Soon after surviving an auto-related injury, my beloved Labrador mix, Lucky, started to display unusual health warnings: sitting up and staying in the same position for several minutes, as though he were uncomfortable, then a series of deep, rattling coughing spasms. His appetite also began to decline, as well as his normally active 8 year old activity levels.

Per my preliminary research it appeared he might have heart worm. After the $50 test at the local Veterinarian University proved negative, and upon offering no suggestions as to what my dog was suffering from, the next step was to locate a skilled, experienced and well provisioned vet for additional testing.

Thanks to the recommendation of a friend, we took Lucky in and immediately the good Doctor listened to his heart; he deduced the problem was his heart and took an Electrocardiogram and ran a series of blood tests.

The prognosis was that of an enlarged heart, a severe case, and arrhythmia. Although impossible to reverse an advanced condition (according to the doctor the onset of heart disease can precede for years without any indicators), we were instructed to take him off commercial dog food (high sodium content) and feed him a low salt specialty diet brand, and administer a diuretic for the fluid build up in his lungs and a heart medication to keep the heart functioning effectively. This would ensure a normal lifespan, albeit, his usual high energy was likely to be reduced. Without these changes and additions, Lucky would quickly perish, the Doctor warned, within a one to three month period of time.

Identifying my dog’s health issue was only half the battle. The cost of the imported dog food and the heart meds were far beyond our financial ability. Combined, this was going to run more than $300 per month!

Instead, I began to make his meals with rice, carrots, garlic, and parsley mixed with chicken or ground beef and an occasional (cooked) egg. The prescribed diuretic pills were absolutely necessary as the edema was causing severe swelling to his forelegs and beneath his neck; fortunately these are inexpensive and readily available.

Some months previous to all this I had taken an herbal tincture for a severe cold that had attacked my lungs; I recalled how well it had worked. So, I started to give Lucky half a milliliter twice a day and within one day his coughing greatly diminished and within 2 days he had stopped the coughing completely. But his big heart was clearly working extra hard to keep him with us. His appetite had immediately improved but with so much weight loss, rapid heartbeat and constant lethargy, I knew we had to address his heart issue ASAP.

I immediately contacted the Natural Herbal Tincture company here in Costa Rica who produced the Herbal Lung Tincture. When I explained the issue, without hesitation, the master herbalist, Toni Norman, suggested an herbal tincture of Hawthorn Berry.

Within a few days, she delivered and explained that Hawthorn has been recognized as an effective product by the (human) medical community for Congestive Heart problems. Known as ‘the heart tonic’ this herbal tincture is recommended for heart irregularities such as tachycardia and arrhythmia. Hawthorn Berry increases oxygen flow to the heart muscle and long term use may reverse essential hypertension.

The most amazing change took place within hours: Lucky’s labored breathing along with his abnormally fire-rapid heartbeat all returned to a near normal condition. The following morning, he wanted to go for a small walk; although still weak and fatigued from his ordeal, he began showing signs of his happy former self. He is less active than he was before this all started, but now when he rests it sounds as though he is truly resting and not gasping for life.

Note: There are now more holistic vets available, but not so in Costa Rica. Please do your research prior to giving herbs of any type to your pet; there are in fact herbs that are toxic to animals.

It is without hesitation that this author recommends Toni Norman and her Herbal Tinctures…for both people and beloved pets. And on behalf of Lucky… thanks, Toni! Visit her website for information regarding Natural Herbal Tinctures

Author: Rebecca Wheeler

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