Help! My Dog Is Scratching!

You hear it all the time

You hear it all the time. If you spend time talking to dog owners they will start telling you that they have a dog that's itching and they don't know why. There are numerous reasons why a dog may itch. Let's look at a few of them.

Fleas

If you have an itchy dog one of the first things to check him for is external parasites. That means fleas and other crawlies. For many dogs it only takes one flea to drive them wild. If your dog has a flea bite allergy then a flea may bite him on the nose and he can scratch and bite at his entire body in reaction because he will feel the itching all over.

To check your dog for fleas you can part his fur and look for the little buggers next to the skin. Also be sure to look for the dark red dirt that they leave behind. This is granular dried blood and it is a telltale sign that fleas are present. Most fleas congregate around a dog's tail and head, so pay particular attention to these areas. Remember that a flea actually spends most of his time off your dog and in the surrounding area. If you find any evidence at all of a flea on your dog you can be sure that there are many more nearby.

Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for fleas these day. You may opt to treat your dog with spot-on flea treatments. These only have to be used every 90 days. There are also pills that you can give to your dog that will instantly kill the fleas on him and pills that will break up a flea's reproductive cycle. There are also many good sprays and herbal treatments. You may have to use sprays and herbal treatments more frequently but they can work. Whatever method you choose be sure to also treat your house and yard as well as your dog's bedding.

Food and Allergies

Owners have more choices in feeding their dogs today than at any time in the recent past. Other than going out and killing a buffalo to feed your dog, dogs today probably eat better than most dogs of bygone eras. And yet we have many dogs today who suffer from itchy skin due to food allergies.

One of the primary reasons for food allergies is that many dogs are allergic to one of the main ingredients in many dog foods -- corn. Corn is a widely used grain in dog food. It is a comparatively cheap source of protein. It can be hard to find mid-priced dog foods that do not use corn in some form. Corn may appear in one bag of kibble in multiple forms, from ground yellow corn to corn gluten meal. Many times, when you add all of these different forms of corn together, corn will end up constituting the single largest ingredient in a bag of food.

Unfortunately, dogs are only able to process about 54 percent of the protein in corn. It's not the most readily available source of protein for canines, unlike a meat protein. The same is true of wheat and soy which are also used in many dog foods and can cause dry, itchy skin.

Seeking out dog foods that are free of corn can help reduce itchiness in dogs. Better dog foods usually feature several named meat sources of protein in the first five ingredients. Dogs may still develop food allergies but if you feed good quality food with good protein sources your dogs are less likely to have itchy skin. If they do develop allergies you can try foods with novel sources of protein such as duck or buffalo meat.

Environment

Dogs may also develop itchy skin due to their environment. Many dogs have dry skin in the winter time due to dry heat in homes and low humidity. A humidifier in the home can help put some humidity back in the atmosphere and help both dogs and humans avoid the worst of dry skin and itching.

It's also important to maintain regular grooming in both winter and summer months. Brushing your dog regularly helps distribute the natural oils in his coat and stimulates his skin to continue lubricating his coat.

If your dog's skin and coat continue to be dry and itchy due to the environment you can supplement your dog with fish oil and vitamin E tablets. These supplements help provide your dog with the necessary antioxidants and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.

Other Reasons

There are other reasons for itchy skin in dogs. If you suspect that your dog has itchy skin for health reasons you should discuss your dog's health with your veterinarian. Some health problems have symptoms which include itching, flaking skin.

by: Tristan Andrews

POST COMMENT

Have We Spoiled Our Dogs Too Much? What Do I Do If My Dog Has Hip Dysplasia? How Do You Clicker Train A Dog? How Can I Make Vet Visits Easier For My Dog? Should I Train My Dog Using Treats? Protecting Your Dog With Coats The Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters Toys Are The Big Hit This Christmas Dog Coat Choices Have Come A Long Way Great Toys for Cats What eat largest snakes today - Snakes pictures and story Why Dogs Fight West Nile Virus and Dogs Internal and External Parasites in Dogs