A persistent itch is never a pleasant feeling. It’s a miserable experience, whether from a bug bite, a rash, or dry skin. It’s challenging to take focus away from it. Even though scratching might bring temporary relief, it can worsen the underlying condition. The same applies to your pet dog when they suffer from itchy skin.
There are several reasons for your furry friend to develop itchy skin. The probable causes could be food allergies, flea allergies, contact allergies, and environmental allergies. Most veterinarians suggest it is necessary to get to the cause of the itch and arrive at the remedy for the best results.
In August 2022, the American Kennel Club mentioned a 2023 Nationwide Survey conducted on information regarding pet insurance. The survey revealed that allergic dermatitis is one of the top reasons why pet parents brought their dogs to the vet. The skin condition can result in itchy skin in dogs and lead to symptoms like frequent ear infections, constant scratching, and various other skin changes.
Addressing skin rashes and irritations that make your furry friend agitated is essential. If you don’t get them treated on time, it can result in deep wounds, infections, inflammation, body odor, and hair loss.
In this article, we will discuss the best remedies that can soothe your dog’s itchy skin and help them feel better.
Relieving Itchy Skin in Dogs: Five Remedies That Work Wonders
Most pet parents often get tempted to opt for OTC drugs and creams to remedy itchy skin in dogs. While that is not completely wrong, it is always necessary to check with your vet about the appropriate medicine to use. Choosing a medicine without prior knowledge about its components can aggravate the skin condition.
Here are five remedies that are useful in remedying itchy skin in dogs:
Herbal and Chamomile Tea Soaks
Green, calendula and chamomile teas possess properties that can cool and soothe irritated skin and reduce inflammation. It is a great solution for dog baths to help comfort their itchy skin.
Is your dog excessively itchy all over? If so, you can start by filling the sink or tub with warm water and adding several herbal tea bags to it for a few minutes. Afterward, remove the tea bags and allow your dog to soak in the bath for about five minutes.
If your dog has small, itchy patches, you can add one or two herbal tea bags to about two cups of warm water. Once the tea cools down, you can pour it onto the affected skin area and allow it to dry naturally. This remedy can serve as a quick fix and help your dog heal. You might need to repeat the process several times to alleviate the itchy skin completely.
Medicated Creams and Ointments
While home remedies can be useful for treating itchy skin in dogs, sometimes you need to turn to medicated creams as well. Always use creams that your vet prescribes to reduce itchy skin in dogs. Triamcinolone, which is a topical corticosteroid and anti-inflammatory ointment, is effective in treating itchy skin in dogs.
Most veterinarians recommend that dog parents use this cream to treat dermatitis, contact allergies, dry skin, eczema, and rashes in dogs. However, triamcinolone can weaken the pet’s immune system at times. Therefore, you need to inform your veterinarian if your dog suffers from heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, or hypothyroidism before using the cream.
PetRx suggests that pet parents should wear gloves when applying the cream to their dogs. People who are vulnerable to allergies and pregnant women should be cautious when using this medication. The drug might lead to birth defects, which is why pregnant women should wear disposable gloves when applying this cream to their pet’s affected areas.
Make Use of Aloe Vera
People who have suffered from sunburns will accept the lifesaving quality of aloe vera. Other than acting as a potent healing agent, it can minimize skin redness and remove the discomforting heat from your skin.
Aloe vera can also be beneficial in treating your dog’s itchy skin and affected spots. Today, most drugstores can provide you with 100% natural aloe vera. If you want to be certain about the purity, you can take it from an aloe vera plant if you have it at home.
Apply the gel to the affected skin areas for a few days, and you can check the difference. Once you find that your dog is not scratching the skin as constantly as before, you will know the remedy is working.
A Well-Balanced Diet
Some dogs can be allergic to a few ingredients found in their food, which include beef, chicken, gluten, and even wheat. Allergic reactions resulting from these food ingredients can cause the skin to be itchy. One of the best ways to remedy it is by opting for an elimination diet to find out what food allergies your pet might have.
Once you know about the allergies, you can try to substitute these ingredients. A few standard replacements include foods that have salmon, as it is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. This particular ingredient can help enhance digestion, reduce inflammation, and boost skin health.
However, it is necessary to consult the vet before you add new supplements or make changes to your dog’s diet.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This vinegar is antifungal and antiseptic and helps soothe itchy skin in dogs. However, you shouldn’t use it on open or raw skin. Has your dog scratched their skin raw? If so, apple cider vinegar may cause a stinging sensation on the raw wound.
Take a spray bottle and fill it with 50% apple cider vinegar and 50% water mixture. Use this solution to apply to the target skin areas, and it can help alleviate the itchy skin. If your dog has come into contact with oak, sumac, or poison ivy, you can soak their paws in this mixture for about 5 minutes, and it will provide relief.
Conclusion
It’s never a good sight to watch your pet dog suffer from itchy skin caused by eczema or allergies. While it is necessary to treat the discomfort as soon as possible, it is equally essential to learn about the cause of the itch. Therefore, as you choose any one or more of the remedies to heal your dog’s affected skin, you must get in touch with a veterinarian for better guidance.
