{"id":4382,"date":"2016-11-23T08:26:25","date_gmt":"2016-11-23T14:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diamondcarepetfood.com\/?p=609"},"modified":"2022-01-11T17:42:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T23:42:41","slug":"help-itchy-dog-stop-scratching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/health\/sensitive-skin\/help-itchy-dog-stop-scratching\/","title":{"rendered":"Options That Help an Itchy Dog Stop Scratching"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask Google to search for information on how to help an itchy dog stop scratching and you\u2019ll get about 1.98 million results. Obviously, there are A LOT<\/em> of pet owners with uncomfortable canine companions.<\/p>\n

Before you try one of the all-natural home remedies that pop up in your search results, it might be helpful to figure out why your pooch is scratching in the first place. That\u2019s the key to appropriate and effective treatment. The reasons dogs scratch, lick and chew vary widely, as do the recommended treatments. So your next step should be to schedule an appointment for your pup with your veterinarian.<\/p>\n

Why dogs scratch, rub, lick and chew their skin<\/h2>\n

Excessive itchiness \u2014 the type that keeps you and your dog awake at night \u2014 is a symptom of a problem, not a disease. The cause could be related to the condition of your dog\u2019s skin itself: Is it too dry? Is it too oily? Is it infected? Dry skin is a common cause of itching, and it\u2019s fairly easy to identify. When you part your dog\u2019s hair, you\u2019ll see dandruff in their undercoat.<\/p>\n

Another common reason your dog could be itchy is allergies. The list of things a dog can be allergic to is daunting \u2014 everything from pollen, mold spores, dust mites and grass to flea bites, medications, vaccines and pet food ingredients.<\/p>\n

With so many potential causes for your dog\u2019s itchiness, your best bet is to work with your veterinarian to determine the underlying reason. Then your veterinarian will be able to recommend an appropriate treatment plan. But until your dog can be evaluated, here are some tips for soothing your itchy best friend. Your veterinarian will likely have additional recommendations.<\/p>\n

Tips to ditch the itch<\/h3>\n

#1 Eliminate fleas<\/h3>\n

Fleas are one of the most common reasons for irritated skin and scratching in dogs. If your dog suffers from flea allergy dermatitis, one bite may be all it takes to make him or her miserable. Fleas often go unnoticed until there\u2019s a large number present, so don\u2019t assume your dog doesn\u2019t have fleas just because you can\u2019t see them. If you\u2019re not already treating your dog with a flea control product, you\u2019ll want to start. Check with your veterinarian for the most effective option \u2014 which could be a topical solution, oral tablet or collar \u2014 for your pet and the area where you live.<\/p>\n

#2 Bathe your dog regularly<\/h3>\n

Dogs can be bathed weekly with a gentle or hypoallergenic shampoo that\u2019s specifically formulated for dogs. (Never use human shampoo on dogs, as their skin pH and thickness are quite different from ours!) Frequent baths wash away allergens and help remove dandruff. You may also want to consider wiping your dog\u2019s paws with a damp washcloth whenever he or she comes in from outside, especially if they are allergic to grasses.<\/p>\n

For really itchy dogs, cool (but not cold) baths with a pet-specific oatmeal shampoo are soothing. Your veterinarian may also prescribe a medicated shampoo to help ease itching and manage any secondary skin infections. There are even cream rinses and conditioners to help temporarily relieve itching, flaking and irritation.<\/p>\n

#3 Switch foods<\/h3>\n

Your dog could have a food allergy, and switching their diet to a specially formulated food may help \u2014 just talk with your veterinarian first. If food allergies are making your dog itch, eliminating potential trigger ingredients can make a big difference. A dog food<\/a> that contains a limited number of ingredients and the appropriate ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can help benefit both skin and coat health.<\/p>\n

#4 Supplement with omega-3 fatty acids<\/h3>\n

The omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) can help decrease skin itchiness, self-trauma (from constant scratching) and coat quality. You\u2019ll want to talk with your veterinarian about the correct dose for your dog first, and be aware that it can take up to six weeks to see the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.<\/p>\n

#5 Use medications, but only as directed by your veterinarian<\/h3>\n

Depending on the underlying health issue that\u2019s making your dog itchy, your veterinarian may prescribe medication such as Benadryl\u00ae<\/sup> (diphenhydramine) or another antihistamine, Apoquel\u00ae (oclacitinib), Atopica\u00ae<\/sup> (cyclosporine), prednisone or even a topical anti-itch product to help stop the itch. In addition, your veterinarian may prescribe medications such as topical or oral antibiotics or antifungals to treat existing hot spots or skin infections.<\/p>\n

If your dog has sensitive, itchy skin, there are a number of ways you can help him or her ditch the itch. Be sure to check with your veterinarian at the first sign of a problem so that, working together, you can help your best friend be more comfortable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ask Google to search for information on how to help an itchy dog stop scratching and you\u2019ll get about 1.98 million results. Obviously, there are A LOT of pet owners with uncomfortable canine companions. Before you try one of the all-natural home remedies that pop up in your search results, it might be helpful to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Helping an Itchy Dog Stop Scratching | Diamond Pet Foods","_seopress_titles_desc":"The reasons dogs scratch, lick and chew vary widely, as do the recommended treatments. Read more to understand the different options to help your canine!","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28,253],"tags":[128,10,54,11,541,150],"class_list":["post-4382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-sensitive-skin","tag-diamond-pet","tag-dog","tag-dogs","tag-health","tag-itchy","tag-sensitive-skin"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4382\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}