How can I soothe my dogs itchy skin naturally
7 Natural Home Remedies to Soothe Itchy Dogs
The most common natural remedies to soothe itchy dog skin are apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, chamomile tea, oatmeal baths, green tea, yogurt, or aloe vera. A well-balanced diet also helps against itchy skin. Consult your veterinarian before using any remedies to avoid worsening the condition.
Dogs often can develop itchy skin, much like humans. Some dogs need a visit to the vet, while for others, the itchiness can be improved with home remedies.
There are many causes for itching in dogs which also affects what remedy or treatment will work:
- Food allergies
- External parasites (fleas and ticks)
- Mange
- Dermatitis
- Autoimmune diseases
While home remedies can work, its important to go to the vet if symptoms persist over long periods.
Keep reading if you want to learn how to soothe your dogs itchy skin with home remedies.
How to Soothe Your Dogs Itchy Skin
To soothe your dogs itchy skin, you can use aloe vera, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, herbal tea, or yogurt. Keep in mind that these remedies help with mild skin conditions such as hot spots or insect bites. Do not use them on open wounds, skin infections, or mange.
Dogs develop itchy skin for many reasons. It is important to know how to differentiate between severe skin conditions and mild conditions to know when you can use natural remedies.
Severe dermatological conditions usually have the following symptoms (avoid treating these yourself):
- Crusts and scabs
- Wet areas
- Bloody lesions
- Hair loss
- Extreme itching and scratching
If your dog is experiencing a mild itching condition, you can go ahead and try home remedies. If youre in doubt, go to the vet.
Here are some natural home remedies you can try for your dogs itchy skin if it has mild symptoms:
- Aloe vera
- Coconut oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Chamomile and green tea
- Sugar-free yogurt
- Oatmeal
It is recommended to use these natural remedies on the following skin conditions:
- Rash or hot spots
- Insect bites and stings
- Dry skin
- Contact and food allergies
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a plant with multiple benefits and uses. It contains more than 75 active substances and is recognized for its beneficial effects on the body, including the skin.
The gel obtained from aloe vera leaves is rich in many vitamins and minerals:[1]
- Vitamins A, E, and C they have an anti-inflammatory role
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid
- Enzyme
- Minerals (calcium, chromium, selenium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc)
- Monosaccharides (glucose and fructose)
- Polysaccharides (glucomannan)
- Anthraquinone
- Fatty acids
- Amino acids
- Salicylic acid
Apply aloe vera gel directly to your dogs affected areas. It can reduce irritation and calm redness and itching.
You can buy aloe vera gel from pharmacies or harvest it yourself from a plant. Do not use aloe vera products that contain alcohol, as these can worsen skin conditions.
Contact the vet if your dogs itching does not improve after applying aloe vera.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is also a good option for dogs itchy skin. It has many benefits for dogs bodies, which is why it is widely used in veterinary products.
Coconut oil has the following properties and effects:
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Calming
- It helps digestion
- It improves the immune system
The oil can be used to soothe itching skin associated with eczema, allergies, and insect bites. Coconut oil can also be used successfully for dry skin.
Make sure you buy virgin coconut oil without perfume or other ingredients that might worsen the situation.
Massage the coconut oil into your dogs fur and skin to relieve itchiness. Contact the vet if you do not see improvements after the first applications.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has a strong antibacterial and antifungal effect and helps soothe itchy skin.
To soothe itchy skin with apple cider vinegar, mix the vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio and pour it into a spray bottle. Apply the mixture over your dogs fur and skin.[2]
You can also prepare a foot bath (50% vinegar and 50% water) if your dog suffers from pododermatitis and has irritated and itchy paws. Leave your pet for five minutes, then dry its feet with a cloth.
Do not apply apple cider vinegar on open wounds as it can sting and create more discomfort.
4. Chamomile and Green Tea
Herbal teas such as chamomile, green tea, or calendula have soothing properties for irritated and itchy skin.[3]
Prepare a green tea with chamomile and/or calendula as you would usually do it. Let it cool, then apply the solution over your dogs itchy areas.
You can pour the tea on directly or soak and apply cotton pads to the itchy areas.
If your dog has excessive itching all over its body, you can put several tea bags in the bathtub or sink and leave them to infuse for three minutes. Then let your dog stay in the bath for at least five minutes.
5. Sugar-Free Yogurt
Yogurt can be used to improve itching both internally and externally. If your dog suffers from skin infections originating from the digestive system, give it a teaspoon or two of sugar-free yogurt once a week. You can give it as is or add it to your dogs regular food.
Yogurt will not only relieve your dogs itching but also help its general intestinal health.
It is recommended to talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog yogurt.
You can also apply yogurt directly to your dogs skin, as you would do in case of sunburn. Apply cold yogurt straight from the fridge to your dogs itchy areas.
It not only has a cooling and calming effect, but also hydrates the skin deeply, accelerating the regeneration process.
6. Oatmeal Bath
Oatmeal baths have amazing effects on the skin. It can help treat irritation, itching, and rashes while keeping your dogs skin hydrated.
Mix a cup of powdered oatmeal in lukewarm bath water and let your dog sit in it for 10-15 minutes. Oatmeal is not toxic, and your dog can eat it without any problems.
Oatmeal baths can relieve eczema and dry skin and relieve the symptoms of other skin problems.
If your dog does not like or is afraid of water, you can make a paste from oatmeal and apply it to your dogs itchy areas.
Grind the oatmeal flakes and add water little by little until it becomes a spreadable paste. Apply it directly to the skin on the itchy areas. Wipe after a few minutes with a damp cloth.
Contact the veterinarian if your dogs itching does not improve.
7. Other Remedies for Itchy Skin in Dogs
Here are other remedies that can help improve your dogs itchy skin:
- Keep the itchy areas cool and moist (apply cold compresses or ice packs to your dogs skin).
- Make a paste of sodium bicarbonate and water and apply it to the affected area.
- Avoid strong sun rays.
- Use hypoallergenic shampoos.
- Add two teaspoons of salt to a liter of cold water and prepare a solution. Put the mixture on a cloth and apply it to your dogs itchy skin.
- Trim your dogs nails. Scratching can also cause skin infections.
- Mix equal amounts of honey and powdered cinnamon and apply the mixture to your dogs affected areas.
- Mix vegetable oil with sugar until you get a paste. Put the composition on the itchy skin. Remove the paste with a damp cloth.
- Change your dogs diet with a hypoallergenic one.
12 home remedies for dogs with itchy skin
Your dogs skin allergy symptoms may vary from mild to severe, and early veterinary intervention is essential to treat those more serious conditions. Below are 12 vet-approved ways you can help soothe canine itchiness and discomfort from home.
1. Use salmon oil supplements to add omega-3 fatty acids to your dogs diet
Salmon oil has many benefits including keeping your dogs skin and coat healthy. Its a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties. If your pup has skin allergies ff, try our favorite salmon oil-based supplement: Premium Cares Omega Chews. If your dog has dandruff, adding an omega-3 fatty acid to their diet is one of the best ways to treat it. Note that it may take 4-6 weeks of use to see results.
2. Use dog shampoos with oatmeal, aloe vera, or chamomile
Your dog needs regular baths with warm water to stay clean. Use this opportunity to help soothe dry skin by using a formulated shampoo. Giving weekly baths can actually cause dry skin and itchiness, so try to bathe your dog at least 2 weeks apart.
Choose a pet shampoo that contains oatmeal, aloe vera, or chamomile as these ingredients help with itching. Weve rounded up some of the best shampoos for dry itchy skin to help you find the right product for your dogs allergies and skin type.
To prevent your dog from licking any ingredients, rinse them well after shampooing. Washing all the residue off can also relieve itchiness.
3. Consider an herbal tea bath
If your dog is itchy with patchy, dry skin, consider the anti-inflammatory properties of green, chamomile, or calendula tea to soothe their discomfort. Soak three to four tea bags of tea for five minutes in lukewarm water before placing your dog into the bathtub or, if you only want to target affected areas of smaller, itchy dry patches, steep one or two tea bags in hot water, let it cool and apply the water to your dogs skin without rinsing.
Note that chamomile, when ingested in large amounts for long periods of time, can lead to a range of medical problems, including gastrointestinal upset and bleeding issues. Aloe vera also contains a toxin called saponin that, when ingested, may cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood sugar.
4. Soothe your dog with oatmeal
Oatmeal has been known to soothe dry, itchy skin in dogs. Though many dog shampoos already contain oatmeal, you can create colloidal oatmeal or finely ground oats and mix them into skin care products like lotions and creams or even add them to bathwater.
5. Use a balm to moisturize patches of dry skin
Dry skin often causes itching, so when you combine that with allergy symptoms your dog may continue to scratch. This is why you should keep your dogs skin hydrated. If your dog has only patches of dry skin or hot spots, try a dog balm for the affected areas, such as Natural Dog Companys Skin Soother. Avoid using coconut oil as a moisturizer as it may not be the best option for your dog. When coconut oil is used on hot spots, it can cause too much moisture and make hot spots worse.
Though some may use apple cider vinegar for a slew of home remedies, apple cider vinegar is not recommended on raw skin as it tends to be acidic and thus may cause discomfort and further irritation.
6. Try manuka honey to reduce inflammation
Manuka honey may reduce inflammation and help doggie allergies. This is one tasty treat you can share with your pup! Some researchers believe honey contains many types of pollens. If a dog eats the honey, it may help desensitize the dog to certain types of pollen. They may enjoy the sweet taste while their allergy symptoms improve. You can also use manuka honey to treat woundsTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source, but your dog might try to lick it off, so supervise them when using it
7. Use dietary supplements to manage symptoms
If your dog is suffering from allergies, they may benefit from supplements that contain vitamin C, spirulina (another great source of omega-3s), bee pollen, and apple cider vinegar. Like any other dietary supplement you might offer your pup, dont try one of our favorites without having a chat with your vet first. You shouldnt combine some supplements and medications, so always make sure the supplement you want to offer will not have any interactions with any meds your dog may be on first.
8. Dont forget to wipe your dogs paws after outdoor time
Allergies caused by environmental irritants can lead to inflamed, itchy, pink or red rashes of dermatitis between your dogs toes, especially during the spring and summer months when sweat combines with environmental irritants like ragweed, grasses, foxtails, or dust mites. Exposure to ice and snow in the colder months can also leave your pups paws dry, cracked, and itchy.
Common environmental factors that can cause itchy paws
- Grasses
- Ragweed
- Dust mites
- Pollen
- Mold
- Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
- Ice and snow
9. Remove indoor allergens
If your pup is suffering from allergies, check for culprits within the home. You may need to eliminate:
- Dust
- Cigarette smoke
- Certain cleaning products
- Chemical fragrances like those found in laundry detergent and scented candles
10. Invest in a humidifier and keep an eye on indoor temps
Extreme heat or cold can also trigger allergy symptoms in pets, so its important to maintain the temperature in your home. Another thing to consider is humidity levels. If the air in your home is too dry, it can cause your dog to have dry skin, which can intensify the itching. So invest in a humidifier if you need one. Plus, this can also benefit the humans in your home as well.
11. Keep up with flea and tick preventatives
Since dogs can be allergic to flea and tick bites, its important to prevent your dog from bug bites before they start. Chat with your vet about using monthly flea and tick preventatives, which typically come in a topical or an oral form. It is rare for dogs to be allergic to both forms, so if you notice an allergic reaction to one form of preventative, it is unlikely they will react to the other.
Its up to you to make sure youre administering these treatments as directed. Missed doses can cause the preventatives to not work, putting your pup at risk for bites and the issues that come with them.
12. DIY dog anti-itch spray
One way you can help your dogs irritated, dry skin is to make a DIY anti-itch spray, either with colloidal oatmeal to soothe inflamed, hot skin; coconut oil for dry and itchy skin; or peppermint, chamomile, and green teas to cool raw, rot skin. You can keep a small spray bottle handy to apply throughout the day.