No one likes tummy troubles… and like us, our pets definitely aren’t immune to digestive upset. And sometimes, like us, they overdo it and their gut fights back.
They’re also not immune to the irritability or sensitivity that comes along with it, either.
When your pet is feeling off, our immediate thought is to reduce those feelings! So, what can your reach for in a GI/ gut emergency situation – both for yourself and your pet?
Today we’re talking about one of the best known homeopathic remedies – nux vomica for pets – and why it should be in everyone’s animal first aid kit.
What is Nux Vomica?
Nux vomica comes from an evergreen tree by the same name, which is native to China, East India, Thailand, and Australia. The raw seeds are nicknamed “poison nut” because of their toxic nature. But don’t worry, once they’re made into a homeopathic remedy, they’re completely safe!
How is that? Well, with homeopathy, remedies are made by diluting a substance to minute numbers. Not once, not twice, but thousands of times. For example, nux vomica 30C has been diluted 3000 times! A stronger potency, 1M for example, is even more diluted. In fact, with homeopathy, the smaller the crude substance, the bigger the benefits.
Still worried? Chew on this: homeopathic nux vomica is so diluted that scientific analysis can’t actually detect any physical presence of the seed. Only the plant’s beneficial energies remain. Those energies are what make homeopathy so effective and incredibly safe! They go to work at sub-physical, bioenergetic levels, stimulating the healing process without disrupting the physical structures of your pet’s body.
When to Reach for This Remedy
Dogs in need of this remedy may seem “touchy”. They can appear aggressive with other dogs or people and can be extremely competitive. Nux vomica is very often used to combat negative reactions from medication, or its overuse. It can address vomiting that is often followed by retching or colic. We can also see diarrhea or constipation but in either case the dog will be straining. It’s often caused by food changes, overeating, or ingestion of fatty or rich foods.
This remedy can also be life supporting if your dog has eaten a toxic substance; it can be given immediately and administered on your way to the vet.
When you think nux vomica, think:
- Irritable
- Sensitive
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Overuse of medication or to help detox from medications from surgery or illness, flea treatments, etc.
- Constipation
- Digestive upset
- Diarrhea
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How to Use Nux Vomica for Pets
You can find homeopathic nux vomica for pets (it’s the same as for humans) online or at your local health food shop. It comes in a variety of different potencies. For those new to homeopathy, go with a 30C potency and look for the remedy in pellet form.
First things first – and this is important. Homeopathy is not like a drug. The amount given isn’t based on weight, and it doesn’t matter if your animal has 2 pellets or 6. Again, hard to wrap your head around this one, but it’s just the way it works. As long as some of the remedy gets into your pet, the energy of the remedy will be able to get to work.
If your dog will take the pellets without issue by mouth, that’s an easy way to do it. They even have this perfect little pocket just inside their cheek that you can pop the remedy into. Or crush the pills between 2 spoons and dump the powder inside that pocket of the lip. For cats, or pickier dogs, this might not be the easiest option, so you can also stir a few pellets into a small cup of water, let it sit for 20 minutes and give a teaspoon of the water to your animal. That works too.
Give the remedy and watch for any signs of improvement. If, after 15-30 minutes or so, you haven’t noticed a change, give it again. Then, if you’re still not seeing a slight change after 1/2 an hour, perhaps try a different remedy. If there is a slight improvement, continue every 15- 30 min or until they have settled for a total of 4 times or you have arrived at your veterinarian.
Nux vomica for pets is a very handy remedy to have on hand – keep one in your first aid kit and be prepared when digestive upset strikes.
