Dog Itching a Lot? Here's What It Might Mean

Atopic dermatitis

Also known as atopy, this is a common cause of itching in dogs. Atopic dermatitis is an allergy to environmental triggers, such as pollen, dust, dust mites, grasses and any number of other things. Many dogs with atopy are allergic to several different things. If your dog is allergic to pollen and plants, you might find they itch more in summer, while other allergens can cause itchiness all year round, such as dust mites or moulds.

Some breeds of dog are more prone to atopy than others. These include Labradors, golden retrievers, West Highland white terriers, boxers, English bulldogs, French bulldogs (or Frenchies as they are also known), Jack Russell terriers and poodles, to name a few.

Food allergy

Adverse food reactions can cause skin disease as well as intestinal problems. The most common food allergies in dogs are beef, chicken, dairy and wheat. Your vet may suggest a special diet trial for 12 weeks if a food allergy is suspected as the cause of your dog’s itchiness. Find more about how food allergies can affect your dog.

Infection

Bacterial skin infections can make your dog itchy. It can be a bit of a “chicken and egg” situation because dogs that are scratching a lot traumatise their skin, and this can lead to an infection secondary to the initial cause. In some cases, though, it’s simply an infection, and treatment with appropriate antibiotics will clear it up and stop the itching. Fungal infections can occur too.

How are dog skin problems diagnosed?

Getting to the bottom of why your dog is itching needs a logical, stepwise approach as your vet does their detective work and rules things in and out. This can take a bit of time, unless the cause is simple and obvious, so be patient with your vet. The normal process for diagnosis is:

• Clinical exam. Distribution of the itchiest patches of skin and the lesions can give an idea in some cases. Your vet will also look for obvious signs of fleas or visible mites, like “walking dandruff”. Find out more about Dog Dandruff and how you can support your dog.

• Skin scrapes, smears and hair plucks to rule out other mites and fungal infections.

• Food elimination trial to rule out a food allergy. Your dog will need to be fed a therapeutic diet for 12 weeks and nothing else.

• Skin or blood tests for atopy.
   

Treatment and remedies for your itchy dog

It’s tempting to try to provide relief for your dog’s itching at home, but this can be difficult and may delay diagnosis and allow their skin disease to worsen.

Usually, the best course of action is to see your vet as soon as you are convinced there is a problem. Your vet may be able to provide immediate, welcome relief for your dog while the diagnostic process gets started. Treatments will depend on the underlying cause but may include some or all of the following:

Parasite treatment

Fleas are by far the most common cause of itching in dogs and will be ruled out first. Depending on what parasites your dog has, your vet may prescribe drops, a spot-on treatment or medicated shampoos. You may also need to treat your home.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory, antibiotic or antifungal medications may be given. Or all three! Your vet may also prescribe oral antibiotics if topical treatments are not going to be enough. Your dog may have an injection of an anti-inflammatory to give relief from the itching and break the scratch cycle.

Diet change

For dogs with food allergies and atopy, diet change can make a huge difference. Therapeutic diets for food allergy sufferers are curative for the vast majority of dogs. There are also diets available that have anti-inflammatory properties and even help restore the skin barrier function in atopic dogs. Your vet will be able to guide you to the best diet for your individual dog.

Allergy relief

Dietary change, antihistamines, or environmental management may be needed depending on what your dog is allergic to.

Immunotherapy

This is where, following testing for environmental allergies, a special, tailor-made programme is formulated for your individual dog. This is a process of desensitisation, or hypo-sensitisation as it’s also known, and involves injecting very gradually increasing levels of allergens over several months until your dog is desensitised. This works very well for some dogs, but the results can be variable. 

Dog skin problems and itching can be draining for you and your dog, but with modern medicine and a logical, cooperative approach, many dogs with skin disease can lead an itch-free, happy life. Remember to always seek veterinary advice as soon as you think there is an issue. The sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner your dog gets that so very welcome relief, and you can sleep again!

Dog itching FAQs

Why does my dog keep scratching even though I don’t see fleas?

This could be for a number of reasons. Fleas may still be the culprit. They are not always obvious and just a bite or two can spark issues in sensitive dogs. Other causes could be atopy, food allergies, other parasites and infections.

How can I tell if my dog has a food allergy?

Your vet will give you a special, therapeutic food to feed your dog for around 12 weeks. If your dog stops itching, you can either stay on that food or carry out food trials to see what they are allergic to.

What can I give my dog to stop itching naturally?

Omega three oils can help, but if your dog is itching excessively, you should see your vet. Delaying may let the self-trauma get worse and complicate diagnosis even more.

How long does it take for a food trial to show results?

Ideally, the trial should last a minimum of 12 weeks to allow time for the skin to fully heal, but many dogs start to show improvement much earlier, especially if they have gastrointestinal issues too.

Reviewed by Dr. Karen Shenoy DVM and Dr. Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS