Zeel by Heel – for Dogs and Cats

Overview of Zeel® for Canines and Felines

• Zeel is an nonprescription over-the-counter homeopathic medication used to treat pain and inflammation often associated with musculoskeletal injuries, such as sprains and traumatic injuries, and as supportive therapy in pain and inflammation of the musculoskeletal system such as with arthritis in dogs and cats.
• Zeel has gained popularity in the United States an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NASID) to treat pain and swelling. Some studies have suggested that Zeel has shown comparable effectiveness to NSAIDs in terms of reducing symptoms of inflammation, accelerating recovery, and improving mobility. Zeel has had good safety studies.
• The effects of Zeel results from the activity of the various components. It is thought that there is a synergistic effect of Zeel as the overall effect appears to be greater than the ‘sum’ of the active components.
• Zeel is available in the forms of tablets, ointment, and drinkable ampules.

NOTE: Heel recently indicated they are stopping production of Zeel in the United States. MediNatura bought HEEL USA (the producers of Zeel) and the product T-Relief Arthritis will replace Zeel.

Brand Names and Other Names of Zeel

• This drug is registered for use in humans only.
• Human formulations: Zeel® by Heel
• Veterinary formulations: None

Uses of Zeel for Dogs and Cats

• Zeel is used to treat pain and inflammation from a variety of causes. Possible uses include pain and anti-inflammatory support for traumatic injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, joint pain and inflammation, arthritis, sprains and other soft tissue injuries.
• Zeel can be used in conjunction with other pain medications and is sometimes used in conjunction with another homeopathic medication called Traumeel.

Precautions and Side Effects

• While generally safe and effective when prescribed by a veterinarian, Zeel could cause side effects in some animals.
• Zeel should not be used in animals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug.
• Zeel has been given safely with other medications. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if other drugs your pet is receiving could interact with Zeel.
• Zeel can be used with pets of all ages.

How Zeel is Supplied

• Zeel is available in the forms of tablets, ointment, and drinkable ampoules.
• Tablets: 1 tablet contains: medicinal ingredients: Rhus toxicodendron D2 1.0 mg; Arnica montana D2 0.5 mg; Dulcamara D2 0.3 mg; Sanguinaria canadensis D4 0.45 mg; Sulfur D6 0.75 mg. Non-medicinal ingredients: magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate. The tablets meant to dissolve slowly in the mouth, not be swallowed whole if possible.
• Ointment: 50 g contains: medicinal ingredients: Arnica montana D2 300 mg; Rhus toxicodendron D2 270 mg; Sanguinaria canadensis D2 225 mg; Dulcamara D2 75 mg; Sulfur D6 270 mg. Non-medicinal ingredients: ethanol, purified water, cetostearyl alcohol, heavy mineral oil, white petrolatum.
• Drinkable ampoules: 1 ampoule (2.0 ml) contains: medicinal ingredients: Rhus toxicodendron D4 10 mg; Arnica montana D4 2 mg; Dulcamara D4 1 mg; Sanguinaria canadensis D4 1 mg; Sulfur D10 3 mg. Non-medicinal ingredients: sodium chloride, purified water.
• Zeel should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture.

Dosing Information of Zeel for Dogs and Cats

• Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian. Zeel is considered nontoxic and the dosing is not standardized like you would expect with other drugs.
• Zeel has been safely used in both dogs and cats.
• The dosage for Zeel tablets in dogs is one tablet every 8 hours for 2 weeks then decrease to every 12 hours for maintenance. Some dogs require three times a day dose to manage symptoms. Zeel tablets are meant to dissolve slowly in the mouth, not be swallowed whole, if possible.

TIP: Some pet owners have luck dissolving the tablet in warm low sodium chicken and letting them lap it up.

• Liquid Zeel is commonly used and diluted as follows: Use 10 drops stock remedy to 1/2 oz filtered water, and then dose at 1 dropper full every 8 to 12 hours as needed to control pain.
• Zeel ointment can be used topically on the knee or other joints in dogs with short hair. It can be mixed with Traumeel ointment as well.
• The duration of administration depends on the condition being treated, response to the medication and the development of any adverse effects. Be certain to complete the prescription unless specifically directed by your veterinarian. Even if your pet feels better, the entire treatment plan should be completed to prevent relapse.

References for Pet Drug Library on Zeel

• *Effectiveness of the homeopathic preparation Zeel compared with carprofen in dogs with osteoarthritis.*J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2011 Jan-Feb;47(1):12-20.
  Stephan Neumann1; Pelle Stolt; Gabriele Braun; Klaus Hellmann; Erich Reinhart
  1Clinic for Small Animals, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, University of Goettingen, Germany. sneuman@gwdg.de
  • Article Abstract
    • The authors compared the symptomatic effectiveness of a complex homeopathic preparation Zeel (1-3 tablets orally per day depending on body weight) to carprofen (4 mg/kg body weight) in dogs (n=68) aged >1 yr diagnosed with osteoarthritis in a multicenter, prospective, observational open-label cohort study in 12 German veterinary clinics. The active treatment period was 56 days. Symptomatic effectiveness, lameness, stiffness of movements, and pain on palpation were evaluated by treating veterinarians and owners. Clinical signs of osteoarthritis improved significantly (P<0.05) at all time points (days 1, 28, and 56) with both therapies. At the end of the treatment period, effectiveness was comparable in both groups. Both treatment regimens were well tolerated with only three treatment-related adverse events, all in the carprofen group.
• Evaluating complementary therapies for canine osteoarthritis–Part II: a homeopathic combination preparation (Zeel).
  Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. December 2009;6(4):465-71.
  Anna Hielm-Björkman1; Riitta-Mari Tulamo; Hanna Salonen; Marja Raekallio
  1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. anna.hielm-bjorkman@helsinki.fi
  • Article Abstract
    • A homeopathic combination preparation (HCP) for canine osteoarthritic pain was evaluated in a randomized, double-controlled and double-blinded clinical trial. Forty-four dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) that were randomly allocated into one of three groups completed the study. All dogs were fed test products or placebo for 8 weeks. The dogs were evaluated at the clinic four times, with 4-week intervals. Six different variables were assessed: veterinary-assessed mobility, two force plate variables, an owner-evaluated chronic pain index and pain and locomotion visual analogue scales (VASs). Intake of extra non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was also evaluated. A Chi-squared test and a Mann-Whitney test were used to determine significant improvement between groups. When changed into dichotomous responses of ‘improved’ or ‘not improved’ three out of the six variables showed a significant difference (P = 0.016, P = 0.008, P = 0.039) in improved dogs per group, between the HCP group and the placebo group. The odds ratios were over one for the same variables. As extent of improvement in the variables from start to end of treatment, the HCP product was significantly more improved in four (P = 0.015, P = 0.028, P = 0.049, P = 0.020) of the six variables, compared with the placebo. Our results indicated that the HCP Zeel(R) was beneficial in alleviating chronic orthopedic pain in dogs although it was not as effective as carprofen.

I hope this gives you more information about using Zeel in dogs and cats.