Keeping your dog’s skin and coat healthy and looking good can be a challenge at times, especially if your dog has any skin problems. It is not uncommon for dogs to have dry, itchy or red skin from irritation or allergies. While it’s always essential to find the underlying causes of any skin problem, and this may involve working with your vet to identify an allergy to get rid of fleas, there are some healthy rinses you can apply to your dog’s skin and coat for temporary relief.

Herbal astringents are a good way to handle many temporary problems. For example, if your dog suffers from a few flea or mosquito bites, witch hazel, easily found at any pharmacy, is a good way to stop the itching. Witch hazel is made with isopropyl alcohol and you need to make sure your dog doesn’t ingest it. Use just a few dabs in one bite.

For hot spots, you can use something like Animal Apawthecary’s FidoDerm Herbal Spray. Contains aloe vera and calendula to stop itching and promote healing, as well as antibacterial and antifungal essential oils.

For a dog with wet, runny sores and oozing bites, you’ll probably need to use a thorough rinse that contains aloe vera.

If your dog has dry, flaky skin, use products that contain vegetable oils, collagen, and herbs that promote healing without stripping the natural oils from the dog’s hair follicles. Breeder’s Choice AvoDerm Collagen Spray is often recommended.

If your dog is itchy but you can’t see any redness, bites, or sores, try rinsing it with oatmeal from your kitchen. Cook it until loose and thick, let it cool, and then (outside) pour it over your dog. Let it stay on your dog as long as you can before rinsing or brushing it off.

You can also use peppermint or lavender (or a combination) as a skin rinse. Or you can also use rosemary. You can find these herbs in bulk at your local health food store. Using a tea ball, pack it with the herbs and steep it in a couple of quarts of water that’s just about to boil, then wait until it cools. above your dog. Not only does this rinse help with your dog’s itchiness, it also smells great.

If your dog has some slight redness, you can use a daily rinse based on chamomile, banana or calendula together or separately. Make a tea with these herbs, let it cool and steep your dog, letting it dry.

If your dog has sores or scratches, you can combine comfrey and calendula with sage, bee balm, thyme, and/or yarrow tea in equal amounts. This mixture is good for healing and helps stop any bacterial infection without irritating your dog’s skin.

Obviously, if your dog has serious skin problems or shows signs of infection, you should take him to the vet, but these rinses will help in many mild to moderate cases.

You can also use a good rinse to keep fleas off your dog, as long as there isn’t a large infestation. Cut a lemon into wedges and pour a quarter of boiling water over it. Add a sprig of rosemary to the water and let it steep overnight. Strain the water the next morning and you’ll have a nice citrus rinse to pour over your dog to prevent fleas. This rinse usually keeps working for a week or two. And your dog will smell great.

Finally, just for a good conditioning rinse for your dog’s coat, you can use rosemary. You can use a teaspoon of dried rosemary and pour half a liter of boiling water over the herbs. Let steep for about 10 minutes and then strain or remove the herbs. Let the liquid cool down. You are ready to pour the rinse over your dog’s coat after bathing. He smells wonderful and his coat will be soft and easy to care for.