Chamomile Before Bed for Dogs
Answered by: Kerry Hackett
Question from: Robert Wiebe
Posted on: May 03, 2007

Our four month old Greenland pup has been howling like a wolf at odd hours of the night and so we’ve taken to making her last drink of the evening chamomile tea. It sure seems to work well but are there any health concerns we should be aware of?

The following is taken in part from another posting. For the full entry, please see "Nervous Poodle During Storms" on the Richters website (www.richters.com).

German chamomile (Matricaria recutita or Chamomilla recutita) has traditionally been employed as a mild sedative and digestive tonic and is often the first herb that comes to mind when considering nervous complaints. Chamomile is typically dosed at five to ten drops of tincture per 20 pounds of dog twice a day, either in food or directly by mouth. Please do not give this herb to pregnant or lactating animals. In addition, check to see that your dog does not have allergies to chamomile by only trying a couple of drops to start. Some humans and animals have allergies to the entire family (Asteraceae) to which this herb belongs.

As you are using tea rather than a tincture, the literature I have seen states that an infused tea of chamomile should be made of 5 to 30 grams per cup of boiling water administered at one-quarter to one-half a cup per 10 kilograms of dog three times a day. I suspect this is stronger and in excess of what you are providing for your dog. Also, hopefully once she grows out of this phase you can discontinue her intake of tea.

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