Home remedies for dog itching skin allergies – 5 quick soothing home remedies

With these five home remedies for dog skin allergies, you can help soothe your dog’s skin and boost their overall health. 

Home Remedies for Dog Skin Allergies Itching 

For dogs with allergies, certain foods as well as warmer weather can bring on some serious skin allergies and irritation. Thankfully, there are home remedies that can help soothe your pooch’s irritated skin and provide them with added health benefits.

Natural home remedies for your dog’s skin allergies can give your dog much-needed relief. Changing their diet, frequent oatmeal baths, the use of fish and/or coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar solutions help to soothe skin allergies and prevent constant scratching and irritation.  

Using medication to calm your dog’s allergies can cause them to become lethargic. Benadryl, for instance, can sap the energy out of your dog. But natural home remedies will keep them energized. With the five home remedies below, your dog’s skin will get the relief it desperately needs. 

How Can I Treat My Dogs Skin Allergies Naturally?

Many of the natural home remedies that you will find in this article may seem familiar. That is because they are home remedies you can use for your own skin issues and allergies. 

5 quick, soothing home remedies that have been known to help with your dog’s skin allergies are:

  • Dietary supplements such as fish oil
  • Dietary supplements or topical application of coconut oil
  • A change in diet to eliminate food allergies that cause skin irritation
  • Frequent oatmeal baths
  • The use of an apple cider vinegar solution

I will go over each home remedy, where you can get them, and how to administer it. You will also find that some of these home remedies will also provide your dog with added health benefits. 

More Than One Approach

Skin allergies can be persistent. As you read on, keep in mind that you don’t have to take just one approach. In fact, don’t be surprised if you need to use a combination of home remedies to do the trick. 

Luckily, many of the home remedies mentioned below are much more affordable than constant vet visits. Especially if your dog’s allergies are bad enough to require monthly allergy shots to prevent sores and hotspots from developing.  

Let’s jump into how these home remedies can help your canine companion’s quality of life.

Does Fish Oil Help Dogs with Skin Allergies?

Absolutely! Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that are highly beneficial for your dog’s skin. The addition of fish oil to your dog’s diet will also help promote a range of health benefits. It will not only address your dog’s itchy skin allergies, but it will also provide the following health benefits:

  • Promote a healthy heart
  • Provide joint pain relief such as arthritis
  • Strengthen their immune system
  • Result in a shiny fur coat
  • Promote cognitive health

There is a range of fish oil products to choose from. You can opt to get a giant bottle of fish oil pills from your local pharmacy that you would normally get for yourself. Or you can get fish oil that is formulated specifically for dogs. 

Whichever you choose, you will want to consult your dog’s veterinarian. You’ll want to find out how much fish oil your dog should get based on their overall size and health.   

Does Coconut Oil Help Dogs with Skin Allergies?

Coconut oil is another type of oil that can help your dog’s skin allergies. As another source of healthy fats, coconut oil can be used both topically and orally. You can find it sold in supermarkets, pharmacies, and pet stores.

You can apply coconut oil directly to the skin. Or you can try using shampoos that contain coconut oil. This will help soothe dry, itchy skin and provide relief associated with skin allergies. 

You can also opt to add coconut oil to your canine’s diet. For the many health benefits that coconut oil can impart to your dog’s health, this may be the ideal choice. According to the AKC, adding coconut oil to your dog’s diet can promote healthy skin as well as:

  • Provide your dog with an energy boost
  • Promote bone health
  • Aid in a healthy digestive tract
  • Act as an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory to aid the immune system
  • Provide your dog with a shiny coat and eliminate that “doggy” smell
  • Improve cognitive abilities

As with the fish oil mentioned above, you will want to consult your dog’s vet for the proper dosage. Your veterinarian will also be able to inform you of signs to look out for in case your dog doesn’t stomach coconut oil well.

Do Dietary Changes Help Dogs with Skin Allergies?

As you can see from the dietary supplements mentioned above, what your dog eats can help with allergies. Sometimes your dog’s allergies are environmentally caused. Other times their itchy, irritated skin is a reaction to food allergies.

If your dog has food allergies that cause their skin to be excessively itchy, a dietary change may be needed. It could be as simple as changing the type of protein found in their food. If you normally get dog food that has chicken in it, you can try switching to a food with venison or salmon.

Homemade food can also help eliminate certain additives your dog may be allergic to and give you better control of your dog’s diet. Changing the type of protein your dog eats or making homemade foods for your dog can make all the difference.

Dietary changes are a trial-and-error approach. Some dogs will require specialized dog food if they have a lot of food allergies. For example, Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete is a specialized dog food that can aid your dog by:

  • Avoiding negative food reactions
  • Strengthening skin barriers
  • Preventing the urge to scratch

Do Oatmeal Baths Help Dogs with Skin Allergies?

Outside of dietary supplements and changes, oatmeal baths are a great option to treat your canine companion’s skin allergies. Many people are surprised to find out that oatmeal baths are great for the skin. Oatmeal: 

  • Contains anti-inflammatory properties
  • Moisturizes the skin to prevent dryness
  • Improves and protects your dog’s skin 

For dogs who aren’t against baths, oatmeal baths can reduce inflammation of the skin. The best part about oatmeal baths is that you can make them from ingredients found in your pantry. For directions on how to make an oatmeal bath suitable for your dog, PetMD has you covered. 

You can also find oatmeal bath mixtures at your local pharmacy. Typically, you can use the same oatmeal bath mixture you would purchase for yourself. Just make sure to check the ingredients to ensure nothing harmful is added. 

You can also visit your local pet store for oatmeal bath products specifically made for dogs. They will likely have an assortment of shampoos and bath powders to choose from.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help Dogs with Skin Allergies?

Apple cider vinegar happens to be one of those home remedies that can help with multiple issues. 

When it comes to your dog’s skin allergies, a solution of 50% water and 50% apple cider vinegar can help. Simply mix the equal parts of water and vinegar. Pour into a spray bottle and spray the solution onto the affected area to help soothe your dog’s dry, itchy skin. 

How does it help? Apple cider vinegar has both antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. It also has the added benefit of repelling fleas and ticks!

Warning: If your dog has licked or scratched its skin raw, you won’t want to use this solution. You should avoid applying this to open wounds and hot spots. The high acidity of the solution can cause unwanted stinging and discomfort.

Conclusion

With these five home remedies, you can help improve your dog’s overall health and promote healthy, resilient skin. You may even be able to eliminate food allergies that are causing your dog’s irritated skin. Before you consult your vet about medicinal options, try giving these natural alternatives a try! 

References


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