Pets

Allergies in dogs – Home remedies

Allergies to dogs. Oh, how many times have I found myself frantically searching the web for the “miracle cure” so I don’t have to make another trip to my rich vet. Annotating pages of information, looking for home remedies for my poor “Blue BO”. Trying to find some way to keep him from having to take even more medication that makes him so sad.

Well, I’ve had some success with his legs (so far). This is how it all happened…

Me: “Oh Blue, what’s wrong with your paw?” (looks like a foot from “Smurf”)

Blue: [sniff sniff, tail wagging]

Me: “Let me take a look, mate…” (upon inspection, I find what appears to be some kind of sore between his toes…yeah, where’s the computer)

My friend Blue is a 4 year old English Springer Spaniel (country raised) who has been suffering from horrible allergies for the last two years. “To what?” questions… oh how I wish I knew… so I can conclude… EVERYTHING! He started showing symptoms around the age of 2. He had his first ear infection and things went crazy from there. I spent countless hours at the vet and enough money to take the family to Disney…twice.

So what’s a girl to do… Yeah, I googled it!

Step 1: Search for “dog toe sores”…click on the images. After looking around for a while, I found a matching image. I clicked to visit the site… found a chat forum… did some reading and came across the very technical sounding term “interdigital cyst”… wait, I think I’ve heard my vet say that before.

Step 2: Look for interdigital cysts. Let’s read what the heck these are. The Merck Veterinary Manual is pretty much my go-to for all things mustaches and wet noses.

OK… so Merck goes back to saying antibiotics, etc, etc. No way!

Step 3: Look for home remedies! Eureka!!!

Step 4: Prepare for HUMILIATION!

The home remedy I found included Epsom salt, hydrogen peroxide, and… wait… Preparation H. That’s right, hemorrhoid cream. (instructions on the procedure below)

It’s 10 pm, I have to pick up “La Tween” and her friend from the skating rink 5 minutes ago and now I also have to stop at the pharmacy. So what would any normal, respectable mother do? say oh!!!! I pick up the girls FIRST and convince them that the best way to handle this embarrassing situation is to be completely inappropriate. Why wouldn’t it be a perfect idea to buy Preparation H while scratching our butts all the way to the store????

OK, products in hand, now it’s time for the experiment:

1) Soak the paw for 10 minutes in warm Epsom salt water (I accidentally bought menthol, but it was fine)

2) Soak the paw in pure hydrogen peroxide for another 10 minutes (man, it’s getting late!)

3) Dry the paw completely and apply generous amounts of Preparation H to the sores. (look at the fancy applicator lol!!)

Now I’m sure you’re wondering… “did it work?”

After applying the technique 3 times a day for 2 days… the paw returned to normal and no bacterial infection occurred. Most of the time, “allergic” dogs tear these types of injuries or wounds creating a subsequent bacterial infection that lasts for weeks and can only be remedied with a visit to the vet.

Conclusion: Preparation H also works on dog paws!

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