13/04/2026
๐ถ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐?
The question we get asked most often is โWhy does my dog scratch themselves, or chew and lick their paws all the time?โ. This is a common problem, causing endless frustration for dog owners and is equally frustrating for the dogs themselves!
It is especially distressing when the itching is accompanied by red, inflamed and sometimes raw patches on the skin, often visible on the belly or between the toes. Other symptoms include a ye**ty kind of smell on the paws and ears.
๐ It may be tempting to go for quick fixes like anti-inflammatories, cortisone or other injections but in our experience, the symptoms will simply keep returning until you correct the underlying cause of the inflammation once and for all, by following a long-term plan and sticking to it. This includes treatment from the inside, to reduce inflammation, as well as treatment on the outside, topically, to relieve your dogโs itchy inflamed skin.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ
There could be numerous causes for the inflammation and itchiness but here are the most common causes, and suggested treatments if you suspect one of these could be the cause.
Please note, although we have recommended certain products, we are in no way affiliated with these products, we simply recommend them based on experience and feedback from customers that reported their dogs showed improvement in 2-3 months, some sooner.
๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง โ caused by lack of oil in the diet or hormonal imbalances
โ๏ธ DRY SKIN can be addressed by adding a good quality omega supplement to your dogโs diet. Our recommendation is to add ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ to your dogโs food every single day. Ensure you give an adequate daily dose for the size of your dog to see results.
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฌ โ environmental, food or contact
ALLERGIES are a complex, frustrating problem to pinpoint. The common culprits are FOOD allergies (either protein or carbohydrate) and GRASS allergies.
โ๏ธ Try an elimination diet (be strict โ treats included!) and read ALL the ingredients on the packaging of any new food or treat you are testing
โ๏ธ Track reactions carefully over time
๐ก Tip: Give at least 1-2 weeks per โtestโ to monitor for improvement before trying the next suspected trigger.
๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฌ:
Remember you need to monitor the treats you are giving your dog if you are in the middle of this โelimination dietโ process, for example if you are eliminating food with wheat, then you canโt give your dog biscuits made with flour during that time.
โ๏ธIn that case, we recommend grain-free treats like ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ which are meat-based and are preservative, colourant and additive free.
โ๏ธOr if you suspect one of the PROTEINS (like chicken, beef, pork, lamb, etc.) is one of your dogโs triggers, look for almond/oat/rice flour, etc. treats instead.
๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฌ:
If you suspect that the allergy is environmental, for example you switched laundry detergent, or you notice more intense itching after the dog has rolled in freshly cut grass, make a note and test your theory by eliminating the suspected environmental trigger for a period of time and then reintroducing triggers one at a time, to test if they cause a reaction.
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ:
A weak gut = more inflammation & itching
We suggest adding a probiotic to your dogโs diet to address gut imbalances, which often accompany allergy symptoms. By fostering a balanced gut microbiome, probiotics help reduce systemic inflammation, strengthen the skin barrier, and modulate the immune system's response to allergens, which can lead to a decrease in itching, redness, and hot spots.
โ๏ธWe recommend ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, a powder-based, colourless, flavourless probiotic that can be added to your dogโs food or water. Note, probiotics are recommended for long-term use to increase their effectiveness.
๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฌ โ fleas or mites
PARASITES arenโt always easy to spot but are very easy to treat. Mites, especially, are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye but can cause intense itching in dogs.
โ๏ธ We recommend a once-off chewable tablet like ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ that offers 5-weeks of treatment and protection against the most common parasites like ticks, fleas and the 3 most common types of mites.
๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง
It may take time to heal your dogโs skin โfrom the inside outโ but during this time it is recommended to try offer them some relief with topical products like shampoos or ointments.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐จ:
โ๏ธ We recommend ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, or ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ if your dog might be sensitive.
๐๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ฌ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐จ:
โ๏ธ We recommend ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐จ:
โ๏ธ We recommend ๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ/๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐, ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐:
โ๏ธ We recommend ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ and ๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
โ ๏ธ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Thereโs usually more than one cause, so take a long-term, consistent approach to reducing your dog's itchy skin. Donโt give up, your dog canโt resolve the cause of the itching by themselves.
๐๐ซ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ข๐ญ
Only once you have successfully addressed the root cause of the itching and you notice the inflammation has subsided, you can now address the habit of scratching and licking that your dog may have developed.
Remember scratching and licking have become the only way your dog was able to sooth themselves, so use a gentle approach to break the habit (distraction, treats (โsafeโ treats only), rewards, play time, etc.). Be patient and be consistent.
๐ก Tip: If you havenโt addressed the root cause, you canโt expect the scratching to disappear; itchy spots will still need to be scratched!
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐:
This article outlines common causes for itchy skin in dogs as well as supplementary treatments. The advice herein does not substitute veterinary advice, nor does it include treatment advice for diagnosed medical conditions. Should you have any concerns about your dog it is always recommended to contact your veterinarian for treatment, advice, diagnosis and/or prescription medication if required.
