Witch hazel is an excellent astringent since it has a wide range of possible outcomes. The properties of witch hazel can be used in a variety of positive ways, even though humans enjoy using astringents on our faces to maintain our youthful beauty.
If at all possible, use witch hazel that has been particularly formulated for use on animals. Make sure to select a product with a vegetable glycerin base if you’re using one designed for people. Isopropyl alcohol should be avoided since it can be extremely hazardous if consumed.
But once you’ve made sure you have the right kind of twitch hazel for your dog, there are a number of ways you may utilize it to benefit your pet. Witch hazel’s anti-inflammatory properties aid to lessen the irritated tissue surrounding a cut, scrape, or insect bite. This might be especially helpful if you have a dog that enjoys gnawing or licking at their cuts or insect bites. Witch hazel topical application lessens inflammation surrounding the wound, which in turn lessens your dog’s desire to itch and scratch at it. This is particularly helpful if your dog is dealing with flea bites. Applying witch hazel topically can help to significantly lessen the itching that is brought on by the bites.
Witch hazel can also be used to disinfect a wound if it is a minor flesh wound (less than an inch in size, solely on the surface tissue). Witch hazel’s ability to tighten skin tissue will both aid stop the flow of blood from the wound and generally help lessen the pain that comes with a tiny flesh wound.
You can even use witch hazel to clean your dog’s ears because it is a secure disinfectant. You only need to apply a few drops to a cotton ball or swab to be ready to go.
What can I apply to my dog to soothe the itch?
- A time-tested treatment for human dry, itchy skin that is also suitable for our canine pals is oatmeal! In fact, oatmeal is an active ingredient in the majority of dog hypoallergenic shampoos, helping to calm and combat inflammation.
- To begin, powder some plain oats and add it to your dog’s warm bath. No of the cause, it usually takes 10 to 15 minutes for the oatmeal to calm down hot, irritated skin. Since it is also harmless, it is acceptable if your pet licks part of it off after a thorough bath. Try some of our strategies to Curb Bath Time Fears if this seems like a long time for your dog to be in the tub without a fight.
- Making an oatmeal paste is another way to avoid taking a full bath. Once you have a paste that is spreadable, take your ground oatmeal and gradually add a small amount of water. For greatest treatment, target the troublesome areas on your dog and make sure the paste is in direct touch with the skin on longer-haired canines.
Is it okay for dogs to lick witch hazel?
slouches and scrapes. rises and nibbles on her paw. sits down, sighs, and looks at you, hoping you’ll say or do anything to make her feel better.
Anyone who has dealt with an itching dog will be familiar with this image. The immediate issue is that your dog can’t stop scratching and chewing and is generally unpleasant. There are various reasons a dog could itch, from allergies and autoimmune conditions to a bug bite. Nobody desires to see that.
Because of my dog’s severe skin conditions, scratching has pretty much been a way of life for a while. While addressing the greater underlying issue has been crucial in situations like his, it is also crucial to keep him as comfortable as possible in order to prevent injury that he may easily cause to himself by violent biting or scratching.
Here are 6 all-natural skin soothers that my dog found to be effective in reducing irritation.
Aloe Vera
Natural Selections I’m not kidding when I say that I have a cabinet full of products, but Wham Anti Itch Spray, which is antimicrobial and antifungal, has helped with my dog’s itching from allergic flare-ups and yeast overgrowth more than any other treatment we’ve tried. It includes salicylic acid, aloe vera, tea tree oil, and vitamins A, D, and E. I also like the Aloe Veterinary Cream made by the same business since it relieves dry, itchy skin. If you know how to cut fresh aloe vera, you can also apply it topically without utilizing the yellowish aloe latex layer that lies between the skin and the inner leaf juice (which is the part you do want to use). When swallowed, the latex component can be extremely irritating and have a potent laxative effect. Although the majority of commercial aloe products remove the latex, you can make sure by buying a food-grade product or by staying away from products made from whole leaves.
Witch Hazel
To avoid the isopropyl alcohol present in many witch hazel products, be careful to use alcohol-free, vegetable glycerin-based witch hazel. When used in excess, this kind of alcohol is poisonous (and if your dog is anything like mine, he will definitely want to lick it). Put some witch hazel on a cotton ball and apply it to the irritated area.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Try spraying or dabbing a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar on the itchy area if you believe your dog is itching due to yeast overgrowth. To ensure that your dog doesn’t respond poorly, start with a limited area initially. Use of the mixture will sting if the skin is overly inflamed or has an open wound.
Tea Bag Compresses
My dog experiences all kind of itch, so yes, even his eyes itch. A tea bag is a fairly easy approach that works well. Use two chamomile or green tea bags while making tea instead of one as usual. Take out the tea bags, let them cool, or even put them in the refrigerator for a brief chill, and then place them on your dog’s eyes before adding your customary milk and honey. If your dog is odd about things like that (which I can’t say I blame him for), you might have to work up to it. As you gradually build up to placing one of the tea bags over one of his eyes, make sure you have lots of rewards on available. He should begin to unwind once he realizes that you are not out to harm him. After that, you can unwind with a hot cup of tea.
Oregano Oil
I honestly can’t rave about oregano oil enough. I chose to test it in my dog’s ears because of his ongoing ear issues because of its all-natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal characteristics that I had heard about. I needed to try something else because traditional medication was simply not working. I used a cotton round to apply it to his ear flaps during one of his episodes of ear itching, and it worked more quickly than everything else I’d tried. It truly soothes the itch. Make sure you conduct thorough research and get a premium, pre-diluted brand (oregano essential oil must always be diluted). Avoid using around cats as well.
Coconut Oil
Given all the good press coconut oil has received, I decided to give it a try to see if it may help my dog’s itchy skin and it was successful. When his skin is really dry and around his eyes, which is prone to dryness, it is particularly effective topically.
Unfortunately, problems with an itching dog rarely have a single, all-encompassing remedy. However, there are certain organic supportive methods you can employ to somewhat lessen the agony. And keep in mind that the goal is to treat the itch at its source. Your pet’s itching is frequently influenced by nutrition.
What natural treatment is there for my dog’s dry skin?
Now that you are somewhat familiar with the signs of dry skin in dogs, it is time to investigate various DIY treatments. The following nine straightforward remedies will help relieve your dog’s dry skin:
A Well-Balanced Diet
From the outside in, ideal skin and coat health can be attained. Therefore, it’s crucial to check your dog’s food before attempting any other treatments.
Your dog needs a balanced meal that is full of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates as well as lots of water to stay hydrated. Any of these vital elements must be present in your dog’s food in order to prevent dry skin and other health issues. In particular, fats are crucial for keeping healthy, hydrated skin.
Coconut Oil
Some dogs can get dry skin even when they are fed a healthy diet. In these situations, coconut oil is a fantastic DIY dog dry skin cure. It has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects in addition to making a superb natural moisturizer. To hydrate and relieve your dog’s dry skin, simply warm the oil between your palms.
Since most dogs merely want to lick it off, using any form of topical ointment can be challenging for many dog owners. However, coconut oil also works to moisturize your dog’s skin from the inside out, even if your dog does lick at it.
Vitamin E Oil
Another healthy oil that is excellent for hydrating your dog’s skin is vitamin E. Direct application of the oil will hydrate and speed up the healing process for dry skin spots.
Vitamin E, another antioxidant, can be given orally to your dog to help reduce inflammation and shield its cells from harm.
Chamomile or Green Tea Bath
Green tea and chamomile both help calm irritated and swollen skin. One tea bag should be brewed in an 8-ounce glass of water, then the tea bag should be allowed to cool. The tea bag can then be used as needed to treat hot spots or irritated, dry patches.
You can run a warm bath with many tea bags steeped in it for your dog if they have dry, itchy skin all over their body. Remove the tea bags after a few minutes and let your dog soak for 5 to 10 minutes.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Dogs with yeast infections may develop dry, itchy skin. A fantastic home cure for dogs with dry skin is apple cider vinegar, which can aid your dog’s skin bacteria and get rid of yeast buildup.
Apply a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water with a cotton ball or spray bottle to any areas that are particularly dry. One word of warning: do not apply this solution if your dog has scratched or rubbed raw places into their skin because it will hurt and sting.
Oatmeal Bath
Avenanthramides and phenols, which are anti-inflammatory ingredients found in oatmeal, aid in relieving and defending the skin against irritation. The protective barrier that oatmeal forms on your dog’s skin helps it retain moisture.
Depending on the size of your dog, grind between a third and a cup of oats in a grinder or food processor until they are a fine powder. Then, combine the powder with a warm bath until the water appears milky. To improve the moisturizing effects even further, mix in a cup of milk or a tablespoon of olive oil.
Olive Oil
Another hydrating oil that helps to soothe and preserve dry skin is olive oil. Veterinarians frequently advise adding olive oil to your dog’s regular meals, while it can also be used topically to moisturize your dog’s skin like other oils.
A fantastic technique to moisturize your dog’s skin and give them a lustrous, healthy coat is to add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to their food 2-3 times each week.
Plain, Unsweetened Yogurt
Even though it may not be visible, the digestive system is the root of many skin problems in dogs. In an imbalanced microbiome, yeast and dangerous germs can grow on your dog’s skin.
As a probiotic, yogurt can assist your dog’s GI system stay in balance thanks to the beneficial bacteria it contains. A spoonful or two of plain, unsweetened yogurt should be added to your dog’s food around twice a week, much like olive oil.
But remember that some dogs have a hard time digesting yogurt. Before introducing this food to your dog’s diet, always check with your veterinarian.
Humidifier
Similar to people, dogs frequently get dry skin due to dry air. If you have air conditioning in your home, summertime can also be dangerous for your dog’s skin. Winter can be particularly harmful.
A humidifier replenishes the moisture in your home’s air, which naturally calms your dog’s skin. However, it’s crucial to keep an eye on how your dog responds to the humidifier because overly humid settings can also cause skin issues.
Why does my dog continually self-chewing and scratching?
There are many different reasons why dogs scratch, lick, or chew, from allergies to boredom to parasite infestation:
- Allergies. When dog scratching becomes excessive, dietary allergies or environmental factors like mold and pollen are frequently to blame. Dogs who come into contact with things like soap or insecticides may also have contact dermatitis, a skin rash.
- anxiety or boredom Just as anxious individuals may gnaw their nails or twirl their hair, so too can dogs react physically to emotional distress. In reality, some dogs experience a disorder similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans. It can take the form of destructive actions including chewing, licking, or scratching.
- dry skin Dogs’ dry skin can be brought on by a number of things, such as the wintertime climate and fatty acid deficiency. Your pet may scratch or lick their skin or fur in response to their distress.
- imbalances in hormones. The body of your dog may produce too much cortisol or not enough thyroid hormone, which can lead to superficial skin diseases. Your dog may scratch or lick as though they are experiencing allergies, and you might detect bald spots.
- Pain. Be sure to take into account the possibility that anything is physically uncomfortable for your dog when attempting to figure out why they are licking or chewing excessively. A thorn or sharp stone may be lodged in your dog’s foot pad, for instance, if you notice them continuously biting their paws. Orthopedic conditions including arthritis and hip dysplasia can also cause compulsive chewing or licking.
- Parasites. Fleas, ticks, and mites are some of the most typical causes of obsessive dog licking, chewing, or scratching activities. Ticks are frequently apparent to the naked eye, whereas fleas and mites are typically not seen until there is a significant infestation. Don’t assume your dog doesn’t have parasites just because you can’t see them, then.
