Itchy Skin Toppers

Mackerel

Benefits: Mackerel contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, that can help dogs suffering from allergies. Omega-3s help decrease inflammation and improve skin and coat health, potentially alleviating itchiness in your dog.

Serving Size: 12 oz per 50 lbs of body weight.

Frequency: Limit to two or three times per week.

How to Serve:

• Mackerel can be purchased fresh, frozen, canned, and dehydrated.
• Cook mackerel all the way through to an internal temperature of at least 145°F.
• If buying canned mackerel, purchase mackerel canned in water only with no added oils, salt, or spices.
• Avoid larger species of mackerel, such as king mackerel, as it can have higher levels of mercury which can be toxic to dogs.

Berries

Benefits: Quercetin is a natural plant pigment that can be found in berries like blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries. Known as “nature’s Benadryl” because of its ability to block the release of histamine, this flavonoid can help manage your dog’s allergic reactions.

Serving Size:

• Blueberries: 5 blueberries per 10 lbs of body weight.
• Blackberries: 1-2 blackberries per 10 lbs of body weight.
• Cranberries: 1-2 cranberries per 10 lbs of body weight.

Frequency: Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety.

How to Serve:

• Blueberries are on Environmental Working Group’s The 2024 Dirty Dozen™ list. It’s best to buy organic.
• Wash and chop as blackberries and cranberries may present a choking hazard for smaller dogs.
• Feed as a healthy treat or directly on food.

Nettle Leaf Tea

Benefits: Due to its natural antihistamine properties, nettle leaf tea may help alleviate itching and inflammation in dogs who suffer from allergies.

Serving Size: ¼ cup per 20 lbs of body weight, divided between 3 times daily.

Frequency: Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety.

How to Serve: Infuse in water to make nettle leaf tea:

1. Bring filtered water to a boil.
2. Fill one cup of freshly boiled water.
3. Add ¼ tsp of dried nettle leaves into a tea strainer.
4. Place the tea strainer in the cup.
5. Cover the cup with a lid and infuse for 5-10 minutes.
6. Remove the tea strainer with the dried nettle leaves from the cup.
7. Let tea cool before mixing it into your dog’s food.

Ground Rabbit

Benefits: Rabbit is considered a novel protein because it’s used less frequently in dog foods compared to more common options like chicken or beef. Veterinarians often recommend rabbit-based foods for identifying and managing food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities through elimination diets.

Serving Size: No more than 10% of your dog’s daily meal if being fed as a topper.

Frequency: Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety.

How to Serve: Feed raw or gently cooked. To gently cook, make sure the ground rabbit doesn’t contain any bones and simmer the ground rabbit in a pan over low-medium heat.

Important:

• Feeding raw meat increases the risk of bacterial and parasitic infections.
• If bone content in ground rabbit is finely ground to a sand-like texture, it is safe to gently cook for your dog.

Colostrum

Benefits: Colostrum is the fluid that is released from the mother’s mammary glands a few days after birth. It helps reduce inflammation from seasonal allergies. Bovine colostrum (from cows) is the most common source.

Serving Size: For the most accurate dosage, follow instructions from one of our recommended brands, Mt. Capra’s Goat Milk Colostrum and Adored Beast Apothecary’s Pawsitive Immunity (Colostrum Alternative).

Frequency: For the most accurate feeding frequency, follow instructions from one of our recommended brands above.

How to Serve: Typically sold in capsules or powder form.

Anchovies

Benefits: Small, oily fish like anchovies are another great source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA). Omega-3s can help alleviate itchiness in your dog by decreasing inflammation and improving skin and coat health.

Serving Size: 12 oz per 50 lbs of body weight.

Frequency: Limit to two or three times per week.

How to Serve:

• Anchovies can be purchased fresh, frozen, canned, and dehydrated.
• Cook anchovies all the way through to an internal temperature of at least 145°F.
• If buying canned anchovies, purchase anchovies canned in water only with no added oils, salt, or spices.

Algae Oil

Benefits: Algae oil is a plant-based alternative that’s packed with DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids for dogs with sensitivities to fish. Algae oil can help improve your dog’s skin and coat health without causing the allergic responses some dogs experience with fish-based oils.

Serving Size: For the most accurate dosage, follow instructions on Adored Beast Apothecary’s Potent-Sea Omega-3.

Frequency: Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety.

How to Serve:

• Shake well and add Adored Beast Apothecary’s Potent-Sea Omega-3 to your dog’s food.
• Refrigerate after opening.

Asparagus

Benefits: Quercetin, a natural plant pigment, can also be found in vegetables like asparagus. Known as “nature’s Benadryl” because of its ability to block the release of histamine, this flavonoid can help manage your dog’s allergic reactions.

Serving Size:

• Small dog (< 20 lbs): 1-2 teaspoons
• Medium dog (21-50 lbs): 2-3 teaspoons
• Large dog (> 51 lbs): 1-2 tablespoons

Frequency: Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety.

How to Serve:

1. Wash and chop into small, bite-sized pieces as they may present a choking hazard for smaller dogs.
2. Steam asparagus to cook it and make it easier for your dog to digest
3. Feed as a healthy treat or directly on food.

Important: Asparagus may cause your dog’s urine to smell.

Burdock Root

Benefits: Supports liver and lymphatic detoxification, reduces skin inflammation, and helps eliminate waste through the gut. Ideal for itchy dogs with hot skin, yeast issues, or toxin buildup.

Serving Size:

• Cooked Fresh Root:
  • Small dog (< 20 lbs): ½–1 tsp
  • Medium dog (21-50 lbs): 1–2 tsp
  • Large dog (51-90 lbs): 1–2 tbsp
  • XL dog (> 91 lbs): 2–3 tbsp
• Tea/Decoction (from dried root):
  • Small dog (< 20 lbs): 1–2 tsp
  • Medium dog (21-50 lbs): 1–2 tbsp
  • Large dog (51-90 lbs): 2–3 tbsp
  • XL dog (> 91 lbs): ¼ cup

Frequency: Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety.

How to Serve:

• Cook fresh root until soft and chop finely before mixing into food.
• For tea: Simmer 1 tbsp dried root per 1 cup water for 15–20 mins, strain, cool, and add to meals or broth.

Cordyceps Mushrooms

Benefits: Mushrooms like cordyceps, shiitake, and reishi contain beta-glucans that help balance the immune system, support gut health, and reduce chronic inflammation—all key factors in skin and allergy relief. They also support liver detoxification and microbial balance, making them ideal for pets with itchy, allergy-prone skin.

Serving Size: 1 tsp of cooked mushrooms per 10 lbs of body weight daily.

Frequency: Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety.

How to Serve: You can serve your dog mushrooms 3 different ways:

1. Using store-bought mushrooms, wash then cook them thoroughly to make them digestible for your dog.
2. Buy dried mushrooms, soak them in water for several hours until soft, then cook them.
3. Sprinkle Real Mushroom’s Daily Dawg powder directly onto your dog’s regular meals.

Important:

• Do not feed your dog wild mushrooms as they may be toxic.
• Dogs can safely eat any store-bought mushrooms that are also safe for you to eat.
• Store-bought mushrooms must be cooked because it can be difficult to digest in raw form.