Skin and fur
Itchy skin is a very common problem in dogs. It can be caused by all sorts of things (annoyingly). Here, you’ll find our top tips on caring for pooches with irritated skin - recognising the signs and symptoms, understanding some causes, advice for care and support, plus choosing the right kind of food to soothe and look after the condition of our precious friends’ skin. Cue the slow-motion shiny fur shake. Oh, and if you happen to feel itchy during any point of this article due to the many “itch” references, we can only apologise.
“A GOOD DIET IS THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR OVERALL HEALTH, INCLUDING HEALTHY SKIN AND FUR”
SYMPTOMS OF ITCHY SKIN
If your dog has itchy skin, it will be pretty obvious. They’ll no doubt be scratching constantly – reaching behind the ears for that sweet spot, rattling the tag on their collars, leaving clumps of hair all over the place and generally being quite restless. The scratching might be a little annoying for you, but you can imagine how annoying and distressing it is for them. It’s also a clear sign to take your little one to the vet for a health check. .
SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Besides itching, there are a few other indications that can signal that something is wrong.
Itching
As mentioned, your dog may rub along the furniture or the floor to try and get relief from their itch
Scratching
Your dog might scratch at themselves in one particular spot or all over
Licking
If they lick itchy areas of their skin too much, they can quickly make themselves feel even more sore
Shaking their head
This can be a sign of an ear infection, which can be linked to a more generalised skin complaint
Hair loss
Bald areas or patches of hair loss
Dry / greasy skin
Or a dull appearance to their coat
CAUSES OF ITCHY SKIN
So, what exactly can cause irritated skin for our four-legged friends? Identifying the cause will help you to both cure the issue and stop it from reoccurring again.
Fleas
This is likely to be the reason why your dog is itching and scratching. Why? The probability that your pooch will encounter fleas at some point in their life is pretty high. Not fun. But! It’s a relatively easy problem to treat. Buh bye, pesky parasites.
Mites
These are microscopic parasites that live in their fur or ears and can be caught from other dogs or from wildlife (such as foxes). They’re a fairly common issue for dogs and can cause a few different skin problems, including dry skin and hair loss.
Skin infection
If your dog has broken their skin and made themselves sore from itching and scratching, they’re more likely to get a secondary skin infection from bacteria and yeasts. Your vet will be able to diagnose the skin condition by running tests on your little one’s skin.
Allergies
Allergies are a very common cause of itching and scratching in dogs, and there are many substances that can act as allergens, such as inhaled allergens, flea allergies, contact dermatitis as well as food allergies. But don’t fret—allergies are often very treatable. Visit your vet to diagnose the cause. It may help to monitor your dog’s symptoms, for instance, the season an allergy occurs, to share with your veterinarian.
Dry skin
Just like us, if your dog has dry skin, they’ll likely feel itchy too. Dry skin can be a result of a poor diet or health conditions that your vet can check out. It can also be caused (at least, partly) by their environment. For instance, when heating is on during winter, the change in your dog’s temperature could ignite a skin condition.
Dry skin is not a serious health issue (unless your pooch is non-stop scratching themselves) and can be treated easily. Something as simple as a humidifier for instance can help. But it is always worth taking a trip to the vets to inspect first!
If your vet rules out any medical cause for the symptoms, they may tell you that your dog has a sensitive digestion and advise on a particular type of diet.
Care and support
If your pup is dealing with any of the above, it’s obviously not the most pleasant thing in the world to deal with. Besides giving them extra love, treats and cuddles, it’s important to get professional advice and a diagnosis from a vet. That way you can use the correct treatment and get your favourite companion back to their usual tail-wagging self. Hozzah.
There are a few other treatments and methods that can help. These include:
• Vigilant flea control. This is a must. Make sure all the pets in your household are treated for fleas and be sure to vacuum and clean the house thoroughly, and often.
• Choosing hypoallergenic washing powder to launder your dog’s bedding may help some itchy dogs who have a sensitivity to certain washing powders.
• Bathe your dog using soothing, hypoallergenic and moisturising shampoos (often containing oatmeal or aloe vera) to help soothe and calm their itchy skin.
• Keeping your dog’s coat in good condition will help it to stay healthy and itch free.
• Bathe your dog using soothing, hypoallergenic and moisturising shampoos (often containing oatmeal or aloe vera) to help soothe and calm their itchy skin.
• Finally, it’s worth taking a look at your furry friend’s diet to identify any dietary sensitivities or allergies. Trailing a wheat free and/or gluten free diet may benefit your dog.
“IT’S IMPORTANT TO GET PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE VET. THAT WAY YOU CAN USE THE CORRECT TREATMENT.”
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