Dog Health by LowchensAustralia.com

For Hot Spots and Itching
Boil 1½ cups of water, remove from heat. Add 2 teaspoons oatmeal, 1 teaspoon chamomile, 1 teaspoon calendula flowers and 1 regular tea bag (Lipton type); let steep until cool. Strain through doubled cheesecloth. If you do not have the herbs, use 1 cup of water. Spray the affected area as often as needed.

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Hot Spots
Hot spots can lead to serious illness in dogs. They can be caused by allergies to chemicals, food, fleas and other substances, but fleas seem to be a primary source. This recipe has proven effective for many dogs suffering from Hot Spots.

• 3 capsules Sage

• ¼ teaspoon Epsom Salts

• 2 cups of Water

Combine all ingredients and bring this all to a boil.
Cool to room temperature and then strain out the powdered Sage.
Store in a 2-cup spray bottle or jar in the refrigerator to keep fresh.
Spray or wipe on hot spots, insect bites, or any other skin abrasions as many times a day as possible. It heals in about 3 days, and you should begin to see some hair regrowth in a little over a week.

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Soothing wash for all icky skin, including ears. 

• 1 quart water

• 1 heaping teaspoon dried Sage

• 1 heaping teaspoon of Thyme

• ¼ teaspoon Epsom salts

Boil everything together for 5 minutes then let it sit overnight. Strain off the herbs and refrigerate unused portion. You can add it to shampoo and make a "medicated" shampoo .... Also works for ant bites, red bumps, hot spots, flea dermatitis, etc.

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Scorched Skin
If skin is slightly scorched by burning water or hot stove, try to rinse with cold water and apply soap. This will prevent blisters from developing.

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Summer Skin Itch - Healing
For promoting hair growth, healing sore skin, and as a Anti-Itch Solution.

• 1 teaspoon of apple cider (brown)

• 10ml of Colloidal Silver (anti-fungal/virus/bacteria)

• approx. 20 drops of calendula tincture

Put into a empty 1 litre spray bottle, then fill with distilled water. Spray on affected areas 3 x daily. Use half the dosage mix if using a smaller spray bottle or bowl.

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Skin Allergies 
Can actually be signs of zinc deficiencies. Buy the Chelated Zinc 10mg Tablets and crush the tablet & mix into daily meals. Elderly cats and dogs benefit this mineral in their daily regular meals, along with digestive enzyme tablet (crushed). Change diets to a all natural preservative free one. That means no more commercial dog biscuits or tin foods. The less toxic chemicals and drugs the healthier your pet will stay. Many Dogs are allergic to the foods (commercial) Also avoid pasta, rice, carrots, yeast, corn, wheat, beef, oats. These are some of the more common food allergens (most commercial foods have wheat, corn and preserves, poor quality artificial meat and flavourings ) ... See a qualified Homeopath for Homeopathic healing medicines for acute or chronic symptoms if still showing once on a RAW Meat and veg diet.

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Coat Conditioner for Dogs 
(Rosemary herbs helps repel fleas & conditions coat) 
1 teaspoon dried Rosemary leaves (or 1 tablespoon of fresh herb) Bring to the boil 1 pint of water. Combine & steep for 10 minutes, covered. Strain & cool to body temperature. Pour it over your dog as a final rinse. Rub in and towel dry without further rinsing.

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Shampoo for Irritated Skin : Beer-Baby-Tea

• Baby Shampoo 8oz 

• Glycerine 2oz

• Stale beer 4oz

• Green tea 2 bags

• Chamomile tea 2 bags

• Lemon juice from one lemon

• Vitamin E capsule 400units

Steep green & chamomile tea bags in ½ cup of hot water for 20 minutes. While waiting for the tea, mix the glycerine with the vitamin E and the lemon juice with the stale beer and then add to the Baby Shampoo ……… Shake well,  then add the Tea brew ( ½ cup) and the glycerine ……… shake well and you have a great shampoo.

If you want Flea Control: Add 1 part of your standard flea shampoo to 3 parts of homemade shampoo.

If you want Antifungal or Antibacterial Action: Add 1 part of your veterinary brand and mix with 2 parts of home made shampoo.

You can also add Flower Essences: Use one or all three into the mix.

• Lavender - 1 teaspoon to help the skin heal 
  

• Lemon Grass - 1 teaspoon to repel fleas & ticks, and control moulds & yeast
  

• Rosemary - 1 teaspoon to repel fleas & ticks, kill germs

By Dr Ihor Basco
Web Site

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Herbal Relief for the Skin 
Abraded skin is washed in warm, soapy water and any embedded material is gently scraped out. Warm, wet tea bags on wounds may help blood clots to form. Herbs with antibacterial and antihemorrhagic properties are used. Tincture of pot marigold, Calendula officinalis, diluted in water may promote blood clotting. Turmeric root powder, Curcuma longa, can be effective but it causes intense, yellow staining to the skin and hair (and clothing and furniture!). Yarrow herb, Athillea millefolium, does not stain. It is applied topically until obvious healing begins. Yarrow may also be combined with peppermint, Mentha piperita, or German chamomile flower, Matricaria recutita. To encourage epithelial growth from the edges of the abrasion, comfrey leaf Symphytum officinale, may be used. Published studies say that new skin formation is faster when Calendula tincture is applied to a wound. Hypericum tincture by mouth is also said to accelerate wound healing. 

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Herbal Relief for Skin Disorders 
Marshmallow, Althaea officinalis, and slippery elm, Ulmus rubra, ointment is applied to thin-walled abscesses. Open wounds are irrigated with peppermint tea, Mentha piperita. Hot spots are shaved and cleaned with dilute cider vinegar. Aloe Vera cream is then applied. Herbs said to have antifungal properties include tea tree oil, thyme, Thymus vulgaris, angelica root, Angelica archangelica, marigold flower, Calendula officinalis, and rosemary leaf, Rosmarinus officinalis. If the herbalist believes a skin infection occurs due to a hormonal imbalance, yam, Dioscora, may be given to correct hormone levels.

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Herbal Infusion
For immediate soothing and antiseptic use for wounds or skin injections, or for the relief of mild gastroenteric problems, an infusion of peppermint leaf or Roman chamomile flower can be made at home:

Heat a clean (well washed and rinsed) cup with boiling water. 
Pour away the water and add 1 teaspoon of dried or 2 teaspoons of fresh herb to the heated cup. 
Fill to three-quarters level with boiling water. 
Cover and leave to steep for 10 minutes. 
Remove the cover, pouring condensation inside the cover back into the cup. 
Strain and use or store covered in a cool place. 

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Aloe Vera for Pet First Aid
Aloe Vera, also called the medicine plant or the burn plant, has long been recognized for its ability to sooth damaged skin. It makes a good choice for pets because it provides temporary relief on contact for hot spots, bites, clipper burns, and many other skin irritations that our pets may occasionally experience. Aloe Vera is also non-toxic, so we needn't worry about our pets ingesting it if they lick their sores.
Which brings us to the second reason why aloe is a good choice: it has a bitter taste. Thus, an application of Aloe Vera may discourage your pet from licking at the irritated skin. Licking can slow healing, so any easy ways to discourage licking are welcome.

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Dry Skin Shampoo
Several people have reported using this with great success on dogs with dry, scratchy skin and for other skin problems that required frequent baths.

• 1/3 Cup Glycerine

• 1 Cup Lemon Liquid Joy

• 1 Cup White Vinegar

• 1 Quart of Water

Mix in a bottle or an old large shampoo bottle. If you make up the solution in advance, be sure to shake it up before use to make sure the glycerine is mixed thoroughly.

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Dry Skin
A simple way to treat dry skin is to add a complete oil to your pet's diet. Corn, safflower, peanut, and sunflower are examples of oils that contain all the essential fatty acids. Your cat can take about half a teaspoon with each meal. Dogs can be given one to three teaspoons with each meal, depending on size. But remember that more is not better since oils are quite fattening.

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Dandruff
The vinegar is poured into the hair, massaged into the scalp, and left to dry for a few minutes. Then the hair is washed. The process is repeated daily until the dandruff disappears, usually within a few days.....more

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Natural treatment for Mange
Other than combining healing Neemseed Oil and other herbs, vitamins and homeopathy for mange symptoms, also use Vit C (sodium ascorbate) of give grams orally a day, and 1 dessertspoon of Cod Liver Oil daily. Then reduce Cod Liver Oil once dog is healing.

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Smelly Skin & Ear Infections
Colloidal Silver - natural anti- fungal, virus, bacteria antibiotic drops. Use straight as a ear drops, eye cleanse for conjunctivitis in dogs and kittens with Chlamydia. 
- Dilute Colloidal Silver and use as a skin rinse to rid fungal infection on animals who have smelly itchy coats (usually brought on by using chemical antibiotics that destroy the good gut flora)

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B-Complex Vitamin Supplement
This vitamin in general reduce pain and protect the body of stress, also required for emotional and mental health of your dog.
Deficiencies in B Vitamins Many dog behaviour problems can be B deficient, a animal with cataracts, adrenal problems, skin allergies, skin disorders, blood vessel disease, learning difficulties, anaemia, runny eyes, slow weight gain or growth, erratic appetite, stool eating, all need B-complex supplementation. Meat is fed raw in the natural diet primarily because when meat is cooked or minced, B-vitamins and digestive enzymes are lost, dogs are carnivores after all. 
Note: If using Brewers Yeast, be aware some dogs are allergic to Brewers Yeast supplement (has the B-Vitamins) 
Use a low potency human B-complex supplement and always crush tablets before adding to your dog's daily meals.

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Homeopathic suggestions which may alleviate Skin Problems

Sulphur: for red and itching skin, made worse by heat. Gums may be red. Good to give with other skin remedies.

Arsen Alb: skin is dry and scaly, shedding of epidermal scales occurring and accompanied by harsh, lustreless hair. Animal seeks warmth and shows a desire for small quantities of water frequently taken. Symptoms become worse after midnight and systemic disturbances include diarrhoea.

Rhus Tox: when skin aggravated by wet and dog shows stiffness when moving after rest but moves more easily when exercise process. Skin shows papular of vesicular rash with much itching and redness. Warmth lessons severity of symptoms.

Antimonium Crud: skin lesions more pronounced on neck, back and limbs, taking form of papular eruptions which later become scabby, discharging a yellowish secretion. Itching is worse towards evening and aggravated by warmth.

Mezereum: when skin lesions appear on head in form of large scabs with an underlying purulent discharge. Sensitivity to touch. Itching rash common over bony areas being surrounded by a red zone. Exacerbated by scratching and warmth. Should be considered in chronic eczema where symptoms agree.

Hypericum: suitable for sensation due to external factors, e.g. photosensitization. The resulting skin lesions may affect non-pigmented areas and appear as reddish ulcerated areas which itch and have a peeled look. There may be accompanying systemic changes such as jaundice.

Hepar Sulph: Remedy of choice when lesions show extreme sensitivity to external stimuli and pus is beginning to form. The skin is usually swollen and shiny with a tense appearance. Helpful in drying up the underlying purulent discharge in those cases attended by crusts and scabs.

Psorinum: nosode may be necessary in eczemas of a particularly unpleasant nature with pronounced musty odour and severe itching. Skin is usually dry, and the lesion is frequently of a vesicular of pustular type.

Cacillinum: general inter-current remedy which activates the skin, this nosode will be of service. Particularly suitable in cases with dry scaly lesions.

Tellurium: when this remedy is indicated the skin lesions usually take the form of circular reddish areas, frequently on both sides of the body in symmetrical fashion. The outer ear flap is a predilection site.

With skin problems, they unfold usually from one remedy to the next. For instance, skin could go from one state to another as the healing process occurs and would then call for another remedy which suits the following process. I usually suggest Newton's Detox and Skin Complex. I would get that if you can. Or along with a choice or two of the above remedies I would also get Chelidonium for the liver and Apis Mel. for changes in kidney tissue accompanied by oedema and swelling as well as Urtica Urens if you want to help eliminate the waste product via the urine (it promotes urination).

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Skin medications for dogs include cephalexin, clindamycin, clotrimazole, enrofloxacin otic, gentamicin sulfate, nystatin neomycin sulfate, and thiabendazole.

See our Sulphur/Lard Ointment Old Fashioned Remedy here!