• Your dog can suffer from rashes due to a variety of base causes.dog image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
  
  Rashes on dogs occur for a variety of reasons ranging from the bite of a single flea to an allergy to the food the dog is eating. Many times, the remedy is determined by the cause. Also, without knowing the cause of the rash, it's difficult to stop new rashes from forming even if you are able to rid your dog of a rash. But there are homeopathic products that can treat the symptoms of canine rashes regardless of their cause.
  
  

Flea Dermatitis

• Treating rashes caused by fleas and ticks differs from the treatment for a yeast infection. Dogs with flea allergies will suffer rashes and breakouts from the bite of a single flea. A telltale sign that the rashes are caused by flea allergies is if the breakout is from the dog's waist to the tail. If this seems to be the problem, an ointment containing pennyroyal and eucalyptus oils will help soothe the rash while repelling fleas. Add garlic and brewer's yeast to your dog's food, and massage the skin and coat with powders and ointments containing rosemary, wormwood and citronella.
  
  

Yeast Infections

• Yeast infections are usually caused by a food allergy but can also be caused by a small bite or other irritation. The dog will bite at the site of the irritation and, in doing so, moisten the fur and the skin in that area. This provides the perfect place for yeast, or candida, to bloom. If this seems to be the problem, using an ointment you can make yourself with a little petroleum jelly, primrose oil and marigold will ease the itch and soothe the rash. Witch hazel is also a good home remedy for yeast as it helps to dry out the rash and causes the area to be hostile to candida so it cannot grow.
  
  

Idiopathic Rashes

• Idiopathic rashes, or rashes of unknown origin, will almost always respond to an ointment or salve containing oatmeal. You can either add oatmeal to the dog's bathwater by pulverizing a cup of raw oats in a blender and sprinkling it into the bath, or make a paste with cooked oatmeal that has cooled. Oatmeal-based products such as shampoos and conditioners, and aloe vera or hydrocortisone ointments are all standard remedies for dog's rashes no matter the cause. Treating the symptoms of intense itching, redness and swelling with ointments made to soothe the skin will help keep your dog comfortable until the cause of the rash can be determined and addressed.