Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Recent Pet Posts

Posted By Vince F (USA) on 01/31/2007

"I haven't had a lot of luck with vets, so I try home remedies when I can think of or find them. I think cayenne Might work on worms also. I think Hooks attach, and might not consume it, but it just might make the environment inhospitable. Could try it in food, but better may be in a capsule, so it released in the intestines. I have empty capsules from things I wanted to try working in my stomach, so you could empty one of things you have in capsules, to try it. I'd try it with and without salt. Don't know if salt would make a difference.

Another thing to try is garlic. I had an aquatic turtle that had a tape worm. I think I might have given it to it, by feeding it a fly I killed. They used to sell dried flies as turtle food, and I Thought I'd give it Fresh Food. (( A few days later I see a white tape coming out of it's butt. I didn't want to get near the tank, for fear I might get some water on me, and didn't know if the eggs would be floating. Called a chemist friend who had lots of pets and Asked him if he knew a remedy. Ones in pet store were for mammals, and one cap was for 2 lbs of animal, and the turtle probably weighed a few oz. He kept land tortoises, but had no idea what to try. I pestered him and he remembered that his barber told him his mom used to give them garlic to prevent worms. Had to figure how to get garlic into an aquatic turtle, and put some garlic powder wrapper in a small piece of thin, minute steak, and offered it on a tiny spatula. It ate it and the next day the tape was gone. From my experiences, I like to mix as little as possible with something I am giving, in case it gets mixed in and not as effective. When I needed to take Loads of salt to function in the heat, no matter how much I put on food, it didn't do what taking it straight with water did, so I say, keep it simple if you can when trying something. Garlic inside a capsule would be the simplest if they won't eat it, and don't give an awful lot, since it can thin the blood. "

Posted By Shayanna Stene (Prince George, British Columbia/ Canada) on 02/07/2009

"I found out on another website that Garlic can be poisonous to many types of animals like cats for example"

EC: There is a great article about this subject on our Garlic for Dogs page: https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/garlic_for_dogs.html#ARTICLE

Posted By Chrystal (Junction City, Kansas) on 08/31/2011

"Just FYI guys I read through this entire post when my dogs had worms and I just wanted everyone to know that I found de-worming meds for dogs over the counter at petmeds.com. I also found them over the counter at the local feed store in the animal health section. I know herbal remedies are best but sometimes just getting the medicine is best for the animal. It was cheap too! I paid 20 bucks for an entire bottle of the stuff and one 120 lb dog (Ihave a great dane and 3 lab mixes) only needs 1 tsp a day for three days! So the bottle will still not be empty after I treat all 4 of my big dogs! Just thought I would help!"

Posted By James (Lagrange, Ga) on 01/20/2012

"The day I found out my dogs had tapeworms I took them straight to the Vet. He gave them a dose of the chemical meds that is made to kill tapeworms, then said to bring them back in in two weeks for another dose. So in two weeks they got the follow up dose as directed. The vet told me that the first dose would kill the adult worms, and the follow up was to take care of the newly hatched eggs.

But the meds didn't work the vet had instructed me to bring a stool sample upon each visit so he could be sure. He took one look at the sample which was loaded with little tapeworm segments that were still moving alive and well. He said the chemical meds he gave them should have killed them and there wouldn't be any visible segments by the second appointment. He then gave them a higher dose of a different kind of chemical med, and instructed me to come back again in two weeks with another stool sample. We returned to the vet with the same results as last time. The vet said these days the worms are becoming immune to the chemical dewormers, and the meds he used are the only two kinds available that will kill tapeworms in dogs.

He then said the only other option was to try natural remedies because giving them an even higher dose of the chemicals would be unsafe and with no guarantee for success. I believe the vet I use is one of the best because he cares more about the animals welfare than the money. He proved this to me by saying (besides being safer for them a natural cure won't cost you out the ass like these drugs are doing.)

So like everyone should do before trying any new or old cure I did lots of research on different things that were said to kill parasites in dogs and in humans as well. Not that I have tapeworms I just thought it would be better to find something that someone used on a person with no ill effect cause some people will feed anything to a dog and say it is safe. Things like Gunpowder I read that article and thought OMG!!! THAT POOR DOG!!! .... Gunpowder burns the lining of the stomach and intestines leaving them scared and the dog will always be in pain for the rest of his now shortened life.

I came across diatomaceous earth on the wolf creek ranch website. Here is a word from the wise never fully trust the info given on any product if the main place giving the info is also selling the product. I fell for it and bought a 20lb bag of the stuff. The bag I bought also had calcium bentonite clay in it. Which is also said to rid the body of parasites. The site said to give dogs under 100lbs 1/4 teaspoons per dog per day and if no results were shown in ten days to double the dose. Now bare in mind I was taking the stuff myself to see if I had any bad side effects and upping the dose for myself before each time I gave my dogs extra. (yes I love my babies that much) 65 days later we were taking a cup a day yes that is one cup for each dog and one cup for me, and their worms had done nothing but gotten worse. They went from having 5 or 6 tapeworm segments in their morning poop to having 30 to 40 in every poop, I stopped giving them the DE seeing how it is nothing more then a scam for the most part. Yet on the other hand it is a good source of minerals. But it will not kill internal parasites even an idiot could see if I was giving a 60lb dog a full cup which is 192 times the recommended dose with no results there is no hope for the product. And also I would never put this on any animals skin because it will dry and irritate on contact believe me I got it on my hands and arms everyday while preparing their food. By this time their coats were very dull and there skin was flaky. The worms were draining the life out of them.

I had already called around to other Vets in town to see if they had any other chemical meds that my vet didn't carry but they all sell the same thing. This was it for me I had enough so I came up with my own plan of action to me by this time it was WAR!! . And I had lost a lot of ground but I refused to lose the fight. I had some capsules of ginger on hand that I was taking for myself. I counted out 40 of them and took them apart, I then stuffed them with as much fresh ground cayenne pepper as would fit. Then I went to the supermarket and bought the biggest clove of garlic I could find elephant garlic. And by the way I mulled all of this over with my vet before hand and he said this would be safe as long as I didn't do it once a month he then said it would be a good idea to do this twice a year just like I'm describing.

day 1 step 1: I made my dogs fast for one whole day and that night before bed I let them eat as much raw cucumber as they could stand. Raw cucumber seeds will kill parasites. Then I gave them 10 cayenne pills each, and straight to bed we went.

day 2 step 2: I let them munch on cucumber all day as much as they wanted. Then that night before bed. I took the whole big thing of elephant garlic and minced and crushed it till it was a paste I added 4 tablespoons of olive oil and mixed it with two cans of dog food, I also put the ginger powder from the pills in. Then split it between the two of them. My dogs are twins from the same litter and they are the same weight as well. After plenty of water to wash it down I gave them another 10 cayenne pills each, then straight to bed we went.

day 3 step 3: Once again they ate cucumber all day and that night I gave them dry dog food.

day 4 last step. First thing in the morning I gave them each a Child's dose of Castor Oil which is 3 tablespoons mixed with a cup of warm milk. That night they ate more dry food.

Now they have no intestinal parasites and their coats are like show dogs and their skin is in the perfect condition. They have a ton of energy and are even able to think more clearly. I know this because before when they had the worms they acted like they didn't understand any command such as sit, stay, or come. I have raised them their whole life Cesars way. We go on daily walks and practice the basic commands everyday. But when the parasites got bad they didn't care to walk and they wouldn't listen. Now that the war against the parasites is over my Friends are back to their old selves again and they sit and stay with one snap of a finger believe it or not just like Cesar's dog Junior or Daddy.

Please know the steps I took was as a last resort and under vet supervision and guidance. Although it worked perfectly and without any side effects remember every dog is different. So it is best to try the vet first then go from there and make sure to do your homework.

Thank you for your time I hope this helps. James"

Posted By Lori (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 02/23/2012

"James the reason you were seeing more tape worms in the stool is because the DE was working. It was eliminating them from the body that's why you were seeing more. The DE was flushing them out of their system. There is no way DE can make Tape worms worse. It will make the skin slightly dry if used constantly to combat fleas and ticks but that is a small price to pay considering what a flea infestation can do aside from what harsh topical pesticides like Frontline and Advantage do.

I have been involved in dog and cat rescue for 28 years and DE definitely prevents fleas, ticks, and worms not to mention the other healthy benefits for your dogs and yourself. It has even been known to lower blood pressure in humans. Please don't encourage people to stop using a tried and true product. DE is wonderful for humans and dogs as well. Just make sure you are using human grade."

Posted By Chispa (Mississauga, Canada) on 03/25/2012

"Earth Clinic and EC readers, I would URGENTLY need your help. I have 4 cats (the mother and her 3 male children) they have been losing a lot of weight. Two of them I can feel their bones when trying to brush them. I have not seen any worms but I feel they have them. Now I am confused reading all the comments. What shall I give them garlic, cayenne pepper, tobacco, ginger powder, clay power, or diatomaceus earth - Please help me save them ?????"

Posted By Angela (Memphis, Tn) on 03/29/2012

"Chispa, I know that a lot of herbs are not usable with cats as their livers cannot tolerate them and thus they could get very sick or die. I have used Diatomaceous earth with my dogs and cats regularly added to their food moistened so it wouldn't get in their lungs but I don't know if it will rid them of worms or not. If you can afford it at least get them diagnosed by means of a stool sample from at least one of them and then research where to go from there. I know none of my cats or dogs have ever lost weight from worms and I have fed them the barf (bones and raw food) diet for years and years so if they were going to get or keep worms from raw meat that should have done it. So a tsp maybe a day in the cats' food I should think wouldn't hurt them but I don't promise anything. I know it is not herbal and is only mineral so in that, it shouldn't hurt them but unless they are getting enough nutrition otherwise they may go down hill anyway. I did once save a very ill stray cat by determining which grass the animals tended to chew on and picked that, washed it, put it in a blender to strain the green liquid that resulted by adding a little water to it in the blender and feeding that to the cat in a eye dropper along with egg yolks mixed with pedialyte. After a few days I started gradually adding in some canned cat food which is the only form of commercial cat food that should be used and he recovered completely. You should research herbs, nutrients, vitamins etc. Though and let us know what you learn please. Hope this helped. I ordered mine from the same place the other place here mentioned, timberwolf something, got a 50lb bag so I've had it so long I forgot the exact name."

Posted By Ankacs (Calgary , Alberta) on 10/04/2012

"Garlic can be toxic to dogs in high doses- onions(from the same family) can kill a small dog. Garlic is an extremely effective anti-parasitic and it does help a lot with fleas and ticks but should be used more as a maintenance program in small daily doses. I'm not sure about diatomaceous earth- it may help to cleanse the colon a little but it certainly cannot be relied on by itself- as we know parasites don't dwell in the intestinal tract alone they live in your pets blood, liver, kidneys, heart etc. As well. You can give your dog black walnut and wormwood tinctures- it is easy to hide the drops in wet food. Dr. Hulda Clark recommends introducing some parsley into the diet beforehand to make sure the parasites get flushed out promptly as you cleanse. You begin with the black walnut slowly increasing the dose depending on your dog's weight. Then you introduce the wormwood, and eventually clove powder which needs to be freshly ground and is the only thing that will kill the eggs. A pet parasite program needs to last at least 3 weeks to kill all stages- egg, larva etc in your pet and MUST be repeated on a regular basis as pets are constantly exposed to new infestations no matter how well you take care of them. Many people will follow up the initial cleanse with a monthly dose for 3 or 4 days usually around the full moon which seems to be when parasites are most active. It is REALLY important to do this on a regular basis as chronic parasite infections can cause all kinds of other health problems. Pumpkin seeds can help to sweep them out as well (i imagine the cucumber works similarly). Always be careful what you put into your pets make sure you do your research as occasionally certain foods/herbs which are safe for humans may have adverse/toxic effects on cats and dogs- particularly cats."

Posted By Lisa (Bel Air) on 08/12/2015

"I'd like to comment on the lady that used the DEarth for worm removal. The idea is to see more worms in the stool when doing a cleanse. It was obviously working. You have to rid the body of the worms and obviously the dog was full of them. Don't stop the treatment. You want to see results. Just like in a human. If you take a product like ParaGone, it will take time for the worms to leave your body and the only way is through your stool. You might see many worms but keep on the protocol until there are no more. You might need a break here and there but it could take 6 months to a year to see a result."

Posted By Pam E. (SW California) on 12/10/2024

"Dogs have a different digestive system than humans and may not be able to tolerate spicy foods like cayenne pepper. It is best to avoid feeding your dog spicy foods to prevent the potential health issues.

Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsaicin, which gives it its spicy flavor. When ingested by dogs, capsaicin can cause a range of symptoms, including : vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, abdominal pain, and In severe cases it can lead to much more serious health issues such as respiratory distress, seizures, and organ damage!

What Happens If A Dog Eats Cayenne Pepper? ...................................................................

https://vetexplainspets.com/what-happens-if-a-dog-eats-cayenne-pepper/

Seek veterinary care immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in your dog.

The amount of cayenne pepper that is toxic to dogs can vary, so It is best to consult with a veterinarian if you suspect your dog has ingested cayenne pepper."