Itchy skin can be an uncomfortable experience for any of us including our furry friends. This can be heightened during these warmer months. An itchy dog is usually an unhappy dog, so owners are quite often anxious to try and find its cause in order to support their dogs skin and coat. Spotting the causes of an itching dog sounds simple, but can be a bit more complicated.
To help with this, Lintbells, manufacturers of premium natural pet supplements has put together some useful tips that could help detect the triggers of itchy skin and keep your dog’s skin and coat in tip top condition.
Be cautious after walks
With the glorious spells of sunshine and warmer climate now, pollen counts can be high and can cause irritation in both humans and dogs. That’s right – dogs get hay fever too!
To properly look after your dog’s skin during pollen season, ensure you are checking their skin and coat, particularly hairy, fluffy or curly haired dogs or those with long floppy ears, after walks. Check for any grass seeds on their coat, between the pads and down their ears, and wipe them down with a damp towel after any time outside.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to help your dog if their itches are due to environmental factors. Start by avoiding their triggers – where practical – then boost their skin’s natural defences by adding an Omega 3 & 6 supplement like YuMEGA Itchy Dog to their food.
Hair loss and moulting
Excessive hair loss and moulting are one of the main signs that indicate your dog may be experiencing skin complaints. If you do start to spot this in your pooch, there are a number of things you can do to help. To remove dirt and debris it is important to ensure you are brushing their coat daily, carefully combing or cutting out any matted hair as this will significantly benefit your furry friend’s skin and coat. You could also consider using dog friendly shampoo that is designed to soothe irritated skin.
Fleas, ticks and mites
Sometimes, even the cleanest dogs can pick up fleas, if appropriate treatment is not applied regularly - although fleas and ticks may not always be visible, they can jump on and off your dog quite easily. Fleas can result in frequent and severe itching, hair loss and scabs on their skin. If fleas have already entered your home, it may be a good idea to use spot-on treatment and keep track of how often it needs to be reapplied. When it comes to ear mites or a dust mite problem, it’s always best to seek the advice of a vet for expert help.
Flaking out
Dry and itchy skin along with dandruff is a very common tell-tale sign that your four-legged friend’s skin needs some serious TLC.
You should consider bathing your dog regularly using dog specific shampoos that are designed to soothe irritated skin.
It’s important to remember that while every dog has got to scratch sometimes - and that’s completely normal - incessantly licking, scratching, biting and chewing to the point of wounding is a symptom of an underlying pathology. If you’re concerned about your itching dog, we’d always recommend a trip to the vet and make sure your pet pooch is happy and healthy always.
