Dog suddenly itching its skin and paws? Chewing, scratching, maybe even losing fur?
If you've already ruled out fleas, the next culprit which you may not think of is allergies. Dogs can have dietary and seasonal allergies just like us! Food allergies are not common in dogs, but they do account for a large amount of skin irritations in them. If your dog seems to have dry, itchy, patchy skin during the same season year after year, or even if its the first year you've experienced this, it is likely seasonal allergies as these are fairly common. Unfortunately, white and light furred dogs are even more likely to have skin allergies as a whole compared to their dark haired counterparts. Just like humans, dogs are more likely to react to seasonal allergies in the warmer months of spring and summer. The allergens change with the seasons and are typically like this: spring = tree pollen, summer = grass pollen and fall = weed pollen or even mold spores.
These allergies can be just as bad or worse than the ones we experience. They obviously lead to itchiness and irritation of the skin, but this can also spread to their paws, eyes, nose and even their ears. It's extremely common for dogs to get ear infections as a result or even respiratory issues. So what can we do about these seasonal allergies? There are a few options to tackle your dogs symptoms.
As you can see in the picture, there are so many options for hydrating, soothing sprays and shampoos the like for you do use on your dog. Hot spot products or creams with lidocaine/anti-itch elements can be great for spot treating patchy areas that are inflamed and maybe missing hair. Soothing and moisturizing shampoos with probiotics, oatmeal and tea tree are ideal for a full body solution. Using these rememdies regularly can help immensely and even more so when paired with the other solutions we have!
Additionally, you can add a supplement to your dog's routine - it's as easy as giving them a treat at the end of the day. Seasonal allergy supplements are best used proactively so especially if you know your dog has seasonal allergies, it's best to introduce them into their regimen before symptoms begin, but if this is your first go around thats okay - adding them in later is still helpful! Aside from allergy supplements, you can also give your dog regular skin and coat products, the omega-3s can help their skin, fur and reduce inflammation. Skin and coat products come in all different forms (chews, treats, powder, oil, liquid and more) and are beneficial year round, no allergies needed!
Lastly, something small that can make a huge difference is wiping your dogs paws when it comes in from outside. There are paw wipes, or a good ole damp wash cloth can help. Getting any excess pollen or any other irritants off of your dogs paws helps to stop the spread before things get out of hand. Other small ways to help manage these allergies include regularly washing your dogs bedding (especially after a high-pollen day) or simply keeping doors and windows closed during these times.
If you have follow-up questions or need some product recommendations we are more than happy to help. Feel free to call our store, message us via our website or visit us in-store to see the plethora of options we have for you.