I have over the years become more interest in alternative medicine and the benefits it can bring. Our pets can also enjoy these benefits; they are less harmful, and much cheaper than conventional treatments. The remedies mentioned are common and safe for your Chihuahua

• Cuts and Scratches - Make a tea of calendula flowers and spray it on the affected area.

  Calendula (Marigolds)

  Or apply a salve, though be aware that dogs like to lick it off - you may want to wrap the area with a small bandage.
• Ear infection and mites - use garlic-mullein ear oil, 3 to 4 drops twice a day. Chihuahuas have especially long ear canals so it would be a good idea to rub them gently to help ease the oil down. If your dogs ear are sensitive to touch and this persists please call your vet.
• Eye infections or watery eyes - Use a well-strained Goldseal tea as eyewash. Eye bright herb tea is an effective second choice. If you need to flush the eyes a weak saline solution is an excellent sterile solution. Remember to use separate pieces of cotton wool for each eye and wipe from the inside out over.
• Fleas - This is such a pain in the summer most flea treatment are very toxic to both dogs and humans, so try this natural safe option. Use orange oil to kill fleas when your pet does get an infection. Add a half a teaspoon of orange oil to a quarter cup of people shampoo, (no more tears) Then shampoo your Chihuahua covering them with suds Start from the neck down over so that the fleas don't run to their head. Then rinse off; repeat in two days if necessary. A tip if you haven't got orange oil, boil up two to three orange skins for ten minutes, allow to cool and use the liquid as a final rinse. You get a great smelling dog too.
• Skin irritation and stings - I always keep witch hazel in our medicine cabinet, it is a good antihistamine, relieves itchiness, and relieves inflamed areas, very quickly, (its also

  Garlic

  a great makeup remover and skin tonic for humans to) As a soothing after cream use aloe Vera it is wonderfully soothing and helps calm any irritation etc.
• General infections - I am a strong believer in Garlic; it is the most powerful natural antibiotic known to man! Use it as a general boaster and infection fighter, it is very useful for arthritis, and joint conditions if you have ageing Chihuahua. Garlic also helps prevent fleas, although I would recommend the garlic pearls, as doggy garlic breath is not very pleasant!
• Sprains and strains - I have used several mixtures over the years but recently used a product on Tushka for a badly sprained leg which worked miracles, It is an ointment made by Nelsons natural remedies, for sprains and strains, I applies it to her leg quite thickly and then bandaged her leg to give support and prevent her licking it, within two days she was as right as rain.
• Slipped Knee's - If you Chihuahua gets a slipped knee on occasions, it can be painful, use the nelson salve or ibuleve ointment its has a very good pain reliever.
• Constipation - chopped liver normally does the trick, if you don't have any in the house, a few teaspoons of olive oil. Or a one-teaspoon of castor oil. Stand back and wait for nature to take its course.

Please remember these remedies should be used as an alternative to over the counter products you can buy in the shops, they are not a replacement for veterinarian care or advice. I you are EVER concerned about your Chihuahua please contact your vet for further advice.