Dog skin problems are one of the top reasons dogs visit the vet.
Your dog’s skin is like a suit of armor. It’s his first line of defense from harmful invaders. The skin can also alert the body when there’s a threat to your dog’s health.
When your engine light comes on, there’s something wrong with your car. So when you see a hot spot or rash, it’s a warning that there’s a bigger issue inside your dog’s body.
But skin issues are often exhausting and expensive to treat … and they’re one of the main reasons dogs are surrendered to shelters.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone! And if you’re failing at treating them, you’re not alone.
Treating only what you can see on the skin is the same as ignoring that engine light. And this is where conventional treatments fall short and have you constantly refilling his skin medications.
So I want to quickly review why we see these skin alerts and some DIY recipes you can use to help your dog.
Why Is My Dog’s Skin Itchy And Smelly?
If your dog is smelly or scratching all the time odds are neither of you are sleeping well.
But hang in there!
Your dog’s skin is his largest organ with a few important jobs including:
- providing a protective layer against environmental factors like pollution, pollens, and parasites
- maintaining a normal population of good bacteria and fungi on the skin
- helping the body detox by removing excess toxins from the body
The healthy mix of good bugs ( bacteria and fungi) on your dog’s skin make up what is called his skin microbiome.
[RELATED: Getting The Real Dirt On Dog Skin Health]
This living layer of organisms adds a biolayer of protection to that armored suit of his. If he has a healthy skin microbiome, immune system and a healthy gut he won’t smell or be itchy.
He’ll also be less likely to get fleas and other skin parasites. Even if he’s the king of mud bogs and you never bathe him.
Seriously.
Think back to the engine light alert …
His immune system is the motor. The good bugs are the oil … and the skin disease is the engine light.
If the oil has run out you know that motor isn’t going to work for long. It’s the same for the immune system … and need to keep that strong!
So let’s review how to support your dog’s skin while you work to correct the underlying issue
[RELATED: Feed Your Dog’s Microbiome (Not Just Your Dog)]
DIY Recipes To Heal, Restore And Repair
Your holistic vet will work with you to rule out any underlying disease that triggered his skin issues.
Be ready to hear that fixing the root issue can take time to correct … just as it took time to develop.
The following will help the skin cells heal and regain normal function:
- Detox “smoothies”
- Brushing
- Bathing
- Special shampoos and rinses
Holistic veterinarian Ihor Basko DVM shared the following great DIY remedies with us during a recent webinar …
Green Smoothie Detox
You can use this recipe in place of a regular fresh meal or add it to a meal. It will kick start the bodies ability to detox.
Blend the following fresh organic ingredients:
- 1 raw egg
- 1/2 cup spinach
- 1/2 cup kale
- 1/4 cup moringa leaves or papaya leaves * if you have access to them*
- 2 tsp parmesan
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp spirulina
- 1/2 cup water
Feed 1- 4 oz each meal. You can freeze this recipe in ice cube trays to have on hand later for quick serving.
Shampoo Recipe
Use this gentle shampoo as a way to remove any current skin toxins or bacterial infections on your dog’s skin. Then use 1-2 x per month for maintenance as needed.
- 12 oz Dr Bronner’s liquid castile soap (lavender, hemp or baby)
- 4 oz Aloe vera juice
- 2 oz decaffeinated Green tea or Comfrey tea
- 1 oz Witch hazel
- 2 tsp Olive oil
Anti-Fungal Shampoo Recipe
This shampoo is great if your dog is struggling with yeast infection on his skin. Use it 1-2 x per month as needed.
- 12 oz Dr Bronner’s liquid castile soap (lavender, hemp or baby)
- 4 oz Aloe vera juice
- 2 oz Turmeric tea
- 1 oz Apple Cider vinegar
- 2 tsp Olive oil
Note: Frequent bathing isn’t always a good thing. You can strip away all the good bacteria if you do.
So use a quick water rinse when he gets too dirty or use the following rinses in your dog’s skin maintenance plan.
Detoxifying Skin Soaks And Rinses
You can mix up a nice lukewarm bath soak for your dog using any of the following ingredients:
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Epsom salts
- Java plum tea
- Green tea
If staying still in the bath is a no-go you can pour these mixtures onto him and let them soak for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.
I hope by now you feel more confident and know that dog skin problems are not a forever illness and you can correct it.
These easy DIY recipes for skin problems will prevent smelly, itchy dog snuggles in the future.
[RELATED: The Leaky Gut Epidemic: Why Your Dog’s Allergy Treatment Doesn’t Work]
