Natural Pet Care Tips
by Carol Vickery
Dry Shampoo
On the farm here we have some very large dogs who are NOT the water loving type at all! However we still need to get all the seeds and dirt from there coats. Dry shampoo saves the back from trying to get them in the bathtub and saves stressing your pet as well. Try this next time your pet decides to camauflogue itself as another animal.
Sprinkle coarse cornmeal, bran or orris-root over the entire coat. Brush it in and the dirt out! For scented shampoo try adding a split vanilla bean to your dry mix a few days before using.
Herbal Rinse
Steep 1 ounce Rosemary herb in boiling water. Steep until cool. Strain through cheescloth then apply to pets coat and skin. Leave on for about 10 minutes and rinse off. Rosemary will help brighten up light colored coats. To help repell flies and bugs from your pets try, citronella, lemon balm, pennyroyal, tansy, mugwort, and thyme. Just to smell good you can use Bergamot.
First Aid
- Aloe Vera plant used fresh for your pets sore gums, and minor cuts in the foot pads.
- Comphrey poultice for sprains and sore muscles and bruises. Soak chopped comphrey root in hot water, preferable for 1 day. Soak a clean cloth in the strained tea and apply or bandage if possible to the sore area. Repeat 3 times a day.
- For an extra shiny coat add flax seed oil to your pets food.
- Wood Ticks, rub any type of oil on the tick. It starts to suffocate and comes out on its own without injecting its poison as it will with other removal methods.
- For abcesses use Tea Tree oil or Lavender.
- To deodorize your carpet from pet smells try this recipe. Add to 1/2 cup Baking Soda 50 drops Lime 30 drops Tangerine 20 drops patchouli. Set aside for 24 hours the sprinkle on carpeting and let set 15 minutes.
Herbal Flea Powder and Doggie Deodorizer Recipe.
1 Extra large box of baking soda, 2 lbs Cornstarch. Blend the following to a fine powder: 2 cups dried pennyroyal, 2 cups dried lavender, 1 cup dried Rosemary. The following essential oils: 20 drops citronella 20 drops lemon 30 drops pennyroyal 20 drops rosemary Mix all ingredients and leave the scents mingle a few days. Sprinkle on your pets coat.
Make your own flea repellent pillows
For a dog pillow: 2 oz. Pennyroyal, 1 oz Thyme, 1 oz Wormwood. Mix these herbs together and place inside your dogs pillow or sew your own with heavy denim type material.
For a cat pillow: 2 oz Pennyroyal, 1 oz Catnip, 1 oz Chamomile. Mix these herbs together and place inside your cats pillow or sew your own pillow.
Flea Powder
This works for both cats and dogs. 2 oz Pennyroyal, 1 oz Wormwood, 1 oz Rosemary, large dash of cayenne.
Mix all ingredients together. Store in a container and use when necessary.
To keep fleas out of your pets bed try one of these herbs under your pets blanket. Tansy, Pennyroyal, Mugwort, Yarrow, Feverfew, Wormwood, Thyme, and Chamomile.
Feed your animal a diet that has plenty of B vitamins, extra supplements of brewers yeast, wash the bedding with a drawstring pouch filled with Pennyroyal.
Parasites
For prevention of worms try adding powdered pumpkin seeds and garlic to your pets food.
Pedicure
Combine equal amounts of almond oil, raw linseed oil, and raw unpasturized honey. Mix well and heat gently. Cool slightly and massage into nail root beds and onto roughened foot pads to soften and heal. Try it on your own fingernails as well!
Skunk Smell Cure
After trying various methods over the years, the best one I have found is to simply rub your dog vigourously with hay. You can even convince the dog to roll himself in it! I have no idea why this works but it does!
Ear Mites and Sores
A soothing oil for the ears bothered by mites or when foxtials have been removed is Mullein Oil. Soak 4 oz Mullein flowers in just enough olive oil to cover for 10 days in a glass jar in the dark. Shake or stir the contents at least once a day. Strain and apply to the ear. To help an earache make garlic oil, same method.
Spot Remover and Deterrent
Make Rosemary Oil Soap to remove spots from places where your animal has urinated or for feces stains. This will remove the stain and the scent will deter the animal from using that place again.
- 1 grated bar of castile soap
- 1 oz Rosemary Oil
- 1 oz alcohol
Melt the soap, add the oil and alcohol and mix. Pour into a container and let mixture set.
These tips have been brought to you by Carol of Tao Herb Farm
Other Articles you might be interested in:
- Natural Pet Care Remedies & Tips - keep your pet happy and healthy with these natural, home-made remedies and pet care tips for things such as fleas, skunk smell, dry shampoo, first aid, ear mites, and more.
- Pet Travel Tips - Travel tips to help you and your pet have a safe, happy vacation.
- Separation Anxiety In Dogs - How to tell if your dog has separation anxiety. Helpful suggestions to help your dog overcome his fears.
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