Natural Relief for an Itchy Dog's Hot Spots

Before taking a weed killer to all of the weeds growing in your yard, you might want to reconsider one dark green broad leaf weed that provides pets and us with healthful benefits. Plantain is an overlooked weed that can help soothe your itchy dog's hot spots with natural relief that really works. You can stop their frantic chewing, scratching and biting the natural way.

I first used plantain "tea" several years ago on one of my dogs who was constantly scratching and chewing his lower back and around his rump. The hot spots were driving both him and us crazy. We tried everything from an Elizabethan collar to medication, but every summer, the hot spots returned. The plantain "tea" was a last ditch effort to give him some comfort that would stop his chewing long enough for his skin infection to heal and it worked. Natural relief made from a plant growing everywhere that can reduce your pet's stress, allowing their sores time to heal.

Hot spots ( moist eczema or acute moist dermatitis) is a skin infection that develops when bacteria normally present on the skin can't be controlled by the dog's defenses. The affected area becomes raw and red and can spread rapidly when the dog licks, chews and scratches the area. Sometimes, hair loss will occur. The hot spot may be swollen and filled with pus and is extremely itchy. These raw sores can appear suddenly within a couple of hours, developing anywhere on the dog's body, but are most commonly found behind their ears, down their lower back, tail, hips or rump.

Allergic reactions to fleas, food allergies, mange, ear infections, dogs with heavy coats, anal sac problems and even mats and tangles in a dog's coat can cause hot spots. When dogs shed their winter coats, dead hair can sometimes become trapped next to the skin where it collects moisture and holds it next to their skin allowing hot spots to develop.

Carefully trim the hair around the affected area because it will probably be sore. See below for how to make a plantain tea. Spray the affected area with the tea solution as often as needed to give your pet natural relief from the itching. You should notice immediate relief with the first application. Once the area begins to scab over and dry up, you can discontinue the spray, but keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't redevelop.

Plantain was brought to this country by European settlers and you can find it growing freely in yards and along roadways across the country. Europeans used it for centuries in their cooking and for medicinal purposes. The smaller leaves are excellent in a salad or cooked up and used the same way spinach or other greens are used.

Today, Plantain is mainly used for applying to wounds and as a natural treatment for bronchitis and asthma. Plantain is astringent, cooling, antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitoxin and an emollient to name just a few of it's medicinal properties. This common weed can calm an itchy dog's hot spots and reduce their stressful chewing. It soothes insect bites, stings from bees, wasps or other stinging insects, rashes, including diaper rash, poison ivy or oak, and scrapes or other wounds. If you don't have any tea or ointment around, you can grab a couple of leaves, chew them and apply directly to the skin as a poultice. The juice from crushed leaves can help ease the pain of a sunburn.

How to make Plantain tea for natural relief:

Take a small handful of fresh leaves and add them to a cup or two of water. Bring to a gentle boil, turn off the heat and let it steep for about 15 minutes. You can relieve your itchy dog's hot spots by dabbing the cooled down tea directly to his sores or put it in a spray bottle and spray the affected area as needed. It's good for about two weeks if using it as a natural relief for your pet. If you find you enjoy drinking the tea, you can keep the tea refrigerated for up to 3 or 4 days.

To make Plantain oil that can be applied to the skin for cooling natural relief for most skin conditions that can also promote healing and reduce scarring, chop up fresh plantain leaves, rinse well and fill a glass container with them. Cover the leaves with any kind of vegetable oil or olive oil, cover and sit in the sun for about 2 weeks. You can also put your container on a plate or in a bowl for 6 weeks. It will turn a dark green color. Strain the leaves from the oil.

To make a plantain ointment, add 1 or 2 ounces of beeswax to the oil. Pour the oil in a saucepan over low heat, just enough to warm it, add the beeswax and stir until it melts. The more beeswax you add, the harder the ointment will become. Pour into clean jars. The ointment can be used to treat wounds, cuts, scrapes, stings, and any other uses you can think of. It's safe for use on pets and people.

As with any medication, commercial or natural, always monitor for any signs of allergic reactions. Plantain is a little known wonder plant that's usually walked over and ignored, but it can provide natural relief for an itchy dog's hot spots and treat a host of other skin conditions. Plus, it's a healthy food we can eat.

Deb Jackson and Karen Bergeron, Plantain, Alternative Nature Online Herbal

Susun S. Weed, Plantain, Wise Woman Herbal Ezine

Norma Bennett Woolf, Hot Spots, Dog Owner's Guide
Plantain, Prairieland Herbs