Home Remedies for Sick Dogs

Having a sick dog can be like having a sick infant—neither can really tell you what’s wrong, or what makes them feel better. However, babies are at least human, and therefore home remedies for sick dogs are much harder to come up with than remedies for your own species.

So what do you do? You take them to the vet. However, the prospect of taking sick dogs into the vet—which most dogs aren’t so crazy about–for just a cold or a tummy ache might seem too much; trying some home remedies for sick dogs first is an excellent alternative.

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And even if you go to a vet and get a diagnosis, a working knowledge of home remedies to treat that diagnosis will certainly be beneficial.

For starters, if your dog seems sluggish or dull, this is often a sign of poor health. Also be on the lookout for abnormal behavior or signs of aggression, as these are also tip-offs that your dog is feeling poorly.

If you notice this, the first few tips in your home remedies for sick dogs repertoire dictate that it is likely a good idea to avoid feeding the dog large amounts of food until you know what’s wrong, provide plenty of fresh water, and perhaps give one or two pieces of garlic masked with tastier food items.

Garlic, for humans as well, is a powerful enhancer of the immune system and has cleansing properties. However, do not feed dogs large doses of garlic, give it continuously, or substitute onion for garlic, as this can cause anemia or much more serious complications.

Note that papaya fruit is also a good for promoting a dog’s system, and multivitamin formulas are likewise excellent home remedies for sick dogs because they promote overall health.

Once it becomes clear that your dog is indeed ill in some way, basic ways to nurse a sick dog at home are heating the dog’s food, providing easily reachable cool, fresh water, promoting rest and less strenuous exercise, and providing a warm, comfortable and quiet rest area.

If the dog appears to be sick with a simple cold, and has nasal discharge—a runny nose—etc, providing the animal with a cup of warm water mixed with lime juice can be an effective action in your line of home remedies for sick dogs.

It should help relieve the nasal congestion. Steam can also be very good for this purpose, and you can place your dog in a steam-filled room—a bathroom for instance—in order to expose the dog to enough steam in order to break up congestion.

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Giving the dog the vitamins A, C, and E specifically are known to be beneficial to cold symptoms. Colds can last two or even three weeks in a dog, however, if the animal doesn’t show improvement, is dehydrated, or generally seems non-responsive, further professional medical attention should be pursued.

For symptoms of constipation or if the dog has been diagnosed with entertitis, which is inflammation of the intestine, plenty of plain water or water mixed with electrolytes for promoting motion in the bowels is helpful.

Specifically if the dog is experiencing constipation, provide warm water and food with a high fiber content. The fiber is common, even amongst human remedies, for promoting motion in the bowels. Papaya, with its enzyme content, can also be good, as well as blueberries.

Nervous system related disorders are often exhibited by convulsions, a stiff stance, tremors or shivering. These disorders can be extremely serious, and dogs which are sick in such a way should be taken to the vet immediately for diagnosis.

However, home remedies for sick dogs like this would amount to advising against any force feeding of the animal, even though such dogs often do not eat as normal, because this can cause inflammation of the airways and aspiration pneumonia due to foreign material in the lungs.

For overall health of dogs, it should be remembered that they are omnivores, after all, and they often benefit from a variety of foods—including many fruits and vegetables. For example, the Chinese have been known to feed dogs mung bean sprouts and spinach as effective home remedies for sick dogs.

Many dog owners have found it extremely beneficial to place their dogs on a purely vegetarian diet. Obviously there are parameters on what is safe and what should not be eaten regularly, or at all, so please, always consult with a vet before you seriously consider adding new foods to your dog’s diet on a regular basis.

And keep learning! Because by educating yourself about your dog’s health, you will have a healthier, which means happier, pet!

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