Why is My Dog Itching?



Listening to and watching your dog itching and scratching and licking is most unpleasant. First, you know your pet is miserable. Second, it seems like it just never stops. And leaving your dog's itching untreated can lead to a host of problems from topical damage to the skin to secondary bacterial infections. But what is causing the itch and what can you do about it? Following are the top reasons for dog itching.

dog grooming

Nutrition - one of the leading reasons for your dog's itchy skin is a poor quality diet. Luckily, this is also the easiest to fix. When a dog is not eating healthy dog food, they are not getting the nourishment their body is craving, and their immune system cannot function properly. This makes it virtually impossible to fight off the simplest irritant.

Don't rely on what anyone tells you about your dog food. Only the dog food ingredients listed on your dog food can tell you if you are feeding your dog the healthiest dog food. A natural dog food is best for your pet. Other ways to boost the nutritional value are specially formulated dog multi-vitamins.

Inhalant Allergies - dog itching from inhalant allergies, or atopy, occur from allergens that are breathed in. Dogs can be allergic to the same airborne allergens that affect humans, such as pollen, grasses, and dust. Other allergens that we don't usually think about are pesticides (especially those used in yards and gardens) and household cleaners. Remember, your dog is all over your floor and yard and can develop an allergy to these types of chemical irritants. Unfortunately, inhalant allergies are difficult to diagnose. If your dog has an airborne allergy the best you can do is to try to control them, as they usually cannot be eliminated.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis - contact dermatitis occurs when an irritant comes in contact with the skin. Common irritants are shampoo residue, flea collars, flea treatments applied to the skin, and household cleaners (usually through the pads on their feet). If you believe this could be the problem, look into all-natural products for your dog.

Insect Bites - bites from fleas, mites, ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects are common reasons for dog itching. Some dogs even develop an allergy to flea bites - so much so that even one flea bite could leave you believing your dog is infested with fleas! You will need to control the problem, preferably using natural products. Keep in mind that your house might also be infested and need to be treated as well. And remember, most chemical products will only irritate your dogs already sensitive skin - use natural products whenever possible. If you believe your dog has mites (most of which are invisible to the naked eye), you should take them to the vet for treatment.

Food Allergies - lots of people think their dog has food allergies when their dogs have endless itching and scratching. As stated above, it is more likely an overall nutrition problem that causes a sensitivity to a particular food or allergen. Determining which food is causing the problem for a food allergy requires the elimination diet - where you must eliminate all common allergens and slowly reintroduce ingredients individually to determine which food is the culprit.

Dog Itching