‘I’m a vet and here’s 5 home allergy remedies for your dog’

It’s not just humans who suffer with allergies – our furry friends do too. As the warmer months arrive, many people find themselves suffering with issues like runny noses, irritated eyes, sneezing, itching, and a range of others. Dogs are no different – and their love of rooting around in pollen-filled grass and bushes does them no favours in this respect.

Now one vet with one million followers on TikTok has explained five simple ways to give your beloved furry friend some much-needed relief if they’re feeling uncomfortable. Opening his video, Amir Anwary said: “If your dog licks their paws a lot, or they nibble all the time, they scratch a lot and they’ve got red skin, these are five home remedies you guys can use to help ease those symptoms.

He added: “The most common reason dogs will display these symptoms is due to allergies, so most of my home remedies will be remedies specifically targeted at dealing with allergies.”

Flea and tick medication

Amir’s first bit of advice is to make sure your dog’s tick and flea prevention medication is up to date. “There’s no point in us going through all of these steps to stop the scratching if your pet has ectoparasites,” he said.

Ectoparasites are types of parasites which attach to the skin or coat. Examples include fleas, ticks, mites, and bed bugs. Amir added: “So make sure that they do not have any ticks and fleas as your first step.”

Oatmeal bath

Amir’s second tip is to give your pet an oatmeal bath. “You can either use oatmeal shampoo or you can use blended oats and put that into warm water,” he said.

“Let that combination sit on your dog’s coat for 10 to 15 minutes. This will help with soothing the itch.”

Rinse your dog’s paws

Number three is something Amir described as “very simple”. “Rinse your dog’s paws either with water or with rooibos tea after your walks,” he said.

Rooibos, or redbush, tea is a type of herbal tea with anti-inflammatory and hypoallergenic properties, meaning it can be used to soothe irritation. Amir continued: “This is so underrated, but when your dogs go for walks they pick up allergens, dust, and pollen on their paws, and then they lick their paws and this makes the allergy so much worse.

“So simply by washing their paws after a walk, you will already deal with a major cause of their allergies.”

Apple cider vinegar

Tip number four involved using something you might already have in your kitchen cupboard. “Next is using apple cider vinegar,” Amir said.

“So, you want to use a 50-50 combination of apple cider vinegar to water. And that combination, you’ll apply using a cloth to either the ear or between the paws.

“It acts as an antiseptic and it’s really good against those fungus that like to spread in the ear and between the paws of dogs struggling with allergies. So try that out if you notice that your dog’s ears are red or if their paws are very red and very itchy.”

Omega-3 supplement

Amir’s final tip is to give your dog a “good-quality Omega 3 supplement”. “Now this is the most science-backed solution out of all the solutions I’ve provided,” he said.

“And the reason for that is that Omega-3 is a natural anti-inflammatory. Allergies are rooted in inflammation.

“So Omega-3 directly decreases that inflammation and it also strengthens the skin barrier. So you’ll notice in your dogs that struggle with allergies, their skin is messed up.

“Omega-3 strengthens the skin as well. That is why it is the best solution for dogs struggling with skin issues and allergies.

“Just make sure you use a good quality Omega-3 supplement with high levels of EPA and DHA. Anything poorer quality than that is kind of like a waste of money.”

EPA is Eicosapentaenoic Acid, which reduces inflammation and supports heart health, while DHA is Docosahexaenoic Acid, vital for brain function, and maintaining healthy vision. Omega-3 supplements suitable for dogs are available in most pet shops.