Anyone who has a dog with a dog skin allergy knows how it can make the dog crazy – what with the dog constantly scratching and chewing on itself. You can take the dog to your vet where they will most likely prescribe something along the line of Prednisone or Hydroxyzine Pamoate. While both of these drugs will most likely relieve the dog’s symptoms, there is another answer and that is to treat it with one of the several home remedies for dog skin allergies.
Epsom Salt Baths
One of the simplest and least expensive of the home remedies for dog skin allergies is to bathe the dog in Epsom salts or, if possible, soak it for five to ten minutes. You can dissolve ½ cup of the salt per one gallon of warm water, then stir well until the salt dissolves. Submerge the dog into the bath and try to keep it there, as long it will allow. If you have a large dog – over 50 lbs. – you may want to have someone to help you hold it in the bath. If your dog will not sit still for a bath or soak, you can dunk a towel in the Epsom salts/water mixture and apply it directly to the affected areas.
Colloidal Oatmeal Baths
If you’re wondering what colloidal oatmeal is, here’s the answer. It’s oatmeal that has been converted into a very fine powder so that it can be added to a shampoo or bath. It is helpful in dog skin allergy treatments because it contains both vitamin E that acts as an anti-inflammatory and phenols that have both antioxidant and inflammatory properties.
Just add the colloidal oatmeal to a lukewarm bath, dunk your dog and let it soak for five to ten minutes. While this treatment will help relieve the dog’s symptoms, it must be repeated every two to three days and has the added benefit of removing odors from your dog.
Flax
Some dogs have benefited by having their owners add ground flax to their food. Flax is a rich source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids which can help your dog in a number of ways. It may promote allergy relief, healthy skin, joints, heart and immune system. An added benefit is a shiny coat, increased energy and faster healing. Not all ground flax is created equal. A preferred brand is FlaxyDog sold by FlaxUSA. FlaxUSA uses 99.9% pure flax seed and uses a cold milled process to preserve the nutrients.
Digestive Enzymes
One of the best ways to prevent your dog from developing a skin allergy is to care for its skin from the inside. If the dog is healthy and has a strong immune system, it is less likely to develop skin irritations. If you have an older dog or feed the dog nothing but dry food, it may not be getting the enzymes it needs for proper digestion. In this case, the dog’s immune system can become compromised and it can develop a skin allergy.
Digestive enzymes are a good way to supplement the dog’s diet to keep its immune system healthy and strong. These enzyme supplements can usually be found in pet stores and on the Internet. Some of the more popular of these supplements are Ultra Pet Products Total-Zymes Powder Digestive Enzymes, Dr. Goodpet Digestive Enzymes Canine Formula and NaturVet Enzymes and Probiotics Tract Aid for Dogs and Cats.
A Raw Diet As A Home Remedy For Dog Skin Allergies
If you feed your dog mostly dry food or kibble, the enzyme supplements described above can be helpful in coping with its allergies. However, an easy alternative to these supplements is to change the dog to a diet of fresh, well-hydrated, varied, raw food where enzyme and amino acids have not been altered by cooking.
Why is this good? When the dog eats raw food, its chewing ruptures the food’s cell membranes and releases the enzymes contained in the food’s cells. The dog then gets the protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase enzymes it needs for food digestion, which, in turn, helps keep the dog’s immune system from becoming compromised.
Over-The-Counter Sprays And Shampoos
There are a number of over-the-counter (OTC) shampoos and sprays available for treating dog skin allergies at home. Some of the most popular of the shampoos and sprays are Demacool HC, Excel Hydrocortisone Spray, Douxo Calm Shampoo, Nova Pearls Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo, Oatmeal & Aloe Vera Shampoo and Vet’s Best Dog Allergy Shampoo.
Drs. Foster & Smith Itch Stop is an easy to use spray product as are CortiSpray 1% Hydrocortisone Spray, Excel Hydrocortisone Spray and Tea Tree Oil Skin Relief.
Goldbond Medicated Powder
Believe it or not, the same Goldbond Medicated Powder that can stop your itching can do the same thing for your dog. Just sprinkle the powder on the dog, making sure it does not get in its eyes and use in an area that the dog cannot lick. This product can be effective in releaving dog skin allergy symptoms. However, some vets believe that the continued use of this product can cause hemolytic anemia in dogs. Plus, the FDA has not yet evaluated and approved it for use with dogs so be sure to talk with your veterinarian before using it.
As you have read, there are a number of good home remedies for dog skin allergies. So, if your dog is suffering from the incessant itching, scratching and chewing caused by one of these allergies, take heart, you can safely and easily treat the dog at home with the above home remedies. If you are unsuccessful in calming your dogs itching and scratching with the above home remedies, please take your dog to the vet for further evaluation and treatment.
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