by Ginger Kazay

Created on: September 08, 2009   Last Updated: September 15, 2009

There are many causes of itchy skin in dogs; and, the best home remedies are most effective if you know the cause of the problem. There are also home remedies that you can use while you are figuring out the cause, that will bring some relief to your canine companion.

The primary causes of itchy skin on dogs are:

1) Allergy - they can have an allergic reaction to almost anything: grass, pollen, food, plastic food and water dishes, household chemicals, etc. The itchy skin can be limited to a small area or the entire animal.

2) Insect bites - this includes fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitoes, and many others. Unless the dog is infested with fleas; the itchy area is usually small and localized.

3) Diet - just as poor nutrition can affect our skin; it can affect a dog's skin too. When poor nutrition is the cause, all or most of the dog's body is usually dry and itchy.

4) Infections - most of these are fungal; but, bacterial and viral infections can be caused by the dog scratching his itchy coat trying to relieve the irritation.

All of these causes of itchy skin require time to correct. Some will require a veterinarian's assistance; but, many can be treated with home remedies and there are home remedies that will at least give the dog some relief while the source of the itchy skin is being discovered and treated.

There are a lot of things that you can apply directly to itchy skin:

1) Vitamin E

2) Fish Oil (Salmon Oil)

3) Calendula Extract

4) Tea Tree Oil (diluted, not full strength)

5) Apple Cider Vinegar (mix 1 pint of vinegar with 3 pints of water)

6) Tea (lukewarm or cool)

7) Aloe Vera (pulp the flesh yourself and smear it on or buy a bottle of aloe vera gel)

8) Aspirin (Crush 2 aspirin and mix with 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol)

Bathing the dog in an oatmeal bath (1 cup of oatmeal in the bathwater) or baking soda (1/2 cup of baking soda in the bath water) will also give your dog quick relief. The oatmeal is especially good if you suspect an allergy problem.

You can add these to a dog's diet to also bring relief; but, they take a little longer than the items listed above.

1) Vitamin E

2) Fish Oil (Salmon Oil)

3) Olive Oil

4) Brewers Yeast (especially, good if fleas are the problem)

5) B Complex (available in liquid form)

Be careful that you do not add too much of any of the oils listed above to the dog's diet or they can cause "loose stools" - if this occurs simply decrease the amount you are adding.

Obviously, if the problem is caused by an allergy, you will need

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