Benefits of Supplementing Your Dog's Diet With Burdock Root

Dogs hold a special place in our homes and our hearts, but they are only with us for a very short time. It is, for this reason, we try to feed them the best foods and give the best veterinary care in an effort to help them live the longest, healthiest lives possible.

For the average person, providing a healthy diet for a beloved pet is hit or miss. We trust the experts and manufacturers of dog foods to provide the best possible nutrition for our four-footed babies. An added measure of help in the way of supplemental herbs can help to ensure your dog stays as healthy as possible. Burdock root is one of many herbs that is not only completely safe, but also offers many benefits for your dog.

Burdock Root Offers a Wide Range of Nutrients

One of the biggest advantages of adding burdock root to your dog’s daily diet, aside from its safety, is that it is rich in several important vitamins and minerals your dog needs. This herb is known to be high in calcium, iron, and phosphorus, as well as B vitamins. Other less-known but important nutrients include selenium, inulin, and mucilage. Burdock root serves as a powerful antioxidant that helps to boost your pet’s immune system and fend off infections.

Detoxification and Purification

One of burdock’s primary values is its properties that aid in detoxification and purification of several of the body’s systems. Burdock is well known for its liver support and is excellent as a supplement for older dogs who may need liver function boosted. Boosting liver function can help when your dog is fighting infection since it improves the efficiency of the liver in removing toxins and wastes.

Burdock also serves as an excellent filter for your dog’s bloodstream. It flushes out toxins and helps to create enzymes that aid in absorptions of nutrients. Burdock root is also a natural diuretic and as such helps to support the bladder and kidneys by flushing waste materials from the body.

Skin Health

Burdock is also known for its ability to help improve skin health in your dog. Skin conditions such as psoriasis may improve due to burdock root’s effect on the liver. As the supplement helps to flush wastes in the liver it stimulates the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins through the skin. Other skin conditions it can help with include mange, eczema, and inflammatory skin disorders caused by toxic substances in the body.

You can also use burdock as a topical treatment to soothe your dog’s skin and help it to heal. Tinctures or teas can be prepared from the actual root and then applied with a soaked cloth to the affected skin. However, you should never use burdock on your dog’s skin if there are any open sores or broken skin.

Precautions and Final Thoughts

Burdock is considered to be very safe; however, given that no studies on burdock root have been done on pregnant and nursing dogs, burdock root should be avoided during these times. Since burdock root can also have an effect on blood sugar, it is advised not to give a diabetic dog this supplement unless under the supervision of a vet.

Finally, keep in mind that burdock root is not a substitute for proper veterinary care. If your dog is not well or has skin conditions, they should first be seen by a vet to ensure there are no serious medical conditions that need to be treated. Burdock root works well as a supportive supplement for several conditions, but if your dog is being treated always be sure to check with the vet to make sure it is okay to supplement with any herb or other substance.