Positive Health Online

Abstract

REICHLING and colleagues, Institut fuer Pharmazie und Molekulare Biotechnologie, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet, Heidelberg, Germany, Juergen.Reichling@online.de, have found that Echinacea powder is a treatment for chronic and seasonal upper respiratory tract infections in dogs.

Background

This is an open multi-centred veterinary clinical trial comparing conditions before and after treatment with a herbal preparation containing the powdered root of Echinacea purpurea.

Methodology

The study was conducted by 6 practising veterinarians in Switzerland. The plant-based immune stimulant was administered to 41 dogs with manifestations of chronic and seasonal upper tract respiratory infections including pharyngitis/tonsillitis, bronchitis, and kennel; cough. Echinacea powder was administered with the food at a dose of 1 gram per kilogram of body weight daily for 8 weeks. There was no control group.

Results

Significant improvement was found in 92% of the dogs after 4 weeks of treatment and was confirmed after 8 weeks. Reduction in severity and resolution of symptoms including nasal secretions, enlargement of lymph nodes, dry cough, dyspnoea and dry lung sounds. Only two adverse effects, not attributed to the herbal preparation, were observed.

Conclusion

Because quality and stability of this Echinacea powder were defined using an analytical standard, these data suggest that the Echinacea preparation can be recommended as a safe alternative treatment of canine upper respiratory tract infections.

References

Reichling J, Fitzi J, Fuerst-Jucker J, Bucher S, Saller R. Echinacea powder: treatment for canine chronic and seasonal upper respiratory tract infections. Schweizer Archive fuer Tierheilkunde 145 (5): 223-231, May 2003.