What to give a dog for skin allergies

12 home remedies for dogs with itchy skin

Your dogs skin allergy symptoms may vary from mild to severe, and early veterinary intervention is essential to treat those more serious conditions. Below are 12 vet-approved ways you can help soothe canine itchiness and discomfort from home.

1. Use salmon oil supplements to add omega-3 fatty acids to your dogs diet

Salmon oil has many benefits including keeping your dogs skin and coat healthy. Its a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties. If your pup has skin allergies ff, try our favorite salmon oil-based supplement: Premium Cares Omega Chews. If your dog has dandruff, adding an omega-3 fatty acid to their diet is one of the best ways to treat it. Note that it may take 4-6 weeks of use to see results.

2. Use dog shampoos with oatmeal, aloe vera, or chamomile

Your dog needs regular baths with warm water to stay clean. Use this opportunity to help soothe dry skin by using a formulated shampoo. Giving weekly baths can actually cause dry skin and itchiness, so try to bathe your dog at least 2 weeks apart.

Choose a pet shampoo that contains oatmeal, aloe vera, or chamomile as these ingredients help with itching. Weve rounded up some of the best shampoos for dry itchy skin to help you find the right product for your dogs allergies and skin type.

To prevent your dog from licking any ingredients, rinse them well after shampooing. Washing all the residue off can also relieve itchiness.

3. Consider an herbal tea bath

If your dog is itchy with patchy, dry skin, consider the anti-inflammatory properties of green, chamomile, or calendula tea to soothe their discomfort. Soak three to four tea bags of tea for five minutes in lukewarm water before placing your dog into the bathtub or, if you only want to target affected areas of smaller, itchy dry patches, steep one or two tea bags in hot water, let it cool and apply the water to your dogs skin without rinsing.

Note that chamomile, when ingested in large amounts for long periods of time, can lead to a range of medical problems, including gastrointestinal upset and bleeding issues. Aloe vera also contains a toxin called saponin that, when ingested, may cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood sugar.

4. Soothe your dog with oatmeal

Oatmeal has been known to soothe dry, itchy skin in dogs. Though many dog shampoos already contain oatmeal, you can create colloidal oatmeal or finely ground oats and mix them into skin care products like lotions and creams or even add them to bathwater.

5. Use a balm to moisturize patches of dry skin

Dry skin often causes itching, so when you combine that with allergy symptoms your dog may continue to scratch. This is why you should keep your dogs skin hydrated. If your dog has only patches of dry skin or hot spots, try a dog balm for the affected areas, such as Natural Dog Companys Skin Soother. Avoid using coconut oil as a moisturizer as it may not be the best option for your dog. When coconut oil is used on hot spots, it can cause too much moisture and make hot spots worse.

Though some may use apple cider vinegar for a slew of home remedies, apple cider vinegar is not recommended on raw skin as it tends to be acidic and thus may cause discomfort and further irritation.

6. Try manuka honey to reduce inflammation

Manuka honey may reduce inflammation and help doggie allergies. This is one tasty treat you can share with your pup! Some researchers believe honey contains many types of pollens. If a dog eats the honey, it may help desensitize the dog to certain types of pollen. They may enjoy the sweet taste while their allergy symptoms improve. You can also use manuka honey to treat woundsTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source, but your dog might try to lick it off, so supervise them when using it

7. Use dietary supplements to manage symptoms

If your dog is suffering from allergies, they may benefit from supplements that contain vitamin C, spirulina (another great source of omega-3s), bee pollen, and apple cider vinegar. Like any other dietary supplement you might offer your pup, dont try one of our favorites without having a chat with your vet first. You shouldnt combine some supplements and medications, so always make sure the supplement you want to offer will not have any interactions with any meds your dog may be on first.

8. Dont forget to wipe your dogs paws after outdoor time

Allergies caused by environmental irritants can lead to inflamed, itchy, pink or red rashes of dermatitis between your dogs toes, especially during the spring and summer months when sweat combines with environmental irritants like ragweed, grasses, foxtails, or dust mites. Exposure to ice and snow in the colder months can also leave your pups paws dry, cracked, and itchy.

Common environmental factors that can cause itchy paws

• Grasses
• Ragweed
• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Mold
• Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
• Ice and snow

9. Remove indoor allergens

If your pup is suffering from allergies, check for culprits within the home. You may need to eliminate:

• Dust
• Cigarette smoke
• Certain cleaning products
• Chemical fragrances like those found in laundry detergent and scented candles

10. Invest in a humidifier and keep an eye on indoor temps

Extreme heat or cold can also trigger allergy symptoms in pets, so its important to maintain the temperature in your home. Another thing to consider is humidity levels. If the air in your home is too dry, it can cause your dog to have dry skin, which can intensify the itching. So invest in a humidifier if you need one. Plus, this can also benefit the humans in your home as well.

11. Keep up with flea and tick preventatives

Since dogs can be allergic to flea and tick bites, its important to prevent your dog from bug bites before they start. Chat with your vet about using monthly flea and tick preventatives, which typically come in a topical or an oral form. It is rare for dogs to be allergic to both forms, so if you notice an allergic reaction to one form of preventative, it is unlikely they will react to the other.

Its up to you to make sure youre administering these treatments as directed. Missed doses can cause the preventatives to not work, putting your pup at risk for bites and the issues that come with them.

12. DIY dog anti-itch spray

One way you can help your dogs irritated, dry skin is to make a DIY anti-itch spray, either with colloidal oatmeal to soothe inflamed, hot skin; coconut oil for dry and itchy skin; or peppermint, chamomile, and green teas to cool raw, rot skin. You can keep a small spray bottle handy to apply throughout the day.

6 Home Remedies for Dog Skin Allergies

Skin allergies are fairly common in dogs. They are not typically something to get too concerned about.

With proper care and treatment, they shouldn't cause much of a problem. However, if left untreated they could lead to more severe health problems.

You should consult with your veterinarian before using these dog skin allergies home remedies.

Signs that your dog is suffering with skin allergies include:

• Excessive itching and scratching
• Rubbing against objects like furniture and/or trees
• Excessive licking of the effected area

A dog's skin allergies will most often show up on their face, ears, underarms, lower legs and paws.

Your veterinarian will need to diagnose the exact cause of a skin allergy.

They will evaluate your dog's current condition and take his medical history into consideration.

Blood and/or skin testing may also need to be done in order to diagnose the condition.

If your pet's symptoms are not severe, it may be possible to treat dog skin allergies with home remedies.

If you try a home remedy and the condition seems to get worse, seek veterinary care immediately.

6 Dog Skin Allergies Home Remedies

1. Baking Soda

Most of us have baking soda in our kitchen cupboards, but you probably don't think of it as a home remedy for itchy skin.

While it helps to leaven baked goods, it can also soothe inflamed skin, reduce irritation and stop itching in dogs.

If you don't already have it, buy any regular cheap brand of baking soda (like Arm & Hammer).

There are three ways you can use it to relieve your dog's skin allergy symptoms: with a paste, spray or a bath.

Paste. Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part water to create a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Rinse the area thoroughly.

Spray. You can also create a spray using 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 8 ounces of warm water. Shake the mixture well before spraying down your pet.

Bath. If your dog is experiencing wide-spread itching due to the skin allergy, you can also create a baking soda bath by adding 2 cups of baking soda to a bathtub of water. Bathe your dog using the same instructions as noted above.

2. Oatmeal Bath

Most of the over-the-counter products you will find to treat itchy skin on dogs will contain oatmeal.

This is because studies have shown that the properties in oats have a positive effect on itchy skin and relieves skin allergy symptoms.

You can make your dog an oatmeal bath at home to help heal dry or itchy skin.

For this, you'll need natural single-ingredient colloidal oatmeal (like Aveeno). Add 3 cups of colloidal oatmeal to a bathtub filled with about 6 inches of warm water.

Put your dog in the bathtub and use a cup to apply the oatmeal water generously to the dog's coat.

Massage the mixture in to the skin with your hands.

Allow the dog to sit in the oatmeal bath for 20-30 minutes.

3. Aloe Vera

This is a common remedy for sunburns, but can also be effective at treating dog skin allergies.

Only use aloe vera gel on your pet, because the aloe vera rind contains something called saponins, a natural laxative that can make your dog sick.

Aloe vera has natural antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

The natural cooling effects of the aloe vera leaf gel should provide almost instantaneous relief for a dog with itchy skin.

Honeyskin is one of the best brands of 100% pure organic aloe vera leaf gel which is safe for dogs.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has been shown to have antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties.

Do NOT use it directly on your dog's skin, because the high acidity of apple cider vinegar could actually be harmful to the dog.

It could irritate your pet's skin and cause a burning sensation.

Use an organic type of apple cider vinegar (like Bragg), and make a 50/50 blend of apple cider vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle.

You can apply the spray to your dog 2-3 times per day until the itching stops.

If your dog has chronic skin itchiness, you can use the apple cider vinegar spray once per day as a treatment remedy.

This spray should not be used if your dog has open wounds on their skin. It will sting and cause your dog unnecessary pain.

You should also pay close attention to the itchy areas after applying this dog skin allergies home remedy.

If you notice any redness or the itchiness seems to get worse, stop using the spray and contact your veterinarian.

5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has many positive effects on a dog's skin and their coat health.

It can help with skin conditions like eczema, contact dermatitis, itchy skin and generally improve skin health.

It can also reduce allergic reactions, especially when it comes to flea allergies.

Skin cuts and wounds can also be treated withcoconut oil.

It can disinfect cuts on the dog and promote the healing of wounds.

It can also help with the treatment of dry skin, hot spots, bites and stings, as well as other skin allergy related symptoms.

Coconut oil can be given to dogs orally or applied topically.

Adding organic coconut oil (like Viva Naturals) in your dogs diet can improve their health in general, but for the best results regarding skin and coat health, coconut oil should be used topically.

If feeding coconut oil to a dog as part of their daily meals, do it one or two times per day. The amount of oil in your dogs food depends on their size.

For example, many vets recommend that you introduce coconut oil slowly to your dogs diet, like 1/4 of a teaspoon for small dogs on a daily basis.

For large breeds, start with one teaspoon with every meal.

Using coconut oil topically is rather simple.

You can use the same organic Viva Naturals brand, but it's important to start with small amounts because your dogs fur can get greasy if you apply too much.

Just rub a bit of coconut oil between your hands and put it on your dogs fur, like you are giving your pet a gentle massage.

Use your fingertips to rub the oil on the skin as well. It is best to apply coconut oil once or twice a week.

Coconut oil is not toxic and is healthy for dogs, so you don't have to worry if your pooch licks this skin remedy.

6. Colostrum Powder

Colostrum is an antibody-rich fluid that is produced from a dog mother's mammary glands during the first 1-2 days after birth.

Most commercial colostrum products are made with colostrum from cows.

Colostrum powder should be fed orally to a dog with skin problems, and there are specific pet-friendly brands such as the one from Wholistic Pet Organics.

It's best to give it to a dog on an empty stomach. Alternatively, you can mix it with a bit of bone broth or yogurt.

Recommended dosage of colostrum powder for dogs for the first month:

• 1/3 tsp of powder per 25 # body weight, to be given twice per day

Colostrum powder contains proline-rich polypeptides (PRP).

PRP has been shown to change the immune systems response to allergens. It inhibits immune cells that ramp up allergic reactions.

PRP can also help to create immune cells that suppress the immune response to allergic reactions.

It works as an anti-inflammatory to reduce histamine that triggers allergic reactions.

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