Bring out the tissues, Claritin, nasal spray and herbal tea because allergy season is here and it is LEGIT. I don’t know about you guys, but when summer hits, my allergies go crazy. But, I know you’re not here to read about my human problems. So to the point- Drake, my poor pup, gets hit by allergies bad! Yes, allergy season is definitely a thing for dogs too and the struggle is real.

Drake recently began itching like mad. I know this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it got to the point where he was itching so much, that he was starting to rub his tummy raw. I gave him baths with oatmeal and lavender, which definitely helped, but still- he was waking us up in the middle of the night with his loud gnawing and scratching.

Being the hippy that I am, I turned to the internet and began searching for an at home solution to all of the itching. Obviously, I found countless ideas, but the one that was most prevalent was my true love- Apple Cider Vinegar!

I already use ACV for so many things, especially when it comes to Drake (check out my post on natural flea preventions) so I was beyond excited to give it a try for his allergies.

Drumroll for the EASIEST DIY ever…

Three simple ingredients:

½ cup of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar (I only use THIS brand)
½ cup of Organic Green Tea
1 cup of Water (filtered is best)

I mixed together with the Braggs ACV, Green Tea (brewed as if I were going to drink it myself) and water. Let it cool to room temperature and then pour the mixture into a spray bottle.

I sprayed this directly onto Drake’s tummy (make sure there are no open sores because of the acidity in the ACV could sting a bit) and it gave him INSTANT relief.

Why? Apple Cider Vinegar & Green Tea both have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe your pups irritated skin. In addition, Green Tea has something fancy within called catechins which also work to reduce irritation, redness, and swelling on the skin.

As you can assume, this is not a cure for allergies, but it does definitely help ease the annoyance and discomfort they bring. You will need to reapply every few hours or so and should definitely contact your vet if you find any sores or cuts on your pup that develop from their scratching.

Give it a shot and tag us on Instagram @gals.best.friend so we can hear about your experiences with ACV and the benefits it brings to you and your puppers!

Jessica Cobos

Jessica is the Co-Founder of Gal’s Best Friend and the Southern Editor. She lives in Dallas with her two rescue pups, Drake and Pippa. Jessica is an elementary school teacher who spends all of her free time obsessing over her dogs and working with rescue groups in her community to spread awareness and education about adoption.