidants and dandelion can be used topically as a tea or tincture. 

Enhances Liver Function

The root of dandelion stimulates bile production and supports liver health. This aids to support normal detoxification processes. 

Helps Maintain Normal Body Fluid Levels

Swollen body areas, diabetes, and gallbladder or kidney disease can all cause your dog to retain too much fluid in the body. You can use dandelion leaves as a diuretic when your dog is suffering from conditions that cause fluid retention.  Unlike pharmaceutical diuretics, dandelion provides potassium that replaces what your dog loses through urination.

How To Give Your Dog Dandelion

Dandelion roots, leaves or flowers are all useful. Use them fresh, dried or brewed as a tea or tonic.

Fresh leaves: Add flowers or a few torn leaves to your dog’s meal. A leaf or 2 for small dogs, more for larger dogs. Or you can blend leaves in a blender with some water, or sautée in some pastured butter and add to his meal.

Dried leaves or root: Crumble dried herb or chopped root onto your dog’s meal. You’ll need 1 tsp per 20 pounds body weight.

Dandelion tea:

• Use 5g to 30g dried herb (leaves, root or flowers) infused in 8oz water for 10-15 minutes.
• You can use 1/3 of a cup of tea per 20 pounds of your dog’s body weight, up to 3 times a day.

Caution: Since dandelion is a diuretic, make sure your dog has ample opportunity to get outside for a pee during the day.

Now you know a few ways to resolve a variety of issues your dog may be facing. Give these natural disease-fighters a try.