Dog Itchy Skin - Causes and Solutions

Dog itchy skin is tough to diagnose. Some dogs truly have a problem while others just like to scratch!

This page will cover...

Parasites that cause itchy skin
Common dog allergens
Dog skin infections
Chemicals that cause itchy skin
Natural treatments for itchy skin

"Over 75 percent of my cases are dogs that scratch excessively. These dogs may have an itchy rash, they may have hair loss from scratching, or they may just scratch incessantly. We see more itchy dogs than itchy animals of any other species, including cats and horses." - Dr. Kinga Gortel

So if itchy skin is so common, there must be effective treatments out there, right?

As we'll explore below, causes of dog itchy skin include parasites, allergens and skin infections and there are effective natural treatments for each one...

Parasites that Cause Dog Itchy Skin

Parasites attach themselves to your dog and cause itching and discomfort.

Following are the common parasites. Please click on the links for detailed information about the treatment and prevention of each:

Common Dog Allergens

Dog skin allergies are another main cause of dog itchy skin. The process of figuring out exactly what your dog is allergic to can be difficult.

Fleas are the most common culprit, making prevention essential in the fight against dog flea allergens. Most dogs with fleas will scratch to some extent, but a dog with flea allergy is miserable after only one flea bite. See our Dog Flea Medicine page for flea treatment and prevention advice.

“The next most common allergies are environmental and due to seasonal pollens, molds, and insects and non-seasonal allergens such as house dust and house dust mites. Environmental allergies are similar to those people have. However, people usually sneeze and get a running nose and eyes, and dogs usually itch.” - Dr. Kinga Gortel

Dog food allergies caused by one or more ingredients in the dog's diet are less common but can be more severe.

Figuring out the exact food allergy will require putting the dog on an elimination diet.

We have compiled a step-by-step guide to help you through the allergen elimination process in the "How to Diagnose Your Dog's Food Allergy" section of our Dog Food Allergy page.

Dog Skin Infections

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There are different types of skin infections that can affect your dog. Try to remember that your dog may react uniquely to a certain skin disease or may be suffering from a combination of a few skin conditions.

One of the main causes of dog skin disease are bacterial and yeast infections. These can cause excessive scratching and are usually brought on when a dog’s immune system is low because of stress, illness or allergies.

Bacterial infections may look like small round bumps on the skin and could cause hair loss as a result of excessive scratching.

A dog yeast infection my have a foul odor and a greasy appearance. They can develop in different areas of the dog’s body.

Chemicals that Cause Dog Itchy Skin

Sometimes it’s easy to forget the products and chemicals that we use to beautify and protect ourselves and our homes can be dangerous -- even deadly -- to our dogs.

Make a conscious effort to purchase organic, natural and safe sprays for your home. If a product is questionable, don’t use it! And if you just must…then keep your dog far away.

The following is a list of potentially harmful sprays and chemicals that you might have lying around your house.

Carpet cleaners, deodorizers, and brand new carpet
Cat litter
Cement
Certain medications such as neomycin
Chlorinated water
Dishwashing detergents
Disinfectants
Fertilizers
Home furnishings, fibers, dyes, polishes and cleansers
Lanolin
Leather and metal collars (click here for top reviews of safe adult and puppy collars and leashes)
Rubber and plastics
Soaps and shampoos, petroleum-derived products

This list merely scratches the surface of possible irritating chemicals to keep far away from your dog.

A good rule of thumb? Keep most man made products in a place your dog can’t get to.

Natural Treatments for Dog Itchy Skin

Dog itchy skin can be caused by a lot of things, and it can be difficult to reach a diagnosis to determine the correct treatment. To be safe, visit your holistic vet or explain your dog's situation to our veterinarians via My Online Vet.

Links to related questions and answers submitted to My Online Vet from other visitors can be found at the bottom of this page.

For your preventive and natural treatment options for itchy skin, see our Dog Skin Conditions page. Your at-home dog treatment options discussed there include...

Adding a preventive supplement to your dog's diet
Dog fasting
Additional diet supplementation options
How to clean and treat the effected area

You can also continue to research potential dog itchy skin causes and treatments by clicking the following links based on your dog’s symptoms:

Conditions	Symptoms
(click below links for more information)
Dog Ear Infection	A strange, often foul odor coming from the inner ear Consistent scratching and rubbing of the ear and/or head Discharge in the ear Overall changes in behavior including depression, tiredness and irritability Pain or tenderness of the entire ear area Redness or swelling of the inner ear Vigorous shaking of the head and tilting to a favored side
Dog Fleas	Persistent biting, nibbling and/or scratching different areas of the fur or skin.
Dog Lice	As with fleas, persistent biting, nibbling and/or scratching different areas of the fur or skin. Lice are much less common than fleas, so look closely to confirm which one you are dealing with (click links to learn what they look like).
Dog Mange	Itching and a dusting of “dandruff” around the head, neck and back Thinning of the hair around the eyes, mouth and front of the legs, evolving into patches approximately one inch in diameter Skin patches may become sore, crusted and oozing Digging and biting fur or skin in a ferocious manner (similar to flea infestation or severe skin rash or disease). This may in turn irritate the skin and cause oozing sores, crusty ear tips, intense itching and loss of hair, mainly on the ears, elbows, legs and face
Dog Ticks	Dogs will often show no symptoms, but you can easily spot ticks attached to the skin - another good reason for frequent dog grooming.
Dog Yeast Infection (especially in the ear)	Incessant scratching of the ear Crustiness around the center of the ear Discharge Foul smell Redness Shaking of the head Swelling
Dog Food Allergy	Itchy skin (most common symptom for a dog with a food allergy) Chronic or recurrent ear infections Hair loss Excessive scratching Hot spots Skin infections (that respond to antibiotics but reoccur after they are discontinued) Frequent bowel movements
Ringworm	Ringworm is a fungus, not a worm. It begins as a small bump which expands into a ring that slowly grows larger. In addition to the "ring" itself, other symptoms include: Area surrounding ringworm will often be hairless or stubbly Thickened skin Scabbed, irritated skin Ring-Ex is an excellent natural remedy. It contains a blend of natural, herbal ingredients in a medicinal olive oil base, all specially selected to treat ringworm infections. Ring-Ex will also help to prevent the spreading of ringworm to other areas of the body and reduces the chances of ringworm recurring after having cleared up. Additional home treatment options are those listed on the main dog skin conditions and disorders page.

Following are the questions about dog rashes, marks, spots, lesions and patches submitted to My Online Vet by other visitors...

And following are the questions submitted about dog allergies...

Can't find your exact issue on this page? Our veterinarians will answer your specific question no later than tomorrow... click here to ask a veterinarian via My Online Vet.

For additional research, search for your topic...

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