Dogs suffer from allergies just as humans do but it may take a little sleuthing to determine the culprit. One of the most common symptoms indicating a dog may be allergic to something is an unusual amount of scratching. Upon inspection, the dog’s skin may appear red and scaly. In addition to scratching, a dog may chew on his tail, paws, or hindquarters in an attempt to stop his skin's itching and burning. Fortunately, there are some home remedies you can try to soothe your dog’s symptoms.
Things You'll Need
- Dog shampoo for sensitive skin
- Warm water
- Large tub or sink
- Iodine
- Dry oatmeal
- Tea bag
- Flaxseed oil
- Salmon oil
Instructions
Look for fleas on your dog. While it’s common for most dogs to get fleas at least once in their lives, a dog that is allergic to flea bites will suffer from severe itching and may chew sores on his skin while trying to relieve the itch.
Bathe your dog. Dilute a little tearless dog shampoo with warm water and rub it in a ring all the way around your dog’s neck before bathing him. The ring will prevent fleas from traveling from his body to his head during his bath. Use your sink for small dogs and a large tub for big dogs and allow them to sit in warm soapy water while you massage their skin. Fleas will drown below the ring line but you will have to pick off the fleas on the head area. Bathe your dog weekly until all fleas are gone.
Boil 2 quarts of water and add a handful of regular or quick-cooking oatmeal to the water. Allow the water to boil for 10 minutes and let it stand until cool. Strain the water and discard the solids. Use the oatmeal water as a soothing rinse after your dog’s bath.
Stop the histamine effect of allergens in your dog with an over-the-counter antihistamine. Look for a product that only contains diphenhydramine, such as Benadryl or a generic brand. Administer one 25mg tablet for every 50 pounds of body weight. Divide a tablet with a sharp knife, accordingly, for small dogs.
Supplement your dog’s diet with flaxseed oil to strengthen his skin’s immunity to contact irritants. Dr. Autumn Drouin, DVM, author of “The Allergy Cover-Up,” suggests the essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil and salmon oil might reduce the effect of an allergic reaction.
If you’ve eliminated all other causes of an allergic reaction in your dog, try a different dog food. Some dogs react negatively to fillers and additives in their food.
Clean a puppy’s kennel daily if she develops a rash on her soft pink underbelly. This skin is highly sensitive to contact with urine or feces, two common elements in a puppy’s pen. A clean, dry floor will keep a puppy from developing a urine rash. Once the rash is present, use warm water (with iodine, at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 2 cups of water) and a soft rag dipped in the solution to bathe the irritated area.
Vacuum your carpet and sweep your floor daily if your dog has an allergy to dust or pollen. In addition, brew a cup of generic black tea, dilute it by adding 2 cups of water, and fill a spray bottle with the solution. After cleaning, mist the interior of your home with the solution, as this will kill dust mites. Avoid misting light-colored upholstery fabrics.