This has been an ongoing issue at our house and I think many other places where pets are.
We have put together some suggested items that might help some pet and Boston owners. Yet, have no effect for others… It all depends on what is causing the itch… This is the ultimate Mystery…

We have tried several of possible solutions and in process of trying a few more.  Like many of you, I have questions on some of these and will do more research before trying them, others may not work because they do not apply to our itchy skin problems:

Recently I was reading from an article by Nancy Kerns who suggested that “Most holistic veterinary practitioners recommend switching any itchy dog to a complete and balanced home-prepared diet containing "real foods." This will decrease the dog's exposure to unnecessary or complex chemicals and give his body the opportunity to utilize the higher-quality nutrients present in fresh foods. Whether the diet is cooked or raw, the increased nutrient quality and availability of fresh whole foods will improve the health of any dog who currently receives even the best dry or canned foods.”

I can in most part agree with this since all you have to do is read labels of most pet foods or even our own human food, to see why local grown fresh foods would be healthier for most of us and our pets.

"Feeding fresh, unprocessed, organic foods provides more of the building blocks for a healthy immune system," says Dr. Lisa Pesch, a holistic veterinarian in Sebastopol CA. "Dogs who have allergies are more likely to be deficient in trace proteins and sugars (proteoglycans) that are used by the immune systems. Deficiencies in these nutrients will increase allergic response." That would explain some of the itchy…

But what about this common plea, straight from one of our fur friends?
“What can mom do to help stop itchy skin after being treated to remove all those pesky fleas that made me loose hair and scab over? Hooray! No more fleas... but I sure am itchy still.. Can you help me?”
Well we have reached out to our friends and searched around the internet, digging in some corners for possible knowledge that might in some cases solve this one and hopefully give some relief if not only temporarily for other fur friends… I always say “It is good to have several options to work with... If one doesn't work try another…”
So here we go.  Some  do it yourself/make it yourself solutions that  in most cases will be safe  even for human moms dads, even the kids, and most importantly our fur-friends (check first before using on the cats). And Believe it or not, may work better than the expensive, RX only, solutions we many times try..  READY?

FIRST, let’s try this: “I will give u an oatmeal bath!”
We have had several of our friends tell us they use oatmeal baths... So at first i thought you just pour oatmeal into the bath water... No quite... Try this instead!

• Pour 1 cup of plain, uncooked oatmeal into a blender. (Probably not the instant oatmeal type.)
  
• Process the oatmeal into a smooth powder. This consistency will allow the oatmeal to blend and dissolve easily into the water.

Polysaccharides in oats will coat your precious pooch's skin with a protective, nourishing barrier that helps to prevent itchiness and dry skin.

• Place a nonslip mat on the floor of the bathtub before starting the water. A towel will work, but be sure to have another handy for drying off the dog later. The mat or towel will help him to grip with his claws, making him feel more secure while he's bathing.
• Turn on the water and allow it to fill the bathtub until it's high enough to reach the lowest point of your dog's chest. Gently stir the oatmeal into the bath water.
• Make bath time a positive experience for your dog by speaking sweetly and calmly. Place him in the bathtub and gently poor water the water mixed with oatmeal over his coat.
• Gently massage the oatmeal solution into his coat, while talking to him sweetly, for 10 to 15 minutes. If he isn't enjoying the experience, be patient with him, knowing that the better this experience is, the easier bath time will be in the future.
• When bath time is over, pat him dry with a towel, but not rigorously.(Oatmeal is known for its topical calming and soothing properties. It's a common ingredient in many commercial dog shampoos. Oatmeal provides an organic approach to bath time.)

OR

Doing a coconut oil treatment on your dogs skin is also very beneficial.

The  "mask"  treatments help reduce flaking and improve the integrity of the dogs skin. They also support the lipid barrier, which makes his skin healthier and more resistant to pathogens like yeast and opportunistic bacteria.

It’s important to do coconut oil treatments on clean skin.

With this method it is suggested that you should use use 100 percent organic, cold-pressed, human grade coconut oil, which you might decide to buy by the half-gallon tub because. Added benefit: Most dogs will like to lick the oil while you’re doing his treatment!

• Apply the coconut oil to his body like a mask. Those of you familiar with coconut oil know that below a certain temperature it’s solid, and at warmer temps it becomes liquid.
• Scoop out the coconut oil and applying it everywhere – from the tips of your dog's ears right down to his toenails. It is safe for your dog to lick himself during his treatment!

• Applying coconut oil to front legs and chest. This treatment not only keeps skin soft, but also does a great job improving the natural defenses of the skin. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is a fabulous immune builder, both orally and topically. Do one more bath after the five minutes is up, and a very light rinse. Don’t lather him up too much. You wl not want your dog, so remove the excess oils with a light application of shampoo and another quick rinse.

• The treatment leaves skin not only incredibly soft, but also in a healthier condition. You might decide to do a coconut oil skin treatment  about once a week.

Source video:  healthypets.mercola.com

AND WORTH KNOWING ABOUT

Note still having trouble with fleas?  Did you know that  Raw Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil. It contains Linolenic Acid which kills and prevents fleas. It can be bought at the grocery store, at the pharmacy , or really anywhere they sell food and cooking oils.

• Take about a tablespoon at a time (If the coconut oil is kept in a warm environment/room, it will look like a clear liquid. If the coconut oil is in a cooler climate, it will be white and look like lard).
• Rub into the fur or skin of your dog where he/she has fleas, dry flaky skin, raw skin from scratching, or a loss of fur. It will be a bit oily of course, but rub it in very, very well.
• The fleas will die within 5 mins.

Take some extra in your hands and run it through the outer layers of your dogs fur and their under belly as well.
Put a sweater on your dog for the day or overnight so the oil can set, and prevent the dog from licking it up because it tastes good, although it is safe if they do try and lick it, unlike some commercial flea treatments

Reapply each day, or a few times a week, until you know how it'll work on your pet and you notice all fleas are gone and not returning, and/or when you see the skin clearing up and possibly fur regrowing back.
Source:  wikihow.com/Use-Coconut-Oil-for-Flea-and-Skin-Treatment-on-Dogs

AND THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT USING ALOE PLANTS 

SO WHAT ABOUT  aloe?

Aloe Vera gel can be applied directly to the itching skin surface. The itchy skin area of your dog should be washed properly with lukewarm water. Again your dog may prone to lick the area where the gel is applied. Hence it is wise to wrap the area with aluminum foil for a few minute. It would prevent the dog from doing so.

This step can be continued for three times in a day.

Anybody can try this treatment for their dog at home. But you can get   right guidance from an expert veterinarian if more care is required.

It will take almost 4 days to cure the itching completely in dog’s skin. Aloe vera gel has a rich concentration of amino acid which moistens the dog’s skin and drives the healing process without any side effects.

Aloe Vera is not only used for the treatment of itchy skin but also for many skin problems like eczema, skin allergy, hot spots and skin rashes. Aloe Vera contains an enzyme which reduces the inflammatory proteins developments in the skin cells. Hence it is also found effective in treating swelling and wounds in dogs.
Aloe Vera gel is considered as a pure natural remedy for itchy dog’s skin. But it is also important to locate the root cause behind the dog’s dry skin. If the dry skin is caused by vitamin deficiency in dog’s body then external treatment will not favors for better result.

If the dry skin problem in dogs is unattended then there is chance of spreading the diseases all over the coat. Because dog’s basic instinct is to scratch the area and make it tore. Therefore early treatment of itchy dogs is highly recommended and the use of aloe vera gel will help to get a fine and healthy dog’s coat.

It is better not to try other chemical drugs to treat dry skin problems. The chemical creams usually spoil the stiffness and natural glow of dog’s coat. Today, owners are happier for all these natural treatment is ready made in pet shops. History tells that Aloe Vera has been using for various itchy dog skin issues over the centuries.

If you are lucky enough to have an aloe plant in your home or garden, obtaining and applying the gel is a snap.

Simply use a clean, sharp scissors to harvest one of the plant’s fleshy leaves near the base. But, remember, avoid stressing the aloe by using only thriving, well-grown plants.
Slit the leaf down the middle, squeeze out the clear, sticky gel, and apply it three times a day to treat minor burns, mild sunburn and itchy, inflamed skin.
If you don’t have access to fresh aloe gel, commercial aloe ointments, creams and lotions are available.

Are there any precautions? Some experts suggest not using aloe gel on moderate or severe burns or on open, deep or infected wounds.

Allergies to aloe have been reported; if the gel causes a rash or hives, discontinue use immediately. And, if you are allergic to garlic, onions, tulips or any other member of the lily family, avoiding the use of aloe vera may be a good idea.
SOURCE:    naturalhealth365.com/natural_healing

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE YOUR OWN ALOE GEL?

 We decided to look this up and see if we could do it at home using our aloe plant  Guess what YOU CAN!

To make your own, all you need is a healthy aloe plant.

Aloe vera gel can be mixed with other ingredients to help preserve it for more than a few days.

Slice off an outer leaf of an aloe plant. The outer leaves are more likely to be mature. They'll contain plenty of fresh, healthy gel.

Look for leaves around the outside of the plant, with bases growing close to the ground.

Use a sharp knife to make a clean cut near the base.
Since aloe vera gel is perishable, it's best not to make a huge batch at once, unless you plan to give some away.

Cutting off just a leaf or two, especially if they're large, should be sufficient to make 1/2 to 1 cup of gel.
 If your plant is young, be especially careful not to cut off too much at once.

Cutting off all of the outer leaves could damage the plant

Drain the resin for 10 minutes. Place the leaves upright in a cup to let the dark yellow resin drain out. The resin contains latex, which can be slightly irritating to skin.

It's best to drain it out so it won't get into your gel.

Peel the leaves. Use a vegetable peeler to carefully peel away the green portion of the leaves.

Be sure to cut through the inner white layer to the gel underneath.

Peel off all of the skin on once side of the each leaf, leaving a canoe-shaped half filled with gel.
If you have large leaves, it may be helpful to cut them into smaller pieces before peeling.
Discard the skin as you go so it won't get mixed in with your gel.

Scoop the gel out with a spoon. The clear, soft gel is easily scoopable. Scoop it all out into a clean bowl until there's nothing left in the leaf half. Consider mixing the gel with a natural preservative. If you have a lot of gel and you want it to keep for a month or two, mix in 500mg powdered Vitamin C or 400 IU vitamin E for every 1/4 cup of gel you have.

Place the ingredients together in a blender and blend well. The gel will look foamy at first.

Place the gel in a sterilized, clean glass jar. If you used the preservative, the gel will keep for several months in the refrigerator. Without it, it will keep for a week or two.

Use the gel. Apply it to sunburns or other minor, surface burns. Aloe can also be used as a skin moisturizer or an ingredient in homemade body products.
Never use aloe vera gel on deep cuts or blistered skin. It should only be used on surface skin irritation, since it can prevent deep cuts from healing properly.

Try blending 1/2 cup aloe with 1/4 cup melted coconut oil to make a healing, moisturizing massage lotion.

Learn how to grow an aloe plants so you'll be able to make a batch of gel whenever you want. In place of vitamin C powder, you can crush a vitamin C pill and stir it in. A few drops of grapefruit extract will also do the trick.

PHOTOS provided by: Courtney Bryson, Beth Bartlett and Linda Trader