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.
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Suzanne (Southeast, Michigan) on 04/27/2008
★★★★★
For those of you who have dogs with skin problems, skin allergies, please consider a raw diet. This is something that is becoming more well known and is growing in popularity. Commercial dog foods are the cause of so many health problems in pets. My three dogs and one cat have been eating a raw diet for two years now. Raw meaty bones, some organ meat, and then a couple times a week, a few supplements like fish oil, yogurt, raw egg, kale. It's similar to something called the BARF diet for pets, but a simplified version. Two books by Tom Lonsdale, Raw Meaty Bones, and Work Wonders, are a good place to start reading about the diet. There are web sites and yahoogroups as well. My dogs teeth are super clean and white (even my 9yr old lab) because they're eating like their ancestors did; ripping the meat off bones, chomping on bone (raw bones only -- cooked bones are a choking hazard). Sicne starting this diet, besides being overall healthier pets, other benefits: clear anal glands because the poop is a bit harder, healthier skin and coat, no dog smell or doggy breath, much less poop because no fillers, etc., as in dry food I never have to clean up poop in my yard! Natural diet means natural poop; in a few days, it turns white and crumbles away. Also, my dogs are happier. They love the raw diet. I had one very stubborn cat who I just couldn't get to transition to a raw diet, so I fed her Evo, the more natural dry food. That did help her allergies, but I still would rather she went raw.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Robin Sabbatini (Fresno, California) on 06/11/2007
★★★★★
Dear readers: My silky terrier has been ill all of his life with itchy chewed and scratched bloody skin. Loss of hair and just misery. I tried EVERYTHING. Pred, allergy pills special diets $$$$ and no cure not even a break. I have no idea what made me do this but about one week ago I bathed him with oatmeal shampoo then I poured a lot of hydrogen peroxide all over him. First on my hand then to his skin as it is very cold to the touch. I patted it in his skin all over his belly between his toes everywhere. Rinsed him and the Gods honest truth he has not scratched but maybe 2 times since. His hair is bright his eyes are amazingly beautiful. I do not know what happened but he is staying with it. Also his ears have been so attacked with yeast infections that he is practically deaf. Anyone know if some hydrogen peroxide would help his ears ? I love him and would do anything to make him healthy. All of this time and money at the vet and a 50 cent bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Go figure.
Vitamin D Sun Baths
Posted by Ann (Augusta, GA) on 08/18/2007
★★★★★
After years of pills from the vet for my Westie to control horrible skin problems I tried a sunbath. I saw on TV that a new report was out saying a deficit of Vit D causes a weakened immune system in humans so a bell went off in my head when my Westie turned over on his back and stretched out in the sun on one of his trips out to the side yard.I started taking him out for thirty minutes a day and just let him stretch out in the sun. This in addition to his walks and play time. I have been able to cut his medication back (Atopicia)to twice a week rather than once a day and completely eliminate the anti itch pill. Took about six weeks. I recently had to leave him at the vet for a week and they sprayed his feet with flea spray everytime he came in from outside. He came home with bloody itchy feet. I am now trying the ACV to see if I can get it under control. When he went in the sun yesterday he stretched out on his stomach and all four paws were in the sun. I think he is letting me know that what I am doing makes him feel better. Since allergies are a sign of a compromised immune system, so I have been told by the vet, and if the immune system can be made stronger by Vit D. The natural Vit D from the sun can't hurt. Thanks.
Flax Seed Oil
Posted by Tanya (Newport, NY) on 03/10/2007
★★★★★
My dog gets severe itching 2x per year due to allergies. I usually take her to the vet to refill her prenizone?. I hate the way it affects her. Constant urinating, weird eyes, always real hungry & thirsty. I was sick of seeing her like that. I search the internet for a natural remedy. FLAXSEED OIL!!! It is a natural anti inflamitory. I gave it a shot. 1 tbls 2-3x per day in 1/2 cup of cottage cheese. Her allergy was gone in 2 days, (opposed to 1 week with the meds) & she had more energy. Please search the internet for more information on this all natural oil. You wont beleive it. Both for you and your pets. PS I'm trying the apple cider vinegar diet I found on this site, I will keep you posted on my progress. Thank You for this wonderful website.
Meat Tenderizer
Posted by Melissa (Pt. Pleasant, NJ) on 01/08/2007
★★★★★
Adolph's Meat Tenderizer reduces the allergens in a cat or dog's dander and saliva. 'I just thought you guys would be interested in this cure. I have 6 cats (all of which I'm allergic to), and bathing them in a solution of Adolph's Meat Tenderizer and water (one tablespoon to a cup of water) helps reduce my allergic reaction to them considerably. You just wipe each animal in your home down entirely (paws, tail and tummy included) with a towel dampened with the solution, and then dry them. You can do it once every one to three weeks, depending on the severity of your allergies. This cure was actually suggested to me by a veterinarian, and it works great!
Omega 3 and Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marina (Victoria, Australia)
★★★★★
I have a cat that is always chewing at its fur and had been giving her cortisone for the last 18 months. I put ACV in her water bowl and also flaxseed oil in her food. No more scratching and welts on her back have healed. I also rub her fur with straight ACV and she now can lie in front of the heater for warmth, whereas before she preferred to stay out in the cold air at night because the house was too warm for her. The next step is to get through our summer. You start off with 1 drop of ACV in your cats bowl to start them off. The next week add two drops. This will do for a small cat bowl. I also put ACV in my dogs bowl and I usually put in a teaspoon. She loves it. She is an aged dog but still loves to run and especially loves to chase the ball I throw to her repeatedly and she isn't sore afterwards.
Omega 3 and Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pinkie (Portland, Oregon) on 11/03/2007
★★★★★
Thanks to Marina from Victoria,Canada on the flaxseed tip. My Morris is a orange mixed breed. Looks like (you guessed it) Morris on the commercial! His skin was dry and he had the welts on his neck. I read your posting, had some omega 3 and squirted it in his mouth. After 2 days I gave him a day off, the difference in his skin is unbelieveable. His coat, like when he was a tiny kitten. He's 5 months now. I have another mixed breed Mischief (she has a crooked tail:)normal skin & coat, but she will be the next one to benefit. They won't drink water with ACV in it but I'm working on a mixture they can't detect. Also plain yogurt no flavor, no nothing, will clear up parasites. A tip from a vet!
Omega 3 and Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jade (North Babylon, NY) on 11/19/2007
★★★★★
Today is Monday November 19th - On Friday November 16th Murdoch was cured with the help of ACV. Plus i was giving him Flax seed Oil as well. but i cant give him that every day it acts like a detox for the dog (if you know what i mean)' Well Murdochs skin is looking good. He developed itchies on the other side of his neck which i think was weird but ok so now Im treating the other side of his neck where he was scratching. this started this morning. So I will give him ACV for this Im not worried Im sure he will get cured as well. I have great confidence now in ACV. To be continued..
Omega 3 and Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jade (North Babylon, NY) on 11/16/2007
★★★★★
Hi Everyone - This is the 2nd Day I have Murdoch on ACV. As of this morning his skin didnt look red it was now pink and looked like he was scabbing up. He likes it when i dabb him with the ACV on a Cotton Ball and rub it on his skin it must soothe his skin. I also puncture the capsule of Flaxseed Oil and put it in his dry food. I dont really see a difference yet in his coat but it does seem that his dandruff has lightened up. I am also putting ACV a drop right now in his water and he doesn't like it but is drinking it. His ears are looking much better since i dabbed the cotton ball in the Mineral Oil and cleaned them they are clearing up nice. Well I will keep you posted
Omega 3 and Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jade (North Babylon, NY) on 11/15/2007
★★★★★
After finding this site and reading all to do with other people who's had the same dog problems as I have with Murdoch - who is a pitt-bul/labrador/shar-pei/ (but doesn't have shar-pei) skin. I have bought the ACV and put less than a capful in his water - he doesn't like it so i am gonna try to put it in his food next. but i did buy Flaxseed oil capsules and crap open the capsules and put that into his food. He does eat that in his dry food. I dabbed some ACV with a cotten ball and put it on his neck line where he is scratching red- and since it is only 2x's i have done this i will keep you posted- I will put it in a spray bottle next and spray him down. Murdoch was on a Pretisone and an Inflammatory and it did help him but who wants to keep their dog on Meds (Not I) so i took him off and hes starting to scratch again. Thats where the ACV hopefully now will work on him.
I also bought the Mineral oil - because his ears are red and i think he contacted mites from BF's dog who had a severe case of them. any way i have been taking the mineral oil on a cotten ball and dausing it and rubbing it in his ear. this is only the 2nd time too but it look better this morning but not red pink. i deffinately want to test his PH level so that will be next. Thanks to all for posting you have been very helpful. Will keep you posted.
Neem Seed Oil - Promising Remedy!
Posted by Gabriela (Pahoa, Hawaii) on 02/24/2008
★★★★★
My pet recipe: Neem Seed Oil (100% pure only). I use it on everything, when our pets have itching, they scratch constantly and inflict wounds on themselves. If they have tics in their ears, they might inflict a wound somewhere by constantly scratching on the outside.
Neem Seed Oil is against parasites, mites and tics and fleas. It is also anti-bacterial. I used it on little turtles, chickens and cats. These are our only animals. I am so confident with this. I have solved problems, the vet said, were psychological. In one case, it truly was. Our cat was not stopping to scratch herself and inflicted wounds on herself because we had been away for some time and she was traumatized. I solved this problem by using Neem Seed Oil on her wounds first and then I put a little dog-shirt on her (like a T-shirt for tiny doggies you can buy). She was so estranged about the funny thing on her body that she forgot about her licking and couldn't anyway. After a few days, she got it off herself and had all forgotten her obsessive licking. When I use Neem Seed Oil, I put it on my hands, and oil the animals generously on all the spots necessary. They hate it - but usually one or two treatments are enough.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Yogurt
Posted by Claudia (PDX, Oregon) on 02/27/2008
★★★★★
What has made my dogs skin and coat beautiful is a daily combination of 1/2 tsp of ACV mixed in some plain organic yogurt. I use "nancy"s". My big dog- black lab mix has yeast issues in his ears and paws and it has cured this problem but also improved his coat as well as the coat of my other dog. I see huge skin improvemnets. It took about a month to see the difference as I think it changed the PH of his gut thus working it's way out to the skin. I got a little lax on the routine and right away notice the old problems back. Needless to say I am going to do this everyday from now on. One more thing- my dog with the yeast problem has been allergy tested and has a dairy allergy- I figured I would take a chance with the organic yogurt and I have seen NO ill effects- it is full of all the good bacteria- not sure if that made the difference or what.
Raw Egg in Food
Posted by Lacy (Many, Louisiana) on 03/10/2008
★★★★★
My short hair dog had a terrible oder due to flaky skin. I tried giving her oatmeal baths, oils nothing seemed to work and only made it worse. Then I started giving her a raw egg with her food every other day. Not only did she think it was a treat her skin issues are a thing of the past and she smells great. Also I started using coconut oil on her tender and red belly, worked like a charm and if she licks it no worries because it helps her doggy breath.
Brewer's Yeast in Dog Food Can Cause Problems
Posted by Keri (Kalispell, Montana) on 03/31/2008
★★★★★
After a year of constant yeast infections and allergies in my lab/aussie mix, someone told me to check the label on her dog food. Come to find out, Brewer's yeast was one of the number 1 ingredients. It seemed that the added yeast was making the problem worse. I switched dog foods to a product that did not list Brewer's yeast and have not had a yeast infection since. I don't know if this will work for everyone, but for anyone with animals prone to yeast infections, it's worth looking into.
Neem Oil, Olive or Coconut Oil, Goldenseal, ACV
Posted by Fabian (Nambucca Heads, NSW, Australia) on 04/05/2008
★★★★★
Have had great problem removing flea allergy dermatitis from my poodle and he has constantly itched and has had open wet sores above and around his tail.Have used many natural remedies with some improvement but would soon recur.I recently found a natural recipe from the net and now there is no sign of fleas at all and no rashes or sores at all. He is much happier and relaxed and so am I. The solution is 2 ozs of pure Neem oil, a little olive or coconut oil and tea tree oil,one tablespoon of Goldenseal extract,then make up to 16 ozs with organic apple cider vinegar. Fantastic results immediately.Use daily(spray on)as needed.I also added some lemon lotion but this is not essential.
