Now that summer is here you might often see your dog a bit preoccupied with itching which is not the case in other seasons. And you must be wondering: Do dogs itch more in summer?
While it is absolutely normal for dogs to itch more as compared to humans, this itchiness can vary from season to season. However, in summers a dog gets itchy skin due to changes in the environment.
Although an itchy dog can be a nightmare, don’t take it overboard as it could be just some seasonal allergy which is very common amongst dogs.
Do Dogs Itch More In Summer?
Your dog’s skin is way more sensitive which makes it more prone to have skin allergies, especially seasonal allergies. As summer comes and nature becomes more hot and humid, it is more favorable for pests and yeasts to survive and attack your dog’s skin.
And every year in the summer season you see your dog itching more which is completely okay. But if you notice your dog getting restless and the condition seems more serious then you should consult a veterinarian.
Why Does My Dog Get Itchy In The Summer?
It is common for your dog to get itchy skin in summer. Let’s look into few reasons:
1. Fleas
Your dog is prone to get infected by fleas as they are present in nature around every time of the year. But what makes it worse is that fleas are found in larger numbers in a warm and humid environment.
You can bathe your dog with a medicated shampoo in case of flea infestation.
Also Read: Natural Bug Repellants For Dogs
2. Seasonal Allergy
Summer brings a lot of playtime and outdoor activities for your dog but it also comes along with its set of cons. As you take your dog outside in summer, the sensitive skin of your dog catches pollen which causes skin allergy.
3. Yeast
Yeast becomes a major issue in the summertime for your furry friend. Yeast resides in the moist areas of your dog’s skin like paws, groin area, ears, and under the skin folds and causes yeast infection.
As summer approaches and the weather becomes hot and humid, the yeast on your dog’s skin gets active and starts multiplying very fast. It causes redness and itching in the affected areas.
4. Ticks
While you have fun in the woods with your dog, ticks might be waiting to leach onto your dog’s skin. Tick bites can cause diseases like Lyme, babesiosis, rock mountain spotted fever, etc. in your dog, which can lead to your dog itching more.
5. Plants
Your dog can be sensitive towards many flowers out there and can get itchy merely by just rubbing onto them. Always look out for your dog’s fur for any unwanted material that gets stuck.
6. Chiggers
If you are someone who lives on grassland that grows on limestone then your area is full of chiggers (harvest mites). These chiggers are active in the summer and can give your dog itchy skin.
Is It Normal For Dogs To Itch A Lot?
Excessiveness of anything is never good. While it is acceptable for dogs to itch but if your dog is doing a lot of itching then there might be some serious problem behind it and you should immediately look out for it.
However, there are lots of reasons why your dog is getting itchy and it can get slightly difficult for you to find out the exact cause. If things get more serious you should pay a visit to a vet.
Why Is My Dog So Itchy But Has No Fleas?
Whenever your dogs get itchy you instantly assume it is because of fleas. But there could be other reasons too. Some of the reasons other than fleas can be:
1. Poor Nutrition
Before giving your dog the commercial food, always check on their ingredients as many of these foods lack Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin E which helps in keeping healthy skin.
2. Poor Grooming
No doubt that you love your dog and always care about its health but you have to be more careful when it comes to your dog’s grooming.
Bath your dog and brush its fur at regular intervals to maintain hygiene and always check the shampoo and other grooming products if they are suitable for your dog’s skin.
3. Dry skin
If your dog gets dry skin, then it gets more prone to itching, licking, and biting its skin. Dogs get dry skin where there is low humidity or in cold winters.
4. Food Allergy
Your dog can be allergic to few ingredients in the food that you are giving. Your dog can have a severe allergic reaction if proper care is not taken.
In this case, you should consult a veterinarian and avoid those ingredients in the future. The vet even might suggest allergy shots for your dog.
Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Jelly?
Can Humans Get Itchy From Dogs?
Although humans can’t get easily affected by their dogs, in few cases you can contact dermatitis which can further cause itchiness, rashes, and redness of the affected part.
Moreover, this contagious itchiness is harmful to humans.
You should seek a doctor’s advice in case you get one before it spreads and creates more damage to your skin. Also get your dog checked too, to prevent the further spread of any allergies.
A few of these contagious skin allergies that can be transferred from allergic dogs to humans are:
- Dog mites on humans (Sarcoptic mange)
- Ringworms rashes
- Hookworm rashes
- Staph bacteria rashes
- Impetigo rashes (mildly contagious)
How Much Itching Is Normal For A Dog?
It is normal for dogs to itch themselves and it is one of the most common behaviors amongst dogs. However, it gets hard to differentiate if your dog’s itching is normal or if it is too much.
If your dog gets restless and always has the urge to itch itself then you surely have to look out for your dog for any serious health issues. Your dog might continuously scratch, lick or even bite the area of its skin that is itchy which can result in redness or inflammation.
How Can You Tell If A Dog Is Itching Too Much?
To have an exact idea and know if your dog is itching too much, you can take the help of the “canine itch scale” and the scale levels are:
0-1: Normal (normal amount of itching)
2-3: Very Mild itching (scratches or itches only occasionally)
4-5: Mild Itching (scratches or itches often but gets distracted while doing other activities)
6-7: Moderate Itching (scratches or itches throughout the day but gets distracted while eating, sleeping, or playing)
8-9: Severe Itching (scratches or itches even while eating, sleeping, and playing)
9-10: Extreme Itching (scratches or itches throughout the day continuously and has to be physically restrained from doing so)
If you notice the level of itching in your dog from 6-10 then you should immediately consult a veterinarian as it indicates that your dog might have certain health problems.
How Can I Get My Dog To Stop Scratching?
You can help your furry friend to stop scratching by:
- Regular baths/combing
- Keeps your home clean
- Avoid things that are allergic to your dogs
- By distracting your dog and play
- Use medicated shampoo
- Always look out for ticks
- Consult to a veteran
How Can I Soothe My Dog’s Itchy Skin?
You can try different remedies to soothe your fur ball’s itchiness. Some of them are:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
It can be used to treat your dog’s allergy skin condition due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera helps in healing by reducing redness and cooling down the affected area in your dog. It thus helps to reduce your dog’s itch.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda helps with redness and inflammation while drying out the rashes and reduces itching in dogs.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can help with your dog’s eczema and allergies.
When Should I Take My Dog To The Vet For Itching?
Although itching is a normal trait in dogs you should not overlook it every time. You should take your dog to the vet for itching when:
- Your dog starts complaining or whining
- Your dog is unable to carry out daily activities like eating, sleeping, walking, or playing and just scratches all the time
- Your dog starts losing hair in a large amount
- No matter you used other remedies but the itch just doesn’t go away
- Your see redness on your dog’s skin
- Your dog is always desperate to itch and you have to restrain physically from doing so
What Can I Give My Dog For Itching Over The Counter?
You can go for over-the-counter medicines for your dog if he is suffering from itching. A few of them are:
- Aspirin
- Benadryl
- Neosporin and antibiotic gels
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
- Claritin (loratadine)
But always keep in mind if your dog isn’t allergic to any of the above-mentioned medicines.
Here’s a pet-parent approved and vet-formulated chewable tablet for dog’s allergy- Vet's Best Seasonal Allergy Relief Dog Supplement.
How Do You Tell If Your Dog Has Allergies Or Fleas?
While both allergies and fleas cause itching in dogs, you can take a look at the below symptoms to determine whether your dog is suffering from fleas or allergies:
1. Flea Symptoms
- Flea Bites
- Flea Dirt
- Skin problems like red patches on the skin which might look abnormal
- Bumps around the neck and ear area
- Hair loss
- Scabs
- Ear infections
- Skin Infections
2. Allergy Symptoms
- Chewing of dog’s paws
- Sneezing and coughing in case of pollen allergy or dust allergy
- Itchy ears in case of flea allergy
- Diarrhea
- Ear Infections
- Red or scabbed skin
What Can I Put On My Dogs Dry Skin?
Your dog can get dry skin because of allergies and parasites or another reason could be if you live in a place with low humidity. This dryness can cause itching, flaking, and shredding, etc.
You can try out some remedies for your furry friend at home like:
- Shampoo and moisturizer for dry skin dogs
- Oatmeal bath
- Vitamin E
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
To condition your dog’s skin and soothe it when itchy, try Oatmeal Conditioning Spray.
Why Do Dogs Itch More At Night?
Dogs usually scratch more at night due to any allergies or flea infestation that they might be suffering from. Apart from this, dry and flaky skin can also lead to excessive itching at night in dogs.
Since most of the dogs are idle at night, they tend to scratch more.
Can I Give My Dog Benadryl For Itchy Skin?
Benadryl has many uses and can help with your dog’s itching problem as it helps with reducing redness and inflammation on your dog’s skin. Benadryl is the most over-the-counter (otc) preferred medicine for dogs.
Although you should always ask your dog’s veterinarian as it can result in side effects too.
Conclusion: Do Dogs Itch More In Summer?
Now that you know why do dogs itch more in summer, you can put away your worries and enjoy yourself out in the sun with your furry friends.
Don’t forget your dog might sometimes scratch out of boredom but always look out for any severe symptoms and you can simply check your dog’s behavior as dogs tend to behave differently while they are not well.
Moreover, if things go out of your hands immediately seek out a veterinarian and have proper treatment for your dog.
