To clean your pup’s ears, “a few drops can be applied in the ears to help dry discharges and soothe inflammation.”ĭr. Morgan suggests using a gauze square or cotton ball to apply witch hazel to your dog’s skin. “For dogs, it can be applied once or twice daily,” he says. Witch hazel doesn’t have to be diluted, but it should be used sparingly, Tilford says. “Most commercially available witch hazel products are made with isopropyl alcohol, which is toxic if ingested.” If you do purchase an alcohol-based product, choose one with grain alcohol instead of isopropyl, Tilford recommends. If using human-grade witch hazel, choose a vegetable glycerin-based product, if possible, because it's safer if your pet accidentally ingests it, Morgan says. Morgan uses a product that combines witch hazel, tea tree oil, and aloe to clean her patients’ ears. Herbal, witch hazel-based ear washes formulated for dogs may contain other soothing ingredients, like chamomile extract, marigold extract, and sage oil. Tilford, who is a charter member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Animal Supplements Council (NASC), recommends using witch hazel that’s manufactured and marketed specifically for animals. Using Witch Hazel on Dogsīegin with the correct product. In addition, witch hazel can be safely used on dogs to reduce the pain and inflammation that result from flea bites and for dermatitis, Tilford says. “It cleans well and neutralizes the anal gland odor.” “I also use it to clean the perianal area after emptying the anal glands,” she says. “It’s soothing, decreases the itch associated with inflammation, and doesn't sting.” She says it can also be applied to ticks to loosen their grip, making removal easier. Judy Morgan, a holistic veterinarian who practices in New Jersey, uses witch hazel in her ear cleaners and to reduce swelling on a dog who has been bitten or stung by an insect. In fact, some vets are using it successfully to treat their patients.ĭr. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that witch hazel won't benefit your dog. Our conventional vet experts do not recommend witch hazel to pet parents, either because they don’t have experience with it, or because its use isn’t backed by rigorous scientific studies. Witch hazel, or Hamamelis virginiana, is a small, yellow-flowered, North American shrub containing a high level of tannins. These healing qualities are attributed to tannins, the chemical that gives plants and fruits their dry, bitter taste. This is why it is used as the primary active ingredient in many hemorrhoid preparations as well as face and skin wrinkle removers.” “It reduces topical inflammation by rapidly shrinking and tightening skin tissue. Witch hazel is primarily an astringent, explains Greg Tilford, a Phoenix-based holistic veterinary educator. Before attempting to treat any condition at home with witch hazel, talk to your veterinarian about whether it can be an effective remedy for your dog. This herbal remedy can provide relief for humans, but what about our canine companions? Some veterinarians and holistic experts recommend small amounts of witch hazel as a safe and natural topical treatment for dogs, but it's not without risks. You may reach for a bottle of witch hazel to zap a blemish, soothe itching, or treat insect bites and other skin irritations.
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