A common enquiry at McDowells Herbal is if using Phenylbutazone or ‘Bute’ as it’s commonly known, is dangerous to health. ‘Bute’ is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat inflammation, pain and fever in animals...

Joint pain can occur in dogs of all breeds and ages. It can impact your dog's quality of life and is more likely to develop in older dogs. There are two types of joint issues in dogs; either developmental or degenerative...

The structural system of a dog is made of bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The anatomy of dogs varies from breed to breed but there are physical characteristics that are the same. One thing that all dogs have in common is that good nutrition is essential!

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer and is one of the most common canine cancers. It has risen from being almost unknown fifty years ago to around 10,000 cases reported a year in the US alone. It is now affecting younger dogs especially, those of the bigger breeds...

Making small changes to your dog’s diet can make a big difference. It’s also important to remember that wild dogs eat nearly all of their prey. Both cats and dogs have evolved over thousands of year to consume raw meat. Their bodies are adapted to process raw, living foods with lots of a variety. What can you do to replicate that?

We take our animals to shows, events, studs, trainers or new properties all the time. We spend enormous amounts of energy and money preparing them for their sport and bringing them to a peak for the big event and we should spend an equivalent amount of effort in making sure we don't blow it, during one such trip...

Paterson's Curse is an annual (occasionally biennial) plant that grows in autumn and winter and produces flowering stalks in spring and early summer. What we need to understand is the horse's natural behaviours and instincts; our feeding and farm management practices; and our pasture as a natural system all together, and then make simple accommodations to ensure that we don't force our horses into a situation where they poison themselves.

Horses have three different types of joints - fibrous joints, cartilaginous joints and synovial joints. Often joint issues are seen as an issue for older horses, but our focus should be on supporting joint health throughout a horse's whole life...

Diet and understanding what is required nutritionally is our main focus. Herbs are about peak nutrition. What concerns me is the misunderstanding now that diet is a "science" (as all feed companies will tell us!) and that common sense no longer applies...

Some dog breeds have more bone problems than others including fast-growing breeds, though osteoporosis and osteoarthritis can affect all breeds. Regular exercise, weight management, and providing good nutrition can help reduce the risk and manage arthritis in dogs...

We now have a rise in mould issues due to recent climate change affecting humidity and rainfall. There are more than 150 different types of mould that can be found in your home! Exposure to mould is rising and having an impact on our immune systems...