Spring, summer and fall provide us all wonderful opportunities to have outdoor fun with our dogs and cats along with opportunities to make our dog itchy. Once a dog starts scratching it can become a viscous cycle where the scratching makes the area even itchier and it goes on and on until you have to take a trip to your veterinarian.

Fortunately, there are many home remedies for dogs that can nip that itching in the bud. You very well might have some of these fixes in your home right now!

1) Black tea or Japanese green tea prepared as a very strong brew. The resulting liquid is applied to the inflamed area for three to 10 minutes to soothe it. The rest of the brew can be stored in refrigerator and used later.

2) Calendula tincture can be applied directly or diluted 1:1 to the irritated areas.

3) Witch Hazel is easily available in drugstores. A soaked cotton ball can be placed on itchy area a few times a day.

4) Aloe Vera can be found in health food stores and pharmacies. The jelly from the fresh plant works the best. Places on the area one to three times a day.

5) Baking Soda can work wonders! Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a little water to make a paste. Place the paste on the areas that are itchy and/or reddened. Leave the paste on for a few hours and wash off.

6) Baking soda spray can also be prepared by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda with 8 ounces of water. Place in a spray bottle and use when necessary. Shake before using.

7) Oatmeal poultices are easy to make. The powder, finely mixed with water is placed on the area for a short time. Aveena Colloidal Oatmeal, found in pharmacies, can be used as a tub bath or poultice.

8) Preparation H cream is easily available in drugstores. It contains no harmful ingredients. This cream stops itching and burning. It can often prove helpful with itching skin.

9) Cabbage leaf is an old-time remedy to remove heat and inflammation from an area. Pound one cabbage leaf until the surface is broken that it and the juice oozes out. Hold this leave on the inflamed area. The leave will begin to get warm as it soaks the inflammation out. Remove the leaves after several minutes.

10) Combine half apple cider vinegar and half water and place in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the itchy area several times a day.

Very few of us consider an itchy dog a form of inexpensive family entertainment. We want that itch to stop and we want results fast. These home remedies can be surprisingly effective and they are inexpensive too.

Dr. Deva Khalsa, VMD