It is becoming increasingly popular to seek out home remedies for common ailments for your pets. This is because many pet owners consider them to be safer than traditional medications are. In addition to this, they are easy to acquire as you don’t need a prescription from the vet. With this being said, using a home remedy isn’t necessarily going to be as effective as a prescription may be. However, as long as they are safe to try, why not give some home remedies a shot?
Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies for pets can be found in specialized stores or from online retailers. These remedies usually consist of different herbal substances in varying proportions. These mixtures contain herbs that are used to treat different medical conditions in animals. Each one is designed to relieve a specific condition.
An example of this are herbal remedies containing Uva Ursi, Berberis Vulgaris, Cantharis and Staphysagris. These herbal extracts can be used to treat urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. The first two herbs are useful in helping the body eliminate harmful bacteria through urination. The second two help to effectively relieve the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, including the pain associated with the condition.
Effectiveness of Herbal Remedies
There is no scientific evidence that home pet remedies are effective in treating diseases and relieving symptoms, but some may work nevertheless. Dogs and cats naturally eat grass to relieve an upset stomach. Is there scientific proof that it works? Not really, but their intuition is instructing them to do it. Many ingredients in traditional veterinary pet medications were initially derived from plants. This suggests that plants containing these chemical compounds may be effective for treatment.
Safety of Herbal Remedies
There is no guarantee that an herbal remedy manufactured by a company is safe for a pet unless it has undergone extensive clinical trials. The problem is that the production of herbal remedies is not strictly controlled by the authorities as they are not legally considered to be a medication. Be aware that herbal remedies can interfere with prescribed medications. For these reasons, it is wise to consult with a veterinarian before giving your pet an herbal remedy.
Quick Home Pet Remedies
- To help your dog get rid of fleas, prepare a bath with several drops of tea tree oil and lemongrass oil.
- Does your doggy have dry skin? Vitamin E is here to help. Try massaging vitamin E oil directly into the skin or diluting it in some bathwater. It may also help your dog to take vitamin E internally, so ask your vet how often you should sneak Fido a pill.
- If your dog has had a bout of diarrhea or vomiting, try giving him electrolyte-replacing liquids such as sports waters or pediatric drinks. Consult your veterinarian to make sure you give an appropriate amount.
- If your dog is on antibiotics, she may be prone to getting a yeast infection, just like humans can. Giving your dog yogurt can help to prevent this. Yogurt also contains acidophilus, which helps keep the good bacteria in your dog’s intestines in balance.
- If your dog has an upset stomach, chamomile tea can help. Chamomile tea can be used to calm colic, gas and even anxiety. Just brew the chamomile tea and let it cool before giving it to your dog. You can even use it to alleviate minor skin irritations. Keep some chilled chamomile tea in the refrigerator, and spray it onto the affected area when needed. Your dog should feel soothed, almost immediately.
- Itchy and irritated skin can be relieved with some finely-ground oatmeal. Using baby oatmeal cereal is ideal. Stir some of the oatmeal into a bath of warm water. Letting your dog soak in this oatmeal bath may help dogs with skin allergies, infections and general itchiness.
- To help get rid of fleas in your home, sprinkle some Borax powder onto your floors and sweep or vacuum up the excess. Borax will poke holes in the exoskeletons of fleas, killing them. It is an inexpensive and non-toxic solution.
- To help your dog naturally repel fleas, sprinkle Brewer’s yeast over the dog’s food.
Do you have home pet remedies that have worked for you? Tell us about them and share this article with your friends!