Homeopathic Medicines for Dogs and Cats
Updated: 1 hour ago
The following list and indications have been prepared over many years of practice and advising. Looking for homeopathic medicines over the weekend when your pet is having a problem is frustrating. Here are commonly used medicines for your kit (highlighted ideal initial choices for an emergency remedy kit) . Preparation: mix a few pellets of 30C (6C to 12C in old or very debilitated animals) in ¼ cup spring water. Give ½ to 2 ml depending on size of pet daily for 3 days (or 2-3 times daily for more symptomatic situations– kennel cough, cystitis, bad diarrhea or vomiting).
Do not continue a homeopathic medicine if your pet significantly worsens or you do not see signs of improvement after 2-3 days. When I use homeopathic medicines in acute, non-emergency conditions, I am looking for gradual improvement each day. You may notice initial improved energy/attitude first and then physical signs improve next.
For low dosing suggestions (6C potency) below, add 5-6 pellets into a 1 oz dropper bottle, add 1/2 inch of vodka and fill the rest of the way with spring water, give 1/4 dropper orally (can give 10-14 days as long as the pet is improving), shake before each dose. For cats, don't add the vodka, keep in the fridge and discard after a few weeks.
As always, use common sense. I advise seeking veterinary care if your pet fails to improve, or emergency care if your pet is severely ill, has unremitting vomiting, difficulty breathing, recurrent seizure, is significantly depressed, or you are very concerned.
Homeopathic Medicine is a system of medicine that has been used for over 200 years, by more than 500 million people and 250,000 physicians worldwide, making it one of the most popular forms of integrative medicine. This form of medicine’s benefits is supported by thousands of research studies, papers and clinical trials https://homeopathyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Homeopathy-Research-Evidence-Base-05-13-2026.pdf . Homeopathic medicines are used around the world and are recognized by governments of 49 countries in their health care systems.
Please note, the below are homeopathic medicines and not herbal or toxic strength substances. Homeopathic medicines are non-toxic in the specific method they are prepared (triturated, diluted, and shaken - multiple times in sequence to create a specific potency). They are affordable and easy to use. Their wide application includes use in agriculture, animals, and people of all ages. Their non-toxic nature makes them safe for people, water and land.
For a list of practicing veterinary homeopaths go to https://theavh.org/
I order from Hahnemann Labs. https://www.hahnemannlabs.com/
ACONITE: for shock, extreme fear, never the same after a frightening event, Can be useful in fearful animals after a history of abuse. I’ve used this in respiratory distress as well. This is a good complement to care for an acute eye injury with bruising. Also, can be used at first sign of acute respiratory illness, and you might avert it (I will also use Nux vomica first thing in acute upper respiratory infections see further details of this medicine below). This is a first homeopathic medicine often used (misted on the patient from a spray bottle) in wildlife rehab or with feral animals (by trained veterinarians and technicians).
APIS: shiny red swellings – allergies (I use LEDUM for bee stings and bites though)
ARNICA: use with bruising, trauma, injury. Just approaching the pet makes them cry out or worried that you will touch painful spot. It is a commonly used homeopathic medicine post-operatively (as a complement to other post-op and pain management). In pets that are very bruised after surgery, a few days of this medicine can help the bruising dissipate more quickly and speed healing. Helpful for both mom and baby post-delivery.
ARSENICUM ALBUM: terrible vomiting and smelly diarrhea, restless, up and down all night. Useful for illness after getting into garbage, moaning during digestive upset, use especially if vomiting and diarrhea occur at same time. This pet desires warmth and is thirsty for small, frequent sips of water. They are shy, restless, hide, but can be friendly and enjoy company when they know the people. Tend to be tidy/clean animals.
BELLADONNA: fever with dilated eyes, heat stroke, seizure (please consult a veterinary homeopath), abnormal neurologic conditions, acting wild (wild eyed) after vaccination.
BRYONIA ALBA: injury where any movement makes the pain (response) worse, but strangely the pet is better from lying on painful side, can be helpful for more serious respiratory diseases like pneumonia, appearance of a sore throat with hoarseness, appearance of nausea from slightest motion and the stomach is sensitive to touch. The pet prefers a quiet dark room and can be grumpy.
CALCAREA CARB: helps a lot of skin inflammations, undescended testicle (my first remedy choice), helps growth and development (jaw or teeth abnormalities, retained teeth, skull abnormalities, good for small / short dogs with crooked limbs due to genetics). I have also used this medicine in dogs that have trouble with obesity (make sure they are not hypothyroid first though). This individual is often sedentary, preferring to lie around.
CALC PHOS: for fast growing large breed dogs with bony abnormalities and pain. Examples: Panosteitis (growing pains) and Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) – these dogs are pretty sick (and may need pain medication and other supportive care), this remedy as a complement, helps a lot.
CALENDULA: is useful in healing ragged or open wounds, first degree burns, can help stop seeping bleeding and prevent infection. I have found it useful (in 6C potency in a dropper bottle daily) for skin wounds and burns secondary to radiation treatment (in combination with appropriate external treatment). Calendula herbal cream is useful in supporting healing of skin infections as well.
CARBO VEG: bloated, gassy, blue mucus membranes. If the pet is in collapse and dying, it might help stabilize them (or at least give a dose and get into the car) so you can get to the ER. Go straight to ER if your dog is in distress with an enlarged abdomen, persistent vomiting or efforts to vomit, and collapse. I have have been grateful to this medicine as an important part of some memorable resuscitations. On a less serious note, it can also be helpful in dogs with trapped gas with minor intestinal distention, flatulence and digestive upset.
CAUSTICUM: If your dog is incontinent (make sure your vet checks a urinalysis to rule out UTI first) and you'd like to try something natural, try 6C in a dropper daily for a few weeks. This is a medicine that I've found helpful in acute/uncomplicated vestibular disease (make sure your pet has an examination and is not suffering from an ear infection or other serious neurologic disease or cancer) try the 30C potency as suggested above 1-2 times a day for 3-4 days. In the case of a burn with blistering, this is a useful complement to other treatments. (Cantharis and Urtica urens are the more commonly used homeopathic medicines for burns)
COCCULUS INDICUS: car sickness, 6C (or 30C if 6C not helping) in a dropper bottle. Use ½ dropper before car rides (Pulsatilla – nausea helped by fresh air or Nux vomica – irritable, extreme nausea, can be tried if Cocculus doesn’t work)
FERRUM PHOS: weakness and anemia, used in the first stage of respiratory inflammations. I don’t use this much in animals, but it can complement other treatments for anemia in the form of Tissue Salts.
GELSEMIUM: can cover certain toxic or neurologic conditions where the individual is tremoring (especially the head is tremoring), it is also good for very shy dogs (stage fright, agility or show dogs that get nervous in front of a crowd) or anticipatory stress/diarrhea in nervous animals that develop diarrhea associated with stress of showing, moving, boarding, fright, or shocks.
HEPAR SULPH: extremely sensitive individuals/conditions in which the pet strongly objects to being touched or approached (often out of all proportion to the actual condition), very hyperexcitable and irritable (can be supplemental care in very painful ear infections – but again, the reaction is usually way out of proportion to the issue), they tend to desire warmth. Can be used with (painful) abscesses if Silicea doesn't help.
HYPERICUM: puncture wounds, dental injuries/after extractions, torn nail or nail cut too short, smashed toe, tail injury (yanked, limp tail/swimmer’s tail)
IGNATIA: sadness and grief and ailments after sadness and grief
IPECAC: I mainly use this one for certain kinds of kennel cough that has a very loud cough with vomiting right after.
KALI BIC: I rarely use this, but it has the peculiar symptom of such thick nasal discharge that it comes out in very thick plugs. It covers respiratory and other discharges that are yellow, thick, and ropy. The pet is irritable or indifferent. The pet is better from heat and being wrapped up.
LEDUM: helps after insect stings, tick bites that look very inflamed, animal bites, puncture wounds, puffy edema/purplish/bruised, I use this with some abscesses, especially if Silicea doesn’t help, but especially if has that puffy pink/purple look
MERCURIUS VIVUS (or Merc solubilis): is helpful for very foul infections with a lot of yellow/green stinky discharge, the pet is sensitive to extremes in weather, be irritable when corrected or moved, diarrhea with much straining throughout and after stools, severe inflammation.
NUX VOMICA: can help with irritability, hypersensitivity, slow recovery from anesthetic (still seems very affected the next day), constipation, illness after getting into the garbage (please see your veterinarian or ER if you suspect a toxicity) or overeating, cystitis in cranky cats that have been stressed, very congested/stuffed up and spasmodic reverse sneezing or sneezing fits
PHOSPHORUS: covers various digestive ailments (throwing up water or food an hour after drinking, mucus and blood in stool, yellow stools/vomit). This is a reasonable first remedy to try for digestive upset. The pet is generally friendly and not afraid of strangers, but they do have fear of thunderstorm or lightning. When afraid or unwell, they will follow their owner everywhere. Panting and up all night (good for old animals with cognitive dysfunction who wander around at night). Reasonable to try in acute respiratory disease or mild asthma. This is a helpful medicine for the pet that bleeds easily, especially after dental extractions, or has bright red blood in stools or urine.
PODOPHYLLUM: Although this one is helpful for diarrhea that shoots out like a water hose, with doubling over, I can often deal with diarrhea with one of the following, based on the symptoms of the pet: Phosphorus, Arsenicum album, and Pulsatilla
PULSATILLA: I use this with kennel cough where there is a choking cough, in some digestive upsets (changeable stools, digestion aggravated by rich/fatty foods), warm individual that likes fresh open air, and in pets that are very clingy/affectionate (especially after pet parent's absence), typically they are not thirsty, supplemental comfort for urinary tract infections / cystitis. I use this often with eye inflammation (especially with yellow or creamy eye discharge) and with yellow nasal discharge, ‘colds’ or allergies. (homeopathic Euphrasia may also be of help with mild eye inflammation). This can also be a helpful medicine for 'puppy vaginitis' (where it is generally observed that antibiotics will only clear the discharge temporarily). Useful for false pregnancy symptoms. This pet may have a history of various reactions and sensitivities to allopathic medications.
RHUS TOX: injuries/overexertion/arthritis/sprains/strains to ligaments and tendonitis (also consider Ruta for sprains) where the pet gets up stiff and improves as they move around. It is also helpful for some allergic skin conditions where it looks like nettle rash and I’d use it with contact hypersensitivity like with poison ivy.
RUTA: sprains/torn or pulled ligaments. Use after initial injury treatment with Arnica, or if Rhus tox doesn't help. The patients gets worse/more painful and lame with motion.
SILICEA: is my first line for abscesses unless another is strongly indicated (3 days of 30C from water glass, if improved but needs a bit more help, continue another 3 days). Most anal gland abscesses respond to this medicine. It is helpful for some ear infections (also consider Calc carb), and my main go to for interdigital cysts and splinters/plant foreign bodies. For suspected plant foreign body use the low potency dropper bottle plan for a week (along with warm water Epson salt soaks/compresses for 5-15 min or other treatments as suggested by your veterinarian).
SULPHUR: this pet tends to be unkempt/scruffy, doesn't like to get a bath and can have red body orifices (lips, inner ears, anus). This is often a great medicine to help with itchy skin, but just give a few doses, stop and observe (in addition, improvements in diet, fish oils, and supplements are usually needed). They get overheated easily and are generally thirsty. This covers diarrhea that is worse in the morning, driving the pet out of the house, causing irritation around the anus. Their digestion is also very sensitive to even slight changes in diet. If the digestive issues are severe, please seek further veterinary help, diagnostics, or a veterinary homeopath in your area.
SYMPHYTUM: use in fractures or cruciate ligament tears (after physical exam, and stabilization/cast/surgery/wrap as indicated) and after a few doses of Arnica. I make up a 2 oz dropper bottle of 30C (3-5 pellets, 1 inch vodka, fill with spring water) – give ½ dropper 3 times a week, shake before each dose, for 4-6 weeks. This medicine time and again has been demonstrated to speed healing. Stop if any worsening.
THUJA: I don’t automatically use this after vaccines (if there is a problem then I match the homeopathic medicine to what I observe in the pet). It is useful for hair not growing back (after grooming, ultrasound or surgery shave), useful for some very very fearful dogs and cats, worth a try for eyelid or skin masses. I’ve used it successfully for histiocytoma (red, raised nodule) in young dogs. This benign tumor can be confused with a mast cell tumor and will usually regress in a few months left alone, but homeopathy speeds its resolution. If concerned or in doubt, get a fine needle aspirate and cytology.
Ear hematomas – first I try 3 days of homeopathic Belladonna 30C and wait a 7-10 days. I’ve also had Thuja work (if right after a vaccine), Lachesis has helped on several occasions, sometimes Bellis perennis. Please get a veterinary exam and make sure your pet is not suffering from an ear infection. Consider this option in an early, small hematoma, or a recurrent stubborn hematoma. The current treatment (placing a teat canula and leaving it in place for 3 weeks) is still much better than the pinna surgery of years ago. This will require a veterinary visit and sometimes a brief anesthesia. Your pet may still end up with a crinkly/scarred ear regardless of treatment modality.
Papilloma (usually found in puppies or immunocompromised dogs. They can be confused with sebaceous cysts which are not the same thing.) Start with Calcarea carb 30C daily for 3 days. Wait two to three weeks. If there is no sign of beginning of improvement or resolution, then go to higher potency and give a single dose of a few pellets 200C or 1M. If there is even a subtle sign of improvement, wait longer. If no response, wait a few weeks, then tryThuja with the same schedule. Wait a few weeks, then Silicea.
Emergency bleeding note: obviously you will go to ER or your veterinarian as necessary, and this is not a homeopathic medicine - Yunnan Baiyao has saved a lot of lives and supported dogs to help with bleeding tumors. I have also applied the contents of the capsule to a cut ear or mouth, or to help with a bloody nose (all bleeding or chronic nose discharge conditions need a proper veterinary or internal medicine work up).
Learn More and Build Your Own Resource Library
Asa Hershoff ND, DC. Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. 1996.
Richard H Pitcairn DVM PhD and Susan Hubble-Pitcairn. Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press Inc.. 2017.
Don Hamilton DVM. Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs, Revised Edition: Small Doses for Small Animals. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. 2010.
This is Shirley Casey's website on using homeopathic treatment with wildlife: https://www.ewildagain.org/
Roger Morrison. Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms. Nevada City, CA: Hahnemann Clinic Publishing. 1993.
Robin Murphy ND. Nature's Materia Medica. 4th Ed. Oak Island, NC: Lotus Health Institute (Lotus Wellness Cottage). 2020.
Best places to purchase this and other books on homeopathy:
Homeopathic Educational Services
Washington Homeopathic Products
If you are a veterinarian and interested in training in veterinary homeopathy:
