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Holistic Care For Pets (Expert Forum)
ginkgo biloba for cats
Answered by
Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A - Small Animals, dogs, cats, C.V.A, Western Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Herbalist, Acupuncture
American Animal Hospital
Randolph - NJ
This forum is for pet health questions regarding Holistic Care. Questions will be answers by a veterinarian from PetDocsOnCall
ginkgo biloba for cats
by trisha_olen, Sep 23, 2009 04:46PM
After taking my cat to the vet for her annual check-up I noticed some strange behavior. She walks around the house and yowls very loudly like someone is hurting her. If I call her name, she usually stops, looks at me and then comes to me. Just fine, like nothing ever happened. She has been taking Cosequin sprinkle-tabs for 6 or 7 years for arthritis and other than the yowling, seems to be very healthy, especially for going on 17 in a few months! I asked my vet about this in passing when I had my dog in for an exam and she said it was an early sign of dementia and senility. She suggested that I try ginkgo biloba and she said that the dosage amount doesn't matter because any unused by the body is excreted. I looked up the usage of ginkgo biloba for cats and it sounds like there have been some both favorable and unfavorable results. I would like to know what your opinion is concerning this matter. I have been looking to see if I can find a liquid ginkgo supplement to add to her canned food. She doesn't eat dry food and is terrible to get pills down! If there is a liquid ginkgo biloba supplement out there for cats, how much would you suggest that I give her? She only weighs between 6 and 7 pounds.
Type of Animal
:
cat
Age of Animal
:
16 years
Sex of Animal
:
Female
Breed of Animal
:
domestic longhair
Last date your pet was examined by a vet?
:
April 13, 2009
City
:
Grand Haven
State/Province
:
Michigan
Blood Test Results
:
Blood profile results came back great except for she has mild pancreatitis and was perscribed Royal Canin IDV canned food for a week afterward.
Other pertinent test results
:
After urinalysis and sedimentation test, our vet concluded that she had a urinary tract infection and was prescribed Clavamox.
Doctor's Answer
by Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A, Sep 26, 2009 07:08PM
, Sep 26, 2009 07:08PM
There are several Ginkgo Biloba Liquid Extracts available. The following link is for Puritan's Pride's Ginkgo Biloba Extract. Please view the following link:
http://www.puritan.com/ginkgo-biloba-052/ginkgo-biloba-liquid-extract-007812?afid=27&safid=Google&scid=6835&cm_mmc=Google-_-Herb_Ginkgo-_-liquid%20ginkgo%20biloba-_-Broad+Ad_2456579731%7C-%7C100000000000000041868&cm_guid=1-_-100000000000000041868-_-2456579731&gclid=CL6jx-q4kJ0CFQtN5QodPw6p1w
There are many other choices for Liquid Ginkgo Biloba Extract (google it), just make sure they only contain glycerin and not alcohol. Cats dislike the taste of alcohol, and it is contraindicated in a cat susceptible to pancreatitis.
The dose would be 1/8 dropperful twice to three times daily. Please start with a very low dose and gradually increase over a week's time. As with most holistic preparations it takes 2 to 3 weeks to see effects. The side effect of this herb is thinning of the blood, but should be safe at the low dose I have listed. To be totally safe, a CBC can be performed after your cat has been on Ginkgo for 2 to 3 weeks, if necessary.
Phosphatidyl Serine, and/or Choline, DHA, and Omega 3 Fatty Acids may also be helpful. Use approximately 1/10 human dose.
http://www.puritan.com/ginkgo-biloba-052/ginkgo-biloba-liquid-extract-007812?afid=27&safid=Google&scid=6835&cm_mmc=Google-_-Herb_Ginkgo-_-liquid%20ginkgo%20biloba-_-Broad+Ad_2456579731%7C-%7C100000000000000041868&cm_guid=1-_-100000000000000041868-_-2456579731&gclid=CL6jx-q4kJ0CFQtN5QodPw6p1w
There are many other choices for Liquid Ginkgo Biloba Extract (google it), just make sure they only contain glycerin and not alcohol. Cats dislike the taste of alcohol, and it is contraindicated in a cat susceptible to pancreatitis.
The dose would be 1/8 dropperful twice to three times daily. Please start with a very low dose and gradually increase over a week's time. As with most holistic preparations it takes 2 to 3 weeks to see effects. The side effect of this herb is thinning of the blood, but should be safe at the low dose I have listed. To be totally safe, a CBC can be performed after your cat has been on Ginkgo for 2 to 3 weeks, if necessary.
Phosphatidyl Serine, and/or Choline, DHA, and Omega 3 Fatty Acids may also be helpful. Use approximately 1/10 human dose.
