Is your dog's skin itchy?

Itchy skin is one of the most common skin problems that can affect dogs. However, as common as it is, it’s not always easy to find out why your dog’s skin is itchy as there are many conditions that can cause it.  

Itchy skin can be extremely bothersome and can lead to excessive scratching that results in cutaneous lesions. This is why, when dogs are itchy, we often see skin irritation, wounds, scabs, hot spots, hair loss and even infections.   

But, the truth is, we have all seen our dogs scratching their ears or nibbling on their skin and feet, and occasional itching is normal. So as pet owners, when should we be concerned about it? 

Usually, if your dog is itchy, you will have no difficulties recognizing it!  

As you are likely to have experienced yourself, itchy skin can be extremely uncomfortable, and our dogs will try to find relief. 

When itching is severe, we may see them spending the whole day (and sometimes even the entire night!), constantly scratching and biting themselves to the point of harming the skin. Dogs can even get so desperate that they will not stop scratching, not even to eat or rest.  

Several conditions can make your dog feel itchy, and they range from transient problems to complicated diseases. Oily to flaky skin (seborrhea) are generally not itchy at their onset (depending on the cause) but can become itchy as the seborrhea worsens or in case of secondary infection. Here are some of the most common ones that may affect your dog.   

Most pet owners are used to treating their dogs for parasites at least during some periods of the year. Is your dog really protected?   

Here are some key aspects to keep in mind:  

As for mites, there are several types of mites that can affect dogs. Sarcoptic mange (also known as scabies) is an extremely pruritic and contagious disease caused by infection with the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It’s particularly concerning due to its potential to affect humans as well.   

Although less common than sarcoptic mange, dogs can also be affected by two other mite-related conditions. Cheyletiellosis, also known as “walking dandruff,” is caused by Cheyletiella spp. mites. Trombiculosis is another type of mange caused by Trombiculidae mites during their parasitic larval stage. 

Finally, variable levels of pruritus can be seen in dogs affected by Demodicosis, the disease caused by Demodex spp. mites that live within the hair follicles of all dogs. For most dogs, these mites don’t cause a problem but in some cases, the number of mites present increases, causing inflammation of the skin and clinical disease. 

Allergies, a common condition causing itchy skin 

Just like us, our pets can suffer from allergies, and some dogs get severely itchy skin because of it.

Usually, allergies can be divided into four major groups:

Unfortunately,except for allergic reactions, allergies are chronic conditions that can be managed but cannot be cured. If your dog suffers from one type of allergy, they maybe prone to suffering from other types of allergies as well and are also prone to developing recurrent ear inflammation and infections (otitis). Ear infections are common in dogs with itchy skin.  

Secondary infections and itchy skin  

Did you know that normal skin is home to a healthy population of several types of microorganisms? However, when skin health is impaired, the bacteria and yeasts that live on the skin may grow without control and cause secondary infections.   

Bacterial infections 
Secondary bacterial infections are usually caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and can vary in severity, depending on the area and layers of skin affected. These can begin as a ‘hot spot’, a lesion that appears suddenly as a red, moist and usually hairless patch of broken skin, which then quickly becomes infected. 

Yeast infections 
As for yeast infections, these are caused by Malassezia pachydermatis, and tend to develop in skin folds, between the toes and within the ear canal (otitis), although they can appear anywhere in the body. These also tend to have a very particular smell and a recurring nature.

Other diseases that can cause secondary skin infections 
This is when it gets tricky – many diseases that cause skin problems do not cause pruritus (the fancy name for itchy skin), such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and auto-immune diseases, for example. However, if complicated by a secondary infection, pruritus can develop. This makes diagnosing the underlying problem that much more challenging, as the infection will need to be treated before we can further investigate the cause.   

Ringworm 
Ringworm is a fungal infection that dogs can pick up by being in contact with infected animals or objects. Most often, ringworm does not cause intense pruritus, but some dogs may have mild itchy skin or itchy skin can develop as a result of secondary infections as mentioned before.   

Which dogs can be affected?

All dogs can suffer from itchy skin; however, some breeds are more prone to have itchy skin as they are predisposed to the underlying conditions, such as:  

Be patient and trust your veterinarian team 

To diagnose dermatological conditions, vets usually take a step-by-step approach. This means that finding out the cause of itchy skin, especially when it's
due to allergies, can take weeks, even months. In the meantime, you may not see much improvement or even run into setbacks along the way.   

This process can be frustrating to both pet owners and vets, which is why it is so important to look for a team that you can trust and talk openly about your concerns.  

There are four key components in the management of itchy skin

From prescription diets to medication and even baths using special shampoos, there are several options available to treat itchy skin. Your vet will recommend what is best suited for your dog as treatment should always be personalized to their specific needs and varies depending on the diagnosis.  

For more details on how to manage itchy skin, don't hesitate to read our dedicated page.