Pet potions: Sorcery or science?
A brew that alters your pooch’s behaviour and pellets to make your hammy smell better sound straight out of Hogwarts. Veterinarians provide some insight into these seemingly miraculous remedies.
Bach Flower Blend (Willingness to Learn)
A product that promises to make training a breeze may sound like fluff, but this seems to be the real McCoy. Says founder of Vets All Natural P/L Dr Bruce Syme, “I know several vets who use Bach flower blends quite extensively, and firmly believe that they are effective. While modern medicine can’t yet explain how they function, they are perfectly safe and do seem to work quite well.” Based on herbal remedy beliefs and homeopathy, this flower-based blend of wild oat, chestnut bud, centaury and hornbeam is said to help animals that have trouble learning or understanding instructions. The four ingredients purportedly work together to improve the emotional state of the pet by tackling negative states of mind such as uncertainty, over-sensitivity to others, and lack of interest in surroundings.
Use it: Add two to five globules in your pet’s drinking water twice to thrice daily for five days to a week (for acute problems), or once to twice daily for four to six weeks (for chronic problems).
Distributed by Roots Technologies. For more information, please call 6283 6330.
Mushroom Extract Deodorant Pellets (For small animals)
A topical deodoriser is one thing, but something that claims to change your pet’s odour from within is worth a closer look (or sniff). Made usingwhite button mushrooms, liquorice and green tea extracts, these deodorising pellets supposedly eliminate foul breath, body and urine odours in small animals. Veterinarian at The Joyous Vet, Dr Grace Heng explains, “Liquorice has natural antibacterial and odour-fighting properties, while white button mushroom has antibacterial and immunobooster properties that help to clear the bacterial load in your furkid’s mouth.” All ingredients are human-grade, meaning they’re definitely safe for yourprecious critter. The product is also available in tablet form for bigger pets like dogs and cats.
Use it: Scatter over your pet’s food. Depending on the weight of your critter, give twice the recommended dose in the first week, and then revert to the recommended dose thereafter.
Available at Pet Lovers Centre.
Nova Garlic Drops
The jury is still out on whether garlic is good and safe for Fido, but this garlic-infused solution claims to be a natural antibiotic that helps tackle common health conditions in your pooch, such as neutralising toxins and bites, and cleansing the blood, stomach and intestines. It’s also supposedly a “tick, flea and mite remedy”. However, Dr Heng points out that although garlic is anti-parasitic and antibacterial in nature, it serves more as a repellent than a cure.
Use it: Drip into your pet’s food or drinking water.
Available at www.polypet.com.sg.
Check out the Pet Bowl section of our February/ March 2015 issue for more of these unique pet potions!
Photos by: Desmond Lim
