Susan
Coming to the aid of your furry loved one when he or she is scratching and receiving just discomfort is undoubtedly distressing enough for any pet parent. Dogs’ itching may be caused by various reasons, such as harmful allergies, infectious skin diseases, parasites, and irritating ambient factors. You may wonder, “What can I put on my dog to relieve itching?”.
Let’s look at them in detail. It’s quite relevant to treat the root cause of your dog’s itching, but there are several natural remedies that you can try at home to get relief and end his or her skin disorder. In this blog, we’ll discuss the use of several home-based remedies for remedying dogs’ itching and more holistically improving their comfort and wellness as a result.
Causes of Itching in Dogs
Sometimes before you move on to natural reliefs you can understand why your four-legged friend is scratching so much.
Common causes of itching in dogs include:
- Allergies: Many dogs are allergic to different substances, including hay fever, dust mites, some food, and some ingredients in grooming articles.
- Skin Infections: Impetigo, a bacterial infection, or dermatophytosis, the fungal form, can be characterized by itching, redness, and inflammation of the skin.
- Parasites: Fleas, ticks, mites, and lice are all fleas of insects in dogs that cause discomfort, irritation, and itch.
- Dry Skin: Dry air, regular bathing, and too harsh brushes and creams can cause dogs ‘s skin to dry, and itchy.
Symptoms of Itching in Dogs
The symptom of dogs’ itching depends on the reason and the seriousness of the condition, and it can vary in nature.
Here are some common signs that your dog may be experiencing itching:
- Excessive Scratching: For instance, if your dog exhibits an abnormal degree of scratching of its body while it becomes very severe to the point of becoming an active undergoer for a long period of time, it becomes an indication of scratching.
- Licking or Chewing: Dogs can lick, bite, and chew parts of their body due to itching or any other allergy they are experiencing. Too much of the licking and chewing can bring about boils, irritation of the skin, and also damage the skin.
- Rubbing Against Objects: Certain dogs may drop themselves on different furniture like chairs, walls, and other objects to stop itching. This indication is frequently encountered when the moorings are in a particular area of the body.
- Hair Loss: Scalp inflammation will cause hair loss or thinning in the affected area. The scratching or licking can make the itch more irritating and may last longer. You might as well notice bald spots, blotches, or stripes on your dog’s body.
- Redness and Inflammation: Scratching and licking may induce itching, which often is accompanied by red skin, swelling, and inflammation, specifically in the areas your dog most commonly rubs. The skin will be warm and marked with sensitivity or pain to the touch of your dog.
What Can I Put on My Dog to Relieve Itching? – Best Home Remedies
1. Oatmeal Bath
Oatmeal is one of the best remedies due to its calming effects that eliminates itching and inflammation in dogs. For a bowl of oatmeal bath, you need to grind plain, uncooked oats into the finest powder, and then mix the powder with some warm water to get it into the paste form. Apply an adequate amount of the paste on your dog’s skin and steadily rub it in, then wash it off thoroughly with warm water. On the contrary, you can figure out such a kind of shampoo as oatmeal-based, which is only created for dog hair care.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
An apple cider vinegar use contains antibacterial and antifungal effects and it can be used efficiently for curing irritated skin and even the pH balance. Store in a tightly closed bottle and dilute the apple cider vinegar with water by a ratio of 1:2 to rinse your dog after taking a bath. Make definitely sure that you refrain from applying vinegar to open wounds or raw skin as you literally will feel stinging.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a healthy natural mineral oil and it can subsidize in case of dry and irritated skin. It assists in healing the damaged parts of the skin. Dab a following small amount of coconut oil on the dog skin adding to those areas that are irritated or dry most. Since coconut oil is safe for dogs to ingest, there are multiple ways that dogs can benefit from taking the oil supplements orally.
4. Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera has the ability to soothe and anti-inflammation the skin of our dogs which could further help eradicate the irritation and inflammation of the skin of our dogs. Use pure and natural aloe vera gel as is or make a simple paste with a few drops of water and apply it directly to your dog’s skin—especially where the skin is red, inflamed, or itchy. Get yourself an aloe vera gel that is natural and has no additional elements like alcohol or fragrances. These substances can be unfavorable to the skin when it is already inflamed.
5. Chamomile Tea Compress
Chamomile tea is a mild astringent with potent anti-inflammatory properties that can work well with skin allergies in dogs because of the soothing and itch-relieving effects that it has. To make a strong cup of chamomile tea, steep it for the required time and then let it cool. Get a clean towel or cotton pad moistened with the tea and apply it on your dog’s irritated areas with a cloth or cotton pad. Develop again to find an escape.
6. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in supplement fish oils, may help the dog to achieve healthier-looking skin and reduce inflammation as well. Give your dog a fish oil supplement alongside their food, based on the recommended dosage, which is usually measured in milligrams per kilogram of their body weight. Alternatively refer to omega-3-rich foods such as salmon, sardines, or flaxseeds, which for your purposes can be added to one’s diet.
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FAQs on home remedies to relieve itching
1. How can I tell if my dog is itching excessively?
Unmanageable licking, scratching, and biting are signs of too much itching common in dogs. Hot spots can result from biting and scratching and cause redness, inflammation, and hair loss. If you see these symptoms in your dog, the key is to determine the root cause of the itching and start providing comfort as early as possible.
2. Can I use human remedies like hydrocortisone cream on my dog’s skin?
Oftentimes, there are human-specific medications like hydrocortisone creams that can negatively affect our dogs’ skin, and they should be avoided. Of course, some human remedies are harmless to employ for dogs, but yet it is important to seek a consultation from a veterinarian if you want to apply anything to your dog´s skin. The presence of some chemicals or ingredients in human products, for example, hydrocortisone cream, could be dangerous for dogs or oppose established reactions. In consideration that you always employ products created specifically for dogs anywhere you can.
3. How often should I bathe my dog to relieve itching?
Bathing your pet very often may deprive it of natural oils which are necessary for keeping skin moisturized. Therefore, too many baths often irritate the skin and result in itching and dryness. The load of shampooing your dog shouldn’t go beyond 4-6 weeks, depending on what your vet instructs you. You can use a gentle, moisturizing shampoo formulated for dogs to help soothe their skin and alleviate itching.
4. My dog’s itching seems to be getting worse. What should I do?
It is vital to seek the assistance of your veterinarian if your pet’s scratching problem continues after applying home remedies or gets worse. The doctor may assess the exact reason for the dog’s itch and guide you along the medication or therapy corridor required to keep your dog calm.
5. Can diet affect my dog’s itching?
Of course, diet is an important aspect affecting your dog’s health and skin and is a great indicator of how healthy the dog will be once it grows up. It is well possible for food allergies or sensitivities to cause skin irritations and weaknesses in dogs. Spend some time looking through some high-quality, hypoallergenic dog food brands that don’t contain wheat, fillers, artificial flavors, and preservatives, and see if your pet is one of the few with food allergies. Last but not least, feed your dog foods that belong to the omega-3 fatty acids and other skin-supporting nutrients group. These foods may help improve skin health and reduce itching too.
