Itchy Dog – Simple Home Remedy For Itchy Dog

Itchy Dog Skin

If you think it’s annoying listening to your dog itching their paws, scratching their ears and biting their tails, imagine how distressing & uncomfortable it is for your dog!

Compulsive scratching, licking, and chewing behaviors are common in dogs, but make no mistake, these behaviors can have harmful consequences for your dog’s health if left unchecked and go untreated.

Why Is My Dog So Itchy?

Although sporting, hunting and competitive dogs are bred & trained to work in harsh environments that can be injurious to their skin and coat, any breed, size or age of dog can be prone to skin & allergy problems.

This also applies to agility dogs, dock jumping dogs, search & rescue dogs, police dogs and other working dogs, who, along with your family pet, all spend time outdoors hiking, camping, swimming or on daily walks, will be exposed to environmental and chemical allergens.

According to the frequency of office visits to veterinarians, the most common cause of itchiness in dogs is a genetic inflammatory disease called atopic (allergic) dermatitis. Allergic Dermatitis can happen during different seasons or occur year-round.

Spring allergy season or dry air indoor heat during the Winter are just a couple of examples of when dogs may have elevated problems with their skin and coat.

Causes Of Itchy Skin on Dogs

Environmental Causes

Just like people, there are many things in the environment that can make your dog itchy. Dogs can have problems with pollens, molds, ragweed and house dust mites. You may see your dog reacting during the same “allergy seasons” that give humans problems.

Dogs that spend more time in the field in a variety of different outdoor activities are more exposed to environmental allergens than a family pet that stays indoors or confined in a backyard. But “indoor” dogs can have a higher exposure to chemical irritants like floor cleaners, scented candles and fabrics that can aggravate a dog already susceptible to skin and coat inflammation and allergy problems.

The use and application of outdoor chemicals like weed killers (Glyphosate, trade name ‘RoundUp’) and industrial park insecticides along with residential home lawn fertilizers can also be a source for aggravating your dog’s systemic allergic response.

Most commercial weed killers are manufactured using man-made chemicals, many of which can harm your dog if he eats treated grass or trots across a treated lawn.

Genetic Causes for Skin & Coat Problems

Genetic causes can mean your dog is more prone to skin & coat problems, including itching, inflammation and irritation.

Three breeds in particular have been identified as being more prone to genetic allergic dermatitis. They are the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and English Setters.

While these three breeds may be more likely to have problems with itchy skin and allergies, any breed can show symptoms of allergic dermatitis.

The K9 Allergy Epidemic

Significantly more cases of allergic dogs are being seen than have been diagnosed in the past. Many veterinarians believe that we are experiencing an “allergy epidemic” in our canine population.

While the reasons for this allergy epidemic are uncertain, some of the theories put forth include the aggressive vaccination protocols that many dogs have been subjected to, poor breeding practices and the feeding of low nutritional value processed pet foods.

Symptoms Of Dog with Itchy Skin

According to veterinary medical literature, the usual age that allergies first show up in dogs is between one-to-three years old. But some dogs can start to show signs at only a few months of age–it just depends on the breed and their genetic predisposition to allergies.

Even if your dog’s skin looks normal, check the following list of symptoms to determine if your dog is having skin allergy problems.

Dogs with dry skin, coat and allergy issues will have the following symptoms:

• Red irritated skin in or around the ears & chin area
• White dandruff flakes in their coat
• Watery eyes
• Crustiness around eyes
• Scratching stomach & ears
• Chewing feet & paws
• Excessive licking

Your dog probably won’t have severe itching at first, it will be more mild or moderate. But if your dog keeps scratching it can develop into a more serious problem over time.

The constant scratching can lead to skin lesions or infections, so you don’t want to ignore even mild scratching. Like mange, fleas or a food allergy, you should definitely check with your veterinarian about treatment options.

Ear and skin infections in dogs can become a problem that doesn’t go away and may get worse. So doing something earlier rather than later is always a better choice for your dog.

Medicine For Itchy Dog

There are many ways you can help your dog with skin and coat problems using conventional topical treatments, antihistamines and corticosteroids; as well as with complementary therapies, such as nutritional supplements like CBD from hemp.

For mild cases, many dog owners want to minimize the long-term use of steroids like Prednisone and instead support the health of their dog’s skin to help alleviate itching and scratching.

Though allergies are rarely cured, early identification and intervention can keep them under control, and in some cases, can substantially diminish them.

Prednisone And CBD Oil for Dogs

The use of Cannabidiol (CBD) as a allergy relief medicine for itching dogs has been shown to be safer, and in some instances, more effective than conventional treatments like Prednisone.

CBD Oil for Dogs Allergies

Many pets with chronic allergies are being treated for months or years using steroid pills or ‘allergy shots’ only to return month after month for more drug therapy.

CBD offers pet parents a safer, more natural means to alleviate their pet’s chronic allergic response without the discouraging side effects of steroid treatment that can shorten a dog’s life!

By using a full spectrum CBD oil, pet owners are seeing drastic improvements in their dog’s skin and coat and the associated scratching behaviors have all but been eliminated.

How Does CBD Oil Work for Dogs Allergies?

Allergic reactions are produced by your pet’s immune system, and the way his immune system functions is a combined result of both nature (his genetics) and nurture (his environment).

According to medical literature, CBD oil affects many canine biological pathways through the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and functions to optimize cellular interactions involved in the repair and restoration of whole-body systems to maintain normal homeostasis.

These effects can be at the cellular level as well as in the gene-expression for developing certain sensitivities.

If you’re looking for a treatment that decreases your reliance on corticosteroids, improves your dog’s skin and gives them a lustrous, glowing coat, then CBD oil may be just the help your dog (and you) need.

CBD seems to be a potent new therapy to positively influence the inflammatory response and eliminate the tormenting symptoms of seasonal allergies in our furry friends.

Giving your dog CBD for dog allergies is far more effective when used in conjunction with dietary changes and family home-environment improvements to avoid needless contact exposure to external allergens and finally eliminate your dog’s uncomfortable “itchiness”.

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