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.

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.