One of the most common problems dogs experience is itching or itching of the skin. In a study published in April 2014, veterinary researchers confirmed that essential oils can be used successfully to solve one of the most common causes of itching in dogs.
Pruritus is the medical term used to define the itchy sensation who has a dog or the scratching sensation, rub, chew or lick your hair and skin, this is also an indicator of inflamed skin.
The intense scratching with the time can lead to partial or total hair loss.
Causes of itching and scratching
There may be many causes for itching and scratching and these include external parasites such as fleas, cheyletiella, scabies, demodex, lice, or poultry mites fungal growth on the skin.
Services of vet diagnosis They are helpful in determining the exact cause of the itch, as different causes require different treatments.
Itching is most commonly found in dogs, but can sometimes be present in cats. The skin in certain areas can become red, inflamed and infected.
La Malassezia dermatitis is one of the most common causes of itchy skin.
Description of the disease
La Malassezia dermatitis It can occur in dogs of any breed, age, or sex. It is most common in white terrier, dachshund, spaniel, American cocker spaniel, Shih Tzu, and German shepherd.
The itching causes the dog to want to chew on your skin And in some cases, the reaction is so intense that the condition can be diagnosed as a neurological or behavioral problem.
The illness may increase during the summer months, but it can happen at any time of the year, especially in warmer climates, that is why Malassezia dermatitis in the summer months it grows with the allergy season and high humidity.
The most common clinical sign of Malassezia dermatitis it is moderate to severe itching [itchy inflamed skin], which may be only partially sensitive to corticosteroids and antibiotics. Affected animals usually have a unpleasant smell, which some doctors refer to as yeast or rancid.
Researchers use essential oils to treat Malassezia dermatitis
The results of the research published in April 2014, in the Journal of Medical Mycology demonstrate the benefits of using essential oils for the treatment of Malassezia dermatitis.
Los investigadores treated 20 dogs with dermatitis caused by Malassezia pachydermatis, using a blend of essential oils containing bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) 1%, lavender (Lavandula officinalis) 1%, oregano (Origanum vulgare) 0,5%, marjoram (Origanum majorana) 0,5%, peppermint (Mentha piperita) 0,5% and Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum var. Italicum) 0,5%.
These essential oils they were mixed in a base of coconut oil and sweet almonds.
This oil blend was applied topically to twenty animals twice a day for 1 month, apart from the fact that another group of ten animals was treated with a conventional therapy based on ketoconazole, about 10 mg / kg per day and 2% chlorhexidine given twice a week for 3 weeks.
At the end of the treatment periods, the researchers found that both groups of animals had significant improvements in its clinical state, without adverse effects. Follow-up visits were carried out at 6 months to observe if there was a recurrence of the original disease condition and they found that both groups retained their clinical improvements.
Conclusion, the essential oil blend they took was a safe and natural solution to a common problem, offering an important alternative to the conventional pharmaceutical treatments.