Itching and scratching are the most common problems with dogs. Why does my dog scratch and itch? I bet you have thought about it a lot. Itching and scratching in dogs are so common because many different things can cause it. And also you can treat it in many ways. So, let’s explore why is your dog itching like crazy and how to fix it.
Fleas Growth In Dog’s Skin
Small insects often cause your dog’s itching. Fleas reproduce quickly, and even though they can’t fly, they can jump 50 to 100 times their body length. Getting rid of these fleas is crucial because they affect the human body too.
Start by giving your dog a bath in lukewarm water with a mild flea shampoo to eliminate as many bugs as possible.
Next, while your dog is in the bath, use a flea comb to remove fleas carefully and their waste. If you see fleas on the brush, you can get rid of it by putting it in a separate bowl of hot soapy water. Then, you can use the comb on your pet again.
After washing it carefully, it would be best if you consulted a vet. He or she will look at your dog’s skin and figure out what to do next.
Mange By Mites
Mites cause mange, which is probably why your dog’s itchy condition. Unfortunately, it can also spread from person to person. So you must care about it immediately.
But with the help of your vet, you can treat mange. Vet will explain the best way to treat the problem, which usually involves a course of medicines that kill parasites. Vet might suggest giving your dog an Aludex bath if that doesn’t work. Mange is a skin disease that causes hair loss and red, scaly, and itchy skin.
Food Allergies
If you changed your dog’s diet around the same time, it started scratching like crazy, and it could be because of a food allergy.
Changes in a dog’s diet don’t always lead to food allergies. Some dogs can suddenly become intolerant to a certain protein. But they occur most frequently after changes in diet.
Food allergies in dogs are a bit different from those in people. They usually leave itchy patches of skin around the ears, paws, behind, or stomach. Digestive problems like gas, diarrhea, or vomiting can happen, but they aren’t as common as itchiness and related conditions. Your dog’s face may swell up if the problem is terrible.
But it may be hard to determine if food allergies cause your pet’s itchy skin. So, the best thing to do is call your vet!
The vet may want to do a few allergy tests or help it develop an elimination diet. The vet may also give your dog short-term treatments or medicines to ease symptoms. Once you know that your dog has a food allergy, you can search for a hypoallergenic dog food that doesn’t have the ingredient that causes the allergy.
Dry Skin
Your dog can have terrible itching just because its skin is dry. If your dog has dry skin, you can’t just fix it by slathering on a lotion like you can when you have this problem.
A number of things can cause dry skin in dogs. For example, dry skin can be caused by a lack of fatty acids in the diet. To help your dog’s skin condition, you can talk to your vet about adding more fatty acids to your dog’s diet through fish oil supplements. You may also want to switch to canned or dog food made especially for dry skin.
Additionally, you could discover that using room humidifiers lessens your dog’s symptoms by managing the dry air in your house.
Poor Hygiene
Fresh space and clean skin are two of life’s simple pleasures, which is true for people and dogs. Even though many dogs hate getting baths, a good grooming routine is just as crucial for your pet’s health as yours.
Extremely itchy skin is one of the many effects of improper hygiene. Even worse, dogs with unclean skin run the risk of developing infections as a result of their scratching.
So, make sure to bathe your dog regularly whenever it smells or gets very dirty. You should also clean the dog’s bed, crate liner, and anything else it lays on frequently.
This will not only help keep your dog’s skin from getting itchy, but it will also make it smell and feel better.
Yeast Infections
Yeasts are tiny fungi that can make a dog’s skin itch. Yeast infections can occasionally result from a pathogenic (dangerous) strain colonizing your dog. Still, harmless yeasts can also bring them on.
This typically occurs when your pet’s microbiome, a combination of bacteria and other microbes residing on its skin, is disturbed, allowing the yeast population to soar.
If you and your pet live somewhere hot and humid, it is more likely to get yeast infections or too many bacteria. The most common place for these infections to happen is on dog paws. However, your vet can give her medicine to eliminate the yeast or bacteria causing the problem.
Probiotics, which guarantee that suitable beneficial microorganisms are present in and on your dog, may also be helpful in some conditions.
Why It’s Important to Stop Your Pet’s Itching
Even though itching isn’t a matter of life or death for dogs, you shouldn’t ignore it. Some of the most important reasons to take care of itchy skin as soon as possible are:
- The health and happiness of your pet as a whole. Consider the last time you were bitten by a mosquito or had itchy, dry skin. Being uncomfortable in your own skin may be very depressing, and your pet will experience the same.
- Itchy skin might be more of a problem than you think. Your dog’s itchy skin could be a sign that it has an allergy, an infection, or other health problem, as mentioned above. The best thing you can do as a pet owner is consult a vet for treatments or ensure there isn’t a severe issue.
Summery
There are numerous reasons for your dog is itching like crazy. You can fix them by following some steps. But, it is best to consult a vet for further treatments.
