A Natural Home Remedy To Soothe A Dog's Itching

Have you ever had an itch that you can’t scratch? We all feel for our dogs when we see them scratching, scratching and scratching trying to soothe their itch! An Oatmeal Rinse is a great natural home remedy that you can make yourself, that will relieve and soothe your dog’s itch. Before we give you the recipe lets go through why your dog may be itching and two of the most common causes being fleas and wondering dew and what your can do for these two causes.

Why Dog's Itch?

Dogs itch for many different reasons such as

• Allergies
• Chemical Irritants
• Parasites
• Insects
• Plant Toxins
• Diet
• Other pet health issues

It is always best to consult your vet to determine the cause of your dog’s itching and the best treatment. The below Oatmeal Rinse can be applied to your dog to give them some relief until appropriate treatment is prescribed by your vet.

Fleas On Dogs

As fleas are the most common reason for dogs itching it is best to ensure your dog is free from fleas before you take your dog to the vet to determine the cause of the itching.

We don’t always see the fleas on our pets so the best way to check is to comb your pet over a damp white towel or paper and if fleas or black particles fall onto the damp white surface and turns a reddish colour you know that there are fleas present. As this black particle is flea faeces which contains dried blood that will turn red once in contact with a wet surface. Fleas lay eggs, and the eggs fall off where the pet goes. This means that you must treat your house if your pet has picked up fleas. The life cycle of a flea is about four weeks, so even with diligent treatment; it will probably take that long to rid your environment of fleas. Particularly during flea season, and whether or not you've seen fleas in your home, wash all bedding and blankets in hot water, vacuum all floors, rugs, furniture and other surfaces at least once a week, paying particular attention to rooms and places the animal usually stays. To make cleaning easier, you can cover furniture and your pet's favorite rugs with sheets.

Lemon- citrus is a natural flea repellent. Slice a lemon (leave the peel on) and pour 1 cup of boiling water over it. Let sit overnight- this water can then be sprayed on your pet. This will help eliminate fleas and temporarily prevent new ones from taking up residence on your pet.

Wandering Jew

Wandering Jew is a common cause of contact allergies in dogs. Contact allergies normally affects the belly, armpits, paws and face, so the best prevention is to remove the plant or not let your dog have access to areas where the plant is.

Soothing Your Dog's Itch With Oatmeal 

Oatmeal is a natural remedy you can prepare yourself at home to soothe your dog’s itching.
Oatmeal cleans, soothes, relieves and balances the pH level without causing further irritations. Here is the home remedy recipe for Oatmeal Rinse to soothe your dog's itching.

Oatmeal Rinse

Ingredients
Oatmeal or rolled oats will do
A stocking sock or small muslin bag
Luke warm water bath

Method
Step 1: Place 2 tablespoons of oatmeal into the stocking sock or muslin bag
Step 2: Run stocking sock or bag through the lukewarm water bath until the water becomes milky
Step 3: Place dog in bath and soak dog in oatmeal water. You can use the stocking sock or bag to sponge the dog.
Step 4: Leave on dog for 3-5 minutes- as long as dog will tolerate standing in the bath.
Step 5: Rinse off with warm water.

As a qualified Animal Naturopath and Muscle therapist I have found that natural remedies, certain dietary vitamin supplements and herbal products can help your pet with their allergies and many other health issues. Contact me to discuss your dog’s best natural health solutions.
Sharon Osmond

Download Oatmeal Rinse Recipe