More Home Remedies

Hot Spots: Dissolve 2 adult aspirins in 1 Tbls. rubbing alcohol. Steep 1 tea bag in 1 cup warm water; discard tea bag. Stir together aspirin mixture and tea; allow to cool. Shave hair around hot spot. Blot prepared mixture over spot with a cotton ball. Follow with over-the-counter cortisone spray or crème.

Repeat as necessary.Insect Bites and Stings: Remove stingers, if present. Dab a mixture of baking soda and water on the spot to help reduce discomfort. Milk of Magnesia and meat tenderizer works in the same way, as well.Itchy Skin from Allergies: Give your pet a 10 minute cool bath to relieve itching.

For further soothing, you may also add colloidal oatmeal (Aveeno®) to the bathwater.

For dogs with itchy feet, fill the tub with enough cool water to cover their feet, dissolve a couple cups of Epsom salts in the water, and soak the dog’s feet for 5-10 minutes. Be careful not to let them drink the water.

Litter: To keep litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.Poisoning: Call your vet immediately and have on hand the substance your pet ingested. If your pet has gotten into pills, antifreeze, or other toxic substances (but not caustic substances) getting him to vomit will help eliminate some of the danger (click here to learn how). If your pet has ingested something alkaline, such as cleaner or kerosene, don’t induce vomiting. Give him about 3 tsp. vinegar or lemon juice diluted in an equal amount of water. If your pet has ingested something acid, maybe from chewing on a battery, give Milk of Magnesia, 1 tsp. per 5 Lbs. of pet.

​Puppy Diarrhea/Dogs with Soft Stool: Plain canned pumpkin works well for puppies with diarrhea and adult dogs with soft stool. A few spoonful’s in their food will often stop it right away. The pumpkin adds fiber to the diet, therefore firming up the stools. It often works more completely and more quickly than Kaopectate® if your pet isn’t ill from something else.Reduce Anal Sac Problems: Stop feeding your pet table scraps. The fatty foods soften the stool, making the fluid more likely to build up.

Removing Burrs: Remove burrs in your pet’s coat as soon as possible. Allowing their fur to get wet makes it worse, so keep them dry. Most burrs can be removed with your fingers or tweezers. For the more difficult ones, soak the area in vegetable oil to help slide them out.Seizures: Dogs don’t swallow their tongues, so don’t put your hand in their mouth.

Move furniture out of the way and try to keep the area as dark as possible. Gentle talking and stroking may help to shorten the length of the seizure. If the seizure lasts more than 10 minutes, take your pet to the vet immediately. If this is the first time your pet is having a seizure, take him to the vet for assessment.

Severe Bleeding: Place gauze over the wound and apply direct pressure using your hands for 5 minutes, recheck, and continue applying pressure until bleeding stops or you’ve reached the vet. Do not use a tourniquet, as they are dangerous. Cold packs over oozing wounds can help reduce swelling and bleeding. Take your pet to the vet immediately.

Skunk Spray: If your pet’s eyes are watering, use an eye wash to flush out any irritating spray. Shampoo with a mixture of 1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 Tbls. liquid dish soap.

Follow with a washing of regular pet shampoo.Stop Bleeding from a Nail Trim:

When you’ve cut a nail too short, stop the bleeding by pressing the nail in styptic powder or flour, then tap the powder in.Urinary Infections: The common human remedy of cranberry, orange, and other citrus juices also work for pets in boosting the acidity of the urine and decreasing the amount of bacteria. A chewable vitamin C tablet a day will reduce the acidity to prevent further infections.

Pet Urine on Carpet: First, blot up what you can with paper towels. Then, with warm, soapy water and a clean cloth, blot the area clean; rinse with clean water; blot until dry. Next, combine 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water and dab it on stain; rinse with clean water; blot until dry.

Once the area is totally dry (at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda or rug deodorizer; vacuum after a few hours.Vomiting: Stop feeding your pet for 24 hours, only providing water. Afterwards, slowly introduce mild foods back into the diet over a 3 day time period, to include boiled hamburger, boiled chicken, cooked rice, and/or cottage cheese. If the vomiting continues after the first 24 hours or if there is bloating, consult your veterinarian immediately.

​Emergency Situations Requiring Immediate Veterinary CareDifficulty breathing: noisy respiration, blue tongue, gasping for breath Bleeding that does not stop from any part of the body.

Apply pressure with a clean cloth and go!Bloated or distended abdomen or swollen or painful abdomen with or without vomitingInability to urinate or move bowels but continues to try or has bloody stool or urine or painful defecation or urinationHeatstroke: heavy panting, extreme weakness, body temperature about 104 degreesInability to deliver puppies or kittens, labor contractions for longer than one hour or more than 15 minutes of labor with the fetus or membrane showing.

Loss of balance or consciousness or seizure, including: tremors, coma, staggering, convulsions, sudden blindness, tilting of the head, biting at imaginary objects, sudden changes in disposition such as unusual withdrawal or out-of-character aggressivenessPain, severe or continuousMajor trauma, injury, or shock from falls, vehicle accidents, wounds, cuts, broken bones.

Signs to look for: weakness, collapse, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, bewildered appearance, dilated pupilsIngested poison. Bring the container of the product or a list of ingredients if you have it

Penetrating wounds anywhere on the body, but especially in the chest or abdomen Lameness and cannot bear any weight on the leg. Vomiting or diarrhea with blood or violent episodes.Over-The-Counter Medications You Can Give To Your PetMedicine Notes DosageBuffered AspirinFor dogs only. Pain relief, anti-inflammatory.Call your vet for dosage.Baby AspirinFor dogs only. Pain relief, anti-inflammatory.
​Call your vet for dosage.Benedryl® Treat allergies, itching, reaction to insect stings, etc.Call your vet for dosage.Dramamine®Not for animals with glaucoma or bladder problems. Reduce car sickness.Call your vet for dosage.Pepto-Bismol®For dogs only. Relieve vomiting or stomach gas, diarrhea.

Call your vet for dosage.Hydrogen Peroxide 3%To induce vomiting after accidental ingestion of a poison.Call your vet for dosage.Mineral OilEliminate constipation.Call your vet for dosage.Acetaminophen, Tylenol®, Ibuprofen, Motrin®, Nuprin®, Alieve®Never give to animals.