Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is a complementary therapy that has evolved over centuries and is used to support the body’s natural ability to heal and rebalance. At Holistic Vet Care, herbal medicines are prescribed by our fully qualified vets and used as part of an individually tailored, holistic treatment plan for your pet.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss whether Chinese herbal medicine may be appropriate for your pet.
Benefits of Herbal Medicine
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Chinese herbal medicine as part of a holistic approach
At Holistic Vet Care, both of our veterinary surgeons are trained and certified in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Chinese herbal medicine is most often used as part of a wider, individualised treatment plan. We often combine it with acupuncture, and sometimes with other therapies such as laser therapy, shockwave, lifestyle support, and nutritional guidance.
Rather than focusing on a single symptom, Chinese herbal medicine aims to address underlying patterns of imbalance within the body. This allows us to support both short‑term comfort and longer‑term wellbeing, particularly in pets with chronic or complex conditions.
Why choose our herbs?
Many pet owners come to us having already tried herbal formulas sourced elsewhere. While these products are often well-intentioned, our qualified vets frequently find that they provide little to no therapeutic benefit. This is commonly due to the way the herbs are prepared.
Many commercially available formulas are made using whole (raw) herbs rather than extracts. In this form, the concentration of active ingredients is often too low to reach therapeutic levels, and raw herbs can be difficult for the body to digest and absorb effectively. As a result, the key active compounds may not be readily accessible to your pet’s system.
In addition, the quality, sourcing, and authenticity of herbs from some suppliers can be difficult to verify, meaning there may be uncertainty around both safety and effectiveness.
At Holistic Vet Care, our herbal powders are highly concentrated, with each gram containing the equivalent of five grams of raw herbs. This is achieved through a specialist preparation process carried out by our trusted EU supplier. Every batch is tested to pharmaceutical standards, including screening for pesticides, herbicides, bacteria, fungi, and heavy metals, so you can feel confident in their quality and safety.
If you have previously invested in herbal formulas that were not supplied by us, you are very welcome to bring them along to your consultation. Our qualified vets can quality-check them with you so you can make fully informed decisions about your pet’s care.
Is Chinese herbal medicine suitable for my pet?
When prescribed appropriately by a qualified veterinary surgeon, Chinese herbal medicine is generally very safe and well tolerated by most pets.
Herbal formulas are tailored to each individual patient and often contain multiple herbs. These are carefully balanced to enhance effectiveness while minimising side effects, a long‑established principle within traditional Chinese medicine.
Chinese herbal medicine may be suitable for:
- Puppies, kittens, and senior pets
- Pets with multiple or long‑standing conditions
- Animals receiving conventional treatments, including long‑term medications, surgery, or chemotherapy (when carefully prescribed and monitored)
Before prescribing herbs, our qualified vets always carry out a thorough consultation and physical examination. This includes reviewing your pet’s medical history, current medications, and overall wellbeing to ensure herbal medicine is appropriate and safe.
If you’re unsure whether Chinese herbal medicine is right for your pet, we’re always happy to discuss their individual needs.
What can Chinese herbal medicine help with?
Chinese herbal medicine is particularly valuable for managing chronic conditions, where it can help improve comfort, resilience, and quality of life over time.
It is often used alongside acupuncture, which helps inform our choice of herbs. Our qualified vets select herbs that will have similar effects on the body as the acupuncture – just more consistent over a longer period.
Carefully selected herbal formulas may be used to support a wide range of conditions, including the following. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If your pet’s condition is not listed, we are still very happy to advise.
Claiming insurance
Many pet insurance providers now offer cover for complementary and holistic therapies, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and laser therapy. However, we recommend checking what is included in your plan as cover varies between policies. Please bear in mind that all consultations, treatments, and herbal prescriptions must be paid for at the time. We will then help you claim back from your insurer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I give my pet their herbs?
Once our vet has prescribed you your herbs to take away, the next step is getting your pet to eat them.
Whether you are raw feeding or providing kibble, the herbs should be mixed into your pet’s breakfast and dinner meals. If they don’t like the taste, try combining the herbs with something strong-smelling and tasty, like sardines, yoghurt, liver paste, or honey. If that still doesn’t help, start with a quarter of the dose and gradually increase it over 10-20 days, giving your pet time to adjust.
You can also try offering a reduced dose before meals when they are their hungriest. If all else fails, we recommend mixing the herbs with water and gently syringing them into the side of their mouth (never the back as this can cause them to choke). Watch for a licking response and go slowly at their pace.
You will be given a detailed information leaflet to take home with your herbs, but should you have any questions our team are on hand to answer.
Are there any potential side-effects from the herbs?
Whilst most pets respond well to Chinese herbal treatments, side effects can occasionally occur. These may include loose stools, diarrhoea, vomiting, and increased thirst. If you notice any of these, stop giving your pet their herbs and wait until their symptoms settle. You can then restart at half the dose and build up gradually.
Can Chinese herbs be used to treat cancer?
If your pet is diagnosed with cancer, you may decide that you would rather not use conventional medicine to treat it. Alternatively, you may want to support their wellbeing whilst they undergo chemotherapy or recover from surgery. In both cases, our goal is the same; to support your pet in the best way possible.
Herbal medicine can play a valuable supportive role when managing cancer. One of its strengths is known as the “entourage effect”. The theory is that many plant compounds work together to interfere with cancer growth, some of which contain substances known to be ‘cytotoxic’, meaning they can help to destroy cancerous cells. To avoid the tumour becoming resistant, we always utilise a wide range of herbs.
Our Chinese herbs are chosen carefully, and in our experience, we have not encountered significant issues combining conventional treatments such as chemotherapy with herbal treatments, when carefully prescribed and monitored. However, each patient is different and results may vary.
Cancer is complex and adaptable; therefore, a range of techniques are needed to prevent it from fighting back.
Please visit our cancer pages for more detailed information.
Is Chinese Herbal Medicine safe for senior pets/puppies/kittens/ those with complex medical needs?
Chinese herbal formulas can be given to infant and senior animals alike, as well as those with complex medical needs. In these cases, we may use milder herbs or offer lower doses. Formulas are adjusted for each individual patient, and we always carry out a physical exam before prescribing herbs for your pet.
Always consult your holistic veterinarian before giving your pet supplements or herbal remedies.
How do you know which herbs are best suited to my pet’s needs?
Knowing which herbal formulas to give is where a skilled holistic veterinarian comes in! During your appointment, we will carry out complex history taking, including any previous lab work they have had done. We then begin a physical exam, observing your pet’s tongue and pulse points. Acupuncture is then carried out as both a therapeutic and diagnostic tool. This allows us to see how pulse points are affected by the needles, as this can mimic how specific herbs would react in the body. From here will then create your pet’s bespoke herbal formula.
We measure progress by looking at your pet’s overall health and wellbeing during their follow up appointment and will make changes to herbs if necessary. This is why it is important that we see your pet in clinic for a full examination.
How long will my pet need to take Chinese herbs?
In many cases we will prescribe herbs for around 9-18 months. This of course depends on your pet’s individual condition, and how well they respond to treatment. If the patient is doing well, we always aim to wean them off their herbs; a process which takes around three months.
In certain situations, for example when treating aggressive or terminal cancer cases, herbal treatment will be lifelong.
How soon can I expect to see changes or improvement?
You may see changes in your pet after a few days, but more often the change can be seen gradually in the weeks following the commencement of Chinese herbal medicine. In some cases, the change may only truly become noticeable after a few months. It really does depend on each individual patient. Chinese herbal medicine is not a ‘quick fix’. Unlike Western medicine, we don’t simply suppress symptoms, we work to treat the underlying cause of the problem.
How often will my pet need to be re-evaluated while on Chinese herbal medicine?
How often you need to come in to see us will vary patient to patient and depends on factors such as how acute their case is, and how quickly we see a change in their symptoms.
Typically, we would want to see your pet around 6 weeks after their initial consultation, however some patients are seen in clinic from between 3 weeks to 8 weeks after their initial consultation depending on how stable they are. Patients on maintenance treatments can go up to three months between treatments, and we will never prescribe herbs for anyone we haven’t seen in over 12 months.
Can I order a repeat prescription without coming back for an in-person consultation?
Yes, however we can only offer repeat orders of herbal formulas if you are currently being treated by Dr Rinnert.
Get in touch
Where are we located?
Suite A, Blisworth Marina, Blisworth, Northampton, NN7 3FG.
We are located just outside of Blisworth, between Northampton and Towcester. Our clinic is at the Blisworth Marina, providing a peaceful, relaxing setting, with ample parking.
