Long used in human homeopathic medicine, colloidal silver has made its way into animal medicine, as well. Used topically and internally as a natural antibiotic, this form of silver--a liquid suspension of very small silver particles--is administered to treat canine skin, eye, worm and viral infections. Its use in pregnant animals generally is considered safe, according to Pet Herbs, but your vet should always be consulted before treatment.
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Why Silver?
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For centuries, preparations of silver were used for human infections before modern antibiotics were developed. In addition to bacterial infections, colloidal silver was thought to be effective against viral and fungal conditions, and years ago the product was marketed heavily for human use. With the advent of modern disease-fighting drugs, colloidal silver slowly fell out of favor, though some homeopathic practitioners still recommend it today for both humans and pets.
External Use in Dogs
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Colloidal silver’s primary external use in dogs involves the treatment of eye infections, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. This form of liquid silver releases ions slowly, according to Merck, and does not irritate sensitive eye tissue. Other external uses include spraying colloidal silver onto cuts and rashes to speed healing, according to the Dog Health website run by Lowchens Australia. All dogs, including pregnant ones, can be treated topically with small amounts of colloidal silver with no ill effects.
Internal Use in Dogs
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Some veterinarians recommend adding a few drops of colloidal silver to drinking water for the treatment of kennel cough, a viral infection, and canine intestinal worms. Worms and viruses die in the presence of colloidal silver, according to the Colloidal Silver Information page, but a vet should always be consulted on how much silver is appropriate for dogs, whether pregnant or not. The recommended amount will be based on the dog&'s size and the severity of the infection. Small doses should be safe for pregnant dogs to ingest, but it’s best to follow your vet’s recommendation on whether colloidal silver should be used during gestation.
Other Uses
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After puppies arrive, they must be protected from infections until they’ve cycled through their inoculation schedule. Puppies are particularly susceptible to parvovirus, and Vet Info says colloidal silver can be used at home to treat pups that come down with this disease. Here again, a vet should suggest how much colloidal silver can be administered safely depending on the pup’s weight.
Caution
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Despite general acceptance that small doses of colloidal silver are safe for dogs, pregnant animals should never be treated, externally or internally, until after a vet consultation. While basic dosages can be found online and start in the range of milliliters, canine pregnancy warrants careful medical observation when administering alternative treatments.
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