Which Allergies Can Make Your Dog Itch?

Has your dog recently started to itch, roll around to scratch their back and lick their coat more than usual? Frequent scratching is often the sign of an allergic reaction. Here are the most probable culprits and how to help your dog.

Which allergies cause a dog's skin to itch?

Flea bites

Even one flea bite can trigger an allergic reaction, making your dog incredibly itchy. Fleas are often the culprit behind all that scratching, even if you don’t see any fleas on your dog.

Environmental allergies

Pollen, dust mites and other environmental factors can cause itching. They can be seasonal or present all year round. Dogs will often have an allergic itch around on their face, belly or paws.

Food allergies and intolerances

Food allergies are another common cause of itchy skin. Your dog may be intolerant to grains or allergic to certain protein sources such as beef. Food allergies can be hard to diagnose as they can appear at any life stage, but they are easily cured by changing your dog's diet.

Bear in mind that itchiness is often just an allergic reaction, but it can also be a symptom of a more serious and urgent issue, especially if it comes with other digestive or respiratory symptoms. It's always best to take your pooch to the vet for a diagnosis. 

How to treat an allergic itch?

Once your vet has confirmed that the itchiness is triggered by an allergic reaction, the next step is to help your dog stop scratching their skin.

You may be recommended to get a specific dog shampoo to relieve itchiness or even prescribed antibiotics. 

If food is the principal suspect, your dog may need to switch to a hypoallergenic diet. We suggest Impact+ Hypoallergenic Dog Food for Skin & Coat Care, which supports healthy skin and a shiny coat. Formulated with sensitive dogs in mind, it helps reduce itchiness and dryness while minimising allergic reactions with its advanced fish Peptide formula.

Regardless of the allergy, it's best not to wait for a diagnosis as frequent scratching could lead to more severe issues such as skin and ear infections.