Just because your dog is covered in fluffy fur doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have serious skin issues underneath. Perhaps you’ve been experimenting with all-natural home remedies for your own minor ailments. But did you know that you can often treat your dog with very similar remedies as well? You might be surprised to learn that skincare for humans and dogs really isn’t that different after all.
Vitamin E is one of the best things you can apply to skin, whether it be human or canine. You can give your pooch a little massage by applying vitamin E oil directly onto the skin. If your dog’s skin condition is a little more serious, you can soak her in a bath with vitamin E added to the water or slip her a vitamin E supplement pill.
Oftentimes, skin conditions are caused by an imbalance in good and bad bacteria. Feed your dog a little plain yogurt so that its live acidophilus can help balance the bacteria in your dog’s intestines. Just as chamomile tea soothes you after a long, stressful day, it can also help soothe minor skin irritations in your pet. For easy application, chill some chamomile tea in a spray bottle and squirt it on the affected skin area. Your dog should feel relief almost immediately, since the chilled tea will kill the unwanted yeast and bacteria on the skin.
If your dog is experiencing itchiness, the tried-and-true remedy of oatmeal can provide relief as well. Make sure that the oatmeal is finely ground in a food processor, or use baby oatmeal if you have some. It’s pretty easy to stir the oatmeal into a warm bath and let your dog soak up the healing properties of raw, soothing, and natural oats.
Although oatmeal has powerful external properties, what your dog consumes internally is even more important. If your dog’s skin is red, bumpy, scaly, or oily, it could be a sign of something more serious. Just as with humans, toxins build up in dogs’ bodies from artificially-manufactured medications, environmental hazards, and poor diet. Many pets are sensitive to gluten, which can cause everything from itchy skin to inflamed feet and persistent ear infections. Although rarer, other pets are sensitive to certain fruits, vegetables, meats, and eggs.
Celery, spinach, lettuce, and dandelion greens are a few of the cooling foods that are often recommended by holistic veterinarians for animal skin eruptions. Many of the home remedies that people use are just as effective, if not more, on our canine counterparts. Once you’ve adjusted your pet’s diet, try using calendula herbs, aloe vera, and even witch hazel to combat your pet’s pesky skin irritations. And lastly, vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplements can pick up the slack if your pet has stringent food restrictions.
How do you know when your dog has a skin infection? It’s difficult to see their skin under their fur.
i think you mostly know when your dog scratches himself a lot and generally looks uncomfortable. you can brush his fur to the side and get an idea of what the skin is like. a healthy diet with omega 3 and other supplements can do wonders for your dawg.
I had a dog whose skin was so bad that her hair wouldn’t grow back. She was given to me by neighbor who didn’t take care of her very well. I had low funds so wasn’t able to take her to a vet but I wish I had known this information then. She was an old dog.
I love my dog and have looked into making sure he eats well – just as well as me haha! I would buy him plain dog food but he would not eat it (I’ve never had such a picky dog!). Anyway, I add in some wet dog food to make the food tastier and then I add Seagate’s supplements. He’s been in great shape.
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