Now that you have deduced your poor dog is suffering from allergies you want to find out if there are home remedies you can try to give him some relief from the constant itching and scratching. You probably want to get some sleep at night yourself without having to listen to the constant sound of flapping ears as he shakes his head. Dog allergies are just as tough on you as they are for the dog! So, yes, there are lots of things you can try to help him out.
Bathing in warm (not hot) water with an anti itch or oatmeal shampoo will feel good to him. If you are using a colloidal oatmeal shampoo leave it on him for about 10 minutes before rinsing. Another great idea is to let him soak in a bath of warm water and Epsom salts for about 10 minutes, then shampoo with something gentle. If he has raw or hot spots you may not want to use the salts and opt for just a cool bath with baby shampoo. Dry him thoroughly (blow drying is best) and use an anti-itch or hydrocortisone spray on any spots that look irritated from scratching. Make sure his ears are clean and dry also.
Once the bath is done you are probably going to want to give him a Benadryl tablet or even something in liquid form (this is available in a baby formula also) to keep the histamines causing the allergy at bay. Block them if you can-and Benadryl is really good for this. No, it will not hurt him-as long as you follow the recommended dose for his weight. Babies take it and it doesn’t harm them! In fact, if you called your vet he/she would probably recommend it.
You can apply any number of creams or lotions to stop the itching temporarily but he will probably try to lick them off so it is a good idea to get him to run around and play and hopefully he will forget it is there! Apple cider vinegar is terrific for any animal and does all kinds of ‘magical’ things for them-just a teaspoon in their water bowl each day can actually help them resist allergens and boost their immune system. If he has sore areas that are runny, witch hazel can help dry the spot up. Just dab some on with a cotton ball a few times a day.
Check his food to see if there might be something in there that he is allergic to. Switch to a name brand food that has nothing like wheat, corn, yeast, soy or any other type of grain. All natural products are the best and Blue Buffalo has some really good dog food you can try. Make the switch gradual though by adding it to his regular food until you are feeding nothing but the new stuff, or you can try making him homemade food. That is one sure way for you to know what he is eating, and if you have the time this may be something you want to try. By adding vitamins or supplements to the food he will be getting everything he needs.
