A number of things cause itchiness in dogs. Fleas are the most common reason. Additionally, your dog may itch because of dry skin or allergies, just like a person.
Itching may start off with an allergic reaction to a plant or a bug bite, and this isn’t really a problem. The problem begins when the itching becomes habitual. The dog scratches and inflames the skin, making it even itchier, which causes more scratching, which causes more itching, and so on. For this reason, it is a good idea to address itching and scratching as soon as you notice it. There are a number of things you can do to help.
When you itch, you probably take a bath or shower right away. That is also the first thing you should do for your dog. Give him a gentle bath in lukewarm water. Use a natural, non-irritating soap like Dr. Bronner’s tea tree or eucalyptus soap. These soaps are naturally medicated and moisturizing. They will help to soothe and cool the skin and stop the itching. Once you have lathered your best friend up, leave the lather on for about five minutes. This will help calm the itching and will also kill any fleas that might be lurking about. Be sure to rinse all of the soap off before applying a special rinse to soothe the skin.
Oatmeal has long been known to be a soothing agent for itchy skin. You can make a bucket of soothing rinse water by filling a cast-off sock or knee-high stocking with oatmeal and soaking it in a bucket of hot water. Be sure to set this up well before you begin getting Fido’s bath ready. You want the rinse to have cooled down to a comfortable, soothing temperature before you pour it over your best friend.
Once you have your dog thoroughly rinsed, take the sock full of oatmeal out of the water and add cool water to the bucket if necessary to make it a comfortable temperature. Pour the rinse over your dog, and leave it on. Don’t rinse it out.
Towel dry your dog, then moisturize his skin. Put several drops of tea tree oil in the palm of one hand and squeeze a tablespoon or two of aloe vera gel on top of it. Mix it up by rubbing your hands together, then work the mixture into your dogs fur down to the skin. Don’t get any around his eyes as the tea tree oil will irritate the eyes. This mixture will moisturize and medicate your dog’s skin.
Just like people, dogs can get seasonal allergies. When this happens, you can give your dog Benadryl. Be sure to use the tablet, not the liquid. The liquid tastes just dreadful and is likely to make your dog sick! You can give one to three milligrams of Benadryl per pound to a dog. Be sure to check the dosage with your vet if your dog is very small.
Itchy skin may also be caused by a lack of oils in the diet. It is a good idea to supplement your dog’s diet with fish oil. You can pour a tablespoon a day over his food or give him capsules.
