The Ultimate Guide to Natural Itch Relief for Dogs and Cats

Your cat's or dog's itchy skin may be caused by any number of potential reasons - food allergies, infestations of fleas and other parasites, bacterial infections, and various environmental factors - but whatever the underlying cause might be, watching your pet suffer with persistent itching and discomfort is never pleasant and taking steps to address the issue is your top priority.

But the steps you take to give your pet itch relief and improve skin health can make a dramatic difference between merely treating the symptoms and getting to the root cause to completely alleviate the problem once and for all.

This comprehensive guide to itch relief and irritated skin will cover all of the possible causes for your pet's skin condition and the most effective natural remedies to eliminate the underlying cause that is severely impacting your pet's quality of life.

Natural vs. Conventional Medications?

Most pet owners may automatically think of taking their pet for veterinary care to have a topical treatment prescribed for relieving itchy skin. But a holistic veterinarian will approach your pet's skin issues with a more wide-ranging examination into all of the aspects of your pet's everyday life. That means exploring the cat or dog food you feed your pet and any food allergies that might be triggering the symptoms.

Perhaps stress and anxiety are the reasons why your pet has itchy skin or fleas and ticks have triggered some form of dermatitis that requires immediate attention.

Natural remedies are typically the safest and least invasive treatment options and, more often than not, provide the best itch relief for dogs and cats that works fast to soothe and relax your pet. If the reason for an itchy dog is allergies, there are many highly effective treatment options that rely on natural ingredients instead of harsh chemicals and stringent compounds found in pharmaceutical medications. Reducing the risk of side effects while reducing inflammation and inflamed skin in your pet is a win-win for everyone.

The Underlying Cause of Your Pet's Itchy Skin

These are the most common reasons behind your pet's persistent itching. It's always best to consult with your veterinarian to determine an accurate diagnosis to determine the best itch relief treatment, but one of these is likely to be the reason why your pet can't stop scratching, biting, and licking at one or more areas on their body.

Allergic Reaction

Allergies are typically the main culprit in most itchy skin cases for pets. These may be caused by food allergies, environmental allergies triggered by grass, pollen, mold, or dust, even allergic responses to fleas and ticks can have your pet’s immune system working overtime as a reaction to the introduction of these allergens. Allergy symptoms are basically an immune response in the body that can trigger a variety of responses which usually manifest as hives, hot spots, or irritated skin.

Parasitic Infestation

Your pet's skin health issues may be caused by more than just fleas and ticks. Mites and lice are also common parasites that can lead to allergic dogs or cats presenting skin issues and the more they bite, lick, and scratch at these nuisances and the damage they do, the higher the risk of your pet suffering secondary infections from broken skin.

Skin Infections

Compromised skin health due to infections either from parasite activity or skin conditions like folliculitis can cause your pet's skin to break out in rash, hives, pimples, and other symptoms of the skin that may seem like they're centered on the surface but, in reality, go deeper beneath the skin barrier. These types of infections can also lead to secondary bacterial infections and yeast infections in pets.

Dry Skin

Sometimes your cat or dog's itchy skin is due to dryness and dry skin can lead to other skin health issues. When you pet has dry skin, it's often because they are lacking something in their diet and supplements may be the best way to alleviate symptoms of itch and rash.

Natural Itch Relief Options for Your Pet

Before you try those medicated topical treatments and chemical baths, here are some safe, natural remedies that take a holistic approach to eliminate symptoms and boost skin health.

Balanced Diet

A natural holistic diet that resembles what your pet (or at least their ancestors) would have eaten in the wild can do wonders for your pet's skin health. Many dogs and cats can have an allergic reaction to the foods they eat and most pet parents wouldn't even know it. That's okay, sometimes conventional veterinarians misdiagnose skin irritation symptoms as something else and the root cause is the food. Commercial dog food and cat food brands might contain fillers, additives, preservatives, and other ingredients that have an adverse effect on your pet's system. Feeding a healthy holistic diet can eliminate the itch symptoms by getting at the root cause of the problem.

Natural Baths and Sprays

Creating a bath made of chamomile tea or calendula can reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of itchy skin. Oatmeal baths are also highly effective options for treating skin issues in your pet. Itchy dogs are typically more willing to get into a bath while an itchy cat will likely want nothing to do with a bath of any kind. That's why it helps to mix some of these herbs with water and put them into a spray bottle to gently apply to your cat. Just be sure the spray touches the skin instead of matting down your pet's fur.

Licorice Root

A natural form of cortisone for relieving the symptoms of allergic dogs and cats, licorice root is a plant that can also be found in liquid form. Giving your pet a few drops daily can help reduce itchy skin issues and improve skin health. Be advised, licorice root must only be given to your pet after consulting with your veterinarian first, as it could interact with any medications that your pet has been prescribed.

Dietary Supplements

The cause of your pet's itchy skin can dictate which dietary enhancement is needed for relief. For some pets, simply adding fish oil for Omega 3 fatty acids can relieve the itch symptoms due to dry skin. If your cat or dog's food doesn't have these ingredients, you may need to add them to your pet's diet through a supplement of some kind. Quercetin is a naturally occurring compound that works as an effective histamine and provides another possible solution for relieving red, irritated skin, reducing inflammation, and providing other anti-inflammatory properties for relief from itchy skin.

Bioresonance Therapy

Bioenergetic frequencies found in bioresonance energy therapies offer an effective, natural relief from itch and allergy symptoms. Available in a collar tag or a spray, the bioresonance energy contained in these products works by interacting with and manipulating your pet's biofield which contains the life force energies that are flowing through your pet. All living things contain this energy flow and manipulating that energy to ward off disease, support the immune system, and correct dysfunction in the body are rooted in traditional Chinese medicinal techniques. The bioenergetic frequencies work on a cellular level to boost skin health through support for the cells in the skin barrier.

Keeping Pets Healthy and Happy

Skin irritation and itch can make life miserable for humans and pets alike. But when the itchy skin becomes a constant struggle, try these natural remedies first before turning to stronger medications prescribed by a veterinary professional. When in doubt, always consult with your vet first before making any major decisions about your pet's health.