Make Sure You Have Arnica In Your Dog and Cat's First Aid Kit, Arnica Can Provide Immediate Help for Muscle, Joint Injury and More

★4.5 min read

In this article:

1. About Arnica
1. Medicinal Properties of Arnica
2. Arnica Can be Used In Multiple Ways
   
2. Health Benefits of Arnica for Dogs and Cats
1. Arnica Can Help Treat
2. Topical Uses for Arnica
   
3. Ingested Use, Homeopathic Remedy
1. Dosing Instructions
4. Instructions for Topical Use
1. Tincture
2. Cream or Gel
   
5. Cautions
6. Side Effects

1.0 About Arnica

Also known by the name: Carduus marianus, Silybum mariamum, Silybum, Silybin, Silymarin, Silymarine, St. Mary’s Thistle, Marianus, Marianum, Our Lady’s Thistle, etc.

Arnica is a member of the daisy family. Arnica is a perennial alpine herbal plant with orange-yellow daisy like flowers. At one time the wild Arnica Montana plant grew in abundance in regions of Europe and America. A hardy meadow and mountain plant it was known to grow at elevations up to 8,500 feet. Today, the wild arnica plant is considerably scarcer and is a protected plant in many parts of Europe.

Arnica was first used in Europe in the 16^th century as a medicinal plant. The flowers heads alone are used for medicinal purposes -as an ingested and topical treatment. The whole plant including the roots are also used for medicinal ingested and topical treatments.

1.1 Medicinal Properties of Arnica Montana
Arnica has multiple naturally occurring constituents invaluable for treating pain, swelling, and inflammation. These natural components include:

Inulin

1. Antidiabetic
2. Immunostimulant
3. Lypolytic
4. Prebiotic

Antioxidants and Flavinoids

including:

1. Betaine
2. Caroteins (rich in viatmin A)
   
3. Coumarins (increase blood flow to help heal tissues)
   
4. Gallic Acid (canti-bacterial, anti-fungal)
   
5. Lutein
6. Pectolin 
7. Phytoesterol (help lower bad cholesterol)
   
8. Rutin
   
9. Quercetin

Skin Healing Acids

including:

1. Linoleic acid
2. Palmetic acid
3. Phenolic acid
   

Sesquiterpene Lactones

1. Reduce inflammation by promoting the dispersion of fluids that build-up in bruised, injured tissue
2. This increased circulation and drainage helps to speed healing by improving the flow of blood, lymph and platelets in and out of the affected area;
3. Helps to clean-up inflammatory waste and lactic acid – thus reducing swelling and moderating pain after injury, muscle strain  and surgery

Manganese
 

Mucilage
 

Multiple volatile oils

including:

1. Thymol

 

1.2 Arnica Montana Can Be Used In Multiple Ways

1.  Ingested Use 
1. Homeopathic remedy:
   
1. Pilules
2. Tablets
2. Topical Use
1. Cream
2. Gel
3. Diluted tincture

See section 3.0 and 4.0 below for dosage and safe usage guidelines.

2.0 Health Benefits of Arnica for Dogs and Cats

A partial list:

1. Analgesic
2. Antibacterial
3. Anticoagulant 
   
4. Antinflammatory
5. Antidiabetic
6. Antifungal
   
7. Antimicrobial
8. Antiseptic
   
9. Immunostimulant
10. Lypolytic
11. Sedative
    

2.1 Arnica Can Help Treat

1. Aches
2. Altitude sickness
3. Brain injuries
4. Bruises
5. Concussions
   
6. Emotional stress (including due to trauma, trauma before and after surgery)
7. Muscle exhaustion from over-exertion
8. Other injuries resulting from blunt force trauma
   
9. Blows, falls, fractures (for pain management)
10. Pain and swelling
11. Sprains
12. Spinal cord injuries
13. Painful joints
14. Muscle and joint injury

2.2  Topical Uses for Arnica 

Cream, Gel or Tincture

 

Applied to skin to reduce/treat:

1. Aches
2. Acne
3. Arthritis
4. Bruises – pain and swelling
5. Insect bites
6. Muscle exhaustion from over-exertion
7. Other injuries
8. Blows, falls, fractures (for pain management)
9. Septic conditions
10. Sprains
11. Pain
1. Cartilage, tendons
   
2. Muscle
12. Post labour
1. For postnatal treatment of episiotomy stitches or tears – adding a few drops of arnica oil to warm distilled water to bath the area to speed healing.

 

3.0 Ingested Use, Homeopathic Remedy

Homeopathic Remedy Arnica Montana

 

3.1 Dosing Instructions

3.1.1 Dosage

• Small dogs: 3 pellets (pillules)
  
• Medium dogs: 4 pellets
• Large dogs: 4 pellets
• X-Large dogs: 5 pellets

3.1.2 Dosing:

 

Administer a dose every two hours, up to three to four doses per day.

For severe cases of infection, tissue damage (bruise or closed wound), muscle, joint, ligament, tendon or other trauma dosage is:

• Administer a dose every fifteen (15) minutes until symptoms are relieved.
• Dosage can be given once or twice a day for up to a week after the injury occurred. 
• When possible dose at least 30 minutes away from food.

4.0 Instructions For Topical Use

For arthritis, prevention of infection, tissue damage (bruise or closed wound), trauma, sore muscles, and sprains.

 

4.1 Tincture 

 

Preparation

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of arnica tincture (use alcohol-free or low alcohol) with 1 pint of purified water.
2. Dip a cloth, cotton ball, sanitary pad, etc. into the arnica/water mixture
3. Apply to the arthritic joint, bruised or wounded area making sure to moisten the skin (not just the fur).
4. Wrap the area in gauze or cloth.
5. Secure the wrap so that your dog or cat cannot remove the wrap and lick the wound or arnica.
6. Don't allow your dog or cat to ingest the tincture.
   

4.2 Cream or Gel

For arthritis, prevention of infection, tissue damage (bruise or closed wound), trauma, sore muscles, and sprains.  

 

Preparation

1. Apply to the arthritic joint, bruised or wounded area making sure to moisten the skin (not just the fur).
2. Wrap the area in gauze or cloth.
3. Secure the wrap so that your dog or cat cannot remove the wrap and lick the wound or arnica.
4. Don'
5. t allow your dog or cat to ingest the arnica cream or gel.
   

5. Cautions

Open Tissue Injuries, Damaged Broken Skin, Bleeding Wounds

Arnica should never used on open tissue injuries - damaged or broken skin, as arnica can cause bleeding due to its sesquiterpene lactones that work to quickly stimulate dilation and circulation of peripheral blood vessels – this can lead to increased blood flow of an open tissue or already bleeding wound.

Prolonged Use

Arnica is not intended for prolonged use as it can, over-time cause adverse side effects.
 

Allergy

If you dog or cat is allergic to arnica or related members of the daisy family Astercaeae/Compositae family (i.e. chamomile, marigolds, etc.), ragweed, do not use arnica.

6. Side Effects

If arnica is used for too long as a topical application it can cause:

1. Abrasion if dog or cat licks the area of application
2. Irritation of skin
3. Lesions
4. Redness
   

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Article by Karen Rosenfeld