Causes Of Itching In Dogs, And How To Help

A large percentage of veterinary consultations involve dog’s being itchy. There are many different potential causes of itching in dogs, and figuring out the exact cause isn’t always straightforward. Factors such as age and breed of the dog could make some conditions more likely. In this blog post, we’ll go through signs your dog may show if they are itchy, the common potential causes of itching, what you could do to help or prevent itching, and when to speak to a vet.

Signs of itchiness

It is not always obvious when a dog is itchy, as they may secretly scratch or itch when you are not there, so it is important that other signs of itchiness are spotted early.

Skin & fur:

Other parts of the body could be affected too:

Tail or backend – scooting bottom, other signs as above

Nose – runny discharge and sometimes sneezing

Ears – shaking of the head, redness inside the canals, smelly and sometimes more wax. Read more here .

Eyes – runny/tears, red, itchy

Depending on what the cause is, some dogs may show other signs if the digestive system is involved, or even tiredness. However, the most common sign is a dog scratching.

Common causes of itching in dogs

There are a broad range of potential causes of itching, so we’ll go through the more common causes.

1. Allergies

Allergies are the most common cause of itching in dogs, and come in different forms:

• Environmental allergies – there can be many different causes such as tree or grass pollens, mites (dust or storage), and even moulds. These can be seasonal.
• Food allergies – dogs can sometimes be allergic to the protein in their food (e.g. the meat source), or sometimes even grains or other ingredients.
• Contact allergies – these can vary from everything like washing powders used in the house to certain fabrics or even plastics.
• Bites or stings – these can cause an allergic reaction, which is commonly seen in snake bites and bee or wasp stings, but even certain plants.
• Flea allergies – some dogs can have a reaction to flea saliva when bitten, especially those who have not been treated with an effective flea medication to prevent a flea infestation.

2. Skin or ear infections

Bacteria, yeast or fungal (e.g. ringworm) infections often cause itching in dogs. These can occur primarily themselves, or be secondary to allergies or parasite infestations. Bacterial and yeast infections could be an overgrowth of the normal ones that live on a dog’s skin and ears, or a new strain which invades the skin or ear.

Some infections can also be caused by foreign bodies such as grass seeds or thorns getting stuck under the skin or in the ears. Some dogs may also be prone to getting infections if they have an uncontrolled hormonal issue. 

They often appear as hot spots, can progress to pus being produced if left untreated. Ears often end up having excessive wax and possibly a foul smell. The colour of the wax or pus in the ear depends on the type of bacteria or yeast causing the infection.

3. Parasites

A number of different parasites depending on country, such as:

• Fleas
• Lice
• Demodex mites
• Sarcoptes mites
• Psoroptes mites
• Cheyletiella mites
• Ear mites (Otodectes)
• Harvest mites (Trombicula)

Other less common causes

Anal gland issues can cause itching around the backend of dogs. Read more about anal gland issues here. 

Wounds can sometimes get itchy as healing commences.

Pain from problems such as arthritis can make a dog lick or bite at the affected area, and can often be confused for itching.

Some cancers can also cause itching, such as mast cell tumours.

Certain autoimmune conditions such as Pemphigus Foliaceous can caused itching.

Diagnostic tests used to determine the cause of the itching in dogs

Your vet will likely take a detailed history of your dog. This, along with examining your dog thoroughly and checking out the locations of the itching, will help them narrow down the list of things that could be causing the itching.

Depending on what your vet suspects could be the cause of the itching, they may suggest some of the following tests:

Flea comb:

They may run a fine comb through the fur to try see if any fleas are involved, or use some wet cotton wool to spot any flea dirt.

Skin, hair or discharge sample:

A sample such as a skin scrape, hair pluck, swab or impression smear to try to spot any parasites or pathogens under a microscope.

Blood test:

If your vet suspects a hormonal or immune issue, they may suggest doing some blood tests to rule them out.

Certain blood tests can also help check for certain allergies. Years ago these tests were not very accurate, but as technology advances, these tests are getting better but can be expensive.

Food trial:

This could be used to rule out or figure out if a certain food is causing the itching.

Biopsies such as a fine needle aspirate:

If any lumps are involved with the itch, the vet may decide to try collect some cells to check for certain conditions like cancers.

Intradermal tests:

These tests are done to check for environmental allergies by injecting small amount of allergens under the skin to check for a reaction. Depending on the results, a vaccine could then be made to help your pet cope, but vaccines would need to be given frequently.

What to do to help and/or prevent itching in dogs

• First and foremost, make sure you take your dog to the vet to figure out exactly what is causing the itching. They would be able to prescribe medication to help calm down the itching. The points below must also be implemented alongside the medication, depending on what the cause of the itching in dogs is.
• Check your dog regularly for any abnormal areas of skin, and also check their ears for redness, excess wax or a bad odour. Ears can be cleaned with a vet-approved ear cleaner if needed. This is also important to do after bathing or swimming as bacteria in the water could start to multiply in the ears. Your vet can show you the correct way to clean ears. DO NOT use a cotton bud, as this could damage the ear drum. You can read more about ear issues and cleaning ears here .
• Omega oil supplements help to nourish the skin, along with having anti-inflammatory properties. You can read more about omega oils and their other benefits here .
• Regular, effective flea and tick control is invaluable. Some products also treat and prevent mites. Speak to your vet for the most effective products available in your area.

Specifically for allergies:

• Feed your dog high quality food, and if you know what your dog could be allergic to, avoid it at all costs. Even a single morsel could flare up their skin.
• Bathe your dog when required, as bathing can help remove pollens from the fur and also help calm down the skin depending on the shampoo. 
• Wipe your dog with a damp towel after walks if they are affected by environmental allergies, as the towel can help remove pollens stuck to them.
• Clean and vacuum the house regularly to manage dust mites, and use clean, sealable containers for dog food which are washed and dried in between batches to prevent storage mites.
• Also keep your dog’s bedding, feed bowls and collars or harnesses clean.
• Avoid taking your dog to areas where certain pollens they could be allergic to are.
• Avoid using detergents and sprays which your dog could be allergic to. This includes perfumes and deodorants.

I’ve now given you an insight into itching in dogs. As you can see, there are many potential causes, and it can be tricky to pinpoint the exact cause. If your dog is itchy then it is best to seek veterinary advice sooner rather than later, because it can get much worse if left untreated.

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Note:The advice provided in this blog post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute veterinary advice. If in doubt always seek veterinary advice.