Why is my dog so itchy?!

Itchy skin after a groom is rarely the shampoo 

Your dog may be feeling itchy or sensitive after a groom but it’s rare that it’s a reaction to shampoo. It’s more likely discomfort after a shave down or removal of mats.

It can also be a condition known as Atopy - an inherited predisposition to developing a hypersensitivity reaction to environment allergens like pollens, pollution, and grass seeds carried with wind.

Atopy is one of the most common skin diseases in dogs, and certain dog breeds are predisposed to atopic dermatitis such as: Poodles, Oodle cross breeds, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Dalmatian, English Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Jack Russell Terrier, WHW Terrier, Schnauzer, Pug as well as less common breeds.

Symptoms and behaviours include:

• reddening of the skin (known as Erythema)

• itching and scratching 

• salivary staining

• thickening of the skin

• moist or scaly skin and skin erosions

• inflamed ears

• sometimes inflamed anal glands. 

• face rubbing

• foot licking and chewing

• sneezing

• head shaking

• “commando crawl” and rolling on the ground and bum scooting)

• irritation of the dorsal carpal joint area

• chronically relapsing dermatitis

Atopy in dogs can be compared to hayfever in people. Mostly, this can be handled without medication and can come and go throughout the course of the day.Just as in people with hay fever, sneezing may be the only effect, but medication and on-going treatment by your veterinarian may be necessary. 

The magnitude of the allergen load (e.g. pollen count) is a big factor in the reaction dogs experience as well as having seasonal flare ups. Some dogs also have a breed or family predisposition to atopy.

The above factors need to be ruled out completely before any cause of discomfort can be attributed to application of shampoos, conditioners and creams and lotions, as Atopy is by far the most common cause of scratching in dogs.

Every animal has a scratching threshold so it’s important to manage other concurrent skin conditions to minimise scratching such as:

• flea bite hypersensitivity

• yeast dermatitis (Malassezia)

• food-related hypersensitivities (bacterial pyoderma)

What you can do to minimise discomfort:

• Wash your dog's paws after being outside or going for a walk, especially during the months they are most affected.

• See your veterinarian about excessive discomfort. WOOOF encourages collaborating with your vet so we can tailor a health solution to meet your dog’s needs.

• Ask WOOOF to triple rinse the coat if your dog has been scratching and we will use a slightly cooler water temperature.

• Request your dog’s nails are filed after clipping to soften sharp edges as scratching and licking can result in infection.