When you own a dog, you have the responsibility of keeping the dog safe, happy and healthy. In your quest for dog health and comfort, you might come across everyday problems like itchy or infected skin. If your dog's skin itches constantly, do your best to diagnose and treat the problem yourself, before taking the dog to the vet. There might be a relatively simple answer and treatment.
Things You'll Need
- Soothing shampoo
- Water
- Anti-itch spray
- Hydrogen peroxide (1% solution)
- Borax powder
Instructions
Diagnose the problem, if you can. Decide whether the dog simply has dry, itchy skin (flaky, with dandruff-like symptoms), or something more serious. If your dog's itchy skin is accompanied by hair loss and scabs, your dog may be itching because of mange, which is cased by small parasitic mites that have to be destroyed.
Purchase a skin-soothing, moisturizing shampoo at the pet store if your dog has itchy skin with dandruff. In that case, the dog's itching is probably due to dry skin. Shampoo the dog with the special shampoo once a week to keep its skin moisturized and comfortable. Supplement the shampoo with an anti-itch spray, also available at pet stores, to immediately relieve any hots pots.
Treat mange with something stronger, if that's what your dog has. Combine one to two 2 tbsp. of borax powder with 500 cc of one-percent hydrogen peroxide solution (both available at the market or pharmacy), in four cups of warm water. Increase the amount as needed to cover your dog. Pour this solution over your dog's coat, and concentrate on the affected areas.
Allow the solution to dry on your dog's skin to do its work. Repeat once a week until the symptoms and scratching disappear.