Dogs are precious members of their owner's family. More than ever, they face the same pollutions, hazards, stresses and unhealthy diets as their owners. Many veterinarians and researchers believe that changes in environments over the last 50 years have lead to an increase of chronic illness in pets. By consulting your veterinarian, you can find all natural pet products that can improve your dog's health, ensuring he's around for years to come.

In the wild, dogs search out and consume plants and herbs when they are sick or in need of nutrients. Their bodies know exactly what they need and where to find it. This is something that domesticated pups in suburbs and urban dwellings are rarely able to do. Conventional treatments, vaccines and medications are often necessary for a seriously sick pup. In some cases, however, an alternative herbal treatment can work perfectly on its own.

For example, many older animals struggle with digestive system issues and painful joints. Dry pet food found at the local grocery store is marketed to help your pup keep their tummy healthy, but too often are full of additives and preservatives that can be harmful to Fido. Using herbal tinctures blending dandelion root, alfalfa, garlic, olive oil and other components can also strengthen your fuzzy friend's digestive and circulatory tract without any harsh chemicals and expensive price tags. It is crucial to note that if your pet is pregnant or lactating, you should always talk with your dog's vet before you give them any kind of medication, or any of these natural products.

Painful joints or arthritis can be treated with pain medications, which are often expensive and can make your dog less energetic. Burdock, licorice and yucca root are great natural anti-inflammatory supplements that are safe for most pets.

When living in a house full of busy kids, a dog can easily pick up on the stress and get-up-and-go mentality. In some breeds more than others, this can trigger stress in an animal as well. To combat this, some veterinarians prescribe anti-anxiety medications which, again, are often expensive and can cause negative reactions. Naturally occurring valerian root, oat flowers, passionflower and olive oil can be combined to create a simple liquid that you can drop onto your pet's food once a day to reduce stress and enhance your pup's calm.

Did Spike get into your medicine cabinet? Or consume the kid's bar of chocolate? No problem. Other combinations of flowers, roots and herbs for pets are designed specifically to detox your animal and help them recover more quickly. These same compounds can be used if your pet has been on chemotherapy or other medications they had a poor reaction to as well.

Whether you want your dog to be more energetic or you simply want to boost their immune system, there are plenty of places to find natural herb compounds. If you want fewer preservatives, dyes and chemicals in your dog's system, your veterinarian should be able to discuss with you the alternatives. When a dog has a serious issue such as cancer, it may be incredibly important to your family that traditional treatments be utilized, but all natural tinctures can be included in their recovery plan - giving your family years of puppy love!