How to Treat Dog Skin Itch

Overview

Dog skin itch is a common complaint. It can have many causes so it is sometimes tricky to diagnose and treat the canine skin disorder. Possibilities include:

• Allergies
• Bacterial infection
• Fungal infection
• Skin cancer
• Hypothyroidism
• Fleas
• Endocrine disease (thyroid, pituitary, adrenal)
• Anal gland infection
• Obsessive compulsive licking

Each type of itch has different characteristics that will help in the diagnosis and treatment.

For minor itching you can try the following treatment options to see if there is any improvement:

• Colloidal oatmeal - soothes the skin, particularly when the cause is allergy. Options for dog skin itch include an oatmeal bath, shampoo or topical.
• Tea Tree Oil - Mild antibacterial and anti-fungal treatment.
• Sulfur - Helps with flaking, antibacterial, anti-fungal and relieves itch.
• Salicylic acid - Helps with skin flaking, antibacterial and relieves itch.
• Coal tar - helps with flaking, reduces greasy condition and helps with itch.
• Selenium sulfide - helps with flaking and greasy skin
• Benzoyl Peroxide - Anti-bacterial, unclogs pores, helps with greasy skin. May be drying.
• Chlorhexidine - antibacterial, anti-fungal
• Povidone-iodine - Antibacterial and anti-fungal
• Boric acid - anti-fungal and drying
• Acetic acid - anti-fungal
• Clotrimazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, thiabendaxzole - anti-fungal
• Hemp oil

Herbal Supplements - consider supplements such as Allergy Itch Ease to naturally provide dog itchy skin relief. It contains natural ingredients such as Arum triph which has been used for centuries for skin itch relief. Once you've identified the underlying cause for the itch, you can speed recovery by providing a supportive homeopathic remedy such as PetAlive Skin and Coat Tonic that contains specially selected herbs, nutrients and biochemic tissue salts known to support coat and skin health.

Herbal Skin Topical - if you dog is suffering from itch due to flea bites, consider a topical such as FleaDerm to soothe the skin.

Source: ACVD

Diagnosis

The first step toward diagnosis is to look at where you dog is itching and if you can tell the underlying cause of the itch such as red pimples or raw skin.

Is the skin itch localized (in one area)?

If the itch is only one location, then either a skin parasite such as scabies (mange) or food allergy may be the cause. Food is often the cause if you have made a recent adjustment in your dog's diet. If nothing changed in the diet, try a mange treatment such as Naturasil

Are there multiple skin irritations that see to be symmetric? (patterns that mirror each other)
Causes are often internal such as hypothyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism or pemphigus foliaceus. Allergies may also be the cause.

Multiple skin pimples with no symmetry
Common causes are parasites (fleas, mites)and bacteria. You can try a treatment such as the one indicated above that includes a miticide or anti-flea treatment.

Allergy Related Itch

Symptoms of allergy include licking of the paws, face rubbing, belly licking and ear infections. Allergies usually start early in life and can last throughout the year or start with certain seasons.

Treatment for skin allergy includes a dietary supplement that contains fatty acids, baths with colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo, antihistamine, corticosteroid sprays or allergy shots.

Food Allergy

Symptoms of allergy are paw licking, face rubbing, ear infections. To treat try feeding your dog a simple food that your pet has never eaten before. If the allergy disappears than a food allergy is the cause. It is rare for a dog to have a food allergy. Consider a simple carbohydrate/protein combination or allergen free foods such as Hills z/d.

A natural approach to dog food allergy is to provide a short fast to help reduce stress on the body. Try eliminating your dog's regular diet for 2 to 3 days and replace with a combination of broth and honey or broth and black-strap molasses. If you see improvement, resume the dog's regular diet, but use the "fast" replacement one day per week.

Contact Hypersensitivity

Symptoms happen suddenly and are a reaction to something that has changed in the dogs environment such as bedding or shampoo. Symptoms include itching on the abdomen, feet and chest. Itching can be helped with a colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo, antihistamine or corticosteroid sprays.

Skin Parasite Dog Skin Itch

Itching is caused by an insect that disturbs the skin such as a mite, flea or tick. Review our guide to each type of parasite to determine treatment. Mites (known as Mange or scabies) are best killed with a Miticide such as Naturasil for Mange.

Ear Infection

Primary symptom is scratching of the ears, ear wax and smell. Treatment includes ear drops and ointment. Read more on dog ear infections.

Anal Gland Irritation

Symptoms are scratching of the anus and scratching by dragging the anus along a floor or carpet. Treatment is by draining clogged anus glands. Read more about dog anal glands.

Bacterial Infections that cause Dog Skin Itch

Bacterial skin infection is the second most common type of skin condition after allergy (folliculitis). It occurs when there is infection at the base of the hair follicles. The condition is often misdiagnosed since it tends to be a secondary effect of other skin conditions such as skin allergy and flea allergy.

The disease looks different in each breed with further variation caused by the type of bacteria causing the infection. Papules (a small solid rounded bump rising from the skin that is usually less than 1 centimeter in diameter - less than 3/8 inch across) appear at the base of the hair follicles. Since they burst easily they are often crusted and move from area to area.

You can try DVM Malaseb Medicated Pet Shampoo which is made to combat bacteria.

Seborrhea

This condition is accompanied by dry flaky skin or skin that is greasy to the touch. Symptoms can include itch, thinning hair in patches, scabs, bumps and pimples.

Give your dog frequent baths starting with every other day for 10 days, then 2x a week, then 1x a week depending on the level of improvement you see. If your dog's skin is dry use a cleansing shampoo. These shampoos help address dog dry skin due to environmental factors with a lathering action that helps to remove dirt. A good choice for this purpose is Veterinarian's Best Quick Soothe Hot Spot Foam For Dogs.

If the skin is greasy use a shampoo what contains coal tar, benzoyl peroxide or selenium sulfide (degreaser for the skin) such as Synergy Labs VF Medicated Shampoo.

Use warm water when bathing. Also consider an after bath spray that contains colloidal oatmeal, fatty acids, urea or glycerin.

You may want to consider an a natural skin supplement that contains fatty acids.

Canine Endocrine Disease

There are several types of endocrine disease including diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, Cushing's and Addisons. Symptoms of the disease include hair loss, pimples/lumps, thinning skin, thirst and urinary tract infections.

Treatment Options:

- Medicated baths
- Antibiotics for infection

Immune Mediated Skin Disease

This disease occurs when the immune system attacks its own cells. It starts with lumps on the nose with other symptoms including face sores, ear sores, feet/body sores, scaly skin, toenails that split or break and hair loss.

Treatment for canine immune mediated skin disease includes:

• Corticosteroids
• Antibiotics (for infection if necessary)
• Medicated baths

Canine Skin Cancer

Canine skin cancer can appear in many forms. It includes single or many bumps and sores.Treatment of this condition includes radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.

Obsessive Compulsive Licking

When your dog keeps on licking an area to the point that sores are formed.

Treatment:

• Antibiotics for infection
• Bandages to cover the sore area
• Prescription medication to alter behavior (prozac)

There are also homeopathic remedies that can help reduce nervous anxiety such as Pet Calm.

References Dog Skin Itch:

Scott, D. W., Miller, W. H., Griffin, C. E.

Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology

Mueller, R. S.
Flea Control in Veterinary Dermatology

ACVD

Brevitz, Betsy
Hound Health Handbook

George Washington University (picture credit)

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