Does the idea of spending massive amounts of money on pet medications leave you with a bad feeling? With a bit of research finding the best home remedies can produce highly effective natural treatments and they are wallet friendly.

One of the biggest problems that we face with pets are fleas. These pests are extremely difficult to get rid of once your pet has them. A cheap way to rid of them and have your pet smell great with no greasy feel is to use our natural remedy.

Collect a variety of citrus fruit. Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes all work, and can be tried in combination. Squeeze out the juice.

Put all of the squeezed-out rinds in a big pot, and fill it with water. Bring to a boil, and then turn down the heat and simmer for several hours.

When the rinds have reached a limp, squishy state, scoop them up and mash them in order to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Return that liquid to the pot, and continue to simmer for a few more hours, allowing the liquid to cook down to some degree. Cool the liquid and pour through a fine strainer or cheesecloth to remove the pulp. Bottle it up and refrigerate.

In case you wind up with more than you can use in a reasonable time, the liquid freezes well and works fine when thawed. (Remember, this concoction doesn’t have “preservatives”.)

You may also add a quarter of a cup or so to a dog’s bathwater. The liquid is not sticky, does not stain coats, and kills fleas on contact.

More Natural Remedies

If your pet has dirty ears that need to be cleaned thoroughly , reaching for the vinegar is a safe and cheap cleaner. Carefully using the solution and thoroughly drying the ear after cleaning will help to clean your pet’s ear and also reduce the chances of an actual infection. However, if your pet does develop an ear infection then you can treat it using natural remedies such as Marigold and even Tea Tree oil. By inserting small amounts of the oil into the ear it is effective in killing the bacteria that causes the infection.

Another remedy that can be used is Rosemary extract to help build up the immunity of the ear. If the ear has a very weak dermal layer, it is much more likely to fail against an infection. A strong ear that is well protected, clean, and includes a sufficient dermal layer will hold up much better against ear infections and reduce the number of vet trips that you will need to make.

Another common problem that animals tend to have is their nails grow quite excessively. If the nails on your pet are quite long and you cut them slightly too far back you run the risk of them bleeding. To stop the bleeding and help soothe the nail you can apply a small amount of baby powder to the nail. This is extremely effective to help stop the bleeding and prevent the nail from becoming infected. If you leave the nail exposed without any protection, it may become infected. 

A small bit of effort will allow you to ensure you are able to protect your pet from any undue pain or difficulty. A small bit of prevention is often essential to preventing the majority of problems for your pet, but at times, this is not always possible. If you suspect that your pet has a serious problem it is best to seek the advice of a vet who can determine the best treatment plan for your beloved pet. Never continue with a home remedy if it seems to be causing your pet additional problems.

Here are a few more home made recipes to try

 

Tick Treatment                                                         
Two tablespoons of vegetable or nut oil almond oil contains sulfur, a repellent in its own right.

10 to 25 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil.

Combine the ingredients in a glass jar; shake to blend. Makes 2 tablespoons. Shelf life: six months. Dab a few drops on skin or clothing, making sure to avoid eyes.

Helpful hints:

Palmerosa is a sister essential oil to Rose Geranium, and it also repels ticks. It is cheaper, and sometimes easier to find, than Rose Geranium. Another good repellent that also worked on our dogs is feeding them garlic pills on a daily basis.