Chamomile For Cats & Dogs

Benefits of Chamomile

• Effective in helping with the digestive system
• Helpful to stop nausea, vomiting, indigestion issues
• Helps with loss of appetite
• Helps relieve the pain from stomach cramps
• Is anti-microbial
• Relieves flatulence
• Is a natural anti-inflammatory
• Is a great anti-allergy remedy and has been used to soothe skin allergies as well respiratory allergies
• Can be used to treat wounds and aid healing both internally and externally
• Great for helping animals deal with emotional issues such as grief, anxiety, nervousness, etc.
• Relaxes muscle spasms and tension
• Can help bring down a fever
• Can help stimulate menstruation
• Is a nervine so can help stimulate, sedate, or relax the nervous system
• Can help soothe and heal burns
• Mild sedative
• Can help with IBS
  

Is German Chamomile Safe for Pets? 

Yes, German chamomile as a tea is safe for both cats and dogs in small amounts and if given for a short period of time. High dosages can be toxic. The tincture, essential oil, and homeopathy product can be potentially toxic to cats so please use them under the guidance of your holistic vet. Especially when using the essential oil as they carry terpenoids, tannic acids, flavonoids, etc. which can be toxic components for cats and some dogs.

However, chamomile tea is a great remedy to have in your first aid kit to deal with digestive upsets in pets. It also has the added benefit of acting both internally or if applied topically it can help with wound healing and inflammation.

Do not give chamomile to your pet if you know your cat or dog has an allergy to plants in the daisy family.

Only select to use German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) with your pets and not Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobiles).

Side Effects 

• If your pet's condition worsens or does not improve speak with your integrative vet
• Do not feed to young puppies or kittens
• Can act as a laxative to some pets, especially if given too much
• Over-dosing or long term use could be harmful to cats
• Avoid giving to pregnant or lactating pets
• May interact with some allopathic medication. Check for any contraindications before giving this to your pet.

How to Give Chamomile to Cats & Dogs

• Tincture
  
• Poultice
  
• Homeopathy pellets
• Decoction
• Essential oil

• Can be given orally 
• Can be applied topically
  

Chamomile Dosage for Pets  

Cats & Dogs

It's best to consult your homeopathy or holistic vet for your pet's individual health needs, especially when using this as an internal supplement/medicine. As with any herb or plant, they are natural medicines. This should be given in small dosages and for a short burst of time only.

General-purpose guidelines:

Decoction (Tea). Use fresh or dried flower heads. This is perhaps one of the safest ways to give chamomile to your cat or dog as the tea can be made weak or you can begin to micro-dose your cat or dog and monitor how they get on. Also, herbal teas are not as strong as tinctures. Make a tea with your herb, steep it for 30 minutes or so. You can give 2-3 drops twice daily directly into your pet's mouth, or mixed into your pet's food, or alternatively, let your cat or dog drink the droplets directly. If you're treating a stomach upset, it is best given on an empty stomach.

You could also use a chamomile decoction or the teabag as an eyewash/eye compress for those dogs or cats that suffer from dry eyes or conjunctivitis, skin irritation, to treat a wound, etc. 

Fresh Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) Other chamomile plants can be toxic to your dog or cat so it's essential you just plant German Chamomile. But this is an excellent plant to have in your garden, balcony, or just placed inside your home. It's safe for both cats and dogs and having the real plant available, means your pet can self select the herb when needed, and prior to when symptoms begin to develop that you become involved. It is rare an animal will self-harm but be mindful of cats or dogs over-eating the flowers and suffering from toxicity. But the more you can plant a pet-friendly edible garden the better for the long-term health of your cat and dog as they will actively seek out the plants that help them regulate whatever is going on internally. 

Essential Oil: This is a good oil to have on hand as it is very soothing and calming to the nervous system. It is an ideal essential oil to have for those pets that suffer from anxiety, are highly nervous, if you've recently adopted a new pet to help them adapt to their new environment. This oil can be inhaled, ingested, or applied topically on your dog (only if your dog selects its use); inhalation only for cats. Always have oils diluted with water for burning and leave the room open so your cat and dog can work with the oil, i.e move closer or further away from the oil or if need be, to be able to leave the room entirely. 

Flower Water: Flower waters or hydrosols as much safer to use with pets and are a better option than using essential oil as they have far less toxic possibilities. However, chamomile flower water should only be used externally and follow the same principles as above, whereby your pet has the ability to leave the room. 

A poultice or Topical Salve: Chamomile is very good for soothing the skin or where there are other dermal irritations. It can be used as a poultice, bath, or herbal wash. Make it into a poultice using chamomile solely or mix it with a bit of olive oil or coconut oil, ghee, or shea butter to form a paste or salve. Soak the herb for about 15-20 minutes. Make your paste and spread on a gauze or cheesecloth and apply over the area. This can also be applied to scratches, flea bites, hotspots, dry skin, etc. If you've mixed the chamomile with a carrier oil, then you can apply the salve 2 or 3 times throughout the day. You could also just pop the decoction (tea) into a spray bottle and spray it directly onto your pet's skin and let it dry naturally. As it's both mild and healing you can apply it 2 or 3 times a day to help relieve skin irritations.

Tincture: Follow the manufacturer's or your vet's instructions as any dosages will be dependent upon the potency level of 'the mother' used in the formula your pet's size and your pet's ailment. You may need to dilute the drops in water prior to administering. Please ensure you select tinctures that are alcohol-free, or look to burn off some of the alcohol to reduce the level of this toxin entering your pet's system. 

The homeopathy product: This will again be determined by the ailment you're treating and the potency or strength of the dilution. This should be guided by your homeopathic or holistic vet as the incorrect potency will unlikely give an improvement or may cause adverse reactions. 

This article is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your holistic veterinarian for proper diagnosis and your pet's individual treatment plan. 

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