50 Health Hacks Every Pet Owner Should Know

If you own a dog, cat, or other pet, their health is probably as important to you as your own. If you spend hours on the internet researching food, illness, and more, you are probably getting the same information over and over.

Go a step further by doing less reading and more hacking. The below 50 health hacks every pet owner should know are full of tips for food, play, behavior, and even serious health issues. Try them all to get the most out your relationship with your pet.

Diet Health Hacks Every Pet Owner Should Know

Create your own version of Scooby Snacks and more with the help of these pet health hacks.

  1. Kong : This cone shaped toy can be filled with every sort of treat imaginable. Not only will it give your dog a tasty treat, but a fun way of getting to them. This article from Westwood animal hospital has tons more on how to make the perfect Kong.
  2. Homemade Treats for Pups (and Persons)  : If you believe people and pets should never share food, visit here to get this health hack. Pet owners share a recipe for a popular Open Sesame Biscuit with Craftzine. With a prep time of only ten minutes, you and your best friend might go bonkers for these.
  3. Lucky and Rippy’s Favorite Dog Food : After a pet food recall and losing tons of money to buying bags of it, this pet owner did her own health hack. After several variations, they came up with this recipe for an organic and healthy dog food. All you need is minced chicken meat, frozen veggies, rice, and water.
  4. Five Home Cooked Meals for Pets : The Herald shares five of their best recipes for dogs, cats, and/or humans. Only natural, homemade ingredients are used. Choose from meatloaf, chicken paprika, and more.
  5. Pet Food Recipes  : If sautéed liver sounds disgusting, you don’t have to eat it. Along with veal stew, chicken soup, and others, there are several pet food recipes to make at home. The site also has healthy recipes for people.
  6. Grow Your Own Catnip  : Learn how to make this treat for your feline friend as a hack from Tipnut. How to grow, harvest, and process catnip is shown. There are also many other tips for pet owners.
  7. How to Make Your Own Dog Food : If the above still isn’t enough for you, get creative by clicking here. The site shows you ingredients to include in your pet food. Pick your favorites, mix them up, or follow the recipe given.
  8. Foods Poisonous to Pets : Before you get too creative in designing your pet’s diet, read this feature from The Humane Society. It contains an A to Z list of foods pets should avoid. Both well-known and obscure choices are listed.

Grooming Health Hacks Every Pet Owner Should Know

Get your pets looking their best with the help of these grooming health hacks.

  1. Claw Clipping : You don’t have to visit a groomer to keep your cat’s claws from shredding the furniture. Washington State University offers this guide to its veterinary students to learn how to do it properly. A simple guide and pictures show you how.
  2. Pedipaws : If the above is too complex, check out this simple way to get your pet’s claws perfect without the fuss or knowledge. This product works more as a gentle filer than a clipper. For only $19.95, you can get both the claw manager and a shedding hair catcher.
  3. The Furminator : If you love your pet but hate the clumps of hair they leave around the house, click here. The Furminator is a powerful de-shedding tool that can safely remove large amounts of hair at once. The site tells you more, where to buy, and has other resources.
  4. How to Teach Your Dog to Enjoy Taking a Bath : Make bath time fun for both pet and owner with this hack. Simple tricks and games are shown. Best of all the YouTube video is free to view in two parts.
  5. How to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth : VideoJug presents a step-by-step instructional guide on how to brush your dog's or cat's teeth. Nine easy steps from an expert show you how to do this vital task. Dr. Steele also has many other useful videos on pet health hacks.
  6. How to Make Your Own Pet Toothpaste : Now that you know how, visit here to get an easy, organic recipe for making your own toothpaste for pets. All you need is baking soda, salt, glycerin, and broth.
  7. Restraining : Despite all of our best efforts, some pets still don’t cooperate during grooming time and have to be restrained. In another entry from Washington State University, vet students and pet owners are shown how to properly restrain a pet. Different tools and methods are shown.

Ailment Health Hacks Every Pet Owner Should Know

These pet health hacks can be used to treat common problems in all sorts of pets.

  1. Home Remedies for a Dog’s Stomach Sickness : Dogs with an upset stomach can have all sorts of symptoms, most likely vomiting. A professional vet tells you when to bring the pet in and when to treat yourself. Simple steps are discussed on how to treat them.
  2. How to Treat Diarrhea in Cats  : Another common yet disgusting problem, an expert vet discusses when it is serious and when the cat should be treated at home. Diet, treatments, and more are discussed. There are also other related videos available.
  3. People Medicine for Pets?  : With some people food okay for pets, is medicine safe? Before you reach to the medicine cabinet for your pet health hacks, check out this article from Vet 4 Petz. It discusses Tylenol, aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, Immodium, and their uses in pet health.
  4. Vaccines  : An important part of any pet’s health, learn more about vaccines here. Dr. Eric Barchas answers questions, tells stories, and more through his blog. A recent entry discussed the monumental two-year vaccinations.
  5. Fight Allergies : If your pet is constantly sneezing or showing other sings of allergies, stop here. A guide from About.com shows you ten easy ways to decrease allergies in cats. Simple tips are offered and can also help with an allergic dog.
  6. Heartworm Health Hacks  : Although not technically a hack, these videos from the American Heartworm Society can save your pet’s life. Feline, canine, and surgery are shown. Both pet owners and vets can get more resources by visiting.
  7. Ringworm in Cats : This is a fungal infection that can affect the hair, skin, or nails of cats, dogs, and humans but is most often found in cats. Pet Education tells more about the causes and prevention of ringworm. The library is also full of other articles for cat health.
  8. Kennel Cough : Also known as infectious tracheobronchitis, Bordetellosis, or Bordetella, it is found in dogs. Because the disease is so highly contagious, many dogs will face it in their lifetime. Easy hacks to avoid it include not exposing puppies to other dogs. Other preventions and treatments are discussed.
  9. Cat Scratch Fever  : Also known as CSD, this disease is given to humans by cats. See what it is, who gets it, and how to avoid it. Different types of CSD are featured.

DIY Health Hacks Every Pet Owner Should Know

Grab some household items, tools, or others to make your very own pet health hacks.

  1. Face Recognition Cat Door : If the idea of strange animals barging in or your cat bringing a mouse inside worries you, visit here. These hackers discovered a way to hack a pet door and give it face recognition. Pictures and steps are shown.
  2. DIY Litter Box  : Need a litter box but don’t want to shell out big bucks for a fancy one? Then make your own with the help of Lifehacker. They show you how to repurpose an old plastic storage bin to make a sleek and inexpensive one.
  3. Make Your Own Kitty Litter : Another money saver, Treehugger shows you how to make your own kitty litter easily and inexpensively. All you need is newspaper, these seven steps, and you’ve got it. There are also many related articles.
  4. Instant Cat Condo : Don’t throw out that used wine crate. Stop here to get a guide on how to turn it into a cat condo. If you don’t’ have one, try asking a local liquor store for one of their crates.
  5. DIY Pet Bed : If you suspect your pet may be allergic to the processed materials in commercial beds, try this health hack. Crafty Daisies shows you how to make your very own pet bed on the cheap. With nine dollars and twenty minutes, you too can have the same pet bed.
  6. DIY Massage for Pets : If you don’t want to spend hundreds on a pet spa, try taking a DIY approach to your pet’s health. Effleurage, friction, percussion, and petrissage are featured. Read more to see if it is right for your pet.
  7. DIY Dog Cone : It keeps the pet from scratching themselves and can also be amusing to the owner. We’ve all seen pets with a huge plastic cone around their neck. However, with the help of this site, you can learn how to make your own dog cone.
  8. DIY Body Sock : If the above is too cruel for you, stop here. Pet Project Blog shows you how to make a body sock alternative to the Elizabethan Cone. Perfect for cats.
  9. Wheelchair Hack : Make your very own dog wheelchair by visiting here. Wheels for Dogs shows you several models. There are also links and resources with more.
  10. New Weapon in Roach Wars : If your pet brings you dead roaches, it can be more disgusting than cute. But did you know a certain pet can be a game-changer when it comes to the war on roaches? Instead of spending a fortune on an exterminator or harmful chemicals, try releasing a gecko into the walls. They love eating roaches and will seek them out immediately.

Behavior Health Hacks Every Pet Owner Should Know

Use these pet health hacks to deter or encourage a behavior.

  1. Furniture Destruction : This pet health hack is more useful for the lifespan of your furniture. Steps such as showing the cat what is and isn’t appropriate to scratch are shown. When and how to spray are also discussed.
  2. Speed Eater : Does your pet eat so fast it is damaging their health? Then check out the Brake-fast bowl to slow them down. The design is simple and the cost is low.
  3. Music Does Soothe : If your pet is showing behavioral problems, the right song may be the answer. In this entry from Webvet, music therapy for dogs is discussed. Grab your favorite composer and see if it helps.
  4. Scooting Hack : Keep your pet from ruining your flooring by learning more about scooting. The causes and treatments of scooting are discussed. DIY and veterinary treatments are also discussed.
  5. Couch Hack  : Have a pet that isn’t supposed to be on the couch but doesn’t care? Then read here to see how these owners dealt with the same problem. The remote control was involved.
  6. Sprinkler Hack  : If your dog loves to dig, try this hack to change their mind. Lucy shows you how to use your sprinkler to keep your dog from digging, even when you’re away. Other useful tips are given.
  7. Peeing Hack  : Go beyond the usual house training with this pet health hack. The Amazing Dog Training Man shows you how to train your dog to “go" on command. There are also many other training videos.

Miscellaneous Health Hacks Every Pet Owner Should Know

These pet health hacks fit into a category of their own.

  1. Bark Buster : Got a dog that barks and barks? Trade in those ear muffs for this product. It emits a high-pitched and humane sonic pulse that’s inaudible to the human ear but highly irritating to dogs. It sells for $19.95 and works as far as 20 feet away
  2. Dog Tweeter  : Another training aid, this one attached to your dog’s collar and leash. When the pet pulls on the leash a whistling tone is emitted that can correct the behavior along with vocal commands. For only $7.95, you can see if it works.
  3. How to Make Your Own Pet Friendly Cleaning Supplies  : That floor cleaner may taste like lemons, but it can be hazardous to their health if your pet licks it. Instead, stop here to get a guide for making organic cleaning supplies that are harmless to pets. All you need are a few household items such as vinegar, baking soda, and others.
  4. How to Identify a Rabbit’s Gender  : A little known skill, it can be an impressive pet health hack to show off in your friends. The obvious method of looking and knowing what to look for are discussed. Also useful for identifying genders of other animals.
  5. How to Get Skunk Smell out of Pet Fur  : If your outdoor animal comes home smelling like skunk, you don’t have to run to the groomers. In seven easy steps, you can have them smelling better in no time. Simple remedies such as soap shampoo, and good-old tomato juice are used.
  6. Remote Control Toys for Dogs  : Make play time fun for the both of you by getting a remote control toy that you both can enjoy. Everything from tennis ball launchers to helicopter and a traditional RC car are discussed. For extra fun, get an RC boat to get the dog swimming.
  7. Dog Patch  : If your pet has left your lawn full of dead patches, stop here. The Dog Patch is specifically made to restore the law to its original state. Patch over 90 spots for only $12.95.
  8. Doggie Diaper Bag  : You’ve got one for the kids, why not make one for the pets? Trekhound shows you how to make your very own pet travel bag. What and how to pack are also discussed.
  9. Pet MD : Finally, if you need more pet health hacks, visit here. This site is a huge database and first visit for many pet ailments. It works similar to WebMD and is full of expert blogs, top ten, and much more.

If you have any questions about the above 50 health hacks every pet owner should know, see your veterinarian or licensed physician. Because they know you and your pet best, they can tell you which hacks are best for them.

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