Phytotherapy in veterinary medicine

Worldwide interest in herbal medicine is growing rapidly. The use of medicinal plants in veterinary medicine is increasingly appreciated by animal owners. Tea tree essential oil has been shown to be effective in the treatment of dermatitis and canine ear infections due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Tea tree oil is also claimed for its repellent insecticidal and acaricidal properties preventing the spread of vector-borne diseases. Cannabidiol a non-psychoactive cannabis compound is used in the treatment of canine epilepsy a common and often difficult to treat canine neurological disorder. Cannabidiol has also been shown to be effective as an analgesic in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. Allicin an active metabolite of garlic has hypotensive diuretic antimicrobial and antioxidant activity making it suitable for the treatment of canine arterial hypertension. Echinacea purple has immunostimulant activity that is exploited in the treatment of canine respiratory infections.