If your dog is constantly itching and scratching, there’s a good change some kind of allergy is the culprit. Your pooch may be allergic to something in their diet, or something in their environment. And of course there is always the possibility that all that scratching is due to fleas (just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there!)

An itchy dog is a miserable dog, so see your vet for help tracking down the source of the problem. Constant scratching, excessive licking, patches of bare skin, redness or hot spots are all good reasons to schedule a visit with your vet.

Many dogs that we see have pollen allergies. Dogs don’t get congested when they have a pollen allergy – instead, they scratch. Just like you do with your own allergies, monitor the pollen count and keep your dog inside on days when the count is high. Regular bathing will help keep the pollen that collects on their coat at minimal levels. Bathing with an oatmeal shampoo will help soothe the irritated skin.   

As professional groomers, we have a few tricks to help bring relief to itchy dogs, but keep in mind that if you don’t address the root cause of the itching, no shampoo, spray, or skin treatment will stop the itching permanently. Oatmeal shampoo soothes irritated skin and gives it a chance to heal. Aloe treatments moisturize the skin and coat and stop scratching that is due to dryness. Flea shampoos remove the pesky critters that are plaguing your pooch (if you’ve got fleas, you’ll need to do a home & lawn cleanup as well as treating the dog). But if your pet has a food allergy, all the special shampoos and skin treatments in the world aren’t going to help much with their itching. Switching to a hypoallergenic diet, however, just might do the trick. 

So really what we are saying, is that if your dog’s scratching is driving you crazy, a trip to the vet is a good investment. As groomers, we can address the symptoms of the problem and may be able to bring you and your pet some temporary relief, and even help your dog’s skin heal faster. But if you can’t identify and remove, or at least manage, the source of the irritation, the problem can be expected to recur.