5 DIY Recipes for All-Natural Dog Remedies

Ingredients for dog toothpaste

Have some spare time on your hands? Why not get a little hands-on by making your own all-natural homemade flea repellent, digestion booster, doggie toothpaste and more, just by using a few simple and common ingredients in the kitchen. Not only is this going to be natural and effective for your best friend, the other big bonus is that you’ll be saving a couple of dollars by DIY-ing this yourself.

 

By combining a few fresh ingredients, you’ll be able to build up your own supply of herbal and natural treatments for common ailments such as poor digestion, bad breath, itchy paws and, keep fleas at bay especially during rainy seasons. Here are five ingredients with amazing health and functional benefits, each with an easy-to-follow recipe.

 

TURMERIC

Turmeric spice

 

A spice used generously in Asian cooking, turmeric is also beneficial for a dog’s health. We absolutely adore this yellow hued spice because of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin is an active compound that is found in natural turmeric. It helps to reduce inflammation and benefits dogs with arthritis, dental and kidney disease, which are all conditions and diseases caused by inflammation.

 

Curcumin also functions as a natural steroid, which means that dogs with allergies can benefit greatly from it. If your dog has problems with digestion, turmeric is a great go-to ingredient that helps to stimulate the production of bile in the liver, which aids in breaking down dietary fats in your dog’s food and increases digestibility. Always use organic turmeric to reap the most benefits out of this powerful spice.

 

Learn how to make a turmeric golden paste for dogs, a super-sauce that is a great dietary supplement for dogs, created by Australian veterinarian Dr Doug English.

 

Turmeric Golden Paste

Ingredients:

½ cup organic turmeric powder
1 to 1 ½ cups of filtered water
1 ½ teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper
Âź cup cold pressed coconut oil (organic would be best!)

 

Directions:

Step 1 – In a pan, add turmeric powder into one cup of water and stir. Keep remaining amount of water for later.
Step 2 – On a low/medium heat, stir the mixture for about seven to 10 minutes. It should gradually form into a thick paste.
Step 3 – Add remaining water if paste is too thick, otherwise you can remove the pan from the heat and allow the paste to cool down.
Step 4 – Add in black pepper and coconut oil. Stir well.
Step 5 – Once the mixture is completely cooled, transfer it into a jar and store in your fridge for up to two weeks.

A little goes a long way with turmeric, so it is important to stick as closely to the recipe as possible.

 

LEMON AND ORANGE PEELS

Citrus fruits

 

This is one ingredient that your dog won’t like, especially since citrus fruits have a strong smell, but guess what, fleas hate the scent of citrus fruits too! The next time you’re treating your pup to some oranges or if you are using limes for cooking, save the peels and use them in this all-natural flea spray recipe for dogs.

 

Natural Citrus Flea Spray

Flea repellent spray ingredients for dogs

Ingredients:

3 to 5 thin slices of lime and orange peels
1 cup of water
½ cup of apple cider vinegar

 

Directions:

Step 1 – Add lemon and orange peels into water and bring to a boil.
Step 2 – Transfer into a bowl, cover with cling wrap and allow liquid to steep overnight.
Step 3 – Remove peels from the bowl and add in the white vinegar. Pour cooled liquid into a squirt bottle. The spray is now ready to be used.

 

This homemade flea spray is handy to have at home and effective when combined with other natural flea control measures such as regular baths, grooming and frequent washing of your dog’s bedding.

 

One other tip! You can also spray this on items in your home that you don’t want your dog to get their teeth on.

 

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple cider vinegar

 

Apple cider vinegar, or ACV for short is a type of vinegar made with fermented crushed apples. Bacteria is later added to produce acetic acid – an active compound found in vinegar. We find that unfiltered apple cider vinegar provides the most benefits especially because of the “Mother”.

 

“Mother” is the result of the fermentation process—you know, that wobbly string like substance usually sitting at the bottom of the bottle—and regarded as the most precious part of apple cider vinegar as it is extremely nutritious for dogs and humans alike. Aside from being known to contain B Vitamins, it is also a rich source of iron, high in prebiotics and potassium. It’s common for a lot of dogs to have body systems that are raging in alkalinity.

 

As apple cider is acidic by nature, if your dog’s system already too acidic, consuming apple cider might not be suitable for her. Apple cider benefits dogs with systems that are leaning more towards being alkaline. An easy pH paper test can be done with your pup’s first morning pee to establish acidity.

 

Apple cider can be added directly into your dog’s food to the proportion of one teaspoon for every 15 kg dog weight. Feel free to start with a smaller amount and gradually work your way up from there.

 

One other thing that apple cider vinegar helps with is tackling yeast as it is a mild disinfectant and well-known cleaner. If your dog has itchy skin, gunky ears, or can’t stop nibbling on its paws, try this making super easy solution that will help to relief itch.


All-purpose Apple Cider Vinegar Solution for Dogs

Ingredients:

½ cup water
½ cup apple cider vinegar

 

Directions:

Mix both liquids together

You can use this solution in a few different ways. Clean ears by dabbing cotton balls with the solution, wipe over hot spots on your dog’s body with the same solution or increase the proportions in equal measure if you are planning to do a foot soak for your dog’s itchy paws. You can even transfer the solution into a spray bottle and use it as a doggie deodouriser.

 

Manuka Honey

Manuka honey

 

What sets manuka honey apart from all other honeys is its exceptionally high concentration of an antibacterial component called methylgloyoxal (MG). The higher the MG, the stronger the antibiotic effect, killing bacteria that cause infections, such as colds and kennel cough in dogs.

 

When using manuka honey, pay attention to the UMF rating. A rating of 10 and above would mean that the honey is therapeutic grade.

 

Honey helps with wound recovery and healing too because it has great anti-microbial properties. If you have an overweight or diabetic dog, it is best to consult your vet before administering Points 2 or 3. You should only give manuka honey to dogs above 1 year old.

  1. For small cuts and grazes: Clean the area thoroughly and apply a thick coat of honey to the area and put on an e-collar for your dog so that it does not end up licking it all up.
  2. For kennel cough: Anywhere between ½-1 teaspoon two to three times a day, depending on your dog’s size.
  3. For older dogs: ½-1 teaspoon a day to boost energy levels.

 

Coconut Oil

Coconuts

 

Go nuts for coconut oil because this healthy fat is one that your dog will not only enjoy, but you’ll also love for its many amazing benefits that will help your dog’s cognitive function (especially in her later years). It also helps to combat yeast infections and allergies.

 

With age, a dog’s cognitive function can weaken. One way to reduce the risk of this occurring is to supplement your dog’s diet with coconut oil. It contains a concentrated source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), providing food ‘fuel’ for your buddy’s brain and nerve functions.

 

It works wonders for skin conditions too because of lauric acid found in MCTs. Lauric acid has antifungal properties which can help to clear up contact dermatitis, eczema and the itchy, scratchy spots on your dog’s body. Apart from topically applying coconut oil directly onto the skin, coconut oil can also be fed by including 1-2 teaspoons into your buddy’s meal to help improve skin conditions.

 

Another neat way of using coconut oil is to make your very own dog toothpaste. This natural toothpaste contains absolutely no fluoride—which is poisonous for dogs—and tastes yummy, depending on what stock you end up using.

 

Homemade Dog Toothpaste

Ingredients for dog toothpaste

Ingredients:

1.5 teaspoon of low sodium & no MSG beef stock (can be swapped for chicken or vegetable stock)
1 tablespoon hot water
6 tablespoons of baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup coconut oil

 

Directions:

Step 1 – In a small mixing bowl, crumble up the beef stock and dissolve it in one tablespoon of hot water.
Step 2 – Next add in the baking soda into the stock.
Step 3 – Combine the coconut oil and cinnamon powder into the mixture and stir into an even consistency.
Step 4 – Store toothpaste in an airtight jar.

 

The abrasive nature of baking soda will help to dislodge plaque and particles from your dog’s teeth. You can also substitute cinnamon powder for one sprig of freshly grinded parsley. Parsley is a great natural breath freshener.

 

Store at room temperature for anywhere between two to three weeks or store in fridge to prolong its shelf life. If storing in the fridge, you’ll need to let it come to room temperature otherwise the mixture will be hard. Remember to label it otherwise someone might accidentally have it with their breakfast.

 

So there you go! We hope you’ll have fun creating these five all-natural, 100% homemade remedies for your dog. Don’t forget to share your photos with us about your experience on Facebook or Instagram!