Finding out how to best help an itchy dog without drugs, if possible, is not easy given all the possible causes and the readiness of many vets to reach for immunosuppressive drugs without confirming a diagnosis first.
Despite this however, it's possible to discover what measures best help a particular dog in a relatively short space of time, by following these 3 steps:
STEP 1.
Make sure you and your vet have carried out the tests listed here to identify:
- the common parasites (fleas, lice, ticks and motes)
- microbial infections (bacteria, yeasts, fungi)
that cause itching and inflammation of the skin.
NOTE: flea bite hypersensitivity is the commonest allergy in dogs. As such a small number of eggs, larvae or fleas in the home or on a pet can lead to continual itching until all are eradicated.
SOLUTION
Eliminate any parasites found and treat microbial infections with effective natural support or medication.
STEP 2.
After parasites and microbes have been ruled out as the cause of itching, the next commonest cause of an itchy skin is a sensitivity to environmental allergens, called atopy.
Conventional veterinary treatment largely consists of suppressing the immune system using anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids, Apoquel, Atopica and Cytopoint. These however, can have serious and sometimes fatal side-effects in sensitive pets.
An alternative to this is to give PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) for 12 weeks to see if this reduces skin irritation to a manageable level, or stops it altogether.
(In this clinical study PEA supplementation significantly reduced itching in 2 out of 3 dogs.)
SOLUTION
If PEA supplementation improves skin comfort, continue long term.
Adding additional immune supporting supplements to the diet at this stage (Immunity and Insect plus Itch Relief remedy) can help calm the skin further.
STEP 3.
If itching is still pronounced after the two steps above, the possibility that dietary sensitivities are a significant factor in skin problems, needs to be ruled out next, by means of food trials.
Guidance on how to do this can be found here, in point 3.
SOLUTION
If a single protein raw food or cooked meat results in much less itchy skin, continue with this long term.
Carefully selected supplements (including algal oil) can then be added gradually to ensure a complete, balanced diet is fed, which provides all the nutrients necessary for optimum health and well-being.
NOTE:
Whatever the cause of itching and inflammation of the skin, eliminating carbohydrate and sugar rich foods from the diet helps to prevent yeast overgrowths and other complications developing.
These include:
GRAINS - wheat, oats, rice, barley, corn and rye etc.
STARCHY VEGETABLES - potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkins and butternut squash etc.
SWEET VEGETABLES - carrots, beets, peas, bell peppers and parsnips etc.
FRUITS - apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and bananas etc.
MILK
Removing these and similar foods from the diet can significantly reduce yeast numbers on the skin, and prevent problems associated with overgrowth and opportunistic infections.
And don't forget to check for hidden carbs and sugars in ALL products given - including meats, treats and supplements.
You'll be surprised at what you'll find, even in so called natural, healthy products.
If any assistance is needed with the above, please get in touch using the contact page on our website.