Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy for Pet's Itchy Skin

Hi, this has been a particularly dry summer in Kansas. My Keeshond had the most horrible skin rash and was scratching non stop.... read a lot of internet sites about what to do and found this site.

I really did not like the thought of cortisone shots for him so got out the apple cider vinegar to see what results I could get. I put a teaspoon on some bread for him and rubbed him down with a half and half solution of vinegar water mix. He was bright red on his groin and I am sure it burned a bit but he was relived within minutes.... no more scratching.

It has been a week now and his skin is almost completely cleared up.... Thank you so much for your site and the excellent information....

I used organic apple cider vinegar $4.00 dollars and saved hundreds of dollars of vet bills.

Thanks again what a miracle....

1:1 ratio for apple cider vinegar with water. My dog used to itch, but after spraying each morning with this mixture, he has stopped itching and makes my glad. The dog does not like it but now he is used to it. I also bathe him with apple cide vinegar mixed with water, I will pour this mixture on him just before he gets out of the tub.

I have seen a lot of improvement on him. I use 1:1 mixture and spray my furniture, room and the bed, I sometime mix Eucalyptus or cedar oil in this mixture just to overcome the apple cider smell.

No Bayer seresto flea collar, no Bravecto or no Vectra 3D worked as effective as apple cider vinegar.

My dog has been itching & scratching for a couple of weeks. Tuesday, I came in from work and brought her out to potty, noticed the missing hair (bald spot) on her left upper thigh. She was scratchping & gnawing profusely. It was so frustrating to see her constantly scratching. We woke this morning and she had scratched so much during the nigh until she had irritat under her right arm. I googled to find home remedies that may help & I came across this site. Love love love it!!! I did the 50/50 apple cider vinegar/water. I drenched her tail and sprayed the rest of her body generously. In less than 10-mins she scratching & gnawing at her tail & legs. She is laying her usual spot on the love seat. I'm so relieved as I know my little "Diamond" is too. Thanks for sharing.

My schnauzer mix has been itchy and bitting herself for a few months now. Took her to the vet got her on meds and even changed her food as recommended but it worked only while on meds. It made me so anxious because I coudn't find any way to soothe her at night or mornings that's when the itchiness was the worst. This morning I tried organic apple cider vinegar with distilled water in a spray can. I sprayed on her and brushed it through to spread it around her body. Right now she is sound asleep and the itchiness seemed to disappear within a few minutes after applying. I'm still observing her but so far so good! Watching her sleep peacefully brings me so much joy! My baby is finally resting!!! Thank you so much for the advice!!!

Thank you all so much for the info on ACV. My Schnauzer has been scratching for quite a number of years. However she has been exceptionally bad for the past month. Recently I found a red spot in the groin area, black and red spots on her leg. I bought a bottle of ACV and started using on the night. The following I morning saw a huge improvement in both spots. The itching stopped almost immediately, she has become a much calmer and happier dog, it's like a miracle cure. Thank you all very much for your input.

hi my name is jeff and we have the same breed dog and I am nervous that it might burn or bother him he is always licking and biting himself and wears the fur off in spots. Will it sting him or anything like that?

WOW WOW and again WOW!! I love my cat soo much and I couldnt bear seeing her licking and biting at her shoulder. When I would scratch it for her she was in heaven.. Anyway if you need a quick remedy for itching... Apple cider vinegar (1/2 water 1/2 apv). Literally, within seconds my cat stopped tearing at her itchy skin. I put the combination in a spray bottle and gently sprayed it on her itchy area then I just gently rubbed it in a bit. wallah!! Many thanks to all you peole who advised of this remedy (well I heard it is a temporary fix, but for now its great) and to the ones who responded after use.

love ninja ** MEOW

So glad I found this site. Our poor little silky couldn't stop biting and scratching around her tail and back legs. She has no fleas. We tried a couple of off the shelf sprays but it only worked for a short time after spraying. Tried the apple cider vinegar earlier today and so far no itching! Thanks for the tip.

How is the problem now Susan? Myself, a friend in Buckingham and a sister-in-law in Thurso also have itchy dogs. What is going on around here?!

My poor baby has been rubbing bald spots on himself from biting and scratching. I took him to vet a month ago and he gave him a steroid shot, which worked great, but I don't want to keep giving him shots. I want to try the ACV and water mix. Is it okay to put in spray bottle and just spray it on him and leave it? Or do I need to bathe and rinse it off? I did try the spray bottle technique just a little while ago after reading some of the posts, and he seems to not be itching as much, but wasn't sure if I can just leave it on him like that. Also, how often should I spray him each day? His fur is so pretty and he is destroying it.

In reply to Angela, many thanks. I just wondered what type of anti-fungal cream you use?, as I am in the Uk. Do you use cream for people? I have purchased an 'anti itch' cream but so far it does not seem to have helped much. I feel so sorry for my poor cat... he will be bald before long! Any more suggestions please?

After so much trouble with fleas then likely yeast- seborrhea, my dog is better. I did the colloidal silver rinse a few times, and the colloidal silver plus coconut fat once. After that the itch subsided but her coat was awful and she was still shedding. I was unable to find a topical flea med that worked. So I douse her twice a day with half half Apple Cider Vinegar water and hope. I put it in an old Worcestershire bottle with the sprinkle. She hates spray bottles. I saw improvement after a week and marked improvement after 3. Her coat is shiny and smooth again. And the fleas are pretty much leaving her alone. No need for the mother in the acv. I also began giving her a heaping tablespoon of coconut fat and 2 teaspoons golden paste mixed with peanut butter and dry coconut flakes on her food for long term care. Acv is great. Just stick with it.

Re: Apple Cider Vinegar

It did help with his itching - slowed down a lot.

Hmmmmm, ACV/Water definitely works, but it's kinda short-term, how often are you supposed to spray? He's had almost 3 itch free hours, but is starting to scratch again.....I'm a little deflated. I did apply generously, his fur was very wet, does it accumulate and become longer term? Please and thank you.

Get him completely soaked with the ACV solution each and every day for maybe a week or so. Let him air-dry. No, there is no "cumulative" effect on the skin, but there may be a cumulative effect if you add it to his food (a tablespoon mixed into the food each time you feed him). You may also need to change his food to something that is grain-free, no corn, no wheat. Remember, when going grain-free, this includes treats!

My Jack Russell has been itching for yrs. Pulling his hair out & making himself bleed. He was miserable. Went online & found your site. I immediately fixed up a bottle 50% Acv 50% water. Sprayed him & worked it into his skin. He is a new. Resting comfortably with NO itching. Thank you for the advice from both of us.

Please note you should never feed raw food along with kibble as the stomach digests these foods at a different rate. Apple cider vinegar and coconut oil are both good for itching skin. Coconut oil will kill anything viral or fungal if applied directly to the skin or added to food. Also flax seed oil in the diet is very beneficial. Its fine to treat the itch externally, but the problems starts with what is being put into the dog, including medications. Both my dogs are on a completely raw diet after non stop health problems and course after course of antibiotics. I haven't had any health concerns since switching my dogs to a raw, natural diet.

Thanks a million to the bloggers on this site and of course to the site itself. My 2 year old beagle, Ruby, suddenly started scratching herself 2 days ago. At first I didn't think anything of it, but on the same night she was scratching and biting herself so much that her skin became red and inflamed and little sores with blood were appearing. I was beside myself and was ready to rush her to a vet but she fell asleep after a little while. She woke two or three times and started violently scratching herself. I left my mum to watch her until the afternoon of day 2 when I finished work. Upon returning home I found my dear Ruby still scratching and there were more sores appearing. I was welling up and felt so bad because in the few seconds that she would pause the scratching she would look up at me with the saddest eyes... begging me to help her. I decided against going to a vet because I have used the internet for holistic remedies before and after about an hour of reading and noting things, I applied apple cider vinegar 1 part to three parts water ....dabbled a gauze unit and applied it gently on her. To my horror the scratching and biting became worse. I then fed her a fish oil tablet in a treat and gave her a antihistamine tablet in (had no benedryl but essentially the same thing). Within half an hour the antihistamine obviously took effect and put her to sleep. I didn't sleep much as I was too upset. When I did wake I went to see how Ruby was. My little dog was wagging her tail... the redness had settled and even the sores weren't really obvious. I couldn't believe it and to see her not so stressed was fantastic. Today is day three and she is scratching every now and then but another application of acv and the same routine should see her back to normal soon hopefully. Oh, and I am putting her on a raw meat and some regimes diet.

We had two dogs who are having redness and inching all the time and boldness. It seems it gets better but it's not. So I just rubbed ACV on their bodies, so far no itching. Will how the rest of the day and night goes.

Apple Cider Vinegar works for me! My Chow mix has had "flea allergy" ??? for years. Two vets, same thing, try benedril, etc. etc. I've tried everything you could think of, nothing worked. Constant scratching, sore on leg that won't heal. Bald spots by tail that come and go. Couldn't find the organic ACV at w-dixie, but got a bottle of "natural" ACV. Everything they have on the shelf is "filtered". But mixed some up 1/2 and 1/2. Poured it on her, and I could tell a difference RIGHT AWAY! Dabbed some more on her leg sore, and her belly this morning, and what a difference! Thank you all for this information.

My poor dog has been going at it for 3months, scratching himself and I got red cider vinegar yesterday and he actually slept last nite. Gizzy is not all cured but looks calmer than he has in weeks. Happy dog lover Lynn

My dog Lila had a very bad rash around her neck and ears. I thought that maybe I would have to take her to the vet! But instead I mixed a spray bottle with apple cider vinegar and water and soaked her with it. A couple of hours later the redness of the rash was gone and she was itch free! Thank you Apple Cider Vinegar!

My mini doxie has been furiously licking her rear end and biting her back leg for months. I tried changing her diet to a single novel protein and this did not work. The vet wanted to put her on a steroid which I am against. I started to give her ACV 3 days ago over a little food and applying it with a cotton ball to her back leg and rear area.... BINGO!!! 3rd day straight and no crying and itching at all. Its AMAZING and I recommend!!!

My dog just started itching out of the blue this summer. I took him to the vet twice they told me it was allergies so I gave him benadryl that didn't help him at all. I think I tried every thing under the sun to give him relief. Nothing worked till I found this site about the ACV- to my surprise it worked. He has itched just a little bit since I put it on him today I think we both might get some sleep tonight thank you for the ACV remedy.