Scratching, biting, nibbling and licking are all signs of itchy skin. While it is normal for your fur child to be itchy occasionally, excessively and aggressively doing the above can indicate an underlying problem. In this blog we will go through the potential reasons why your dog may have itchy skin and offer some advice and safe home remedies to help soothe and calm your dog’s itchy skin.
What Are Common Causes Of Itchy Skin?
Firstly, it is important to realize that there are many different causes for itchy skin in dogs. Understanding why your dog is itchy will be the key to helping them, as not every home remedy will provide relief for every cause of itching.
The most common causes of itchy skin in dogs include:
Environmental Allergies: Dogs can be allergic to pollen, mold spores, and other environmental factors. These allergies are typically seasonal, so you may notice your dog scratching more during a certain time of year, such as springtime, when allergens are more prevalent.
Contact Allergy: Dogs can also develop allergic reactions when their skin comes into direct contact with certain materials, such as certain fabrics, cleaning products, or plants like poison ivy.
Flea Allergic Dermatitis: Fleas are a common external parasite that can trigger allergies in dogs. Some dogs are hypersensitive to flea saliva, causing severe itching and discomfort even from just a single flea bite.
Food Allergy: Just like people, dogs can develop allergies to certain ingredients in their diet. Common allergens are actually meat proteins which include beef, chicken, dairy, wheat, and lamb. Soy protein is also a common allergen for dogs and certain, cheaper plant-based pet food brands use this as their protein source. Food allergies are often not seasonal and occur all year round. The way to diagnose a food allergy is to perform a diet elimination trial or get an allergy test carried out at your vets.
Dry, Irritated Skin– Dogs, especially those in dryer and cooler climates can develop dry, irritated skin just like people. Flare-ups tend to occur in months when the weather is cold and dry.
Home Remedies For Itchy Skin
Now that you know what could be causing your dog’s itchy skin, let’s jump into what to do about it. While professional veterinary care is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment, here are some home remedies that can provide relief to your fur child while waiting for their vet appointment.
Wipe down paws and coat regularly: If your dog suffers from environmental or contact allergies, use a damp towel to wipe down their coat and paws when they come in from a walk. This will reduce the allergens they may have picked up from outside, such as pollen.
Regular bathing: Bathing your dog with an oatmeal-based, fragrance-free shampoo for dogs can help soothe dry, itchy skin.
Regular grooming: Maintaining a proper grooming routine is essential for a dog’s overall skin health. Regular brushing removes loose fur, dirt, and debris that can contribute to itchiness.
Maintain proper hydration: Ensuring your dog is well-hydrated helps maintain healthy skin and prevents dryness.
Supplement omega-3 fatty acids: Another way to tackle itchy, dry skin at home is by increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your dog’s diet. This is commonly done through food additives/supplements. Our skin and coat supplement is a great choice as it is packed with omega-3 fatty acids.
Antihistamines: If you suspect your dog has environmental allergies, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (benadryl) and cetirizine (zyrtec) are safe for dogs as long as they don’t contain any decongestants. It is important to keep in mind that dosages for dogs are not the same as for people. Your vet can guide you in the appropriate dosing of these products.
Epsom salt soaks: If your dog is constantly licking their paws, it is most likely related to allergies or other contact-related irritants, and an epsom salt soak may be helpful. Dissolve Epsom salt in warm water and soak your dog’s feet for about 5-10 minutes at least once per day. This can not only help wash off environmental allergens and contaminants, but it can also reduce inflammation, and soothe the feet.
Flea bath: Because there are so many safe and effective flea preventatives on the market today, at-home flea treatment is rarely needed. However, a flea shampoo like the below can be very useful to ensure your dogs coat and skin are clear of any fleas, eggs, saliva and feces. Flea and Tick Dog Shampoo by Bugalugs, Works on Smelly Puppies & Dogs, Contains Neem Oil & Eucalyptus Oils, PH Balanced Vegan Pet Shampoo, Used by Professional Groom : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies
Use an Indoor Air Purifier: If you suspect your dog suffers from environmental allergies, making changes to their environment can help reduce their exposure to allergens. Replacing your air filters regularly and using an indoor air purifier can help to reduce the amount of pollen and other allergens in your home. A purifyer like the below could work wonders:
Hydrolyzed or Novel Protein Diet – A balanced and nutritious diet plays a significant role in a dog’s skin health. As mentioned, a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can promote healthy skin and reduce inflammation. Moreover, if you suspect your dog has a food allergy, consult your vet. Allergen avoidance is the key to dealing with food allergies, which means feeding either a hydrolyzed protein or novel protein diet such as THE PACK. Our wet and dry dog food is free from the top five most common food allergens for dogs: beef, dairy, chicken, wheat and lamb. Our high protein formula is also free from less common allergens such as pork, egg, corn, and soy, making our food a great option for food allergic dogs. Furthermore, our food has multiple sources of plant-powered proteins, are high in omega-3 and packed with functional ingredients with anti-inflammatory benefits.
If you have any questions about allergies, please drop us an email at woof@thepackpet.com
Make The Switch & Save 30%
To help encourage you to make this switch and try plant-based food for your dog, whether that's to help with their allergies, to add variety into their diet or to transition them to a plant-based diet, we are giving you 30% off your first order with code WELCOME30
Or, click the below link and we will auto apply the discount at checkout for you
https://thepackpet.com/discount/WELCOME30
If you have any questions at all about transitioning your dog to THE PACK, please email us at woof@thepackpet.com
