Q. I had a dog with a weird pattern of shedding on her neck and upper back. Someone at a dog show told me it could be the beginning of a staph infection.
My dog wasn’t showing any pain or itching, just the weird thinning spots in her coat (on her neck and between her shoulders). This person recommended a diluted solution of vinegar.
I did a little research on staph infections in dogs and learned that people have used diluted Listerine instead of vinegar as a home remedy for this problem. So I gave it a shot.
The spots have cleared up completely! My dog’s coat is back to a beautiful pitch-black color and it shines like there is no tomorrow.
Listerine to the Rescue for a Dog’s Coat:
A. More than a decade ago, we heard from a horse lover that a spray formula made of 1/3 Listerine, 1/3 baby oil and 1/3 water would help a horse’s mane and tail. Dog lovers chimed in that this same formula eases dogs’ hot spots–itchy patches on the skin that the dog licks repeatedly.
Listerine contains both alcohol and herbal oils, all of which have antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial activity. This might explain why your dog responded so well to dilute Listerine.
Other Readers’ Stories:
Claudia wrote:
“I could not believe how quickly and how well this Listerine and mineral oil combo works. Now even before the red appears on the skin, and I see my pooch scratching a certain area for a day or two, out comes the miracle solution. I rub it gently on that particular area, making sure I get enough on. Works every single time. No more itching. Amazing.”
David said:
“We have a Labrador who comes down with hot spots at least once a year. We have been told this may be because she is sensitive to insect bites or has an allergic reaction to an unknown thing. The first indication is hearing her chewing on herself or wet patches of fur. On closer examination one can see red marks or open wounds on her skin where she has broken it.
“Our trips to the vet were costing us in the range of $300 each time to treat her. We have since found the mixture of Listerine (or other mouthwash), mineral oil and water in a 1:1:1 mix works wonders when applied liberally with a spray bottle on the affected areas. However in these treatment periods we also attach a shield that resembles a lamp shade in shape around her head to prevent her from biting herself as she is being treated and to prevent her from licking off the solution, though it does not seem to affect her when she accidentally has.
“I would highly recommend this procedure to anyone especially if money is an issue. It really works and starts working fairly quickly too.”
The idea of using an Elizabethan collar to keep the dog from worrying at the hot spot is helpful. It will also keep it from ingesting Listerine and baby oil that has been applied to the dog’s coat.
