Itchy and Scratchy

Vegetarian Times, May, 1999 by Cristin Marandino

There's nothing worse than an itch that won't go away. And in a pet, constant scratching can signal a host of disorders: fleas, food allergies, hay fever, dry skin and mange. While there are plenty of natural remedies for disorders that you can use at home, the more serious of these conditions (usually characterized by bumps, rashes or hair loss) require a trip to the vet. C

The first step in determining what's causing the discomfort is to carefully examine your pet's coat. The most obvious--and most common--culprits are fleas, which are easily detected by the tiny black feces they leave behind. If there's hair loss in a circular pattern located in a concentrated area, the problem could be the ringworm fungus. Mange is caused by mites and is marked by the presence of tiny bumps on the skin and hairs that appear to be broken. Finally, to make sure your pet isn't suffering from an allergic reaction to a food or medication or from a hormone imbalance, have your veterinarian check him out.

You can, however, take measures to prevent mild skin irritations like a simple case of dry, flaky skin. C.J. Puotinen, author of The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care (Keats Publishing, 1998), stresses the importance of regular grooming. "Nothing you do on the outside improves an animal's coat more than regular brushing. It stimulates the lymph system, which affects the immune and elimination systems. It also stimulates the skin, improves circulation, distributes natural oils through the coat and prevents tangling," she says. Good nutrition is the most important thing you can do from the inside. Puotinen suggests feeding your animal all-natural food (available in most pet stores) plus this simple all-purpose skin and coat supplement: combine equal parts dried burdock root, cleavers, dandelion, garlic, kelp, horsetail and nettles. Grind together well in a spice or coffee grinder. Mix 1/4 teaspoon per 10 pounds of your pet's body weight into her food each day.

If the preventive tack doesn't work, a few quick remedies can help soothe that itchy skin until you can get your animal to a vet. Aloe vera gel applied to trouble spots can provide instant relief, or you can mix goldenseal powder with water (following label instructions) and rub on irritated areas.