You may have noticed your dog having problems with itchy skin. Dogs scratch for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from the obvious -- fleas -- to the mysterious -- food allergies. If your dog seems to be scratching a lot and it's driving you both wild there are a few tricks you can try to calm the itching and help your dog feel better.
Instructions
Check for fleas. First check your home and pet for fleas. Many dogs are allergic to fleas, in fact flea allergy is one of the most common reason for a dogs itchy skin. If you find that fleas are the problem, treat both your home and your dog for fleas. There is a variety of products on the market that are effective against fleas.
Change his diet. If you suspect that the itching problems may be caused by an allergy, then a change in diet may be in order. Your dog's allergies may be caused by an allergy to wheat, soy, corn or a number of other ingredients regularly found in commercial dog foods.
Check for a yeast infection. If a yeast infection (candida) is causing the problem you will need to switch your dog to hypo-allergenic diet. There are many hypo-allergenic foods on the market and you should discuss which one is best for your dog.
Bathe your dog in an oatmeal formula. Oatmeal baths made for people with chicken pox and other itchy problems will work just as well on dogs. See resources for step by step instructions on how to make an oatmeal bath for your dog.
Spray your dog with a lavender or chamomile-infused spray. Make sure you get down into the skin and don't just spray on the top of his fur. These sprays are available wherever pet products are sold.