What's in Nature's Medicine Chest for Siff Canine Joints and Dog Agility Training?

By Jackie Rive at www.brookbyherbs.co.nz
Helping horses and dogs live healthier and happier lives, naturally.


Dogs that suffer from stiff joints can benefit from herbs in many ways that possibly you hadn’t thought of before. They can provide a means of enhancing your dog's quality of life by providing a safe form of flexibility and movement in the joints, critical to a dog's enjoyment of life.

Stiff joints can be as debilitating for animals as it is for humans and maintaining a healthy body before the onset of illness is an important part of preserving quality of life.

Herbal supplements that are completely natural and without the side effects often associated with synthetic drugs are fabulous for dog agility training. These herbs are also ideal for the older dog to help keep joints supple and help create good circulation.

Devil’s Claw is a particularly popular herb for the nutritional maintenance of the musculo-skeletal system and for dogs involved in agility training this is a wonderful supportive herb.

The herbal extract can help maintain joints, muscles and connective tissue in a strong and healthy condition, and can be hugely beneficial for bith the older dog and  the competitive dog as well.

We have had some fantastic comments from people who have tried our very own 'Nature's Free Mover,' which is used for maintaining joints and muscles in a healthy condition. Based in organic cider vinegar, the product contains Devil’s Claw, White Willow, Nettle, Meadowsweet, Hawthorn, Rosehips and Kelp.

Comments from Customers

“I'm absolutely thrilled and impressed with the results of 'Nature's Free Mover'. We have an 8 year old shepherd who was in a terrible state. The vet had put him on a course of drugs for his hips and basically it was completely knocking him out at night. The poor dog was so sedated he was wetting the bed and getting very distressed. We were all terribly upset watching him go down hill with no dignity left until my daughter suggested I try your herbal extracts. We have been amazed with the results. He is a completely different dog, up playing with the cat and running around like a young pup again. I wouldn't have believed it was possible. Well done and thank you. M.Wickham, Papatoetoe, New Zealand.

My vet recommended your product as one of 2 herbal supplements that would assist in easing my dog back into enjoyment of life! - Well, I used the Nature's Free Mover in his water bowl - and he is definitely more active and happy than what he was! Not yet back up to our 1 1/2 hour walks, but we may never be again, but he is certainly bouncing after wild rabbits and chasing balls etc. Problem is, so is my elderly (20yr) cat who drinks out of the same water bowl!! Rachael Hughes

Dear Jackie, Your 'Free Mover' was of great benefit to our old dog Buffy in her last years. We thank you for your promptness in supplying us when we placed our order and for the useful tips in your newsletters. We wish your business every success and would have no hesitation in recommending your company to others pet owners. Regards Allan & Joan Collins


a healthy muscular-skeletal system and enhance dog agility

Herb Dictionary

Here are just some of the essential herbs for the maintenance of healthy canine joints and dog agility training.

Devil's Claw (root)
(Harpagophytum Procumbens)

For the maintenance of the muscular-skeletal system
Nature’s own joint remedy
Shouldn’t be fed to pregnant bitches or where gastric ulcers are present
White Willow (bark)
(Salix alba)

The origin of aspirin
Good for digestive system
Meadow Sweet (herb)
(Filipendula ulmaria)

Origin of aspirin
Neutralises the acid in the system
Nettles (aerial parts)
(Urtica dioica)

Nature’s own cleansing tonic
Rich in iron and vitamin C
Increase circulation

Visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz for a full range of natural organic herbal health blends for animals.

Pet Owners Favouring Organic And Natural Options For Both Themselves And Their Animals

By Jackie Rive at www.brookbyherbs.co.nz
Helping horses and dogs live healthier and happier lives, naturally.

 Increasing numbers of pet owners are paying more attention to what they are feeding their dogs, cats and horses, with many turning to organic, natural and herbal alternatives.
According to recent research from the United States, spending on nutraceuticals and pet care supplements is expected to continue rising throughout 2011, with sales predicted to reach $1.6 billion by 2015, a 27% increase from 2010. The senior and joints category is especially buoyant, accounting for approximately one-third of retail sales of dog supplements, one-fifth of sales of cat supplements and almost one-third of horse supplement sales.

Brookby Herbs founder and Managing Director, Jackie Rive, believes that the growing popularity of these pet care supplements is due to an increased awareness of alternative treatment options in general.

‘More and more people throughout both New Zealand and the rest of the world are now taking an interest in using non-pharmaceutical treatment options to care for their own health as well as the health of their families,’ explains Jackie. ‘Pets are an integral part of many households so it comes as no surprise that people want to include them in their quest for healthier living.’

‘There has also been something of a backlash against unnatural processed foods recently,’ she adds. ‘Individuals are becoming much more aware of where their food and supplements come from and just how much they are contributing nutritionally. This new found attitude is crossing over to how they look after their pets and is driving purchases of natural and organic products.’

Jackie also points out that the fact that herbal supplements are gentler and often involve fewer side effects than the conventional pharmaceutical medicines is also a draw card.

‘Of course, the first step should always be to take the pet to the vets if there is anything wrong,’ says Jackie. ‘However, more veterinarians both here and overseas are now recommending herbal treatment alternatives for certain conditions. It is becoming widely accepted that they can be kinder on the organs, such as the liver and kidneys, than some of the pharmaceutical options.’

For more information on Brookby Herbs, visit http://www.brookbyherbs.co.nz/
Visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz for a full range of natural organic herbal health blends for animals

Useful Winter Herbs for Horses

By Jackie Rive at www.brookbyherbs.co.nz
Helping horses and dogs live healthier and happier lives, naturally.

With winter fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about keeping your horses and dogs in tip top health over the colder months. Below you will find a few of the better known herbs for fighting winter ills.

Echinacea:

Fights infections, reduces symptoms of colds and flu, stimulates the immune system and heals minor wounds and burns. "The herb normalises the number of white blood cells in the blood and helps them surround and destroy bacteria and viruses," says Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., director of the American Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, and author of The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine. It also slows the spread of infection to surrounding tissues and helps flush toxins away from infected areas, he says.

Echinacea is generally considered safe, says Dr. Tyler, although an allergic reaction is always a possibility. Discontinue use if you experience any adverse effects.

Garlic:

Garlic was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, chewed by Greek Olympian athletes and thought to be essential for keeping vampires at bay! But it is also good for zapping bacteria, keeping your heart healthy, warding off coughs and colds. Garlic is an antibiotic that can actually kill infecting bacteria and at the same time protect the body from the poisons that are causing the infection. It is known that the most sensitive bacterium to garlic is the deadly Bacillus anthracis which produces the poison anthrax. Even the forefather of antibiotic medicine Louis Pasteur acknowledged garlic to be as effective as penicillin and late studies showed similar activity to a more modern antibiotic, chloramphenicol. Even the blood of garlic eaters can kill bacteria and it is also reported that the vapor from freshly cut garlic can kill bacteria at a distance of 20 cms!

Rosehips:

Rosehips are a rich source of vitamin C as well as vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin K. Rosehips make an excellent spring tonic and are very useful for general debility and illness. Used with other herbs Rosehips will help horses return to health after illness. The high vitamin C content will help to fight infection and build up the body's defences. They also contain biotin and flavanoids for optimum hoof health. Rosehips play a major role in kidney rehabilitation and adrenal function and can be used to prevent Azoturia or "tying up". Rosehips can be made into a tea by mixing 2 dessertspoons of granules into 1 litre of boiling water and this is left to steep until cool. This tea can then be split in half and used to dampen down the morning and evening feeds. The dosage for a horse in work is one litre per day, fed grounds and all.

Fenugreek:

Soothes sore throat pain and coughs. From ancient times through the late 19th century, fenugreek played a major role in herbal healing. Then it fell by the wayside. Now things are once again looking up for the herb whose taste is an odd combination of bitter celery and maple syrup. Modern scientific research has found that fenugreek can help reduce cholesterol levels, control diabetes and minimise the symptoms of menopause. The ancient Greeks fed this herb to horses and cattle. The Romans then started using it, too, calling it "Greek hay." (In Latin, "Greek hay" is foenum-graecum, and that evolved into "fenugreek.") As fenugreek spread around the ancient Mediterranean, physicians learned that its seeds, like many seeds, contain a gummy substance called mucilage. Mixed with water, mucilage expands and becomes a gelatinous soother for irritated tissues.

Brookby Herbs have many herbs available to help your animals through the winter season. For horses we offer Echinacea Organic Plus, a natural antibiotic that also boosts the immune system and Breathe Free, a natural expectorant for treating respiratory problems such as viral coughs and colds. It will help to soothe away any irritations and unblock the airways.

Nature's Immune Booster for dogs is a certified organic blend of herbs which enhances your dog's general well-being and protects against common dog health problems like kennel cough symptoms.

Visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz for a full range of natural organic herbal health blends for animals

How to Treat Stringhalt

By Jackie Rive at www.brookbyherbs.co.nz 
Helping horses and dogs live healthier and happier lives, naturally.

It saddens me to hear that so many horse owners are having to deal with that horrible and deeply frustrating condition, stringhalt, at the moment.

For those that have been lucky enough to avoid it so far, the clinical signs of stringhalt basically involve an exaggerated lifting of each hind leg as the horse moves forwards and backwards. In very severe cases, the horse will go to walk off and get one leg stuck up under it's belly, as though the leg was glued there. In such cases, horses can often only move with a bunny hopping motion where they have both back legs up in the air at once and paddle along on their front legs.

In mild cases, exaggerated lifting of the leg is only obvious under special circumstances, such as when the horse goes backwards, is upset, turns sharply sideways, or in cold weather.

Mild cases are often first noticed when a horse is backed off a float, and in severe cases the horse cannot go backwards at all. The severity of the signs in a horse can be quite varied and are made worse by cold, excitement and alterations to daily routine.

This high stepping gait is accompanied by wastage of muscles in the hind limbs. Affected horses will have muscle wastage in the gaskin area just above the hock and between the shoulders, and these are occasionally accompanied by changes in the forelimb gait.

Treatment:

Fortunately, the horses do eventuall recover. We recommend the Herbal Calmer blend which contains valerian, vervain and dandelion to help restore the nervous system.

Here are some words from herbalist Robert Mcdowell in Australia and his point of view on it.

'Stringhalt is probably the most frustrating condition I have been faced with in my practice over the years.

Various weeds like Dandelion in NSW, and Fireweed in Victoria, are blamed, but I am certain there is some fungus which inhabits these plants at times and it is the fungus which can damage the central nervous system of susceptible horses.

My treatment revolves around the herbs which physically rehabilitate damage to the central nervous system and the brain itself.

The mix includes Comfrey, Dandelion, Magnesium Phosphate, Mugwort, Pine Bark, Sage, Saw Palmetto and Valerian along with the Bach Flowers Heather, Vine, Elm, Vervain and Rescue Remedy.

This course is given over a 12 week period and a single dose each day of yoghurt (acidophilus) about a couple of dessertspoons is given as well. Along with the recommendation that no Lucerne products should be fed during this time.

The aim of the treatment is to clear any fungal residue and speed the recovery, which often occurs anyway over time.

The treatment is also formulated to help rebuild any muscle wastage resulting from the condition and to reduce sensitivity so that the animal will be much less likely to come down again with Stringhalt.'

Visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz for a full range of natural organic herbal health blends for animals.