[cally01]

You have to be very careful giving Yucca, 4 days on 3 days off. It is not a good idea to give daily. Many holistic practitioners beieve that if the plant is used constantly over an extended period of time, the saponins in the yucca actually begin to have a reverse effect, slowing nutrient absorption in the small intestine. If used in large dosages or over and extended period of time, yucca may become irritatin to the stomach lining and intestinal mucosa, which may cause vomiting. Many indian tribes of the American southwest used yucca to induce vomiting.

Another thing to consider about yucca is that it is used often in poor quality dog foods to reduce the smell of urine and stool. Yucca basically inhibits the production of urease, and as a result fecal and urine odors are reduced by up to 56 % . The holistic question is - what are the deeper purposes of the urease enzyems we wish to suppress? Urease is a natural by product of the metabolic process and it can only be spececulate about the long term results of interference

I used to give it to my Rottweiler years ago for her HD, I got either the fresh herb, human herb, or Solid Gold Yucca. It did help her with her HD. I used to give it with alfalfa and dandelion root.

I never knew any of the long term problems that yucca "may" cause until I had my Rottie on it for 2 years. She started bloating after being on it (after the 2 years). I can't really point my finger at the yucca causing this problem, but, after doing research and finding out that it "can" irritate the stomach lining...I thought it may have been a factor although I can't be positive. I had no problems with getting my dog to eat it just put it in something stinky like canned food or tripe. :)

I now give her turmeric and ginger root for her HD, ginger root I don't give daily tho.