Natural Remedies for Canine Skin Allergies

Canine skin allergies are amongst the most common types of allergic reactions that dogs have. They are typically mild and rarely result in a reaction that will require emergency medical care. More often than not, your pet will simply experience dry, flaky skin, excessive scratching and itching, and other relatively mild symptoms.

In more severe cases, the skin itself may open into sores and lesions. In these situations, it's oftentimes better to take your pet to the veterinarian's office in order to have him prescribe an anti-inflammatory or another medicine to help deal with the effects of the allergic reaction. For lower grade reactions, however, some of the following home remedies will be successful in easing your dog's discomfort.

Cool Bath

One of the easiest ways to relieve your pet's itchiness, at least on a temporary basis, is by giving him a cool bath. If he is outside, consider setting up a small pool or tub that you can quickly fill with cold water. If he's indoors, you may wish to rub him down with cool water and a sponge in order to relieve the itching. This doesn't address the problem of the allergy itself, but it can be a good way to get your dog to stop scratching at himself.

Epsom Salts

Use epsom salts in a warm bath to help treat itchy paws and feet. Dip your pet's paws into the solution and gently massage them. The salt will help to relieve his itching and any tenderness or soreness that he may experience as a result of the allergy as well.

Vitamin E Treatments

For dogs that have skin allergies that result in a loss of luster to the coat or in particularly itchy, flaky skin, there are natural shampoos and treatments that are available at most pet stores. These may cost a bit more than the remedies listed above, but they are oftentimes extremely effective at reducing your pet's skin problems. Simply follow the instructions on the particular shampoo that you choose in order to properly lather your pet up and then rinse him off. Most of these shampoos require regular bathing; typically, you'll be asked to wash your pet about once per week while the allergy continues.

Avoidance

The single best way to treat your pet's skin allergies is to learn about what they are so that you can avoid them. These allergies are typically contact based, meaning that they come about as a result of your pet's direct contact with an offending material. If your pet is allowed outside, try keeping him indoors for a few days to see if his symptoms go down; if they do, his allergy is likely to something that he's contact outdoors. If he remains indoors, keep a close eye on what he eats and any chemicals that he may have contact with in the house. The better that you can pinpoint what may be causing his allergy, the better you'll be able to help him to avoid it, which should reduce his symptoms greatly.

 

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