Itchy Dog | Whether you are in a bad mood or feeling sick, a cute dog can cheer you up on a sad day. While a pet dog is just what you need to give warm hugs to at home, dogs are susceptible to certain skin conditions that may cause excessive itching or discomfort. Be it pollutants in the air or a potential food allergy, your dog may experience itching around its ears, rump, groin, or paws. It can also be a sign of an insect bite or an underlying autoimmune disease that can lead to itching throughout the body.
Depending on the intensity of itching, you can determine whether you should take your dog to a vet or not. If the itching is mild, it may not indicate a serious health concern. However, a lack of appetite, extreme mood swings, excessive licking, and prolonged discomfort or restlessness are other symptoms you need to be on the look out for. In that case, it is best to take your dog to a vet. It may signal an underlying illness that needs to be treated to prevent chronic itchiness that may lead to skin wounds and infection. The vet will recommend a treatment plan accordingly.
If your dog feels itchy occasionally, you can try out natural solutions to help get rid of itching at home. You can conveniently find various ingredients within your pantry to treat its itching or relieve its intensity. Before starting a routine for your dog, you must seek approval from its vet. In case your dog experiences more itching after a specific regimen, you should immediately stop the treatment.
Here is a list of natural remedies you can try for your itchy dog.
Give your dog a soothing bath in an oatmeal-infused bathtub to relieve itching. It can reduce inflammation on its skin while removing allergens trapped within its hair or skin. You can invest in a store-bought oatmeal flavored bath bomb or prepare it at home by grinding a handful of oats. Be sure to add the ground oats to hot water in the bathtub for maximum benefits. Let it cool down and lay your dog inside for 15 to 20 minutes. You will notice a difference in its skin with decreased swelling, redness, and itching across its body.
You can make an anti-fungal and antibacterial spray at home using organic apple cider vinegar. Just fill up a clean spray bottle with apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Shake the bottle well to mix the two ingredients. Next, spray it on your dog’s affected areas and let it sit for at least five minutes. Your dog will feel relaxed and less itchy after using this spray. However, if your dog’s skin has bruises or wounds due to excessive itching, this antibacterial spray may cause intense pain. Therefore, you should avoid spraying it directly on its skin.
Aloe vera gel is commonly known for its healing properties. It helps alleviate redness from the skin if applied to the affected area. You can easily find aloe vera gel from your nearby grocery store. If you can’t find 100% natural aloe vera gel, you can extract some fresh gel from an aloe vera plant. If itching persists or increases after applying aloe vera gel, remove it from your dog’s skin and wash your dog with cold water.
Green tea is a great ingredient to relieve itching. It can soothe your dog’s skin with its anti-inflammatory properties. If your dog’s skin appears red and patchy, you can give it a green tea bath for instant relief. Add lukewarm water to your bathtub and soak 3 to 4 tea bags of green tea for 5 minutes. Once the water is infused with green tea extracts, you can remove the tea bags and lay your dog inside. You will notice an improvement in your dog’s skin condition.
Baking soda has antifungal properties that can help improve itching skin. Use two tablespoons of baking soda and add two tablespoons of water to make a thin consistency. Apply this mixture to your dog’s affected skin and leave it on for at least 6 to 8 minutes. Once it dries down, rinse it with cold water. In case your dog experiences itching across its entire body, you can add 3 to 4 tablespoons of baking soda to lukewarm water in your bathtub. Lay your dog for 10 minutes, and it will work wonders to alleviate itching and discomfort.
It is best to work on your dog’s diet in order to prevent skin infections. Add foods rich in healthy carbohydrates and Omega-3 fatty acids to your pet’s diet. You can also indulge your dog in seafood if it’s allergic to wheat or gluten. By improving the functioning of its digestive system and overall immunity with a good diet, your dog will less likely develop itching or other skin conditions.
The abovementioned list of ways can help ease your dog’s skin condition. You can also apply coconut oil to your dog’s skin to moisturize it after soaking it in the bathtub. If one remedy doesn’t improve its skin condition, you can use the rest of the remedies for instant relief. If itching persists for more than a week, you should rush to your vet to find a treatment plan for your dog. Delaying it further may lead to other complications; hence, the earlier you visit a vet, the better it will be.
by Maria A Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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