Why Is My Dog Itching?

You might find yourself wondering why your dog is itching so much. There are many causes of a dog's itchy skin, so it’s important to get the right diagnosis, so the correct treatment plan can be started.

Nothing can be more frustrating than seeing your pet uncomfortable, so soothing your itchy dog takes priority. Dogs that are constantly itching, scratching and licking can be very difficult for owners too, with broken sleep and the constant, frenetic activity when everyone is trying to relax. The two main things that cause itchy skin in dogs are parasites and allergies, both of which can be seasonal. Need help diagnosing them? Schedule an exam with your veterinarian. Even if your dog's itching seems minor, you'll want to ensure you're on the right track and using safe products to curb their discomfort.

Fleas and Ticks

Once you notice your dog itching, check for fleas and ticks first. These blood-sucking parasites use dogs as hosts all the time and can latch on anywhere. Ticks can go unnoticed for some time until they become fully engorged and large enough for you to spot and remove. Keep in mind that these irritating creatures, which belong in the arachnid family with spiders, can and do carry a variety of dangerous diseases, so it's important to check for them during tick season and any time your dog enters a potentially infested area (anywhere outside, mind you). If you find a tick on your dog and need help removing it contact your veterinarian. Don’t just pull them out. This can leave the mouthparts embedded and cause swelling, inflammation and localised infection.

Fleas are less dangerous but just as uncomfortable. Infestations of this kind can lead to itchy skin in dogs and other skin reactions, requiring veterinary care. Certain dogs can have allergic reactions to flea bites that cause very painful hot spots, hair loss, swelling, and even infection. Spotting them is sometimes easier than ticks if you check regularly, but fleas actually spend most of their time in the soft furnishings of your house and just hop on your dog when it’s time to feed. This means they too, can be elusive. A good way to tell if your dog has fleas is to look for flea dirt. This is flea poo and it’s basically digested blood. Comb your dog’s fur onto a white paper towel. If you see black specks, add a drop of water. If it’s just dirt it won’t change colour, if it’s flea dirt it will stain red due to the blood. It’s a good trick to have up your sleeve. Checking your itchy dog for fleas and ticks is not just a benefit to them, but it can also benefit you and your family. Some of the diseases spread by ticks affect humans too, and ticks will definitely embed in humans given the chance. Wearing long trousers when you walk can help prevent picking them up. Most fleas on dogs are actually cat fleas and they will occasionally bite humans too. Mostly you’ll see these as itchy spots, like mosquito bites on the lower legs and ankles. Some humans, like dogs and cats, are also allergic to the flea saliva and react much more than others.

Preventing dog parasites

There are other parasites, such as various types of mites that can cause itching in dogs. The best treatment for fleas, ticks and other parasites is prevention. Because these parasites can be so uncomfortable – and may also be dangerous – it's recommended that flea and tick preventatives are used as frequently as your veterinarian recommends. Keeping these parasites away is much easier than trying to clear up an infestation that already exists, and it'll keep you and your dog more comfortable in the long run. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure any medicated shampoos and preventatives are the right dosage and are safe for them to receive as well. There are many options available when choosing pest prevention treatments, from spot-ons, tablets and medications, to flea and tick collars to sprays.. And if you do find fleas and ticks on your pet, call your veterinarian for treatment recommendations and be sure to wash your dog's bedding, as well. In major flea infestations, you may need to treat your house too. Never use household sprays on your pets.

Environmental allergies

Just like people, dogs can be allergic to just about anything. If you don't find any fleas or ticks but something is giving your dog itchy skin, you might be dealing with an allergy of some sort. Before you start any treatment, it's best to check with your veterinarian to rule out what your itchy dog might be allergic to. Environmental allergies to things like pollen, trees, dust mites or moulds are common. These allergies are called atopy or atopic dermatitis.

Atopy is often diagnosed by ruling everything else out. Your vet may also recommend blood tests or intradermal skin testing to find out what your dog is allergic to. Once you know, you may be able to avoid that but often, there are multiple culprits and it can be difficult. You could try desensitisation. This involves a special, tailor-made ‘vaccine’ for your dog's allergies which gets periodically injected. This starts at tiny amounts and becomes more and more concentrated to allow the body time to acclimatise and stop being allergic. It doesn’t work for all dogs but can be a big help, even if you don’t get a total cure. Your vet may use medications to stop the itching and self-trauma and they may also recommend a special food to support skin health and help reduce your dog’s itching.

Food allergies

Food allergies are some of the rarer allergies among dogs, but they can happen just the same as in humans.

Finding the Culprit

Food allergies, while rare, do happen and therapeutic, elimination foods are the best way to find out what ingredient(s) your dog is allergic to. The most common food allergies in dogs are to beef, chicken, dairy and wheat. Your vet will recommend one of two types of food for the trial.

1. Hydrolysed protein. As most food allergies are to protein sources, your vet may use a hydrolysed food. This means that the proteins in the food have been broken down into pieces that are too small for the body to recognise as proteins but that the body can still use. These foods are good because, in theory, any dog with any allergy can eat them. This makes it easy, especially if you don’t know what your dog’s feeding history is.

2. Novel protein and carbohydrate sources. These foods rely on knowing what your dog has been exposed to before. You feed foods they haven't had, such as venison, or duck.

If you do a food trial, it’s essential that you do not feed them anything else during that time. For intestinal food allergies the trial may only last 3-4 weeks but for skin disease this can be up to 12 weeks in some cases so you need to be committed to it. If your dog is like new at the end of the trial you can try food challenges to find out the exact cause but many owners simply opt to stick with the food that’s working.

Visit Your Vet

There are many reasons for dogs to be itchy, but the two most common reasons are parasites and allergies. Regardless of the reason, seek veterinary attention right away when you notice your dog scratching. Don't give any medications prior to your veterinarian's examination and instruction. Although the treatment might be quick and simple, the last thing you want is to make a serious decision that causes its own adverse reaction. Whereas fleas, ticks and other parasites are best treated with prevention (which can be purchased in a variety of forms), food allergies are treated with limited-ingredient foods to eradicate the offending ingredient. Environmental allergies are tougher to treat but can be easily managed with diligence and expert advice from your veterinarian.

Itchy skin is unpleasant for everyone concerned and it can be time-consuming and costly to get to the bottom of it. BUT, with patience, understanding and good team work, between you and your vet clinic, many dogs, and their owners, can find great relief and still lead happy lives.

Contributor Bio

Katie Finlay

 

Katie Finlay is a pet trainer who lives in Southern California. She has been working with dogs and their owners both in person and through her online content for over six years.