Home Remedies for Dogs

Many health issues in dogs may not require a costly trip to the veterinarian clinic, as they can be addressed at home by using a variety of home remedies.  The following are some of the most potent, best home remedies for dogs that guardians should keep in mind, listed alongside each potential dog health problem.

Home Remedies for Dogs
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

 Anxiety

• Aconite - a common remedy for dog anxiety and fear, is sold commercially and available in several forms, online or at most places that sell homeopathic remedies.
• Dog-appeasing Essential Oil Diffusers (DAP) - studies have found these pheromones most effective for calming dogs and their anxiety.
• Herbs - several herbs, including chamomile, valerian, and St. John's Wort, can help minimize or diminish a dog's anxiety.
• Lavender Infused Collar - lavender is known to calm both people and dogs.  The collar can be purchased online, or you can make it at home.
• Zylkene - is a natural remedy for anxiety in dogs made from a milk protein that creates a calm feeling in the dog.  It is available in capsule form.  

 
Bad Breath
Brush Dog's Teeth:  the best natural remedy is simply the act of brushing itself.  Ideally, you should brush at least once daily, but if not, once a week.  You can use natural dog toothpaste, which you can make yourself.

• Cinnamon - this breath-freshening spice can be sprinkled on a dog's food or add one to two drops of the oil to their water.
• Coconut Oil - the benefits of coconut oil are well-known.  Add a teaspoon of this to a dog's food to help fight bad breath.  It can also be used to brush a dog's teeth.
• Dental Chews - look for natural dog chews with chlorophyll, cinnamon, and cloves in their ingredients or other scientifically proven ingredients.
• Healthy Mouth Dental Water - sold commercially (like this one), contains natural ingredients designed to kill a dog's mouth bacteria and eliminate bad breath, including enzymes and chlorophyll.
• Neem - similar to coconut oil, this extract from the neem tree has many positive effects on a dog's overall health and can be added to their food twice a week to promote oral health.
• Peppermint or Spearmint Oil - add one to two drops to the dog's water bowl, and it will work like Listerine, freshening your pet's breath.
• Probiotics - using a pet probiotic made for dogs will replace the harmful bacteria in their gut with good bacteria that ward off bad breath.
• Wheatgrass - it has raw chlorophyll in it, which helps to freshen breath and can be added to dog food.  

 
Constipation
Only use one of these remedies at a time.  Using more than one or given together can lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration in dogs.

• Coconut Oil or Olive Oil - natural fruit or vegetable, added to your dog's food or water, can act as a lubricant to soften your dog's stool.  Remember to never administer oils directly into the dog's mouth, as they can be inhaled and cause pneumonia.
• Exercise - being sedentary can cause constipation in dogs.  It can be remedied by taking the dog on a long walk or playing fetch with them for at least 15-30 minutes twice daily.
• Ginger and Broth - commonly used to relieve indigestion, mix 1/4 teaspoon of ginger into a half cup of chicken or beef broth and feed it to dogs suffering from constipation.
• Green Beans - Add cooked green beans, which are rich in fiber, into your dog's kibble or homemade meal to help speed up bowel movements.
• Milk - many dogs are lactose intolerant and should not drink milk.  But giving a dog a small bowl of milk can stimulate movement and alleviate constipation.
• Milk of Magnesia - is only for very severe cases of dog constipation.  Mix one tablespoon into the dog's food or pumpkin and add the combination to the food.
• Prunes - just as they work for people, they can work for dogs, too.  Add diced prunes to dog food (kibble or home-cooked meal), making sure never to add any part of the pit of a prune to the food, as prune pits are toxic to dogs.
• Psyllium - unflavored Metamucil, is sold at most drug and grocery stores.  Mixing 1/2 of a teaspoon for every 10 pounds of the dog's body weight into their food once daily can relieve constipation.
• Pumpkin - add 1 to 4 tablespoons of canned pumpkin to a constipated dog's food.  Always verify that it is plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, as the added sugars and spices in the pie filling can be toxic to dogs.
• Water - dehydration can cause and worsen constipation.  Increasing a dog's water intake is helpful and essential when constipating, especially if their fiber intake has increased significantly.
• Wet Food - canned damp food has a higher water content than dry food and can help relieve constipation when given to dogs instead of dry food.

 
Deter Flies
Never apply essential oils to a dog's skin or fur without diluting them first, and always avoid spraying these oils near your dog's face (eyes, nose, mouth), as they can be painful and harmful.  The best way to apply the mixture is to spray on a rag first.

• Aloe - apply the gel from an aloe plant to a dog's ears to deter flies.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - apply topically, making a mixture of a 1:1 ratio of apple cider vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle, and administer to the dog's ears and face or add to the dog's water.  Most dogs do not like the taste.
• Citronella Oil - spray with one ounce of this oil, plus one ounce of apple cider vinegar, mixed with one cup of distilled water, and apply topically.
• Essential Oils - several oils will naturally repel flies, including geranium, Idaho tansy, lavender, lemon, rosemary, and sandalwood.  Dilute 5 to 10 drops of the essential oil in a 32-ounce spray bottle of distilled water and apply to the dog topically.
• Healthy Diet - feeding a dog the best quality and nutrition-rich foods will help keep the dog strong and healthy, making the dog less appealing to flies than a weak and unhealthy animal.
• Moisturizer - rub your dog's skin with a scented moisturizer or water-based sunscreen that has been diluted with water before they go outside.
• Ointment - mix equal parts permoxin (an insecticide that keeps fleas, ticks, and flies away from dogs) and baby oil.  Apply to the dog's ears to heal and prevent bites.
• Rubs - apply a mentholated rub or Vaseline product to a dog's ears to prevent flies from buzzing around your dog.

 
Environment - keeping the environment clean, picking up your dog's poop, and so forth will significantly decrease the amount of flies flying near your dog (among many other benefits).
 
Deter Fleas

• Apple Cider Vinegar - mix 4 oz warm water, 6 oz unfiltered and organic ACV, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt in a spray bottle, and spray on the dog's coat and underbelly once per week.
• Baking Soda - sprinkle baking soda all over your carpets and furniture, rub it in with a stiff brush, vacuum the home and furniture thoroughly, empty the contents in a bag, and throw it away outside.
• Dish Soap - fill bowls or plates with warm water and dish soap and set them in rooms with flea activity.  The mixture acts like glue, trapping and killing the fleas.  Repeat this method with fresh soap water daily until fleas are gone, and set out at night as fleas are nocturnal.
• Flea Repelling Plants - basil, catnip, chrysanthemums, lavender, lemon balm, lemongrass, mint, pennyroyal, rosemary, sage, and spearmint plants can be placed throughout the home, especially by all doors, and in outdoor living spaces to naturally repel fleas because they contain specific oils and chemicals that fleas despise.
• Garlic Water Spray - fleas hate garlic, so it is practical to mix eight heads of garlic with nearly boiling water in a large soup pan, let it sit for 10 hours, strain the garlic cloves out, pour the remaining mixture into a garden sprayer, and lightly spray all outdoor lawn and garden areas.  Do not soak your lawn or garden, as doing so can harm good bugs.
• Herbal Spray - mix 4 liters of vinegar, 2 liters of water, 500 ml of lemon juice, and 250 ml of witch hazel in a large spray bottle.  Heavily spray this mixture on carpets, floors of all types, furniture, bedding (both dog and human), and window sills AFTER vacuuming, dusting, and sweeping the house, and washing all human and dog bedding, as well as infected furniture cushions/pillows.
• Lemon Spray - cut a lemon into quarters, put it in a pint-sized container, pour boiling water over it, let it sit overnight, pour the mixture into a spray bottle, and spray all over any infested areas and surfaces.  Dampen, but do not soak the areas that need spraying.
• Neem Oil - add a few drops of this natural tree oil to your pet's shampoo, or dilute it with a bit of Dawn dishwashing soap and spray directly on your dog's coat to deter fleas.  It can also be applied directly to the dog.
• Salt - sprinkle fine ground salt all over your carpets and flooring in each room, leave it to sit, and dehydrate fleas for 1 to 2 days, then vacuum the house thoroughly and empty the contents of the vacuum into an outdoor trashcan.  

 
Deter Ticks
Natural tick deterrents are most effective when used in combination with one another.

• Apple Cider Vinegar - again, this mixture comes to the rescue.  Add two tablespoons to the dog's food or water.
• Citrus Repellent - cut a lemon into quarters, put it in a pint-sized container, pour boiling water over it, let it sit overnight, pour the mixture into a spray bottle, and spray it on your dog.
• Garlic - large amounts of garlic are toxic, but a tiny bit added to your dog's food makes their smell less attractive to ticks.
• Essential Oils - apply a few drops of Rose Geranium or Palo Santo essential oil to a dog's collar, or mix with two tablespoons of almond (carrier) oil and apply directly to the dog's neck.
• Pants for Dog - you can buy doggy socks or booties to protect their paws.  For more protection, using your old socks or anything that will fit a dog, like pants, can also work and prevent ticks from latching onto their legs, especially if the dog is hiking through tall grass or wooded areas known to have ticks.
• Tick Shampoo - mix several drops of Palo Santo essential oil with an organic lavender shampoo, lather it into the dog's fur, sit for 20 minutes, then rinse.

 
Diarrhea

• Activated Charcoal - found in powder or tablet form.  Four tablets can be dissolved in lukewarm water and given to your dog by mouth, via a syringe, up to three times a day until a dog stops having diarrhea.  It helps absorb toxins in the digestive system and clean out bacteria and viruses causing diarrhea.
• Fresh Water - dehydration is not only the result of diarrhea but can also cause dog diarrhea, so make sure your pup always has access to clean, fresh water that is changed multiple times each day.
• Bland Foods - including boiled or baked potatoes, cooked white rice, plain protein such as eggs, boiled chicken or turkey, and plain chicken broth with no added seasoning.  Everything must be cooked plain, without butter, oil, or seasonings, and the skin on the meat and potatoes must be removed before serving.
• Electrolyte Drinks - Diarrhea causes dehydration, and certain drinks, such as unflavored Pedialyte, can help replenish nutrients and electrolytes.
• Herbs - such as fennel, ginger, and slippery elm have soothing effects on a dog's upset stomach and can all be given safely to canines.  These herbs are found online or at most natural food and homeopathic health stores.
• Pepto Bismol - use a syringe to administer Pepto Bismol to your dog via their mouth, following the weight directions found on the back of the bottle for the dog's weight.
• Probiotics - found naturally in plain yogurt and cottage cheese, which should only be fed to dogs that do well with milk products, or it could worsen the diarrhea.  For lactose intolerant dogs, powdered and capsule forms of probiotics can be mixed into the dog's food.
• Pumpkin - add 1 to 4 tablespoons of canned pumpkin to a constipated dog's food.  Make sure it is plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, as the added sugars and spices can be toxic to dogs.
• Rice Water - boil high-quality rice in a large amount of distilled water, strain out all rice grains, and serve the dog the remaining creamy white soup.  A bit of broth or baby food can be added to help the soup taste better and entice dogs to drink it.

 
Ear Wax Removal

• Almond Oil - apply almond oil to a cotton ball or gauze pad and rub it inside your dog's ears.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - apply a solution of half ACV and half distilled water to cotton balls and rub the mixture gently inside the dog's ears.
• Vinegar and Alcohol - mix one-third white vinegar to two-thirds water with one-half teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol in a bottle and shake it up to mix contents.  Dab cotton balls with this solution into the dog's ears.

 
Gas

• Enzymes - add foods to a dog's diet that are known to have specialized proteins called enzymes (such as papaya, melon, raw honey, bee pollen, and coconut water), which help break down the food a dog eats into smaller, easier-to-digest pieces.  Alternatively, purchase a high-quality enzyme formula dietary supplement that can be added to a dog's food.
• Ginger - scientific research has revealed that ginger helps to stimulate and promote a healthy digestive process in dogs.  The amounts of ginger a dog should be given are based on weight.
• Parsley - - add 2 to 3 tablespoons of freshly chopped or dried parsley to your dog's food to help reduce odorous smells in their digestive system, resulting in less smelly gas.
• Peppermint Oil - add one to two drops of peppermint oil to a dog's water or food to help reduce the amount of gas a dog has.
• Yogurt - this food that most dogs love to eat- is one of the easiest ways to get good bacteria into a dog's digestive system, which will benefit proper digestion and lead to the dog having less gas.

 
Motion Sickness in the Car

• Ginger Root Extract - this remedy should be taken approximately 30 minutes before a car ride.  Works for a dog that gets car sick.
• Nux Vomica - this homeopathic remedy is sold commercially online and in pellet form at most natural food and homeopathic stores.  Veterinarians commonly advise pet owners to give 4 to 6 pellets to a dog via their mouth, letting the tablets fully dissolve in the dog's mouth before car rides.

 
Sprayed by Skunk

• Apple Cider Vinegar - mix two parts water with one part ACV, wet the dog's coat thoroughly, then work the ACV solution throughout all of the fur, let sit for 5 minutes, and rinse well, making sure the solution does not get in dog's eyes as it will burn.
• Feminine Hygiene Products - for small pets, mix 2 oz Massengill douche with one-gallon water (for large pets, double the amount of both ingredients), thoroughly rub the mixture into the dog's coat, let sit for 15 minutes, then wash your dog with pet shampoo and rinse well.
• Vanilla Extract - mix one cup of pure vanilla extract with one gallon of water and pour the mixture over the dog.  Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash the dog with shampoo.
• Hydrogen Peroxide Mix - combine one quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and one teaspoon of Dawn dish wash liquid, rub thoroughly into the dog's coat, keep it out of their eyes, and sit for 5 minutes, then rinse well.