When your dog suffers from an injury or a painful condition like arthritis, both of you can lose sleep. Holistic veterinary medicine offers several natural remedies that help relieve your dog's pain and restlessness.
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Acupuncture
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Acupuncture can help your dog return to a state of full mobility. An acupuncturist places thin, wire-like needles into key points throughout the body to stimulate healing and restore balance. In his book "The Veterinarians' Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs," Martin Zucker writes that Dr. Allen Schoen used acupuncture to help an arthritic black lab that could not sleep through the night. Clete A. Kushida, author of the "Handbook of Sleep Disorders," notes that human studies of acupuncture show it to be successful in treating 80% of patients with insomnia due to chronic pain. Acupuncture is safe with other forms of treatment and enhances the effectiveness of other therapies.
Lavender Oil Aromatherapy
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While some essential oils used in aromatherapy are not safe for animals, lavender oil is safe and effective, notes C.J. Puotinen, author of "Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats." Lavender oil relieves pain, especially from wounds or insect bites, and is calming, so it makes an ideal sleep aid. Rub a small amount of lavender essential oil along your dog's spine or on his feet to detoxify and relax him. Lavender oil is safe to use on your dog alongside any other treatments.
Herbs
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According to Natural Dog Health Remedies, the herbs valerian (valeriana officinalis) and passion flower (passiflora incarnata) calm your dog and help her sleep. Give your dog these herbs in a tincture or liquid, available at most stores that sell natural health products. About an hour before bedtime, give your dog two to four drops each of valerian and passion flower tinctures. Valerian is also an effective herbal treatment for muscle spasms. While these dosages are safe for short-term use, avoid using valerian and passion flower alongside other treatments that have a sedative effect, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, pharmaceutical sleep aids and sedatives. Consult a holistic vet if your dog has liver or kidney issues.
Homeopathy
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Homeopathic remedies contain extremely dilute solutions of substances designed to stimulate the body's natural healing. They are safe to administer to your dog alongside any other treatment. Jan Allegretti and Katy Sommers, authors of "The Complete Holistic Dog Book," note that some homeopathic remedies are useful to alleviate pain. They recommend Arnica, Hypericum, Bryonia or Rhus tox preparations. Arnica and Bryonia are also useful as sleep aids. Find homeopathic remedies in most natural health stores. Consult a holistic veterinarian to find out which remedies will be most effective for your dog.
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