How to Help an Itchy Dog | Find Out Why Your Dog is Itching or Scratching

Dogs have a lot more mast cells in their skin than humans, which are responsible for releasing histamines. Histamines have a number of functions within the body, one of which is as part of the immune system’s first line of defence, helping to usher out potential threats through bodily reactions such as itch, sneezing, running eyes or nose.  Such symptoms are commonly referred to as inflammatory and allergic reactions.

In fact, the canine body has ten times more mast cells than we do! This means dogs will feel itching much more intensely than we could ever imagine, making it even more important for us to get to the bottom of their discomfort so they can find relief. 

Unfortunately, when a dog scratches, chews, or you see your dog scooting to relieve discomfort, these instinctive responses can actually make the problem worse. Scratching releases more histamines, intensifying itching and potentially leading to hotspots on your dog—painful areas of inflamed, broken skin. Chewing and licking can introduce bacteria, increasing the risk of infection and compounding the discomfort.

Dogs scratch themselves regularly at the best of times, but when it becomes more frequent than usual or if you notice licking, chewing, or frequent scooting or rubbing on the ground, your dog might be trying to tell you something.

It’s heartbreaking to watch your best friend lick, scratch, and chew on themselves in such obvious discomfort, but sadly the cause of their itching is not always easy to pinpoint as dogs can be itchy for various reasons, with some being more common than others. 

Parasites 

First and foremost, always make sure to check for the presence of parasites, whether your dog is scratching, licking, or chewing themselves frequently or not. Parasites like mites, ticks and fleas on dogs are the most common causes of dog itching and can make your canine friend quite uncomfortable! These little critters are very small and can easily go undetected if you’re not actively searching for them, so it’s always best to do a thorough check. 

For fleas and ticks, this is easy enough to do at home by parting your dog’s fur in multiple places and having a good look at their skin. Using flea combs and checking for flea dirt around the base of the tail is also advised. Mites are much harder to find as they’re microscopic, so your vet can always help; they’re trained to look for signs of parasitic infestations and will be able to do further tests and possible skin scrape to determine if parasites are the cause of your dog’s itching.

Check out our must-read guides, Natural Flea Prevention for Dogs and Ticks on Dogs, where I break down exactly how to spot fleas and ticks, plus give you top tips for natural parasite prevention.

While I’m all for reducing routine flea treatments with the help of natural tick and flea repellent supplements, if your dog’s dealing with a full-blown infestation, chemical treatments may be necessary. In that case, consult your vet to find the best medication to tackle the issue and get your dog back to feeling comfortable.

Allergies 

Allergies are even more common in dogs than they are in humans, and given a dog’s tendency to spend lots of time outdoors in natural surroundings, this makes sense. Environmental allergies [1] are often to blame for itchy dogs and can occur either seasonally or year-round, depending on the specific allergy. The most common environmental allergens for dogs are grasses, pollen, mould, and dust. They’ll usually present as itchy paws and/or underside, weepy eyes (leading to tear stains), or runny nose and sneezing. 

There are other allergies in dogs that can cause itching, like medications (topical or oral), or shampoos with ingredients that irritate and trigger dog skin allergies. 

Food intolerances 

Intolerance or sensitivities to food can present symptoms similar to those experienced with environmental allergies (including itch). Such symptoms stem from the body’s reaction to certain molecules in food. An inflammatory response is triggered by the immune system to combat and protect the body from what it determines to be a threat.

Food intolerances or sensitivities commonly affect the digestive system, resulting in gastrointestinal conditions such as dog constipation, diarrhoea, IBS, excessive bloat and flatulence, etc. However, symptoms can manifest in many ways, triggering reactions on the skin, and causing dogs to lick, scratch, or chew themselves in an attempt to find relief. Recurring ear infections and tear stains can also be a telltale sign a dog is reacting to something in the diet. Because the symptoms of food intolerances or sensitivities are usually not immediate, they can be difficult to diagnose. 

Food intolerances or sensitivities are commonly referred to as ‘food allergies’. This is a little misleading and factually incorrect definition. True food allergies, which are rare, can be triggered by a tiny amount of the food, and the reaction is usually immediate, serious, and sometimes even fatal. With food intolerances or sensitivities, the symptoms can be dose-related, so you may not see a reaction unless your dog eats the offending food type over a period of time.

Such reactions can also occur because of how the food was grown or the diet the animal was reared on. In other words, your dog could be reacting to chicken because that chicken was fed corn or grain. 

High-starch foods, like kibble, can also be a factor in food intolerances. Gluten, grains, soy and dairy are the foods that most commonly cause intolerances in dogs; unfortunately, ingredients found in many commercial dog foods. Closely followed by chicken and beef, particularly cooked and highly processed forms of these meats.[2] 

Itchy skin is one of the top reasons dog owners make the switch to raw diets. Just look at Buddy’s story for proof of a real-life transformation. Raw diets are free from irritating ingredients, untouched by cooking or processing, and proven to support better digestion—among many other benefits.

If you think food intolerance or sensitivities might be behind your dog’s relentless itching, I usually suggest starting with a dog elimination diet to pinpoint the exact trigger.

With decades of experience as a canine nutritionist, customising diets to meet dogs’ unique needs, I’m here to help. Get FREE tailored advice to ease your dog’s itch by contacting us through our online form—let’s get to the root of the problem together!

Injuries 

Dogs are masters at hiding their pain, and with good reason. In the wild, an injured dog would make an easy target for other dogs or larger predators, so their instinct is to hide their pain for survival’s sake. While this is helpful for wild dogs, unfortunately it makes things harder for domestic dogs and their humans! 

A trapped nerve or pain and tension in the neck area can cause deferred pain, so scratching around that area or licking paws can be a sign of this. This can make diagnosing your dog even more tricky; dog owners who have had their pets for years and know them well can still have a hard time discerning if they’re in pain, especially if there’s been no obvious injury. 

Another instinct that dogs have when they’re in pain is to lick the area in question. This is likely an attempt to “clean” the pain away, and it makes sense; but can also be the cause of infection when done repeatedly and for long periods of time. This then causes itching, causing them to lick the area more, and round and round the cycle goes until their humans intervene.

Yeast 

Yeast (or candida) is a living organism that thrives in moist conditions. These can come about through various causes such as: hot humid weather, gut imbalance, not drying off properly after a bath or swim, or when an area of the body doesn’t get frequent exposure to the air (like between the rolls on a Shar Pei, for example).

Antibiotics and other medications, as well as starchy foods, can also cause yeast overgrowth [3]. The presence of overactive yeast in the body can manifest in quite unpleasant ways, and one of these includes a red, itchy, flaky rash that may have a cheesy or “musty” smell. 

All dogs are capable of acquiring yeast infections, though some breeds are more predisposed than others. Those with adorable rolls like the aforementioned Shar Pei or bulldogs, floppy ears, or ears that have lots of hair in them are all more susceptible to yeast overgrowth due to lack of airflow. Diet can also be a factor in yeast overgrowth, with grains and certain fruits and vegetables being the main culprits due to the sugar and starches on which yeast thrives.

To learn more about yeast infections, read our guide on how to help yeast imbalance in dogs.

Health conditions 

Certain health conditions can also be to blame for a dog’s itching, especially those that disrupt the balance of the endocrine system. This is because the hormones released through the endocrine system are also responsible for skin and coat health, among other important functions. It makes sense, then, that dogs with compromised endocrine systems would also suffer from skin issues like itching.  

Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, and diabetes are the most common endocrine disorders found in dogs. If your dog is experiencing any other strange symptoms aside from their itching (and a parasite infestation has been ruled out), it’s a good idea to have their vet do an endocrinology panel. This will either identify an endocrine disorder or rule it out, but either way your dog will be closer to getting the help they need. 

For a deep dive into how hormones impact your dog’s health, check out Dr. Katie Woodley’s Dog Hormone Guide. It covers everything from hormone function to common disorders, along with tips on supporting balanced hormones in your dog.

Skin conditions

If your dog is shedding more than usual or has visibly dry, flaky skin, then it is highly likely that your dog has a skin condition, the most common being atopic dermatitis.

Factors that contribute to poor skin condition include weather, central heating, hormones or stress. By process of elimination, you can usually tell what might be causing the skin irritation. If the seasons have changed, the weather has got warmer or colder, or if you have just put the heating back on, these could all be contributing to the problem.

Many skin conditions can be controlled by what you are feeding your dog. Feeding a raw food diet, which includes healthy fats and oils, is an excellent place to start. Many dog foods contain processed, starchy ingredients, which can contribute to poor skin condition and itchy skin.

Our vet expert, Dr Nick Thompson explains why raw dog food is beneficial to help itchy dogs.

Visit the vet 

As stated earlier, dog itching is commonly caused by parasites, allergies, or certain health conditions. For this reason, visiting your vet is a good first step in figuring out exactly what ails your canine pal and will help to either identify or rule out any potential health issues that might be causing them to feel so uncomfortable. 

They may also recommend medicated shampoo, or something similar if the cause can’t immediately be identified, allowing your dog a little relief in the meantime. 

Change their diet 

Food intolerances are a common culprit when it comes to skin irritation, especially if your dog is on a high carbohydrate, kibble-based diet. Many dry foods contain the common ingredients that are known to cause intolerances (gluten, grains, soy, etc.), so a diet change could be the key to helping your itchy dog feel better. 

Switching to a raw dog food diet is a game-changer for your dog’s health. The benefits of raw feeding are well-documented—these diets are free from fillers and unnecessary ingredients, helping your dog feel their best in countless ways.

While some dog owners wonder if raw dog food can cause itching or report their dog being itchy on raw food, this is more likely due to a certain protein intolerance or starchy vegetable content than the actual raw diet itself. In this case, a dog elimination diet would help pinpoint the pesky protein or other ingredient that is causing the issue. 

Many people (and their dogs) find that a novel protein raw food, such as ProDog’s Exotics range, is a good place to start. Alternatively, we offer pure 801010 raw dog food and a raw dog food bundle designed for dogs with potential food sensitivities.

Natural remedies 

Certain natural topical remedies and supplements for itchy skin can be helpful for your dog as well. It’s important to make sure they’re safe for canines, though, as some natural substances that are helpful to humans can be toxic to dogs. 

Some safe options include: Calendula, which has powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, baking soda, which acts as an acid neutraliser and soothes inflammation, and aloe vera (fresh from the leaf) for its regenerative properties.

For external relief, an all-natural itchy dog shampoo like this one can soothe and calm irritated skin.

Natural dietary supplements can be a key component to tackling allergies and intolerances right at the source: your dog’s gut. Dog gut health is key to overall wellbeing, and imbalances often trigger excessive itching. In fact, aside from parasites, many causes of itchiness stem from gut issues.

ProDog’s Protect and Colostrum supplements are top choices for boosting gut health and soothing skin discomfort, while our Digest supplement is expertly crafted to tackle digestive issues like dog constipation and diarrhoea. Each formula is designed to help your dog thrive from the inside out.

Not sure which one’s right for your dog? Our expert nutrition team is here to guide you—contact us today for personalised advice!

Dr. Katie Woodley offers great insights on helping itchy dogs in her article How to Heal Your Dog’s Itchy Skin Through Natural Remedies, where she shares Finlay’s journey from extreme skin issues to recovery using natural solutions.

Management measures 

Part of the problem with dog itching is their licking, chewing, and scratching, as this inflames the area further and can lead to infection. Stopping them from doing this might not stop the itch entirely (or at all), but you can help them to at least not make matters worse while you figure out the issue causing their itching. 

Keeping them calm as much as possible, staying away from any known environmental allergens, and the use of inflatable collars or protective vests can all help to ensure things won’t get worse before they get better. 

Discover more about why dogs itch and how to help them from Dr Nick Thompson, The Holistic Vet.

Figuring out why your dogs itch can often feel like solving a tricky puzzle, with the potential root cause being one of many possibilities or even a combination of triggers.

Dogs rely on us for many things, and helping them when they’re itchy and uncomfortable is no different. It’s important to dig deeper than the all-to-common superficial ‘skin condition diagnosis’. Seeing your canine friend in such discomfort can be frustrating and distressing when you can’t figure out what’s causing their itchiness. Taking the time to discover the root cause rather than simply treating the symptoms will be satisfying for you and your dog. 

For some dogs, simply removing common triggers like parasites or high-risk foods is enough to bring relief. As a canine nutritionist, I’ve helped countless dog owners make the switch to a more natural diet, and it’s by far the best move for your dog’s overall wellbeing. After all, we are what we eat—and so are our dogs.

Want to learn more about how a raw diet can benefit your dog? Check out our Benefits of Raw Feeding guide or reach out for FREE tailored support and advice from me