Dog Itching Skin

Dog Itchy Skin - What Are The Top 5 Causes Of Dog Itchy Skin?

At some point in time every dog owner is going to have to deal with dog itchy skin. We're not talking about the casual scratch here. We're talking serious scratching and biting all of the time. Your poor pooch is suffering with really itchy skin and it's your job to help him out.

There are a number of things that you can do to relieve dog itchy skin but the relief is temporary because you are treating a symptom and not the cause.. What you need to do is find the underlying cause of the itching and there are any number of possibilities. Some of these causes can be diagnosed at home and some are going to require a trip to the vet.

Common causes of dog itchy skin include:

• Allergic reaction

• Poor nutrition

• Mange

• Fleas

• Over bathing

• Anxiety

Just like humans, dogs can have allergic reactions to almost anything they come in contact with. If you notice that the itching comes on at the same time of year, year after year then it could simply be pollen. If the itching just comes on with no ready explanation then think about what's new in the dog's environment. Did you wash his bedding with a new detergent? Did you use a new shampoo the last time you gave him a bath? Was your carpet recently steamed clean? Did you put down fertilizer or weed killer on the lawn?

Figuring out just what the pooch is allergic to is a game of trial and error. There are vets who specialize in dog dermatology but they cost a fortune.

If you are feeding your dog a discount dog food you want to check out the ingredients and see just what Fido is getting. Many low end dog foods are low in nutrition and high in filler. You want to see that there is a Vitamin E supplement and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (fish oil) which not only help stop the itching but aid the immune system as well. Compare the ingredients of your dog food with a premium brand like Iams and consider testing the higher priced food.

Mange is caused by mites and while there are tell tale signs, the only way to be sure it's mange is to have a vet do a scrapping and testing it. Mites are not visible to the naked eye. Mange can lead to other serious fog health problems and needs to be treated as soon as it is suspected.

Fleas are pretty obvious because they are jumping off your dog and into your carpet.

Over bathing your dog is kind of misleading. It's not the water that does the damage; it's the shampoo that you may be using. Human shampoos and some dog shampoos will strip the natural oils from a dog's skin and coat and created itchy skin. Using the wrong shampoo coupled with the number one mistake that most dog owners make, not rinsing the dog thoroughly enough can create dog itch skin all over his body.

Then there is scratching and biting that has nothing to do with an actual itch. Sometimes dogs will revert to this behavior when they are anxious. If the dog is itching before you leave in the morning but then is fine when you come home, then the itch may be associated with separation anxiety.

Finding the exact cause of itchy dog skin is going to take time as you sort out and eliminate various causes. In the meantime your furry friend wants some relief. Fortunately there is an abundance of commercial products available but even better there are a number of remedies that use products you may already have in your kitchen.

Your dog looks to you as his first responder. Do the right thing and take the time to tend to his needs.

Don't wait until you finally figure out the cause of your pet's dog itchy skin to provide him some relief. Fortunately there are a number of home remedies that include products you probably already have in the house. Check out these cures at http://homeremediesfordogs.org/Dog-Itchy-Skin.html

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