Having had years of experience raising Chihuahuas, I have come across many common ailments that I now realize could have been taken care of at home. I could have saved a lot of money on vet bills had I known the dog home remedies that I know now. I hope these suggestions will save you money too. Try some of these remedies to treat common dog ailments at home.
Common Ailments
There are certain ailments that all dogs are prone to, and then there are ailments that are most common in Chihuahuas and toy breed dogs, such as hypoglycemia. Here are some dog home remedies that I think may save you tons of money on vet bills and can treat common dog ailments at home.
- Swelling
- Vomiting
- Pain
- Allergies
- Hypoglycemia
- Bad Breath
Possible Causes, Treatments, and Cautions:
Swelling
Swelling can be caused by many things. Generally, it is caused by a bug, spider bite or an allergy. When my first Chihuahua was just a pup, I noticed one day that he had a bump on the top of his head. That bump kept swelling bigger and bigger. Of course, I rushed him to the vet and he gave him Benadryl. Yep, a dog home remedy is all it took. He apparently had been bitten by some insect.
Possible Causes
As in the case with my dog, swelling can be caused by an allergic reaction to insect bites. Other causes are environmental allergies. A Chihuahua’s world is very close to the ground. For that reason, they have more opportunity to come into close contact with allergens then we do.
There are all kinds of allergens in our environment that we humans don’t even think about. No matter how clean your home is, allergens are brought in on the bottoms of our shoes and can get embedded in the carpet. There are also home dog remedies that can help.
Treatment
Veterinarians have prescribed Benedryl most often. Benedryl is an antihistamine and is generally well tolerated by dogs. It can also be used as a mild sedative for car sickness or stress during thunderstorms or fireworks.
Dosage
Dosage for liquid Benedryl is 1 mg per pound. Most Benedryl tablets come in 25 mg. So if your dog is less than 25 pounds (25 lbs would be a BIG Chihuahua!) you should only give the liquid orally using a syringe. I use liquid baby Benedryl.
Caution!
If your dog has glaucoma or high blood pressure you should not use Benedryl without consulting your veterinarian. Often medications you buy over the counter contain other medications that can be very harmful to dogs. Be sure that what you give your dog is Benedryl and that it has no other medication in it.
Vomiting
Possible Causes
There are many causes of vomiting in dogs, some of which can be severe, so consult your veterinarian, to make sure that it is not a sign of something serious before you try this home dog remedy.
Dogs will eat all kinds of things that may upset their gastrointestinal tract. Just like children, they get occasional tummy aches and may need home dog remedies.
Treatment
A staple in many medicine cabinets, Pepto-Bismal is safe for dogs (but not for cats!). It’s used to treat diarrhea, vomiting, and an upset stomach, and to other treat common dog ailments. If your dog vomits up the Pepto-Bismol, however, you should consult with your veterinarian.
Dosage
Dosage: 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) per 20 pounds of weight, every 4-6 hours for 24 hours. So dosage for a 5 lb Chihuahua would be 1.22 ml. You can use a syringe to give it to them orally. You usually can get a syringe from your veterinarian for no charge.
Caution!
Dogs with bleeding disorders and dogs who are pregnant or nursing should not take any form of bismuth subsalicylate, (found in Pepto-Bismal) nor should dogs taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as Rimadyl and Deramaxx.
If your dog has chronic vomiting, see your veterinarian. Pepto Bismol should only be given occasionally. Giving Pepto Bismol more often can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. Consult your veterinarian instead.
Pain
Knowing your dog is in pain can be very distressing. No one wants to see their dog suffer. There are some things that you can do from home.
Possible Causes
Surgery or arthritis are the most common causes of pain in dogs. If your dog has had surgery then your veterinarian should have prescribed something for pain and discomfort. If not, call and ask for something. Another cause could be patella Luxation. This happened twice to my little Pebbles.
Once she got her foot caught in something. I have NO IDEA what. At the time our backyard was very small and we inspected it carefully and never found anything that she could have caught her foot in. She broke a toe. There is nothing the vet can do for a broken toe except relieve the pain.
Treatment
If your dog is having pain for other reasons and you know that it isn’t a serious reason you can give him baby aspirin as a temporary relief. There are a number of treatments and pain relief products designed for a pet with arthritis. If they are having a particularly bad day you can give them baby aspirin in the dosage given below. Chico has arthritis and on wet, damp, and or cold days you can tell that he is in more pain.
Dosage
Dosage for baby aspirin is 5 mg per pound.
Caution!
NEVER give your dog Tylenol or any other over the counter pain relief other than baby aspirin unless instructed to do so by your veterinarian. Baby aspirin is the only safe over the counter, made for humans pain relief that is safe for dogs.
Use aspirin with caution to treat common dog ailments and pain. It is only for short term relief. Long term use puts your dog at risk of side effects, including internal bleeding.
Allergies
Allergies can be hard to diagnose and that is a whole other post. If your dog has an allergy and you don’t know what is causing it, be sure to talk to your veterinarian. Don’t try to treat this common dog ailment from home in that case.
Possible Causes
As mentioned above, dogs live their lives close to the ground and come in contact with all kinds of allergens on a daily basis that can cause common dog ailments. They can have food allergies, environmental allergies. They can be allergic to a bug, spider bite, or stings from insects.
Treatment
This is where Benadryl comes in handy. I always keep it in the house for whenever it’s needed.
Dosage
The dosage is the same as it is for swelling. 1 mg liquid per pound given orally with a syringe.
Caution!
Some spider and insect bites can be poison or toxic to dogs. If your dog suddenly has allergy symptoms inspect him carefully for bites. It’s best to have it evaluated by a veterinarian. We live where brown spiders are prevalent. Brown spider bites can be serious if your dog is bitten by one.
HYPOGLYCEMIA
Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar. This is more common in puppies and toy breed dogs, especially Chihuahuas. Most dogs grow out of it, but for some little ones, it’s a danger all their lives. My dogs have had it and believe me the symptoms are scary!
Possible Causes
Hypoglycemia may be caused by blood loss or other medical conditions. The most common cause is the side effects of drugs that are being used to treat diabetes. However, it can be a genetic condition in some small breed dogs, especially in Chihuahuas.
Treatment
If you notice the symptoms you should IMMEDIATELY administer some sugar or honey to your dog. It is a good idea to keep a syringe where you can get to it quickly. Fill the syringe with sugar water, honey or Karo Syrup and administer it orally.
Dosage
There is no exact dosage. Continue giving sugar water or honey until there are no more symptoms.
Caution!
This can be a deadly illness if not caught in time. The sugar water or honey only works if given immediately. If you don’t know exactly when symptoms began, take your dog immediately to a veterinarian or veterinary hospital. For more information and list of symptoms, click here >
BAD BREATH
Some do not consider bad breath a health problem. But it is. Dogs don’t naturally have bad breath any more than humans do. There is a cause and it is a symptom of a health problem.
Possible Causes
This is another health problem that plagues small breed dogs more than their larger cousins. Why? Because compared to the larger breeds, small breed dog’s teeth are comparatively larger. That makes for a very crowded mouth. With all those large teeth in a small mouth, there are more crevices in which tartar can build up, leading to gum and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease causes bad breath.
Treatment
When you have your annual routine veterinarian visits, make sure he or she does an oral exam to keep an eye on emerging problems. One thing you can do to help your dog and also save you money on veterinary bills is keeping their crowded mouth and teeth clean. That can eliminate some of these problems and slow the progress of others. Always have on hand dental chews, dental wipes, and water additives.
Here’s a tip: Instead of buying water additives adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar to every gallon of water in their drinking water also helps break down plaque and freshens their breath.
Caution!
If you notice that your dog is having trouble chewing or swallowing, have them checked by a veterinarian before you try any at-home treatments.
Minor Cuts, Scraps, and Hot Spots
Dogs can get minor cuts and scraps by just being a dog. Hot spots are one of those less than desirable skin irritations seen in dogs and other pets. Often, you’ll hear your vet refer to them as moist dermatitis, but you … well, you can call them hot spots. ~ PETMD
Causes
Hot spots occur when your dog itches and he scratches or licks him or herself excessively, eventually forming a wet scab on the fur.
Continual licking and scratching or biting the area can irritate and eventually breaks the skin. Moisture from licking can allow a bacterial infection to take hold and can be very difficult to heal.
Treatment
You should always have a first aid kit at home for your dog or cat. For cuts and scrapes, be sure to carefully remove the hair from around the wound using scissors designed for that purpose. These won’t cut the dog’s skin when he squirms around.
Clean the area with warm water and apply a non-stinging antiseptic. Chlorhexidine is ideal because it kills the types of bacteria and yeast that are most commonly associated with skin infections in dogs and cats.
For hot spots, trim the hair around the area as with cuts and scrapes, then apply hydrocortisone spray or hydrocortisone cream to stop the itching and help promote healing.
For my Pebble’s Lick Granuloma my veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Herod, DVM mixed up a cream for me of Silvadene and Vetalog that works very well. Ask your veterinarian about it for your dog’s hot spots or lick granuloma.
Prevent your dog from biting, licking, or scratching the affected area. Placing an Elizabethan collar around your dog’s neck, for example, can be an excellent tool to keep him/her from biting and licking at it. If the hot spot is on a paw, you can wrap it with an elastic wrap that sticks to itself.
Caution!
Be sure to clean and reapply to the wound or hot spot every day. Keep an eye on it to make sure it is healing properly. If it is not healing or getting worse, please see your veterinarian.
Conclusion
These are a few suggestions to treat common dog ailments that can be treated at home. However, keep in mind that anyone of them can become more serious. If you have any doubts or concerns be sure to discuss them with your veterinarian.
