Why is My Dog So Itchy? + Itch Relief Remedies | Pupford
The scratching, the licking, the rolling around, chewing on skin... It can make you wonder why your dog is SO itchy!
Sure, it’s perfectly normal for your dog to itch once in a while. But when the frequency and severity of their itching have 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, provide itch relief and treat the root cause.
FUN FACT – Do you know the medical term for itching?
Answer: Pruritus
Let's get right into it. 👇
REASONS WHY YOUR DOG OR PUPPY HAS ITCHY SKIN
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 include:
- Fleas
- Dry skin
- Environmental allergens
- Seasonal allergies
- Food/treat sensitivities
- Skin infections
Each one of these can present as itchy, red, irritated skin in different places on your dog’s body. You'll often see the most itching on your dog's paws, ears, and butt.
Let's look at each cause of very itchy dog skin below. ⤵️
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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.
Fleas can cause serious issues for your dog and should be addressed by your vet immediately if you notice them on your dog.
DRY SKIN
If your dog gets itchier in colder seasons, they may be suffering from dry skin.
Dry skin can also happen on its own or due to bathing too frequently or using harsh shampoos. This is one reason why you shouldn't use human shampoo on dogs!
When dry skin is the culprit of itchiness, you'll often see your dog shedding more as well.
Related Reading: Dry Shampoo for Dogs Guide
ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGENS
Allergens like pollen, mold, and dust, for example, can trigger skin reactions. This can happen from indoor and outdoor allergens alike.
These can be tough to handle, but generally working to keep your house clean can help!
SEASONAL ALLERGIES
If you notice your dog’s itching increase during transitional seasons like fall or spring, seasonal allergies could be to blame. This type of itching is usually not long-lasting but that will depend on your dog's sensitivity levels and your environment.
It can be beneficial to clean your dog's paws after walks to help reduce the amount of potential pollen and other seasonal allergens that stay on your dog's skin.
FOOD/TREAT SENSITIVITIES
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. It can be hard to pinpoint, but elimination diets are helpful (more on that later).
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.
This is a major reason that proper dog hygiene is important!
Now... let's look at how to stop a dog from itching. ⏬
🐶 Itchy skin & coat? Check out our PhD-formulated skin & coat supplement, Super Pup. Shop here! 🐶
HOW TO STOP MY DOG FROM ITCHING & ITCH RELIEF REMEDIES
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.
NOTE: Please discuss these remedies with your vet and work with them to identify the root cause of your dog's itchy skin.
There are some fast-acting steps you can take as a short-term fix to soothe your dog’s skin and coat and stop itching while you figure out the main cause.
Here are some popular dog itch relief remedies:
- Baths with a soothing shampoo
- Frequent cleaning of itchy areas
- Topic ointments & oils
- Antihistamines
- Prescription steroids
Let's look at each remedy below.
1. BATHS WITH A SOOTHING SHAMPOO
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.
Some people will even do chamomile & green tea soaks or colloidal oatmeal baths.
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.
Pay close attention to your dog's bum, ears, and paws.
You can also use a dog paw/skin balm to target specific hotspots & itchy areas!
3. TOPICAL OINTMENTS AND OILS
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.
Again, start small and express caution when using any topical ointments for your dog's skin.
4. ANTIHISTAMINES
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).
5. PRESCRIPTION STEROIDS
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 both indoors & outdoors) can help avoid contact with dust or pollen, while a change in walking route could avoid seasonal allergy triggers.
🐶 Itchy skin & coat? Check out our PhD-formulated skin & coat supplement, Super Pup. Shop here! 🐶
It’s important to note that these are temporary fixes for symptoms and may not address the underlying issue – more on that next. ⬇️
HOW TO TREAT MY DOG'S SKIN CONDITIONS
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 to fix itchy skin:
- Food elimination diets
- Changes to grooming habits
- Environmental changes
- Allergy shots/prescription medications
- Anti-itch supplements
Let's look at each course of action below.
1. FOOD ELIMINATION DIETS
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.
This can be done with specific foods, meat types, or general ingredients. While this can take time and be challenging, a surprising amount of dogs stop itching once you can identify a potential food allergy.
2. CHANGES TO GROOMING HABITS
For sensitive or dry skin, you may want to consider bathing your dog less often, especially in colder months. Or, it could be the case that you aren't giving enough baths. It's good to chat through this with your vet!
Worried about keeping your dog fresh between baths? Our dry shampoo for dogs can help.
Related Reading: How to Clean a Puppy Without Bathing
3. ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
As we discussed before, making changes to where your dog plays, walks, and sleeps can help uncover what’s causing the itchiness.
Sometimes your dog's favorite park may have a certain tree or grass type that's causing your dog issues.
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.
5. ANTI-ITCH SUPPLEMENTS
Sometimes your pup just needs the right supplements to help reduce their itching. It's important to choose a supplement with research-backed ingredients that can help provide itch relief.
We offer Super Pup, formulated by Dr. Greg Sunvold, that has helped 1,000's of dogs improve their skin and coat. Shop Super Pup here!
🐶 Itchy skin & coat? Check out our PhD-formulated skin & coat supplement, Super Pup. Shop here! 🐶
RECAP OF WHY DOGS GET SO ITCHY + ITCH RELIEF REMEDIES
Watching your dog deal with constant itching can be tough to handle! Hopefully this article has given you some helpful ideas to help reduce your dog's itching and provide some relief.
As a recap, here are common reasons dogs are so itchy:
- Fleas
- Dry skin
- Environmental allergens
- Seasonal allergies
- Food/treat sensitivities
- Skin infections
And of course, here are some itch relief remedies/solutions:
- Baths with a soothing shampoo
- Frequent cleaning of itchy areas
- Topic ointments & oils
- Antihistamines
- Prescription steroids
- Food elimination diets
- Changes to grooming habits
- Environmental changes
- Allergy shots/prescription medications
- Anti-itch supplements
Remember to talk with your vet to find the best long-term solution to your dog's itchiness.
And if you're ready for a PhD-formulated skin & coat supplement, check out Super Pup today!
What has helped your dog's itchy skin? Tell us in the comments below.
🐶 Itchy skin & coat? Check out our PhD-formulated skin & coat supplement, Super Pup. Shop here! 🐶
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