STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

small fry · Chanel

have you tried these

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I haven't heard of that, yet alone tried it, but I'd go easy on adding it to food/water so that it doesn't cause an upset tummy. I think if you did it gradually it wouldn't upset or go noticed.

If you have an itchy dog, it can also be allergies. Turns out my dog is allergic to chicken. So, she can't ahve a lot of foods and treats. If she gets it occasioanally it won't hurt her, but if its prolonged, she'll itch like crazy. FWIW...

relrel · Marc Jacobs

I've never heard of spraying the dog with apple cider vinegar, I'm not sure how well that work, and he would just stink. However, we've used apple cider vinegar to help with tear stains (it's a Ph. balance thing) since we got our dog and we can tell the difference. If we forget for a few days, his wrinkles on his face where he tears get really brown and gunky. He gets a splash in his food, it's maybe a teaspoon with the morning and evening feeds. Don't put it in his water, if you decide to do the ACV as it's a lot harder to monitor how much he's actually ingesting. Mixed with food, you can easily tell how much he's ingested, if he eats all his food, he should have also eaten all the ACV. However, the ACV only works if you get the kind that's unfiltered, with the MTHR. You have to buy the cloudy kind, we get Dr. Bragg's.

Also, does your dog have itchy skin or does he have fleas? Two different things. Is he licking his paws a lot? That's usually a good sign of allergies, as opposed to scratching from fleas. This time of year, a lot of dogs will have reactions to pollen and grass, just like humans. But Greendiamond is totally right on the money with chicken, a lot of dogs are actually allergic to chicken. Grains too, unfortunately. If he's not licking his paws a lot, he may just have dry skin, how often do you bathe him?

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

They actually have allergy tests for dogs. But, we went to the fancy dog food store and the owner gave us a bunch of samples of various foods to try, and we soon discovered that chicken was the common denominator. The resident pup at the food store is allergic to nearly everything, so the owners have to make him a very special meal, and its a great dane - I bet they spend more on feeding the dog than the family!

Until then it never occured to me that a pet could have an allergy.

I hope you find the right anti-itching remedy!

Metric · Gucci

If he's itchy and flakey from dry skin, put a tsp of extra virgin olive oil in his food everyday to keep his coat and skin healthy.

small fry · Chanel

Thanks ladies, relrel he does not lick his paws he is scratching and biting towards his butt. I have looked and found no fleas so far. I bathe him once a month.

Metric I do see white flakes on his back and I have been putting fish oil in his food, maybe I should try olive oil instead or can i combine both?

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Ive heard that ACV helps with skin issues, so that would make sense but only if ingested, not topically.

I'd consider changing his diet - my Ollie had flakey itchy skin, a rash, and a bald spot. I changed his food and he is now "grain free" but also getting tons of antioxidants, fish oil, glucosamine, etc.. His skin conditions improved and he lost a lil weight (which is good, he was getting chubs). What are you feeding him?

small fry · Chanel

Xtinastyles he is eating purina puppy chow

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Oy. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/purina-puppy-chow/

He may be having some allergies to the food - just a hunch.

small fry · Chanel

Thanks I will look in to it

small fry · Chanel

Well I found a few fleas when I bathe aires, I did not see any a few days ago, so that is why he has been itchy. Now I hope I can get rid of them before they get out of control