The Herbal Dog

by Rita Hogan

• ISBN13: 9781644119594
• ISBN10: 1644119595
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2025-02-04
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Summary

A hands-on guide to holistic canine herbalism

“Even if skeptical readers don’t come away completely convinced, they’ll be enormously educated—Hogan imparts a huge amount of biological information about dogs, and does it all with an easy readability that will make quite a bit of it stick. An informative and sometimes eye-opening examination of natural remedies for helping your dog.”—Kirkus Reviews

• Teaches the tenets of holistic herbalism for the individual dog

• Presents safe, clinically proven, and effective protocols for common canine conditions, from acid reflux to allergies to itching, scratching, and yeast

• Lays out a comprehensive materia medica of canine-specific herbs, including what conditions they are good for, their energetics, internal and external use, safe dosages, and contraindications

In this comprehensive guide to holistic care for dogs, clinical canine herbalist Rita Hogan explains that by looking at dogs as individual ecosystems with unique personalities, physiology, and needs, we can select effective and personalized herbal remedies to support their constitutions and provide relief from many different ailments.

Hogan, who has spent more than two decades working with canines, uses energetic principles (cool, warm, dry, damp) to reveal how herbs are not "one size fits all" and how to find the root cause of chronic imbalances. She discusses in depth how a dog’s main organ systems work, how they are connected to each other, and why we need to understand them when choosing specific herbs and foods.

Presenting safe, clinically proven, and effective protocols for common canine conditions—from acid reflux to allergies to itching, scratching, and yeast—Hogan presents a wide variety of holistic and herbal remedies: from herbal tinctures, glycerities, and phytoembryonics to flower essences, essential oils, medicinal mushrooms, and homeopathy. Her comprehensive materia medica of canine-specific herbs that she uses in her practice details what herbs are good for which conditions and why, what types of energetics are involved, safe dosage recommendations for each herbal remedy, and when to discontinue an herb.

Allowing each of us to take a hands-on approach to our canine companions’ health and longevity, this herbal guide outlines how to help them live their best lives by our sides.

Author Biography

Rita Hogan, C.H., is a clinical canine herbalist with more than twenty years of experience specializing in holistic canine herbalism. An educator, speaker, writer, and herbal medicine maker, she lives and practices in Olympia, Washington.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Isla Fishburn, Ph.D.

PREFACE
My Herbal Beginnings

Acknowledgments

Introduction
Using This Book

PART ONE
Dogs and Plants Are Individuals

1 Holistic Canine Herbalism

The Dog as an Ecosystem • Whole-Plant Medicine • The Trap of Evidence-Based Medicine • The Principles of Holistic Herbalism •
Integrative Veterinary Medicine • Our Dogs, Ourselves

2 Food as Medicine

Facultative Carnivores • Kibble and Canned Food • Cooked Food • Raw Food • Supplements • Feeding Guidelines

3 Canine Energetics

The Five Flavors • Energetic Temperature: Heat and Cold • Dry Energetics • Damp Energetics • Energetic Tone: Tension and Relaxation • Energetic Guidelines

4 Everything Is Connected

The Nervous System • The Lymphatic System • The Liver System • The Skin • The Gastrointestinal System • The Cardiovascular System • The Respiratory System • The Renal System

PART TWO
Herbal Practicum

5 Remedies

Tinctures and Glycerites • Infusions and Decoctions • Rinses • Poultices • Capsules • Essential Oils • Flower Essences • Homeopathics • Medicinal Mushrooms • Phytoembryonics

6 Planning Herbal Protocols

Acute vs. Chronic • The Art of the Dose • Creating a Healing Protocol for Chronic Conditions • General Guidelines for Holistic Herbalism

7 Herbal Applications

Acid Reflux • Allergies and Sensitivities • Anal Gland Conditions •
Antibiotics Recovery • Arthritis and Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain • Bladder and Urinary Tract Conditions • Candida Overgrowth • Constipation • Coughing • Diarrhea • Ear Infections • Grief • Growths and Warts • Histamine Intolerance • Hot Spots • Itchiness and Scratching • Leaky Gut • Lipomas • Nausea, Vomiting, and Poor Appetite • Paw Problems • Stings and Bug Bites • Surgery Preparation and Recovery •
Vaccine Preparation and Recovery

8 Plant and Fungi Monographs

Herbs
Agrimony, Alfalfa, Aloe, Angelica, Artichoke, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Bee Balm, Blackberry, Burdock, Calendula, Cayenne, Chamomile, Chickweed, Cleavers, Couch Grass, Dandelion, Echinacea, Elecampane, Fennel, Ginger, Goldenrod, Goldenseal, Gotu Kola, Gravel Root, Hawthorn, Juniper Berry, Lemon Balm, Licorice, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Milk Thistle, Milky Oats, Mullein, Nettle, Olive, Oregon Grape Root, Parsley, Passionflower, Pau d’Arco, Plantain, Red Clover, Rose, Rosemary, Skullcap, Slippery Elm, Solomon’s Seal, St. John’s Wort, Turmeric, Usnea, Uva-Ursi, Violet, Wood Betony, Yarrow, Yellow Dock

Medicinal Mushrooms

Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Poria, Reishi, Tremella, Turkey Tail

Phytoembryonics

Beech, Black Currant, Bramble, Cowberry, Fig, Heather, Horsetail, Mountain Pine, Olive, Walnut, Willow

Flower Essences

Agrimony, Aspen, Beech, Bleeding Heart, Boneset, Borage, Bougainvillea, Centaury, Comfrey, Crab Apple, Easter Lily, Fireweed, Gorse, Impatiens, Mimulus, Nasturtium, Oak, Olive, Pine, Red Chestnut, Rescue Remedy, Rock Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Tomato, Vervain, Vine, Walnut, White Chestnut

Appendices

1 Herbal Actions

2 Herbal Constituents

3 Vitamins and Minerals

4 Supplements

5 Food Energetics

Glossary

Notes and References

Index

About the Author