Your dog’s itching and biting can drive you crazy, but that probably still doesn’t meet the extent of pain your dog is facing. An occasional itch here, a scratch there is okay. But what do you do when your dog is constantly trying to grab a piece of themselves to relieve pain? You’d find the reasons behind it and try treating it with the help of the vet. Herein, we discuss major causes of itchy skin in dogs and some remedies for the same:
Environmental allergens
Environmental allergens are one of the most common causes of itchy skin in dogs. If rashes and itching persist in the chest, feet, face, and stomach, chances are that they are caused by surrounding irritants. Grass, pollen, dust mites, and dander can often lead to a dog’s itchy skin and scratchy behavior. The allergy can be confirmed with the help of blood tests and the doctor will accordingly prescribe tablets, injections, and/or shampoos.
Food allergies
Some foods are infamous for causing itchiness in dogs. Potential sources that can cause allergic reactions include chicken, beef, turkey, and eggs. Dairy is yet another allergen that can cause your dog’s itchy skin. You should consult your vet about the treatment protocol they want to follow. Additionally, if your vet agrees, you can also follow the elimination protocol to see what suits your dog.
Folliculitis
This is a condition in which the hair follicles are inflamed, which often occurs in combination with conditions like allergies or mange. Underlying conditions cause the hair follicles to become inflamed and occur in the form of sores and scabs all over the skin. This can generally be treated with the help of oral medications, shampoos, and soaps.
Ticks and fleas
These nuisances are common for pets and pet parents alike. Such parasites feast on your dog’s skin and itchiness and rashes. Ticks and fleas bite the dog’s skin and suck on their blood, and their saliva easily travels through the body. This spread of saliva causes increased itching and scratching by the dog. Itchy skin in dogs can often be a result of a severe parasitic infection that leads to symptoms like redness, inflammation, scratching, and chewing of fur.
To cure your dog’s itchy skin and provide them with some much-needed relief, here are some home remedies that you can try out. However, you should definitely pay your vet a visit if you are not sure what is causing the itching:
Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
You must have heard about all the good things that ACV can do for us humans. But how many of you know that it is good for your pets as well? If you were told that your dog’s itchy skin relief medicine is nothing but that bottle of ACV in your pantry, would you believe it? Just mix ACV and water in equal parts and spray it on your dog’s itchy spots. ACV is antibacterial and antifungal in nature, which can provide relief from the constant urge to scratch. Avoid spraying this solution on open wounds as it can be quite painful.
Aloe Vera
Another all-healing substance that has gained popularity – aloe vera is known for its cooling ability. It will help get the redness and inflammation in control and draw the heat out of the skin. You can simply pick up an aloe vera gel pack from your nearest store and use it on the itchy spots. If not, harvest it out of a plant will also work as a dog’s itchy skin reliever.
Baking soda
Like you did with ACV, you can mix equal amounts of water and baking soda and turn it into a paste. Baking soda is said to have the ability to dry out rashes, reduce inflammation, and decrease itching. All these qualities give baking soda the ability to help provide relief from your dog’s itchy skin. If you need help with your dog’s overall itchy skin relief, try adding some baking soda to their bathwater.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a great hydrating and moisturizing agent. If your dog is suffering due to itchy skin and needs some relief, it might be time for you to use this magical elixir. Simply massage it onto the dog’s itchy skin and relief will follow. There are also people who would attest to adding a little bit to the dog’s kibble but don’t feed your dog anything without the vet’s permission.
Apart from the abovementioned home remedies here are some of the medications that are used to address dog itchy skin and provide relief:
Apoquel
Apoquel is used and prescribed by various vets to help address the dog’s itchy skin relief concerns so many pet parents come in with. The oral medicine starts showing results in about four hours and has the itching completely under control in a day’s time. This medication is to be orally administered twice a day and can be used in dogs older than a year. Consulting with your vet before using Apoquel is prudent.
Benadryl
This over-the-counter antihistamine can help treat itchy skin in dogs. It helps treat the infection that causes distress for the dogs and provides relief from the constant itching and scratching. Benadryl is safe to administer and safer to do so after consulting a vet.
Vet’s Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo
One of the major contents of this shampoo is oatmeal. It is known for its hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties and serves as a great itch reliever. If you want instant results for your dog’s itchy skin relief, try this oatmeal and essential oil blend when giving them a bath.