Known Articles

In the United States, there are millions of Americans who use natural remedies as a way to seek treatment or relief from a minor medical issue.  Since many are pleased with the results, ease of use, as well as affordability, many pet owners wonder if natural remedies can be used on their pets.  In most cases, you will see that they can.

When it comes to using natural remedies for pets, there are a number of important points that you will first want to take into consideration.  One of those points is your source of information.  If you decide to use a natural remedy that you got online, be sure to use your best judgment.  Make sure that you are getting your information from a trusted website.  In fact, the best ways to get information on natural remedies for pets is by buying printed resources, namely remedy books for pets, or by speaking with a vet.

Another point that you will want to take into consideration, before deciding to use a natural remedy on your pet, is the problem at hand.  For example, if your dog is having difficulty breathing or if they are bleeding excessively from a deep wound, it may be best to seek professional help.  With that being said, natural remedies are a safe, easy, and affordable way to treat some pets with minor medical issues.

Now that you know it is safe to use natural remedies on pets, you may be wondering what some of the most popular remedies are.  A few popular home remedies for pets are outlined below.  However, remember that additional remedies can be found online, with a standard internet search, by speaking with a vet, or by purchasing printed natural remedy resources for pets.

Arthritis is a problem that many older dogs deal with.  If you are the owner of a dog who is suffering from arthritis, there are number of natural ways that you can provide them with relief.  A warm wet washcloth or towel can be applied to the painful area for about twenty to thirty minutes.  Additional steps involve reducing your dog’s weight and keeping them away from extremely cold temperatures.

Ear mites is another issue that pets, especially dogs and cats deal with.  Ear mites are important to take care of, as they result in itching, which can lead to an infection and other complications.  One natural way to get rid of ear mites is to create an ounce or half-ounce mixture of vitamin E and almond.  The mixture should then be put into a dropper and inserted in your dog or cat’s ear.  Garlic and olive oil can also be used to reduce the itching that is commonly associated with ear mites.

Although natural remedies can be used on many other pets, besides just cats and dogs, it is important to use your best judgment, as previously stated.  Just because one home remedy works on one animal, like a dog, it does not mean that it will work or be safe for another animal, like a horse.  If you use the internet to find information on natural remedies, be sure to find detailed and specific instructions.  This simple step can help to ensure that your pet gets the best level of relief, safely, from the use of a natural remedy.

It is amazing to me the amount of money people will spend on their pets. I am a pet owner. We have two dogs and two cats. The dogs are my husband’s the cats are mine. It costs a great deal of money to keep the four of them healthy, but we consider them part of the family so we take them to the veterinarian annually and feed them high quality food. Through the years we have experienced the death of animals and the heart ache that goes with that experience. Because we get so attached to our animals we want to make sure that we maintain their health.

Cats are quite easy to maintain. As long as they have fresh food and water each day and a clean litter box they are happy. They are vaccinated annually during their routine exam. Going to the vet is quite stressful for them because they do not like being in the vehicle or their carriers. We do not take them any place else because if we are on vacation or business trip we have neighbors that come in to feed them.

Dogs require more attention as well as more medications to insure their health. Dogs have to be given a chance to go out side or get out of their kennels on a regular basis so they do not make messes. They need to be exercised because they are confined to their kennels. The veterinarian bill is much higher for the dogs because they are outside animals and require extra protection from disease and insects. Heartgard for dogs is a chewable medication that is given to the dogs to prevent heartworm. This is a parasite that gets into the muscle of a dogs heart and weakens it until the dog can no longer function. Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes. Our dogs are in a large kennel next to a wooded area. There are many mosquitoes from April through October. We start them on heartgard for dogs at the beginning of April before the first mosquitoes hatch and continue to give it to them until the end of November. We live in Minnesota so the mosquitoes die off during the winter months. We use the heartgard for dogs that is given in monthly doses. There is also an option available for daily doses. When heartgard for dogs came on the market it was only available in the daily dosage, it was not always easy to remember to give them the pills. With the monthly dosage we have them on a schedule that on the first day of the month they get the dose needed to keep them safe. It is an expensive medication, but their health depends on it.

Most people love to get houses and special beds for their dogs, but they often forget that cats need some of the same things to be comfortable in the home. Though there really are no cat houses to keep cats outdoors, there are plenty of things you can buy for them in your home that they will love, and even though you won’t think so, they will appreciate and use them once they realize they can use these things for play or warmth. One thing that owners should always have are cat baskets so that their cats have a warm place to lie down.

Most cats love to lie down on your bed or perhaps on the furniture. This is always nice for them, but might not be as nice for you. Some can get sick, and when they do, they won’t go much further than where they are lying to do so. That means you may end up with some unwanted goodies on your bed or your couch. If they have cat baskets in which to lay, they may end up making such a mess on the floor. Not ideal, but better than on your new comforter or your leather couch.

What is great about cat baskets as apposed to your furniture -besides the issue of vomiting- is that you don’t have to have a lot of pet hair where you sleep, and even when they might shed in their cat baskets, they are rather easy to clean. Some come with a cushion that you can remove and throw right into the washer when you think it needs to be cleaned. You shouldn’t clean it too often, as cats like to find their own scent where they lie down, but you can clean it when it needs it the most without having to go through a lot of trouble to do so.

You can find great cat baskets almost anywhere you would normally shop for your pet needs. You can even find great ones online, and many of the larger sizes might be online as well. Though most cats are about the same size, some like to sleep together in the same basket. That means you won’t have to buy two cat baskets, but instead you could find a larger size that would fit both of your cats comfortably, if in fact you have more than one. You can even find baskets that will go well with your home style and d’cor if that is something you wish to find.

When did you last see a cat on a leash? If your answer is everything I think it will be, it’s understandable because most cats refuse this kind of “treatment”.

This is exactly why patience is the first crucial factor. It is obvious that the cat will not take such a suggestion without some kind of argument. Anyway, if we are talking about an apartment cat, we can say it is important for it to get used to the idea that it is not imperative that once out of the house something bad is going to happen.

Use your imagination and first build a surrounded space for your cat. And don’t forget that the cat would be really happy to climb something. High plants or low trees can be an attraction to your cat.

Buy a collar for the cat and try to get her used to it. It is important that it would be worn just around the house at first. The same thing needs to be done with the leash. After a few days, encourage her by walking short distances on the leash, tempting her with a toy or some food. Then get out of the house for short walks. Increase distance one day at a time. Pick quiet places and make sure she got used to the outside street noise.

If you really want to make her walk on a leash, then try to get her with you when you are going shopping or on longer walks.

In time you can make her accept routes with intense traffic, but it is important for her to feel safe and to understand that she can rely on you. And if she wants to run around a little, make sure the collar isn’t too rigid.

You can even place a bell on her collar to find her easier in case she escapes or hides behind a bush. It will stop her from hunting, but take the bright side of this suggestion. You can find your cat even if somehow she runs away or escapes from the collar.

There is probably nothing more frustrating to a cat owner than litter box accidents. In fact, habitual litter box accidents are the number one reason why cat owners give their cats up to animal shelters. When your cat refuses to use the litter box, there is usually an underlying reason. Before you become exasperated by your cat’s inability to make it to the litter box, here are some common causes for this problem.

Litter Box Woes
One of the main reasons why a cat begins to refuse to use the litter box is because their own litter box is dirty. Many cats are extremely fussy about the condition of their litter box, while others will use it no matter how full it looks. If your cat has a litter box accident, the first place you should check is the litter box. Some pets prefer that their litter box cleaned out after each use. While this is time consuming for you, it may be a simple fix to this problem. You should start a daily routine of cleaning out your cat box and you may find that this solves your problem.

Another common problem related to the litter box is there are not enough litter boxes for the number of cats you have. For example, if you have four cats in your home, and you should have at least one litter box per cat. Cats like to have their own space, and this is especially true when it comes to their litter box. In fact, many veterinarians recommend that even if you have only one cat, you should have at least two litter boxes.

In addition, when it comes to litter box accidents, look at the type of litter you are using and the size and shape of the litter box. If you have a tray litter box without a lid, maybe your cat would feel more secure in a closed box. If you have an older cat, or a young kitten, you cat may have a difficult time getting in and out of a closed top box. Watch your cat carefully when he or she uses the litter box. If you find that, they are having a difficult time getting in and out of the litter box and consider getting a different box. Also, look at the type of litter you use. Your cat may be extremely fussy about the smell or texture of the litter. Many people preferred using the scoop away litter; however, many cats will not use this type of litter, because it sticks in the paws. You may also find that the litter you use causes a lot of dust that is disagreeable to your cat.

Health Issues
Your cat may be refusing to use the litter box, because of health related issues. If you have tried all the above tips and nothing seems to be working, then it is time to visit your veterinarian.  Cats that have bladder problems, urinary tract infections, kidney failure and diabetes are more prone to litter box accidents than healthy cats. You need to take your cat to the vet and have a thorough health exam performed to find out if your cat is suffering around an ailment. If this is the case, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to help your cat.

Habit and Your Cat’s Territory
If your cat has been ill or have stopped using the litter box for any of reason, you may find that your cat returns to their old ways out of habit. It is extremely important that when your cat has a litter box accident, that you clean the area thoroughly to get rid of any odors that may remain. In addition, your cat may have not stopped using the litter box at all but instead, your cat is marking his or her territory.  This is especially common in multi-cat households or when you bring in new pet into the home. This is also more common in males than females. Even male cats that are neutered can mark their territory by spraying urine.

When you determine why your cat is having litter box accidents, you can find a solution. It takes time and patience; however, this is much more preferable than getting rid of your cat.