While we can not diagnose or treat your pets through our website, we would like to share some of our favorite home remedies/recipes for common problems pet owners incur that don't always require an immediate trip to the Veterinarian. If your pets problem persists despite home care, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

There are many over-the-counter human medications that we can use for our pets. Please always call our office before you give your pet ANY medication that was not prescribed. Tylenol, Advil, and Motrin are safe and effective for humans but can cause severe damage to our furry friends, so please NEVER give your pets any of these three products as it can cause serious health problems even in small doses. .

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can also be caused from a wide range of things pets get into. We treat diarrhea similar to vomiting with the exception of water. If your pet is not vomiting but does have diarrhea do NOT remove the water. Pets can get dehydrated quickly with diarrhea and we want to make sure that does not happen. If your pet does have diarrhea try the following:

  1. Give small (2 TBSP) amounts of the bland diet (recipe below) frequently for 12-24 hours.
  2. Once diarrhea clears, continue bland diet for 2-3 days.
  3. Slowly begin to mix the bland diet with your pets normal dog food over the next 2 days until they are back to eating their regular diet.

Upset Stomach / Vomiting

Vomiting in pets can be caused from something as simple as a table scrap that didn't agree with their tummy all the way to an intestinal obstruction that needs surgical attention. If you follow these instructions and your pet is still vomiting after 24 hours, please call our office to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians.

  1. Take ALL food and water away for 12-24 hours.
  2. If vomiting subsides give small amounts of water for the next 12-24 hours.
  3. If water is held down, place pet on bland diet (recipe below) for 2-3 days.

Recipe for Bland Diet

2/3 cup of cooked rice (Instant is fine)
1/3 cup of cottage cheese
Make enough of the recipe to last 2-4 days. Keep refrigerated.

Dry Skin Treatments

Itchy, dry skin is a very common problem with our pets as well as people. This is especially true during the fall/winter months as we turn our furnaces on and the humidity in our homes drop. There are many wonderful skin and coat conditioners currently on the market for animals, but here is a simple mixture that works great!

1 part Alpha Keri Bath Oil
20 parts water

Prepare this mixture in a spray bottle and apply to pet daily. Be sure to work the mist down into the coat so it conditions the skin. If your pet looks oily, just dilute the mixture with a little more water. If your pet has allergies, be sure to avoid any bath oil that is perfumed, which may further irritate the allergic condition.

Seasonal Allergies

Just like it can for humans, seasonal allergies can really be tough on our dog friends. Dogs can safely take antihistamines, but it can vary from pet to pet which would be the best option. Please call our clinic for help with choosing the best OTC product and dosing for your pet.

Some pets will respond to the over-the-counter treatments, and some will get no relief at all (or so it may seem). While there is no cure for allergies, we do have many options to help control the symptoms that bother your pet the most. Allergies can get worse as a pet gets older and is exposed to the allergen multiple times. Late summer and early fall seem to be the worst times of year for our furry friends. Signs of allergies include licking at the paws or chewing on legs, chronic ear infections and general itching all over.

Owners will often call worried their pet has a fever because they feel warm to the touch. While a dog with a fever will feel exceptionally warm, even a dog with a normal temperature feels warm to humans. This is due to the fact that a dogs' normal body temperature is nearly 3 degrees higher than ours. They reside at a toasty warm 101.5 degrees.