Natural remedies for dogs: practical amounts and safety

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I love natural remedies. I’ve always had things at home that I can turn to for minor concerns: chamomile tea, coconut oil, honey, and some herbal remedies. What I appreciate about integrative veterinarians is that they don’t just look at the animal through one symptom, but also notice the impact of diet, environment, and daily habits.

But over the years, I’ve started to think more about one question: what exactly are we using? Chamomile tea is not the same as chamomile essential oil. Aloe vera leaf gel is not the same as whole leaf extract. And the honey we spread on bread is not necessarily the same as sterilized medical-grade honey.

Therefore, this article is not another list of “seven miracle remedies.” Let’s take a look at seven familiar natural remedies: what we know about them, what integrative veterinarians recommend or use, and where the safety margins lie. If you’re looking for guidance on what to do for a specific stomach upset, abrasion, or paw irritation, check out FendaFi’s article “Home Remedies for Dogs: When They’re Helpful and When They’re Not?”

How to read the amounts? Below are the actual practical amounts published by Dr. Karen Becker and a few other integrative veterinarians. These are their recommendations for use, not universal treatment doses tested on dogs. A teaspoon means about 5 ml of volume; fresh herb, dry powder, extract, and essential oil are not interchangeable. For each remedy, I also explain when home care is not enough.

Aloe: Soothing gel or irritating plant?

The most well-known use of aloe vera is considered to be for skin softening and superficial irritation. This is biologically plausible, and certain topical aloe gels are also used in human skin care. However, the number of high-quality clinical studies in dogs is limited.

There is an important distinction here between the parts of the plant. The clear inner gel and the yellowish latex under the leaf skin are not the same. Aloe latex contains anthraquinones, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation if ingested. The ASPCA lists aloe as toxic to dogs and cats because of these compounds, although it specifically notes that the purified gel is different.

Therefore, I would not give my dog ​​juice made from a whole aloe leaf to relieve constipation. I have used fresh aloe leaf on my dogs’ skin, taking care to use only its inner gel, not the latex layer. If you are not sure whether you can distinguish between the latex layer and the safe contents, then choose a ready-made product with a clear composition and suitable for your animal. This is especially true in areas that the dog can reach with its tongue, as the dog often licks off the product applied to the skin quickly.

Dr. Becker’s practical advice: After cleaning a small superficial skin irritation, apply a thin layer of the clear inner gel of the aloe leaf to the undamaged surrounding skin. For lick granuloma, Becker describes changing the compress with fresh inner gel about every 4 hours. This is her described clinical approach, not a proven home treatment protocol for an open wound. She does not specify a quantity in millilitres: the goal is to cover only a small area, not to cover the entire dog. For my dog, I would not use the compress on an area that the dog could lick, or on a deep, inflamed, or exuding wound without a veterinarian’s evaluation. Becker does not specify an oral dose of aloe juice in this source, so I do not recommend dosing it yourself at home.

Ginger: an interesting remedy for nausea

Ginger is used in integrative veterinary practice, among other things, to help with motion sickness. Its use is supported by biological plausibility and research in other species; evidence is more limited in dogs. A review from VCA Animal Hospitals discusses ginger as a potential nausea-reducing supplement, while emphasizing individual contraindications.

Different forms of ginger are not equal. Fresh root, powder, tincture, and concentrated extract contain different amounts of active ingredients. If your dog gets car sick easily, the first steps are gradual acclimation to car travel and appropriate meal timing, and, if necessary, an effective medication recommended by your veterinarian. Ginger may be an additional option worth considering.

Ginger dosages as described by Dr. Karen Becker. She describes mixing freshly minced ginger or dried herb with a small amount of food. These are her published dosages per serving:

• small dog (under 4.5 kg): up to 1/8 teaspoon;
• medium dog: up to 1/4 teaspoon;
• large dog: up to 1/2 teaspoon;
• Giant breed: up to 3/4–1 teaspoon.

When and how often? Becker describes giving 1-3 doses per day as needed, and at least an hour before driving for motion sickness. As an alternative, she mentions approximately 60 ml of ginger tea per 9 kg of body weight per day mixed with food. These are not official veterinary therapeutic doses or mandatory daily amounts. Dry powder, fresh root, tea, tincture, and concentrated extract are not the same strength; do not use an automatic one-to-one conversion between them.

Another integrative view. Dr. Judy Morgan gives a specific example of freshly grated ginger amounts: about 1/4 teaspoon for a small dog, 1/2 for a medium dog, and 3/4 teaspoon for a large dog. This difference in the recommendations of the two veterinarians shows why an internet recipe cannot be considered an exact medical norm. If you want to try it at all, start with a smaller amount and consider the weight, health condition, and medications of the individual dog.

Blood clotting disorders, blood thinners, painkillers (especially NSAIDs), gallbladder disease, pregnancy, or repeated unexplained vomiting are reasons why ginger should not be given without consulting a veterinarian. Ginger can also cause gastrointestinal irritation. If your dog is vomiting repeatedly, is lethargic, has a painful or swollen abdomen, or is unable to keep water down, trying ginger should not delay seeking help.

Chamomile: a gentle herb, but its form matters

Chamomile tea is one of my favorites at home. Chamomile is traditionally used to soothe the skin and in integrative practice to support mild digestive discomfort and nervous tension. However, there is not enough good clinical research in dogs to confirm a universal calming or pain-relieving effect.

Using a very careful application of a cooled, unflavoured chamomile infusion without additives on a small, clean area of ​​skin is a completely different situation than using concentrated chamomile oil. You also need to consider the possibility of an allergic reaction, especially in animals sensitive to plants in the daisy (Asteraceae) family. A deep wound, an eye infection, or a wet hotspot are not places to experiment with homemade tea.

If a dog is anxious, before I recommend an herbal tea, I would ask why they are anxious in the first place. Could the dog be in pain, sleeping poorly, experiencing digestive discomfort, frightened by noise or stressed by something in its environment? No herb will make up for finding the cause.

Dr. Becker’s Chamomile Rinse Recipe. Steep 5 unflavored chamomile tea bags in approximately 1.9 litres of very hot water. Becker recommends steeping and cooling completely, describing a steeping time of up to 3 hours. Remove the bags and use the cooled infusion to gently rinse the skin below the neck after washing. This is an external care method, not an oral dose or a proven treatment for anxiety. I would only test it on a small area of ​​skin first. Do not use in the eyes, on deep wounds, or on severely inflamed skin; avoid if your dog is allergic to plants of the daisy (Asteraceae) family. If itching or redness persists or worsens, consult your veterinarian.

Manuka honey: it’s important to distinguish between raw honey and medical-grade honey

Honey is interesting because its topical use in wound care has also been described in the veterinary literature. Possible mechanisms include osmotic effects, acidity, and in the case of some honeys, methylglyoxal. The MSD Veterinary Manual considers honey as a possible topical wound care agent, but emphasizes the importance of appropriate wound care and dressing care.

However, it is important to be precise here. Controlled and sterilized honey for medical wound care is not the same as the regular raw honey in the kitchen cupboard. Large, deep, festering or severely painful wounds require veterinary evaluation. For some skin infections, a suitable topical antiseptic may be a significantly better-studied option than honey. The 2025 ISCAID guidelines do not recommend medical honey as an antibacterial treatment for superficial pyoderma in dogs because there was insufficient evidence of its effectiveness.

I appreciate the potential of honey, but I wouldn’t recommend just applying honey from the kitchen cabinet to every wound. The same substance may be a reasonable aid in one indication and inadequate in another.

Dr. Becker’s Suggested Uses. Her original recommendation is to choose Manuka honey with a UMF of at least 10 and use it as a topical support. There is no single body weight-based oral dosage from this source. For wound care, I would prefer sterilised, quality-controlled medical-grade honey over regular raw honey. A controlled skin study in dogs also used a thin layer of medicinal honey applied to cleansed and dried skin once daily; however, this study does not support the idea that honey is effective for all types of skin inflammation. If the wound is deep, wet, painful, caused by a bite, or your dog is constantly licking the area, ask your vet about dressing and treatment. Honey is not a substitute for antiseptic or antibacterial treatment, if needed.

Coconut Oil: A Skin Emollient, Not a Cure-All

I have used coconut oil on my dogs, especially for dry skin, noses, and paw pads. I have seen good results and see no reason to dismiss this experience. However, when it comes to coconut oil, a distinction must be made between topical moisturizing effects, oral fat supplementation, and studies done with C8/C10 MCT oil.

It is not a proven treatment for yeast, ear mites, giardia, or bacterial skin infections. Also, the oily layer may make some wet or oozing skin lesions worse. If you want to read more about coconut oil, see the separate FendaF article “Coconut Oil for Dogs: When Can It Be Beneficial and When Should You Be Careful?”.

Dr. Becker’s oral dosage guide. She describes 1/4 teaspoon (approximately 1.25 ml) of cold-pressed, human-grade coconut oil for every 4.5 kg of body weight twice daily. For example, she calculates that a 9 kg dog would need 1/2 teaspoon at a time. This is a recommendation from an integrative veterinarian, not a clinically proven requirement or safe dose for all dogs. I would start smaller if necessary, factor in the total fat and energy content of the oil into the diet, and discontinue use if diarrhea or vomiting occurs. I would not recommend adding it on your own for pancreatitis or on a fat-restricted diet. For dry paw pads, I would limit myself to a thin layer on the outside of the paw pads on a small, healthy area; a hot spot requires a different assessment.

Lavender: Aromatherapy is not the same as applying the oil to the skin

The scent of lavender may be pleasant or calming to some dogs. In integrative practice, aromatherapy is sometimes used to support stress-related situations. However, response to the scent is individual and there is little reliable clinical research on dogs.

Essential oils are highly concentrated products. Applying them to your dog’s collar or skin can cause skin irritation and your dog may lick the oil off. When using a diffuser, respiratory irritation can be a concern, especially if the animal cannot move away from the scent. You need to be even more careful if you have cats in your home, as they are more sensitive to many essential oils.

If aromatherapy is used at all, my minimum requirement would be that the animal is allowed to leave the room, the product is not applied or fed, and exposure is discontinued if symptoms occur. I would not substitute this for treating severe anxiety, pain, or noise phobia.

An example of aromatherapy described by Dr. Becker. Her 2017 material includes an example of a few drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball attached to the outside of the animal’s cage; she also mentions a few drops on a collar or bedding. This source does not provide an exact number of drops, concentration, or exposure time that has been validated as safe for dogs. However, other integrative veterinarians also say that undiluted essential oil should not be applied to an animal. More recent veterinary toxicology literature recommends avoiding applying concentrated essential oil to an animal, preventing ingestion, and keeping the animal out of the room while the diffuser is in use. Therefore, I would not suggest putting essential oil directly on a collar as a home remedy. If you test the scent at all, do so away from the animal and in a way that the animal can always move away; discontinue contact if coughing, sneezing, lethargy, or restlessness occurs. Even greater caution is needed in households with cats.

Oregano: The herb is not the same as oregano essential oil

Oregano is a familiar culinary herb. Certain compounds in it, such as carvacrol, have been shown to have antimicrobial activity in laboratory tests. This has led to interest in using oregano in integrative practice.

But fresh herb, dried herb, and concentrated oregano essential oil are very different products. Just because a compound appears potent in a test tube does not automatically translate into a safe or effective dose for dogs. Concentrated oil can irritate skin and mucous membranes, and if ingested, the digestive tract; be especially careful with small animals, sick animals, or animals that share a household with cats.

I would not recommend oregano essential oil in your dog’s food, in their ears, or on a wound as a homemade substitute for prescribed antimicrobial treatment. In the case of an ear infection or recurring yeast infection, it is more important to determine what organism is causing the problem and why it is recurring.

What quantities do integrative veterinarians actually recommend? Dr. Becker recommends adding only “small amounts” of fresh oregano to food, but she doesn’t give a teaspoon or body-weight-based dosage in her seven remedies article. She also doesn’t specify the amount to use as an oil in the ear, shampoo, or food. So it wouldn’t be fair to make up such a dosage. For comparison, Preventive Vet, which provides veterinary nutrition advice, suggests 1/8–1/2 teaspoon of fresh oregano or around 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano added to food, not oregano essential oil. This is a guide for small culinary amounts, not for treating a fungal infection or parasites; these amounts are not automatically appropriate for a particularly small or sick dog. Oregano essential oil should not be dosed based on these numbers. I wouldn’t use it at home in the ear, on an open wound, or instead of appropriate veterinary treatment for an infection.

Natural does not mean the same level of evidence or safety

If we lump all seven remedies into one “natural remedies” box, we lose important differences. Honey has some potential in wound care, but the evidence depends on the specific indication. Ginger’s anti-nausea potential is plausible, but the form and the dog’s condition matter. Purified aloe gel and plant latex are not the same thing. With essential oils, concentration and route of exposure are especially important.

The same logic applies to medications. Some medications are well-studied, some have more uncertainty or risk of side effects. I don’t want to make a decision based solely on whether the label says "natural" or "drug." I’m interested in whether a particular remedy is suitable for a particular animal and based on what data.

In conclusion

I am not giving up chamomile, coconut oil, or my interest in integrative veterinary medicine. On the contrary, the more I explore different approaches, the more interesting they become. But noticing potential benefits and assessing safety must go hand in hand.

Natural remedies may be helpful for some dogs and in some situations. Some act more as a maintenance tool, some have early scientific support, and some simply have a long tradition of use. The question is not whether all natural approaches are good or bad. The question is what helps, for whom, in what form, and at what cost.

If your dog has difficulty breathing, severe pain, repeated vomiting, suspected poisoning, a deep wound, or is rapidly deteriorating, you should seek veterinary attention. Trying a home remedy should not delay treatment in such a situation.

Read more about practical coconut oil use in our dedicated article.

Sources

• MSD Veterinary Manual. Topical Agents in Wound Management in Small Animals. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/emergency-medicine-and-critical-care/wound-management-in-small-animals/topical-agents-in-wound-management-in-small-animals

• ISCAID (2025). Antimicrobial use guidelines for canine pyoderma. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.13342

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control. Aloe (Aloe vera) toxic and non-toxic plants. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/aloe

• VCA Animal Hospitals. Ginger. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ginger

• Pet Poison Helpline. Updates on Essential Oils. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/updates-on-essential-oils/

• Setiawan et al. (2026). Macroscopic lesion healing in dogs with atopic dermatitis following coconut oil administration. https://doi.org/10.24843/bulvet.2026.v18.i01.p31

• Dr Karen Becker. Pet Emergencies and Home Remedies (integrative source for the original article). https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2017-07-08-nl-pet-emergencies-home-remedies/

• Dr Judy Morgan, DVM. Herbs Are Great! (ginger recommendations and individual use of herbal remedies). https://drjudymorgan.com/blogs/blog/herbs-are-great

• Preventive Vet. Herbs & Spices for Dogs (culinary quantities of fresh versus dried oregano, not a therapeutic dose). https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/herbs-spices-for-dogs

• Merck Veterinary Manual (2025). Toxicoses From Essential Oils in Animals. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/toxicoses-from-household-hazards/toxicoses-from-essential-oils-in-animals

• VCA Animal Hospitals. Chamomile (allergies and potential interactions). https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/chamomile

• Brosseau et al. (2020). Medical honey for canine nasal intertrigo: randomized trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32760092/