In this article we dive deep into how to cure a dog’s sensitive and itchy skin as well as the main causes for it.
One of the most common questions a vet might get is: “my dog’s skin is itchy & sensitive, what can I do?”.
Itchiness even has a medical term — pruritus. Also, it is essential to consider pruritus as only a symptom, not the main issue.
When trying to cure itching, we should think that our dog may even have a more significant health issue that needs to be addressed.
We will name just a few:
- Fleas, parasites, bugs
- Food allergies
- Seasonal allergies
- Boredom or anxiety
Dog’s Sensitive And Itchy Skin Causes
Therefore, we have decided to deal with many possible reasons for our dog’s itch, and we have come up with many ways how we can deal with this issue:
Insect Bites
We may say that people instinctively think their dog has fleas if it scratches incessantly.
When examining the dog’s fur, spotting them is not too hard. Moreover, this is especially easy if the dog has a fair coat.
Also, we can look for flea bites, but they are more difficult to notice. Still, we will point out that they strongly resemble powdered pepper.
It is sensible to look for them in areas with the smallest amount of hair, for example, the stomach.
However, fleas prefer to gather in front of the tail, especially on the lower back.
If there are no fleas, the dog might have allergies or some other kind of infection.
As if it is not enough that dogs can suffer from flea bites, they can also develop FAD or Flea Allergy Dermatitis.
If a dog is allergic to flea saliva, it will scratch even more than with a regular flea bite. The problem is that the dog may cause a bacterial infection due to excessive itching.
This issue may be during the summer, but it can happen all year round if our home is not flea-free.
There is also a chance that a dog has mites, but they are pretty small, so it is hard to notice them. It is best to visit a vet to check if our dog has mites.
If not, there is a chance that the dog will suffer from mange, a skin disease.
When trying to cure my dog’s itchy skin due to problems with fleas, I tend to use products like Benadryl or Advantix.
Dog’s Sensitive And Itchy Skin Due To Diet
The answer to how to cure my dog’s itchy skin is often their diet. We should consider the dog’s diet, mainly if itching occurs outside the pollen season.
Moreover, it should be kept in mind that itching is usually just a symptom of some other health problem.
Although it is pretty popular to resolve the itching with steroids or some other medicament, it is much more sensible to look for the real issue.
Do not think this happens only when we change the dog’s diet since these problems take time.
However, it can be difficult to notice whether a dog is allergic to some food. Still, there are ways how we can recognize food allergies.
First of all, they appear when the dog is a young adult. Also, if the vet prescribes corticosteroids, it would not do much good to the dog’s food allergy.
Moreover, if the allergy is active outside of the usual dangerous allergy months, it is probably a food allergy.
Dog’s Sensitive And Itchy Skin Most Common Symptoms?
Redbelly and sore ears can be thought of as symptoms of food allergies.
The itching is often a result of canned dog food filled with chemicals that are a trigger for many allergies.
One of the possible solutions is switching to raw dog food that is fresh and has a lot of essential nutrients.
However, it might not be a bad idea to include probiotics if we suddenly change the dog’s diet.
It is sometimes even necessary since dogs are often used to consuming highly-processed food.
There is another diet-related remedy that we might use. It is cod liver oil, which has become even better than regular fish oil.
Moreover, it will cool off the dog’s skin, but make sure to use the appropriate dosage based on the dog’s size.
In addition, we can make a terrific spray out of apple cider vinegar and green tea.
Different Types of Allergies
Another possible answer regarding how to cure my dog’s itchy skin might have something to do with seasonal allergies.
Although it would be ideal for bathing the dog after every walk, that is rarely possible. We can, for example, wipe the dog’s face with a wet towel and wash its feet.
Moreover, we can always add chamomile or green tea to their water.
There is a way of making shampoo with the anti-itching above spray and some liquid castile soap.
If the dog’s allergies worsen, we can even try an antihistamine made for humans. We need to make sure that we give them an appropriate dose.
However, if there are no clear indications of improving the dog’s health condition, we should stop this therapy.
Currently, if your dog is experiencing some allergy outbreak among dogs.
These may be some of the reasons:
- Processed food
- Vaccination
- Ineffectual breeding practices
How to Treat These Allergies
Although it is almost impossible to cure allergies, it is essential to address them with appropriate medication.
Again, probiotics may even help to alleviate this issue. Also, it can be problematic to find out what our dog is allergic to.
One of the best ways of checking this is by gradually eliminating every possible allergen.
If we notice that the allergies are getting weaker, we can slowly bring back some of the allergens to find out which is causing the issue.
These are some of the well-known allergens:
- Pollen
- Conditioner and shampoo
- Pollen
- Cleaning products
- Different kinds of fabrics
We need to mention hot spots resulting from skin allergies when talking about allergies.
The problem with this kind of allergy is that it spreads very fast.
Also, it is most likely to affect Labradors.
In addition, a dog may suffer from Malassezia, an irritating fungus. In this case, the dog can have a greasy coat accompanied by a lot of scratching.
Also, it is most likely to affect the dog’s odor badly.
Yeast Infection
Also, one of the reasons why a dog has an itching problem might be the result of a yeast infection.
This infection can appear in wet and moist body areas, and it is impossible not to notice it since it is similar to the smell of ripe cheese.
Dogs tend to develop this infection due to a diet based on carbs that turn into sugar in their bodies, and that is the leading proponent for yeast infection.
It is thought that dogs do not even need to have carbohydrates as a part of their diet.
In addition, there is an exciting experiment regarding salt therapy. All we need to do is offer the dog several bowls of water, some of which should contain salt.
Due to the non-existent balance of electrolytes, the dog might be able to choose what it needs to improve its health.
Itchiness Cause By Dry Skin
Dog owners living in places where humidity is low may experience problems with their dog’s dry skin.
The good news is that it is pretty easy to notice if the dog has dry skin. We can part the dog’s hair, and we would see a lot of dandruff.
Sometimes even the skin can be damaged.
On the other hand, the dog’s dry skin may lie in its diet. Processed dog foods often do not have enough quality oils that may keep the dog’s skin in good shape.
However, if we are inclined to use dry food for the dog’s diet, adding some enzymes would aid the digestive system is wise.
Contact Dermatitis
This skin issue is not that common since it requires direct contact with certain chemicals, plants, and medications.
Humans are more prone to dermatitis than dogs since their hair coat functions as a defensive mechanism.
However, dogs can develop this problem if they come into contact with the plant called Wandering Jew.
Also, there is a chance that they will develop contact dermatitis if they come into contact with these surfaces:
- Carpet cleaning products
- Timber stains
- Plain grass
Furthermore, this skin disease appears only a day or two after the dog establishes contact with one of the possible triggers.
Hives
Also, there is a possibility that a dog may have a problem with hives.
This skin problem appears quickly after the dog comes into contact with an allergen. Hives can be recognized as round bumps that are quite itchy.
It can occur in the dog has a problem with one of these things:
- Medications
- Insect Bites
- Topical applications
Although it appears quickly, it can also be treated on concise notice.
Moreover, a vet may advise you to use antihistamines or purchase a hypoallergenic shampoo.
Scratching Due to Psychological Issues
We are aware of how this sounds, but dogs can scratch themselves when they are bored or anxious.
Moreover, it is even possible for dogs to have an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
These problems can develop if the dog spends a lot of time on its own or does not get enough exercise.
We can think of their incessant scratching as similar to our nail biting. However, it can be difficult to conclude whether a dog is bored or seriously ill.
Therefore, we would advise examining other possible causes first. We can resolve this by taking them out for a walk or if we play with them a bit.
Also, we can always bandage the infected area to stop them from scratching.
We should try to give them enough love and attention to apprehending this. Also, we should take them out for a walk as often as possible.
Moreover, we can give them some toys or bones that they can chew on.
How to Cure My Dog’s Sensitive And Itchy Skin
These are al natural remedies…
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the most straightforward solutions when I am looking to cure my dog’s itchy skin.
It can help with itchiness in both paws and skin. We need to make a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar, half of each.
We can use a sponge or a spray bottle for the application. We must ensure that we do not rub it into any wound since it can sting.
If the dog has itchy paws, soak them in this mixture for five minutes.
Oatmeal bath
Although it sounds strange, it helps when I am trying to cure my dog’s itchy skin. First, we need to ground the oatmeal into a fine powder.
We need to make sure that they do not eat all of it! This bath should alleviate the dog’s itchiness and calm its skin.
Also, they should spend only up to 15 minutes in this bath.
Coconut oil For Dog’s Itchy Skin
This type of oil can be beneficial both for humans and dogs, especially when I am trying to cure my dog’s itchy skin.
Firstly, we can rub it on the dog’s skin. Coconut oil is excellent since it moisturizes the skin, which is of great help, especially if the dog has dry skin.
Also, we can give our beloved pets food to improve their immune system.
Yogurt
There is no need to give them too much yogurt since one or two teaspoons several times a week will do the trick.
Also, we should try to use plain yogurt without any added flavors or sugar. Yogurt can function as a probiotic and helps keep good bacteria alive.
Also, I like to mix it with other food when trying to cure my dog’s itchy skin.
Moreover, it is an excellent way of preventing yeast infections.
Olive Oil For Dog’s Sensitive Skin
Olive oil is not only good for salads or cooking, but it can also help cure my dog’s itchy skin.
This kind of oil is rich in antioxidants, and it also possesses vitamins K and E.
All we have to do is put one tablespoon in their meals twice a week, and instant improvement will be visible.
Olive oil has omega-3 acid that is good for the human cardiovascular system and the dog’s skin.
Besides putting it in dog food, we can also apply it directly to the skin or spray it. Moreover, it would completely moisture our pet’s dry skin.
When it comes to oils, we can also use lavender oil, an excellent anti-inflammatory remedy.
Sweet Potato And Fish
This type of food can help primarily with food allergies since they usually come from other forms of meat, such as chicken or beef.
Moreover, it is another possible solution to cure my dog’s itchy & sensitive skin. Also, like olive oil, fish is rich in omega-3 acids.
Not only does it helps with allergies, but it also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Also, it is sensible to substitute wheat with sweet potatoes as a source of carbohydrates.
We can try it, for example, for six weeks and observe if there are any improvements.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera can help cure my dog’s itchy skin since it soothes and cools off. It can even be applied to remove the redness of the dog’s skin, especially on the belly.
Also, buying products that do not contain alcohol is essential since they can burn. It would be ideal to have an aloe vera plant at home to get the freshest gel possible.
The only problem with this gel is that we can keep it for up to three days in the refrigerator.
Still, it contains some enzymes that store-bought lotions do not have, so we would say it is worth the effort.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea might be another answer to “How to cure my dog’s itchy skin.” Chamomile functions as an excellent anti-inflammatory remedy, even for humans.
All we need to do before washing them up is to fill them with a bathtub with some lukewarm water. Afterward, we need to throw in a couple of chamomile tea bags.
Also, before putting in the dog, we should take out the tea bags. The dog should spend up to five minutes in this bath.
We can also apply it directly to the skin, but we need to do that with cold water.
Eucalyptus For Dog’s Itchy And Sensitive Skin
Eucalyptus can be a great solution when Looking for ways to cure my dog’s itchy skin. We can use it when bathing the dog and after the final rinse.
We need two tablespoons of fresh eucalyptus or one teaspoon of dry eucalyptus to boil for ten minutes.
After applying this remedy, it is essential not to use more water. Then we need to dry the dog with a towel.
All in all, eucalyptus is an excellent way of keeping fleas away.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is also one of the great ways how I can cure my dog’s itchy skin. It functions as an acid neutralizer as it creates greater pH values.
We must prepare a mixture of equal amounts of water and baking soda.
Then we need to apply it to the skin-infected areas, leave it like that for twenty minutes and then rinse it off with water.
Also, we can add some baking soda to the dog’s bathing water if it is itchy all over the place. We can even make a spray out of the mixture of baking soda and water.
In addition to this method, it is essential to bathe and brush our dogs regularly.
Although it sounds straightforward, it can help the dog’s inflamed skin.
Witch Hazel
This plant can help me cure my dog’s itchy skin. It is a flowering bush that is quite common in North America.
It is rich in tannin, a substance that can tighten skin tissue. If we apply it directly to the skin, it can attack bacteria and reduce swelling.
We can use a cloth too if we are trying to soothe the dog’s skin.
Also, it has shown excellent results if we are looking to resolve itchy paws by soaking them in a combination of this plant and water.
Conclusion
In this article, we have tried to provide the answer to one of the most fundamental questions: “How can I cure my dog’s itchy skin?”
However, we are aware that it is not enough to stop our dogs from scratching, but also to see if it has a more serious medical problem.
Also, we presented different types of pruritus and its possible causes.
Moreover, we dealt with infections and allergies and addressed the potential issues with the dog’s diet.
We know how hard it is to find out the real reason for our dog’s itching, so we tried to provide as many answers as possible.
In addition, we proposed some natural remedies for dogs’ pruritus.
We talked about how these treatments should be applied and to what extent.
