Itchy and irritated skin isn’t just problematic for dogs but it’s problematic for pet parents too as they feel hopeless and sometimes frustrated watching their dog constantly itch, chew and lick because of a skin condition. Dogs can suffer from dermatitis, skin infections and skin allergies such due to grass and pollens in the environment. Signs of irritated and infected dog skin can vary but you may find your dog has itchy skin, pimple like bumps on the skin, crusty skin, a red rash such as on the tummy or on their legs and feet, they may even lick and chew at their paws.
Dogs can also be allergic to some foods such as beef and chicken which causes them to break out in a rash and you may also notice gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, soft stools or diarrhoea. Food allergies can be challenging to rule out and often require a food trial with a novel protein and carb that your dog has not eaten before. Food trials are best done with the guidance of your vet as they can be long and difficult but often necessary to rule out what foods your dog may be allergic to that are causing them to itch.
Dogs with skin issues may also develop ear issues like inflammation and infection. If that’s the case you may see your dog shaking their head or scratching or rubbing their ears, and the ears may have discharge and a foul odour to them. PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner can be used weekly to help clean dirty ears and soothe mildly irritated ears. Cleaning your dogs ears shouldn’t be difficult. The flexible tip on the PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner bottle makes it easy to insert into your dog’s ears and means use is comfortable and easy for both you and your pet.
Controlling skin allergies is difficult especially if your dog is allergic to grass in the garden or at the dog park. We don’t want our dogs to miss out on fun outdoor play time! A simple way to help manage and control dog skin irritation at home is using shampoos designed to help soothe and treat itchy, irritated and dry skin. Shampoos such as PAW NutriDerm® Shampoo contains soothing oatmeal to help give your dog much needed relief from itchy, irritated skin. PAW NutriDerm Shampoo is also perfect for dogs with sensitive skin that are prone to developing dermatitis, irritation and skin infections.
When choosing a shampoo for your dog it’s important to choose one that is going to be gentle on inflamed and irritated skin. Avoid things like artificial fragrances because even though they smell great, they are actually really irritating to dog skin and can make the skin condition worse. Some types of shampoos and over-shampooing your dog can strip the natural oils from their skin. Use a gentle, as natural as possible shampoo that will effectively clean and soothe your dogs skin. Don’t wash more than once a week as this will be too frequent and may dry your dog’s skin out. Conditioner used as a leave-in moisturiser, such as PAW NutriDerm® Conditioner, can be used daily all over your dog. It isn’t toxic if your dog licks it off but it’s best to apply just before a distraction like a meal time, walk or play time so your dog isn’t interested in licking it off but instead is focused on something else.
Skin infections are common in dogs, especially in warm moist environments like the folds of skin on the face, the underarms and between the back legs, and between the paws. La Nina weather is certainly making dogs more prone to developing bacterial and fungal skin infections because bacteria and yeast love warm moist skin environments. Skin infections, especially fungal infections, usually have a bad smell to them so pet parents are typically aware when their dog has a skin infection, or they’ll see a pimple-like rash on the legs or belly if it’s an infection due to bacteria. Using a gentle medicated shampoo such as PAW MediDerm® Shampoo allows you to treat the bacterial and fungal skin infections on your dog at home. It is safe and gentle on dogs but safe and gentle on human hands too.
Sometimes infections are severe and require a visit to the vet and the vet may prescribe medications such as oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to stop the itch to help ease your dog’s discomfort. Typically medications are prescribed but used in conjunction with topical therapy such as dog shampoo and dog conditioner to help tackle the overall skin problem.
Skin conditions in dogs such as atopic dermatitis can be frustrating for both the dog and pet parent because sometimes there is no cure to the problem but it requires ongoing management to keep itch and infection away. Atopic dermatitis is similar to eczema seen in humans. Management may include regular washing with a gentle medicated shampoo or a shampoo contain soothing oatmeal, depending on what skin condition your dog is suffering from at the time.
Regular use of a conditioner such as PAW NutriDerm® Conditioner as a leave-in moisturiser helps restore the natural oils in the skin and improves overall skin and coat health, meaning that your dog is less likely to be itchy and develop infections in the future.