Failing to ask clients about any herbs their pet has received before surgery could lead to bleeding disasters during surgery. Specifically, botanicals that interfere with clotting could transform an otherwise routine surgery into a frustrating and lengthy exercise.
1 False Sense of Security
While the true clinical impact remains clouded by lack of controlled research in both veterinary and human patients, 2 this paucity of safety information may be creating a self-perpetuating cycle of false-negative information. 3
The unregulated and untested nature of veterinary plant-based products amplifies uncertainties over product strength, potential misidentification, adulteration and species-specific or idiosyncratic variations in drug metabolism or effects. 4
In particular, products with a multiplicity of ingredients, such as Chinese herbal formulations, especially when administered chronically, exhibit a disproportionately greater percentage and severity of side effects, compared to single-herb supplements. 5 , 6 , 7
Harmful drug-herb interactions involving mixtures of herbs heighten the hurdles of identifying the source of the interaction. Mechanisms by which herbs may influence bleeding include direct pharmacologic actions and indirect interactions. 8 Indirect (namely, herb-drug) interactions involve either pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic influences.
Antiplatelet Effects
Copyright 2009 BowTie Inc.
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