How Can I Treat My Dogs Flea Allergy Dermatitis At Home
Oatmeal has properties that soothe the skin and help eliminate the itch to promote healing. Oatmeal shampoos made for canines are safe enough to be used as needed without coat drying side effects. Use tepid water and rinse completely as to not leave any shampoo residue behind. If at all possible, let the coat air dry.
How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Experiencing Allergies
Sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, and coat changes can all be signs of eczema or an allergic reaction, but the most common sign in dogs is itching. Do you notice your dog is scratching or chewing at their leg more? Are they messing with their ears?
You may want to schedule a trip to your dogs vet to rule out anything other than allergies. There are tests available, through your vet, to find out what your pet is allergic to. However, it is sometimes obvious what your dog is allergic to. For example, if every time your dog goes into the grass to play or to get their salad on do they come back in with an itchy or swollen snout? This may be a sign of an allergy to grass.
How Can I Treat My Dogs Skin Allergy At Home
You can use shampoos and products to help keep your pups skin moisturized and free of allergens. Using an oatmeal bath or other product to help soothe itchy skin can help allergy symptoms. You can also try dietary supplements and remove allergens from your dogs environment. Remember to check with your vet before using any new products on your dog.
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Treating Allergies At Home
What Causes Dog Allergies
Dogs secrete proteins that end up in their dander , saliva, and urine. An allergic reaction occurs when a sensitive persons immune system reacts abnormally to the usually harmless proteins. Different breeds produce different dander, so its possible to be more allergic to some dogs than others.
The allergen eventually finds its way into the animals fur. From there, it collects in carpets, on clothing, on walls, and between couch cushions. The pet hair itself is not an allergen, but the hair can hold dust and dander.
Pet dander can remain airborne for long periods of time as well. It can eventually find its way into your eyes or lungs.
The symptoms of a dog allergy may range from mild to severe. Symptoms may not appear for several days after exposure in people with low sensitivity.
Some clues you may be allergic to dogs include:
- swelling and itching in the membranes of the nose or around the eyes
- redness of the skin after being licked by a dog
- coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing within 15 to 30 minutes of exposure to allergens
- rash on the face, neck, or chest
- a severe asthma attack
Children with dog allergies will often develop eczema in addition to the above symptoms. Eczema is a painful inflammation of the skin.
People used to believe that exposing a newborn to the family dog could cause a child to develop a pet allergy. Thankfully for dog owners, the opposite appears to be true. Several studies in the past few years including one published in the
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Why Conventional Drugs Dont Work
Allergy symptoms happen when your dogs immune system misfires. This causes your dog to react to things in his food or environment that are normally safe.
The drugs vets give suppress important parts of your dogs immune system. This might reduce your dogs reaction to allergens but it disables his immune system. This means cancer cells, viruses and bacteria can grow unchecked in your dog. Theres no functional immune system to find and destroy harmful invaders.
So the benefit of your dogs allergy drugs comes at a very high cost to your dog. Its a price you dont want to pay.
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Natural Home Remedies For Itchy Dogs
Jillian Dara is a fact checker for The Spruce Pets, reviewing articles about pet care and pet products for factual accuracy and consistency. She has more than five years of experience in lifestyle editing and media and has been published in a variety of prestigious outlets.
The Spruce / Ellen Lindner
When a trip to the vet isn’t possible, you can treat a dog’s itchy skin with a home remedy. Colloidal oatmeal baths, coconut oil, and baking soda are among the items you can use for home remedies. And though you can offer some relief and lessen the urge to itch, it’s important that you eventually treat the underlying cause, whether it’s an allergy, flea bites, or an autoimmune disorder.
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Home Remedies For Dog Allergies
The photo above is an example of an allergy test being performed on a dog. This the best thing to do if you suspect your dog has allergies. The testing will provide you with specific information about what your dog is allergic to. If possible, you can eliminate the allergen from his diet and/or environment.
Of course, this isn’t possible in every case. If you’ve talked with your veterinarian and you’ve decided to to use home remedies for dog allergies, there are a few options that have had a lot of success.
Home Remedies For Dogs Skin Allergies
On a brighter note, most dog allergies arent life-threatening. Theyll often cause itching and rashes, but theres more than one dog irritated skin home remedy you can use to help your pet.
Dealing With Irritants
If your pup suddenly gets itchy, its best to investigate any recent changes in its life. Maybe you washed its bed with a new laundry detergent. Did the groomer use anew shampoo?Are you trying out a different dry dog food?
The possibilities are endless, so its best to think about your specific situation. Meanwhile, you might be wondering what can I put on my dog to relieve itching? Lets see.
Baking Soda for Itchy Dog
Baking soda is a chemical compound that can relieve your pups itchiness due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Just mix soda with water in equal amounts to form a thick paste. Then, spread it on your pups rash. Leave it for 20 minutes, and wash it away with lukewarm water.
But be careful. Your pooch shouldnt eat the paste, as itcan betoxic for dogs when ingested.
Coconut Oil
One of the many natural remedies for a dogs itchy skin is coconut oil. It can penetrate the skin to hydrate, improve elasticity, and soothe the itch. Also, the oil is anti-inflammatory, so the rash will likely heal faster.
Spread some coconut oil over your puppys inflamed patch two times a day for a few days, and your pet should be fine.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs Skin
Dont use apple cider vinegar on open wounds. It stings and will irritate the skin even more.
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Allergic Reaction Heres A Step By Step On What To Do Next
Step 1: stop panicking!
Step 2: head to the vet for a confirmation of an allergy or fleas.
Step 3: work out what the allergens are and remove or avoid them.
Step 4: treat with prescribed medications and natural home remedies for dog allergies to soothe itchy skin symptoms.
Ahhhhhhh. Thats better!
As pet owners, its our duty to take care of our beloved fur-balls. We treat their symptoms, remove their fleas and cuddle them tight. We also get to jump with joy and go for a celebratory walkie when the home remedies work like a treat!
What Are The Common Causes Of Dry Itchy Skin
Seasonal allergies.Seasonal allergies might be to blame if your pup is itchy at certain times of the year like the spring or fall. As the seasons change, different allergens are present. For example, if your dog is allergic to pollen you may see more itching in the spring when more flowers are in bloom.
Environmental irritants. There are many environmental irritants like dust mites, mold, chemicals that can make your dogs skin dry and itchy. Try to limit your dogs exposure to these will help your dogs skin. If its not possible to completely avoid them, consider protective gear like booties to keep their feet protected from anything on the ground when walking outside.
Be sure to take them off as soon as your pet comes inside to avoid irritation.
Food sensitivities. While it may not seem obvious, food sensitivities are another cause of irritated skin in dogs. Compared to environmental allergies, food allergies are rare. If you think your dogs food might be to blame, talk to your vet to determine if you need to do an elimination diet. A surprisingly common food allergy for dogs is actually chicken but thats not the only possibility.
Flea allergy dermatitis. If your dog has been bitten by fleas recently, they may show signs of flea allergy dermatitis. This is because dogs are actually allergic to flea bites which can make their skin itchy. If you see red spots or have confirmed the presence of fleas on your dog, this might be the cause.
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Treatment Of Allergic Reactions
Your veterinarian will threat most allergic reactions the same regardless of the allergen. They might use an injection of an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine as well as an injection of a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone. In rarer, more severe cases, additional therapeutics, such as oxygen supplementation and epinephrine, and additional monitoring of blood pressure as well as heart rate and rhythm may be warranted.
Oatmeal Bath For Itchy Dogs
- Oatmeal is an age-old remedy for our dry, itchy skin that happens to be safe for use on our canine friends too! In fact, most doggy hypoallergenic shampoos include oatmeal as an active ingredient to soothe and fight irritation.
- Start by grinding plain oatmeal into a powder to sprinkle in your dogs warm bath. The oatmeal will typically take 10 to 15 minutes to cool down red, angry skin, no matter the cause. It is also nontoxic, so its okay if your pet licks some off during their long bath. If this sounds like a long time for your pup to be in the tub without a struggle, try some of our techniques to Curb Bath Time Fears.
- Another option to avoid a full-on bath is to make an oatmeal paste. Take your ground oatmeal and gradually add a little bit of water until you are left with a paste that has a spreadable consistency. Target spots that have been bothering your dog and make sure the paste is in contact with the skin on longer-haired dogs for maximum relief.
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Oatmeal For Itchy Skin
If youve had the chicken pox, you may have taken an oatmeal bath to soothe your itchy skin. Oatmeal contains chemicals called avenanthramides and phenols, which have anti-inflammatory properties, Morgan explains.
Pets with skin allergies and superficial infections get immediate relief from oatmeal, says Khuly, who is a general veterinary practitioner. Its especially helpful for dogs with really itchy feet. Plus, its 100 percent non-toxic and delicious, too.
To create your own remedy, Morgan suggests grinding the oatmeal to a fine powder and mixing it with water to apply as a poultice on hot spots or inflamed areas. If your dog tolerates baths, you can add the oatmeal formula to warm water, and let your dog soak for five to 10 minutes.
Help Your Dog With Seasonal Allergies Naturally
When used properly, consistently, and in conjunction with other appropriate treatments, natural treatments for seasonal dog allergies can be very effective. Talk with your veterinarian about natural remedies and whether you can use them to help your dog either solely or in part.As discussed above, one natural option is CBD oil, also known as cannabidiol. CBD oil works to help support your dogs physical and emotional well-being. It can also be used to support skin health. When used routinely and as part of holistic treatments, CBD oil can help provide support for your dogs seasonal allergies.CBD oil, its benefits, and its drawbacks are still being researched. However, preliminary results have shown it may have the ability to reduce inflammation, one of the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies in dogs. This study outlines the basis for their use as an anti-inflammatory for autoimmune diseases and other related disorders, such as seasonal allergies.Its important to invest in a reliable product. Our premium CBD oil for dogs and our CBD balm for dogs are both 100% natural and independently lab tested. They contain naturally retained whole-plant benefits for your dog, such as terpenes, antioxidants, and fatty acids. Our CBD extract is sourced from only the best organically grown hemp plants.
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When To Go To The Vet
Sometimes you cant treat dog allergies at home, which is when you should take your pet to the vet. It can happen if the reaction is severe and/or persistent. If your dog is starting to choke and has difficulty breathing call your vet immediately.
Other symptoms that might require your vets attention include:
- Yeast infections These are characterized by a repulsive, foughty smell.
- Wounds If your pets scratched itself and created a wound, its best if your vet gives you a prescription topical to avoid infections.
- Scratching for more than a week If none of the dog itching remedies is helping and the scratching continues, that might be a sign of a more severe condition like an autoimmune disease.
- Hairfall It might be a sign of an immune system problem.
Symptoms Of Dog Allergies
Before you set about treating your dog’s allergies at home, you need to know what those allergies might look like. It’s possible that your dog’s issue is caused by a skin condition like eczema or a yeast infection, rather than an allergy, so you’ll want to be aware of allergy symptoms and get a definitive diagnosis before trying any home remedies.
While allergy symptoms can vary depending on the allergen and the dog, there are some common signs. They include:
- Itchy skin and associated scratching
- Dry skin or scaly skin
- Scabbing on the skin
If you see symptoms like these, the best course of action is to call your veterinarian. They can run tests and examine your pet to confirm an allergy. From there, you can work together to come up with a treatment or management plan.
Some dogs have severe allergies that can only be managed with medication, such as an antihistamine like benadryl. For others, DIY home remedies can make a big difference.
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# 1 Colostrum And Dog Allergies
Colostrum is naturally found in mothers first milk. It plays a vital role in developing the newborns immune system and digestive tract. But colostrum can help adult animals too . Colostrum contains an component called proline-rich polypeptide .
Research shows PRP helps improve allergy symptoms. It does this by changing the way the immune system responds to allergens. PRP can inhibit immune cells that ramp up allergic reactions. It can also help create immune cells that suppress and switch off the immune response. PRP is also anti-inflammatory and can reduce histamine that triggers allergic reactions.
Bovine colostrum also supplies your dog with antibodies to common allergens. Thats because cows develop antibodies to pollen, fleas and other allergens theyre exposed to. The cows then pass these antibodies to their calves. The calves wont develop allergies to these substances. So when you give your dog colostrum, those antibodies can tell his immune system that these common substances arent a threat. This can help provide the allergy relief that your dog needs.
Colostrum works especially well with environmental allergies and seasonal allergies.
How Much Colostrum Do Dogs Need?Colostrum comes in either powdered or capsule form. Its most effective when given on an empty stomach, but you can also put it in a little yogurt or broth.
Use it daily for a month to start, then give as needed if your dogs allergy symptoms resolve, in these amounts
