Pet Home Remedies

Owning a pet is expensive enough without having to run to the veterinarian every time your dog or cat vomits or gets a skin rash. There are many ways to care for your pet at home, with remedies that can come right out of your cupboard. These may include concoctions you whip up yourself or everyday products you have lying around the house.

There are many home remedies for preventing and killing fleas. Once of the easiest is using a flea comb. This is a fine-toothed comb that catches fleas and flea eggs. After each pass through your dog or cat's fur, be sure to dip the comb in warm, soapy water to dislodge the fleas. Another easy home remedy for fleas is a bath with dishwashing soap. Make sure to start at the head and work down so the fleas can't flee to your dog or cat's head and ears. Dish soap works by suffocating the fleas and making your pet's fur too oily for the eggs to attach. Vacuuming every day helps to cut down on the flea population in your home if your pet has been infested. There are also several herbs and other substances that work as flea repellants. Cedar oil and shavings will help keep fleas away, as will citronella oil, mint and eucalyptus.

While fleas are the biggest concern for pet owners, there are plenty of other insects that can be irritating to your pet and you. If your pet gets ear mites, home-remedies-for-you.com suggests mixing half an ounce of almond with vitamin E and putting a drop or two in each ear. The mixture smothers the mites and promotes healing. For insect bites and bee stings, you can dab some baking soda and water on the bite to help relieve the pain and itching.

Dogs and cats are notorious for having stomach problems. With dogs it's usually because they ate something they shouldn't have. Cats and dogs both are prone to vomiting if they eat too much too fast. You can try withholding food for a few hours to see if things clear up. Remember to make sure your pet is drinking to ensure he stays hydrated. Once the stomach upset seems to have cleared, reintroduce small amounts of food, or, for dogs, feed them something bland like plain white rice or boiled hamburger with the fat drained off. If the problem seems more chronic and your vet has pronounced your pet otherwise healthy, try a different food or a different dinnertime routine. For instance, you can raise your pet's bowl to keep him from gulping in air, which can cause gas and stomach upset. Or if the problem seems to be eating too fast, place an object in your pet's bowl that he has to eat around. This will force him to eat more slowly. If you want to take a more direct route to curing your pet's stomach ailments, some human remedies are appropriate. For instance, dogs can take Pepto-Bismol; however, it should not be given to cats.

Your pet should have its teeth examined and, if necessary, cleaned by a vet regularly. But if your pet is still having issues with bad breath, there are a few home remedies to try. You can brush your pet's teeth at home more frequently to try to alleviate the problem. Also, home-remedies-for-you.com suggests feeding your pet raw carrots to help with bad breath. Avoiding table scraps and canned food may also help.

You should never attempt so substitute home remedies for the care of a qualified veterinarian. If the home remedy you are using isn't clearing up the problem within a reasonable time, then it's time to take your dog or cat to the vet.