Itchy Dog - Natural Remedies Update

There are some effective natural treatments really work and have been proven by evidence based research. 
However, most products sold in pet shops and online are not the product of university veterinary research, and as a result are unproven or even detrimental to the dog's skin condition.
An understanding of skin anatomy and the physiology of inflamed red itchy skin is important when using any treatment and in particular a natural remedy.
There are a lot of natural remedies on the market and many of the products available are either useless or harmful. 

Most natural products sold for itchy dog skin have had no clinical trial, and have no data or evidence that they work or even help. 
Many natural remedies promoted for itchy skin can actually be detrimental to healing and soothing in the case of dogs with canine atopic dermatitis.
The itchy dog is usually suffering from allergic skin disease.
In simple terms it is either flea allergy, food allergy or canine atopic dermatitis.
These dogs have a very dry skin due to a barrier defect in the protective lipid layer of the skin. 
Many natural remedies are acidic as in the case of tea tree oil which further dries and irritates the itchy, red and inflamed skin. 
Putting an acidic cleaning product on dry irritated and itchy skin is akin to throwing petrol on fire.
Some natural remedies contain surfactants that strip oils from the surface of the skin. 
In dogs with canine atopic dermatitis that already have dry skin, this exacerbates the itch. 
Dry itchy skin should not be dried further and many acidic or soap products will worsen the itch.

Fleas cannot be controlled with natural products. You should invest in a brand product that works. 
Neem is not effective in preventing fleas. It also smells really bad and will make your house stink as well.

For a FREE "Home Diagnosis Manual to the itchy dog" and information on natural treatment that really stops your dog itching and scratching go to http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com

For more information on treating the itchy scratching dog the natural way and to find out how to stop the itch go to http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com/treating_itchy_dogs.html

Itchy Dog - Steroid Use

Veterinarians are pressured to fix an itchy dog first time every time. 
This has brought tremendous pressure to use and sometimes over prescribe corticosteroids such as prednisolone. 
Many clients of itchy dogs get frustrated and change from one vet to another searching for a miracle cure to their dogs' allergic skin disease. 
This pressure to deliver results sees veterinarians reach for the steroids as a frontline treatment for all allergic skin disease.

Steroids do work for allergic skin disease such as atopic dermatitis. 
Steroids do not work so well for adverse food reactions like allergic skin disease from food allergy. 
All itchy dogs should have an elimination food trial to rule out food allergy.

Side effects to steroids are common. 
These include dependence can lead to life threatening Addisonian crisis upon withdrawal. 
The drugs cause an increase in thirst and urination. 
Long term use can lead to hepatic disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and pathological fracture. 
Other side effects include skin disease such as calcinosis cutis and an impaired immune system that may lead to infections such as cystitis and pyoderma.
Demodex mange is also a feature of immunosuppression caused by steroids. 
Hair loss and a pendulous abdomen is a feature. 
Cataracts and diseases of the cornea can also be a side effect of impaired lipid metabolism. 
Pancreatitis may also be a complication of long term treatment with corticosteroids.

Recent developments in the understanding of atopic dermatitis have opened up new ways for treating these dogs with natural treatment. 
Dogs with atopic dermatitis have an impaired skin barrier. 
This is the modern focus for treatment

For your FREE "Home Diagnosis Manual to the Itchy " go to http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com 
For more information on treating the itchy dog with natural treatments and therapy go to http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com/treating_itchy_dogs.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_T_Hill

itchy dog T-Bone at Gnomesville www.scratchingdoghelp.com

Stop Dog Itching - Natural Treatment That Does Not Work

Peppermint is sometimes promoted as a skin product to stop itching in dogs. 
Peppermint is extremely acidic and is irritating to inflamed skin. It also is extremely drying and irritant. 
Dogs with allergic skin disease have very dry skin due to a faulty skin barrier. 
Acidifying agents are going to further inflame and irritate the skin and thus worsening the itch. Don't use it


Sulfur products are extremely irritating to the skin because they dry it out. This is the worst possible thing you could use in a dog with a faulty skin barrier and allergic skin disease. Do not dry out the skin.


Neem is often promoted as an insect repellent. This is true to a degree. 
Neem stinks. It smells really bad and if you put it on your dog, your house will stink. 
Your carpets will be so badly affected with this pungent odour and when you pull them out and throw them away, your house will still stink. 
Neem has absolutely no benefit to your dogs allergy problem and will do nothing to stop the itch.


Grapefruit seed extract may be full of anti oxidants but won't do anything to stop your dog scratching. 
It is also marketed for flea and mange control. 
Grape seed extract will not kill or repel fleas. 
It will not kill mange. This is an outright lie.


Tea tree oil is marketed as a cure for everything and especially skin problems. 
Dogs with allergic skin disease are missing a protein in their protective skin barrier that means water escapes from the skin making it very dry. 
Acidic products which further damage this defective barrier and further dry and irritate the skin are absolutely the worst things you can use. 
 Do not use acidic products or soaps on dogs with allergic skin disease. 
This makes the itch worse and delays healing further. 
Tea tree oil does not soothe red,inflamed, traumatised skin that has been scratched. It stings.

For natural treatment that really stops dogs itching visit http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com/treating_itchy_dogs.html

For a FREE "Home Diagnosis Manual to the Itchy Dog" go to http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_T_Hill

Itchy Dogs, Over Reliance on Cortico Steroids to control itchy skin in dogs

Itchy Dog - Cut Through The Confusion

After reading the first few pages of an internet search on itchy dogs, one would be excused for feeling confused. Nausea and headache would be an expected outcome of such a search. 

There is so much content on the internet that it is easy to get lost and overwhelmed by the sheer volume. The list of miracle cures is endless. The amount of spurious information is alarming.

It is baffling to sort through the lists of causes and treatments. 

You may find remedies, formulas, safe products, cleaners, detergents, epsom salts, baking soda, colloidal gold, colloidal silver, fatty acids, supplements, antihistamines, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree oils, breeders, dog enthusiasts, dog hobbyists, dog whisperers, vet nurses, kennel clubs, chat forums....... it goes on and on. 

Who is right? What makes dogs itch and scratch? Why is my dog itchy? What will work? What will stop my dog scratching? How can I find what will really work?

This internal dialogue must become thunderous as the endless circling of miracle cures and dead end links to chat forums goes on and on in a seemingly endless search for the precise information.

Is it really as complicated as all that? Can there really be five hundred causes of scratching in itchy dogs? Is there just one treatment that cures all itches?

Understanding the causes of scratching in the itchy dog will help unveil the mystique of dog pruritis. 

Knowing what makes your dog scratch is vital in understanding how to treat the problem. Causes of pruritis can be broken down into very simple concepts.

You can unlock the mystery of the itchy scratching dog. For more information and a FREE "Home Diagnosis Manual to the Itchy Dog" go to http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_T_Hill

Itchy Dog - Puppy Help

It sure is miserable to be itchy!

The only response a dog can have is to scratch itself. 
Scratching can lead to self mutilation, secondary infection, terrible sores and a miserable existence. 

An itchy scratching puppy upsets the family. The children of the family will despair at their fluffy bundle of joy scratching and mutilating itself. 

An itchy puppy is worrying and troubling. Problems were not expected so soon after arrival.


So what is causing the itch? 

In the puppy, external parasites are the most likely cause of pruritis or itching. External parasites include fleas, and mites. Mites cause mange. Ear mites cause irritation of the ears and ear infections which might make the puppy scratch at the ears. 

Sarcoptic mange or scabies causes an intense unrelenting itch that makes the puppy scratch at the legs, tummy and head. Constant chewing is a feature also. 

Fleas however are the single most common cause of pruritis. A flea bite may be itchy for up to two weeks after the bite. If your puppy had fleas and you killed or removed the fleas, the puppy may scratch for a few days and up to two weeks following removal of the fleas.

This concept is difficult for many new dog owners to understand but relate it to a flea, mosquito or midge bite to yourself. The itch persists long after the biting insect has flown away.

If external parasites have been ruled out, food allergy needs to be considered. 

Some puppies start scratching as soon as they start solid food. Ear infections and an itchy bottom sometimes occur. Rubbing the face on the carpet shortly after eating is a symptom of itchy lips and face. You will need to do an elimination food trial.

The itchy puppy is sad and frustrating. For a FREE "Home Diagnosis manual to the Itchy Dog" and information about treating an itchy puppy go to http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_T_Hill