This type of reaction is at its worst in high summer when fleas are most common, but can last all year if you don\u2019t have good flea control in your home<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
• Remove the live fleas and prevent new fleas from jumping on board. There are countless over the counter products like Advantix to help kill live fleas on your dog. They are relatively safe but not for every animal. If yours is older, or battling an acute disease, don\u2019t use it. We recommend trying an all natural\u00a0flea spray<\/a>.<\/li>\n
• Feed a healthy grain free diet<\/a>. Dogs are less likely to be flea magnets and they will be more resistant to the flea bite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  <\/a><\/p>\n

  \n
  • Wash your dog with a colloidal oatmeal-based shampoo <\/a>to break the cycle of itching and use topical sprays<\/li>\n
  • Treat your environment Remember too that the flea\u2019s life cycle involves some time spent away from the dog\u2019s body. So don\u2019t forget to take the necessary precautions to treat his environment in the home as well!<\/li>\n
  • Antihistamines. Effective in about 30% of dogs, most are the same as those used in humans (Benadryl)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Usually the first thing someone will ask you is if you\u2019ve changed the diet. But, whether he\u2019s eating a gourmet diet or a bargain basement dog food, if it contains an ingredient that he\u2019s allergic to, he\u2019ll scratch.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    The other important thing to keep in mind is that allergies don\u2019t occur when you change your dog\u2019s diet. Food allergies don\u2019t develop suddenly. He will have been eating the same food for a long time with no problems, then bang! The itching starts.<\/p>\n

    Most dog foods contain similar combinations of meat protein and carbohydrates, so just changing brands of food may not help. He will still be eating the same proteins and the same carbohydrates, so he\u2019ll still be itchy. You need to make sure you\u2019re changing to a very different higher quality food.<\/p>\n

    How do you know if your dog has a food allergy? There\u2019s no blood test to tell if it\u2019s his diet that\u2019s causing the problem, but there are some features of food allergies that can give you a hint.<\/p>\n

    \n
    • Most food allergies start to rear their ugly heads when your dog is a young adult.<\/li>\n
    • It\u2019s not worse at certain times of the year, as you\u2019d expect from a flea allergy, or an allergy to dusts and pollens.<\/li>\n
    • Your vet may have prescribed some corticosteroids to relieve your dog\u2019s itch. In a lot of cases, food allergies don\u2019t respond very well to this treatment, and your dog may still chew, scratch and rub.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      If any of these are starting to sound familiar, it\u2019s time to seriously consider checking your dog for food allergy.<\/p>\n

      Keep in mind:<\/p>\n

      \n
      • <\/a>Common triggers include wheat and corn products and protein-heavy foods, such as meat\/beef, dairy, and chicken.<\/li>\n
      • Typical symptoms of food allergies include facial itching, foot or leg chewing, recurrent ear infections, and belly itching.<\/li>\n
      • You can suspect your pup has food allergies if the itchiness is not a seasonal problem like atopy, if she isn\u2019t responding to cortisone-types of veterinary medications, and if her skin issues developed after the age of 5 or 6.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        <\/a><\/p>\n

        \n
        • Are you sure? Rule out any other causes of itchy skin<\/a> . Make sure your flea control is good: Use an all natural flea spray,<\/a> that\u00a0is a safe and gentle and that won\u2019t cause irritation to traumatized skin. Often skin that is red and itchy can develop a secondary bacterial infection, which is also very itchy.<\/li>\n
        • <\/a>Make a drastic change in your dog\u2019s food. Most dog foods contain similar combinations of meat protein and carbohydrates, so changing brands of food may not help. He will still be eating the same proteins and the same carbohydrates, so he\u2019ll still be itchy. We recommend the Grain Free food made by\u00a0Ziwi Peak<\/a><\/li>\n
        • Undergo a food trial- This is a labor-intensive and tedious process. To learn more about food trials click here<\/a><\/li>\n
        • Manage the itchy skin \u2013 use many of the same suggestions from the \u2018Ways to manage Atopic Dermatitis\u2019 page<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          <\/a><\/p>\n

          <\/a>Contact Dermatitis is a fairly uncommon disease caused by direct contact of your pet\u2019s skin with certain plants and grasses, medications, and particular chemicals. Kiwi dogs are generally free to explore the great outdoors and may occasionally get into something that causes itchy skin<\/p>\n

          \n
          • Humans are much more susceptible to contact skin allergies than canines because a dog\u2019s hair coat works as a barrier to the allergen.<\/li>\n
          • You\u2019ll notice the signs on the parts of her body making direct contact with the substance \u2013 around her neck, on her belly, legs or feet.<\/li>\n
          • The most frequent cause of contact allergies in dogs is a plant species called Wandering Jew, a member of the Spiderwort family. However, dogs have also been known to be allergic to grass, carpet cleaning products and timber stains.<\/li>\n
          • Depending on the substance, you\u2019ll start to see red, itchy bumps appear within 24 to 48 hours after contact with the offending substance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            <\/a><\/p>\n

            \n
            • Diagnose.<\/strong> You can have your dog allergy tested at the vet or if you have an idea of what the culprit is, conduct your own trial first.<\/li>\n
            • Manage<\/strong> prevent your dog from having access to the plant or chemical he is reacting to. If that\u2019s impossible because your dog is allergic to grass try using a pair of booties<\/a> when you go out for a walk<\/li>\n
            • Wash your dog within two hours if he touched something like poison ivy. <\/strong>This will very effectively eliminate the poison that causes itching.<\/li>\n
            • Treat the itchy skin<\/strong> use many of the same suggestions from the \u2018Ways to manage Atopic Dermatitis\u2019 page<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              <\/a><\/p>\n

              Many dogs have a low immune system which makes them more affected by the environment. According to Los Angeles Veterinarian Alfred Plechner, the main reasons for this are:<\/p>\n

              \n
              • Highly processed, food containing inferior quality ingredients<\/li>\n
              • Cosmetic breeding<\/li>\n
              • Over vaccinating<\/li>\n
              • Proliferation of chemicals and pollutants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                So, for many dogs the combination of any of the above along with the advent of flea season may be enough to trip your dog into a full allergic reaction.<\/p>\n

                <\/a><\/p>\n

                \n
                • Supplement the diet with vitamins and minerals<\/li>\n
                • Switch to natural non-toxic cleaning products<\/a> at home.<\/li>\n
                • Use fragrance free laundry detergent<\/a> to wash your dog\u2019s bedding and plush toys.<\/li>\n
                • Keep dust levels down inside the house.<\/li>\n
                • Switch from plastic to ceramic feeding bowls<\/a>. Some say that red bowls seem to evoke more reaction than other colors, but no one knows why.<\/li>\n
                • Switch to a puppy diet<\/a> which has more fat than the adult diet. The addition of more fat may make the difference<\/li>\n
                • There are many home remedies you can try. Click here<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  <\/a><\/p>\n

                  \n
                  • Hormonal problems.<\/strong>An underactive thyroid gland can result in changes in the skin which predispose to bacterial or fungal infection. Cushing\u2019s Disease, caused by an overactive adrenal gland, can also lead to secondary infection. These infections are usually itchy. Diagnosis is usually straightforward \u2013 your vet will have a good idea based on clinical signs and it can be confirmed with blood tests. Management involves treating the underlying hormonal problem, and giving your dog antibiotics or antifungal medication to control the itchy infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    <\/a><\/p>\n

                    \n
                    • Drug reactions.<\/strong> Some dogs have an unexpected reaction to a drug which causes skin inflammation and itching. This can be very difficult to identify. Diagnosis depends on the itch starting soon after a drug is given to your dog, and it easing when the drug is stopped. Skin biopsies may be helpful. Treatment is easy \u2013 don\u2019t give your dog that drug anymore!<\/li>\n
                    • Pain.<\/strong> Orthopedic problems such as back or hip pain may cause your dog to scratch that area to get some relief. There can also be pain associated with docked tails which can lead to scratching around the rump. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can suffer from a painful condition called syringomyelia which results in them scratching the back of their head and neck.<\/li>\n
                    • <\/a>Parasites.<\/strong> Sarcoptes is a little mite which causes severe itching in dogs, and also in you if you\u2019re unlucky enough to become infected! It can be tricky to diagnose, as your vet will need to identify it in a skin scraping. If a scraping is negative, it may be worth treating your dog for Sarcoptes, just to rule it out. Another mite that can affect dogs is Demodex. This mite doesn\u2019t cause an itch, but it can cause a secondary bacterial infection of the skin, which is extremely irritating.<\/li>\n
                    • Fear and anxiety. <\/strong>Some dogs respond to anxiety by scratching to the point of self-mutilation. It\u2019s important that you treat the anxiety while you manage the itch, otherwise it won\u2019t resolve. Give your dog some\u00a0a calming supplemen<\/a>t\u00a0to help calm both of you.<\/li>\n
                    • Cold Weather Itching<\/strong> During cold weather we turn on the heater which sucks the moisture out of the area. This leaves us with dry itchy skin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      \u00a0<\/p>\n

                      <\/a><\/p>\n

                      <\/a><\/p>\n

                      \n
                      • Dogs can and do suffer from obsessive compulsive behavioral problems, usually due to anxiety. This can occur if a dog spends a lot of time alone, and doesn\u2019t get enough physical and mental stimulation.<\/li>\n
                      • OR many times dogs work themselves into such a scratching frenzy that nothing you do will will help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        In either case try this\u2013 Break the pattern:<\/p>\n

                        \n
                        • DISTRACTION!<\/strong> Every time she scratches, interrupt her and divert her attention to a kong or bully stick<\/li>\n
                        • <\/a>EXERCISE<\/strong>\u2013 it\u2019s amazing how dogs forget their woes when they\u2019re out playing! Take your dog to the beach and let him run around, or if you don\u2019t live by a beach find a trail.<\/li>\n
                        • STOP IT!<\/strong> Physically stop her from scratching by bandaging the affected area, using a doggie Tshirt<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0doggie booties<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0lick strip<\/a>, or use a spray to numb the area and make the taste bitter<\/li>\n
                        • CALM DOWN<\/strong> Use a calming agent<\/a> for anxiety. This can make it easier for her to learn new behaviors without the added burden of feeling stressed.<\/li>\n
                        • TREAT any irritation in the skin that has developed from his constant scratching. Wash him in oatmeal shampoo<\/a>; its colloidal oatmeal will ease his itch and reduce inflammation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          <\/a><\/p>\n

                          \n
                          • Hot Spots<\/strong> are a bacterial infection of the skin that are associated with skin allergies. They often affect short coated breeds such as Labrador Retrievers. These infections appear suddenly and spread rapidly. Click to learn more<\/a>.<\/li>\n
                          • Demodectic Mange<\/strong> Mange is the term for skin disease due to mite infestation, and there are two different forms of this condition in dogs, caused by different mite species. One of these is demodectic mange (or demodecosis). Click here to learn more<\/a>.<\/li>\n
                          • Pyoderma<\/strong> is a bacterial infection of the skin and is usually secondary to some predisposing skin disease like allergies or hypothroidism. Signs inlcude red bumps, scabs and hair loss. Click here to learn more<\/a><\/li>\n
                          • Malassezia<\/strong> If your dog smells awful has a greasy coat and is constantly scratching it means your dog may have a a fungus called Malassezia. This little yeast organism is responsible for skin infections that are especially itchy, smelly and greasy to the touch. Click here to learn more<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                            \n

                            Checklist- 25 Ways to Control your Dog\u2019s Itchy Skin<\/h2>\n

                            \n
                            \n
                            1. DISTRACTION! <\/strong>Every time she scratches, interrupt her and divert her attention to a peanut butter filled hollow toy like a kong or bully stick<\/li>\n
                            2. EXERCISE<\/strong> it\u2019s amazing how dogs forget their woes when they\u2019re out playing!<\/li>\n
                            3. Cover it up! <\/strong>If your dog is scratching the same spot over and over, physically stop her from scratching by bandaging the affected area, using a doggie Tshirt<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0doggie booties<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0lick strip<\/a> or use a spray to numb the area and make the taste bitter. By placing a barrier between your dog\u2019s claws and the abrasion you allow the irritation to heal. (This does not solve the problem but it does give the skin a chance to heal.)<\/li>\n
                            4. CHILLAX!\u00a0<\/strong>Your dog may be working himself into a frenzy until the scratching becomes a nervous habit. Look for a calming aid. It\u00a0won\u2019t cure the itching, but it WILL relax and calm.\u00a0 Look for:Calming Supplments<\/a>,\u00a0Calming Tshirts<\/a>,\u00a0Calming Elixirs<\/a>,\u00a0Calming Diffusers<\/a>,\u00a0Calming Sprays<\/a><\/li>\n
                            5. TREAT <\/strong>any irritation in the skin that has developed from his constant scratching. Wash him in oatmeal shamopo<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>; its colloidal oatmeal will ease his itch and reduce inflammation.<\/li>\n
                            6. Switch to\u00a0natural non-toxic cleaning products<\/a>\u00a0at home.\u00a0Use\u00a0fragrance free laundry detergent<\/a>\u00a0to wash your dog\u2019s bedding and plush toys.<\/li>\n
                            7. DUSTY! <\/strong>Keep dust levels down inside the house.<\/li>\n
                            8. BOWLS <\/strong>Switch from plastic to ceramic feeding bowls<\/a>. Some say that red bowls seem to evoke more reaction than other colors, but no one knows why.<\/li>\n
                            9. SWITCH <\/strong>to a puppy diet which has more fat than the adult diet. The addition of more fat may make the difference<\/li>\n
                            10. There are many home remedies you can try. Click here<\/a><\/li>\n
                            11. PREVENTION<\/strong> For contact allergies prevent your dog from having access to the plant or chemical he is reacting to. If that\u2019s impossible because your dog is allergic to grass try using a pair of booties and tshirt when you go out for a walk<\/li>\n
                            12. FOR CONTACT ALLERGIES<\/strong> Wash your dog within two hours if he touched something like poison ivy. This will very effectively eliminate the poison that causes itching.<\/li>\n
                            13. MAKE A CHANGE<\/strong> in your dog\u2019s food. Most dog foods contain similar combinations of meat protein and carbohydrates, so changing brands of food may not help. He will still be eating the same proteins and the same carbohydrates, so he\u2019ll still be itchy.<\/li>\n
                            14. TRY A FOOD TRIAL<\/strong>\u2013 This is a labor-intensive and tedious process. To learn more about food trials click here<\/a><\/li>\n
                            15. REMOVER ALLERGENS<\/strong> from your home by vacuuming as often as possible.<\/li>\n
                            16. WASH YOUR DOG<\/strong> Since environmental allergens are usually absorbed through the skin, weekly bathing can prevent itchiness. Click to learn more about shampoo therapy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

                                <\/a><\/p>\n

                                \n
                                \n
                                1. BRUSH BRUSH BRUSH!<\/strong> Like washing your dog, daily brushing<\/a> can also help rid your dog\u2019s coat of allergens. Also the brushing will stimulate the skin and increase blood flow to that area. This results in the quicker removal of toxins from the skin and minimizes inflammation.<\/li>\n
                                2. FISH OIL<\/strong> <\/a>has been shown to help with itching and also has anti inflammatory qualities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n

                                   <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                                   Spot On!<\/strong>\u00a0If your dog has a particular part of his body he\u2019s really scratching or chewing at, consider using an\u00a0anti itch spray<\/a>. They are\u00a0convenient, easy to use and inexpensive but usually only provide temporary relief, but hey! That\u2019s better then nothing!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n ALLERGY SHOTS. <\/strong>A vet gives your dog very small doses of that allergen, and gradually increases the dose over time. That way his immune system gets used to the allergen, and is less likely to react to it. Relatively good success rate however it\u2019s expensive and it isn\u2019t a quick fix (1 month to 1 year)<\/li>\n REMOVE THE FLEAS <\/strong>and prevent new fleas from jumping on board. There are countless over the counter products like Advantix to help kill live fleas on your dog. They are relatively safe but not for every animal. If yours is older, or battling an acute disease, don\u2019t use it. We recommend trying an\u00a0all natural\u00a0flea spray<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n \n FEED A HEALTHY DIET. <\/strong>Feed a\u00a0healthy grain free diet<\/a>. Dogs are less likely to be flea magnets and they will be more resistant to the flea bite.<\/li>\n TREAT YOUR ENVIRONMENT <\/strong>Remember too that the flea\u2019s life cycle involves some time spent away from the dog\u2019s body. So don\u2019t forget to take the necessary precautions to treat his environment in the home as well!<\/li>\n ANTIHISTAMINES<\/strong> Effective in about 30% of dogs, most are the same as those used in humans<\/li>\n ASK THE VET<\/strong> If nothing else works, talk to your vet to see if treatments like atopica, desensitising injections and steroids are right for your dog.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Spring and summer are often the most uncomfortable times in the year for dogs.. Uncontrollable scratching leads to hot spots, skin abrasions and even hair loss. Allergies are the main reason for a dog\u2019s itchy skin. Humans sniffle, sneeze, cough and wheeze when our bodies have been insulted by an allergen. Dogs most frequently itch […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[142],"tags":[256],"class_list":["post-1233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-itchy-skin","tag-dog-itchy-skin"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itchydogsolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}