Why is my Dog Constantly Scratching and Itchy?

Why is your dog scratching so much? 

It can be annoying and frustrating to watch. Your dog’s constant irritation makes you worry about the habitat you’re providing them. What if you were unknowingly exposing your dog to something harmful?

With factors like fleas, mites, pollen, dermatitis, infections, allergies, and more

It’s hard to know where to start. The good news is, there are resources out there that can guide you and your pup to future happiness. 

We’ll break down the most common causes of itching and scratching with dogs, and what you can do to solve it.

DERMATITIS and ALLERGIES

Dermatitis can be identified by pink-brown spots on your dog’s fur 

A signal that your dog’s saliva is mixing with bacteria and yeast. We recommend that any change in skin is addressed by your vet.

Contact dermatitis occurs after a dog has interacted with an allergen. Fabrics, plants, topical solutions, and more can trigger this. Most symptoms develop on areas of the dog that have no hair or sparse hair

Such as around the eyes, the muzzle, the joints, paws, and more. 

Watch for any changes you make in bedding, detergents, soaps, cleaning products, and even medications you use with your dogs. If you’re concerned about a specific cause, try eliminating it from the space, switch shampoos, wash bedding with new detergent and see if symptoms quell.

Seasonal changes can spark contact dermatitis in dogs. Grass, plants, pollen, fertilisers, and other factors that determine your dog’s outdoors life may be behind that pesky dog skin irritation. 

Here are symptoms to watch for on your dog:

• Itchiness

• Redness

• Signs of irritation on hairless spots of your dog

• Skin infections

• Ear infections

• High tear production

• Hair loss

• Saliva stains

• Constant maintenance

Some medicines, supplements, and shampoos can help reduce irritation. However, in cases of unidentified allergens, it’s best to contact your veterinarian. If left untreated, dermatitis can develop into hotspots and even wounds.

PARASITES

Believe it or not, there are a few different parasites that can affect your dog’s skin. These pests may be behind your dog scratching a lot.

FLEAS

What do they look like: Tiny, dark, translucent, wingless, narrow bodies, large hind legs, hair-like spines

Other signs: Tiny white spots in carpet or around house (eggs), itching/swelling red spots on dog skin (flea bite)

How to find:

Groom your dog with a fine-tooth comb and look for reddish-brown spots

How to treat:

There are a number of flea shampoos (check out Be:Gone for gentle action) and prevention and treatment tactics out there for fleas 

How to prevent:

Frequently groom and wash your dog, using top-of the line products like our shampoo.

And clean your house regularly. Daily vacuuming should be carried out.

Fun fact: water slows down fleas. Consider wetting your dog’s skin to catch them in the act!

LICE

What do they look like: Slow-moving brown dots

Other signs

White dots on fur (lice eggs), more common in vulnerable dogs (very young, very old, ill, etc.)

How to find:

Check fur and visit your vet if you believe your dog has lice

How to treat:

Disinfect and consider flea control products

How to prevent:

Grooming, keeping clean conditions, treating any illnesses or issues with your dog quickly

TICKS

What do they look like: Grey-brown, egg shaped, six or eight legs, spider-like

Other signs: Small red/pink bump with a target shape

How to find

Run your hands through your dog’s fur, focusing on head, neck, ears, and feet

How to treat

Remove the tick immediately by twisting with a designated tick tool and check for symptoms of  Lyme disease

If present, contact your vet.

How to prevent

Tick treatment and checking your dog after any encounters with long grass, weeds, or extensive outdoor time

MITES

What do they look like

Bright orange, but too small for most humans to spot

Other signs

Scratching, hair loss, dandruff, irritation

How to find

Part your dog’s fur and look closely, or contact your vet

How to treat

Medications directed by your veterinarian

How to prevent

Avoid long grasses, sharing bedding with other dogs, contact with foxes, and keep your space and your dog’s spaces clean

SKIN INFECTIONS

Skin infections are more common during warmer weather

When allergens begin to populate the outdoors. However, infections can have many causes. It’s important to first understand what kind of skin infection you’re dealing with.

Different types include:

• Bacterial

• Fungal

• Parasitic

• Viral

A primary infection is contagious, and it is transmissible from dog to dog. These can include bacteria and parasites.

A secondary infection typically refers to some sort of allergy. This is innate to your dog and therefore, is not transmissible.

Check skin folds, armpits, and heavy ears. These are the spots where infections are most likely to show. You may see bumps, redness, flakes, crusts, oozing, discharge, and discolouration in skin. Your vet will need to verify whether your pup is dealing with a bacterial infection. 

When dealing with skin infections, bathing is crucial. See our guide to washing your dog for more information on what frequency of bathing is best for your dog. Keeping infected areas clean helps reduce skin irritation and cleans out any triggers for future bacterial growth. Try our cleansing Deep Cleaning Natural Dog Shampoo  for baths you can count on.

WOUNDS

When you notice a wound on your dog, the first thing you need to do is clean it to prevent infection or worsening of symptoms.

First, inspect the wound, if it’s still bleeding, and where it’s placed. Keep your dog from licking it. Call your vet for advise.

Then, if it’s dressable at home, take the following steps:

• Wash the wound area and clean out any debris

• Use clippers to extract hair from the spot

• Apply a dog-friendly antiseptic solution

• Apply antibacterial cream

• Bandage the wound

• Ensure your dog cannot reach the wound to lick, scratch, or remove bandage

You can also clean and prevent infection with salt water baths.

We know you’re busy and itchy dog skin is the last thing you want to stress over. Take a few minutes to really examine your dog and understand what’s making them scratch. By identifying which of the above causes are irritating your dog, you can get them the help they need much quicker.

Even though there are many varied triggers that could be causing your dog to itch and scratch, almost all can be prevented or deterred by consistent bathing. Be sure to shop our dog series to arm yourself with all the tools you need to effectively wash your dog and keep their environment clean.

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