6 Human Home Remedies That Are Surprisingly Great for Pets
Did you know that many popular home remedies for humans also work for pets? If your pet has irritated skin or an infection, hold off on harsh antibiotics and try these natural ingredients first:
1. Colloidal Silver
In humans, colloidal silver is mainly used outside the body to treat burns and cuts (some
homeopathic medicine uses it for other things). For pets, colloidal silver is a great natural
remedy:
• Cuts
• Eye infections
• Ear infections
• Irritated sores
Colloidal silver is safe even for kittens and puppies. It has powerful antibiotic, antimicrobial and antifungal qualities, making it a general-purpose infection fighter for pets. Give dogs or cats a little colloidal silver in their water bowl or spray it gently onto problem areas.
2. Coconut Oil
Humans use coconut oil for a lot of health and beauty reasons. My wife swears by it for
moisturizing her skin, curing chapped lips and conditioning her hair (I wish I still had enough hair to give that a try).
What about pets? This natural remedy is great for keeping their skin hydrated and healthy.
Coconut oil is safe for cats and dogs. A dab can take amazing care of a dog’s sensitive paws and nose during winter (plus dogs love the taste). Feed a little to your cat or apply some directly to its coat to make the fur shinier.
3. Pureed Pumpkin
People aren’t only ones who need enough fiber in the diet. Older dogs can have constipation
issues from time to time (isn't that the truth). To get their digestive system back to normal, feed dogs pumpkin puree. Canned pumpkin is fine, but make sure it’s plain, not the kind with spices, which can irritate a dog’s stomach.
4. Echinacea, Chamomile and Calendula
These tea remedies are used by humans to ease the symptoms of a cold. Echinacea strengthens the immune system and chamomile has great inflammation-fighting properties. Calendula speeds up wound healing.
If your cat gets frequent respiratory infections, add some echinacea to its food. Many cats enjoy eating echinacea, so you shouldn’t have any trouble offering it.
Looking for a natural way to clean shallow bites or cuts? Brew some chamomile or calendula tea, let it cool off and put it in a spray bottle. Spritz this tea over the wound. For injured paws, let the paw soak in a bowl with the cool tea.
5. Plain Yogurt
Probiotics are just as good for dogs as for humans. If your dog is having trouble with loose stools or other digestive problems, give them a little unsweetened yogurt. It should calm their tummy trouble.
However, definitely do not give your cat yogurt (or other dairy for that matter). It’s not harmful, but lactose tends to irritate kitty bellies.
As versatile as diatomaceous earth is, however, don’t apply it to your flowers. Because it’s a non-selective natural pesticide, it doesn’t know the difference between good bugs and bad. Stick to plants, and give your garden helpers such as bees, butterflies and ladybugs a chance to thrive.
6. Lavender Oil
I don’t use it personally, but my wife loves taking baths with lavender oil and using it for
aromatherapy. This essential oil is great for calming a pet’s itchy skin. To avoid any allergies, you may want to dilute lavender oil in water or sunflower oil before applying it to their skin. Vitamin E oil is an even gentler option for skin irritation.
These soothing remedies make pets happy. Another benefit is you may not need to go to the
vet’s office as frequently. Saving money and taking care of pets at the same time is a win-win
situation.
