How would you describe your dog’s itchiness? Is it frequent and so persistent that your dog is always restless and can’t get comfortable? Or is it occasional and mild?
If your dog is constantly itching you should take him to see your vet so that he can treat the underlying cause. He may find out that your dog is intolerant to a certain food, flea bite, grass pollen, or dust mites. Perhaps he or she even has a skin disease like little Kez I mentioned in one of my newsletters? Depending on the cause, your vet will administer the appropriate treatment.
If your dog’s itching and nibbling are occasional or mild, give these recipes a go at home:
1/ Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. When choosing an apple cider vinegar, go for an organic one that has “the Mother” inside. The Mother is the cloudy substance that you see floating in some bottles of vinegar. It’s believed to be rich in health-boosting natural protein, healthy bacteria, and acetic acid. It forms naturally as raw organic vinegar ferments, producing murky, brownish vinegar. If a vinegar looks crystal clear, it’s been filtered and pasteurised to remove The Mother and most of its nutrients.
Make a 50/50 mixture in a spray bottle and apply directly to your dog’s itchy spots or paws. Don’t use it on open wounds!
2/ Green tea and chamomile soak
All-natural herbal teas, like chamomile, sage, or decaffeinated green tea, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to help stop itching.
Fill your bathtub or sink with lukewarm water and let a few tea bags steep for about five minutes. Remove the tea bags and let your dog soak in the mixture for at least five minutes. Alternatively, prepare the teas as you normally would for drinking, allow them to cool down, pour them in a spray bottle and spray the affected areas.
4/ Coconut oil
Coconut oil is probably one of the most well-known, used, and versatile oils. It’s a solid white oil that melts at about 25 ºC. Virgin coconut oil is high in lauric acid and is therefore antibacterial, or, more precisely, bactericidal as it kills bacteria. Lauric acid can damage the lipid cover of some viruses, so we can say it’s antiviral as well. It’s also known to improve skin, hair, digestion, and reduce allergic reactions.
How to use coconut oil on your dog’s skin and hair:
Have you tried any of the above mentioned home remedies?
Jitka xx