Authored by: Dr. Lindsey, DVM
Itchy skin is one of the most common questions we get asked about in the vet clinic. There can be many reasons why dogs get itchy skin such as dry skin, skin parasites, allergies (food, environmental, or contact), or flea allergy dermatitis just to name a few. If your pet is scratching more than usual, it may be time to bring them in to the vet to have their skin checked over. Excessive itching (also called pruritus) can lead to inflammation of the skin and possibly skin infections and hair loss.
There are tests your vet can run to help figure out why your dog is so itchy and treatments to help give them relief. It can sometimes take a long time to figure out the exact cause of a dog’s pruritus. Some dog breeds tend to have more skin problems than other breeds. Sometimes the treatment of pruritus is relatively quick and doesn’t reoccur but sometimes, like in the case of allergies, treatment can be intermittent but lifelong.
Pet Honesty has several products that can help a dog’s skin and coat such as the Omega SkinHealth and Salmon SkinHealth chews. There are also oils to pump on the dog food called Wild Caught Omega-3 fish oil and Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil.
Not to mention, Pet Honesty has a full line of allergy products. Ask your veterinarian if the Pet Honesty supplements may be right for your cat or dog.
Dr. Lindsey graduated from Colorado State University in 2009 and works in general practice, shelter medicine, and more recently as a civilian contractor veterinarian for the Army. She is also certified in acupuncture and resides in Palm Springs, CA.
