How to Treat Dog Skin Irritations
It can be frustrating to watch your dog scratching and chewing from the discomfort of a skin condition. Causes of irritation include dry skin, mange, fungal infections, food allergies, ticks and fleas. Look for symptoms such as hair shedding, reddened patches of skin, lesions and other things that appear to be abnormal. There are both conventional and natural treatments that may be able to diminish your canine's misery.
Things You'll Need
- Epsom salts
- Aloe shampoo
- Tea tree oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Organophosphate or lime-sulphur dip
Instructions
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Take more care with your dog's diet, if food allergies are causing his skin problems. Sometimes, less expensive brands of dog food contain ingredients that may not be agreeable to your dog's system and cause adverse reactions, such as skin rashes and irritation. You can find hypoallergenic dog food at pet stores. Feed him this from now on. It may cost you more, but it is worth it to help eliminate future distress.
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Add supplements to your dog's regimen. Helpful supplements for dog skin problems include sarsaparilla, burdock root, yellow dock, echinacea and fish oil. They help to strengthen immunity and alleviate skin irritation.
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Shave off your dog's fur to keep her from sweating and developing fungus when the weather is hot. Less perspiration on the skin will make her less prone to getting itchy.
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Make a bath with cool or lukewarm water for your dog and add Epsom salts to it. This is a good remedy for itchy skin and will aid in soothing any irritation.
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Stop using plastic dishes and plates to feed your dog from, as they could cause skin problems that are related to environmental allergies. Substitute them with glass or metal dishes to avoid problems.
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Try applying a shampoo that contains aloe, which is soothing and healing to the skin.
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Apply tea tree oil to the affected areas of your dog's skin with a sterile cotton ball. Tea tree oil is anti-fungal in nature and will ease itchiness and irritation.
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Rub your dog down with some apple cider vinegar to relieve irritated skin. The apple cider vinegar needs to be diluted with water, so that it won't be too harsh or astringent.
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Ask your veterinarian for help, if none of the methods you are using has improved your dog's condition. An organophosphate or lime-sulphur dip can be prescribed to help get rid of many canine conditions that cause skin irritation, particularly mange. Your vet can also determine if there are other, more serious causes for your dog's skin abnormalities.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult your vet before giving your dog supplements.
