Home Remedies
Following are some uses for common products found around the house to help your pets when minor things occur and you cannot get to your veterinarian.
INDUCING VOMITING
What do you do if your dog has accidentally (or not!) ingested something that they should not have? On the advice of a veterinarian, you may be able to get your dog to vomit at home using 3% hydrogen peroxide to avoid coinciding effects.
The following is a dosage chart for 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE according to weight, that is used to induce vomiting in dogs:
| Weight (lbs) | Dosage |
| 0-5 lbs | 1/2 tsp |
| 5-10 lbs | 1 tsp |
| 10-20 lbs | 2 tsp |
| 20-40 lbs | 1 tbsp |
| 40+ lbs | 2 tbsp |
The hydrogen peroxide must be given orally. It is a good idea to have on hand a syringe, to ease the process of administering the peroxide. Syringes are available at most pharmacies. The peroxide is only effective is the dog ingests it, it will not work if it runs out the side of the dog’s mouth. You can repeat the dose once if there has been no vomiting after 10-15 minutes.
Inducing vomiting is not recommended for certain items. For a list of commonly ingested toxic substances in which vomiting may be induced, and a list of those in which inducing vomiting is contraindicated, see our Toxicities page. If you are unable to find the item from the Toxicities page, check with your veterinarian before inducing vomiting.
The use of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting in cats is ineffective and therefore not recommended. If your cat has ingested a toxic substance or object, seek veterinary help as soon as possible.
ALLERGIC REACTIONS
What do you do if you think your pet is having an allergic reaction to something they have come in contact with? On the advice of your veterinarian, you may be able to administer Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) at home to help counteract the allergic reaction.
Here is a dosage chart for BENADRYL (DIPHENHYDRAMINE) according to weight, to determine the proper amount to administer to your pet:
| Weight | Dosage |
| 1-10 lbs |
1 tsp liquid (2.5 mg/ml) |
| 11-30 lbs | 1 tab (25 mg) |
| 30+ lbs | 2 tabs (50 mg) |
The dose given can be repeated every 8-12 hours until symptoms subside. If after 30-60 minutes, you see no improvement, you should seek veterinary attention.
Always check with your veterinarian first to determine whether it is safe to administer this medication to your pet.
HOME MADE ELIZABETHAN COLLAR
Need to keep your pet from licking or chewing at something??? Here is how to make an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) from items you have around the house, that can be used temporarily until one can be purchased from your veterinarian.
Items that can be used to make a temporary E-collar:
- ice cream pail
- margerine container
- large piece of thick paper or cardboard
If you are using the pail or margarine container, cut a hole in the bottom of the container just large enough to fit your pet’s head through it. Ensure not to leave any rough edges that may cause trauma to your pet’s neck by padding the edges with cloth or thick tape. Next, puncture several holes around the cut out section. Weave a string or shoe lace through the holes, in order to tie it up around your pet’s neck tight enough that they cannot push it off, but not too tight as to choke them. Rule of thumb is that you should be able to fit 2 fingers under the string.
If you are using the paper or cardboard, cut a triangular shape out of the material large enough that when it is folded into a funnel/cone shape, it will sit past your pet’s nose. Roll it into a funnel/cone shape and fasten it with tape, glue, or staples, once again ensuring the smaller end of the funnel/cone is just big enough to fit your pet’s head through it. Punch holes around the opening that the pet’s head will fit in and weave string or a shoe lace through it. Secure the cone onto you pet, tying the string tight, once again making sure you can get 2 fingers underneath the string.
If you do not have any of the above items but need to prevent your pet from licking or chewing at itself, try a t-shirt or baby one-sie to cover an area on the belly. Slip your pet’s back legs through the arm holes of the shirt and pull it over the backside and abdomen toward the head. A small sock can be used to cover a paw or leg temporarily until you can get a proper E-collar.
MAKE-SHIFT MUZZLE
Sometimes a situation may arise in which your pet is so painful or uncomfortable that you may need to place a muzzle on them, to prevent them from biting you. You can make temporary muzzles at home using string, shoelaces, belts, rope or any other kind of material that can be used to wrap around their muzzle.
Being extremely careful not to get bit, take your string or other item, and make a loop in it, leaving the loop big enough to fit around your pet’s muzzle. Place it around your pet’s muzzle and tighten the loop using a simple knot. Then, take each loose end of the string and bring it under the muzzle again. Criss-crossing the ends under the muzzle, bring each loose end behind your pets ears where you will then tie the string to secure it to your pet. Please note that your pet may not like this and may toss their head around or try to paw at the makeshift muzzle to try and get it off. Make sure to give your pet lots of reassurance and try to keep them calm. Once the muzzle is in place, you can then move your pet for transport.
SKUNK SHAMPOO
What do you do if you pet was sprayed by a skunk? Here is a simple recipe to try using ingredients commonly found around the house, or which can be readily picked up at your the grocery store or pharmacy…
- 940ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1 teaspoon sunlight dish soap
Wearing gloves, mix all 3 ingredients together into a paste, and spread it all over your pet’s fur, ensuring not to get any into their eyes. If you have a larger dog you may have to increase the recipe enough times to cover the entire dog. Let the paste sit on the pet for about 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
If your pet was sprayed directly in the eyes and/or mouth please make sure to rinse both areas with lots of water, to help ease any irritation the spray may cause.
ANTI-DIARRHEAL
What do you do if you dog has diarrhea? Kaopectate, which is available over the counter at pharmacies, can be administered to your dog to ease diarrhea. Make sure to check with your veterinarian before administering this product to ensure it is safe to use in regards to your dog’s condition. Use the following chart to determine the approproate dose to administer to your dog.
The dose of Kaopectate is dependant on the weight of the animal:
| Under 25lbs | 1 teaspoon (5mls) |
| 25-50lbs | 1 tablespoon (15mls) |
| Over 50lbs | 2 tablespoons (30mls) |
You can administer this dose to your dog every 8-12 hours as needed for 1-2 days. If the diarrhea is not improving after that time, seek veterinary attention.
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NAIL TRIMMED TOO SHORT What do you do if you have trimmed your pet’s nail too short? To help stop the bleeding, dip the nail in cornstarch or flour. Using a cloth or tissue apply pressure to the nail for at least 2 minutes or as long as the pet will tolerate it. Try to have your pet stay still and off the foot for at least 10 minutes after. If the nail continues to bleeding excessively, you may need to seek veterinary attention. |
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
My 4 yr old shihtzu feels feverish at times for the past two days. Can I give him anything? I haven’t noticed any other symptoms.
If you want to know the true temperature of your pet, you will need to use a thermometer (digital preferably) rectally. Insert the thermometer into the rectum and hold there for at least 1 minute. The normal temperature for a dog should be between 37.5 and 39.5 degrees celcius or 99.5 to 103.1 degrees farenheit. We cannot administer human fever medications to dogs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) as it can be toxic to their liver. The best thing to do is check his temperature to confirm a fever and if he does have one, see your veterinarian for an exam and they can figure out the cause of the fever and give the appropriate treatment.
my lil dog is bound up, is there something i can do to help at home?
Bound up as in constipated?
I NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT HOW TO HELP MY CAT JASON WITH SEVERE CONSTIPATION AT HOME NATURALLY.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT MY EMAIL.
THANK YOU.
For severe constipation the cat will need to have veterinary attention. There is nothing natural at home I can suggest. Typically the cat will be anesthetized and have the stool manually removed. As well, fluids will be give to help combat dehydration and pain relief is often needed. For minor constipation you can feed cats canned pumpkin as it is high in fiber….this is of course if the cat will eat it. Try mixing it with some canned cat food. This is a good way to prevent constipation as well.
My 6 month old puggle has one ear that is red inside. Could it be an infection? If so is there something I can do for it at home?
It could certainly be an ear infection. Is there any brown discharge in the ear? Ear infections are typically caused by either a yeast overgrowth or bacteria. To properly treat it, we must look at a swab of the discharge if any is present under a microscope to determine which organism is the culprit. So this does require a trip to see your veterinarian. As far as home remedies for ear infections go, I am not aware of any. However, you can try cleaning the ear with some ear cleanser for dogs available at most pet store and vet clinics to give the dog some relief if you cannot get to see the vet immediately. If your dog is shaking it’s head profusely, make sure you do get the dog seen asap as violent shaking of the head and ears can cause blood vessels in the ears to rupture creating a hematoma which then requires a surgical correction.
Organic canned pumpkin is also good for diarreha. Just a couple of table spoons at a time is all thats needed and with the benefit of no chemicals. there are no side effects and no worry of over medicating your pet.
We do routinely suggest the use of canned pumpkin to help treat constipation in pets. The high fibre content of pumpkin helps to draw water into the colon which helps pass the stool. As you mentioned, canned pumpkin can help to treat mild cases of diarrhea as the fibre adds bulk to the stool. In severe cases of diarrhea, the additional water being drawn into the colon could actually make the diarrhea worse. Thanks for your comment!
i had my boyfriend trim my dog who is half pom and chiw, and he shaved her with a electric mens SHAVER! how do i help her painful razor burn that now she scratches and has sores all over her body
You can wet towels with cold water and compress the affected areas at home. However, now that she is scratching at her razor burn and the fact that it is truly that painful, your dog should really seek veterinary attention. The veterinarian after an examination will want to prescribe your dog anti-inflammatories and pain relievers to make her more comfortable as the razor burn heals.
i have a short hair cat and she can’t have a bowlmovement for three days now.What can i do to help him .despered help. Thank you lilli
At this point you would have to seek veterinary attention for your cat. A cat that is this badly constipated will need to have it’s colon manually evacuated under anesthetic with some enemas. Ask your veterinarian for future medications and dietary suggestions to help prevent constipation from reocurring.
thank you for your advice.i went to see emas veterianian hospital in the afternoon and he took exray..he advised me to see the veterinary university hospital of philadelphia.appointment in the morning.thank you Kellie for your advice..
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