French bulldogs with allergies: The best oatmeal bath for paws

 

What to do if your dog is constantly licking their paws and scratching

 

If your French bulldog is licking their paws excessively…

It’s probably time to adjust his diet or take him to the vet! Most skin allergies come from your dog’s food or environment. You’d be surprised how many French bulldog owners talk about omitting a certain protein or ingredient from their pup’s food and miraculously see their dog’s skin and coat get silkier and less itchy.  If you have a French bulldog with allergies, here’s what you can do. Keep reading for a great oatmeal paw bath for your Frenchie, which can help a lot! 

Read my post: DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipe

According to this article, French bulldogs have the highest genetic and environmental predispositions amongst dog breeds. With the rise of popularity with this breed, there are many “backyard breeders” and non-ethical breeders, unfortunately resulting in Frenchies having a host of health problems and chronic allergies. 

Signs of food and/or environmental allergies in dogs: 

• Licking of the paws
• Excessive itching
• Scaly or raw patches
• Watery eyes
• Tear stains
• Recurrent ear infections

Weston and Fira both have allergies, but thankfully they’re under control most of the time. Weston does lick his paws frequently, but it seems like he does from nerves and to self-soothe. I put socks on Fira’s front paws at night time. She sleeps with her head resting on her paws sometimes and her drool causes irritations on her paws the next morning – red, raw and agitated. The socks work! This can be a really good solution for French bulldogs with allergies.

I’ve done NutriScan food allergy tests for both Weston + Fira and found out Weston is allergic to all poultry, pork, white fish, potatoes, dairy. Fira is allergic to pork. I’m considering doing these tests again, as it has been more than 5 years and things can change. 

Curious if your dog has food allergies? Here’s the at-home test I recommend.

 

But in the meantime, try this natural remedy–an oatmeal paw bath–made from oatmeal and baking soda for relief from your dog’s dry skin, hot spots and allergic reactions.

 

Why oatmeal in a paw bath?

Oats contain polysaccharides, leaving a sort of protective film on the skin on the pads of your dog’s paws, relieving dryness and itching. Baking soda deodorizes, balances the skin’s pH and cleans. Because this combo is natural, you can safely use it weekly.

Now for the recipe! The oatmeal foot bath for dogs with allergies: 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup regular oats
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• Optional: 1-2 drops of essential oil (I added argan oil. It’s super moisturizing!)

I just filled our bathtub up with 2 inches of warm water along with the ingredients. Or instead of a bathtub, you can use a big container or kiddie pool, too.

Make sure to pop the oats in a blender or food processor to make a fine powder so it dissolves easily in the bath. This is the main reason regular oatmeal is definitely better than the steel cuts. Steel cuts are a sturdier oat and don’t grind down to a powdery finish.

Soak your dog’s paws in the mixture for 10-15 minutes.

Weston hated every second of it, haha. He’s not a fan of water. But I’m hoping this oatmeal paw bath will make a big difference for long-term relief from itchiness! French bulldog allergies can really be tough.

 

Did you try making this mixture for your dog’s itchy paws? Let me know! Leave a comment below and share how it went.