REMEDIES FOR DOGS WITH ITCHING ISSUES DUE TO ALLERGIES OR CLIMATE
Below is some information about a few products that can help dogs with scratching issues. Talk to your vet about these products before administering them to your pet.
Apoquel
Apoquel® is an allergy medication that treats itching and inflammation in dogs by targeting an important itch signal in a dog’s body, helping to stop the itch before it starts. Apoquel® starts working within 4 hours and helps stop itching within 24 hours. Veterinarians prescribe Apoquel® either short-term for allergic flare-ups or long-term for the management of skin allergies.
The following statement comes from a vet:
“Apoquel is my choice for providing short-term itch relief during an allergy workup. As I identify and treat secondary skin or ear infections, perform treatment trials to assess for fleas or mites, or initiate diet trials to assess for food allergies, I still need to provide immediate itch relief in my patients so they're comfortable while I determine the primary cause of their itching. Apoquel can be used in all these instances since it's labeled for the control of itching associated with any allergic disorder, including flea allergy dermatitis, scabies or food allergies, as well as canine atopic dermatitis.”
Benadryl
Benadryl is a great medication for use in dogs with mild-to-moderate allergies. Seasonal allergies, food allergies, environmental allergies, and allergic reactions to snake and insect bites all respond to Benadryl in most cases. Benadryl is commonly used to treat itchiness in dogs caused by skin allergies, and it also reduces many of the other symptoms of allergies, including:
Itching
Swelling and inflammation of the face, ears, lips, eyelids or earflaps
Redness
Runny nose and eyes
Coughing/vomiting
Sneezing
Diarrhea
One of the side effects of Benadryl is drowsiness, which helps to calm anxious dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that diphenhydramine may relieve symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety in pets associated with travel. It also may help relieve motion sickness. Although Benadryl may sometimes relieve anxiety, it’s best to talk to your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist to determine and treat what’s causing the anxiety.
Claritin
Much like Benadryl, the drug Claritin is used most commonly for dogs suffering from allergies. However, unlike Benadryl with the active ingredient diphenhydramine, Claritin’s active ingredient loratadine does not induce fatigue. Because of this trait, it is often a popular choice in the treatment of allergies.
Claritin is a non-sedating anti-histamine medicine, typically used to treat:
Allergic reactions
Itching
Stings and bites
Bad reactions to vaccines
CBD Oil
CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory product. By using CBD oil your dog, it has been shown to help decrease inflammation. When your dog scratches his itchy skin, he will cause a local inflammation at the spot that he is scratching. CBD products are shown to help repair the natural skin barrier and allow the skin to heal.
What is the best CBD oil for dog allergies? Gold Bee is the best brand if you're looking for all-organic CBD products that are infused with super foods such as honey or organic coconut oil. Like Royal CBD, Gold Bee uses the same premium-quality hemp extract in its dog line as it does in its collection for humans.