The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Fish Oils and Vegetables
Posted by Ade (Cape Town, South Africa) on 06/07/2009
★★★★★
Dogs chewing and biting skin:
Hi, I own two Sher Pai's, one which chewed her skin to such a degree that the vet wanted to put her down. I have discovered that the Sher Pai's, Husky, and the Chow need fish oils and vegies in thier diet. By cooking up a pot of carrots, pumpkin, green beans, garlic and fish, I was able to make enough for three to four meals, which they ate daily for about two months. Now they eat this concoction twice a week. The difference in thier coats is unbelievable.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sherri (New York City, New York ) on 06/03/2009
★★★★★
My 14 month old Tibetan Terrier is finally doing great after months & months of digestive problems, diahrea, vomiting, etc. All the vets would give us were antibiotics which made him sicker. After trying EVERYTHING, we now feed him organic kibbles (no corn/no wheat) and mix it with an organic home cooked mixture I prepare mysefl of meat, mixed organic veggies & sweet potatoes & a tsp. of olive oil. Dessert is stalks of lettuce leaves and carrots to clean his teeth. He LOVES it and no more tummy problems! He is even bathed with natural shampoos and skin lotions. So after all this, it pains me to give him Heartguard and Frontline!! I started sprinkling dietomaceous earth around the house and on him for flea prevention, but my husband turned out to be allergic to it. I dont know of any other natural remedy. They are so, so toxic. I am about to try a tiny dose of garlic to prevents fleas, but I am very nervous about hurting him. Just dont know what to do. He's doing so well, but this awful Frontline.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Cheryl (Fresno, CA) on 05/21/2009
★★★★★
I have a German Shepherd that has auto immune problems. I would highly recommend that any dog with allergies be fed a "Limited Ingredient Food", which means it only has 1 protein and 1 carb in it, ie: duck & sweet potatoe, venison & potato, etc. Give them a protein that they have never had before. I also find that they can become allergic to a food after about a year thus having to change to a new protein combination. Be sure to stay away from anything with wheat, corn and soy in it. Hope this helps with the food issues.
Vitamin D Sun Baths
Posted by Pugtona (Huntersville, North Carolina) on 05/19/2009
I think this website is wonderful! It's finally getting people to wake up & start using all natural remedies instead of giving their pet's harmful drugs! I hope that everyone who has these type of problems, ear nfections, paw & tail biting, hot spots, flea infestations (poor immunity from poor nutrition), & scratching are all due to FOOD ALLERGIES. Not only should you change your pet's diet to a all natural holistic food, but also their treats, chews, bones & no more tap water either. Also No annual shots after the first year of booster shots, it's one reason why our pet's are dying of cancer! Another is all the flea products, they all have warnings on them (poison, for you too)! If you feed a NON commercial Holistic Natural food & treats your pet will have a healthy immune system & there won't be any fleas! (Fleas are parasites & they go after anything with a unhealthy immune system) I feed & highly reccomend Blue as a breeder for many years now! Look at the ingredients and compare them, you'll never feed a commercial food again! Do really want to know what is in your pet's food? Go to AnimalProtectionInstitute.com, click on "what is really in pet food?" warning not for sqeemish stomachs! Have a question? I will be happy to help your pet naturally!
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Elena (Thornhill, Ontario, Canada) on 04/20/2009
★★★★★
Yes I agree, raw diet does wonders. My dog also gets severe itching twice per year due to allergies. I have paid hundreds of dollars and the only solution they could offer after trying various other things were steroids?. I hate the way it affects her. Constant urinating, weird eyes, real hungry & thirsty. I was sick of seeing her like that. Then she was put on a raw meat diet (seventy percent ground chicken (neck, wing tips), turkey, also lamb, goat mixed with some beef heart and thirty percent ground veg.(not gassy variety). This is mixed with half human dose of antibiotic. We also started to give her half human does fish oil. She's a different dog. Allergies are completely, utterly no scratching, she's calm, has a beautiful coat and I am so relieved after all these years. The dehydrated dog food you see in pet food stores which says "raw" is not raw, its dehydrated. I mean raw organic. I was shocked that it was not nearly as expensive as I expected. My medium size dog only eats about a 1216oz per day. Oh also, no vaccinations or heart worn/flea meds. for at least 3 years. I wish you the peace of mind we have found from these diet changes.
Nasal Discharge
Posted by Kim Arellano (Bloomington, Indiana / United States) on 04/10/2009
Can anyone tell me a cure for nasal discharge in dogs . They are eating and drinking well . Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated .
Sincerely ~ Kim Arellano
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Frank (Greenwich, CT) on 04/06/2009
I researched this because I have used tea tree oil on my dogs a number of times over the years without any problems. There's a rumor that some of these side effects reported on tea tree oil for dogs are faked. I came across a very similar post recently on another web site about paralysis. Not to say it can't be true, but if they're posting fake reports all over the internet about the dangers of giving garlic to dogs (which has been used for centuries), I imagine it could be the same for tea tree oil.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Janice (Leesburg, VA) on 04/06/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Tea Tree Oil Toxic for Jack Russell: I foolishly poured straight Tea Tree Oil on my Jack Russell Terrier's back thinking it may help sooth an itching problem he had. Within a few hours he was paralyzed. He could only lay on his side, and fell over if I tried to help him stand. The Pet Poison Hot Line told me immediately that Tea Tree Oil was a neurotoxin to dogs. They said there was nothing that could be done, it would have to work itself out and he "might" live. For two days my dog layed on his side while I fed him with an eye dropper checking back with the poison hot line. A different representative told us to take him to the vet for fluids, which we did. They kept him a couple days, pumping him full of fluids and he pulled through. From that day on, our JRT immediately shied away from anything that had even the slightest scent of tea tree oil as an ingredient.
Pet Dandruff Remedies Needed
Posted by Damisha (Atlanta, Ga) on 03/22/2009
I have a 2 1/2 year old chichuachua with a bad case of pet dandruff and I dont't know if it's mites orjust dry skin because I notice that it's considered walking dandruff if it moves and I've never seen it move can anybody help me with this question it's mainly close to his tail
Apple Cider Vinegar and Yogurt
Posted by Jo (Bend, Or) on 02/06/2009
I have recently started the acv and organic plain yogurt on my golden, can someone give me a rough estimate of how long it took until you noticed a marked improvement in the skin?
Grain-Free Dog Food, Apple Cider Vinegar, Listerine
Posted by Anita (Rochester, MN) on 02/04/2009
★★★★★
Dog with Hair Loss, Severe Skin Allergies:
I received a Great Pyrenees on Christmas Day 2008 and was shocked at the inflammation, loss of hair, itching and brittleness of her hair. I was told that she had severe food allergies (and I did immediately switch her to a premium grain-free dog food) but in addition, I started ading apple cider vinegar to her drinking water and bathed her in it several times. I have proof-positive pictures that within one month this situation took a 360 degree turn for the better. She is happier now, more energetic, has a zest for life and no more itching and inflammation. I recommend apple cider vinegar wholeheartedly.
On her ankles and her elbows she has dried crusted spots and for those I looked up home remedies for hot spots and saw several people had success with plain Listerine, mixed with baby oil and water and spritzed on these spots. Within 2 weeks, those dried spots clearedup and new skin grown and hair growth is happening there.
Vegetable Oil
Posted by Tom Knight (Tamarindo, Costa Rica) on 01/31/2009
★★★★★
Cheap, 100% Cure for Mange/Fleas
The following is a copy of email recently sent to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the American Veterinary Association.
I filled out the form on your website. I could not copy the below email and paste it into your "comments" window...so here it is if you want to use it. I think it is important as it is a simple cure that I have now found sucessful on another dog other than mine also.
Hello to all my Vet friends,
When all else fails.....!!!
I came upon this purely by accident. This cure will not make you any money, but it sure will make you lots of friends with your clients.
I am no casual pet owner. I have shown, field trialed and hunted champion German Shorthair Pointers for 45 years, plus being owned by an assortment of mixed breeds, cats and an assortment of other exotic critters. In the 1970's I was one of the first to breed large falcons in captivity.
My present dog, a mixed breed, short-haired medium-sized (Tamarindo Purebred...) had severe skin problems since he was around nine months old. His full brother/litter-mate is neighbor and enjoys the same, virtually identical environment, so I know the dog's living situation was not the problem.
He developed a severe rash on his "hot spot." To which he continually chewed, and then started chewing his tail to the point of its having no hair at all, and other parts of his rear anatomy. He had a severe flea problem. End result was a neurotic dog with no hair on his tail and rump, constantly chewing and biting himself there and other parts of his body. He was loosing skin in nasty dried chunks and flakes like a huge case of human dandruff. I tried several local vets who provided a variety of creams, soaps and lotions. None worked. I tried human skin products from the local pharmacies. None worked...after considerable financial expenditure. His neighbor brother remained unaffected. I was seriously considering putting him down.
Then, I remembered that when I applied vegetable oil on my sunburn (I now live in the very hot and dry tropics of NW Costa Rica) it immediately soothed it and no peeling of my skin occurred. I tanned nicely, despite the severe sunburn.
So, I looked around the house and found a 1-inch paint brush I had been using for a "meat baster" in the kitchen. I also found a stiff laundry brush. I then brushed him from back to rump and gently on tail to remove loose skin. Then I put some cheap cooking oil in a small plastic tub. Using the paint brush, I gently massaged the oil onto the affected parts.
He immediately stopped biting himself. Within a day, I could see the redness in the skin start to dissipate. I continued bathing him with a flea/tick soap.
Soon, the redness disappeared altogether. I continued this treatment nightly. Within a week the amount of dead skin started to ease up. New hair started to appear. I also scrubbed oil (with the soft paint brush) into the hair and skin in all areas where I saw fleas...mostly under the tail around the lower rump. Within a couple hours, there is no oily feel to the hair...it has been absorbed by then into the skin.
Today, just over a month of daily treatment, all his hair is back. His tail now does not look like a rat's. He is completely flea free. He chews no more and his coat is glossy. He was also very skinny. Now, he has put on many pounds and is in the pink of health.
My Conclusion: I think the veggie oil acted as a systemic. It penetrated the skin and suffocated the mites under it that were eating the hair follicles and roots. It also did the same for his skin as it did for mine. The oil also suffocated the fleas to the point they now no longer exist.
Correct me if I am wrong. I would love any input. I thought this treatment was of significant importance that you folks should know. Maybe you do already. However, try this next time on one of your client's dog.
This experience might make a useful entry for your newsletter.
Regards,
Tom Knight
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Dietary Changes
Posted by Jessi (Fairfield, IA) on 12/23/2008
★★★★★
For those of you whose cats are scratching and biting themselves, I'm told the source of the problem is usually the cat food. Find a natural pet food store (they're popping up everywhere these days) and put your cat on some natural pet food WITHOUT GRAINS, CORN OR WHEAT in it. Ask the clerk to make sure the natural pet food you buy doesn't have either of those 3 things. The scratching is due to an allergy to the ingredients in store-bought pet food, or to the grains, corns, or wheat your current pet food contains. I was told this by a knowledgeable source, passed it on to a neighbor whose cat was bleeding because it was scratching itself so much, and she reports the change in food cleared the problem up in the one month she's been doing it. She also commented on how little the natural cat food cost - she had been prepared for a big increase in her pet food bill, but it was negligible.
Neem Seed Oil - Promising Remedy!
Posted by Lisa (Pasadena, CA) on 12/02/2008
★★★★★
Neem Seed oil for itchy skin!
I just went out and purchased pure Neem Seed oil with dropper for my West Highland Terrier--who has been scratching relentlessly for the past five or six days. I don't think it's fleas, but we took him for a hike a few days ago and he seems to have been bitten by *some*thing that caused slight welts all around. I pretty much confirmed that those welts corresponded to the areas he has been scratching...it's actually been keeping him up nights (and me unfortunately!). I tried to give him one over-the-counter antihistimine caplet before bed, but that didn't seem to help. I've also wiped down the areas most affected with Apple Cider Vinegar, but he is unaffected by the taste/smell.
Well, I went thru his coat and applied a drop of Neem Seed Oil (rubbing it in with my fingers) to every single welt I could find. Some of the welts have already scabbed over, but I still applied the oil to those areas too because he seemed to still be bothered by them.
This was about an hour ago and I gave him a bone treat to distract him right after (so that he wouldn't be too interested in licking the oil). I've seen MARKED improvement already (and he's been done with the bone for about 15 minutes now). It's a miracle! I'll post here again if I see any adverse reactions or problems, but so far it works like a charm.
Thank you for all your comments!
Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 11/03/2008
★★★★★
Last winter each morning I would wake up to find greyish goop in each of our dogs' eyes. Our elder dog Max had it the worst, and I had to clean out his eyes 4-5 times a day. I finally put two and two together and realized that their eye problems probably had to do with what was coming out of our air ducts when the heater was on. So last summer we had all the vents and air ducts cleaned out by a company I found on Angie's list that had high ratings. Finally last week we turned the heat back on when it hit the low 30s during the night and I got to test my theory. I am happy to report that the dogs have no more eye gunk problems! We've only lived in this house for a couple of years, but the previous owners did a lot of construction in order to get the house ready to sell. Most of what came out of our air ducts was construction material.
Neem Seed Oil - Promising Remedy!
Posted by Sue (Hazel Green, WI) on 10/23/2008
★★★★★
I tried the 1 oz Neem oil with 8 oz. vinegar in a spray bottle. It is working fantastic. I have 3 cats and are having a bad time with fleas this season. This spray has worked wonderful on them. They are enjoying not scratching and playing around more. Thanks so much for this web site. Keep up the great ideas.
Over-The-Counter
Posted by George (Orangeburg, SC) on 10/06/2008
★★★★★
We took our Scottie to the vet because she was itching so badly. The vet put her on antibiotics and a steroid spray which caused her to go deaf for weeks. (Not to mention the cost!) After that, the vet said she had a food allergy, so we bought an expensive brand of anti-allergen dog food. No luck with that either. Then I saw your website and decided to try the ACV. This caused her to sting and begin scratching wildly. She also howled in pain. I diluted it to half and half with the same result. She started avoiding me when she saw me coming. I then tried baking soda and water paste. That didn't work either. I decided to go to Walmart and ask the pharmicist what he had for an itching dog and he suggested Solarcaine Cool Aloe Gel. This gel has lidodcaine (which relieved the itching) and aloe vera (which cools the skin). It worked like a charm. I highly recommend this for your itching dog!
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Cathy (Deltona, FL) on 09/18/2008
My dog has had allergies for several years now. Not only does his stomach get bright red, his ears and around his eyes get red. He is also prone to ear infections. The vet prescribes steroids, but he can only be on them so long and has to come off. I've been adding ACV to his water daily, and it has helped, but I have realized that he also probably has a food allergy (there is corn gluten in his food). I've been doing a lot of research and found that most allergies are caused by their food. I researched dog food brands and purchased a small bag of Blue Buffalo Chicken and Brown Rice today to start mixing with his food. The reviews on this food are outstanding, as it does not contain any by-products, fillers, etc. It is natural/holistic and is as close as you can get to homemade. I'm hoping this helps!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Raw Garlic
Posted by Wilma (Venice, CA) on 08/22/2008
★★★★★
My dog was under medication for allergies about 6 months out of the year from Mar - Oct. Finally, I decided not to use steroids or antihistamines because I knew long term usage was not good. After reading the website, I started with ACV, especially after she would rub her face from itchiness and her eyes would start to get infected. I put it on the top of her head and it seemed to help the infection. But I was only holding it at bay because her eye and chin were red from itchiness. The improvement was that her belly was not red and raw from scratching and she still had her fur. My friend said to add raw garlic. Within one day, I saw marked improvement around her eyes. At first I was hiding it in meat but then I figured out I could put the ACV and raw garlic in her food and mask it with _____'s Amino acids. Well, that did the trick. Her eyes are beautiful again and so is her chin. No more rubbing her eyes and face raw.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Laura (Katy, TX) on 08/19/2008
Dear Christina from Brevard, N. Carolia..
08/10/2008: Christina from Brevard, N.Carolina replies: "This is in response to your dog having a rash & irritated skin. Someone just told me today that they use Aloe Vera Gel on their dog for this. This is the only thing they have found that works well. It's worth a try anyway..I wish you the best."
I am very interested in this aloe vera treatment you suggested! So how would I apply the aloe? Just a thin layer over irritated skin? I want to make sure I do this right! Also, if Rio were to lick his skin and lick the aloe off would that be harmful? If you can let me know more about out it that would be awesome!! Thank you for your help!
EC: If you use fresh aloe vera, it's doubtful your dog would lick it off because it tastes so bitter! Aloe Gel will contain other ingredients, which may or may not be safe.
Omega 3 Salmon Oil
Posted by Susan (Dallas, Texas) on 08/14/2008
★★★★★
My golden retriever had constant hot spots and skin allergies. Tried a cheap product called Missing Link. It has omega-3 salmon oil in it and you just sprinkle a tablespoon on their food daily. What a lifesaver. Her skin is great, her hair is silky, overall health is good. No more biting at her skin and being miserable, or hot spots! My vet doesn't sell it, but they recommend it to all their pet owners now due to my dog's results. They tell everyone about my dog and her results and everyone runs to pet her when she comes in cause of her silkiness. Good luck.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Christina (Brevard, N.Carolina) on 08/10/2008
This is in response to your dog having a rash & irritated skin. Someone just told me today that they use Aloe Vera Gel on their dog for this.
This is the only thing they have found that works well. It's worth a try anyway..I wish you the best.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/08/2008 490 posts
Hi Laura. Apple cider vinegar will not harm your dog, either internally or externally. Just use it wisely and avoid getting any in his eyes.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Laura (Katy, united states) on 08/07/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I adopted my english pointer, Rio, last christmas from a shelter who had him in very bad condition! Rio was 7 months old and nearly died from kennel cough! It took tons of vet bills and almost 2 months to get him healthy again! Ever since then I have constantly had to take Rio in to the vet for various reasons! Taking him in was not a problem since I work at a vet clinic anyways what is frusterating me is neither I nor my docter (who is very highly educated) can figure out the source of Rio's problem! Just recently Rio has developed rashes and very red (hot pink really) irritated skin on his feet, up his legs, in between his back legs all over his genitals and is now spreading to his chest! He was even starting to develope tiny little scabs that looked like little ant bites! But he never ever licks or chews on his irritated skin! I took Rio in right away! We found out that my poor Rio is allergic to grass so every time he comes in from being outside I have to wipe his paws, legs and tummy down with a hypoallergenic baby wipe and spray his skin with a gynosyn allergy spray! The spray has helped some and Rio no longer has little scabs but the red skin will just not go away!! I started to think that maybe it had something to do with his diet since I noticed that Rio has a very sensitive stomach and would have diarhea at least every other bowl movement! So to avoid that high cost of allergy test I cut out the 3 major ingredients in his food that most dogs have allergies to. Rio no longer eats corn, soy or wheat! He is on a food with no perservatives (as well as his treats) and is strictly made from natural ingredients! I've even gone as far as to only give him filtered water to drink! Tough this has done wonders for his stomach it still doesnt seem to have helped with his skin at all. I have not tried any of the ACV remedies simply because I have read not to try that on dogs with food allergies! (which I am about 110% sure he has) If anyone has any ideas Rio & I would really appreciate it!! I really have no idea what could be going on now...
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Damon (Palm Springs, CA) on 05/21/2008
Allergies almost killed my purebred GSD. At only 7 months old my vet gave her 2-3 more years (Yet she looked fairly normal except thin to the average observer except her blackish skin). As I started doing research on line, I discovered the horrors of commercial Dog food. Finding out that it was equivelent to feeding your kid fast food every meal. Many talked about the benifits of the Raw diet, and I was convinced. Problem is it was nearly impossible to do where I live. Needless to say I found several non commercial Kibbles that have turned my dog into a healthy, beautiful dog. Last bloodwork was perfect and she NEVER smells, has fleas, and ears and eyes are bright and clean. Her skin is bright pink.
I also started to use ACV and garlic in her food. I feed her Flint River Ranch (lamb has garlic) for a cheaper alternative (shipped to you) and supplement it with more expensive brands like Origen 6 fish and Wellness Core.
If you want Raw alternative, the Honest Kitchen sells dehydrated raw food that smells like home cooking. I also plan on starting her on H2o2 drops in her water. Hope this helps people who can't use Raw where they live.
Borax, Better Diet, Colloidal Silver
Posted by Carol (Swansea, MA) on 05/10/2008
★★★★★
I've use the sodium perborate three times in one week on my Rough Collie. Let's just say it has been over 24 hrs since I had to use benedryl which he's been on for over a month. He is still biting but to a minimal. I also placed him on Pinnacle fish and sweet potatoes diet and I put a fourth cup of raw meat for protein. We also spray 30 sprays of Collodial Silver into his food 1x daily. along w/some vitamins. I hope this progress continues and I'll keep all of you updated. Thank you, Carol St Martin.
