My Dog Won’t Stop Scratching-How to Fix the Problem Quickly

Recently we overheard come coffee cart talk about, “my dog wont’ stop scratching” and decided that would be a great topic to help inform readers about. How to stop a dog from scratching can be quite a chore and very difficult to achieve, if you don’t know how.

But…there’s good news. You can stop dog scratching when you understand why they are scratching and know what to do about it. So, if your dog won’t stop scratching this might be the information that can help save your pet from lots of misery and sore skin and you from an enormous vet bill.

Stop Dog Scratching? Stop Allergies!

Yep, you heard that correctly. Allergies. Did you know that your pet can suffer with allergies just like you can? Actually Novartis Animal Health held a survey of pet owners and discovered that over 50% of pet owners had not idea that their pets could suffer seasonal and environmental allergies.

Guess what? They can. Actually pets can suffer with both food and environmental allergies. The easiest way to know the difference between the allergies is the type of reaction. If your dog won’t stop scratching year round, you’re probably either dealing with a food allergy or an environmental allergy that’s always present such as shampoo, cleaners, sprays, etc. If the scratching is more prevalent in particular seasons, it’s likely an environmental cause.

It is however possible that seasonal / environmental allergies can persist to become year round. This is more likely to occur in temperate environments where freezing cold winters do not occur. This allows allergens to accumulate which can lead to increased severity.

What are the Symptoms of Pet Seasonal Allergies?

This is one of those questions where many folks think human. You shouldn’t. Pets are not humans and their allergies don’t manifest as such. For instance, many humans have respiratory problems such as sneezing, running nose and watery eyes due to allergies. Though dogs can, they usually do not manifest in this way. Dogs and even cats are more likely to have skin problems because of allergic reactions. This can lead to an inflammatory response called allergic dermatitis.

So if your dog won’t stop scratching, there is a good chance this is why. Allergies cause extreme irritation and itchiness to your pet’s skin. They may scratch incessantly, bite, chew and even cry and whine because they are so uncomfortable. You may see them trying to rub their backs or faces on surfaces where they can achieve friction. If you see these behaviors, there’s a good chance they have allergies.

Eventually as the itching, scratching, biting and pulling continues onward, the animal’s skin will become irritated, inflamed and can become red, swollen and tender. It can further lead to sores and infection if not treated. Dogs can get something called a hot spot where the inflammation has gotten carried away and the natural bacteria of their skin (like staph) can become overactive. This can lead to high inflammation, bleeding and even a loss of hair.

Allergy Progression

If you have a pet who is suffering with allergies that go untreated, it can progress to become more chronic. Though the symptoms may be minimal at first with progressive worsening in subsequent years, if there is not an intervention, they can become year round.

The best way to deal with this is to be aware of allergy signs and find the culprit if symptoms begin occurring. By doing this you can hopefully prevent a year round chronic allergy from developing.

Pet Seasonal Allergy Relief and Dog Scratching Remedies

Okay…so, your best friend keeps complaining that “my dog won’t stop scratching.” What do you do?

There are some common sense solutions that may help. Use your knowledge and share. It may help save a pet from misery. Many of these are similar to what humans should do who suffer with allergy issues so don’t be surprised.

• Clean home – Vacuum and clean home to keep dust under control. Use allergen free bedding for your pet if possible. Clean the bedding frequently. Always use non-toxic, natural cleaners will possible instead of chemicals.
• Try to avoid vaccinations and drugs when possible. A holistic vet will understand and assist you in lessening this impact where possible.
• Diet changes – Low grain anti-inflammatory diets are the best foods for your pets. Making sure their food has less carbohydrates will likely lessen the allergic reaction from this avenue. Or better still, switch your dog to a raw food diet for dogs which has been proven beyond any doubt to stop allergies, itching and scratching in weeks.
• Bathing frequently – Just like in humans, if you wash your pet frequently you will help remove allergens. You should use a shampoo that does not have grains in it. Don’t use oatmeal or any other grain like soap.
• Wash their feet – Though soaking or washing your pet’s paws may sound a little funny, it can do wonders. They are tracking in allergens when they go out and come back in. If you clean their feet, they will track less allergens to their beds and other places they reside.
• Dysbiosis diagnosis – If your pet has suffered taking too many antibiotics, they may get this problem which can cause immune system problems. Also termed “leaky gut” this should be considered if your pet has had to take a lot of medications and seems to be suffering with a lot of allergies.

What Kind of Dog Scratching Remedies Are There?

Besides the allergy interventions discussed above related to cleaning, bedding, vaccinations, taking medications, etc. there are a few things you can do in supplemental form to help your pet. Luckily these are not medications and they are therefore safer and not toxic like so many medications are.

• Omega-3 fatty acids – This is a well-known natural anti-inflammatory recommended for humans, but it’s also great for your dog as well. This is a wonderful choice to help you pet that is suffering with seasonal allergies. Found  in sources such as:
  • Tuna oil
  • Anchovy oil
  • Salmon oil
  • Krill oil
  • Coconut oil – This one is not from a fish, but it still works wonders. The lauric acid in coconut oil helps decrease yeast production. When inflammatory reactions are in full swing you can often stomp them out with a fish oil and coconut oil combination.
  • Quercetin – Known for its antioxidant properties as well as its anti-inflammatory ones this bioflavonoid suppresses histamine levels to a great degree. If you are not familiar with it, histamine is what potentiates the allergic and inflammatory response. By breaking this histamine cycle, quercetin is able to greatly help the allergy sufferer.
  • Papain and bromelain also help break the histamine cycle and can help improve the absorption of quercetin. Taking these powerful supplements together can greatly enhance your pet’s ability to cope with seasonal allergies.

Watch the video below where I discuss dog food allergies, the symptoms to look for and what to do to end this dog health problem.

So if you have the “my dog won’t stop scratching” syndrome going on in your home or you are trying to save a friend’s pet, be sure to pass along some of this great advice. A dog will thank you for it.