Veterinary Botanical Medicine and Small Animals
Journals publishing peer-reviewed articles on botanical medicine for canines and felines:
• American Journal Veterinary Research
• Veterinary Dermatology
• The Veterinary Journal
• Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
• Applied Animal Behavior Science
• Journal of Veterinary internal Medicine
• Journal Applied Animal Research
• Veterinary Comparative Oncology
• Journal Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal
• American Journal Veterinary Research
• Veterinary Dermatology
• The Veterinary Journal
• Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
• Applied Animal Behavior Science
• Journal of Veterinary internal Medicine
• Journal Applied Animal Research
• Veterinary Comparative Oncology
• Journal Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal
Human use of botanical medicines often informs research for veterinary use. Chou et al (2016) reported on the efficacy of cranberry extract for urinary tract conditions in dogs. An in vivo and in vitro component of the study on 12 dogs with a history of recurrent UTI demonstrated that oral administration of cranberry extract in 6 dogs prevented development of UTI in patients and adherence of E Coli to kidney cells and compared equally to antibiotics over 6 months . The potential for cranberry in the management of recurrent UTIs is promising in the era of antibiotic resistance.
Some of the challenging clinical cases such as atopic skin disease may benefit from traditional botanical medicine. Marsella etal (2010) reported in Veterinary Dermatology on a multicentre trial undertaken with the University of Florida, the Animal Dermatology Clinic (San Diego, CA), Colorado State University and the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado. It involved the use of a powdered formulation of the fruit Actinidia argute (hardy kiwi). This fruit has been traditionally used for health in traditional Asian medicine. In this randomized, placebo controlled trial involving 76 dogs, the preparation was found to be a promising treatment for mild to moderate canine atopic dermatitis when used for 8 weeks. While the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects remains to be elucidated it was well tolerated and no clinical adverse effects were reported (5).
Similarly another proprietary formula consisting of three herbs used in both Chinese and Western botanical medicine, Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensis was investigated by Ferguson etal (2006) and reported in Veterinary Dermatology for treatment of atopic dermatitis in 120 dogs in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group design, large-scale study. The efficacy of the combined formula was demonstrated to be at least as good as, and in many cases superior to, that reported for other systemic steroid-sparing agents that are administered to dogs with AD, such as antihistamines, pentoxifylline, arofylline, leukotriene inhibitors and misoprostol. This study was a follow up to a previous study on the same combination that demonstrated reduced erythema and pruritus in canine AD with mild diarrhoea and flatulence observed in a small minority of dogs supporting the safety of the formula (6) .
Further in 2010, Schmidt etal reported in Veterinary Dermatology a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial including 22 dogs that demonstrated that the same formula containing Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensiswas can be an effective glucocorticoid sparing agent in canine atopic dermatitis (7).
More recently in The Veterinary Journal Blaskovic et al (2014) reported on 48 dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis that were included in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial. Dogs were treated with a topical formulation containing PUFAs and essential oils including neem oil, rosemary extract, lavender oil, clove oil, tea tree oil, oregano extract, peppermint extract and cedar bark extract or placebo once weekly for 8 weeks. There was significantly more improvement in pruritus scores in the treatment group than in the placebo. No adverse reactions were observed. The study concluded it was safe and beneficial in ameliorating the clinical signs of atopic dermatitis (8).
In recognition of some of the limitations of antibiotics and antifungals in small animal conditions, essential oils from plants have also been investigated for their potential use in veterinary medicine, including a randomised controlled trial (Kim etal 2009) in 11 dogs with otitis externa, where essential oils were compared favourably to antibiotics (9); Nardoni etal (2016) reported in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Srgery a comparative open field study involving 14 cats with Microsporum canis. The study compared an essential oil based shampoo containing Thymus serpyllum (2%), Origanum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis (5% each) and oral itraconazole was as effective as a conventional treatment (oral itraconazole + 2% miconazole/2% chlorhexidine shampoo) concluding that the natural treatment would seem an interesting, natural alternative to conventional topical treatment (10).
Likewise essential oils of Citrus aurantium 1%, Lavandula officinalis 1%, Origanum vulgare 0.5%, Origanum majorana 0.5%, Mentha piperita 0.5% and Helichrysum italicum var. italicum 0.5%, in sweet almond oil and coconut oil in a commercial product Malacalm was investigated by Nardoni etal (2014) for the treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis. The treatment was compared to placebo and to conventional therapy (based on ketoconazole 10 mg/kg/day and chlorhexidine 2% twice a week for 3 weeks) in a randomised controlled trial. At the end of the treatment trial, treatment groups both improved significantly without adverse events. In follow up on day 180 recurrence of clinical signs was observed in all the subjects treated conventionally, but none of those dogs treated with the essential oil formula had recurrence. The study concluded that the formula appeared to be a safe tool for limiting recurrences of this condition (11).
Essential oils have also been investigated for their effects on small animal behaviour. In the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Wells (2006) reported on the use of lavender essential oil to reduce travel-induced excitement in dogs associated with travel. 32 dogs were exposed to car travel without lavender oil and compared to travel with lavender oil and their behaviour quantified. Dogs spent significantly more time resting and sitting and less time moving and vocalizing during the experimental condition (12). Graham etal (2005) reported in Applied Animal Behaviour Science (13) on the influence of essential oil olfactory stimulation (control, lavender, chamomile, rosemary and peppermint) on the behaviour of 55 dogs housed in a rescue shelter. It is suggested that the welfare of sheltered dogs may be enhanced through exposure to appropriate forms of olfactory stimulation. Lavender and chamomile were particularly beneficial, resulting in activities suggestive of relaxation and behaviours that are considered desirable by potential adopters. More recently Ellis and Wells (2010) identified catnip rather than lavender as being a herb that may hold potential as environmental enrichment for captive domestic cats (14).
Finding alternatives to chemical parasiticides has led to the development of a number of commerical products using botanicals. A study reported in Parasitology Research 2008 (Abdel-Ghaffar etal ) discussed the concerns about indiscriminate use of parasiticides that may pollute the environment, but also adversely affects the animal and human health. In this uncontrolled study 10 dogs infested with S. scabiei mites were treated with a neem seed shampoo derived from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) that was shown to be effective against sarcoptic mange in dogs. 80% of dogs had hair regrowth and no clinical signs at 2 weeks. The remaining 20% showed only moderate mite counts and improved clinical signs. Furthermore, the topical treatment with neem seed extract shampoo was well tolerated and safe (15).
More recently an interest in herbal medicines for integrative cancer care has led to studies including Yunnan Bai Yao (Chinese medicine) as a potential adjunctive therapy for canine hemangiosarcoma through the University of Florida Veterinary School (16) published in Veterinary Comparative Oncology and in 2011 at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School with coriolus (a fungal botanical medicine) shown to improve quality of life and outcomes in dogs with hemangiosarcoma (17).
The growing publication of studies in veterinary and allied journals attests to the recognition that botanical medicines offer the potential to improve treatment of many common conditions that affect cats and dogs. There are over 400 journal articles published on plant extracts and canine and feline research. Studies in animals have led to improvements in the treatment of human diseases as well. It should also be acknowledged that dogs are often used as models for studying the effects of botanical medicines of humans. For example H hirsute has been demonstrated to have cholesterol lowering effects in dogs (van Dooren etal 2015) (18). Calendula officinalis has been used to treat acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis in German Shepherds as a model for the human disease. 10 dogs were randomly allocated to receive a placebo of saline or calendula via enema, and calendula was effective in resolving the ulceration (19).
Petition Appendix IX-B outlines the abstracts of 25 recent journal articles demonstrating the broad range of studies of botanical medicines in canine and feline medicine and supported by a further 30 journal titles published in the last 10 years on plant extracts and canine or feline.
Some of the challenging clinical cases such as atopic skin disease may benefit from traditional botanical medicine. Marsella etal (2010) reported in Veterinary Dermatology on a multicentre trial undertaken with the University of Florida, the Animal Dermatology Clinic (San Diego, CA), Colorado State University and the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado. It involved the use of a powdered formulation of the fruit Actinidia argute (hardy kiwi). This fruit has been traditionally used for health in traditional Asian medicine. In this randomized, placebo controlled trial involving 76 dogs, the preparation was found to be a promising treatment for mild to moderate canine atopic dermatitis when used for 8 weeks. While the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects remains to be elucidated it was well tolerated and no clinical adverse effects were reported (5).
Similarly another proprietary formula consisting of three herbs used in both Chinese and Western botanical medicine, Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensis was investigated by Ferguson etal (2006) and reported in Veterinary Dermatology for treatment of atopic dermatitis in 120 dogs in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group design, large-scale study. The efficacy of the combined formula was demonstrated to be at least as good as, and in many cases superior to, that reported for other systemic steroid-sparing agents that are administered to dogs with AD, such as antihistamines, pentoxifylline, arofylline, leukotriene inhibitors and misoprostol. This study was a follow up to a previous study on the same combination that demonstrated reduced erythema and pruritus in canine AD with mild diarrhoea and flatulence observed in a small minority of dogs supporting the safety of the formula (6) .
Further in 2010, Schmidt etal reported in Veterinary Dermatology a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial including 22 dogs that demonstrated that the same formula containing Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensiswas can be an effective glucocorticoid sparing agent in canine atopic dermatitis (7).
More recently in The Veterinary Journal Blaskovic et al (2014) reported on 48 dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis that were included in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial. Dogs were treated with a topical formulation containing PUFAs and essential oils including neem oil, rosemary extract, lavender oil, clove oil, tea tree oil, oregano extract, peppermint extract and cedar bark extract or placebo once weekly for 8 weeks. There was significantly more improvement in pruritus scores in the treatment group than in the placebo. No adverse reactions were observed. The study concluded it was safe and beneficial in ameliorating the clinical signs of atopic dermatitis (8).
In recognition of some of the limitations of antibiotics and antifungals in small animal conditions, essential oils from plants have also been investigated for their potential use in veterinary medicine, including a randomised controlled trial (Kim etal 2009) in 11 dogs with otitis externa, where essential oils were compared favourably to antibiotics (9); Nardoni etal (2016) reported in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Srgery a comparative open field study involving 14 cats with Microsporum canis. The study compared an essential oil based shampoo containing Thymus serpyllum (2%), Origanum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis (5% each) and oral itraconazole was as effective as a conventional treatment (oral itraconazole + 2% miconazole/2% chlorhexidine shampoo) concluding that the natural treatment would seem an interesting, natural alternative to conventional topical treatment (10).
Likewise essential oils of Citrus aurantium 1%, Lavandula officinalis 1%, Origanum vulgare 0.5%, Origanum majorana 0.5%, Mentha piperita 0.5% and Helichrysum italicum var. italicum 0.5%, in sweet almond oil and coconut oil in a commercial product Malacalm was investigated by Nardoni etal (2014) for the treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis. The treatment was compared to placebo and to conventional therapy (based on ketoconazole 10 mg/kg/day and chlorhexidine 2% twice a week for 3 weeks) in a randomised controlled trial. At the end of the treatment trial, treatment groups both improved significantly without adverse events. In follow up on day 180 recurrence of clinical signs was observed in all the subjects treated conventionally, but none of those dogs treated with the essential oil formula had recurrence. The study concluded that the formula appeared to be a safe tool for limiting recurrences of this condition (11).
Essential oils have also been investigated for their effects on small animal behaviour. In the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Wells (2006) reported on the use of lavender essential oil to reduce travel-induced excitement in dogs associated with travel. 32 dogs were exposed to car travel without lavender oil and compared to travel with lavender oil and their behaviour quantified. Dogs spent significantly more time resting and sitting and less time moving and vocalizing during the experimental condition (12). Graham etal (2005) reported in Applied Animal Behaviour Science (13) on the influence of essential oil olfactory stimulation (control, lavender, chamomile, rosemary and peppermint) on the behaviour of 55 dogs housed in a rescue shelter. It is suggested that the welfare of sheltered dogs may be enhanced through exposure to appropriate forms of olfactory stimulation. Lavender and chamomile were particularly beneficial, resulting in activities suggestive of relaxation and behaviours that are considered desirable by potential adopters. More recently Ellis and Wells (2010) identified catnip rather than lavender as being a herb that may hold potential as environmental enrichment for captive domestic cats (14).
Finding alternatives to chemical parasiticides has led to the development of a number of commerical products using botanicals. A study reported in Parasitology Research 2008 (Abdel-Ghaffar etal ) discussed the concerns about indiscriminate use of parasiticides that may pollute the environment, but also adversely affects the animal and human health. In this uncontrolled study 10 dogs infested with S. scabiei mites were treated with a neem seed shampoo derived from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) that was shown to be effective against sarcoptic mange in dogs. 80% of dogs had hair regrowth and no clinical signs at 2 weeks. The remaining 20% showed only moderate mite counts and improved clinical signs. Furthermore, the topical treatment with neem seed extract shampoo was well tolerated and safe (15).
More recently an interest in herbal medicines for integrative cancer care has led to studies including Yunnan Bai Yao (Chinese medicine) as a potential adjunctive therapy for canine hemangiosarcoma through the University of Florida Veterinary School (16) published in Veterinary Comparative Oncology and in 2011 at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School with coriolus (a fungal botanical medicine) shown to improve quality of life and outcomes in dogs with hemangiosarcoma (17).
The growing publication of studies in veterinary and allied journals attests to the recognition that botanical medicines offer the potential to improve treatment of many common conditions that affect cats and dogs. There are over 400 journal articles published on plant extracts and canine and feline research. Studies in animals have led to improvements in the treatment of human diseases as well. It should also be acknowledged that dogs are often used as models for studying the effects of botanical medicines of humans. For example H hirsute has been demonstrated to have cholesterol lowering effects in dogs (van Dooren etal 2015) (18). Calendula officinalis has been used to treat acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis in German Shepherds as a model for the human disease. 10 dogs were randomly allocated to receive a placebo of saline or calendula via enema, and calendula was effective in resolving the ulceration (19).
Petition Appendix IX-B outlines the abstracts of 25 recent journal articles demonstrating the broad range of studies of botanical medicines in canine and feline medicine and supported by a further 30 journal titles published in the last 10 years on plant extracts and canine or feline.
REFERENCES:
5 Marsella R, Messinger L, Zabel S, Rosychuck R, Griffin C, Cronin PO, Belofsky G, Lindemann J, Stull D. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of EFF1001, an Actinidia arguta (hardy kiwi) preparation, on CADESI score and pruritus in dogs with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. Vet Dermatol. 2010 Feb;21(1):50-7.
6 Nagle TM, Torres SM, Horne KL et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal product (P07P) for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Veterinary Dermatology 2001; 12: 265–74
7 Schmidt V1, McEwan N, Volk A, Helps J, Morrell K, Nuttall T. The glucocorticoid sparing efficacy of Phytopica in the management of canine atopic dermatitis. Vet Dermatol. 2010 Feb;21(1):96-105.
8 M. Blaskovic , W. Rosenkrantz , A. Neuber , C. Sauter-Louis , R.S. Mueller , The effect of a spot-on formulation containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential oils on dogs with atopic dermatitis The Veterinary Journal 199 (2014) 39–43
9 Sang-Hun Kim1, Suk Kim2, Hyung-Kyou Jun1, Duck-Hwan Kim1,* Efficacy of aromatherapy for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs Korean J Vet Res(2009) 49(1) : 85~89
10 Nardoni S, Costanzo AG, Mugnaini L, Pisseri F, Rocchigiani G, Papini R, Mancianti F. An open-field study comparing an essential oil-based shampoo with miconazole/chlorhexidine for hair coat disinfection in cats with spontaneous microsporiasis. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jan 18
11 S. Nardoni , L. Mugnaini , L. Pistelli , M. Leonardi , V. Sanna , S. Perruccia, F. Pisseri , F. Mancianti Clinical and mycological evaluation of an herbal antifungal formulation in canine Malassezia dermatitis Journal de Mycologie Médicale (2014) 24, 234—240
12 Wells DL. Aromatherapy for travel-induced excitement in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Sep 15;229(6):964-7.
13 Graham L, Wells D, Hepper P The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter Applied Animal Behaviour Science 91 (2005) 143–153
14 Ellis S, Wells D The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of cats housed in a rescue shelter Applied Animal Behaviour Science 123 (2010) 56–62
15 Abdel-Ghaffar F, Al-Quraishy S, Sobhy H, Semmler M. Neem seed extract shampoo, Wash Away Louse, an effective plant agent against Sarcoptes scabiei mites infesting dogs in Egypt. Parasitol Res. 2008 Dec;104(1):145-8
16 Wirth KA, Kow K, Salute ME, Bacon NJ, Milner RJ. In vitro effects of Yunnan Baiyao on canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines. Vet Comp Oncol. 2014 Jun 29.
17 Brown DC, Reetz J. Single agent polysaccharopeptide delays metastases and improves survival in naturally occurring hemangiosarcoma. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. Volume 2012, Article ID 384301, 8 pages
18 van Dooren I, Faouzi Mel A, Foubert K, Theunis M, Pieters L, Cherrah Y, Apers S. Cholesterol lowering effect in the gall bladder of dogs by a standardized infusion of Herniaria hirsuta L. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Jul 1;169:69-75.
19 Mehrabani D, Ziaei M, Hosseini SV, Ghahramani L, Bananzadeh AM, Ashraf MJ, Amini A, Amini M, Tanideh N The effect of calendula officinalis in therapy of acetic Acid induced ulcerative colitis in dog as an animal model. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2011 Dec;13(12):884-90.
6 Nagle TM, Torres SM, Horne KL et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal product (P07P) for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Veterinary Dermatology 2001; 12: 265–74
7 Schmidt V1, McEwan N, Volk A, Helps J, Morrell K, Nuttall T. The glucocorticoid sparing efficacy of Phytopica in the management of canine atopic dermatitis. Vet Dermatol. 2010 Feb;21(1):96-105.
8 M. Blaskovic , W. Rosenkrantz , A. Neuber , C. Sauter-Louis , R.S. Mueller , The effect of a spot-on formulation containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential oils on dogs with atopic dermatitis The Veterinary Journal 199 (2014) 39–43
9 Sang-Hun Kim1, Suk Kim2, Hyung-Kyou Jun1, Duck-Hwan Kim1,* Efficacy of aromatherapy for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs Korean J Vet Res(2009) 49(1) : 85~89
10 Nardoni S, Costanzo AG, Mugnaini L, Pisseri F, Rocchigiani G, Papini R, Mancianti F. An open-field study comparing an essential oil-based shampoo with miconazole/chlorhexidine for hair coat disinfection in cats with spontaneous microsporiasis. J Feline Med Surg. 2016 Jan 18
11 S. Nardoni , L. Mugnaini , L. Pistelli , M. Leonardi , V. Sanna , S. Perruccia, F. Pisseri , F. Mancianti Clinical and mycological evaluation of an herbal antifungal formulation in canine Malassezia dermatitis Journal de Mycologie Médicale (2014) 24, 234—240
12 Wells DL. Aromatherapy for travel-induced excitement in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Sep 15;229(6):964-7.
13 Graham L, Wells D, Hepper P The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter Applied Animal Behaviour Science 91 (2005) 143–153
14 Ellis S, Wells D The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of cats housed in a rescue shelter Applied Animal Behaviour Science 123 (2010) 56–62
15 Abdel-Ghaffar F, Al-Quraishy S, Sobhy H, Semmler M. Neem seed extract shampoo, Wash Away Louse, an effective plant agent against Sarcoptes scabiei mites infesting dogs in Egypt. Parasitol Res. 2008 Dec;104(1):145-8
16 Wirth KA, Kow K, Salute ME, Bacon NJ, Milner RJ. In vitro effects of Yunnan Baiyao on canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines. Vet Comp Oncol. 2014 Jun 29.
17 Brown DC, Reetz J. Single agent polysaccharopeptide delays metastases and improves survival in naturally occurring hemangiosarcoma. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. Volume 2012, Article ID 384301, 8 pages
18 van Dooren I, Faouzi Mel A, Foubert K, Theunis M, Pieters L, Cherrah Y, Apers S. Cholesterol lowering effect in the gall bladder of dogs by a standardized infusion of Herniaria hirsuta L. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Jul 1;169:69-75.
19 Mehrabani D, Ziaei M, Hosseini SV, Ghahramani L, Bananzadeh AM, Ashraf MJ, Amini A, Amini M, Tanideh N The effect of calendula officinalis in therapy of acetic Acid induced ulcerative colitis in dog as an animal model. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2011 Dec;13(12):884-90.
Download the file below to view Appendix IX-B in its entirety. Source links are included for review.
| appendix_ixb_with_source_links.pdf |
