Uses for Salt: Guidelines for Pet Care

Salt can be used in many ways to help care for your household pets. For example, you might be surprised to learn that salt can combat a flea infestation in your home or help remove fishbowl deposits. This article includes recipes for homemade dog treats that are economical, healthy, and include salt. Let's get started with some helpful hints about getting rid of fleas.

Cats and Dogs

If you've had a flea infestation in your home, sprinkle carpet or rugs with salt to help kill any flea eggs. Let the salt remain for a few hours, then vacuum. Repeat this procedure weekly for 6 weeks.

Placing salt in your vacuum cleaner bag will help kill any flea eggs that may be picked up by your vacuum.

Flea-Be-Gone Dog Treats

Frugal dog owners can make a batch of homemade biscuits as treats. They will stay fresh for weeks, are cheaper than store-bought varieties, and can even help control the fleas. A batch of these treats would make a great gift for any dog lover.

Stir 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of garlic powder together in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, mix 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of wheat germ, 1/2 of cup brewer's yeast, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Slowly add the oil and garlic mixture to dry ingredients, and stir in 1 cup of chicken broth when mixture becomes too dry. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until you get a doughy consistency. Roll dough onto a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use a knife to cut the dough into squares, or, for a special treat, use cookie cutters to make dough into shapes. Place the shapes onto a large, greased baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are brown. Allow the shapes to cool for 2 hours, then store them in plastic bags in a location that dogs can't reach.

Fish

Rub the inside glass of a fish tank with plain, non-iodized salt. Use a plastic pot scrubber to remove the hard-water deposits or other buildup. Rinse the tank well before returning the fish.Give your goldfish a little swim in saltwater for a change of pace and to perk them up. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to a quart of freshwater, and let the fish swim for 15 minutes. Then return the fish to their normal fishbowl conditions.

A Fiber Treat With Salt For Fido

The bran in this doggie treat recipe will provide your pet with much-needed fiber.In a very large mixing bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of wheat germ, 1/4 cup of crushed bran flakes, 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1/8 cup of corn meal, 1/8 cup of white flour, 1 tablespoon of molasses, 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening, 1 teaspoon of sage, 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1/3 cup of warm water, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Pour small batches of the mixture into the food processor and blend, adding water as the mixture balls up. When it becomes a ball of dough, flatten and roll it onto a breadboard. Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut shapes out of the dough.

Lightly grease a cookie sheet, and bake the treats for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the treats cool after you take them out of the oven, then store them in an airtight container.