The other day, our friend’s dog took a spill and got a scrape on her side. It wasn’t serious - she didn’t need stitches or medication – but it did need to be treated. The vet tech recommended that it be kept it clean and to use Neosporin to keep her skin from getting infected. That got us thinking…what else do we have in our cabinets that might be helpful for our dogs?

We’re always reading about toxic household items, but here are a few items that actually have real benefits for your dogs (note: we’re not vets, so always check in with the pros before using a home remedy):

Baking Soda: Ever use baking soda to treat your bee sting? Turns out it works for dogs too! When they sting, bees leave a stinger, attached to a venom sac and you need to carefully remove both. Mix up some baking soda and water, until you have a paste. Apply it to the sting, let it dry, then use a credit card (another handy household tool!) to gently scrape out the stinger.

Corn Starch or All Purpose Flour: Cutting your dogs nails at home? Keep a little dish of corn starch or flour ready, just in case you cut their quick. If their nail is bleeding, gently dip their paw into the corn starch or flour, holding it there for a few seconds before removing. This should stop the bleeding, Wait 15 minutes and then gently wipe the remaining flour or starch off of the nails and paw.

Benadryl: If your dog has environmental allergies, like watery eyes and itching, or is having an allergic reaction to something, like an insect bite, Benadryl can come in handy. While you’ll still need to visit your vet for further care, this common medicine cabinet find is a great tool to help ease their discomfort. Dosages vary by weight, so it’s best to check with your vet before administering Benadryl to your dog to get the appropriate dosage for your pup.

Not bad for a few common household items, right? Let’s hope you never have to use any of these, but it’s not a bad emergency kit to keep at the ready!