WEEDS OR WONDERHERBS?

Spring has now well and truly sprung and ‘weeds’ are plauging keen gardeners. But many common ‘weeds’ are in fact useful herbs that you can add to your pets diet! Remember this advice is for using small amounts of fresh herb in healthy animals. Do not try and use forgaed herbs to treat your pets medical condition without consulting a trained herbal vet and always pick from places uncontaminated by chemicals or road fumes.

DANDELIONS

Taraxacum officinale is used by veterinary herbalists to treat a wide range of diseases. The leaves have diuretic properties useful in urinary and heart problems. The roots help to cleanse the digestive system and are a tonic for the liver. We would suggest using the leaves only, added to your pets vegetable mix (on a homemade raw diet). The whole leaves are loved by rabbits and guinea pigs and are great for tortoises coming out of hibernation too.

CLEAVERS

Galium aparine (known to children as sticky willies, sweathearts or goosegrass) is another cleansing spring herb. We use it where the lymphatic system isn’t working well, in bladder problems and for dry skin conditions. This herb is best blanched in boiling water before adding to the veg mix because it’s very coarse and hairy! Chickens love this herb too, pick some and watch them go mad for it.

NETTLES

Urtica dioica is the common stinging nettle but it’s young leaves and shoots can be eaten by humans and animals. Although the skin can cause nasty rashes, the herb is great for allergies if taken as a tincture! It is also mineral rich and another gently cleansing herb. If adding this one to your pets diet pick the tips carefully and blanch them before use, like with the cleavers.