"My Dog Has Itchy Skin”… Dr Feargus Weighs In
Did you know that 20% of dogs will have skin problems that need a vet visit at some point in their lives? If your dog seems to scratch endlessly, lick their paws, or even lose fur – they’re not alone. In fact, our friends over at PD Insurance say skin allergies (a cause of itchy dog skin) were number one on their list of top pet insurance claims in 2023, and will likely be high up for 2024 too.
The problem is that it can be tricky to identify what’s causing it, which makes it tricky to treat. Dr Feargus McConnell – a passionate vet who operates our online pharmacy – shares insights into why he suggests a holistic approach when it comes to itchy dog skin. Here’s what you need to know to help your pup.
Dr Feargus, how common is itchy skin in dogs?
It’s very common and a huge problem in dogs. 20% will have dog skin conditions that require them to go to a vet, and a much higher percentage than that have itchy skin or skin problems that may require treatments at home. At Petdirect, medication for itchy skin is by far our number one seller.
We’ve also become better at recognising it. In the past, dogs were more likely to live in the garden, whereas now they live in our houses and beds.
It’s normal for dogs to have a little bit of a scratch every now and again, but if it persists for more than a few days, that’s when you should start to think about either taking your dog to the vet or trying to do something to help the itchy skin.
Dr Feargus with his dog, Ace. Ace also suffers from itchy skin.
How does itchy skin affect their quality of life?
I’ve seen dogs that have been so itchy they’ve licked themselves raw. They’re to the point where they’re almost losing all of their fur and just can’t stop scratching. They wake themselves up at night scratching and their owners can’t get any sleep. So, it’s an issue that ranges from really mild to severe animal welfare issues.
Is itchy skin particularly hard to treat, especially on a long-term basis?
The short answer is yes. It can be tricky because there are so many different factors that can cause itchy skin in dogs. Some breeds are predisposed to having skin problems. Other times it’s fleasallergies or pollens in the environment, like grass pollen or certain types of plants that flower seasonally.
Other times it can be related to the dog’s food or it can be something in their environment that their skin is reacting to. This could be anything from a particular chemical - the plastic that’s in their dog bowl to the chemicals used on flooring.
So, it can be really difficult to identify the underlying cause and without knowing the underlying cause, you’re only treating the symptoms. If you’re only ever treating the symptoms with medication, you never really get to the root cause of the problem.
How has it been treated in the past?
Back in the day, every itchy dog used to get a combination of steroids and antibiotics. And while this was effective, steroids can cause quite nasty side effects. Regular use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance.
It’s not sustainable to just keep using antibiotics long term, so we’ve moved away from that. Now we’ve got more modern medications like Apoquel* – which is treats itching, but it only treats the symptoms – it doesn’t address the underlying cause.
Medication has its place, but in conjunction, we want to be using other tools to try and improve the skin’s health and improve their natural skin barriers. And that’s going to make your dog more resilient and resistant to having a skin flare-up in the future.
What treatment do you recommend for itchy dogs?
Diet, supplements, stress management and washing all play a role.
Diet
A high-quality skin-support diet can make a big difference and is worth investing in. Look for hypoallergenic or sensitive skin formulas that reduce inflammation and support your dog’s skin barrier.
When it comes to dogs with really bad food intolerances, it’s really important for them that owners are quite strict with their feeding. Make sure that you’re not feeding them lots of different things and different scraps and that sort of stuff. It will just lead to skin flare-ups.
The other easy wins are feeding supplements. So, for example, fish oil or supplements that are rich in omega-3s. It’s important to ask your vet which one to use because you want to make sure that they’re suitable and the right dose for your dog.
If you think that it’s a grass or plant allergy, regularly washing your dog can be really effective. Especially if they’ve just been for a walk or been in some long grass. Washing their feet or just wiping them down afterwards can help to remove pollens and traces of grass and prevent a flare-up before it happens.
Dogs, like humans, can become stressed or anxious. And just like humans, some dogs are more prone to stress than others. Some dogs are really chilled out and pretty easy-going and others are more highly strung and a bit more neurotic.
That stress can manifest as excessive licking and scratching – almost a self-soothing mechanism. Changes in the environment, for instance, a new baby in the house, or moving house can cause stress.
When it comes to stress – it’s important to tailor the approach to the dog. If they’re a high-energy dog, then making sure they’re getting lots of exercise can help.
Toys can also help – like ones with peanut butter or something stuffed in them. This helps to occupy their minds and keep them busy. It distracts them so they’re not sitting there stressed out and turn to licking to self-soothe.
If the stress is really bad, then you might actually need some prescription medication. It’s important to work with your vet and maybe try a course of medication to help take the edge off.
So, when someone comes to you with a dog with a skin condition, what’s the first thing you recommend?
Tailor the plan to the individual dog. If we’re thinking it could be diet-related – the first thing is to change what they’re eating. So, swapping to a hypoallergenic or special skin diet. If your dog has itchy skin lesions like cracks or infections, then prescription medication and supplements might help as well as regularly wiping down the problem areas.
I’d really encourage people to go down to their vets and get their dog seen to rule out any underlying health issues and come up with a management plan.
Being itchy can be incredibly annoying and we wouldn’t accept it for ourselves. If your dog’s having problems, it’s really important to go the vet and get them seen.
*Available only under a veterinary authorisation. AVCM #A10963, #A011921