NATURAL HOME REMEDIES & MEDICINES:
MANY PROBLEMS, ILLNESSES, AND CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED AT HOME. HOWEVER, SOME THINGS REQUIRE A VETERINARIAN'S ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT, SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY. CHECK TO SEE THAT THE CONDITION YOU WANT TO TREAT ISN'T AN EMERGENCY BEFORE ADMINISTERING HOME CARE.
Aloe Vera gel or juice - An excellent detoxifier and cleaner of the digestive tract and urinary system. Use it for any illness or general "not feeling well" (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) 1/2 tsp of juice three times a day. Use aloe for ear problems, mixing two ounces of juice or gel with a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide (food grade) and massaging it into the ear. Make sure the brand you buy is 99% or more pure, preferably organic, and preserved with citric acid or ascorbic acid. Don't buy a brand preserved with benzoic acid or sodium benzoate. Don't use aloe if your chihuahua is pregnant.
Apple cider vinegar - RAW apple cider vinegar is a wonderful daily tonic that boosts the immune system and fights bacteria. It can heal infections of the urinary tract and kidneys. It balances electrolytes and enzymes and adds minerals. Truly a miracle food, and so inexpensive and simple to use. Add raw apple cider vinegar to your chihuahua's water bowl about 1/2 teaspoon per pint of water. If she won't drink it at first, add a little raw honey to sweeten the taste, and gradually phase out the honey. Make sure you buy ONLY the raw, unpasteurized, dark golden variety of apple cider vinegar that has cloudy "stringy" things floating in it. Called "Mother of Vinegar", they contain the bulk of the healing nutrients. Don't buy distilled, light amber, or white vinegar. These are fine for cleaning, but useless for healing.
Aspirin - Aspirin shouldn't be given for many days or weeks at a time, because it can irritate the stomach, but it works very well for relieving short-term discomfort. I use the orange children's aspirin tablets, which come in tiny 80 mg. tablets and break easily. At the standard dose of 5mg. per pound of dog, that works out to 15 mg for a three-pound chihuahua, 20 mg for a four pound dog, 25 mg for a five-pound dog. So for all those weights, I give one-quarter of a tablet, which is 20 mg. Close enough. For extreme discomfort, such as right after surgery, I give a half tablet for the first two doses only.
**Aspirin doses are given to dogs 12 hours apart, NEVER four to six hours as with humans. NEVER give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or Ibuprofen.**
Baby Food - I always keep a jar of Gerber's in the cupboard because most sick Chihuahua's will lick at chicken, turkey or beef baby food. Warm a spoonful for just two or three second in the microwave -- don't scald it.
Benadryl - For allergic swelling after a bee sting or after vaccinations. Give 1/2 mg of Children's Benadryl per pound of chihuahua. But no more than 3 doses total, spaced eight hours apart.
Bran - Fiber helps relieve constipation and dry stools by allowing the stools to soak up additional moisture and thus move more easily. Give 1/2 teaspoon of oat bran added to each meal.
Dramamine - Reduces motion (car) sickness. You can give 12.5 mg. every 8 hours
Garlic - This miracle food builds the immune system and is an herbal antibiotic, virtually unbeatable at preventing and fighting infection (both viruses and bacteria). Grate 1/2 small clove and mix it into meals two or three times a week as a general immune builder. For actual or potential infections (such as after surgery, cuts, wounds, etc.) add it to every meal. If you prefer, you can use garlic powder instead -- but not kitchen garlic salt or other cooking preparations, which are stale, processed, and/or mixed with unwanted additives.
Hydrogen peroxide 3% - To make your chihuahua throw up after eating something she shouldn't, give 10 ml. Give a second dose 10 minutes later if necessary. Also valuable as a pesticide wash and bacteria killer, so you can use it as a rinse on raw meat, meaty bones, and/or raw veggies before feeding.
Kaopectate - For diarrhea, Give 1 ml per pound of Chihuahua, every 2 hours.
Liquid Chlorophyll - Another excellent detoxifier and antiseptic for the internal organs, especially digestive tract and bloodstream. Use it internally for any illness, especially a digestive problem -- 1/2 teaspoon three times a day. Liquid Chlorophyll is also used by holistic vets to balance blood sugar levels in some pets with diabetes or chronic hypoglycemia.
Mineral Oil - 1/2 teaspoon can help dry stools pass more easily,but it is very easy for a chihuahua to become dependent on it, so don't use it for more than a few days.
Pumpkin - Plain canned pumpkin works well for puppies with diarrhea and adult dogs with soft stool. A few spoonfuls in their food will often stop it right away. The pumpkin adds fiber to the diet, therefore firming up the stools. If often works more completely and more quickly than Kaopectate, if your pet isn't ill from something else.
Raw Honey - Raw unpasteurized honey from the health food store (not processed or pasteurized from the supermarket) is one of the oldest and most reliable healing foods. It fights bacteria, builds the immune system, and provides energy. Give a fingertip of honey every couple of hours for almost any illness or general "not feeling well". If your chihuahua won't lick it, just wipe it onto the roof of her mouth to stimulate her licking and swallowing reflex.
Slippery Elm - An excellent herb for the digestive tract. For diarrhea, mix 1/2 teaspoon of slippery elm powder with raw honey and give three or four times a day. You can also buy slippery elm syrup which doesn't need mixing.
Tummy Teas - Chamomile, ginger and peppermint are outstanding herbs for an upset stomach or general "not feeling well". You buy them as dried teas, add boiling water, let steep for 5 to 10 minutes, and let cool. Draw 3 cc into a feeding syringe and gently feed it into the chihuahua's mouth every few hours.
Yogurt - PLAIN Yogurt is valuable because it contains "friendly" bacteria which are extremely important for digestion. Mix it into meals every couple of days. Whenever I am forced to give antibiotics I give yogurt. Antibiotics kill helpful (as well as harmful) bacteria. To replace this helpful bacteria add 1/2 teaspoon of plain yogurt to each meal.
Aloe Vera gel or juice - An excellent detoxifier and cleaner of the digestive tract and urinary system. Use it for any illness or general "not feeling well" (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) 1/2 tsp of juice three times a day. Use aloe for ear problems, mixing two ounces of juice or gel with a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide (food grade) and massaging it into the ear. Make sure the brand you buy is 99% or more pure, preferably organic, and preserved with citric acid or ascorbic acid. Don't buy a brand preserved with benzoic acid or sodium benzoate. Don't use aloe if your chihuahua is pregnant.
Apple cider vinegar - RAW apple cider vinegar is a wonderful daily tonic that boosts the immune system and fights bacteria. It can heal infections of the urinary tract and kidneys. It balances electrolytes and enzymes and adds minerals. Truly a miracle food, and so inexpensive and simple to use. Add raw apple cider vinegar to your chihuahua's water bowl about 1/2 teaspoon per pint of water. If she won't drink it at first, add a little raw honey to sweeten the taste, and gradually phase out the honey. Make sure you buy ONLY the raw, unpasteurized, dark golden variety of apple cider vinegar that has cloudy "stringy" things floating in it. Called "Mother of Vinegar", they contain the bulk of the healing nutrients. Don't buy distilled, light amber, or white vinegar. These are fine for cleaning, but useless for healing.
Aspirin - Aspirin shouldn't be given for many days or weeks at a time, because it can irritate the stomach, but it works very well for relieving short-term discomfort. I use the orange children's aspirin tablets, which come in tiny 80 mg. tablets and break easily. At the standard dose of 5mg. per pound of dog, that works out to 15 mg for a three-pound chihuahua, 20 mg for a four pound dog, 25 mg for a five-pound dog. So for all those weights, I give one-quarter of a tablet, which is 20 mg. Close enough. For extreme discomfort, such as right after surgery, I give a half tablet for the first two doses only.
**Aspirin doses are given to dogs 12 hours apart, NEVER four to six hours as with humans. NEVER give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or Ibuprofen.**
Baby Food - I always keep a jar of Gerber's in the cupboard because most sick Chihuahua's will lick at chicken, turkey or beef baby food. Warm a spoonful for just two or three second in the microwave -- don't scald it.
Benadryl - For allergic swelling after a bee sting or after vaccinations. Give 1/2 mg of Children's Benadryl per pound of chihuahua. But no more than 3 doses total, spaced eight hours apart.
Bran - Fiber helps relieve constipation and dry stools by allowing the stools to soak up additional moisture and thus move more easily. Give 1/2 teaspoon of oat bran added to each meal.
Dramamine - Reduces motion (car) sickness. You can give 12.5 mg. every 8 hours
Garlic - This miracle food builds the immune system and is an herbal antibiotic, virtually unbeatable at preventing and fighting infection (both viruses and bacteria). Grate 1/2 small clove and mix it into meals two or three times a week as a general immune builder. For actual or potential infections (such as after surgery, cuts, wounds, etc.) add it to every meal. If you prefer, you can use garlic powder instead -- but not kitchen garlic salt or other cooking preparations, which are stale, processed, and/or mixed with unwanted additives.
Hydrogen peroxide 3% - To make your chihuahua throw up after eating something she shouldn't, give 10 ml. Give a second dose 10 minutes later if necessary. Also valuable as a pesticide wash and bacteria killer, so you can use it as a rinse on raw meat, meaty bones, and/or raw veggies before feeding.
Kaopectate - For diarrhea, Give 1 ml per pound of Chihuahua, every 2 hours.
Liquid Chlorophyll - Another excellent detoxifier and antiseptic for the internal organs, especially digestive tract and bloodstream. Use it internally for any illness, especially a digestive problem -- 1/2 teaspoon three times a day. Liquid Chlorophyll is also used by holistic vets to balance blood sugar levels in some pets with diabetes or chronic hypoglycemia.
Mineral Oil - 1/2 teaspoon can help dry stools pass more easily,but it is very easy for a chihuahua to become dependent on it, so don't use it for more than a few days.
Pumpkin - Plain canned pumpkin works well for puppies with diarrhea and adult dogs with soft stool. A few spoonfuls in their food will often stop it right away. The pumpkin adds fiber to the diet, therefore firming up the stools. If often works more completely and more quickly than Kaopectate, if your pet isn't ill from something else.
Raw Honey - Raw unpasteurized honey from the health food store (not processed or pasteurized from the supermarket) is one of the oldest and most reliable healing foods. It fights bacteria, builds the immune system, and provides energy. Give a fingertip of honey every couple of hours for almost any illness or general "not feeling well". If your chihuahua won't lick it, just wipe it onto the roof of her mouth to stimulate her licking and swallowing reflex.
Slippery Elm - An excellent herb for the digestive tract. For diarrhea, mix 1/2 teaspoon of slippery elm powder with raw honey and give three or four times a day. You can also buy slippery elm syrup which doesn't need mixing.
Tummy Teas - Chamomile, ginger and peppermint are outstanding herbs for an upset stomach or general "not feeling well". You buy them as dried teas, add boiling water, let steep for 5 to 10 minutes, and let cool. Draw 3 cc into a feeding syringe and gently feed it into the chihuahua's mouth every few hours.
Yogurt - PLAIN Yogurt is valuable because it contains "friendly" bacteria which are extremely important for digestion. Mix it into meals every couple of days. Whenever I am forced to give antibiotics I give yogurt. Antibiotics kill helpful (as well as harmful) bacteria. To replace this helpful bacteria add 1/2 teaspoon of plain yogurt to each meal.