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 prevalent 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.
One first concern that people have when treating their own animals is the risk that is involved. Their skin is extremely different from human skin, and then medicines and coverings which would work on human skin could have the opposite effect on dog skin. For this reason you need to be super careful when treating your dog, and even though these are natural and safe home remedies for dog allergies, you have to consult your vet before you administer any type of treatment.
Firstly, you have to recognize whether your dog is having an allergic reaction or not, and when he is, then what is causing it. Probably the most telling signs of an allergy in dogs include sneezing, runny noses, excessive manufacture of mucus, itching, skin rashes, spotting around the fur and on the skin, watery eyes, and candida albicans, 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, do not let your dog to eat random things and become 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 could try out, when you see your dog develop allergies.
1. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is among the best home remedies that you can utilize, when you notice the symptoms of a hypersensitive reaction in your dog. Vitamin E is important for the good health of your dog's fur. It moisturizes your skin, and if rashes have developed at first glance, 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 a hypersensitive 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 from the allergy subside. You also get special supplements for dogs particularly, which are available at pharmacies, pharmacies and you can even get one recommended from your vet.
2. Quercetin
Quercetin is one of those things that is considered miraculous for dogs, because it tackles almost all health issues dogs face, with no single adverse side effect or reaction. Quercetin is essentially a kind of flavonoid. Flavonoids are compounds that are meant to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antispasmodic. The healing properties of flavonoids helps in reducing any inflammations and allergic reactions, as well as 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 best dose of quercetin for your dog.
3. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar acts as a pesticide for the fleas and other microscopic allergens on your dog's skin, except it's totally 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 treatment also washes away the impurities and the infection from the surface of the skin, and it soothes the skin and causes it to be cool. Using apple cider vinegar also helps to ensure that allergies do not recur frequently later on.
Using apple cider vinegar to treat dog allergies is fairly easy. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar treatment and water in a bottle of spray and spray your dog's fur by using it at least two to three times each day. This can help your dog recover from allergies fast and effectively.
4. Ground oatmeal
Oatmeal is used extensively in the treatment of all sorts of inflammations and irritation, not only in animals, but in humans as well. Oatmeal, as being a relatively safe, natural and non reactive substance also includes good properties, which take effect without causing harmful negative effects. You can therefore safely use oatmeal to deal with your dog's allergies. It soothes your skin, makes it smoother and less irritable, and reduces the rashes, the inflammation and the redness.
You may either use instant oatmeal, which you'll blend into a fine powder, or also get your hands on some baby oatmeal cereal mix that you could find in any grocery store, that are even safer. Make a thick paste from ground oatmeal and water and apply this to the areas where you can see the rashes. You may also pour oatmeal into your dog's bathwater, so that their skin gets exposed to the good stuff evenly.
5. Chamomile tea
If you have been noticing your dog scratch itself constantly and also you want a home remedy for him without needing to worry about side effects like shedding and much more allergies, then you should definitely go the herbal method 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 which means that your dog doesn't have to constantly scratch its fur and additional aggravate the skin.
Drop several chamomile tea bags to your dog's bath water, and allow him to soak in it for a while. The healing properties of chamomile combined with warmth of the water creates a wonderful remedy for dog allergies.
6. Aloe vera
Aloe vera may be the safest and most natural remedy you will get your hands on when you are trying to treat your pet for allergies. Aloe vera has well renowned antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are ideal for allergy conditions. Moreover, aloe vera is anti-fungal in nature, therefore 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 the aloe vera with dogs. The rind from the plant contains certain substances which are harmful for the dog, and that's why you need to make sure that you use only the gel area 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 day or two.
7. Lavender oil
Another herbal, natural remedy that you could check out when trying to treat your canine's allergies at home is lavender oil. It is an extract taken from the lavender plant, that 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 anyway. Lavender oil acts as a disinfectant, meaning it kills any infection found close to the surface of the skin.
You can add a couple of drops of lavender oil to 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 fix 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 need to be when handling your dog. Nonetheless, although the above home remedies are completely natural and completely harmless, you need 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've got to do something to give your dog relief for the moment, you can try some of the milder, more non-intrusive home remedies that I have mentioned above, as well as your dog should feel relief immediately!