When your fur babies are irritated and uncomfortable, you worry as well. More so, when they have itchy skin, they are distracted and sometimes hurt. As pet owners, you simply want the best possible life that you can give them.
Some of the signs that they might be dealing with irritation are excessive chewing, biting, and scratching of their skin.
The uncomfortable feeling that dogs have is labeled as pruritus by vets. If your pet is scratching at an alarming rate, it is not advisable to self-diagnose. Leave this job to veterinarians who will be able to make a safe and accurate medical diagnosis.
Signs of Dogs Having Itchy Skin
To further explain why dogs have itchy skin, let us first look into the top 3 common signs that you might observe in them:
- Compulsive Scratching, Biting, and Licking
Your dogs might be scratching their body all night long and it comes to the point that it is not just noticeable but also painful. Compulsive scratching, constant biting, and licking of their ears and other parts of their body are signs of discomfort in dogs.
One of the common causes of this is environmental allergies. Dogs can react to allergens, such as airborne pollen, house dust mites, mold spores, and others. Like their human parents, dogs display similar symptoms when having an allergic reaction, such as skin itchiness, runny nose, and even sneezing.
- The Presence of Mites and fleas
Mites are pests that you should shield your fur babies from. The skin disease caused by mites is known as mange.
Meanwhile, excessive fleas can be unbearable to your dogs in the long run. Simply taking a closer look at their skin will show if they might be suffering from a flea infestation.
- Reaction To Certain Foods After Eating
Dogs can also have a reaction to food that will cause itchiness on their skin. Food allergies can manifest at any point in their life.
Home Remedies For Dogs With Itchy Skin
Did you know that there are a lot of home remedies that you can do to help relieve your pet’s feeling of discomfort? Fortunately, you can find remedies right at the comfort of your own home! For further guidance, head over to https://www.holistapet.com/best-dog-itchy-skin-home-remedy/ for more detailed instructions.
Here are some of the following that you can do on your own home:
- Oatmeal Bath
Ground oatmeal works best in this situation. You can do this by simply adding some ground oats on warm water, and letting the solution soak on their skin for about 10 -15 minutes. Oatmeal alleviates dryness in your dog’s skin and helps treats their skin allergies as well.
A common misconception is that bathing your dog on a daily basis can help. However, it is advisable that they only receive a bath once a month because anything more than that will cause their skin to dry out, intensifying the itch.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is a powerful household tool that has a lot of benefits. One such benefit is helping your dog in their struggle as well.
Since apple cider is a powerful antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial agent, it helps alleviate skin conditions. You can utilize it by simply filling a spray bottle with a solution that holds equal parts of both water and vinegar. Then, you can apply the solution directly to your dog’s itchy skin.
However, do not spray it on open wounds because they will sting, causing your dogs to react fiercely.
- Coconut Oil
Like apple cider vinegar, coconut oil is a powerful natural cure for humans. It has a lot of benefits such as boosting the immune system, helps weight loss, and works as an anti-fungal.
According to veterinarians, coconut oil has qualities that can aid canines, making it beneficial to dogs.
Many have opted to use a homemade paw balm for dogs with coconut as the main ingredient to help improve damaged skin and also reduce allergens. These paw balms help soften dry paw pads and their noses as well.
You can also directly apply the coconut oil on their skin without making the balm. Let their skin absorb it for a few minutes before rinsing it off with light shampoo. You can also use shampoo made with organic coconut oil.
You can also let your dog consume coconut oil by giving them small dosages gradually. Consult your vet regarding the proper dosage because too much can result in greasy stools and diarrhea.
Conclusion
In providing the best care for your dogs, know that there are home remedy benefits that you can easily administer to help alleviate their discomfort. To help them through their itchiness, you can try giving them an oatmeal bath, apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil. All of these are easily found in your homes or accessible in groceries.
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