If your dog is frequently and severely itching themself, it could be a result of fleas, dry skin, allergens, and more. Find out what to do about your dog's itchiness here.

The scratching, the licking, the rolling around – you’ve got yourself an itchy dog. 

Sure, it’s perfectly normal for your dog to itch once in a while. But when the frequency and severity of their itching has YOU scratching your head, it’s time to get to the bottom of the issue. 

Today we’re going to tackle some common reasons why your dog is so itchy, as well as what you can do to alleviate symptoms and treat the root cause. 

FUN FACT – Do you know the medical term for itching?
Answer: Pruritus

Each dog has a different level of skin sensitivity and can experience itching from different things. But more often than not, the culprit is a common reaction to something in your dog’s environment. 

Some of the most common explanations for why your dog is so itchy:

Fleas – Flea bites cause an allergic reaction in dogs, similar to how mosquito bites do in humans. You may or may not see fleas on your dog’s body once they’ve been bitten, but if they’re present on the skin you’ll most likely see them on their hind legs or the base of their tail.

Dry skin – If your dog gets itchier in colder seasons, they may be suffering from dry skin. Dry skin can happen on its own or due to bathing too frequently or using harsh shampoos. 

Environmental allergens – Allergens like pollen, mold, and dust for example can trigger skin reactions. This can happen from indoor and outdoor allergens alike. 

Seasonal allergens – If you notice your dog’s itching increase during transitional seasons like fall or spring, seasonal allergies could be to blame . 

Food – Food allergies and sensitivities don’t just present with gastrointestinal issues – they can cause itchy skin too. Dogs can experience allergies to common food ingredients like chicken, beef, wheat, and dairy. 

Skin infections – Bacterial or yeast infections can be very uncomfortable for your dog. These are most likely to happen in areas where the skin is folded – ears, neck, under the tail, between the toes, and in facial folds for dogs who have them. 

Each one of these can present as itchy, red, irritated skin in different places on your dog’s body. 

The key to eliminating itchiness in your dog is to get to the root cause. Of course, this can take a little time and we don’t want to see our pups suffering or putting themselves at risk for infection by continuously scratching. 

There are some fast-acting steps you can take as a short-term fix to soothe your dog’s skin and stop itching while you figure out the main cause.

This is a fast-acting way to relieve itching and irritation on the spot. Be sure to bathe in lukewarm to warm water (not hot) and use a gentle shampoo like Sudsy that is made from natural ingredients including soothing essential oils.

2. FREQUENT CLEANING OF YOUR DOG'S ITCHY AREAS

It’s important to keep your dog’s itchy areas clean. A gentle wipe with a wet, soft cloth after playtime or spending time outside can prevent sensitive areas from becoming more irritated. 

A word of caution for using topical treatments: just because you use it on yourself doesn’t mean you can use it on your dog. Some ingredients and essential oils are toxic to  dogs, so it’s best to stick to single ingredients like coconut oil for soothing skin.

Medications like antihistamines (think Benadryl for humans), can control symptoms, but may make your dog drowsy. Be sure to talk through dosing carefully with your vet to avoid uncomfortable side effects (and before giving your dog any medication).

For severe skin itchiness, your vet may prescribe steroids. Typically, this is done as a last resort as there are side effects associated with steroids including increased thirst, increased urination, weight gain, and behavioral changes.

Also, if you believe your dog is being exposed to an allergen, do your best to keep them away. For example, getting a raised dog bed (for indoors or outdoors) can help avoid contact with dust or pollen, while a change in walking route could avoid seasonal allergy triggers.

It’s important to note that these are temporary fixes for symptoms and may not address the underlying issue – more on that next. 

While it’s important to get symptoms under control, it’s even more important to figure out what is really causing the itching and irritation. That way, you can avoid future flare-ups and keep your dog happy, healthy, and itch-free.

It’s important to work with your vet whenever your dog experiences excessive itching. They can help assess the situation, offer treatments, and give you guidelines for finding and eliminating allergens.

Here are some courses of action your vet may suggest:

This is basically a long-term experiment where you eliminate different food groups from your dog’s diet for a few weeks at a time, to see if you can identify a trigger for itchiness.

For sensitive or dry skin, you may want to consider bathing your dog less often, especially in colder months. Worried about keeping your dog fresh between baths? Our dry shampoo for dogs can help.

As we discussed before, making changes to where your dog plays, walks, and sleeps can help uncover what’s causing the itchiness.

4. ALLERGY SHOTS/PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

If you are not able to eliminate a skin irritant, you may be able to block the reaction before it starts with a prescription treatment.

In many cases, you and your vet will be able to identify the source of the itching and make changes to stop it permanently. In others, a root cause may not be determined – but symptoms can be easily managed with ongoing care.

Either way, your dog’s itching – albeit annoying – is likely not a serious cause for concern. We’re confident that you and your vet can help get your dog relief soon!

Why is My Dog So Itchy? | Pupford