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My dog has raw, dry, itchy skin. What home remedies can I use?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

3 yr old beagle/lab having possible skin allergies & extreme dry skin. Continuous digging making the lower back area raw, irritated, red, dry, & bald. Sometimes he makes himself bleed. Anything at home to do? Help please. :(

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 17th, 2016

Poor pup! The cause of the itching should be diagnosed so that he can be treated properly. I can recommend some home remedies, but they will only be temporary solutions, and he does need to see a vet to have the cause diagnosed and treated in order to have full relief from his symptoms. You can try giving him an oatmeal and Epsom salt bath to give him temporary relief from the itching. This scratching can be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, he will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into the vet for an exam. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on

    Allergies can be frustrating to diagnose since they can have multiple causes (inhaled, food, contact, fleas). Ideally, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. If the scratching has broken the skin, he is at risk for a skin infection and may require antibiotics. Your vet can also prescribe a short course of steroids to break the itch cycle then can dispense or recommend an antihistamine to prevent the itchiness from returning. Some antihistamines work better than others in different dogs, so you will need to find the one that works best. A pet approved colloidal oatmeal bath can soothe itchy, red skin. Consider adding an essential fatty acid supplement (usually a fish oil) to his diet to promote healthy skin. Search www.pet360.com for fish oil supplements such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps. If allergies are diagnosed, your task is to try to determine what he is allergic to and decrease or eliminate it. Discuss food elimination trials, hydrolyzed diets and allergy testing with your vet.

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