Skin Allergies in Dogs: Simple Home Remedies to Try Before Seeing Your Vet

If you have allergies yourself you know what it feels like to feel like the itch is starting on the inside of your body and working it's way out to your skin. Then you can't help but scratch it. I see the same thing happen with my dog. She'll dart out of her bed in the middle of the night and scratch her dog pits feverishly, then start working on one ear, then settle back into bed to start with the obsessive paw licking. She's a pug and pugs like to sleep, so I'm guessing she doesn't chose have these middle of the night itching, scratching and licking sessions.

Piglet the pug has been an itchy girl ever since she was a puppy. I haven't found a cure, but I've certainly spent a lot of time and money trying to figure it all out and make her more comfortable. Here are a few of the tips and tricks I now have up my sleeve. 

Dog skin allergies are tough to figure out. I've tried eliminating potential food ingredients and haven't found the exact combo and it's really hard to figure out what outside allergies might be effecting your pup. If you've already been to your vet, you know the drill. They want you to try antibiotics, special food and maybe even some kind of harsh and expensive steroid treatment. With my pug, her symptoms were itchy armpits that have gotten more hairless, stinky, seemingly sweaty and blackened over the years. I've had numerous vets try to figure out what it is with no luck at all. That's why I've turned to some natural and home remedies.

Here are a few things to try if your dog has hot spots, itchy skin, yeasty ears, goopy eyes or any other skin condition that seems like it might be triggered by an allergy.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar: Put it in a spray bottle, dilute with water and spray on the itchy spots a couple of times a day. Before bedtime works great for my dog, but she makes the bedroom smell like chips. I also wipe her ears down with it after cleaning them.

2. A Simple Healthy Diet: Ditch the gross generic dog food and get one of the high quality brands that don't have any grain, corn, biproducts or other fillers. I switched my dog to a food made by "The Honest Kitchen" and it made a world of difference. I once tried to switch her back to a dry dog food and she immediately got a bunch of new hot spots under her chin. A few days back on The Honest Kitchen and they were gone. Another one we like is Grandma Lucy's.

3. Medicated Bath: If your dog has mild skin problems, an oatmeal bath might do the trick. For mine I had to resort to getting Malaseb shampoo and bathing her about once a week. It doesn't help with figuring out the source of the problem, but it does help her skin heal and makes her less itchy between baths. Malaseb also comes in a spray and wipes to help between baths. Just don't put it anywhere that your dog can lick. I spray the apple cider vinegar anywhere that she can get to and the malaseb in her armpits where she can't lick it. I only use the spray sparingly.

4. Detergent & household products: Your dog might have an allergy to the detergent you use to clean their bedding, blankets or even the product you use to clean your carpet. Something like Carpet Fresh, Lysol spray or any yard sprays for bugs might be what's making them itchy. Wash bedding in just bleach, no soap or fabric softeners.