Home Remedies for Itchy Paws on a Dog

Itchy paws are very uncomfortable for a dog. While there can be hundreds of different things causing itchy paws, they fall into six main categories: environmental, nutritional, parasitic, allergic, neurogenic and infectious. A trip to the veterinarian might determine the cause, but in the meantime, there are some home remedies to help ease the dog's discomfort.

  1. Nutritional Remedies

    • Dogs can have itchy paws due to nutritional deficiencies. Switching the dog to a high quality dog food can ease the itching. High quality dog foods have meat as the first ingredient. All natural, organic or grain-free foods tend to be higher in quality. Switching a dog to a new food should be done gradually to avoid stomach upset. A small portion of new food should be added to the old food, gradually increasing the amount of the new food over a period of 10 days.

    Supplemental Remedies

    • Switching to a higher quality food can negate the need for any additional supplements, but if the itching persists, the addition of a fatty acid supplement might resolve the problem. An omega fatty acid or evening primrose oil supplement can provide relief from itching, but not immediately. A fatty acid supplement can take a few weeks before providing relief. These supplements are available in health food stores.

    Temporary Relief

    • Soaking a dog's itchy feet in an Epsom salt bath for up to 10 minutes, two to four times per day, can provide temporary relief. This is made with a half a cup of Epsom salts per gallon of water. Cool water is preferable, as warm water will make the itch worse. Baking soda or colloidal oatmeal baths may also provide temporary relief from itching.

    Neurogenic Dermatitis

    • When a cause cannot be identified for itchy paws, the diagnosis is neurogenic dermatitis. The dogs' itching might be the result of boredom, separation anxiety, frustration or confinement. The home remedy for this type of dermatitis is to minimize these stressors. Ensuring the dog has adequate playtime, love, attention, toys and space might go a long way to relieving those itchy paws.