I used to think that my dog Marley was just pretending to have fleas. She would scratch incessantly, but I couldn’t find any tiny insects in her fur. I finally realized that dry skin was the culprit.

I’m all for treating my own skin naturally, so in searching for relief for Marley, I was intrigued to see that Bellevue organic chemist Adelia Ritchie offers natural remedies for dogs with dry skin, hot spots, mange and other skin afflictions.

When Ritchie’s vet informed her that her 3-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Shenanigan, would have to be euthanized because of what the vet deemed an untreatable skin condition, Ritchie developed the prototype for DERMagic, her all-natural skin care collection for dogs.

“I saved her life with this,” says Ritchie says of her pooch. “And there’s still nothing out there on the market [like this] that treats the underlying infection and not just the symptoms.”

The product line includes a peppermint and tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner ($17.95 each or both for $32.95); a hot-spot lotion ($24.95) and salve ($14.95 for two ounces, $24.95 for four ounces); an aloe cream ($19.95) for sunburned noses and cracked pads; and aromatherapy bath salts ($9 for a 180-gram jar, $5 for a 180-gram organza bag, $2.50 for a 2-ounce organza bag) for soothing your pup’s skin — or his nerves.

The bath salts may seem a little frou-frou for some dog owners, but are truly a great-smelling departure from the standard wet-dog scent. An added bonus: Humans can use the bath salts too.

All of the products are made with antibacterial, antifungal ingredients like organic aloe vera, vitamin E, lanolin, beeswax and natural oils. And, with the exception of the peppermint and tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner, the products are also safe for use on cats. (Ritchie is formulating a new line especially for cats that will be out in late fall.)

DERMagic products can be purchased online at Skin Products Online

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