Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Dog Skin Problems - ACV

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CBD and Coconut Oil for Dog Skin Allergies

ruth (41) on 05/28/2021
5 out of 5 stars

Dog With Skin Allergies

CBD oil and coconut oil together did it for me.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dog's Skin Irritation

Geoffrey (New Jersey) on 06/24/2017
5 out of 5 stars

Apple Cider Vinegar for shoulder skin irritation

Our dog responds well to the use of half Apple Cider Vinegar and half water on her skin when itching.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse After Bath Caused Reaction in Westie

Julie (Texas) on 04/04/2017
1 out of 5 stars

I had a bad response to an apple cider vinegar rinse with my Westie. He has a black yeasty skin issue that many of his breed have as well as flea bite allergies. I diluted the apple cider vinegar more than 50% as a precaution and used this very dilute solution after his bath as a rinse.

Immediately he began to cry, shake, and almost convulse due to the intense discomfort. I rinsed him thoroughly with water for several minutes and dried him off all the while he trembled and whimpered.

It took minutes for him (and me) to calm down and he was extra itchy for hours afterwards. Luckily there seemed to be no lasting harm.

There was no evidence of open wounds, broken skin, or even red color on his skin or I would not have tried this. I believe that since his skin was irritated it had lost its natural protection to the acid solution, even though it was very dilute. I had researched using apple cider vinegar before trying this and never found someone with a negative reaction.

We get some relief for him using a Tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner baths every other day and follow with a rinse of chlorohexidine to prevent infections from developing. (you can easily find this as a concentrate and mix it yourself) We also make our dog's food in order to control exactly what goes in there.

Good luck everyone with your little loves. I am posting my negative experience on every website/blog I can to try and save someone else the horrible response we endured with apple cider vinegar. Not saying it can't help some, or that my dog's response is typical, but those who have dogs with sensitive skin should not use this topically.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Flea Allergies in Dog

Elaine (Perth, Australia) on 01/13/2017

Thanks for the advice using ACV for flea allergies.

My little Toby is so uncomfortable/itchy all along from the back of his neck to tail. I have mixed 1/2 cup of ACV and 1/2 cup warm water and poured it over the areas after giving him a bath. I've only just done it and was wondering how often this can be done. Should I repeat this again tomorrow and the next few days or only weekly?

Thanks again :)

Apple Cider Vinegar Helping Lab's Itchy Skin

Katie (Chicago, Il) on 10/02/2015
5 out of 5 stars

My black lab has been itching and scratching constantly. Tonight when I was brushing him is when I noticed the scabs on his skin (they were hidden well). I finally went and bought some ACV that my co-worker recommended and diluted half with water. I sprayed all over his coat and immediately it took effect. Right now he is snoring next to me. This is the first time in a while that this dog has not been scratching constantly. Wish I would have done this as soon as I found out about it but I was thinking allergy pills would solve the issue.

I am a firm believer that ACV is the answer for all skin issues!

Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin Issues in Dog

Mommyof1 (Greensboro, Nc) on 09/07/2015

My 9 week old boxer mix pup was diagnosed with a bacterial and/or fungal infection on the top of his paw and inside his ear. The vet recommended antibiotics and Lotrimin anti-fungal cream. I didn't want to do either but I most definitely did not want to put a cream on his foot that he could potentially ingest.

I found that ACV mixed with water should produce the same result as the cream but without any of the side effects. Immediately there were patches of skin/hair that came off. The skin underneath was pink.

I've been applying the mixture of equal parts ACV and water twice a day for a week and now the skin has gone from a light pink color to a dark almost black color. Also, there are small bumps on the skin. He doesn't show any discomfort when I touch the skin, but I'm wondering if I should be doing something else or if the regimen just needs a chance to run it's course.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! I really don't want to use drugs on my pup. Thanks!!

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs

Tippibevbev (London) on 05/29/2015

I have a little Jack Russell, and she is on medication for her allergies already from the vet, but they do not work! She is still biting and licking her paws until they bleed and has recently bitten off 3 of her claws! Her skin is also quite red, although a steroid injection that she had at the vet recently has temporarily stopped it, but it will come bad - it always does. How much should I put in her food? And how often? Thank you.

P.S if anybody is interested - My vet friend told me that dogs can be allergic to dust mites and it can make them act this way!

Re: Apple Cider Vinegar Cured Itchy Skin on Dog

Suzi (North Carolina, US) on 03/30/2015

I have a pit bull who jumped in my car while I was cleaning it a couple of years ago, and she is the daintiest little flower I've ever seen. I finally got her digestive issues under control with Probiotic 4, and I recently changed to a higher quality, grain-free food, and now she has spots on her head and ears that are just skin that has dried out and crusted over. I tried coconut oil, but it didn't help.

She also has nearly constant ear infections. I took her to the vet in December, and he gave her a shot of something that helped for a couple of days and some ear drops that haven't done anything.

I can't afford the very best name brand foods for her - I have other pets and house issues that are taking my money right now. I have tried several sensitive skin or sensitive stomach brands, and nothing has changed, but if anyone has a suggestion of one that isn't too highly priced, I'll give it a try.

I'm going to try the ACV in the water and as a bath rinse. Any advice on her skin and ears would be most welcome.

Dosage Question on Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs

Shannon (Lake Dallas, Tx) on 03/01/2015

I've read all the benefits of giving my dogs ACV. How much ACV would I add to the 2. 5 gallon water dispenser?

Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Dog's Skin Problems

T T (Tulsa, Oklahoma) on 01/06/2015

Does anybody know if its the Apple Cider Vinager with the Mother or just regular Apple Cider Vinager to use when treating my dog for allergies? Thanks

Multiple Remedies Cured Dog's Itchy Skin, Bad Odor and Bad Breath

Lauren (Crawfordville, Fl) on 11/04/2014
5 out of 5 stars

One of my German Shepherds tends to get hot spots during the summer months. We live in FL, she's constantly swimming in a pool and the Gulf and she has a thick double layered coat that takes forever to dry. Vetericyn spray always helped in summer's past and I've got her on Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Dry Food, which she's always done well with. This summer was hardly manageable, not so much with the hot spots but itchy/flaky and black skin appeared and did not go away when the cooler weather came in.

Out of the blue she also started having bad breath, gray gook in her eyes every morning and she started to smell bad - even a day after bathing her. She got some aid from the Vetericyn and Oatmeal baths but only temporarily so I spent time researching online and putting together a plan of attack.

For quick relief (as suggested by so many people here) I began spraying 50/50 organic ACV (Walmart) & warm water all over her under belly and armpits and let it air dry. I could not believe it - she felt better immediately. I bought plain yogurt, which she loves (Publix), Probiotic Miracle and Enzyme Miracle (Amazon), I add all 3 and some water to her dry food and mix it well. She eats it up like crazy. When she's done I give her 1 Probiotic Acidophilus, 2 billion active cultures, human vitamin a day (Walmart). I also add 1 tsp. of organic ACV to all the water bowls.

UNBELIEVABLE - as of today, 4 days later, there's no itching or licking whatsoever and the flaking is 95% gone. There's very little gook in her eyes and absolutely no sign of a bad odor, she actually smells nice for the first time in months. My babygirl is doing GREAT, she's got more energy, she's eating well and is so obviously feeling much better all the way around. Also, I bought her all organic/grain free treats - have you read the labels lately on the treats you are giving your dogs? I was shocked!! I will continue to give her the products listed above, possibly for the rest of her life. Even though the black skin and bad breath aren't a nuisance to her, I'm hoping they too will go away soon with this new regimen.

Either way, she went from being miserable to the happiest girl on the planet in just a few days and the worst is way behind us, incredible. Awesome website......my only regret is that I didn't find earth clinic a few months sooner. Next time I have any health concerns for myself, my family or my dogs, this website will be my first stop, for sure.

Re: Question of How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Rickie (Va, US) on 07/19/2014

My dog has been scratching, biting and licking on her legs and paws and sides. How much ACV do I need to use? Is it 1/2 cup of ACV and 1/2 cup of water?

Apple Cider Vinegar Working for Dog with Skin Ailments

Brian (Richmond) on 12/15/2013
5 out of 5 stars

Hey. Apple cider vinegar really works. I have been using it on my dog. No more smell and her fur is growing back.Thanks!!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse for Dogs

Jeanglee (Puyallup, Washington) on 09/10/2011

I was just told about this site!!! I am so thrilled... I am learning about the benefits of ACV and am reading about how it will benefit my 5 year old lab. My question is when I rinse her with the 1.5 cups of ACV I am assuming I leave that on her... ACV does not have the best smell, so I was wondering if the smell stays obvious for long or does it evaporate?

Apple Cider Vinegar Use for Dog's Itching

Josephyne (Singapore) on 07/16/2011
5 out of 5 stars

I found this website today while researching for home remedies for my puppy which had been scratching her skin and ears for a while now. I took no time to try the suggested remedy - acv. I applied Apple Cider Vinegar on her body and drip a couple of drops into each of her ears and massaged the base of her ears, straight from the bottle without diluting. I also mixed a tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar with her plain yoghurt and she lapped it all up, like she usually does when it comes to yoghurt. I'm very pleased to see that for the past two hours she has not scratched one bit and seemed calmer and even fell asleep, which is quite unusual at this time of night :) ACV works for my precious dog :)

Question Regarding Apple Cider Vinegar Dosing

Manchesterterrier (New York, Ny) on 02/19/2011

My Manchester Terrier (miniature) has a fungal infection after taking a course of strong antibiotics. She is itchy with dry skin and hair loss. I've started using ACV on her itchy spots and it seems to help. Should I also give her ACV orally? If so, how much? She weighs 11.5 pounds. Thanks!!

Help Needed for Apple Cider Vinegar Use for Dog

Robin4max (Nashville, Tn / Usa) on 10/25/2010

I have taken my dog to the vet in the past for his skin conditions. After 3 different clinics and multiple mis-diagnosis, I was finally told he had a severe allergy to flea saliva. Long story short, he ends up with a yeast infection on his skin ~ rips fur, creates open lesions from chewing etc. I have changed his food to Natural Choice Lamb & Rice and he gets the same brand oatmeal biscuit as a treat. He stays inside year round. He did really well for about 9/10 months, but now we're back to it again. I did get him some ACV today and spray his lesions. Usually he'll eat anything he can get to; (and I mean anything) when I put the ACV in his food, he turned it down. How do I get him to eat the ACV? I started him on organic plain yogurt about a week ago. Will the ACV have the same affect if I mix it with his yogurt? He ate that, but I don't know if the ACV or yogurt is affective this way. Thank you so much for taking the time to help us out here. He's a great dog!

Questions About Apple Cider Vinegar Use for Dog's Issues

Julia (Portage, In) on 10/25/2010

I have a 14 year old, 6 lb, Pom with black, scaly, & crusty spots on his underbelly & back. He is sleeping alot & can't stop scratching. This is the first time in his life with this type of problem. He has always been very healthy & active. We had a terrible bout of fleas early this year & I believe this is a reaction to them. We have taken care of the flea problem in the house, the yard & he no longer has fleas on him. We have had him to the vet several times & they have treated him with antobiotics but it has just continued to get worse over the summer & now into the fall. I have read many of the posts regarding rinsing/bathing him with the ACV. I also read comments about putting it in food or water, &/or giving it directly to the pet with a medicine dropper. Is it a rinse or a spray or both? Can I give it to him by dropper? Can I use just plain Apple Cider Vinegar & what is the appropriate mixture? He has been a wonderful pet for 14 years & I hate to see him continue to suffer.

Apple Cider Vinegar for a Rash on a Dog

Melinda (Federal Way, Washington) on 01/23/2010
0 out of 5 stars

My five year old mixed breed dog had a bad rash on her belly and back. I read about acv from this web site I gave her 1/2 tsp in her food. The next day she had horrible diarrhea and she vomited soome blood. I took her to the emergancy vet and they did all sorts of tests and found nothing. The vet said it could have been the acv. That was the only thing different in her diet. I DO NOT recomend acv for dogs!

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dog With Skin Allergies

Marianne (Fayetteville, Arkansas) on 12/08/2009
5 out of 5 stars

My old dog has been plagued with some sort of skin problem for years.The constant biting, scratching, licking have nearly driven me out of my mind. I was doing everything the Vet said, plus gentle baths, brushing, washing her bed lenin in special soaps. Then on Sunday I tried Apple Cider Vinegar. I used about 1/2 cup to a large glass of water. I poured it on her hips, tail area, upper and lower back. I noticed that she calmed down almost immediately. I have done the same thing on Monday and today, Tuesday. The dog is calm, sleeping and "thanking" me. I know she is saying, "Thanks, you finally got something to kill those mites on me."

EC: WARNING!

Please note that if a dog has any hot spots or raw areas, this concentration of apple cider vinegar to waterÃÂ will be VERYÃÂ painful and burn them. Please dilute the apple cider vinegar enough so that it does not cause any discomfort to your dog. Rinse the solution off immediately with cool water if your dog is in pain after application.