How to Fix a Bad Scratching Habit in a Dog

Compulsive scratching in dogs can be triggered by a variety of factors ranging from a parasite infestation to boredom. The constant scratching can be a nuisance to the dogs and the dogs' owners alike. To provide your dog with proper care and treatment, it's essential to observe his behavior to find out what is causing him to scratch.

  1. Parasite Infestation

    • Parasites, such as fleas, ticks and mites, can cause your dog to consistently scratch himself. The scratching can ultimately result in inflammation, hair loss and skin infections. Fleas and ticks live on your dog's skin and are often visible. Mites burrow into your dog's skin, and a microscopic examination of a skin scraping is required to detect them. To treat a parasite infestation, have your veterinarian recommend spot-treatment ointments or preparations. For fleas, washing your dog's bedding and vacuuming carpets and furniture is mandatory.

    Boredom or Stress

    • When a dog gets bored or stressed, he may express this by compulsively licking, biting or scratching himself. To eradicate this habit, provide your dog with sufficient exercise. Take him on frequent walks and spend time with him. Providing your dog with bones or chew toys can help him redirect his attention. Chewing these items can keep your dog entertained, help him relieve stress and stop his bad scratching habit.

    Food Allergies

    • Food allergies can trigger a scratching habit. Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to certain foods, such as beef, wheat, eggs and dairy products. A veterinarian can put your dog on an adjusted diet to determine whether hypersensitivity to certain foods is causing your dog to itch. If your dog's scratching habit is gone after four weeks on the adjusted diet, slowly reintroduce the foods that are believed to cause the itching to see if the allergies come back.

    Bacterial Skin Infection

    • When a cut or wound on your dog's skin gets infected it may trigger a bad scratching habit. The bacterial skin infection may result in partial hair loss, and the inflamed skin may display pus-filled swelling, crusts and lesions. To diagnose the infection, a veterinarian will visually examine your dog. He may perform a biopsy or a skin scraping. To get rid of the infection, the veterinarian can prescribe oral antibiotics and topical medications.