- Allergies can most commonly be the culprit of itchy skin that leads to scratches and lesions. To prevent your pet from scratching, prepare a bath of cool water, and add colloidal oatmeal to the bath (as humans do to prevent itching associated with chicken pox). Let your pet soak in the bath for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool water to rinse off any oatmeal buildup.
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For mites that commonly develop in the ears, soak a cotton ball or swab in mineral oil and rub the outside of the ear as well as the ear canal with the oil. Be sure not to rub deep into the ear canal, as this can cause hearing damage for your pet if you tap the ear drum. This will temporarily remove mites, but it is not a permanent fix, so consult your veterinarian if problems persist.
Other insect bites can be healed with a simple water and baking soda mixture. Mix a spoonful of baking soda with a small glass of water, and rub over the bites to eliminate irritation and itching. - Pets sometimes get itchy feet just as humans do, and the same home remedy works to heal the problem. Prepare a shallow bath of cool water, and add one-half cup of Epsom salts. Stir the salts until they dissolve, and put the pet's feet in the bath for five to 10 minutes. Be sure not to let the pet drink any of the water, and rinse feet with cool water afterward to get rid of any residue.
- Hot spots are more severe skin problems, leaving animals with an open patch of skin that they still can't stop scratching. To heal this, crush two aspirin tablets into a spoonful of rubbing alcohol. Using a cotton swab, gently rub this mixture over the hot spot. Alternately, soak a tea bag in warm water, and rub the warm tea water over the hot spot with a cotton ball or swab.
