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.
Homeopathic Remedy Psorinum
Posted by Om (Hope Bc, Canada, Bc) on 07/02/2013
★★★★★
My thirty pound Tibetan spaniel kept itching so badly for at least two months. He gets defleaed daily just by combing and ACV spray. It became so bad I put on my thinking cap.
Years ago I contracted scabies on my arms due to animal rescue matters. I used homeopathic PSORINUM 30C. I less than half an hour all was gone, not to return, several years later.
I had planned to use Ted's remedy for mites after doggie had his grooming and trimming for the summer. I could, however, not wait and look at it any longer.
So I gave about four little globules of PSORINUM 30C which is a scabies remedy even though I thought he might have other mites as well which are transmitted by fleas.
I had to observe him and as he resumed scratching after several hours' interval, I had to give the remedy up to five times more. But now, two weeks later, he only scratches when I find a flea upon investigation. I am also using DE in the house which has apparently made a difference.
So, PSORINUM, could be tried for mites or simply bad scratching episodes. It certainly is worth trying, especially the cost is about ten bucks.
I would never consider cortisone shots which damage health or flea treatment that poison the blood. Does anyone realize how many dogs have died in the drug trials before that drug was let loose on the maket? Dogs that receive regular blood poisoning flea treatments, do not live out their normal life span. This was confirmed by a dog breeder who mentioned his German Shepherds live only eight years while reguarly given this drug.
Also, I must make mention of Ted's remedy BORAX. I tried as a shampoo on my fine hair and was amazed how soft, bouncy and shiny was the outcome. Now I will use it regularly on myself and doggie as well. I leave the borax paste on for several minutes, then rinse. Voila. It does away with itch, too. Treats for mites, too.
An altenative is soap nuts. Info online. Best wishes to EC posters. Om
Salmon Oil
Posted by Gina (Duncan, Bc, Canada) on 06/16/2013
★★★★★
My black lab would have terrible itching and even lose fur on her rear. I started giving her my wild salmon oil capsules that I had for myself. I started by giving her a couple every day for a couple weeks and now she gets a couple caps every few days.
Salmon Oil
Posted by Kathryn4 (Owings, Maryland) on 02/25/2013
★★★★★
Sometimes the brand of dog food is lacking in nutirents, I found that one squirt of Salmon oil when I feed my dog made his forever itching skin go away and saved tremendous times of bathing him in all kinds of shampoos that did nothing! It works. He was always red and inflamed and now a thing of the past. The vets don't even tell you how to cure this.
Homemade Dog Food
Posted by Leslie (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) on 02/09/2013
I have only now found this website and think it's wonderful. Many posts are years old however the problems seem to be the same year after year - so I thought I would give this information for those who are interested.
Dogs that itch terribly, pull their fur out, scratch their ears till they are inflamed, lick and pull at their paws, and more, may have a yeast infection. This is for males too.
A website that addresses this is: http//homemadedogfood.com. I have found it to be perfect for my Chihuahua and all his problems including this one.
Salmon
Posted by Keith (Sheffield, South Yorkshire) on 02/08/2013
★★★★★
I have a 4 year old Yorkie that was scratching all the time. I was advised by the lady who cuts her that she suffers from dry skin and would benefit from oilie fish.
Started her on approx. 1 tablespoon of wild tinned salmon each day and she stopped scratching within two days.
Ted's Mange Cure
Posted by Annabel (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina) on 02/06/2013
We have a Bedlington Terrier who had red bumps on her belly and scratched constantly. I tried Ted's Mange recipe and put it in a spray bottle. I sprayed her every day or twice daily for awhile and it worked. She is basically itch free. One important point: The borax is difficult to dissolve so I heat the borax in the water to dissolve and add everything else to that. You will find that the borax will solidify into chunks after a period of time and you will need to make the recipe again. Hopefully the problem will be gone by that time.
Fish Oil
Posted by Sarah (Manchester, Britain) on 01/18/2013
★★★★★
Tins of sardines work a treat, just mixed in her food and its an excellent food supplement.
Catalytic Altered Water
Posted by Bugjackblue (Ny, Ny Usa) on 11/10/2011
★☆☆☆☆
Pure quackery. If you want to risk your own health by persisting in such delusion, go ahead, but you owe your dog a much higher level of responsibility than this.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Yogurt
Posted by Ruby (Seattle, Wa) on 10/25/2011
Even if you can't afford to change their food exactly, just find something that doesn't have chicken parts as the first ingredient.. Maybe lamb? or oats? there are a few common brands making some ok stuff at any grocery store.. and.. I was just watching the news the other day, and there was a story about a salmon allergy in dogs.. Specifically raw salmon. Just a thought, about the oil. Maybe try coconut oil. It's pretty yummy too. :)
Dietary Changes
Posted by Denise (Stockton, Ca) on 10/10/2011
★★★★☆
I went this website to see if Yogurt would be helpful for my dogs. I wanted to add that I use the herbal spice Turmeric every night in their food along with liquid aloe and I feed a totally grain free diet. It has really seemed to help. I have two very itchy boxers so I am always looking for ideas to help them.
Fish Oil
Posted by Kat (Crown Point, In) on 08/05/2011
★★★★★
I have a small dog (under 20 pounds) and gets very itchy in the summer and fall. I have been giving him the fish oil caplet for the last few years. I went to the vet, and they sent me home with a prescription. The fish oil works better. Plus, he loves the fish oil and has learned to swallow the pill whole. I make sure he gets a drink after the pill. Don't want it stuck in his throat!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut and Tea Tree Oil
Posted by P (Covina, Ca) on 07/23/2011
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Please be VERY careful, anyone who is considering using tea tree oil on their dog. I tried this once and will never use it on my sweet dog again. It almost killed her! Some dogs have very severe allergic reactions to this topical oil.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Remy6287 (Florence, Ky, Usa) on 03/14/2011
★★★★☆
I have a 10 yr old Akita that has suffered from itchy skin for a number of years. It first started when she was bout 7 and then we took her to the vet, got a cortisone shot and she was better for a time. Then about a year ago it came back worse than ever. She was also having trouble with her joints and biting them, mostly her hips.
After doing some research on this site I decided to try a combination of things. Every meal along with her Taste of the Wild food, she gets, 1-2 cloves of garlic , chopped into small pieces (I started with one to see how she reacted and then when she showed no negative side effects, gave her more). About 1 teaspoon of ginger root, chopped up, 3 scoops of organic yogurt, 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil, and 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses (to help with her joints). Within a month of using this combination, her skin cleared up, coat looks shiny, and she is bouncing around like she used to. She still has 2 hot spots on her chest but I think it is due to our location. Hope this helps!
Catalytic Altered Water
Posted by Sue (Nashville, Tn) on 02/09/2011 3 posts
★★★★★
Regarding Pets with itching and other skin problems: I have several dogs that itch from allergies and flea bites from time to time so I keep on hand a spray bottle of catalytic altered water. My dogs' itching, painful cut or scrape is relieved and starts to heal in minutes. I have seen it heal a cut better than those creams that are sold and it doesn't burn. I have used it on my own skin burns, cuts, itching etc. And I use nothing else. I have also used it to make medication or ACV work better for my dogs. The water can be found on the internet; but don't be fooled by imitations there is only one that will work. 1 oz. of the clear will make 1 gallon for future use. A couple of sprays up to a few sprays work to heal quickly. I want everyone to know that this catalytic altered water is a safe miracle cure thats been around since the 1980's and was even the subject on a popular news television show back then. That show still exists.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Yogurt
Posted by Nelson (Farmington, Connecticut) on 02/09/2011
our mixed chow started with nibbling and chewing his paws.. He worked his way up the legs and within two months was hairless in his paws, legs and belly.. He was given steroids, 4 twice daily pills and a shampoo. We changed his diet to freshly cooked chicken and sweet potatoes. Nothing worked. Omar crawled everywhere to satisfy the belly itch. Scratch and chew.. Night and day. Spent close to one thousand dollars. I decided to try the Apple Cider Vinegar and yogurt.. In one day.. He is itching less and wagging his tail.. I sprayed a 50/50 water-acv onto the skin and worked it into the skin. I also now give him several tablespoons of plain yogurt.. He likes it.. I think this is going to help.. He has an appointment with a dermatologist that will be a few more thousand.. But I am banking on the acv. I will use this intill our appointment.. This has been his first night in many months that he appears happy and not so itchy.. G-d bless.. this has been a g-d send.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Yogurt
Posted by Nelson (Farmington, Connecticut) on 02/09/2011
★★★★★
our mixed chow started with nibbling and chewing his paws.. He worked his way up the legs and within two months was hairless in his paws, legs and belly.. He was given steroids, 4 twice daily pills and a shampoo. We changed his diet to freshly cooked chicken and sweet potatoes. Nothing worked. Omar crawled everywhere to satisfy the belly itch. Scratch and chew.. Night and day. Spent close to one thousand dollars. I decided to try the Apple Cider Vinegar and yogurt.. In one day.. He is itching less and wagging his tail.. I sprayed a 50/50 water-acv onto the skin and worked it into the skin. I also now give him several tablespoons of plain yogurt.. He likes it.. I think this is going to help.. He has an appointment with a dermatologist that will be a few more thousand.. But I am banking on the acv. I will use this intill our appointment.. This has been his first night in many months that he appears happy and not so itchy.. G-d bless.. this has been a g-d send.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Vicki (Dallas, Tx) on 01/27/2011
★★★★★
I've been the round with dogfoods and as I have a lot of dogs & 3 cats; it's been difficult to find a holistic brand with guaranteed ingredients that don't have grain, or a lot of fat, that I can afford. Pancreatitus is a danger with the high fat brands & if your dog is not an actual working dog in a cold climate, there's a definte risk of this. Grain is responsible for diabetes, yeast infections, & allergies in dogs. One of my little males suffered through 3 rounds of pancreatitus years ago from ProPlan (my vet commented on the high fat content, but it didn't register with me at the time) plus he & 2 of his daughters last fall had a seizure type reaction from one I thought was ok (Blue). Wellness is what I feed them now, with no problems. ACV in their drinking water has improved their coat & skin condition even more. Will be trying coconut oil on one ex-feral cat who continues to have severely itching skin, who vomited the ACV water & refuses to drink it after one episode.
Medications, Dietary Changes
Posted by Diane (Chardon, Ohio) on 01/22/2011
For the dogs ears an all natural product that really works is vets best ear relief wash and dry. Keep the ears dry. My groomer recommended enyzme pro to add to food and I am trying that. (botanical dog) Also, if your dog has really bad sore skin try looking at dermagic-wonderful products to put on skin.
Try to avoid any steroids or cordisones because they only will help short term and will rebound with worse skin worse than when started.
Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Roxies Mom (Atlanta, Ga) on 01/17/2011
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
My dog threw up after trying to lick herself and ingesting the borax & peroxide mixture. I will try with vinegar and see how that works. Not sure if this is safe, so I will update on her progress. I can say that after treatment she immediately stopped scratching which is a miracle for her. She is the itchiest dog I have ever seen! I really hope this works!
Corn Starch
Posted by Pamela (High Springs, Fl.) on 11/20/2010
★★★★★
I had dachshund, that broke out with a skin rash, also my R. Ridge back, the Dr's started them both on cordacoze I didn't really like using the drugs. One day one of my friends saw his bleeding around his neck and stomach and suggested corn starch I got a hand ful of cornstarch and rub his neck and stomach and the next day he wasn't bleeding and 1 week later both dogs and no signs of the rash it was great. I was so excited this was so amazing, and I still use it today.
Coconut and Oregano Oils
Posted by Jb (Atlanta, Ga Usa) on 11/02/2010
★★★★★
One of my German Shepherds has an immune deficiency. I have tried everything natural under the sun but, will not resort to pharmaceuticals. I feed raw, organic, no grains. ACV in water. Still biting, itchy & scabby. One day I was desperate to find a solution for her raw skin. I mixed up about a 1/4 cup of organic extra virgin coconut oil & about 6 drops of ingestable Four Thieves oil blend. I rubbed it in lightly on all the areas affected. The Four Thieves I use is a well known brand, easily found on the Internet that can be ingested. Some are only for topical use, so be careful. I would not use on cats. It calmed the areas immediately. Redness disappeared. By the next day scabs were falling off. I now do this twice a day. She actually nudges me to the kitchen for her coconut rub. Though I alternate omega 3 fish oil, coconut oil, ground flax or oil, EVOO, chia, something in her system seems to resist utilizing the ingested oils. I have started adding digestive enzymes to her food to add in breaking down fats. If someone has experienced this same problem I would appreciate feedback.
Ginger
Posted by Mamaknocks (Downers Grove, Il) on 09/12/2010
Just a regular ginger capsule. I put it in a "Pill Pocket" that are sold by the bag at pet stores. My dog will take anything that I put in those little things! He thinks it's a treat. Ginger is wonderful. If he has an upset tummy, it cures that just as fast as it does itchy skin!
Medication Link
Posted by Michelle (Normal, Il) on 08/25/2010
itching dog: I have tried everything to cure my dog of his itching and I think it is the flea and heart worm medicine called Revolution that is causing it. I just now found a list of side effects and "pruritus (itching), urticaria (welts, hives), and erythema (skin redness)" was listed. I am going to get him some old fashioned heart worm pills and find an alternative flea preventer.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Acidophilus
Posted by Lori (La Mesa, Ca) on 08/08/2010
Read your site a few months back suggesting apple cider vinegar (ACV) and acidophilus for skin problems tied to ear troubles. I tried it and am a believer. We have a female curly coated retriever (rescue) that is about 5 yrs old that has had itchy balding neck & shoulders and stinky infected ears since she was a puppy. We took all of the vet's suggestions the last few years and she "kind of" got better but never completely - and the problems always recurred. I went to the grocery store and bought a bottle of the house brand ACV and to Target for a bottle of acidophilus capsules. I open a capsule of the acidophilus and sprinkle it on her food in the morning, and pour a tablespoon of ACV on her food at night. (I'm not gonna lie, Curly was a little startled the first time I put the vinegar on her food, but when she eats, it's an olympic sport, so she dove right in. )
I also started using Nizoral shampoo (ketoconazole 1%) once a week on her.
So there you go. This in what is working for us quite well thank you. Maybe it will work for you.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut and Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Traveler (Santa Barbara, Ca, Usa) on 07/15/2010
★★★★☆
Dog's Itchy Skin
So with the summer-time and my dog spending a lot of time out in the backyard, and the dog park, he has gotten itchy skin. I've checked him for bugs and haven't found any, yet one of his nipples was scratched raw, his armpits were all dark pink, and he had several hotspots which has sebum around the scabby parts. I did two things, and he's almost all the way better but not all the way cured:
1. I took apple cider vinegar (not with the mother, the store didn't have it) and cut it half and half with water and put it in a spray bottle. This he got sprayed with a couple times a day all over in the belief that it would keep the bugs away and maybe help the spots.
2. I grabbed virgin coconut oil and added some tea tree oil to it and rubbed him down and tried to hit his hotspots. I did this two times with as full of a full-body rubdown as I could, and then two or three more times just spot applying. The next day after applying it the first time, his armpits were hardly pink at all. A week later, I've checked his hot spots and his scabs are now in chuncks around his hair, but no longer attached to his skin. I brushed his coat and skin really well with a hard bristle brush trying to stimulate the skin and pull up the chunks and then went through and did it by hand. He's itching a lot less but he's not all the way cured. I'd probably put him at maybe 85% better.
Medications, Dietary Changes
Posted by Adrian (Los Angeles, Ca) on 06/06/2010
When doing food, make sure it is grain free, especially CORN! This will help you a million times over. Also, many dogs that have food allergies are allergic to chicken, so it may help to go with Buffalo or some different protein source.
But if the issue is just itching... it could be an environmental allergy, which is a whole new bag of worries.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Demi (Atlanta, Ga) on 05/04/2010
What was the food you ordered? My lab mix puppy scratches too. She doesn't have scabs, but scratches as soon as she wakes up.
EC: Blackwood was the brand I ordered. However, I have since switched them all to Taste of the Wild (Salmon).
Note: Be careful with higher quality holistic foods - two of my dogs gained about 7 pounds in 6 weeks on Taste of the Wild (Bison and Venison) and are now on a strict diet!
Deirdre
