Summertime Itching

Summertime, when the itching is frequent

Itching is the result of histamine and other inflammatory substances released into the blood stream by special cells in the blood. These cells are triggered to release histamine when a foreign substance, called an allergen, enters into contact with the body. Allergens may be anything from leaves and pollens to foods or flea saliva. The reaction to an allergen may vary from a simple localized itching spot with redness (rash) to a generalized itching, sometimes accompanied by rashes over most of the body.

Allergic reaction may be normal, particularly in a growing dog who is developing his immune system. You can expect that your dog will develop rashes and hot spots in the first three summers. Mild rashes may also appear from time to time during the summer in grown-up dogs. Mild allergic reactions are responses from the body to the action of the environment. In this play of action/reaction the body develops tolerance to allergens. Right after the inflammatory and itching reaction, the body switches on a healing response to eliminate the allergen and clear up the inflammatory substances. So most of the time, rashes will disappear without any treatment. And with each exposure and successful healing, further tolerance and less likelihood of allergic reaction is developed.

Normal dogs will scratch more than what would be normal for a human. However, sometimes the itching or the rashes may be more intensive than what we would like to tolerate and some treatment may be necessary. It is crucial that the treatment does not suppress the process of developing tolerance. If the medication applied completely suppresses the immune system's reaction, the body will continue reacting to that allergen and with time, the dog will be indeed allergic to that substance. Consequently, one should avoid as much as possible the use of steroid or antibiotic creams. A mild rash can be simply treated with Calendula cream or with diluted calendula tincture (20 drops to 1/2 cup of water). But if the rashes are extensive, persistent or recurrent, or there is generalized itching that affects the quality of life, one needs to use constitutional homeopathic treatment to stimulate the thorough healing reaction.