Itchy Pet Checklist

Itchy pets are the top reason why most people switch over to a raw food diet, and probably the most asked question on our page. Since we concentrate more on the raw feeding side of things, we will always recommend ditching the kibble first. Some raw fed pets still have itchy skin, and there is really very limited advice that we can give over and above what your veterinarian will offer you.

Understanding Allergies:

Please note that allergies can always be present, even though the symptoms don’t show. Repeated exposure increases the histamine levels until it’s at such a point where it physically shows and where it presents as what we think to be skin allergies.

When histamine levels increase, you become itchy as your body tries to cope with the “foreign” substances. Holistic vets will try to increase the cortisol levels (anti-inflammatory hormones) in order to decrease the histamine levels and attempt to find a balance that your pet is comfortable with.
Cortisone injections literally fool the body into reducing cortisol over time if it’s done too much and too often, and hence the fact that so many people complain that their pets’ cortisone injections don’t last as long as before.

You can put all sorts of creams, lotions and oils on the skin to ease discomfort, however you will HAVE to treat the cause to find long-term relief.

I would strongly suggest that if you don’t find the cause within at least 3 months, to seek advise from a holistic vet. Skin allergies become increasingly difficult over time to treat, as the body starts to react to all sorts of triggers. Hence the fact that blood allergy tests aren’t recommended for older animals.

Please find below a quick check-list to narrow down the possible cause for itchiness in your pet(s):

Initial Check-over:

1. Check ears for yeast (give a good whiff, yeast smells strongly like Fritos), check for red, watery eyes and nose (allergy), check for yeast around mouth and chin area (pink/red/purple skin), run hand through fur from top to tail checking for parasites, obvious grass seeds, pollen or burrs that may be caught in fur, check for tree sap, bumps and scrapes etc that might cause a reaction.
2. Roll pet over, check belly for pink/red/purple skin for yeast and allergies, check under armpits for grass seeds or foreign objects (ticks like to hide there), check for tree sap, bumps and scrapes.
3. Check between toes and pads for foreign objects and parasites, and check for red/purple skin for yeast and allergies.
4. Lift tail and check for red/purple skin for yeast and allergies, possible parasites under tail and bum area.
5. Use a flea-comb and check for fleas, ticks, other parasites and insects like ants etc. Fleas aren’t always visible to the naked eye (they spend very little time on your pet(s). Let your pet stand on a white surface then agitate the fur a lot, concentrating on the base of the tail, belly and rump area, letting dander and hair fall on the surface. Take a spray bottle with water and spray over the speckled area – if any specs turn brown, then it’s a confirmed flea problem.

Immediate relief:

- Brush to remove dander, loose undercoat and hair

- Rinse down with plain water (can add soaked oats or rooibos tea) and

- Shampoo with a mild natural shampoo and rinse well (rinse twice more after you think you’re done). This is optional, but recommended if your pet has fleas.

- Give a good rub down with olive oil after toweled dry after a bath/rinse especially if skin or fur is very dry

- Rinse itchy paws off as soon as pet comes from outside

- Apply aloe leaf gel to sore irritated areas, or make your own soothing comfrey balm: https://www.facebook.com/notes/we-feed-raw-sa/soothing-comfrey-balm/1637624116294424/

Make your own hotspot/yeasty solution: https://www.facebook.com/notes/we-feed-raw-sa/purple-stuff-yeastyhotspot-solution/1553350361388467/

For ticks, fleas and mites and other parasites:

- Treat house and environment accordingly

- Apply a natural repellent (search through our site for natural remedies and visit the link at the bottom of the article)

- Remove ticks and fleas manually twice daily and vacuum house very well, dispose of contents outside in a sealed bag.

- Treat ears for mites (a natural treatment is to apply olive or mineral oil, rub ear folds for 30 seconds, then let pet shake out excess oil) only if confirmed as mites by your veterinarian.

Some bumps may be from insect bites, so monitor the environment where your pet frequents for bees, wasps, spiders and all sorts of other biting goggas.

Feed a balanced raw diet:

- Feed a balanced raw diet including different protein sources from different suppliers if you can. Free range, grass-fed and meat from younger animals are always more desirable due to the reduced exposure to possible toxins and treatments.

- Feed balanced Omega 6:3 ratio, supplement with oily fish and/or Omega 3 fish oil, especially if feeding a lot of chicken. Dry skin and fur is usually a dietary deficiency and Omega essential fatty acid imbalances are the biggest culprits

- Include sufficient fat (10%-15% overall) to your pet(s) diet, animal fat is preferable, however olive oil and coconut oil are good in moderation

- Eliminate kibble, especially brands that contain cereal, maize or grains

- Add a good quality probiotic or feed kefir and/or fermented vegetables

Offer fresh, filtered water that is available all the time

Reduce toxins

- Reduce or eliminate vaccination frequency.

- Reduce or eliminate chemical parasite treatments.

- Reduce or eliminate chemical “over-the-counter” remedies. Allergex in particular is a chemical histamine blocker and does not resolve itching, it only suppresses the body’s histamine production in reaction to an allergen, which is a natural bodily reaction.

- Reduce the use of cortisone and corticosteroids, they perform a similar function as above by blocking histamine production.

Reduce toxins around your house and especially around areas where your pet(s) frequent.

Eliminate Yeast:

- If you suspect your pet has a yeast allergy, take him/her to your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis, especially where ears are concerned. Please don’t home treat for ear problems unless you are certain what the issue is.

- Povidone Iodine is an inexpensive anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-septic to keep around your house. Use the 10% solution and dilute it until it resembles tea and use it for yeasty foot soaks, final rinse after bath for yeasty skin, clean out yeasty ears or wipe yeasty bums, otherwise colloidal silver is an equally good substitute.

Make sure that you are feeding a good quality probiotic and an Omega 3 supplement.

Atopic Dermatitis:

- There are so many things that can cause atopic dermatitis, from environmental, to seasonal, to contact allergens and to a LESSER degree, food related allergies.

- Eliminate chemicals from household (floor treatments and laundry chemicals, air fresheners, deodorants are all known irritants including essential oils)

Eliminate chemical treatments on grass or any surface your pet comes into contact with, eliminate access to grass if it’s a known trigger.

Environmental Triggers:

Triggers could be new plants/flowers/trees. New plants blooming from neighbours, new walking routes, new parks visited. Pollen from grass, shrubs etc. New pets, birds, etc.
Dogs can be allergic to dander.
Bathe regularly and wipe feet down when coming in from outside.

Seasonal Allergies:

- Usually only present at certain times of the year due to plants, flowers, pollen, grass, seeds etc.

This type of allergy present itself with runny watery eyes and nose, and symptoms can be treated with raw local honey, local propolis, nettle, rooibos, Quercetin, liquorice root etc.

Contact Dermatitis:

- Contact and environmental allergen dermatitis is treated by identifying and removing the known irritant, bathing pet regularly to remove irritants and to soothe skin, adding povidone iodine or colloidal silver to help with possible infections and yeast issues and wash off irritants.

Possible new triggers could be new floor cleaners, aerosols, washing powder, fabric softener. Even toilet sprays, hand lotions and perfumes can cause reactions. Change to more natural products.

Food Allergies:

- Food intolerance is established by implementing a food elimination trial. You choose one protein, and feed the entire protein for 2-3 months to see if condition improves/worsens.

Change supplier, eliminate fruit and veg, eliminate all supplements and stick to one brand only for 4 weeks minimum.

Food for Thought…

True protein allergies are very rare, and it’s more than likely something that is included in the premade you’re feeding, or something that the protein source was being fed prior to being slaughtered.

If you have recently added a new food source and your pet is showing signs of discomfort, then either eliminate that from the diet or change the source to see if symptoms persist. Seafood can be a trigger (consider fish oil/Omega 3 supplements too), as can tripe (grass allergies, and possible corn in feed (if fed)).

Sometimes excessive scratching is behavioural, sometimes it can only be identified by doing a blood allergen (IgE) test, which is what we recommend to prevent unnecessary and costly self-treatments especially in the case where your veterinarian cannot pin point the cause of the itchiness.

Vet Visit:

- Consult with your veterinarian and arrange for a full health check-up to eliminate possible health related issues such as thyroid etc. and to pinpoint yeast, mites or contact dermatitis.

If your self-applied remedy does not offer relief within 3 days, please consult your veterinarian or seek a holistic veterinarian if your current veterinarian can not pin point the issue.