We understand the profound impact a healthy balanced diet can have on the health and happiness of your furry family members. When it comes to rabbits and small pets, the inclusion of herbs plays a vital role in their overall well-being. Let's delve into the world of herbs and discover how easy it is to incorporate these natural wonders into your pet's diet with our premium handcrafted organic forage mixes.
Why Herbs Matter
Herbs are not just flavorful additives; they are packed with nutrients and health benefits. For rabbits and small pets, certain herbs can aid in digestion, improve dental health, and even have calming effects. Herbs like parsley, basil, and dill are rich in vitamins and minerals essential for a rabbit's health. They can help in maintaining a balanced diet, ensuring your pets get a variety of nutrients that they otherwise wouldn't get with just a pellet and hay diet.
Choosing the Right Herb
While many herbs are beneficial, it’s crucial to know which ones are safe for your pets. Some of our favorite herbs include:
BASIL
Basil is a common herb that you can find in just about any grocery store or farmers market. It contains a high concentration of phytochemicals, giving it a strong flavor and nutritional content. Basil also contains a few chemicals (including caffeic acid and salicylic acid) that have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This makes basil a mild pain reliever and can help prevent frequent infections in rabbits. It also helps in maintaining the health of rabbit fur and skin.
CHAMOMILE
Good for pain relief, or calming a nervous rabbit. One of the best eye wash for weepy eye is Chamomile tea and honey!!!!! Just make a cup of tea, a little stronger than you would drink it and add a teaspoon of honey. Use an old syringe w/o the needle to squirt into the eye. You can also use as a compress, and as a wipe for the eye. It will work wonders. Both chamomile and honey are anti-everything with microbial, fungal, and with antibiotic properties. Rabbits that tend to have a lot of digestive issues can benefit from having some chamomile because of its ability to reduce gas and the discomfort that goes along with it.
CILANTRO
Cilantro is a fragrant herb that is generally very enticing to rabbits. Many elderly rabbits who are losing their sense of taste and smell will end up gravitating toward these aromatic herbs. Cilantro is also made up of a number of phytochemicals that can help aid in digestion, prevent frequent infections, reduce stress, and help alleviate symptoms of urinary tract infections. Cilantro is also known to contain geraniol, which helps prevent tumors.
COMFREY
Comfrey helps in healing bone formation, ill rabbits, stressed and weak rabbits. If you have a rabbit off feed, try a few leaves of comfrey. The plant has a calming effect on rabbits. Comfrey is a good source of vitamin A and good for digestive aid, helping with wool block and is used for many other things. It supports the immune system, is good for the stomach. In extreme doses, comfrey can cause diarrhea. However, when used in moderation and proper serving sizes, Comfrey is one of the best herbs for rabbits.
DANDELION
Dandelion helps in purifying blood, respiratory ailments, is an anti-inflammatory, helps bladder infections, and diarrhea. Some rabbit respiratory problems, such as Pasteurellosis, can eventually cause serious problems including head tilt, loss of balance and death. There have been tests on rabbits that were treated with dandelion’s showing that it is effective against pneumonia, bronchitis and upper respiratory infections. Rabbits can have every part of the plant- from fresh/dried leaves, the flower, and root. Each part has different health benefits for your small pet and is well known for its curative powers. The plant has both laxative and astringent qualities and regulates constipation and diarrhea.
ECHINACEA
Echinacea is an immune system stimulant and broad spectrum antibiotic. In the lower doses it’s the stimulant and in higher doses acts as an antibiotic. It also has anti-inflammatory with anti-viral properties. It can be grown in nearly every backyard and easily available at most health food stores. Echinacea is a great preventive herb to use for your rabbits. Feed a few leaves every now a then with daily greens mix to boost the immune system and fight infection. Research has shown that echinacea increases production of interferon in the body. It is antiseptic and antimicrobial, with properties that act to increase the number of white blood cells available to destroy bacteria and slow the spread of infection. Echinacea does such a good job at rebalancing a rabbit’s immune system that many veterinarians will actually recommend adding it to our rabbit’s regular diet.
LEMON BALM
Lemon balm contains rosmaranic acid which has strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it an aid in preventing many diseases and can also be used to treat symptoms of arthritis.
GOLDENSEAL
Goldenseal is another immune boosting herb for rabbits. It’s an effective anti-inflammatory treatment for rabbits who suffer from frequent infections. Goldenseal also has properties that help in treating bladder infections by acting as a natural antibiotic.
OREGANO
Oregano has properties that act as an immune boost for rabbits. It contains geraniol and rosmarinic acid that work to protect against tumors and carcinogens. They are also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, helping rabbits to protect against infections. Oregano can also be used to reduce the likelihood of becoming reinfected or getting a secondary bacterial infection during a recovery period..
Marigold is an excellent flower to aid digestive problems. It also helps to accelerate the healing of bruises, slow healing wounds, ulcers and skin diseases
PLANTAIN
Antimicrobial, antispasmodic, helps the healing of cuts, respiratory expectorant, fevers, and works great for diarrhea. This is something you can include in daily green feed mix. Leaves soothe urinary tract infections and irritations. Good for gastric inflammations. Juice pressed from fresh leaves is given orally for inflamed mucous membranes in cystitis, diarrhea and lung infections. Use the juice for inflammations, sores, and wounds. Plantain does not cause digestive problems. The plant regulates the function of the intestines and is generally good for the mucous membranes.
ROSE PETALS
Roses are an excellent addition to your small pets diet. The petals, in particular, act as an anti-carcinogen and may help in preventing the development of cancer. The petals can also aid in preventing infections, respiratory diseases, and they can help in calming a rabbit by reducing stress and anxiety. Rose hips are also proven to aid in a rabbit’s digestive health.
ROSEMARY
Lowers blood pressure, is ideal for exhaustion, weakness, and depression in rabbits. The stems and leaves invigorate the circulation, stimulates the digestion, and is good for cold conditions.
Incorporating herbs into your pet's diet isn't just healthy; it's also a fun activity for them. Foraging for herbs stimulates your pet’s natural instincts and keeps them engaged. Our forage mixes are designed to encourage this natural behavior, providing mental stimulation as well as physical benefits.