The Ultimate Guide to Home Remedies for Dog Allergies

My Top List of Easy Home Remedies for Dog Allergies

You are here because you want to know what you can do to help your dog with his allergies. I just want you to know I’ve been there… heck, I am there right now! I always recommend finding easy home remedies for dogs with allergies before heading down the road of expensive allergy testing.

When our dog Ginger started scratching so much it was driving ME crazy, I knew something was wrong. You know, the constant noise of the dog tags clanking together! Yup, Ginger has seasonal/environmental allergies AND food allergies.

Ginger is our second dog with allergies. Many years ago, our yellow lab, Abby, had terrible skin allergies. Our vet recommended putting her on steroids to help her, but long story short, those steroids ended up killing her.

This time around, with Ginger, I wanted something that wasn’t going to harm her. I wanted something natural and easy to help with my dogs allergies. So, I researched what can I give my dog for allergies at home without going to the vet.

Our Abby only lived to be 5 years old. I wish I could turn back time and do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I would never have put her on steroids for her allergies.

12 Home Remedies for Dog Allergies

I’ve put together some easy home remedies for dog allergies, all of which I’ve used on our dog Ginger. If your dog is itching because of seasonal/environmental or food allergies, these should help stop the itch!

If you want to skip all my great explanations, then jump down to my quick dogs with allergies shopping list.

Foods and Supplements for Dogs with Allergies

1. Change Your Dogs Food

If you think there is any chance your dog has a food allergy, start looking at what she is eating. Start reading labels on the dog food, treats and any other food your dog eats.

I did an elimination diet with Ginger to find out that she is allergic to many different proteins. We found that the Zignature brand dog food is the only brand and protein she can eat without having any allergic reactions. For treats, Ginger gets either dehydrated fish chews or Fruitables dog treats.

2. Coconut Oil

There are so many benefits to adding coconut oil to your dogs diet, there is no reason not to! You can add a tablespoon of coconut oil to his food every day. Plus, you can use coconut oil as a lotion, applying it to any areas that are red and rashy. Make sure to purchase organic coconut oil to get all the benefits. Read my article Is Coconut Oil Good For Your Dog?

3. Raw Honey

Pure unpasteurized raw honey is great for soothing allergy symptoms. My dogs love getting a little raw honey as a treat! Read AKC’s article: Can Dogs Eat Honey?

4. Krill and Fish Oil

Fish oil comes in many different varieties. But I have found that Krill oil is best for allergy relief. Fish oils are a natural anti-inflammatory, helping relieve your dog from itching with an added bonus of a soft and shiny coat.

I like the liquid vs. the pills because I can just pump it right into my dogs meal and be done. I really like the Zesty Paws Wild Omega 3 Fish Oil.

5. Probiotics

Probiotics support healthy immune system functions and could help with a variety of health-related issues, including allergies. Dry dog food does not give dogs all the nutrients they need, no matter how high the quality of food you buy.

I highly recommend adding a probiotic supplement to your dogs daily food. With so many brands of probiotic, it’s hard to decide which is the best. I’ve tried many different probiotics and finally found one I love giving to all three of my dogs – Daily Dog by FullBucket. It’s made a huge difference in their overall daily health. Especially helped with Ginger’s allergies.

I loveDaily Dog by FullBucket so much, I reached out to them and they gave me a coupon code just for you! Use coupon code RescueDogs101 for a 20% discount.

6. Yogurt

Plain yogurt helps keep away yeast infections, commonly seen in dogs with allergies. Depending on the size of your dog, a tablespoon or so of yogurt in your dogs food can help keep the itch at bay. Make sure to use an organic, non-fat plain yogurt.

7. Colostrum

Colostrum is the antibody-rich fluid produced by a mother’s mammary glands during the first day or two after birth. It contains a number of antibodies that can help boost a dog’s immune system, in turn, helping relieve allergies. You can read more details about it here from VCA Hospitals: What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the only product I have not tested with our dog, but I’ve heard great things about it. Wholistic Pet Organics Colostrum Supplement comes in an easy to use powder.

8. Over-the-Counter Allergy Medications for Dogs

You can give your dog an antihistamine for allergies. The best and most common options are Benadryl or Claritin. I don’t recommend using this as a long-term solution, but it could help give some immediate relief to your dog. I personally like Claritin better because the pills are so small I can add it to Gingers food and she never notices it.

If your dog has seasonal allergies, then an antihistamine may be the best solution if everything else listed fails. But many times, while boosting your dog’s immune system with some of the above-mentioned food options, you will notice your dog’s allergy symptoms are more manageable.

Make sure you know how much is safe for your dog, read Can I Give My Dog Benadryl and If So, How Much? from PetMD.

Managing Your Dogs Allergies from the Outside

9. Give your dog a bath

Hands down, I highly recommend Jax N Daisy, an all-natural anti-itch dog shampoo and conditioner. We use this on our dog Ginger to help with her itchy skin and it works wonders. We even use the lotion on ourselves. 

Be careful when using oatmeal shampoos. If your dog has a yeast infection, then the oatmeal can make it worse. I’d recommend a tea tree shampoo over the oatmeal options.

10. Clean Your Dogs Ears

Chances are if your dog has allergies your dog has an ear infection. How do I know? Because ear infections are very common in dogs that have allergies. When a dog has itchy ears, they shake their heads trying to get rid of the itch. It’s important to keep your dog’s ears clean. I found the Eco Ears to be the only solution that works for our dog Ginger… and believe me, I’ve tried a ton of different products!

11. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has many anti-microbial properties. It can be used to wash paws or spraying on infected areas of your dogs skin to kill yeast infections. Use a 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water.

12. Doggy Wipes

Anytime you come from outside, wipe down your dogs paws. You can buy Doggy Grooming Wipes, or use a wash cloth with soapy water.

This will help with any environmental allergies your dog has.

Our dog Ginger’s paws were always red and raw, no matter how well I was managing her allergies. I just couldn’t figure it out… that is until we moved this summer!

A few short weeks after moving, I noticed her paws were light pink, back to normal. I didn’t change her diet, no new supplements, so why all of a sudden did her paws get better?

I believe in my heart that it was the lawn chemicals from the neighborhood. We moved out to a country setting where no one sprays their lawns… this is the only factor that makes sense.

So long story short, wipe your dogs paws every time! And stop spraying your lawn!!!

In Summary

Many dog owners spend hundreds to thousands of dollars getting allergy tests and medications from their vet. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t take your dog to the vet, because you should.

But before giving your dog dangerous heavy-duty allergy medications or spending hundreds on allergy tests, why not try resolving the allergies at home first.

Of course, you aren’t going to want to try all of these at the same time, but try a few at a time and see what works for your dog.

All dogs are different, while your dog may be allergic to grass, another dog may be allergic to chicken. The above easy home remedies for dog allergies will help ease the itch, but you need to figure out the WHAT and the WHY your dog is itching in the first place.

Finding out what your dog is allergic to is a process and will require some detective work on your part. I am working on serval parts to this dog with allergies series, so make sure to stay tuned.

Dogs with Allergies Shopping List:

Next on your reading list:

• Part 1: Does My Dog Have Allergies?
• Part 3: Top 20 Hypoallergenic Treats, Food, and Bones for Dogs with Allergies
• The Secret to Getting Rid of Ear Infections in Your Dog at Home
• Is Coconut Oil Good For Your Dog