While I usually am able to treat pets with other therapies without the use of herbs, some owners prefer herbal medicine and some cases require a trial with herbs if they do not respond to other therapies. While hypoallergenic diets can help pets with food allergies, they are not routinely prescribed for atopic pets. At some point in the treatment of the itchy pet, before giving up and resigning the pet to a life of corticosteroids, try a homemade diet using fresh ingredients. Some pets respond dramatically just to this simple step. There are many options for your doctor when treating your atopic pets.
Some pets respond well to complementary therapies as the sole treatment.
Other pets may still require medications, but can get by with lower dosages if using a complementary therapy as well. Each doctor will develop his or her own preferences for treatment. Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM, is a holistic veterinarian and the author of the Pet Care Naturally series of books. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher.