Does your dog have dry itchy skin that he just can’t stop scratching? Is he relentlessly biting and licking these areas with no relief in site? By now, more than likely you’re feeling helpless with you dog’s itchy skin problem. You know there’s just got to be a simple solution that doesn’t involve dragging your dog to the vet and paying a high priced doctor’s bill.
Well…you’re right! There ARE some simple solutions to a dog with dry itchy skin. After all, it’s a VERY common problem. Here I’ll be giving you some great tips that will give your dog (and you) the relief you’ve been searching for. Let’s get started!
It can be a bit intimidating at first, trying to cure a pet’s health ailment. Don’t let your lack of knowledge on the subject intimidate you. You don’t have to be a veterinarian to solve MOST itchy skin conditions in dogs. You simply need to know what safe treatments you can start implementing and go from there. Here, I’ll be giving you my top two favorites:
The Shampoo Factor: Shampoos can work FOR or AGAINST a dog with itchy skin. It really all depends on root cause of the itch. For instance, if he’s suffering from fleas (flea allergies cause the insatiable itch), you’ll want to pick up a reputable flea & tick shampoo. He’ll feel relieve INSTANTLY as most flea shampoos kill the fleas within 24 hours of application.
Shampoos can also work against your dog when it comes to itching. If your groomer is using a particular brand, you may want to investigate. Perhaps you’re taking him to the groomer too often. See, whenever your dog has a bath with shampoo, the oil from his fur is stripped and a drying effect takes place on the skin. This can cause itchy dog skin but the solution is much simpler than the former scenario. You can either give him less baths or…
They do make dog dandruff shampoos which moisturize itchy dog skin. Try this out if you’ve already eliminated the possibility of fleas, rash, infection or a sore as the cause of the problem. Moisturizing his skin with one of these shampoos is a nice easy fix.
Soothing Solutions: Aloe Vera works especially well on “hot spots” (sores). Hot spots are incredible itchy patches of irritated skin. They usually occur when a scratch on the skin becomes minorly infected. Applying a dab of aloe vera to the spot will immediately soothe your dog. You can also dissolve Aloe Vera in a spray bottle with water. Spray the solution on your dog’s coat to give him FAST relieve.
Emu Oil is another natural substance that relieves irritated skin. It’s used best with skin irritated by ringworm, flea bites and hotspots.
Finally, Petroleum Jelly works wonders on patches of itchy dog skin. It can get a bit messy, so just put a dab on. I prefer using this solution for hotspots. It’s a nice way to prevent the dog from further infecting the area and allowing the sore to heal. Petroleum Jelly is less effective for a recurring issue such as a flea infestation.
