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!

"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 it is so common, there must be effective treatments out there, right? Causes of dog itchy skin include parasites, allergens and skin infections and there are treatments for each one.

Parasites that cause itchy skin

Common dog allergens

Dog skin infections

Chemicals that cause itchy skin

Natural treatments for itchy skin

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:

Fleas
Ticks
Lice
Mange - scabies and mites
Ringworm (see Natural Treatments section below)

(back to top of Dog Itchy Skin)

Common Dog Allergens

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.

“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

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, click here to get that information in the "How to Diagnose Your Dog's Food Allergy" section of the Dog Food Allergy page.

(back to top of Dog Itchy Skin)

Dog Skin Infections

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 is 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.

Yeast infections my have a foul odor and a greasy appearance. They can develop in different areas of the dog’s body. To read more about dog yeast infections, click here.

(back to top of Dog Itchy Skin)

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. dog itchy skin

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
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 place your dog can’t get to.

(back to top of Dog Itchy Skin)

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, call or visit your holistic vet.

As a preventative measure, many dogs benefit from a skin and coat supplement. The good ones, such as Skin and Coat Tonic from PetAlive, not only foster skin health but also promote the overall health of your dog's organs and immune system.

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

Condition	Symptoms
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
Fleas	Persistent biting, nibbling and/or scratching different areas of the fur or skin.
Lice (coming soon)	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).
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
Ticks	Dogs will often show no symptoms, but you can easily spot ticks attached to the skin - another good reason for frequent grooming.
Ear Yeast Infection	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 at a central location 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 We have not created a specific page for ringworm, but the best home treatment options are those listed on the main skin conditions and disorders page. Click here to go straight there.

(back to top of Dog Itchy Skin)

See also...

Dog Skin Conditions and Dog Skin Disorders

Dog Skin Allergies

Dog Skin Rash

Dog Food Allergies

Dog Aromatherapy

Back to Illnesses & Remedies from Dog Itchy Skin