Itchy Skin in Dogs: What Causes It and How Can You Stop It?

Itchy skin is one of the most common reasons pet owners seek veterinary care for their canines. For some dogs, living with itchy skin is just uncomfortable. For many others, however, it is downright painful, and it can cause loss of fur, blisters, scabbing and eventually, infection. If your dog shows signs of discomfort due to a skin disorder, the best and kindest thing you can do for him is to seek a diagnosis and invest in the quality skin healthy products your pup needs to enjoy a comfortable life.

What Causes Itchy Skin in Dogs?

The medical term for the symptom of itching is “pruritus.” Pruritis refers to an unpleasant sensation within the skin that provokes a person or animal to scratch, and not to a skin disease that causes the sensation.

Dogs, like humans, can develop pruritus for any number of reasons, ranging from allergies to a food to yeast infection to bacterial infection. In fact, according to one veterinary dermatologist who studied canine itching, there are as many as 43 diagnoses associated with pruritis. The good news is that you may not have to go through 43 tests to determine the source of your dog’s discomfort, as between 95% and 98% of all cases fall into five categories:

• Food allergy

• Hypersensitivity to parasites

• Allergic reaction to environmental pollutions, such as pollen

• Yeast infections

• Bacterial infections

Of course, it’s important to note that there are several other conditions that many not cause itching themselves, but that cause symptoms that eventually result in pruritis. It is not uncommon for a dog to develop pruritis due to a secondary bacterial or yeast infection long after the original cause has resolved itself.

How Does a Vet Diagnose Itchy Skin?

Diagnosing itchy skin may involve a series of tests, beginning with a visual assessment and evaluation of symptoms. The vet treating your dog will look for common signs of pruritis, such as excessive licking, scratching or biting at the skin. He or she will also pay attention to problem areas. Does your dog seem to itch all over, or is the infection limited to just one area?

Next, the vet will look at your pet’s history. Does your pooch have a history of skin problems or other health conditions? The professional will also seek to eliminate the possibility of mites, ticks, fleas and other parasites, which are the most probable cause of pruritis.

If your vet cannot make a diagnosis based on a visual assessment or your pet’s history alone, he or she may suspect a bacterial or fungal infection. The symptoms of infection are typically more overt than excessive itching and licking and often include scaling, hair loss, fluid discharge and a foul odor. Dogs who have infections or allergies also tend to lick their paws and face frequently.

If the doctor suspects an infection, he or she will administer a course of antibiotics. Once the course is up, the vet will want to schedule a follow-up visit, to see if the medication worked. If it did not, he or she may want to perform allergy tests.

Allergy testing can be time-consuming and expensive, as there are a number of things you pet could be allergic to. Those include its food, an ingredient in the food, pollen, a material in your home, mold, dust, insect bites … The list goes on and on. The vet will begin testing the most common allergens first, and then work his or her way down the line. Ideally, you will get an answer sooner rather than later.

How Do You Treat Pruritis?

Treating itching skin in dogs all depends on what is causing the symptom in the first place. While symptom relief tactics such as shampoo for hypersensitive skin, coconut oil and antihistamine tabs can help alleviate the symptoms of itching, they will not eliminate the underlying cause. Without treating the disease itself, your pup will continue to be plagued with pruritis. That said, what will treatment entail?

• Anti-Itch Medications: Even after identifying the cause of pruritis, a veterinarian may recommend ongoing symptom management through anti-itch medications and topical creams. One of the most effective medications for treating itching are glucocorticoids, which are anti-inflammatory steroids. However, these drugs come with several adverse side effects, including excessive urination, hunger and thirst, and the eventual development of urinary tract infections and diabetes.

• Antihistamines: Antihistamines reduce or block histamines, thereby stopping allergy symptoms. However, the effectiveness of these drugs varies considerably from dog to dog, and it is not uncommon for them to become less effective over time. For these reasons, your vet may only recommend an antihistamine initially, and then come up with a long-term treatment plan.

• Natural Diet: Many dogs are allergic to gluten and wheat which, unfortunately, are common ingredients in dog foods. Most dogs also have food allergies to chicken, turkey and beef, the proteins most commonly used in dry and wet food. If your vet suspects food allergies, try making your pup’s food at home out of sweet potatoes and fish. The sweet potato provides your dog with the necessary carbohydrates, while the fish serves as an alternate source of proteins that is high in oils and fatty acids, both of which help to reduce inflammation.

• Flea and Tick Treatment: If the source of your dog’s discomfort is pests or parasites, you may have it easy. Effective pest control and flea and tick treatment may be all you need to implement to restore your canine’s comfort.

• Natural Topical Remedies: While natural topical remedies may not eliminate the cause, they can help to keep your pet comfortable until you find an effective, long-term treatment. Natural healing agents to try include Aloe Vera, which promotes healing; lavender and tea tree oil, which help to reduce inflammation; and colloidal oatmeal, which can calm irritated skin.

If you notice that your pooch has been excessively licking, scratching or biting at his skin, the best thing you can do is to take him to the vet for an accurate diagnosis and professionally-recommended treatment plan. However, in the meantime, try switching up your dog’s diet and applying a natural remedy to restore his comfort as best you can.