You know that old saying…If I had 10 cents for every time somebody told me “x” (insert: my pet is itchy) I’d be a millionaire! Well, it might actually be true for me!
It’s safe to say that at one point or another almost every pet owner has experienced the torture of having an extremely itchy pet. In some cases, it seems like an easy fix and for others it can feel like a lifelong battle. As a holistic pet store owner, I am seeing more and more pets who seem to be fighting an ongoing war with the “itchies” WHYYYY??
Well.. if you ask me, it’s because everything has become increasingly toxic, which is stressing out our immune system and sending our largest organ (SKIN) into a FRENZY! From our food systems, to our cleaning products, to our environment, we are exposed to a multitude of toxins and chemicals every single day. We (pets included) are more sick and itchy than ever before. Just look at the rates of chronic disease and how they have skyrocketed over the years.
When it comes to itchy pets, the most common afflictions seem to be related to food and environment allergies and/or fleas. But beyond that, many pet parents and professionals seem to be stumped on how to “fix” itchy pets when they have seemingly tried everything.
If you’ve been to the vet with a chronically itchy pet, there is a good chance you’ve been offered cytopoint (an anti-itch shot) or apoquel (an anti-itch pill) These “quick fix” options can seem really attractive when you have been dealing with an itchy pet, BUT - keep in mind that every action has a reaction. And the reactions from pharmaceuticals are usually not favorable for overall health and wellness. Using pharmaceuticals to cover up symptoms like itchiness, tells the body to stop producing signs to alert us to a potential underlying problem. Instead of fixing the root cause of the itchiness, you are just signaling the brain to stop telling the body it’s itchy.
On top of that, these shots and pills will most likely become a necessary long term component to keep your pets itching at bay. With long term use, the drugs become less effective, meaning that you need more frequent shots and higher doses on the pills to yield the same results. Which is expensive and is hard on your pets body!
So what do we do if we don’t want to do these things?? Well, that’s the million dollar question! Let’s take a look at some of the things that might be causing your pets itchiness along with how to evaluate them!
Vitamin D deficiency: A HUGE offender. Something that both humans AND dogs should evaluate. This is a specific test that you can ask your vet or practitioner for. See if levels are low, and if they are, you should most definitely supplement with vitamin d to get levels to a safe place! Low vitamin D is very common, even in places where the sun is constantly shining.
Omega 3/6 imbalances: In a traditional western diet, we are inundated with omega 6’s. Factory farmed meat has really wonky ratios (excessive omega 6) which contribute to this problem. Grab an Omega-3 Index test from Standard Process. It’s an at home test kit that will help you deduce if your pets omegas are out of balance. OR just go ahead and add in some more omega 3s by utilizing a reputable fish oil. I like the adored beast potent-sea. Also I recommend finding ways to get seafood into your pets diet on a regular basis with foods like sardines, green lipped mussels, and smelt!
Over vaccination: Before y'all get fired up, I want to clarify that I’m not an anti-vaxxer. I’m a realistic and conservative vaxxer. I’ve given both of my pets a singular rabies vaccine and then continued to test them by titer each year to confirm immunity. Titer tests are inexpensive and reveal if your pets still have active antibodies to protect them against rabies. My 15 year old pitbull has active antibodies from the rabies shot he received when he was just 3 years old. Other vaccines that I refuse include: leptospirosis, bordetella, and flu. Excessive vaccines can wreak havoc on your pets immune system, which can trigger excessive itching. If you believe your pets have been over vaccinated, or have recently received a vaccination and become itchy, I recommend a product called “rebalancer” by the adored beast.
FLEAS or flea dermatitis: Are we dealing with fleas or flea bites (flea dermatitis)? Seems pretty straight forward but in so many cases pet parents have no idea their dog has fleas. Keep a flea comb on hand and always check your pets if they become suddenly itchy. The best place to run the flea comb is at the base of the tail. Keep running the comb multiple times and in multiple places to ensure there are no fleas. If you find one, you will need to implement a solid flea protocol. For holistic minded peeps, that tends to look like baths, deep cleaning, and topical essential oil sprays. For western med peeps, you will generally pick some format of poison (insecticide) Not all of them are created equal and can have VERY serious side effects, so don’t take this choice lightly. I personally have used Comfortis (spinosad) with great success but would steer clear of Simparica, Trifexis, and Bravecto. Why? These are a class of drugs call isoxazolines and are absolutely associated with seizure activity and deaths. I tend to encourage pet parents to start with holistic options first and to stay diligent with cleaning and only resort to the drugs as a last case scenario.
Environmental toxins like cleaning agents and detergents: Throw out your tide pods, your plugs in, your bath and body candles, and your pledge wood cleaner! All of it needs to go DIRECTLY into the trash, STAT. These products contribute to poor indoor air quality and can trigger skin issues, including itching! If you are looking for good solutions for cleaning, vinegar is number 1 on my list. If you wanna ditch the dog odor, grab an essential oil diffuser and experiment with some fun scents. I LOVE tangerine and vanilla together!
Environmental Allergies like pollen and grasses: if your dog seems to get seasonally itchy, there is a good chance it’s related to the environment and what’s currently “in the air” Most commonly, flare ups occur during seasonal changes. You can support your pet during these times by rinsing their paws after walks with our favorite “no rinse paw cleanser” from Salty Dog. And, I would also grab a bag of “Allergeez” by Solutions Pet Products which will act as a natural anti-histamine.
Factory farmed meat: (around 80% of meat is factory farmed) Factory farmed meat might as well be called mystery meat. That “expensive kibble” your feeding probably still has factory farmed animals as the main ingredient. Finding meat from regenerative farms who practice humane treatment of animals is 100% the best medicine that money can buy! If you are looking for pet food that is regeneratively farmed, you should try Solutions Pet Products. It’s one of the only pet foods that I know who take sourcing very seriously. Most of the Factory farmed meat is from SICK ANIMALS, which translates to "sick food."
Heavy metals: Your pets don’t have a way to purge heavy metals unless you give them the tools to do so. So if you’ve never detoxed your pet, there is a good chance those metals have built up over time. Solutions Pet Products makes a gentle heavy metal detox that can also be used on yourself!! It’s aptly named, “Heavy Metals” Excessive heavy metals can cause eczema in humans and pruritus in dogs. If you want to be certain that heavy metals are not out of control, purchase a ParsleyPet HTMA test. You will receive loads of valuable information, including heavy metal levels.
Parasites: Parasites are EVERYWHERE!! Butt scooting is often a symptom. Overall itchiness can be a symptom. I personally put my pets through a parasite cleanse at least twice a year. You can do a parasite cleanse pretty regularly without harming your pets. Solutions Pet Products makes both a powdered supplement and a tincture called “Parasite Free” If you want specific parasite answers, you can submit poop samples to your vet for testing.
As you can see, there are many different reasons your pets could suffer from itchiness. And it’s quite understandable to be overwhelmed when you are starting the journey to solve any complex health condition. I am happy to help you navigate this journey but I also need pet parents to be patient, willing to try new things, and implement changes. As a holistic minded person, I truly believe that our bodies and our pets bodies can heal themselves given the proper tools while removing any afflictions. Come in to the studio or schedule an appointment with me to discuss how we can achieve your goals and give your pets the best shot at longevity and wellness.