If you are a pet-parent, who doesn’t just reach out to a vet for every small issue with your fur-ball’s health, and if you believe in natural and more holistic healing for your pet, then you’re at the right place. And by the time you finish reading this, a few ordinary staples in your kitchen will stop looking so ordinary. Read on to learn more.
Brown Rice
Does your pooch have bad breath? Digestion has a role to play in causing bad breath. If your pet has halitosis, adding a little bit of cooked brown rice to his food will help speed up his digestion reduce bad breath.
Carrot
If your dog likes carrots, giving him some fresh carrots after his meal will help get rid of plaque from his teeth. Since carrots are mildly abrasive and crunchy, they stimulate the production of saliva in the mouth which further helps remove food particles from the mouth and around the teeth.
Parsley
You can make your own natural mouth freshener for your dog or cat by soaking sprigs of parsley in hot water. Remove the parsley and let the water cool. If your dog or cat likes the taste you can have him drink it, else put it in a spray bottle and spritz it in their mouth.
Oat Bran
Oat bran can help immensely with constipation. For smaller dogs and cats you can mix ½ a teaspoon with their food and for larger breeds you can use two teaspoons.
Canned Pumpkin
If your dog is constipated, adding a tablespoon or two of canned pumpkin to his food can help keep him regular.
Water
Constipation is caused due to a lack of water and giving your pets plenty of water to drink can help resolve it.
Broth
Another good remedy for constipation in your dog or cat, is a generous helping of a meat-based broth with 1/2 a teaspoon of a psyllium based laxative for small dogs and cats and 2 teaspoons for larger dogs.
Milk
Milk normally causes diarrhea in pets and it isn’t advisable to give your pets milk. But when they’re constipated, using it in little quantities can help relieve constipation. For small breeds, use 1/8 cup twice a day and for larger breeds up it to ½ a cup twice a day. Stop giving them milk when their bowel movements get normal.
Garlic Powder
Garlic powder can be used to keep your pet’s teeth healthy. Make a paste out of garlic powder and lukewarm water and use the paste to brush your pet’s teeth to keep them shining with health.
Garlic Cloves
Garlic can be a great remedy if your pet has lost his appetite and is losing weight. You can add ¼ to ½ of a crushed garlic clove to their food everyday if they’re small and 1 to 2 crushed cloves a day for larger breeds.
Garlic cloves are also a great remedy for fleas when added to your pet’s food along with some Brewster’s yeast. Garlic can also come in handy when your pet has an ear mite infestation. Crush a garlic clove and soak it in olive oil for 8 hours. Remove the garlic and warm up the oil and put it in the dog’s ears with an eye dropper. Rub the dog’s ears for a minute until the oil has penetrated the ear canal. Repeat the treatment every other day until the mites are gone.
Yogurt
Adding plain yogurt to your pet’s food can help with a gas problem. You can use 1 ¼ teaspoons for small pets and up to 1 tablespoon for larger breeds.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice can help relieve the symptoms of a urinary tract infection as it helps keep the bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder.
Baking Soda
A paste of baking soda and water can be applied over bites and stings to reduce inflammation. It can be applied every few hours until the inflammation subsides.
Tea
The tannic acid in tea can help reduce inflammation in minor injuries or bites. Just make a strong brew and apply to the affected areas.
Vinegar
Vinegar is great to keep your dog’s skin healthy and shiny. A solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar to 3 parts water can be used to rinse the dog after his bath with a medicated shampoo. This helps keep the coat healthy and shiny. It helps to leave the solution on the animal’s skin for ten minutes before rinsing it off with water. Care needs to be taken to keep the solution out of the dog’s eyes.
Butter
Butter is an excellent lubricant and a great remedy for your kitty’s hairballs. You can give her ½ to 1 teaspoon butter every day for up to a week and help ease the hairball out of her system.
