How To Help An Itchy Dog: All-Natural Treatment For Your Dog's Dry Skin

The Itchy Dog Problem

When you have an itchy dog, their constant scratching can get under your skin just as much as it irritates theirs. The good news is: even though itchiness (called “pruritus”) is one of the most common reasons dogs end up at the vet, it’s often fairly easy to help an itchy dog once you have figured out the underlying cause. That said, when itchy dogs scratch, their skin becomes very damaged, which can make the itch worse, cause pain, and put them at risk of developing an infection. As a result, an itchy dog’s problems are usually more than skin-deep.

How To Help Your Itchy Dog

To help an itchy dog feel better, it’s essential to take appropriate steps to soothe the itch, cleanse and hydrate their skin, and reduce any inflammation. Yet it’s equally important to find a treatment for your dog’s itchy skin that works from the inside-out. This means supporting their immune health and getting them the right vitamins and nutrients to keep the different parts of their skin healthy. That’s why we recommend using both our enzyme dietary supplement and shampoo to help your itchy dog feel more comfortable while helping heal their skin and stop the itch for good.

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Pruritus In Itchy Dogs?

The biggest veterinarian-diagnosed itchy dog illnesses are parasites, infections, and allergies [1]. That said, not every itchy dog ends up at the vet, and experts believe that dogs with dry skin are the most common type of itchy dog [2]. That's why, before beginning treatment for your dog’s itchy skin, it’s important to look at indicators of their skin’s health, as well as how their pruritus presents itself.

Some things, like visible parasites and hives, are a clue that your itchy dog’s problems are deeper than just a little dry skin. Yet dandruff, scaly patches, bald spots, odor, oiliness, and pimples suggest that the problem (or one of them) is that your dog has dry skin or a dry-skin-causing condition like dermatitis, mange, or scabies.

Why Do Dogs Get Dry Skin?

If your itchy dog’s discomfort seems localized — like if it’s mostly affecting their paws, groin, ears, and rear-end, just their rump, or if it’s all-over — your dog may have environmental/food allergies, fleas/ticks, or an auto-immune disorder, respectively [3]. Each of these different conditions can actually make a dog get dry skin that then gets itchy. For example, for dogs, dry skin (that then itches) is the most common allergy symptom [4]. Similarly, fleabites can precipitate Flea Allergy Dermatitis (characterized by dry, itchy skin), which is the most common skin disorder in itchy dogs [5].

All that being said, not all dogs with dry skin have any underlying conditions at all — plenty of dogs have dry skin because of environmental factors (like cold, dry weather), nutritional deficiencies, poor self-grooming habits, or irritating bathing practices (like harsh soaps and too-frequent baths) [4].

Finding The Best Remedy For Your Dog’s Dry Skin

Whether your dog has dry skin that’s causing pruritus on its own or your dog has dry skin because of another issue, the best treatment for your dog’s itchy skin will likely involve taking similar actions (though you should always ask your veterinarian for advice). Some of the most highly recommended ways to help your itchy dog include using different dietary supplements and grooming products designed to stop the itch and heal the skin from the inside and outside, simultaneously.

Enzymes Can Help Your Itchy Dog Feel Better

Most dogs’ dry skin is the result of infestation, infection, or exposure. Consequently, making their skin as strong and healthy as possible and strengthening their skin’s immune system can dramatically improve their resilience in dry-skin-causing situations. The biggest cause of weakness in a dog’s skin is insufficient nutritional support [6]. Giving your itchy dog a digestive enzyme can improve their ability to absorb the essential proteins and fats from their food that they need for healthy skin, which can help them fight skin infections and micro-parasite infestations (like mange and scabies) [2]. What’s more, if you select a treatment for your dog’s itchy skin that contains Omega 3 fatty acids, it can help moderate the inflammation- and itch-causing immune responses to a huge variety of itchy dog illnesses [6]. That’s why enzyme, a digestive enzyme fortified with Omega-3 fatty acids, can be a great natural remedy for your dog’s dry skin and related pruritus.

Natural Dog Shampoos Can Stop The Itch & Help Your Itchy Dog Feel More Comfortable

You don’t just want to fix the cause of the itch: you want to help your itchy dog feel more comfortable. That’s why the best remedy for your dog’s itchy skin includes topical treatment to soothes, hydrates, and strengthens their skin. Bathing your itchy dog with medicated shampoo is the fastest way to provide relief, yet many shampoos contain harsh ingredients that can make your dog’s dry skin even worse.

That’s why shampoo is an ideal remedy for your dog’s itchy skin. It contains no harsh chemicals or drying-ingredients, and what it does contain is intentionally designed to soothe and relieve inflammation and itching. Plus, using a shampoo that contains colloidal oatmeal can be great for dogs who have sensitive, irritation-prone skin (as many itchy dogs do) [7].

Sources:

1. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/skin-disorders-of-dogs/itching-pruritus-in-dogs
2. https://thebark.com/content/vet-advice-relief-your-dogs-itchy-skin
3. https://www.thesprucepets.com/home-remedies-for-itchy-dogs-4177184
4. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dry-skin-on-dogs-causes-symptoms-treatment/
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/flea-allergy-dermatitis
6. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutrition-skin-and-dogs
7. https://www.petcoach.co/article/should-i-give-my-dog-an-oatmeal-bath/