Pets

Dog allergies: home remedies

Allergies to dogs. Oh how many times have I found myself desperately searching the web for the “miracle cure” so I don’t have to make another visit to my wealthy vet. Going through information pages, looking for home remedies for my poor “Blue BO”. Trying to find some way to avoid having to take even more medications that make him so sad.

Well, I have had some success with his legs (for now). This is how it all happened …

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

Blue: [sniff sniff, tail wagging]

Me: “Let me take a look at it, buddy …” (upon inspection, I find what appears to be some kind of sore between the toe … yes, where is the computer)

My friend Blue is a 4 year old English Springer Spaniel (raised in the field) who has been suffering from horrible allergies for the last two years. “To what?” questions … oh how I wish I knew … from what 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’ve spent countless hours at the vet and enough money to take the family to Disney … twice.

So what can a girl do? … Yes, I googled it!

Step 1: Look for “sores between the toes of the dog” … click on the pictures. After looking around for a while, I found an image that matched. I clicked to visit the site … found a chat forum … read for a while and came across the very technical sounding term “interdigital cyst” … wait, I think I heard my vet say that before.

Step 2: Look for interdigital cysts. Let’s read what the heck are these. The Merck Veterinary Manual is pretty much my first use for all things with wet noses and whiskers.

Okay … so Merck says antibiotics again, etc., etc. No way!

Step 3: Find 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 “The Tween” and her friend from the skating rink 5 minutes ago and now I also have to stop by the pharmacy. So what would a normal and respectable mother do? Say ah !!!! 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 butt all the way through the store ????

Well, products in hand, now is the time for the experiment:

1) Soak the paw for 10 minutes in warm water with Epsom salt (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) Pat the paw dry thoroughly and apply generous amounts of Preparation H to the sores. (Check out the fancy applicator hahaha !!)

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

After applying the technique 3 times a day for 2 days … the paw returns to normal and no bacterial infection occurs. 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!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *