CHRONIC SCRATCHING HELP!

Posted by

Heal your Dog and Cat Sensibly – and at Home.

cat_and_dog_23Does your dog or cat do ANY of this from Spring through Fall?

  • Chronic itching / Scratching
  • Hair loss
  • Recurring ear infections
  • Skin infections

DIAGNOSIS: Likely Allergies, and specifically ATOPY (environmental allergies), although food “allergies” may also contribute.  This is one of the most common reasons I see new patients, and a question that I commonly receive…  What can you do to help?

Here are Some Specific Home Remedies to Consider:

  • FEET WASHING. Regularly washing of your dog’s paws after they come in from being outside is one of the best ways to decrease the itching; this washes of the outdoor allergens.
    • You can use a damp cloth, or put your pup in the bath.
  • THE SUPPLEMENT CONNECTION. Fatty Acid supplements are very helpful in decreasing the level of inflammation. OMEGA 3 fatty acids are most important.
    • The main point is to give a high enough dose to be effective, and the ideal dose is 1000mg per 10lbs daily.
    • A great, inexpensive source for dogs is flax oil; 1 tablespoon per 50lbs.
    • Cats are unable to metabolize flax, so I only recommend the liquid fish oil supplement for them. Other sources include primrose oil and specific veterinary supplements.
  • PROBIOTICS. The good bacteria found in yogurt, green tripe, and supplements.  Look for ones that have 10+ microbial strains.
    • The thought here is that the immune system needs to learn how to react appropriately to some bacteria, so it doesn’t over-react to ‘normal’ environmental components and cause allergies.
      The main point here is that if you have an allergic pet, you should have them on probiotics for at least 90 days to see if they can help. If you have a pet coming from an allergic line, then get them on probiotics as a puppy.
  • HERBAL CREAMS. There are a few herbs to consider topically: Licorice gel, chamomile cream, and topical curcumin.  Coconut oil is also an excellent topical for dogs and cats.  And, if they lick it off, it is great internally too!
    • One double-blind study compared a 1% and 2% LICORICE gel compared to a placebo gel for eczema. After two weeks, both the 1% and 2% licorice gels were more effective than the placebo gel.
    • Another study compared CHAMOMILE cream to 0.5% hydrocortisone cream or placebo. After two weeks, the chamomile cream was more effective than the hydrocortisone cream.
    • CURCUMIN is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and may be very beneficial for topical allergy treatment.
  • A NON-INFLAMMATORY DIET is unprocessed, without grains or starch.  Since allergies (really, all chronic disease) is an inflammatory state, cutting out the carbs will be CRITICAL in winning this battle and rebalancing your fur kid!