Not only does the cold, damp weather pose challenges for us humans. The body's immune system of our dogs is also put to the test, especially during the winter months. Walks can become quite icy, and at home, the warm, dry heating air irritates the mucous membranes. The transition from indoors to outdoors and vice versa particularly promotes colds and discomfort in our four-legged friends, just as it does for us two-legged beings. However, with the healing power of nature, we can not only engage in cold prevention but also easily treat mild symptoms of our ailing furry friends at home. For other ailments, such as diarrhea, vomiting, coughs, or a slight cold, the tried-and-true home remedies that our grandmothers swore by have proven effective. Today, we will explain which home remedies are available and how to prepare them. With our "Top 3" healing and completely natural dog dishes, you can support your furry friend's recovery process or immune system in a delicious way. This way, nothing stands in the way of extensive walks and wild snowball fights.
Top 3 Home Remedies for Vomiting, Diarrhea, Coughs, Colds, etc., in Dogs
1. Williams Moro's Carrot Soup - Carrot Soup for Dogs with Diarrhea and Vomiting
Besides a bad cold, the winter cold can cause further complaints. Dogs that love to eat snow often cannot enjoy the winter wonderland for long. This icy treat can quickly lead to mild snow gastritis. Stomach pain and diarrhea are the consequences. But once again, nature does not let us down. The Moro's Carrot Soup has proven to be one of the best home remedies for diarrhea of any kind—for both humans and dogs. Of course, in case of doubt, the vet should always be consulted, but even as a complementary therapy, for example, with a intestinal infection or pathogens like Giardia, the uncomplicated soup works wonders. Moreover, it is cost-effective and super easy to make from ingredients that are usually found in every household. As expected, it consists of common carrots. The long cooking time creates special sugar molecules that block the binding sites of the pathogens in the intestine. The intestinal parasites lose their grip on the intestinal wall and are expelled with the food. The intestine cleans itself without any chemicals. Here’s how you can easily cook the stomach-wonder soup a la Moro at home:
Ingredients:
- About 500 g organic carrots
- 1 - 1.5 liters of water
- 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of cooking salt
Preparation of the Carrot Soup:
Wash the carrots and cut them into cubes. We recommend using organic carrots, as they do not need to be peeled and contain many essential nutrients in the skin. Then, place the chopped carrots in a pot, cover with about 1 liter of water, and bring to a boil. Now let the water-carrot mixture simmer on low heat for exactly 1.5 hours with a closed lid. The cooking time is crucial! Check the water level from time to time and add more water to maintain 1 liter. After the long cooking time, strain the carrot-water through a sieve and catch the liquid. Now puree the cooked carrots. The finer, the better. Add the pureed mixture back to the collected water, sprinkle in the salt, and mix everything well. Let the Moro's Carrot Soup cool until it is lukewarm or cold.
Feeding:
The soup can be fed as a temporary replacement for the dog's meals in small portions 3-5 times a day if acute diarrhea is present. For supportive therapy, it is also advisable to feed the soup in small portions about 30 minutes before the actual meal. The recipe can be adjusted according to the dog's needs and size. The carrot soup can also be frozen wonderfully.
2. Williams Bone Broth - Home Remedy for Colds, Mild Coughs, and Sniffles in Dogs
An absolute classic! Everyone likely knows the healing and warming effect of a delicious bone broth from childhood. This classic home remedy also has a lot to offer our four-legged friends. Moreover, it is versatile: for recovery after a cold, for replenishing nutrients and minerals lost through diarrhea, to stimulate appetite, or to increase the dog's water intake, for example, in the case of a bladder infection. Today, we show you our version of the tried-and-true healing bone broth. Similar to the Moro's Carrot Soup, the long cooking time is crucial for its effectiveness.
Ingredients:
- 3 marrow bones
- 4-5 carrots
- 4-5 parsnips
- ½ fennel
- 200 g peas
- 2 tablespoons of unfiltered apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1.5 - 2 liters of water
Preparation of the Bone Broth:
Place the bones in a large pot and cover with plenty of cold water (1.5 - 2 liters). Add the apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (this acid helps extract minerals from the bones). Now bring it to a boil and let it simmer with a closed lid on low heat for ideally 24 hours—the longer, the better! Wash the vegetables (if organic quality, they don’t need to be peeled and provide even more nutrients) and chop them very finely. Add the ingredients about 2 hours before the end of the cooking time. Finally, fish out the bones from the soup, as these should never be fed raw due to the risk of splintering. The broth should cool down thoroughly and ideally take on a gelatinous consistency.
Feeding:
Depending on need, the broth can be fed several times a day, cold or lukewarm, in small portions to your dog. It lasts for only 2-3 days in the refrigerator but can be frozen wonderfully.
3. Williams Miracle Mash by Aldington - Recovery Mash by Dog Expert Aldington
This recipe idea comes from dog expert and author Eric H.W. Aldington and is primarily designed to help weak, sick dogs gain strength and bolster their immune systems. It also serves to give older or weak dogs an extra boost of energy. The key to the Miracle Mash by Aldington is to achieve a high nutrient density, which acts like a nutrient and vitality shot when fed as a mash. Ideally, the Aldington mash should be given in courses before the onset of winter, during shedding, after vaccination, or during recovery from illness. Especially dogs that eat commercial dry food sometimes need that special something to boost their defenses. And that lies in the Miracle Mash by Aldington. The ingredients may be demanding, but the results speak for themselves. Here’s how you can cook this energy-boosting dish:
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of pollen *
- 1 teaspoon of eggshell powder *
- 1 teaspoon of spirulina *
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of cream
- 1 teaspoon of flaxseed oil
- 1 teaspoon of brewer's yeast *
- 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
* These ingredients can be found in health food stores or online.
Preparation:
Mix all the ingredients together and let them sit for about 10 minutes until the pollen has completely dissolved.
Feeding:
Feed the nutrient-rich mash in courses for about 2-3 weeks daily or as year-round support once a week. The Miracle Mash by Aldington is usually well accepted by the four-legged ones. If not, it can easily be mixed into their regular food. The mash should not be frozen and should always be prepared fresh.
Many dogs suffer from itchy and painful paws during winter. Snow and cold, but especially irritating de-icing salt harm the soft dog paws. Therefore, paw care for your four-legged friend is particularly important in winter. We reveal what you can do in our article on Paw Care in Winter.
In the case of persistent or severe symptoms of any kind, the veterinarian should always be consulted. Home remedies do not replace treatment and medication for severe illnesses. However, with the veterinarian’s approval, these healing dishes are true pick-me-ups for our beloved and sometimes ailing four-legged friends.
Have fun trying out these remedies, and stay warm during the cold winter! Let us know in the comments if our healing dog dishes helped your dogs get back on their feet.
