If your dog is repeatedly scratching himself, things are only going to worsen without help. You need to start by figuring out why your dog is itching and chewing on his skin. You’re probably seeing red and inflamed skin—a condition known as dermatitis—on your dog. You need to start by ruling out fleas, the most common cause of scratching and itching, and then offer soothing, healing topical care, which we will discuss here.
You Have to Rule-Out Fleas
Before you say your dog is on a flea preventative, you need to understand that sometimes those products fail. In these cases, you need to find the fleas, get rid of them, and choose a different product with different ingredients (your veterinarian may have a good idea of what works best in your area).
Start by examining your dog’s skin carefully. Ask your dog to lie down or roll over so you can check the groin area. The groin is a great place to start because the hair is thin and you may see the fleas scurrying for cover as soon as the dog rolls over. They’re super-fast small brown bugs, and they can jump 8 inches or more (that’s a lot for a tiny flea). You may also notice “flea dirt,” which are flakes that look like salt and pepper but are really flea eggs and poop.
If you didn’t see evidence of fleas or flea dirt on the groin, scritch the hair over the dog’s tailhead while your dog stands on several sheets of paper towels or white paper to see if flea dirt falls on the paper. Note: If you find evidence of fleas, you’re going to have to check all the pets in the house.
The first thing to do is bathe your dog to kill any fleas on him and clean his skin of flea eggs and poop. Then call in to your veterinarian for a recommendation of good flea medication, whether oral or topical, for your area.
To clean up the house, vacuum thoroughly including along wall cracks and under furniture. Be sure to do the furniture, too. Then tie up the vacuum bag and take it outside to the trash. Note: If your house is infested, you are going to need to take more measures to control the fleas.
Why Your Flea-Free Dog Is Itching
Not all itchy dogs have fleas, of course. With no signs of fleas, you’re looking at dog dermatitis—which means skin inflammation—and all you want to do is keep your dog comfortable until your veterinary clinic is open and you can get a diagnosis (and antibiotic if the skin is infected). Dermatitis can be caused by things like allergies, mites, mange, skin infection, seborrhea, and yeast infections, just to name a few. Even just dry skin can cause your dog to scratch and itch, just as it does on us.
How Can I Help My Itching Dog?
Obviously, if your dog has open sores or signs of infection your dog needs to see a veterinarian ASAP. Watch for red bumps, hair loss, inflamed bright red skin, crusty skin, a strong odor, stud tail, or changes in his behavior. If it’s a weekend, the best you can do may be to simply soothe his skin. If you’re seeing a lot of flaking dandruff, he may have dry skin, so a good shampoo may do the trick.
Topical treatment is ideal here. An oatmeal bath can be particularly helpful, as can aloe, or a seborrhea shampoo to help quiet your dog’s itchy skin and give both him and you some peace.
If you can manage a bath at home consider products such as:
- Virbac ALLERMYL Piroctone Olamine Medicated Dog Shampoo or
- Zesty Paws Itch Soother Dog Shampoo with Oatmeal & Aloe Vera, for Skin Moisture & Shiny Coats.
Massage the shampoo into the coat and skin and rinse well, according to directions. Note: The sooner you can give your dog a bath with soothing ingredients like these, the better, so go to the local pet store and talk with the staff. If they don’t have these products, look for ones with similar ingredients.
For specific area pruritus, consider using a mousse like:
- Douxo S3 CALM Soothing Itchy, Hydrated Skin Dog & Cat Mousse or
- MiconaHex+Triz Mousse for Dogs & Cats
These can help soothe the dog’s skin in a small area and get the itching under control.
You can also try medicated OTC creams or ointments to put on the irritated areas. Benedryl and hydrocortisone creams work well but may need to be applied two or three times a day. Be sure to stop your dog from licking at the area for at least five to 10 minutes after you apply it. You can apply a head cone of some type if it stops him from reaching the area. Note: You can use triple antibiotic on your dog, but if you think the area is infected, we recommend springing for that vet visit.
On the natural-ingredient front, chamomile tea soaks can relieve an itch. Be sure that the tea bag or soaked cloth is room temperature, not hot, before you apply it to the itchy area.
If your dog has a moist, inflamed area (think hot spot), it helps to clean the area first with betadine or chlorhexidine (available at your drug store). After cleansing the area, dry it thoroughly, then apply medicated foot powder. Most foot powders are anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal. That covers most itch-related causes! Again, keep your dog from licking it off.
Is My Dog’s Itching Due to Allergies?
If the cause of the itching is allergies, prevention goes a long way. For example, if your dog has pollen allergies, it can help to wipe him off with a lint roller when he comes inside. That will remove much of the pollen and may keep the amount below his “scratch trigger.” In addition, there are two effective prescription medications for allergies. Your dog doesn’t have to suffer.
Also on the allergy front, think if you have given any new/novel protein food or treats. They may have triggered an allergic reaction. Obviously, stop using them.
Digging Deeper Into Canine Dermatitis
It is important to remember that the above advice is merely a stop gap to temporarily keep your dog comfortable. You will probably need a veterinary visit and some diagnostics to determine the cause of a persistent itch.
Finally, without question, allergies are a complicated problem with dogs and could be at the root of your dog’s itching. Our Executive Editor Kate O’Connor sat down with Dr. Eileen Fatcheric, DVM, to discuss them. You can see that video and it’s helpful advice here.
