How to Find the Best Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin

When our fur babies get distressed, so do we! We see our beloved pup itching, maybe even causing fur to be lost or hot spots to pop up on the skin. Naturally, we want to help them.

In this article, we’ll take a quick look at what’s causing that itchy dog distress, and what to do about it!

What Causes My Dog to Itch?

Itching comes from all kinds of irritants. Fleas, insect bites or infection can all cause dogs to itch. Allergies can be another common irritant. 

Dogs are more prone to allergy symptoms showing up on the skin, rather than to have asthma or breathing problems (like humans often do in response to allergens). For example, a person allergic to perfume may experience breathing difficulty around perfumes. For a dog with a perfume allergy, perfume exposure may more likely cause itching or patches of fur to fall out.

Food allergies may also cause a dog to have itchy, irritated skin.

Other Symptoms of Dog Allergies

Dogs with allergies to food, insects or environmental allergens (like perfumes) may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Itchiness
• Hives
• Hot spots or other inflamed skin
• Missing patches of fur
• Itching ears and/or chronic ear infections
• Constant, obsessive licking
• Sneezing
• Digestive symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea
• Swelling of the face, lips, ears or any part of the head

Sometimes allergies can create an acute problem, for which you need veterinary care. So, if your dog has any of the above symptoms, you should call and check with your vet’s office about immediate treatments. 

How to Prevent a Dog from Itching

The most important treatment for dogs with itching skin is the removal of the irritant.

That sounds simple, but it can get a little complicated. Our dog cannot always let us know exactly what is bothering them. An itchy ear could be a one-time ear infection, treatable with drops, or an itchy ear could be an allergy to food or treats.

In order to help you identify the cause, here are a few important things to consider:

1. Did your dog come into contact with something? Just like people, dogs can have severe, acute, even life-threatening allergic reactions. For example, a bee sting could be toxic to some dogs, causing an anaphylactic response. Medicines or household toxins might cause such a response also. Anaphylaxis requires immediate veterinary care! Whatever you do, remove the irritant.
2. Did you recently change something? Changes in diet, treats, or even a household cleaner might cause your dog to itch. If you can identify the change, you can remove it (or change it back) and see if that improves symptoms.
3. Did you forget to do something? Sometimes our dog’s regular flea treatment, regular grooming, or some other healthcare activity has gotten missed, and as a response our beloved pup gets itchy. This is treatable by restoring the health activity.

Another point to consider: food. Food allergies in humans or dogs can be difficult to spot! They can also develop over time. Our dog might have done fine with their food, but then developed a sensitivity to it with repeat exposure or as they age. 

If you suspect your pet may have food allergies, the thing to do is to put your dog on a hypoallergenic diet. A hypoallergenic diet consists of eliminating all common food allergens, to see if your dog’s symptoms (such as itchiness) improves. If so, you might be able to add back in one item at a time and see how your pet responds. Or just stick with hypoallergenic food!

Best Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin

Soothing your dog’s itchy skin goes a long way toward treating or preventing skin problems!

At Bad Dog CBD we have formulated the best dog shampoo for itchy skin. This natural, dog-friendly, CBD shampoo contains soothing colloidal oatmeal, coconut and other vegetable oils. It does not contain any drying, irritating soaps, chemicals or other additives. 

You get just what you need to soothe that fur baby’s itching skin! 

Also consider adding a CBD tincture to your regimen to help treat or prevent allergens and other health issues.

Check out our online store to see more!