Natural Home Remedies for Itchy Dogs

Scratching, licking, rubbing and biting are signs that your pet may be suffering from skin disorders or allergies. It may leave your beloved pet feeling agitated and uncomfortable and, if left untreated, their skin condition may get so bad that they start pulling out their fur or develop hot spots (areas of oozing, dry or inflamed skin)!

Any good pet parent would never want to see their animal companion in any sort of discomfort. While your first reaction may be to rush off to the vet, we want you to know that there are various natural home remedies which are not only affordable but effective in treating your pet's flaky, inflamed and irritated skin.

Here are our favourite natural home remedies for itchy dogs. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar can be used as a powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal treatment for your dog's itchy skin. This method is one of the easiest and safest ways to treat itchy, dry skin and doesn't cost a lot!

Instructions

• Combine a mixture of 50% organic apple cider vinegar (with the "mother") and 50% water in a clean spray bottle
• Spray your dog's itchy spots with the solution

Caution: Apple cider vinegar should never be used on raw skin or open wounds - it will burn and be painful for your dog, and can even worsen symptoms! It's also important to remember that undiluted apple cider vinegar should not be used as this can also burn and damage the skin.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is known to soothe itchiness associated with doggy eczema, hot spots, allergies, skin infections and even bug bites. Coconut oil has wonderful antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiprotozoal properties, making it a healing and soothing natural remedy for dogs' itchy skin. This can be administered either topically or internally for therapeutic effect.

Instructions

• Soften some Organic Coconut Oil in your hands and massage into your dog's affected areas. You'll see results quickly!
• You can also add some coconut oil to their food for holistic treatment from the inside out.

Colloidal Oatmeal Baths

Making a colloidal oatmeal bath for dogs at home is super simple, 100% non-toxic, and favourited among many pet owners for various reasons. Besides being a wonderful solution to your dog's itchy skin, colloidal oatmeal baths also help the skin form a protective barrier that keeps moisture in and slows the loss of hydrating ingredients from your dog’s skin. Goodbye dry, flaky skin!

Colloidal oatmeal's anti-inflammatory properties help to ease redness, inflammation, itchiness and skin irritation. PetMD explains nicely how to give your dog a colloidal oatmeal bath:

Ingredients

• Blender, coffee grinder, or food processor
• Plain oatmeal (instant oatmeal, quick oats, or slow-cooking oats all work well)
• ½ - 1 cup of oatmeal for medium to large breeds / 1/3 cup for smaller dogs
• Warm water (not hot, as hot water can dry out the skin and can worsen inflammation)
• A bathtub
• 1 cup of high-fat milk for an extra-creamy mixture OR 2 tablespoons of Organic Coconut Oil or Organic Olive Oil 

Instructions

1. Blend or process the oats on the highest setting until you have a very fine, consistent powder.
2. Test 1 tablespoon of the powder to see if the oats are ground fine enough to absorb water. Stir the tablespoon of the ground oats into a glass of warm water.
3. If the oats easily absorb the water and the liquid becomes milky-looking with a smooth feel, you've blended long enough.
4. If the liquid doesn't turn milky, process the oats to grind them even finer. Test again. Repeat until you get a milky solution with a fine, silky feel.

Bath Time

1. Pour the oat powder into a tub of running warm water and stir evenly.
2. Fill the tub and put your dog in the tub.
3. Using a cup, slowly pour the solution over their body. You can gently rub some of the oatmeal directly onto any particularly bad areas.
4. After you have massaged the oatmeal into your dog’s skin and fur and let him soak for 10 minutes, rinse the mixture off with warm water.
5. Use a towel to dry your dog off and brush out their fur. Never use a hot hair dryer on a dog. Your pup will be slippery due to the moisture of the bath.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can dry out rashes on the skin, alleviate itching, and reduce redness and inflammation. It works best when made into a paste and applied directly to the affected areas.

1. Combine 50% baking soda with 50% water and apply the paste to your dog's skin.
2. After about 20 minutes, rinse completely.
3. For a more moisturizing affect, add a little bit of Organic Coconut Oil to the mixture.

A Balanced Diet

Many dogs are allergic to the ingredients found in store-bought dog foods. The food you are giving them could be the direct cause of their itchy skin! Unfortunately, due to the increasing demand of pet food and treats, the pressure falls on manufacturers to mass produce. Mass production almost always leads to decreased quality - if you don't believe us, just take a look at the ingredients in your commercial pet food and treats!

We recommend you feed your dog a raw food diet with some bone content, as close to a dog's natural diet as possible. Our suggestion is to add 25% of mashed, cooked healthy veggies (pumpkin / sweet potato / gem squash etc.) as a nutritional additive and to keep them regular. You can also add a supplement such as EveryPet Supplement – a natural multivitamin, prebiotic, mineral and herbal supplement all in one!!

Feelgood Health also offers a wide range of natural and effective supplements and remedies to treat skin conditions in dogs and cats, without unwanted side effects! Browse range >

If you have any questions about your pet's health or diet, please contact us or leave a comment below for FREE advice, or leave a comment below. We always love hearing from you!