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Barnyard Buddies:  Help with an itchy dog  |
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tiffany01
True Blue Farmgirl
134 Posts
Tiffany
Indiana
USA
134 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 16 2006 : 03:32:58 AM
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Good Morning everyone!
Recently, my golden retriever mix has started itching a lot. She's 8 year's old and we've had no changes in her diet or environment. From everything I've read, it sounds like allergies. Can anyone suggest a natural treatment that will help her be more comfortable? I really don't want to resort to meds since she already takes something for separation anxiety. I thought there might be an essential oil we could rub her down with or something we could add to her water. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the help! |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2006 : 04:09:53 AM
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For an itchy dog, spraying something on the outside is like mopping up the floor when the sink's overflowing. You have to get at the source of the itching or it just won't stop. You can use benadryl (an antihistamine) in the short term for dogs, but the easiest thing to do is to take your dog to the vet and ask for bloodwork to determine what the specific allergens are. There's something in her diet or environment that's bothering her, and knowing exactly what that is can help a bunch. Then you can eliminate some or all of the offenders, and bring about a great deal of comfort.
Many dogs do not tolerate grain in the diet. Look on your dog food can or bag and see the list of ingredients. Corn, rice, or barley are common ones. In the digestive process, they first develop something called Leaky Gut Syndrome. It's the result of constant assault of low levels of allergens. We have to remember that dog's digestive process depends a great deal on enzymes; sometimes replacing the enzymes can help a bunch. There are good ones out there like PryZyme.
For skin and coat health, I feed flax oil every evening (for Omega 3 fats) and in the morning I feed coconut oil (for medium chain fatty acids). For a kibble, I feed Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato. They use salmon to make it (it smells like it, lemme tell ya!) and use sweet potato instead of grain for the carbohydrate source. There are lots of others out there, but these suggestions come from my holistic vet/chiro.
Remember that allergies generalize; meaning that as the immune system continues to overreact, it begins to identify more and more benign substances as invaders. You're smart to address this now, before it becomes hot spots and ear troubles. |
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doglady
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Tina
Howard
Ohio
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2006 : 05:45:21 AM
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I would check the ingredients in your dog's food. Even though you have not changed anything in her routine, the dog food company might have changed the food just enough to affect her! We feed Science Diet (Lamb & Rice) for all of our Schnauzers and they do really well on it. I would also start with a good bath just to make sure that she hasn't picked up a flea or two. They are looking for nice warm places this time of the year. As a groomer, I've seen just 2 or 3 fleas do a lot of damage. For itchy skin, years ago, my vet told me to use Head & Shoulders as it is balanced more liked the dog's skin. Suds her up and let it sit on the dog for about 5 minutes or so. It will help to relieve the itch. Trying Benadryl is a good idea too and it may make her a little sleepy. Review any changes in everything that she may come in contact with such as detergents etc. I hope your "little puppy" feels better.
Tina
The dogs own the house but the people pay the mortgage!
www.kennelcreations.com |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2006 : 07:42:52 AM
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Excessive itching might be a sign of a thyroid problem too. Your vet can determine this with blood tests. As dogs age thyroid issues are pretty common.
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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tiffany01
True Blue Farmgirl
134 Posts
Tiffany
Indiana
USA
134 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2006 : 4:54:14 PM
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| Thanks for the advice everybody - it looks like the vet is a good place to start. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2006 : 04:28:37 AM
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I'm no vet by any means, but even though you may assume nothing has changed in the environment or diet, and 8 year old dog isn't exactally a spring chicken. So something that might not have bothered her before may now as she ages.
If you are trying to avoid to minimize synthetic meds, I suggest subscribing to The Whole Dog Journal. It's a fantastic publication for wholistic dog caretaking and training |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2006 : 05:37:20 AM
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Our dog hagrid tends to get itchy when the weather turns cold. the Vet says he just has dry skin! Not sure what can really be done about it though.
Jewelry, art, baskets, etc.
www.willowtreecreek.com |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2006 : 8:45:14 PM
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Julie - I'm so glad to hear that Hagrid is doing well, if a little itchy! Tiffany - my golden retriever gets extremely itchy sometimes, too - and she's about the same age as yours. I've given her a 25 mg. Benadryl a couple of times, and that seems to have helped a bit, but washing her with baby shampoo and rinsing like crazy with cool water really seems to help her feel better during those times. Also, if I can find any "hot spots," taking a cotton ball and soaking it in witch hazel and then adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil and putting that on the itchy spots seems to help. Good luck!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2006 : 04:34:45 AM
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| Julie and Anne, I'll reiterate that dogs with itchy dry skin are helped a great deal by being fed fats, particularly those high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Fish oil capsules are great, as is flax oil. Coconut oil is a hard fat during cool weather, and is high in medium chain fatty acids. You can get a container of it at Walmart in the cooking oils section, and it's very inexpensive. Just a spoonful on top of their dog food each day will start to turn their skin around in about three to four weeks. And their coats become lusterous, soft and shiny. |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2006 : 05:15:16 AM
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Thanks Libbie! Hagrid is doing great and has gained back about 40 pounds since the summer! He looks great! Mary Ann - I picked up both flax seed oil capsules and some coconut oil! I'll give him one in the AM and one in PM and see how that does. Hagrid has always had a very coarse coat. Lily (his "wife") and Thunder (the "baby" that we kept) both have wonderful shiny, soft coats and never seem to itch!
Jewelry, art, baskets, etc.
www.willowtreecreek.com |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2006 : 06:55:00 AM
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Thanks, Mary Ann! Today I'm off to get some coconut oil to start that on my good ol' Seamus!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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Barnyard Buddies: Help with an itchy dog |
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Help with an itchy dog
