Vet check or Home remedy?

What to do when your beloved pooch shows signs of illness, besides worry? Our Pack knows how much your pet means to you and how hard it can be to see an animal suffer. With that being said, it’s also understandable to ask the question, is this a Vet-worthy situation? Regardless of the amount of love shared between you and your pup, the cost of vetting can make even the most devoted pet parent hesitate.

A valid question(s) to ask is, is this an emergency, life or death, severe, scary or otherwise a bona fide cause for alarm? If you are answering yes or are hovering on the fence, it’s likely time to get you and your Poochie Patient in to your vet ASAP. There are some vet offices that will provide an opinion or advice at a minimal to no fee and, some take phone calls to answer questions without a visit.

For minor triaging, there are some amazing home remedy treatments available for use at the fraction of the cost of a vet visit. It’s probably a good idea to keep some of the items mentioned below on hand because having a slightly under the weather pup is a matter of when and not if. 

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Bowel Function - constipation – If you notice your dog straining to move its bowels or there is no bowel activity at all, try 1 of the following:
Canned Pumpkin

• NOT the pie filling variety, just good old plain pumpkin, 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon depending on his size. Pureed pumpkin baby food also works

Bran

• Add some extra fiber in the form of Bran, Metamucil, Benefiber or similar products. About 1/2 teaspoon added to your pup’s meals for a few days. If your dog weighs over 50lbs you can use 1 tablespoon instead
  

Oil

• 1/2 tsp of olive oil added to meals 
• Note, do not feed bones of any kind. If you suspect your dog has ingested something harmful, call your vet immediately

Dehydration – If your dog is ill enough to be dehydrated, they should be seen by your vet. Once a treatment is in place here are some tips to help hydrate your pooch:

• Lots of fresh water
• Unflavored electrolyte water (pedialyte)
• Ice chips
• Wet dog food (canned)
• Broth

Bowel Function - diarrhea - this can be a very serious affliction to your pup. If you see loose, runny stool, signs of straining and, a high frequency of outdoor breaks there are some steps you can take to aid in recovery to normal bowel function. First, start by taking away food sources for 24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or ice chips. When reintroducing food try a small serving of 1 of the following:

• Plain cooked white rice
• boiled chicken or turkey (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)
• scrambled or boiled egg (no butter or oil)
• boiled or baked potato (no skin or flavorings)
• Boiled hamburger (drain away all fat)
• A combination of boiled hamburger and cooked white rice is a popular upset tummy remedy

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Dry noses – wet noses are the norm for dogs, if you see signs of dryness try the following:

• Apply olive oil or petroleum jelly sparingly and daily if needed

Eye infections – a common ailment for dogs as they use their faces to explore the world. When you see pup scratching or pawing at their eyes or note a discharge, try one of these remedies for temporary relief and then get right in to see your vet:

• Chamomile Tea
• Brew and cool a cup of tea. Either apply the cooled tea bag directly to the affected area or dab the tea around the eye with a clean cloth
• Polysporin
• Use your finger or a clean cloth to dab a small amount of Polysporin around the eye
• Note, this may take several days of reapplying regardless of chosen treatment
  

Fleas – extremely annoying and contagious to other animals, signs of fleas are easy to read, if you see non-stop scratching and suspect fleas try:

• Pop down to your vet office, over the counter remedies are available and it's not necessary to bring your pup along. If you are able to capture a flea and bring it along for identification purposes, (CSI FLEA STYLE) that can be helpful in selecting a treatment
• Eucalyptus
• Put several drops on a dog collar or bandana (dog safe only)
• Citrus Spray
• Combine thin sliced lemon and hot water. Soak for 12 hours and pour into a spray bottle. Safe to use directly on your pup (not on the eyes!) as well as on household items

Minor Lesions – scrapes happen, minor cuts under less than half inch long can be tended to at home with:

• Polysporin, apply the ointment and cover the wound, Polysporin should not be ingested
  
• Natural honey, safe on wounds, safe for ingestion
• Use a cone to prevent licking as risk of infection increases with constant licking (and honey is delicious)
• Note, try applying either remedy when pup has turned in for the night to avoid the inevitable licking spree
  

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Sprains and Strains – limping or sore spots can be treated using:

• Ice packs, use a towel or cloth to wrap the ice pack prior to applying to your pooch. use ice packs for 10 minutes out of every 60
• Keep activity to a minimum for 1 to 2 weeks
• Never: dispense pain relievers without consulting a vet 
• Note, Ibuprofen and Naproxin are both toxic to dogs 

Skin Irritations – itchy, rashy or scratchy? Try out one of these easy to make remedies:

• Make a paste using baby oatmeal and water, apply to itchy area. Rinse away the oatmeal with warm water after 10 minutes
• Chamomile tea works great on raw itchy skin. Pour brewed and cooled chamomile tea into a spray bottle and spritz to apply

Dull Coat – to keep Fido dressed to the 9’s in a shiny glorious coat, try the following:

• Regular grooming, grab a brush and head outside if you don’t want the extra hair flying around your home
• Provide daily doses of coconut oil, a small amount is fine, usually a teaspoon depending on weight
• Protection from the elements. Outdoor dogs tend to have thicker coarser coats
• Add high omega 3 foods to regular meals, 3 suggestions are sardines, salmon and tuna
• Upgrade your current dog food  to a higher quality brand
• Add a scrambled egg at meal time once or twice a week
• Note, some breeds are not genetically capable of shiny coats, for instance, most terriers and some hounds

While home remedies are great, they are not a substitute for proper and timely Vet care. If finances are an issue, please consider that some Vets offer a payment policy. There are also pet care credit card type plans available that will allow you to cover the full cost of treatment and make payments towards the balance on a monthly payment basis. 

A huge Pack Project thank you! goes out to our friends at Albert North Veterinary Clinic for their assistance in developing this list of home remedies. 

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