If you have ever had a pet, you know the pain that you feel when your pet experiences pain or discomfort. Because they are unable to express themselves like humans do, you tend to feel even more helpless than usual, not knowing what you can do to help them out. One common problem is allergies and skin rashes in dogs, and to give you and your dog some relief, we are going to be discussing the best home remedies for dog allergies.
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One primary concern that people have when treating their own animals is the risk which is involved. Their skin is very different from human skin, and then medicines and treatments which would work on human skin might just have the opposite effect on dog skin. This is why you need to be super careful when treating your dog, and even though these are safe and natural home remedies for dog allergies, you have to consult your vet before you administer any kind of treatment.
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Firstly, you have to recognize whether your dog is having an allergic reaction or not, and if he is, then what is causing it. Some of the most telling signs of an allergy in dogs include sneezing, runny noses, excessive production of mucus, itching, skin rashes, spotting on the fur and on the skin, watery eyes, and yeast infections, loss of appetite and yeast infections.
If you can identify the source of the problem, then well and good. Make sure that you keep the allergen away from your dog as much as possible. However, if you cannot identify the source, keep your dog under close scrutiny. Don’t take him out too much, don’t allow your dog to eat random things and be extra careful about his living conditions, food and medication.
That being said, here are some of the best and relatively safe home remedies that you can try out, when you see your dog develop allergies.
1. Vitamin E
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Vitamin E is one of the best home remedies that you can make use of, when you notice the symptoms of an allergic reaction in your dog. Vitamin E is essential for the good health of your dog’s fur. It moisturizes the skin, and if rashes have developed on the surface, then it also helps soothe the inflammations. Vitamin E is non-reactant and there is no way in which your dog could be adversely harmed if you give him Vitamin E, in the face of an allergic reaction.
Vitamin E capsules are widely available in a lot of pharmacies. You can give your dog one of these capsules on a regular basis, till the symptoms and reactions of the allergy subside. You also get special supplements for dogs in particular, which are available at pharmacies, drug stores and you can even get one recommended from your vet.
2. Quercetin
Quercetin is one of those things which is considered miraculous for dogs, because it tackles almost all health issues dogs face, without a single adverse side effect or reaction. Quercetin is essentially a kind of flavonoid. Flavonoids are compounds which are meant to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antispasmodic. The healing properties of flavonoids helps reduce any inflammations and allergic reactions, and also protects your dog against problems like asthma, and even cancer.
Quercetin is found in a number of natural food products such as citrus foods, but is also available in the form of capsules and supplements which you can give to your dog, along with the additional food that he/she gets. However, do not administer quercetin at random. Find out the correct dosage that is safe for your dog based on his weight. It is best if you have a vet check him out and recommend the right dose of quercetin for your dog.
3. Apple cider vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar acts as a pesticide for the fleas and other microscopic allergens on your dog’s skin, except it is completely safe and natural to use. Apple cider vinegar has some amazing anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it one of the best remedy against red inflammations and rashes that might appear on your dog’s skin. Apple cider vinegar also washes away the impurities and the infection from the surface of your skin, and it soothes the skin and makes it cool. Using apple cider vinegar also ensures that allergies do not recur frequently in the future.
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Using apple cider vinegar to treat dog allergies is fairly easy. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray your dog’s fur with it at least two to three times a day. This can help your dog recover from allergies fast and effectively.
4. Ground oatmeal
Oatmeal is used extensively in the treatment of all kinds of inflammations and irritation, not only in animals, but in humans as well. Oatmeal, being a relatively safe, natural and non reactive substance also contains good properties, which take effect without causing harmful side effects. You can therefore safely use oatmeal to treat your dog’s allergies. It soothes the skin, makes it smoother and less irritable, and reduces the rashes, the inflammation and the redness.
You can either use instant oatmeal, which you can blend into a fine powder, or you can also get your hands on some baby oatmeal cereal mix that you can find in any grocery store, which are even safer. Make a thick paste out of ground oatmeal and water and apply this to the areas where you can see the rashes. You can also pour oatmeal into your dog’s bathwater, so that their skin gets exposed to the good stuff evenly.
5. Chamomile tea
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If you have been noticing your dog scratch itself constantly and you want a home remedy for him without having to worry about side effects like shedding and more allergies, then you should definitely go the herbal way to be on the safe side of things. One of the most recommended herbal remedies for dog allergies is the use of chamomile tea. Chamomile has amazing anti-inflammatory properties, which not only cures the rashes from the skin, but also soothes it so that your dog doesn’t have to constantly scratch its fur and further aggravate the skin.
Drop several chamomile tea bags into your dog’s bath water, and let him soak in it for a while. The healing properties of chamomile combined with the warmth of the water makes for a wonderful remedy for dog allergies.
6. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is the safest and most natural remedy you can get your hands on when you are trying to treat your dog for allergies. Aloe vera has well renowned antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which are ideal for allergy conditions. In addition to that, aloe vera is anti-fungal in nature, so if a fungus on the skin is causing the allergies, then aloe vera is the ultimate solution that you are looking for.
You have to be careful while using aloe vera with dogs. The rind of the plant contains certain substances which are harmful for the dog, which is why you need to make sure that you use only the gel portion of the plant, which is inside the leaves. If you can get your hands on pre-packaged aloe vera gel, then nothing like it. Apply the gel all over the affected area, and you will see a marked improvement in your dog’s behavior within a couple of days.
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7. Lavender oil
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Another herbal, natural remedy that you can check out when trying to treat your dog’s allergies at home is lavender oil. It is an extract taken from the lavender plant, which is known to contain some of the best healing properties found in natural substances. Lavender oil is soothing for the rashes, and it is also anti-inflammatory in nature. Lavender oil acts as a disinfectant, which means that it kills any infection found near the surface of the skin.
You can add a couple of drops of lavender oil into your spray bottle which is full of water and use this to spray your dog whenever you see him itching himself too much. This makes for the ideal home remedy for a condition like this, without being harmful or uncomfortable or intrusive for your dog.
These are some of the safest home remedies for dog allergies that we have curated for you, because we know how careful you have to be when handling your dog. Nonetheless, even though the above home remedies are completely natural and completely harmless, you have to consult your vet before you administer any kind of medication or radical remedy for your dog.
However, if you see the itching getting worse and you have to do something to give your dog relief for the time being, you can try some of the milder, more non-intrusive home remedies that I have mentioned above, and your dog should feel relief immediately!
Featured image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
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