All dogs scratch, but some dogs scratch all the time. Some scratch to the point of breaking their skin, causing sores, scrapes and loss of fur. Dogs with this issue scratch to the point where they are miserable all the time.
I have one of those dogs. For as long as I can remember, my pup Oliver has had severe allergies. We’ve tried everything to try and make him feel better, but it seems like nothing helps.
I have been recommended special foods for dogs with allergies and I tried them to no avail. My vet has also recommended allergy medicines like Apoquel and the Cytopoint injection.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 70-75% of dogs’ allergy symptoms have improved with allergy shots like the Cytopoint injection. This seems like pretty good odds, especially for dog owners who have gone through numerous treatments without any improvement in their pets’ symptoms.
However, these treatments may not be the best option for pet owners that want to help their pup further by trying to get rid of what causes the itching. According to the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, Apoquel and Cytopoint treatments only suppress the itch and don’t actually address the underlying cause.
Not looking into what is causing your pet’s allergies means either giving your furry friend an allergy pill every day for the rest of their lives or giving an expensive shot every month.
Vets typically prescribe expensive dog foods or these costly injection options that may not work first, rather than discussing the possible natural remedies that could actually help on the first try without spending too much money.
There are many natural remedies, many of which I’ve tried on my dog, that have worked much better and have had longer lasting effects than the medicine prescribed by my vet.
One of those successful options is apple cider vinegar, which naturally soothes a dog’s skin and helps fight fleas. Apple cider vinegar can have a very strong stench, so to help with the smell dog owners should bathe their dog immediately after using it. Another natural option is oatmeal. Oatmeal helps sooth the skin and offers faster relief. You can blend it into powder and add it to a bath or buy dog shampoo with oatmeal in it.
These are just a couple of the many natural dog remedies that don’t require daily upkeep in order to aid pet allergies.
Ultimately, dog owners need to do their own research when trying to treat their dog’s allergies to find the best solution for their furry friend.
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @HindbergNicole.