It is extremely difficult to treat an infection of the skin or ears with an antibiotic therapy. Like almost all allopathic medicine, antibiotics can alleviate the situation temporarily and suppress the symptoms, but regaining immune health through treatment of the source problem is the best hope for cure.
General Care for Dog Itchiness
Itchiness is probably the number 1 reason for visits to the Vet.
Visit the Vet immediately if there is loss of apetite or lethargy, if itching persists for over a week or two, if open sores develop or if you see the condition spreading to other sections of the body.
Mild topical solutions can be an effective alternative while homeopathic treatment starts its process. Oatmeal baths help some animals and there are other similar topical solutions discussed in this site elsewhere.
Homeopathic Remedies for Skin Infections
These remedies can be used for short periods of time, or intermittently. Constant repetition or long dosage periods can aggravate a condition. Ideally, you really want to start to see small benefits from the remedies in a few days and if you find no help after a few weeks, take the pet off the medicine and seek help from a professional vet or homeopath.
As with all homeopathic treatments, you want to select the one that best mimics your pets symptoms. Lower dosages to start with are recommended. Treatment can initially lead to a worsening of symptoms followed by gradual improvement.
Apis Mellifica
Apis is the venom of the honeybee, so its use is indicated for intense burning and itching that is also accompanied by hot red swollen sores, that would remind one of bee stings.
A general redness with intense itching would be a symptom that this treatment would work well with.
The itching may tend to get worse in night and heat worsens it while cool air or bathing helps alleviate the symptoms.
Arsenicum Album
Burning is always part of the Arsenicum symptom list. The pet will often start with dry scaly itchy skin and then develop infected sores as the condition persists. Itching is intense without eruption, the animal will be restless especially after midnight. Warmth will relive the itching and the animal will feel chilly.
Formica Rufa
Details on Formica Rufa
Think itching from red ant bites. Redness with itching and burning. The sensation may be of red ants crawling over the infected portion.
Gout and arthritis are part of the chronic symptoms of this remedy, along with itchiness. Itching may get better after midnight.
Ledum Palustre
Best for puncture wounds such as flea bites. The itching gets worse with heat or warmth. Cold relieves. This plant produces a rash similar to poison ivy and can be used to alleviate similar symptoms.
Mezereum
Animal is constantly itching but has no other symptoms. The itching is furious but the skin appears normal and there are no eruptions.
Itching gets worse at night. Bathing can worsen the itch.
Rhus toxicodendron
Simply put, this is a bumpy and very very itchy rash, like poison ivy. Blisters can form and the itching is intense and non stop. Heat and warmth intensifies the itching initially though it may relieve the itch after a time. Motion also may alleviate symptoms so the animal may be in constant motion
Silicea
Silicea is terrific for skin remedies from allergies, to acne, to infections. Itching may not be as intense as some of the other remedies listed above. Itching is frequent and animals may be lethargic. Silicea acts at the core of the body but should not be used for too long and preferably external solutions can work just as well.
Silicea is also used effectively to treat reactions from vaccinations in pets.
Urtica Urens
Urtica Urens comes from a plant. The itching will be a burning and stinging feeling and violent. Scratching and rest will relieve the itch. Red blotches may be present with this remedy. Gout and arthritis are two additional symptoms that may be present.
