There are a number of reasons why your dog may be constantly itching, licking or biting his skin. He may have fleas, rolled outside in an allergen, have dry or irritated skin or have eaten a food or treat with an allergen in it. When you first notice your dog constantly itching, there are a few home remedies you can try to attempt to relieve the itchiness and soothe your dog. Here are a few home remedies for treating a dog's itchy skin.

Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are two products that can help treat a dog's itchy skin and condition it. This treatment is especially effective if she has skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis. Follow these directions to help ease your dog's itchiness with this treatment:

  1. Draw up a warm bath for your dog.
  2. Add about 1 tablespoon of baking soda for every 1 1/2 cups of water in the bath. Allow the baking soda to dissolve in the water.
  3. Place your dog in the bath and coat her with the water. Be sure to avoid her eyes, as baking soda can irritate them. Keep her coated in the mixture for at least a couple of minutes, allowing it to seep into her fur and skin. If desired, brush your dog at the same time to work the mixture into her skin while also removing old hair and dead skin.
  4. Prepare your apple cider vinegar rinse by diluting one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per cup of warm water. The amount of water you need varies based on the size of your dog and how much water it will take to rinse them. It is extremely important to dilute the apple cider vinegar or you could further irritate your dog's skin.
  5. Pour the diluted apple cider over her to rinse away the baking soda. Allow it to sit on the hair and skin for a couple of minutes, as this softens the hair and skin.
  6. Use water to rinse your dog thoroughly. Towel dry her or allow her to air dry. Do not use a blow dryer as this further dries the skin out.

Feed Your Dog Plain Yogurt

There are many health benefits to feeding your dog yogurt. It helps improve their digestive track and keeps them regular. But feeding your dog a small amount of yogurt regularly can also help with itchy skin. One of the reasons your dog may have itchy skin is because of a yeast infection on their skin. This is typically caused by their diet, but can also be caused by being wet for too long. Feeding your dog between one teaspoon and one tablespoon of plain yogurt a day can help prevent this and improve your dog's skin. Consult with your vet to find out how much yogurt you should feed your dog based on their weight and health issues.

Tea, Rubbing Alcohol and Aspirin

If your dog has a hot spot, or a spot they constantly chew at, you will want a topical treatment you can apply to just that one spot as needed. You can make your own topical treatment using tea, rubbing alcohol and aspirin. The tea helps to soothe the itchiness, the rubbing alcohol helps to kill bacteria and prevent infection and the aspirin helps to reduce inflammation and irritation. Follow these steps to make this topical treatment:

  1. Heat up a 1/2 cup of water and steep two regular black tea bags in the water.
  2. While the water is still hot, add two aspirin to the mixture until they dissolve. Add one cup of rubbing alcohol as well. Allow the mixture to cool at least to room temperature.
  3. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and apply it to your dog's hot spots. Reapply as needed when he begins to itch.

At some point in time, your dog will likely develop itchiness. There are a number of reasons this can occur. Fortunately, there are a few different ways you can attempt to resolve the problem at home, including bathing your dog in baking soda and apple cider vinegar, feeding her yogurt or creating a topical treatment with tea, aspirin and rubbing alcohol. If an at home treatment doesn't resolve the issues or the itchiness is getting worse, consult with your veterinarian. You may need to change up your dog's diet or place your dog on a prescription medication to clear up the issues that she is experiencing. If your dog seems to have a negative reaction to any at-home treatment, seek medical attention at places like Seattle Emergency Veterinary Hospital.

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