DIY DOG FRIENDLY, NATURAL HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

Dogs are frequently exposed to a vast array of toxins inside and outside the home. Many toxic substances are carcinogenic, but even if a toxic substance is not carcinogenic it can still cause problems for your dog’s health. Toxic burdens on your dog’s system weaken biological functions causing damage, and suppressing the immune system. Over time, toxins can build-up in a dog’s system causing a substantial toxic-load that can lead to many health issues including cancer. Daily exposure to the air born vapours, droplets, and surface residue of chemical based household cleaners are one of the villains a dog’s system must fight to stay healthy. You can help reduce the daily stress on his/her system by making your own dog friendly household cleaners. In addition, many of the chemicals are lethally poisonous to dogs and other animals.

The recipes provided below are also ‘green’ recipes - environmentally friendly. And one more big plus - they are not tested on animals as many standard household cleaners are!

The ingredients used in the recipes are natural products…

Baking Soda - also known as sodium bicarbonate has antiseptic and a water softening properties, it is excellent for removing stains and grease;

Lemon Juice - the juice of lemons is a natural chelating agent, natural preservative, anti-bacterial and anti-septic. You can use lemons in many other ways to support your dog's health too - read more here.

Salt - is a natural abrasive cleaner. Coarse salt offers greater abrasive action than fine salt.
Vinegar - Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties (primarily from the acetic acid and malic acid in ACV);

Water - it is best to use water that is not heavily laden with hard minerals.
  
Recipes

Brass and Copper - In a bowl, mix ¼ cup of table salt with lemon juice to make a paste. Apply the paste to copper or brass pots and pans, let sit for 5to 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Buff dry with a soft cloth.

Counter Top Stains - Rub half a cut lemon over the surface; let the juice sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean.

Carpet Cleaner - I use vinegar to remove all sorts of stains from carpet including blood, dirt, doggie accidents. Just spray or pour some vinegar on the stain, or fill your carpet cleaner reservoir with vinegar rather than chemical cleaning agent - let the vinegar sit for a few minutes then rub it by hand or go over it with the carpet cleaning machine. You can also use baking soda. Just sprinkle baking soda on the spot then spray vinegar on top and follow the same process mentioned above. You can also use salt to remove fresh carpet stains, such as red wine, coffee, etc. Pour salt on the stain, leave the salt until the spot dries and the vacuum-up the salt.

Disinfect Surfaces - To disinfect surfaces mix 1 part vinegar with four parts water, if you would like to add a scent you can squeeze some fresh lemon into the mixture.  Or you can disinfect and freshen surfaces like wood cutting boards by rubbing a cut lemon over the surface. Let the lemon juice sit for a few minutes prior to wiping clean.

Drain Cleaner - Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the clogged drain then immediately pour ½ cup of vinegar. Vinegar and baking soda react together and fizz. Cover the drain to contain the fizzing action within the drain.  After the fizzing action subsides, pour a litre or two of boiling water down the drain. For really clogged drains, you may need to use a drain snake after the boiling water.  

Floor Cleaner - (hard floor surfaces) Mix 1 part vinegar with four parts water, if you would like to add a scent you can squeeze some fresh lemon into the mixture.  To remove scuff marks from the floor - sprinkle the marks with baking soda and wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth.
Furniture Polish - Mix ¼ cup of olive oil, 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, apply to furniture with a soft cloth.

Glass Cleaner - Mix 2 cups water, ¼ cup vinegar and ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray on and then use newspapers to wipe down the surface for a streak free result. For a fast drying glass cleaner you can use this formula - but just remember alcohol is not safe for dogs to ingest so keep the spray bottle where your dog cannot get at it. In a spray bottle mix 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 cup rubbing alcohol. Spray on glass surface and then rub with newspaper. The alcohol smell is a little strong but dissipates as the alcohol drys.

Grease - Fill a spray bottle with plain white vinegar (you can also purchase extra-strength vinegar meant specifically for cleaning). If you do not want to use a spray you can simply dip a sponge or cloth in vinegar.  Use the vinegar to wipe down counter tops, dishes, pots and pans, cook tops, ovens, exhaust fans, etc. You can also use lemons, just combine the juice from two lemons with ½ cup of vinegar and use this to wipe down surfaces.

Insect Control - To keep household pests such as ants, spiders and fleas rub lemon juice or leave lemon peels in bug-prone areas such as baseboards, windowsills, kitchen cabinets.

Laundry Softener - Add a ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften clothes, linen, towels, etc. Vinegar naturally breaks down and dissolves laundry detergent - this softens the fabric.

Laundry Brightener - Lemon has natural bleaching properties, so for whiter fabrics add ½ cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle.

Mildew - Mix baking soda with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to create a paste; apply to bathroom grout, let stand for 30 minutes, then scrub.

Odor Control - Mix the juice of a fresh squeezed lemon to a ½ cup of water - pour into a spray bottle and spray.

Oven Cleaner - You will require the following ingredients to make this cleaner…
1 box (16 ounces) baking soda;
1/2 cup salt;
1/4 cup baking soda;
1/4 cup water;
3/4 cup white vinegar;
10 drops thyme essential oil;
10 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl then add just enough water to make a paste. Remove oven racks, pans etc. from the oven and preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Leave on preheat for 15 minutes then shut the heat off. Using a sponge or cloth, spread the paste on all of the surfaces (inside the oven) that you want to clean. Allow the paste to sit on the surfaces for 20 -30 minutes. Then combine the vinegar and the two essential oils in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the vinegar solution on the surfaces that have paste and wipe clean with a sponge or cloth. Then use warm water on a sponge or cloth to wipe the surfaces clean.

Pots, Pans and Dishes - To remove caked-on food from pots and pans, sprinkle with baking soda, add water and let them soak for a few hours. The baking soda will loosen the caked-on food. You can also add a little vinegar if you want to.

Rust - Mix salt with a little cream of tartar and add only enough water to make a paste. Apply the mixture to a rust stain on metal - allow the object to sit in the sun until the paste is dry, remove the paste with a little warm water. You can also make a similar paste using lemon juice and salt…add enough lemon juice to salt to create a paste, apply the past to the rust, rub with a soft dry cloth and then wipe clean with a little warm water and dry with a cloth. You can also soak the item in vinegar or wrap the item in vinegar soaked paper towels - then wrap in plastic to keep the towels from drying out. After a couple of hours or days (depending on the amount of rust) once the rust is loosened take a steel wool pad and remove the rust.

Sink Garburators - To cut odours and bacteria in your garbage disposal cut a lemon into chunks and place in the garbage disposal, turn garburator on.

Soap scum and Hard Water Deposits - Pour undiluted lemon juice on deposits, or rub a cut lemon over the resistant spots.

Stain Removal from Fabric - In a spray bottle, mix ½ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda and 3 cups then spray on fabric for a pre-wash laundry stain remover. Then toss the clothing into the washing machine. To remove dirt and grease from clothes add ½ cup of baking soda to the wash cycle.

Tile Grout Cleaner - Fill a spray bottle with 1 part water and 1 part vinegar, spray the solution on the tile and scrub with a toothbrush or other narrow brush.

Toilet Cleaner - Vinegar is anti-bacterial and deodorizes. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet and let sit. Then add a few tablespoons of baking soda, brush and flush the toilet.

Wall Washing Solution - Dust the wall, then mix 1quart warm water, with ¼ cup vinegar, 2 tbs of biodegradable liquid soap. Once you have finished washing the wall with the solution wipe the wall down with plain, warm water and then wipe the wall dry with a soft towel or cloth.

Whiten Toilets, Sinks, Bathtubs, etc. - Sprinkle the entire surface with a thin layer of baking soda and let sit for 10 minutes. Then spray or sprinkle on enough water to form a paste and scrub porcelain. You can also spray with vinegar instead of water. For extra whitening power you can also sprinkle with salt in addition to the baking powder.

For more information on ways to reduce the toxins in your dog’s daily environment and to boost your dog’s immune system you can read these articles…

Fresh Whole Foods for Your Dog’s Health

Herbs and Spices are Good for Your Dog’s Health

Coconut Oil is Good for Your Dog’s Health

How to Choose a Good Kibble for Your Dog

Foods That Your Dog Should Never Eat

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR DOGS, CATS WITH SORE, IRRITATED PAWS

If your dog or cat is suffering from allergies and/or resulting yeast infections of the paw (i.e. candida), or has come into contact with poisonous and/or toxic substances - giving your dog or cat a foot soak is very important to reduce discomfort, help treat the symptoms, remove harmful residue and stop your dog’s or cat’s need to lick and chew his/her paws. Toxins left on the paws can migrate into the dogs blood stream, and over time increase your dog's toxic load, compromise his/her immune system and trigger the development of cancer.

If your dog’s paws have come into contact with road salt, herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides it is very important to ensure that you remove the particulate and/or residue from these substances right away. Even if you cannot see anything on your dog’s paws - if he/she was walked on or brushed against surfaces or plants that are treated with these substances, a residue will be present on your dog’s paws, fur or skin. The toxic chemicals found in these substances can make their way into your dog’s blood stream by passing through your dog’s skin or when your dog licks his/her paws, fur or skin.

The most affective way to remove toxins (road salt, herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides) from your dog’s paws is to provide your dog with a 30 second foot soak. Depending on the size of your dog, you can do afoot soak in the bowl or basin, sink, bathtub, shower or in a small children’s pool.

It is important to note that dunking/placing your dog’s or cat’s paws in the soaking solution is not as affective as soaking the paw for 30 seconds. After the soak just pat your dog’s or cat’s paws dry - do not rub them dry as rubbing can cause irritation.

Foot Soak Recipe #1 - To Remove Toxins, Disinfect Paw Wounds, Treat Yeast Infections - Warm Water and Iodine

 

Iodine is a naturally occurring water-soluble element. Iodine is an excellent disinfectant as it has both anti-fugal and anti-viral properties, it is alsonon-toxic for dogs (but should not be ingested, just used topically). Iodine is a common disinfectant carried by most pharmacies. To remove toxins (road salt, herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides) from the surface of your dog’s paws - this soak can also be used to reduce itchy, inflamed, and other wise irritated paws…

• Fill the container you are using with warm water;
• Add enough iodine to make the water turn the colour of ice tea;
• Have your dog or cat stand in or hold his.her paw in the the water/iodine solution for 30 seconds;
• Then pat your dog’s or cat's paws dry.

Foot Soak Recipe #2 - To Treat Yeast Infections or Irritated Paws - Warm Water, Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

 

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties(primarily from the acetic acid and malic acid in ACV). To make this paw soak combine one gallon of water with one cup of hydrogen peroxide, and one cup of apple cider vinegar. Soak your dog's or cat's paws in the solution for 30 seconds and then just pat their his/her paws dry.

Foot Soak Recipe #3 - To Treat Yeast Infections or Irritated Paws - Warm Water, Apple Cider Vinegar, fresh squeezed Lemon Juice and Peppermint Essential Oil

 

Peppermint contains cooling essential oils (such as menthol) and has antiseptic and slightly anesthetic properties. To make this paw soak combine one gallon of water with one cup of apple cider vinegar, the fresh juice of one lemon and 20 drops of peppermint essential oil. Just soak for 30 seconds and then pat your dog's or cat's paws dry. Find out more about all of the health benefits of fresh lemon for dogs, here

The Following Herbs can also be Added to the Recipes Above...

Chamomile - chamomile is a non-toxic soothing all natural additive. Just add a few chamomile tea bags to the liquid solution wait a few minutes and then soak your dog’s feet in the solution. You can also prepare the tea as you normally would (as you would to drink it), just wait for it to cool down and add it to the liquid solution. 

Green Tea - green tea (use decaffeinated only) is a non-toxic and rich in antioxidants - an aid to healing. Just add a few green tea bags to the liquid solution wait a few minutes and then soak your dog’s feet in the solution. You can also prepare the tea as you normally would (as you would to drink it), just wait for it to cool down and add it to the liquid solution.

The recipes listed above should be used three or four times a week if you are treating a yeast infection, or irritation due to allergies.

Foot Soak Recipe #4 - To Treat Yeast Infections or Irritated Paws - Warm Water, Rooibos Tea and Lemon

Rooibos is a naturally anti-allergenic and also contains a significant amount of AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) making rooibos tea an aid to the healthy growth and maintenance of skin. To see the recipe for rooibos foot soak and read about the benefits of giving your dog rooibos tea as part of a daily diet you can read this article 'Rooibos Tea for Dogs - Immune System Health, Cancer Inhibitor, Allergy Mediator' 

You can also use plain apple cider vinegar between foot soaks - just put it in a spray bottle, spray your dog’s paws and then pat dry.

Don't bother with fancy store bought concoctions. They are not necessary and not better…you have what you need to work an excellent treatment with just the simple off-the shelf items I have mentioned above.

Lathering your dog’s paws with ointments, salves and lotions may make the irritation worse as allergens, toxins and dirt can get trapped underneath the ointment. It is better to use one of these soaks and then keep your dog’s paws dry and clean.

If your dog does have a yeast infection (i.e. candida) you really need to treat the symptom (i.e. itchy, irritated paws that may smell like corn chips), as well as the issue. It is important to note that in the case of a yeast infection Prednizone and antibiotics can make the condition worse as they further suppress the dog’s immune system and antibiotics kill the good bacteria in a dog’s gastro intestinal tract (GI tract) - further allowing the candida (bad bacteria) to flourish.

A kibble which is primarily grain based can cause an overproduction of candida in a dog's digestive system and this leads to yeast infections. Also if he/she has sugar in her diet it can destroy the good bacteria in her digestive tract. Good bacteria prevents bad bacteria from taking over - an over abundance of bad bacteria causes yeast infections. To understand how to choose a good kibble for your dog you can read this article.

If your dog does not have a super sensitive stomach, you can add a little plain yogurt to his/her diet. This will help increase the good bacteria in the gastro GI tract. Adding other fresh whole foods, coconut oil and herbs also boosts the dog’s immune system which helps fight off infections.

Related Articles…

Rooibos Tea for Dogs - Immune System Health, Cancer Inhibitor, Allergy Mediator

Symptoms of Dog Poisoning and Treatments

Fresh Whole Foods for Your Dog’s Health

Herbs and Spices are Good for Your Dog’s Health

Coconut Oil is Good for Your Dog’s Health

How to Choose a Good Kibble for Your Dog

Foods That Your Dog Should Never Eat

DIARRHEA IN DOGS, PUPPIES, CATS, KITTENS - CAUSES, TREATMENT, CURES

 

Diarrhea is a common ailment in dogs and cats. Just as with humans, healthy dogs and cats suffer from an ‘upset’ stomach on occasion, which then results in a loose stool or diarrhea - this is a fairly normal occurrence and is called ‘Acute Diarrhea’. Acute diarrhea is one of the body’s natural ways of removing substances that are not welcome in the body. The most common cause of this type of diarrhea is ingestion of a food stuff that the dog should not have consumed. Although diarrhea is a natural process, it is important to monitor Acute Diarrhea and you may need to provide some healing interventions. The symptoms usually disappear within a 72 hour time period. 

 

 

The other type of Diarrhea is called ‘Chronic Diarrhea’. The underlying cause of this type of diarrhea is typically rooted in an ongoing condition in which the body is repeatedly exposed to an irritant or the diarrhea is a symptom of a medical condition.

 

Common Causes of Diarrhea

 

As noted above the most common cause of acute diarrhea is ingestion of food or other substances that the dog should not be eating, such as poisonous/toxicplants.

 It really is very important to make sure that your dog cannot gain access to garbage - inside the home, in your garage, yard, on walks and when on off-leash excursions. Although many foods that are consumed by humans are fine for dogs, there are many foods that a dog should never eat - at best these foods will irritate a dog’s GI tract and at worst make a dog seriously ill. Eating rotting food can also trigger diarrhea. 

 

The following are common causes of acute diarrhea:

 

• Anxiety and stress;

• Ingesting indigestible substances;

• Ingesting too much fat in diet or the wrong type of fat;

• Poisons/toxins - by absorbing, ingesting and/or inhaling;

• Sudden change in food or addition of new types of food to the diet;

• Side affect / reaction to medicine;

• Virus (i.e. Distemper, Parvo). 

   

The following are common causes of chronic diarrhea:

 

• Allergyto food…ingredients in many commercial kibble can be a source of allergic reactions;

• Compromised immune system;

• Diseases such as colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, liver and kidney disease, stomach cancer, etc.

• Parasites (i.e. infestation of worms or parasites such as Giardia);

• Poisons/toxins - by absorbing, ingesting and/or inhaling;

• Poor quality food;

• Poorly functioning GI tract;

• Too much fat in diet and /or the wrong type of fat;

• Medications such as heart worm preventatives can cause diarrhea;

• Over-feeding;

• Over-vaccination.

 

Typical Signs that Indicate Your Animal Has Diarrhea

 

 

Your dog is either standing at the door anxiously, or anxiously trying to get your attention to let them outdoors at a time when they would normally not be asking. Your dog starts to ask to go out multiple times (to eliminate) within the space of an hour or several hours. In either case let your dog out and watch what they do, if they eliminate take a quick look to see if their stool is normal (firm, brown) or loose.

 

Your dog is straining to eliminate - although this may be a result of constipation, it is often also a result of repeated bouts of diarrhea. Diarrhea causes disruption of normal muscle contractions in the GI tract…thereby giving the sensation that elimination is required even when there is nothing left on the tract to eliminate; 

 

Other symptoms include bloating, dehydration, lack of appetite, listlessness, fever.

 

 

When You Do and Do Not Need to Intervene;

 

• If your dog or cat seems normal after a bout of diarrhea (he/she is behaving normally, has normal energy) - just keep an eye on him / her.

• Make sure that your dog/cat has access to fresh drinking water; watch to see if they are drinking. If they are not follow the instructions provided below under ‘Dehydration’.

• If the diarrhea occurs just once you can continue to feed your animal as you normally would. If the diarrhea is repeatedly occurring within the space of an hour or several hours withhold food for 12 hours and then proceed to feed your dog/cat as per the instructions provided below under ‘What To Feed Your Dog/Cat’. 

 

 

You should get your dog/cat to a veterinarian right away if…

 

• Severe diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours;

• Diarrhea continues to occur for more that 3 days;

• You see blood in the animal’s stool;

• You observe any of the following…sluggishness, weakness, a fever, if your foster feels warm to the touch, if his/her behaviour changes or you see any other sign of dehabilitation.

 

At Greatest Risk

 

Young (puppies and kittens) and the old or those whose health is already compromised are most vulnerable to suffering complications from diarrhea. Dehydration as a result of diarrhea can occur very quickly in these high-risk animals, putting them in immediate and serious risk.

 

Dehydration

 

 

In order to avoid dehydration make sure that your animal has access to fresh drinking water and gently encourage them to drink. Do not, however urge them from an anxious state of mind or you will further compromise their well-being.

 

If you see you animal is not drinking, to entice them to drink you can offer them a clear broth. Don’t give the animal a commercially made broth as it can include a lot of sodium (salt) which will cause further dehydration, it may also contain additives such as food colouring, spices such as pepper, and other dangerous food stuffs such as onions. Instead make a broth by cooking some vegetables such as carrot, celery and parsnip with a piece of chicken or turkey breast meat and some rice in a pot of water. Bring the broth to a boil then turn the temperature down and let it simmer for an hour. Then take the broth off of the heat to cool, strain the fluid to remove all food and particles. Once the clear broth has reached room temperature you can put some in a bowl and encourage your dog or cat to drink it. Offer this broth to the animal at least 3 or 4 times a day if the animal is not drinking water on its own.

 

To check to see if your foster is suffering from dehydration…

1. Pull up gently on the skin at the back of the neck;

2. If, when released the skin bounces back quickly, the animals hydration level is fine.

3. If the skin does not does not go back in-place or goes back slowly, your animal is dehydrated and needs medical attention right away - don’t waste time trying to hydrate the animal yourself - get the animal to a veterinarian who will probably give them a fluid injection shot right away and may put them on a saline drip. Severe dehydration is very dangerous and can lead to organ shut down and death. 

 

What You Should Not Feed Your Dog or Cat if They Have Diarrhea

 

• Do not feed them their normal food.

• Do Not Feed them rice and ground beef. Many veterinarians will recommend that you feed your animal plain rice and lean cooked ground beef.

• Rice can ferment in their GI tract, creating gas and making the diarrhea worse;

• Also, rice moves through the digestive system quickly, and is very difficult to digest - it will only add to the next bout of diarrhea);

• Even lean ground beef has enough fat to cause more/ worse diarrhea.

• Do not give you dog or cat Pepto Bismal as it contains salicylates - a compound found naturally in foods and manufactured synthetically for use as a pain killer - i.e. salicylates are an active ingredient in aspirin. This will make the animals condition worse.

 

What to Feed Your Dog or Cat if They Have Diarrhea

 

Once you have waited-out the 12 hour no-feed period you can start to introduce a small amount of the pumpkin/poultry food (recipe below). This food should be feed to the animal 3 to 6 times a day in small amounts for up to 3 days (72 hours), by which time the diarrhea should subside. If the animal still has diarrhea after 72 hours it is time to take him/her to the veterinarian.

 

Pumpkin/Sweet Potato and Turkey/Chicken Recipe

 

You maybe surprised when you first see the words 'pumpkin and sweet potato', you might ask  why would you give a dog that has diarrehea a high fibre root vegetable or squash? Well, because both are high in soluble fibre! Soluble fibers attract water and form a gel, which slows down digestion.  High quality soluble fibre (that is not prone to fermenting as rice is), prevents and relieves both diarrehea and constipation. Pumpkin and sweet potato are also rich in nutrients while being easy to digest. 

Turkey and/or chicken breast meat is rich in protein and nutrients and low in fat. The combination of these ingredients are the best and only food that you should feed your animal while he/she has diarrhea.

 

What you will need…

 

Pumpkin - 100% pure, plain, cooked pumpkin, or 100% pure, plain, canned pumpkin. Do not use pumpkin pie filling as it will make your animals condition worse. Pumpkin pie filling has sugar, spices and other ingredients besides pumpkin.

 

 

 

or

 

Sweet Potato - you can substitute pumpkin for 100% pure, plain canned sweet potato or 100% pure, plain, freshly cooked and mashed sweet potato. 

 

and

 

Plain, cooked turkey breast meat or plain, cooked chicken breast meat. Don’t use processed chicken or turkey meat - use real whole breast meat cooked and cut in small pieces or cooked ground-up breast meat. If you are using whole breast meet rather than ground - make sure you trim all fat prior to cooking. After cooking drain the meat to remove any remaining  fat. 

 

Using a ratio of 50:50 mix the pumpkin or sweet potato with the chicken or turkey and feed small portions to your animal 3 to 6 times a day in small amounts for up to 3 days (72 hours), by which time the diarrhea should subside.

 

Additional Food Supplement

 

 

The herb ‘slippery elm’ is the best natural anti-diarrhea remedy. It is safe for puppies and dogs of all ages and does not create any complications when used in combination with other medications (i.e. a dog is on medicine for another condition not linked to the diarrhea).

 

Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) has been used as an herbal remedy for centuries. It is used in healing salves to treat: boils, burns, skin inflammation and ulcers. It is also used as an oral mendicant to relieve coughs, sore throats, diarrhea, and stomach problems.

 

Slippery Elm contains mucilage. Mucilage is a substance that when mixed with water, turns into a lubricating gel. It works to coat and sooth the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. It also contains antioxidants that help relieve inflammation. In addition, Slippery Elm triggers reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the GI tract, thereby promoting increased mucus secretion. This helps protect the GI Tract against excess acidity and ulcers.

 

Slippery Elm powder is available at most health food stores and through on-line herbal suppliers. 

 

There are two simple ways that you can administer the slippery elm to your dog or cat…

 

One - Mix it With the Pumpkin/Poultry Food

 

The dosage is ½ tsp of slippery elm bark powder for every 10lbs of body weight - just mix the slippery elm powder with the dog’s pumpkin/poultry food.

 

Two - Make a Liquid Infusion 

 

If you want to make a liquid infusion to administer to your cat or dog via a dropper or syringe…

• Combine one teaspoon of slippery elm powder with one cup of cold water;

• Bring the mixture to a boil and stir;

• Turn the heat down and let the mixture simmer for 2 to 3 minutes;

• Remove from heat;

• Allow the liquid to cool to room temperature;

   

Administer the Slippery Elm infusion to your dog or cat 4 times per day using the following dosage for each treatment:

 

• Small dogs - 1 teaspoon, four times a day

• Medium dogs - 1 to 2 tablespoons four times a day

• Large dogs - 3 to 4 tablespoons four times a day

 

Proactive Maintenance

 

 

Once your dog is on the mend you can look at adding some healthy immune boosting food stuffs to his/her diet. Just make sure that you only add on item at a time - this way if your dog has any sensitivity to the item it is easy to identify which new food item is causing the sensitivity.

 

Adding a good quality plain yogurt is a great way to help your dog maintain a healthy flora of good bacteria in its GI tract. Just drop a spoon full of the yogurt on top of the dog’s food.

 

• Small dogs - 1 teaspoon a day

• Medium dogs - 1 to 2 tablespoons a day

• Large dogs - 3 to 4 tablespoons a day

 

You can add some herbs to your dog’s daily diet to boost their immune system and build their defence against bad bacteria. 

 

 

Calendula Flowers

 

The antiseptic quality of the herb helps prevent bacterial growth, which is good news for your dog and bad news for the bacteria.

 

 

Goldenseal

 

This herb is a powerful antibiotic that prevents the bacteria from latching onto the cell walls. It is particularly useful for treating stomach and bowel ailments.

 

 

Echinacea

 

Echinacea has anti-biotic, anti-viral and immune system stimulating properties - it is very useful for preventing bad bacteria from flourishing.

The table below provides a general guideline for herbs/spices based on your dog’s weight. The information provided in the table is an extract from Dr. Kidd’s Guide to Herbal Dogs Care.

 

Daily Amounts Based on Dog’s Weight.

 

 

Dog’s Weight	Sprinkles (on dog's food once/day)	Teas	Capsules/Tablets	Tinctures
1-10 lbs	a small pinch	less than 1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2 capsule, 1-3 times/day	1-3 drops, 2-3 times/day
10-20 lbs	a bigger pinch about	1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2-1 capsule/tablet, 1-3 times/day	3-5 drops, 2-3 times/day
20-50 lbs	2 pinches-1 teaspoon	1/4-1/2 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 2-3 times/day	5-10 drops, 2-3 times/day
50-100 lbs	2 pinches-2 teaspoons	1/2-1 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 3-4 times/day	20 drops, 2-3 times/day
Over 100 lbs,	up to 1 tablespoon	up to 1 cup 3 times/day	adult human dose	adult human dose

 

Caution:While certain herbs and spices do not create a hazard by themselves they can interfere with the conventional medicines. If your dog is on any of conventional medicines please make sure you consult your veterinarian before you introduce herbs or spices to your dog’s diet. The following provides a list of some of the medicines that some herbs may interfere with...

 

Anti-inflammatories (e.g. Rimadyl)

Aspirin

Antibiotics

Cardiac drugs

Central Nervous System drugs (e.g. phenobarbital)

Chemotherapy agents

Diabetic/hypoglycemic drugs (e.g. Insulin)

Diuretics (e.g. Furosemide, Diazide)

Hormones (e.g. thyroxine)

Steroids