Causes Of Itchy Skin In Dogs

Submitted by: KATE BENDIX

Itchy skin in dogs is incredibly common and most dog owners know about problems like dog allergies and parasites. But there are other causes you might not be aware of — did you know, for instance, that your dog’s skin could be itching because of what he eats?

The cause of your dog’s itchy skin could be:

Nutrition — itchy skin can be caused by a diet that is high in toxins and low in nutrients, which weakens the immune system.

Parasites — another common cause of dog itching could be mites, ticks and fleas, which live on the skin, burrowing or biting.

Allergies — like human allergies, dog allergies can be a reaction to a range of things, from the ingredients in food to pollens, dust, air fresheners and cleaning products.

Infection — the most common types of skin infection are caused by bacteria and yeast; these itchy dog skin complaints can often be treated naturally or by your vet.

Environment — the drying effects of winter can affect your dog — itching and scratching often starts in winter months because the skin has become flaky and dry. Sand, dust, grass seeds and thistles can also cause itchiness in dogs.

The good news is that in most cases, the solution to itchy dog skin is simply a matter of ensuring your pet is getting the right nutritional balance (not always easy with modern complete diets) coupled with effective parasite control.

Are parasites causing your dog’s itchy skin? If your dog is itching and scratching, it makes sense to look for parasites. The most common dog parasites are fleas and mites, ticks in summer in wooded areas, all can cause intense itchiness.

Alternatively your dog may be having a reaction to pharmaceutical flea treatments such as Frontline and Advocate. Replacing conventional flea repellants with natural flea treatments can eradicate this problem. Just remember to begin using natural flea repellant approximately 2-3 weeks before your dog s next treatment is due in order for it to build up in the his or her system for maximum effectiveness.

How can you tell if your dog has fleas? When a flea bites your dog it s saliva gets under the skin and causes itching. And if a dog is actually allergic to fleas it may have a severe reaction, even to just one bite. A dog flea allergy can result in the dog itching and scratching constantly.

You may already know that your dog has fleas because you have spotted them in the fur. But if you’re not sure, check at the base of your dog’s tail — they tend to hide there because it’s a difficult spot for the dog to reach. They may also be visible scuttling across the dog’s tummy, where the fur is thinner.

If you can’t see any fleas, check for flea poo. Comb your dog with a fine-toothed comb, looking for dark specks like grains of pepper. If these are flea droppings they will contain blood products making them easy to identify — just drop some of the grains on a wet tissue. Flea poo will dissolve, creating tiny red stains and confirming that your dog has fleas.

About the Author: My name is Kate Bendix and I run a natural pet healthstore My Itchy Dog

myitchydog.co.uk

.My passion is empowering pet owners to treat their itching, scratching dogs naturally. Benefits include reducing stress; for your dog with no more expensive tests and vet visits, and for owners by offering value for money plus fast healing & allergy reduction.

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