Dog's Itchy Skin

Is your dog scratching, itching and chewing on themselves?

Are you ready to take control of your dog's scratching and chewing of toes? Do you want hot spots to be a thing of the past. Are you ready for a healthy and happy dog?

From my experience and research, in almost 90% of the serious skin conditions that an animal can suffer, the root cause is an enormous amount of accumulated toxicity in the pet's system. The cleansing and filtering organs or systems of the body (liver, kidneys,lungs) are saturated and even clogged with our chemical/toxic environment so they are unable to do their designed function--clean the blood.

Unclean, contaminated blood is now circulating throughout your dog's body, feeding every cell in the body - "toxins".

The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is an eliminative organ where the body can rid its self of toxins. It is quite logical then that the skin will acquire more than its share of these toxins/contaminants trying to be eliminated and various reactions will naturally occur--itching, scratching,chewing, clawing, digging, bleeding, hot spots, bald patches, open wounds, sores, loss of hair, howling, biting.

Unclean, contaminated blood cannot do the job that it has been designed to do--that is--to provide nutrition to the entire body's cells which of course includes the skin.

Un-nourished cells begin to die. Now, all sorts of chronic diseases--diabetes, allergies, cushings disease, Addison's disease, kidney failure, liver failure, eye problems, loss of hair, hot spots, bald spots, will result all due to unclean, contaminated blood.

The blood can only contain so much. It either contains nutrition or it contains toxic contaminants.

The body also produces toxins of its own in the form of byproducts of digestion and normal metabolism. If the animal's system is overloaded or malfunctioning, these toxins are incompletely eliminated. Major organs that are required to detoxify the body, such as the liver, kidney and digestive tract become overworked and overwhelmed, and, affected by toxins themselves, can no longer fully accomplish their tasks. Toxins accumulate in the intercellular space (the space between the cells) and metabolic processes are impeded. All of these toxins can lead to blocked enzyme systems and free radical damage, which can result in immune impairment and inflammation. Any system or organ can be affected primarily or secondarily. Since the skin is an eliminative organ, it does its best to take over when the bowel, liver and kidneys are not performing their roles.

Dr. Sharon Kopinak, a veterinarian in Acton, Ontario, explains that hotspots and itchy skin are toxins "blowing out through the skin." Veterinarian Dr. Cynthia Kneebone of the East York Animal Clinic in Toronto agrees. "These animals are eliminating through their skin and we have to change the way they are eliminating."

As you know, I always stress, the basis of all health is excellent, wholesome nutrition. If you are providing that nutrition, but your pet's cells cannot receive it due to contaminated blood, then your well spent money and effort is really pretty much for naught.

It is crucial to have clean blood circulating within the body.

There is only one way to stop your dog's misery and that is to get to the root cause of the problem--TOXINS. Remove the toxicity in your pets body. Remove the chemicals and remove the heavy metals that are in every vaccination, all preservatives, the cleaning chemicals we use in our houses, even the water we all drink and the air we breath. At the same time, support your dog's immune system and nutritional uptake.

Start with proper nutrition in the form of a species appropriate diet.

Then, remove the toxicity in your dog's body

--the chemicals and heavy metals. De-toxing (cleaning your dog's internal body) is a very simple, inexpensive and relatively quick procedure. You can add herbal and homeopathic remedies such as Hemotox (removes chemicals) and Metaltox (removes heavy metals) to your dog's daily water for two weeks. Then you stop the drops for five days, then continue doing one two week cycle of cleaning for every year of age.

Here is a list of herbs used with great success for detoxifying:

Milk Thistle - Should be your primary herb. Detoxifies and rebuilds the liver.

Dandelion - Dandelion should also be a primary herb. It helps remove toxins from the liver and kidneys. It effects Liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder and stomach.

Burdock Root - Cleanser and diuretic which helps in removing heavy metals. Great for the skin as well.

You can generally find a blend of the above three herbs in tincture form.

Myrrh - Myrrh cleans out accumulated mucus and congestion, fibroids and masses and is considered a Rasayana herb.

Psyllium - Adaptogenic. Supports bowel function for eliminating toxins.

Gravel Root - Diuretic which aids overall kidney health.

Echinacea - Lymph cleanser and immune system support.

Licorice Root - Detoxifies and balances biochemicals.

You can order these herbs HERE

Strengthen the immune system.

The key to self-healing is a strong defense system, which protects dogs from everything from germs to cancer cells. More than their mainstream counterparts, holistic veterinarians believe that a weak immune system plays a key role in causing disease. Antibiotics fight infection, but they don't affect whatever weakened the immune system in the first place. This is why holistic veterinarians focus less on things that cause diseases and more on those that affect the body's defenses or the immune system.

"Most of the chronic diseases we commonly see in animals (and humans) have an immune basis, e.g. diabetes, allergies, asthma, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, repeated ear infections, cancer, etc. While they can be cured through the careful use of homeopathy (or herbal remedies), the road to cure can be a long one -- often years if the animal has had years of disease. Transfer factors can significantly shorten the course, by giving a much needed balancing effect to the immune system. If the immune system is overactive as in allergies, ear infections, asthma, diabetes, or hypothyroidism, Transfer Factor can balance this overactivity so the system is not attacking its own organs, overreacting to things that shouldn’t be perceived as a threat. If, conversely, the immune system is under-active as in mange, parasites, viral infections, or cancer, Transfer Factor Advanced (used to be "Plus") can clearly stimulate it to better meet the challenges it needs to be alert to."
Dr. Will Falconer, DVM

Other herbs and products that help balance or strengthen the immune system can be found Here

Balance the flora throughout your dog's body

The role of the intestinal tract in nutrient absorption is well recognized. However, the microflora that naturally inhabit the intestinal tract and their vital role in maintaining normal functioning of the gut and immune system are often overlooked. The intestinal tract is often the ‘first line of defense’ for the body and must be in good order for the animal to maintain a healthy immune response.

microflora produce short chain fatty acids that modulate the gut pH and provide a source of fuel for the cells lining the gut. This, in turn, strengthens the intestinal cells and helps enhance nutrient absorption. Microflora also produce digestive enzymes and synthesize vitamins. One of the most important roles of lactic acid bacteria is to stimulate the immune response in the gut. These microflora can directly block attachment of potential pathogens to the intestinal wall. They are also known to modulate the intestinal environment to inhibit the growth of potential pathogens and produce immune stimulating factors.

To determine the effect of probiotic supplementation on immune function in healthy dogs, Beagle, Labrador Retriever, Fox Terrier and Manchester Terrier puppies were fed either a control diet or the same diet supplemented with the probiotic Enterococcus faeceum (SF68). Diets were fed from weaning to one year of age. Specific canine distemper virus antibodies were measured before and at timed intervals after vaccination. While antibody titers started to decrease in puppies fed the control diet, they remained at post-vaccination levels through one year of age in puppies fed the probiotic-supplemented diet. In addition, secretory IgA levels were significantly higher in puppies fed SF68. This prolonged vaccination response and increase in secretory IgA indicates that ingestion of the probiotic SF68 primes the puppy’s immune system to better handle external challenges.

Click Here For our list of recommended Probiotics.

Avoid Drugs and vaccinations as much as possible. These have a long term detrimental affect to your dog's health and longevity by lodging in the liver and kidneys and shortening a dog's lifespan. Drugs are merely a band aid while the patient is bleeding to death. They just don't work because they don't get to the actual source of the problem. You may have witnessed this first hand with your own dog's continual suffering.

Did you know that steroids such as prednisone have a long lasting harmful effect to your dog's liver? Did you know that continual use of antibiotics will cause your dog's immune system to be severely suppressed? Did you know that ALL of the bacteria, both good and bad bacteria, in your dog's body will be killed by the antibiotic and cause your dog's nutritional uptake to be hampered further jeopardizing its health?

The bad ramifications of using toxic steroids and drugs on your dog's health just goes on and on. Is it any wonder your dog is scratching itself to death!!! Is it any wonder he/she looks at you with those sorrowful eyes as though it is asking you why you aren't helping him/her to get better! Why is this happening to me? Can't you possibly help me? Now you can and now you must if you want to have a happy healthy dog.

"Routine" Vaccinations do have adverse side-effects, either short or long term

"With vaccines that are repeated year after year, the frequency and severity of these side-effects in our pets has increased dramatically. Most of the problems involve the immune system. After all, the immune system is what vaccines are designed to stimulate. But they do so in a very unnatural way that can overwhelm and confuse the immune system." Donna Starita Mehan DVM

"Annual revaccination provides no benefit and may increase the risk for adverse reactions. The percentage of vaccinated animals (those vaccinated only as puppies) protected from clinical disease after challenge with canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus and canine adenovirus in the study was greater than 95%." Current and Future Canine and Feline Vaccination Programs".
Dr. Ronald D. Schultz, PhD

Dr. Ronald Schultz is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine, UW-Madison. Schultz, R.D. - Current & Future Canine & Feline Vaccination Programs. Vet Med 3: No. 3, 233-254, 1998. A chart provided in the report shows immunity levels for all vaccines currently given to dogs lasting a minimum of 5 years with most lasting 7-15 years!

We recommend having Titers taken to see if you beloved dog (or other pets) NEED to be vaccinated.

It is important to note that no matter what program you use to detox your dog, this is a slow cleansing process which often takes 3-7 months before you see the major changes with your pet. The symptoms, including, itchiness and inflammation often appear to worsen during the initial two months of the program, usually beginning at about 3-4 weeks. This Herxheimer effect of the body detoxifying can last for quite some period. If your dog has a yeast infection or problem on top of it, the process of cleansing Candida often produces flu-like symptoms like nausea, loose stools and diarrhea and the pet may appear lethargic.

Make sure to keep an eye on your dog’s general health and temperature and certainly DON’T AVOID treatment by your Vet for serious infections.

The time needed here averages out to be 1 month for every year of life! Slightly longer for those with a history of medication usage like antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines so please, be patient and don't give up.


Important Disclaimer:
I have provided these articles/information as a source of reference and education. I cannot be held responsible for misadventure from the misuse of the products featured or any therapeutic method mentioned within this Website. If there is any doubt regarding any treatments or products mentioned, then please consult a qualified Holistic Veterinarian.