What is zoopharmacognosy?

You may have observed your dog eating grasses or other plants, soil or charcoal from an old firepit. You may have seen them sniffing a certain aromatic plant or rolling in it, or even in clay. These are all examples of zoopharmacognosy, or self-selection, in action. Zoopharmacognosy is the innate ability to “self medicate” shared across animal species around the globe.

Although your dog is hardwired to practice this behaviour, it’s much harder for them to access the resources they need to efficiently practice self-selection when compared to their cousins in the wild. But zoopharmacognosy can be replicated in the home, by learning the Applied Herbal Choices method for practicing with your dog.

Applied Herbal Choices (zoopharmacognosy) is a holistic method for supporting the physical & emotional wellness of domestic animals through botanical self-selection.

Applied Herbal Choices is non-prescriptive, non-diagnostic & is not a replacement for veterinary care.

What happens in a zoopharmacognosy session?

As an Applied Herbal Choices consultant I teach you how to safely offer a variety of botanical extracts for your dog to select from, following a strict set of rules & guidelines. You will be shown how to offer:

• hydrosols/aromatic waters
• essential oils
• infusions or macerations (herb teas)
• dried or fresh herbs
• nutritive powders

During a session you may observe your dog engaging with the offerings in a number of ways such as inhaling, licking, eating or requesting topical application. You will learn how to interpret & respond to these responses. You will also learn how to observe & understand some of the more subtle physical responses your dog may have.

Following a session you will be left with a selection of your dog’s choices for further practice.

During an Applied Herbal choices session you will be required to remain present without distractions throughout & you will be expected to engage fully in the session in order to learn the method & observe the responses.

Sessions can be in person or online.

Applied Herbal Choices sessions are also available for horses & for cats.

Why Applied Herbal Choices for dogs?

“Freedom to express normal behaviour”
(The 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare; Animal Welfare Act 2006) 

As a natural canine behaviour, you can enrich your dog’s life by facilitating opportunities for safe foraging & botanical self-selection, allowing them to support their own health according to their needs. This may help them    

maintain balance across body systems
support their own microbiome diversity   
support their own mental health & wellbeing 

Learning zoopharmacognosy & giving your dog a more varied choice for self-selection is something applicable to all dog carers, regardless of the animal’s stage in life. Typically, zoopharmacognosy sessions are a popular choice for owners/caregivers with:

• anxious dogs
• rescues
• dogs in shelter
• dogs who have had traumatic experiences
• dogs with chronic health issues
• dogs with hidden problems masked by behavioural issues
• dogs with recurring or unresolved issues with no clear diagnosis
• dogs recovering from illness or surgery
• dogs on crate rest
• dogs on a behaviour modification programme

Aswell as those simply looking for ways to support the general health & wellbeing of their animal.

What are the benefits of learning zoopharmacognosy?

Learning how to use Applied Herbal Choices for self-selection with your dog is a great way of supporting their overall physical & emotional health & wellbeing. Practicing this method with your dog provides you with a novel canine enrichment activity, helping to deepen the bond you share.

Benefits of Applied Herbal Choices for anxious dogs

Practicing Applied Herbal Choices with anxious or nervous dogs, especially those with a trauma history, can be particularly rewarding. Dogs who have become overwhelmed by adverse experiences typically may be either reactive, avoidant or shutdown & may struggle to learn while their nervous system is dysregulated.

Practicing botanical self-selection sessions with your dog may offer the chance for them to decompress & regulate in their own space & time, allowing you to attune to their emotional & physical needs so you can enhance the support you give them.

When regularly offering herbs for self-selection, canine caregivers often report subtle yet visible shifts in the animal’s demeanour & perceptions of the world around them, whereby they become more receptive to learning as they begin to feel safe once more.

Using the Applied Herbal Choices method may give the anxious dog opportunities for whole body support in their recovery from repeated or prolonged exposure to their stress triggers.

Areas of the body which may become depleted through stress & trauma include:

• the digestive system
• the gut microbiome
• the musculoskeletal system
• the nervous system
• detoxification/elimination pathways
• the cardiovascular system
• the skin