by Angie Pollock

Created on: August 20, 2009

When your dog's skin has a bothersome itch, there are several home remedies that can help soothe the discomfort. Just like in humans, a dog's skin can become dry and itchy. And when you have an itch - you scratch and so does your dog. With a few items from your pantry and special attention, you can help ease the itching and scratching.

Bath Time

The quickest way to ease the itching is with a cool bath. While this is only a temporary treatment, it does soothe the skin and will be a relief to your pet especially if he is suffering from dry skin. Allow your dog to soak in cool water for at least ten minutes so that the pores can soak in the moisture.

Adding some products to the bath will also benefit your dog like oatmeal or an oatmeal-based product such as Aveeno. Regular oatmeal can be poured into a sock, tied close, and hung on the tub spout. As the water pours into the tub and through the sock, the oatmeal will infuse the water. If dry skin is the culprit, adding some type of moisturizing product to the bath water will also benefit your dog's skin. Skin-So-Soft which is manufactured by Avon can be added to the bath (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or it can be spritzed onto your dog's coat and rubbed in after a bath.

Test a small area on your dog with the moisturizer to check for skin allergies before applying to the entire coat or to the bath water. This is done by placing some of the Skin-So-Soft on a small patch of the dry skin and leaving for 24 hours. If the area doesn't appear worse, reddened, or has a rash, then the product should be safe. Only use a moisturizer for dry skin and not for broken skin, sores, or lesions.

Seasonal Allergies

Some pets suffer from seasonal allergies including hay fever just like humans. Antihistamines like Benadryl can be helpful for dog allergies. Dosing is usually three milligrams for every pound your dog weighs. However, you should always speak with your veterinarian before giving your pet any over-the-counter medications. Your vet can provide you with precise dosage instructions and advice on giving your dog an antihistamine during every allergy season.

Long Term Solutions

If your dog seems to have bouts of dry skin accompanied by itching and scratching, your dog may benefit from a fatty acid supplement. This is not a quick-fix for your dog's condition and may take up to six weeks before you see any results. Your veterinarian can recommend which supplements would be best suited for your pet.

While you are trying to relieve your pet's distress, you also need to uncover the source of the problem. Itching in dogs can be caused from many factors including fleas or allergies or it could be an underlying condition to a more serious problem. Some itching problems are simply due to dry skin.

How and where your dog is scratching can tell you a lot about the cause. If your dog is doing some face rubbing on the furniture, chest scratching, and/or foot-licking, you may have a case of seasonal allergies or hay fever. A flea problem should be fairly obvious as they can be seen. Dogs that appear to have an all-over body itch may be experiencing a food allergy. However, if you dog has dry-scaly skin all over and those flakes appear to move, you could have a case of skin parasites called Cheyletiella or what is commonly referred to as "walking dandruff".

Itching by itself isn't a serious illness but the scratching can lead to serious skin damage, hair loss, and even infections. If you are unable to pinpoint the cause of the condition or if the itching continues in your dog, seek professional medical treatment from your veterinarian.

Learn more about this author, Angie Pollock.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.