Apple Cider Vinegar for a Dog’s Skin
Dogs with itchy skin, dandruff, and even fleas may also benefit from apple cider vinegar. One of the best ways to help is to use an apple cider vinegar bath for dogs. The acidity in the vinegar helps balance the pH of the skin, while its antiseptic and antibacterial properties help resolve skin infections naturally. It also helps calm skin irritations and inflammation to help dogs feel better.
With sensitive dogs, a 24-hour spot test should always be used first to make sure the dog does not develop vomiting, increased irritation, or redness.
A dilute solution of 50/50 apple cider vinegar and purified water can also be added to a spray bottle and applied to the dog’s fur to improve coat quality and dandruff. Make sure to avoid any open sores or hotspots with this mixture.
There are numerous recipes that use this 50/50 mixture prior to shampoo to help with coat quality. Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a quart of water and apply after shampooing, without rinsing off, for an added benefit of repelling pests and a healthier coat. Make sure to do a 24-hour spot test prior to this to ensure your dog tolerates the treatment.
Apple Cider Vinegar for a Dog’s Ears
Apple cider vinegar works by rebalancing the pH. A popular home remedy for ear infections in dogs, apple cider vinegar cleans and neutralizes bacteria when used topically.
Many dogs with skin allergies also develop ear infections. Apple cider vinegar can clean a dog’s ears and rebalance the skin pH, but it will also dry out ears to combat yeast and bacterial infections. When using apple cider vinegar around your dog’s ears, remember to never use it on raw or open sores since it is an acid and will burn and cause irritation. Always dilute the vinegar to at least a 50/50 mixture with water.
Use half apple cider vinegar with half purified water, soak a cotton ball, and wipe out the ears until there is no more gunk coming out of the ear. Do not pour the mixture directly in the ear canal. Some ear infections have ruptured ear drums, and if this mixture gets into the middle ear, complications like vestibular disease or exacerbation of a middle ear infection can develop. If there are any signs of sensitivity to the dog when using this dilute mixture, stop applying the mixture to the ear and seek veterinary advice.
Food Toppers & Supplements.
We like the one from WOOOF. Its a creamy dog supplement with 40 mg of Apple Cider vinegar. You just pour some in your dogs food and mix. The supplement is sauce like so it nicely coats the food.
How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears Using a Natural Apple Cider Vinegar Home Remedy
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is often seen as a miracle cure for everything. From itchy skin to digestion issues, some people feel it can clean up pretty much anything in your dog. But what’s the truth about apple cider vinegar for dogs?
Apple cider vinegar for dogs can help in many ways. So here are the topical and internal benefits of apple cider vinegar … but first, what should you look for when you buy it?