Dogs with skin irritation often have an allergy to either fleas or something in their diet. There are many things that can be done at home to control theses allergies and offer the dog relief. If the problem does not clear up, see your vet--there might be a more serious problem that requires medication. When finding a new diet for your dog, be patient.
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Flea Allergies
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Flea allergies are one of the most common affecting dogs. One bite sends the dog into a fit of itching, red, irritated skin. Start by discussing a flea prevention protocol with your veterinarian--they typically prescribe a topical medication you can apply monthly at home.
For bad flea issues, deep clean the whole house. Vacuum rugs and wash bedding and upholstery. Take special attention to areas dogs or any other household pets frequent--this will be where most flea eggs can be found. Replace dog bed filling with cedar; it tends to repel fleas from hanging out near it. In certain cases, it might be necessary to have a professional come in and bomb the house.
Too sooth dry, irritated skin, regularly use dog shampoos with aloe vera or oatmeal as a main ingredient--once a week or once a month. Discuss with your veterinarian the best schedule for your animal to promote good coat health. Sometime medicated shampoos might be necessary to calm the irritated skin.
Diet Changes
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Another leading cause of allergy symptoms is food. This is particularly common with breeds like golden or Labrador retrievers. Any type of dog can be affected, though. Symptoms include irritated itchy skin and hot spots. Your vet can help you determine if a food allergy is the cause of the problem.
If food allergy is the culprit, try an elimination diet. Often if the dog is having a flare-up of symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, the only food they will tolerate is plain rice, boiled chicken or cottage cheese. Try different combinations of each to find something the dog will hold down. These foods are very mild on the stomach and nutritious, so they are generally tolerated well by sensitive tummies.
From this starting point, add food items back carefully. Try potato or peas for starch, maybe eggs or lamb for protein. Each time you introduce a new food item, wait several weeks before adding another to see if symptoms reoccur. If they do, go back to the food that was tolerated well. Some dogs never move past simple boiled chicken and rice. If he does well by maintaining his weight, displaying no symptoms and has a good energy level, you might have found the diet for your dog.
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