Home Remedies for Dogs (and People!)

[ZenCat]

Here are some inexpensive items (which can be found in any grocery store) that can be of assistance for minor health problems in dogs. They are also useful for people!

ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN ANY TIME YOU HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS!

Activated Charcoal
USES: Absorbs poisons. Each particle contains many small chambers and cavities that bind-up unwanted material or gas.
DIRECTIONS: 3-6 mg per lb. Repeat in one hour.
CAUTIONS: May reduce the effectiveness of certain medications. Consult a veterinarian before taking this with other medications.

Apple Cider Vinegar
USES: Boosts the health of the animal with its nutritional and healthful qualities. Potential benefits include: an effective remedy for arthritis, gout and kidney disease and helpful in alleviating joint pain. Balances acid-alkaline pH levels in the body and helps to oxygenate the blood. Aid for digestion, helping to break down minerals, protein and fats. Inhibits growth of unfriendly bacteria in the digestive tract. Detoxifying properties, strengthens immune system. May ameliorate viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medicine with natural antibiotic effect. Ameliorating respiratory infections and may reduce symptoms, such as watery eyes and nasal discharge. Can be helpful in eliminating both internal and external parasite problems. Useful for dry, itchy or infected skin problems. If applied topically to wounds and burns it will decrease the pain and promote healing. Controls minor bleeding from cuts and abrasions. Helps relieve diarrhea and constipation.
DIRECTIONS: Internally: Include 1 tsp with a meal
Externally: Apply with cotton ball. ACV should not be used internally for those dogs that have irritation of the mucosa (lining) of the intestinal tract
CAUTIONS: ACV should be used diluted for application to the skin. Place in a mister bottle and spray to affected areas.
Avoid Eye Contact

Aspirin
USES: Pain relief, anti-inflammatory
DIRECTIONS: 5 mg per pound every 12 hours
CAUTIONS: Never use other human pain relievers (tylenol, advil) for dogs

Benadryl
USES: Allergic reactions, itching, reaction to insect stings, etc.
DIRECTIONS: 1 to 2 mg per pound body weight every 8 hours

Chamomile Tea
USES: Gentle eye wash for irritated or infected eyes. Can help to soothe your dog during times of stress such as flying, visits to the doctor, etc.
DIRECTIONS: Boil 1 cup of water. Pour the boiling water over a tea bag full of chamomile flowers. Steep 10 - 15 minutes. Let cool. For eye wash: Dip cotton square in cooled tea. Gently wipe eye, wiping away any secretions. Squeeze some tea into the eye. For stress: Place tea in the dog water dish or soak a treat in it.

Corn Starch
USES: Use to stop bleeding in broken nails, or nails clipped too closely. Non toxic deodorizing dry shampoo
DIRECTIONS:For bleeding nails: Dab wet finger in corn starch. Press into nail. Continue applying pressure until bleeding stops.
For dry shampoo: Dust hands thoroughly with corn starch. Rub through dog's coat down to skin. Brush out.

Epsom Salts
USES: To treat abscessed nail beds and paws that are itchy due to allergies. Will also give the pet temporary relief from the itchy feet secondary to allergies.* Use 1/2 cup of Epsom salts per 1 gallon of water. Soak the affected paw for 5-10 minutes, 2-4 times a day. It will help draw out the infection in case of a nail bed abscess.
CAUTIONS: Do not allow pets to drink an epsom salt solution since it can cause diarrhea.

Garlic Oil Capsules
USES: Powerful natural antibiotic. Immune system support. Kills off yeast (with proper diet change if kibble is causing yeast overload)& fungus. Flea/insect repellant.
DIRECTIONS: 1-2 caps per day

Hydrogen Peroxide
USES: Used to induce vomiting after accidental ingestion of a poison. Also for flushing wounds and cleaning prior to applying antibiotic ointment and bandaging
DIRECTIONS: Give 1-3 teaspoons every 10 minutes will help the dog vomit. Repeat this 3 times.

Olive Oil
USES: Dry skin. Ear Mites.
DIRECTIONS: For dry skin: 1 tsp added to food daily
For ear mites: Prepare mixture of 1/2 ounce olive oil and 400 IU vitamin E in a dropper bottle. Warm to body temperature and put about 1/2 dropper full in the ear, massaging the ear canal well for a minute or so. Let your pet shake its head and then gently clean out the opening with cotton balls. Apply the oil every other day for six days. Then let the ears rest for 3 days. (The oil mixture will smother many of the mites and start a healing process.)

Pedialyte
USES: Water and electrolytes essential during prolonged diarrhea or vomiting or for any signs of shock, such as low temperature, cold extremities, pale gums and weakness.
DIRECTIONS: Five or ten cc syringe usually works well, you can give one or two syringes of this into the mouth every hour until they are looking better, depending on the size of the animal. To check for signs of dehydration take the skin at the scruff of the neck and raise it up between your finger and thumb then let go. If it goes immediately back down to normal they are not dehydrated, if it stays up for more than a few seconds dehydration is indicated. Give oral rehydration fluids immediately as described above.

Rescue Remedy (Available from Health Food Stores)
USES: Homeopathic remedy used to treat stress or shock. This can be used any time an animal is stressed or injured.
DIRECTIONS: Give 2 drops on tongue every 5-15 minutes in case of shock or trauma

Simethicone
USES: Gas, bloat/torsion
DIRECTIONS: Give one tablet and proceed to vet.
CAUTIONS: BLOAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE VETERINARY CARE!!

Slippery Elm
USES: An aid to the digestive system for pets that suffer from constipation and upset stomach. It has also been used as a cough suppressant and a poultice (an herb that is boiled down into a paste, cooled, and applied to the skin). Slippery Elm Bark is recommended for soothing gastric diseases. It has several beneficial effects on digestion: 1) it reduces bowel transit time; 2) it absorbs toxins from the bowel; 3) increases fecal bulk and dilutes stool materials thereby reducing stool contact with the intestinal mucosa 4) it enhances beneficial bacteria in the gut. The bark has noted anti-inflammatory activity and because the mucilage resists digestion by stomachs acids and enzymes, it maintains its soothing action throughout the entire digestive system.
DIRECTIONS: Add 1 tsp to 1/2 cup cold water. With fork mix slippery elm & cold water in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. Heat to a simmer, or 1 to 2 minutes, or until thickened. Cool. Refrigerate. Keeps in the fridge for about a week.
CAUTIONS: If you see mold on it sooner than the 7 days, dispose and prepare fresh batch.

Vitamin C
USES: Powerful anti-oxidant. Can slow the aging process and slow damage to the body's tissues, as well as to help prevent cancer. It has also been suggested that vitamin C can help treat hip dysplasia, arthritis, and urinary tract problems.
DIRECTIONS: Use calcium buffered Vitamin C

Vitamin E
Powerful anti-oxidant. Strengthens immune system. Anti-allergen, antibacterial, anti inflammatory, anti-viral. Useful for improving and healing skin, heart and digestive system.
DIRECTIONS: 200 IU 2xday, max 400 IU

Witch Hazel
USES: Natural antiseptic. Useful for hot spots, and as a gentle ear wash.
DIRECTIONS: For hot spots: Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply on hot spots for several days.
For ear wash: Saturate a cotton ball and clean ears.

OTHER:
Thermometer (digital)
Normal temp in dogs and cats is 101 to 102 degrees F). A low temperature can indicate a very sick animal or hypothermia. In either case it is very important to warm the animal. A high temperature can indicate infection or hypothermia. Temperatures above 106 or 107 degrees can cause brain damage to your pet.

[lovefor4labs]

Thanks Zen very helpful list!

[Mr Kleb]

Here in one place is useful info I have trouble keeping in my head. I just bookmarked this forum. Thanks again for sharing, Lisa.

[happyhomer]

excellent list, zen. love that rescue remedy, i always have a bottle on hand.

[Mr Kleb]

Originally Posted by happyhomer

excellent list, zen. love that rescue remedy, i always have a bottle on hand.

I'm still waiting for a chance to use it. Bought it for the first time Sunday because my Moonpie was worrying two LCD's silly. She has left them alone since. Sheesh.

happyhomer, do you live where your sig pic suggests? I was two clicks away from going there last October.

[happyhomer]

Originally Posted by moonpiesdad

happyhomer, do you live where your sig pic suggests? I was two clicks away from going there last October.

yes, i take the dogs that beach several times a week. san francisco is a beautiful city.
it might just be my imagination, but i think that it is their favorite place to go. they go crazy nuts at that beach.

i take the rescue remedy myself more often then i give it to the dogs.

[Black Labbies]

Excellent thread!!!

[pinnie]

Wonderful info...I print and post it next to my working space...thanks a million...(I wonder where and how you find out this nice thing.)

[ZenCat]

Worth a sticky perhaps?

[jackyscott]

Excellent - thanks Lisa!!! I'm going to copy all that right now and print out a few for friends and one to stick on my frig!

[Jen]

Originally Posted by ZenCat

Worth a sticky perhaps?

Definitely sticky worthy!

Great information!

[Kahlua's Mom]

Thank You for all that info!!! I think Cowboy would be a good candidate for the slippery elm supplement!!!

[diver03]

Great list! Thanks!!

[3dognite]

Good stuff! I have all of it here! Thanks for posting.

[Waylons_Mom]

Thank-you for posting this list. I am printing it out and putting it on the fridge right next to the my vets emergency phone numbers!