Herbal Remedies for Pets

Herbal remedies aren’t just for humans. If you haven’t yet tried medicinal herbs with your pets, it’s a great time to start. Animals, when in the wild, will automatically seek out herbs on their own if they’re sick. You can help the domestic animals in your home to feel better with herbal remedies just as you do the humans.

Stop Itching with Aloe Vera

You can use fresh aloe vera gel on flea bites or other skin irritation. Simply peel the aloe vera leaf and puree the inner flesh. Apply the gel to the itchy spots. It’s best to avoid your pet licking the area where the aloe is applied, as it can cause tummy problems.

Ease Anxiety with Oats

While you may not consider oats to be a medicinal herb, this grain can actually be very helpful. Dogs with anxiety or depression symptoms will benefit from having a little cooked oatmeal added to their meals every day.

Use Calendula Salve to Heal Cuts

Any pet can benefit from a salve made from calendula. The salve can be used to help heal minor cuts, scrapes, and even minor burns. Simply apply the salve twice a day to the area. You may need to use a cone or bandage to prevent the animal from licking the wound.

Calm a Dog’s Upset Stomach with Ginger

A little ginger tea (roughly 2 tablespoons in 2 cups of hot water) that has been cooled can do wonders for easing nausea in dogs. You can give just a little, a couple of tablespoons to see results. Do not give ginger to cats.

Corn Silk Treats Incontinence

Harvest fresh corn silk and dehydrate it until it’s dry enough to grind to a powder. Sprinkle a tablespoon of the powder on your pet’s food to help treat urinary incontinence. Keep in mind that you need to ensure there is no underlying infection causing the incontinence.

Deworm Your Pets Naturally with Pumpkin Seeds

You can give pumpkin seeds to your pets to naturally dispose of worms. To make a quick and easy remedy, blend ½ cup of raw pumpkin seeds with 1/8 cup of coconut oil. Add a teaspoon daily in the pet’s food for cats or small dogs and a tablespoon for medium-sized dogs. Large dogs can take two tablespoons a day. You can do this regularly or just for a week every six months.

Stop Bad Breath with Parsley

Add some chopped, fresh parsley to your pup’s food at the next meal to help with their bad breath. This can also be used for cats to ease urinary tract issues.

Boost Dental Health with Green Tea

Green tea is just as good for your pets as it is for you. Brew it cold by adding a tablespoon of green tea to a liter of cold water and let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain out the tea and keep the water in the fridge. You can mix 1/8 cup twice a day into food for cats and little dogs, ½ twice a day for medium dogs, and large dogs can have a cup twice a day. You may also offer it alongside drinking water. This helps freshen your pet’s breath and keeps their teeth and gums healthy and clean.

Treat Hairballs and Tummy Upsets with Slippery Elm Bark

Slippery elm bark can be dried and powdered for use with your pets. Mix ¼ teaspoon of the powder into water for any pet under 10 lbs and then add another ¼ teaspoon for every 10 lbs after that. For example, a 50 lb. dog would have 1 ¼ teaspoon of slippery elm mixed into water and fed to them.

Relieve Gas with Dill

Does your pet suffer from bad gas? If you’ve noticed some extra flatulence around the house, it’s time to get out the dill. More specifically, the seeds. You can crush the seeds and steep 1 teaspoon in ½ cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Cool and strain the tea, then add a few tablespoons at a time to your pet’s food. Some like to drink it right out of the water bowl.

Oregano Treats Fungal Infections on Dogs

Oregano should never be given to cats. However, it can be a great wash for dogs with fungal skin problems. Simply boil 2 tablespoons of oregano leaves in a cup of water and cool. Rinse the affected area with the oregano tea. If your pet allows you, drape a soaked cloth over the area for a few minutes.

Calm Your Pet with Valerian

This is actually a very unique herb in that it will calm a dog or rabbit down, but perks cats right up. For cats, you can simply grow the herb in a container within their reach and they will eat it on their own in most cases. This is helpful if you have a cat that needs more exercise. However, in other animals, it has a soporific effect and is useful for treating anxiety. Make a tea with 1 tablespoon of fresh leaves mixed into 2 cups of boiling water and mix into your pet’s food, a couple of tablespoons at a time.

Clean Oozing Eyes with Goldenseal

Do you have a pet with weepy or infected eyes? While major infections require a vet, you can treat minor ones by making a tea with goldenseal and washing your pet’s eyes with it. Simply boil a couple of tablespoons of goldenseal in water and let cool. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and use it to wipe the eyes clean. Be sure to use a fresh part of the cloth for each eye to avoid passing the infection back and forth.

Chamomile Tea Spray Reduces Skin Irritations

Have a cat or dog with irritated skin or a mild rash? You can make a tea with 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile in 2 cups of boiling water. Cool and use as a spray for the pet’s skin. Keep it in the fridge for up to a week.

Licorice Root Helps Ease Arthritis

If you have an older cat or dog, you may notice that they are getting a little stiff in the joints. Animals can develop arthritis and licorice root is a good natural remedy for it. It’s also helpful for cleaning the blood and preventing coughs. You may add powdered root to your pet’s food or give them a drop of tincture per every 10 lbs.

Treating Pets Safely with Herbs

Just because you can use a remedy yourself doesn’t mean it’s automatically safe for your pet. You should always check with your vet before administering a herbal remedy, particularly if your pet is already on medication. Avoid treating pregnant animals, as well.

Keep an eye out for any potential reactions and if in doubt, use a smaller dose and see if your pet reacts. If you’re trying something new, be sure to research the toxicity for pets before you begin.

Herbs can be medicinal for both humans and animals and when you use them safely, it’s a great way to naturally help your furry friends feel better.

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