Why does my dog itch so much even after a bath

Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Possible Causes & Treatment

Are you thinking about your dogs frequent scratching, licking, and rolling around on the rug? You may be feeling itchy yourself, just from watching all this activity!

There are many reasons your dog may be itchy. Many veterinarians believe its best to find the cause of the itch sooner rather than later. While occasional scratching can be normal for dogs, frequent scratching could indicate a medical condition that may get worse over time.

According to a 2023 Nationwide Survey on pet insurance data, for the eleventh year in a row allergic dermatitis (skin allergies) was the top reason dogs were brought into the vet. This condition can make your dog itchy and cause them to show signs like frequent scratching, recurrent ear infections, and skin changes. Continue on to learn more about allergic dermatitis and why August is such a special month.

Possible Cause of Your Dogs Itchy Skin

So, whats behind your dogs itchy skin? It may be caused by a medical condition called skin allergies. This means your dogs body overreacts to an allergen in the environment or to food, which makes them feel itchy. There are several potential culprits:

• Flea allergy: Flea bites can create extremely itchy areas on your dog. They can be found anywhere on the body, but are most common at the hind legs, tail base, and rear end. Just because you dont see any fleas on your dog does not mean they arent there keep in mind that a bite from a single flea can make your dog very itchy.
• Food allergy: Your dogs itching might be caused by a food allergy. Some dogs are allergic to common dog food ingredients such as beef, chicken, and dairy products.1 Food allergies in dogs can lead to changes to the skin around their paws, face, armpits, and belly.
• Environmental allergy: Your dog may be allergic to environmental triggers like pollen, mold spores, or dust mites. Environmental allergens can cause allergic itch during certain seasons, or even year-round. Dogs with environmental allergies will often have changes to the skin around their face, belly, and paws.
• Contact allergy: Your dog may be allergic to substances it encounters daily. These can include things like household cleaners, shampoos, insecticides, and plants. Dogs with contact allergies will often be itchy in the area that touched the contact allergen.

Skin allergies can make your dog uncomfortable. They can also lead to secondary health problems if there is a delay in treatment. When a dog licks or scratches an area excessively, it can damage the skin and lead to skin infections and wounds. These can cause changes like hair loss, body odor, and inflammation. Severe skin infections and wounds may even be painful for your dog.

How to Relieve Your Dogs Itchy Skin

When your dog experiences these skin changes because of skin allergies, it can be tempting to try an over-the-counter treatment or home remedy. However, using an OTC or at-home solution may not relieve your dogs itch. The following treatment options are commonly available and may offer some itch relief but may not be the best option for your dog.

• Over-the-counter shampoos and oils. Treatments like coconut oil and itch-relief shampoos only provide temporary relief. Your dogs itch may come back because the root cause has not been addressed.
• Antihistamines. While studies have shown that antihistamines may relieve allergies in humans well, antihistamines are less helpful in relieving itch in dogs with environmental allergies. In fact, it has been shown that antihistamines likely offer little to no benefit in treating environmental allergies in many dogs.
• Prescription steroids. Steroids prescribed by a vet can be effective in reducing itchiness in your dog, but they may cause side effects5 in your furry friend. Dogs on prescription steroids often experience increased urination, thirst, and weight gain. They can also experience behavior shifts such as increased aggression.

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. If your dog is scratching frequently in August or any time of year, schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss the most effective ways to relieve your dogs itch. If your dog has skin allergies, then a prescription treatment from your vet may be needed to get your favorite sidekick feeling better. So, call your vet today!

American poet Ogden Nash said, Happiness is having a scratch for every itch. For your dog, happiness is relieving the source of every itch.

Why is My Dog Itchy and Scratching After a Bath? What to do?

Why is My Dog Itchy and Scratching After a Bath?

We pamper our furbabies and strive to take the best possible care of them. That includes regular bathing. So what happens if you give your furbaby a bath and he starts scratching? Whats making him itchy?

Sometimes in practice, wed get a call from a frustrated pet parent who complained about their dogs itching after a bath. Thats when I would take time to explain the possible reasons for the scratching and reassure the client that the behavior is common. The trick was to evaluate the pooch and his circumstances to uncover the cause of his itching.

In this article, well go over the major reasons some dogs itch after getting a bath and what steps you can take to help relieve the irritation. Well look at how not to bathe your pooch and talk about what kind of shampoo you want for your poochs skin.

Well also help you understand why some dogs even itch after an oatmeal bath. Finally, well give you circumstances that require your veterinarians help.

Lets get started.

8 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Itching After a Bath

You just gave your dog a bath, and hes still scratching. You may wonder whats going on. Several possible explanations exist for why your dog is itching after a bath. Lets look at 8 top reasons:

• Allergies
  • Some dogs have an allergy to one or more ingredients in the shampoo. When they contact the formula, they react and get itchy.
  • Your dog could also have environmental allergies. These could be year-round such as from animal dander or food or they could appear seasonally due to grasses or pollens.
• Dry skin Living in an arid climate or dealing with dry seasons can affect your dogs skin hydration. Dry skin is more likely to become irritated and start itching.
• Skin Parasites If your pooch has fleas or mites, regular shampoo may not eliminate the parasites. The tiny bugs will continue to irritate the skin.
• Bug Bites Dogs can react to bites from mosquitos, ants, and other bugs in the yard.
• Wrong pH If you use human shampoo or another product thats not pH balanced for dog skin, it could disrupt the protective acid mantle. As a result, your pups skin is more susceptible to microbial invasion and drying. Both can cause itchy skin.
• Improper bathing Dog skin is sensitive, so you need to bathe your furbaby gently. If youre scrubbing your pooch, using a harsh spray to rinse your dog, or using an abrasive aid such as a stiff brush or scouring sponge, youre probably irritating and possibly injuring his integument.
• Wrong conditioner Like shampoo, you need to use a product thats designed for dogs. Human conditioners can include substances that irritate dog skin.
• Incomplete rinsing Leaving soap residue in the fur can make the skin itchy. When you complete the shampooing process, rinse your pup until the water coming off his body is clear and suds-free.

There are many different reasons that dogs still itch after a bath. Some of them include various allergies, the ingredients in your shampoo or conditioner, and your bathing method. However, environmental conditions like dry air and parasites can also be a cause of persistent skin itching.

Is it Normal for Dogs to Be Itchy After a Bath?

Its actually common for dogs to be itchy after a bath. But when it happens, theres a reason. The key is to figure out whats causing the irritation so that you can take appropriate measures to correct it.

For example, itchy skin following bathing could mean your dog is shedding. Bathing your dog when he needs to shed can help to loosen dry skin and hair. After the bath is done, your pups skin feels itchy because the loose hair needs to come out. Fidos scratching is a natural response to help with the shedding process. But, if your pup has loose hair, you can help him find relief by brushing out his coat.

If your pups coat feels sticky, there may be shampoo residue on his skin and hair. Always make sure you rinse your dog thoroughly after lathering up. You shouldnt see any suds or soapy residue at the end of the rinse cycle.

Following a flea bath, the parasites can be more active until the active ingredients start taking effect. So, bathe your pooch to get rid of fleas, he may itch for a while after the bath. Watch your pooch closely, because he could also be reacting to an ingredient in the shampoo.

While shedding is normal in dogs, it points to an underlying condition or issue. For some dogs, itching may indicate theyre shedding. If thats the case, you can help relieve skin irritation by gently brushing out the coat. A sticky feeling on your furbabys coat could mean you didnt rinse enough after shampooing.

What Can I Do to Relieve My Dogs Itching After a Bath?

If your pooch is itching after a bath, the first thing you need to do is find out whats causing him to itch. Check the skin for any signs of redness or irritation. These could indicate that you need to try a different shampoo or that you scrubbed your pup too vigorously.

In the future, try a soothing dog shampoo such as a formula with colloidal oatmeal or a hypoallergenic formula. One word of warning, if your pups redness persists or if he has hives, contact your veterinarian immediately. He may require emergency care.

If you dont notice any redness or irritation, your pooch may have dry skin or be shedding. After allowing the coat to dry completely, try gently brushing your dog to remove loose skin and hair. Then you can apply some coconut oil to soothe and moisturize the skin. You can also use a conditioner after shampooing your dog.

What you do depends on the underlying cause of your dogs itching, but always check for signs of red, irritated skin first. If your dog is showing a reaction, call your veterinarian and consider changing shampoo. Otherwise, try brushing your dogs coat or adding something to soothe and moisturize the skin.

How Long Will My Dog Itch After a Bath?

How long your dog itches after a bath often depends on the cause of the irritation and itching.

If your pup is having a mild reaction to an ingredient in the shampoo he may scratch for a few yours. However, if his skin was irritated by vigorous scrubbing, the itching may last a day or so. It will take time for the inflammatory reaction to calm down.

In the case of flea shampoo, it takes time for the active ingredients to kill bugs. You may notice scratching for a few hours to a day before all the fleas are dead.

The length of time your pooch may itch after a bath varies depending on the underlying cause. In most cases, itching shouldnt persist beyond a day. If your pup continues to scratch, it may be time to call your vet.

Am I Bathing My Dog Incorrectly?

Is there really a right way to bathe your dog? Yes, there is. And if youre doing it incorrectly, you could be causing your pooch to be uncomfortable or worse. So, lets look at what you shouldnt do when you bathe your canine companion.

• Dont use human shampoo Some ingredients commonly found in human shampoo can be irritating to dog skin, and some are potential carcinogens. Additionally, many of our products arent pH balanced for dog skin.
• Dont over-shampoo your dog Every time you shampoo your dog the formula washes away natural oils that protect your dogs skin and keep it moist. While the body replaces the oils in a matter of days, frequent shampooing can lead to dry skin.
• Dont scrub your dog Dog skin is thinner and more sensitive than human shampoo. If you scrub your pups coat too vigorously or if you use a stiff brush, you could irritate or damage the skin.
• Dont leave residue on the fur Soap residue in the fur can irritate the skin. Make sure you thoroughly rinse your pooch. While rinsing your pooch, watch the water as it pours off the fur. Dont stop until the stream is clear and free of suds.
• Dont use a harsh spray When youre bathing your dog, use a gentle spray such as from a shower head. Hard streams of water can be enough to irritate the skin.
• Dont use water thats too hot or too cold Cold water can make your pup more sensitive to rubbing and scrubbing. Hot water may scald your pals sensitive skin. Always use lukewarm water when youre bathing your pooch.

Bathing your dog the wrong way can cause irritation or worse. When giving your furbaby a bath, be careful to use the right shampoo and bathe him gently. Rinse the fur completely with a gentle water stream thats lukewarm.

Am I Using the Wrong Shampoo?

When you bathe your dog, using the right shampoo can make all the difference. The average dog needs a formula thats pH balanced for her skin and doesnt include any harmful or irritating substances. That means you should choose a product thats formulated for dogs and avoid human shampoo. Its also best to find a shampoo with gentle, soap-free cleansers. Soaps can be drying to the skin.

However, if your furbaby has sensitivities, you should choose a product thats also hypoallergenic. Shampoos with soothing ingredients like aloe or colloidal oatmeal can help to relieve skin irritation.

If youre using a shampoo thats not pH balanced for dogs or that has harsh ingredients such as soap or detergents, you may be contributing to dry, irritated skin. Dogs with sensitive skin should also have ingredients that help to soothe the irritation.

What if My Dog Is Itching Even After An Oatmeal Bath?

Oatmeal functions as a skin protectant. It contains phenols and saponins that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thats why bathing your pooch with colloidal oatmeal usually helps to relieve itching. But what if it doesnt?

If you bathe your pooch with oatmeal, and hes still itching, it may be because:

• Your dog is having an allergic reaction.
  • Some dogs are allergic to oatmeal. If you used an oatmeal-based shampoo, Fido could also be reacting to another ingredient in the formula.
  • Your dog could be reacting to something else such as bug bites or environmental allergens. The chemicals in oatmeal will help soothe irritated skin, but it wont neutralize histamines in an active allergic reaction.
• Your dog has fleas or ticks. If your pooch has skin parasites, oatmeal alone will not eliminate the pests. You need a medicated shampoo.

The substances in oatmeal have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that help to protect and soothe the skin. If your dog continues to itch after an oatmeal bath, he may have an allergy or be suffering from a skin parasite.

When Should I Call My Vet?

Sometimes, you wont be able to relieve your pets itching without extra help. How can you know when you need to contact your veterinarian for reinforcements?

You See Hives

If you just finished shampooing your dog, and you see hives or other signs of an allergic reaction, call the doctor immediately. Depending on the severity of the immune response, your dog may need emergency attention. Some allergic reactions can be life-threatening.

The Itching Wont Stop

You tried everything you can, and your dog is still itching. He may have an allergy, and the truth is that the itching wont stop until you deal with the underlying cause. Talk to your veterinarian and develop a plan to try and uncover the offending allergen.

Your Dogs Skin has Abnormal Changes

If your pups skin is getting thicker, turning black, or showing other changes in appearance and texture, call your veterinarian. Fido could be dealing with a skin infection. Your doctor can take skin scrapings and determine a treatment plan.

Sometimes you dont have the resources to relieve your dogs itchy skin, so you need to call your vet for help. If your dog shows a strong allergic reaction, keeps itching, or has abnormal changes to his skin, you should contact the doctor for a checkup.

Final Woof

There are multiple reasons that dogs get itchy and start scratching after a bath. Although the behavior points to an underlying cause, itchiness is common for recently bathed canines. Therefore, the goal is to pinpoint the trigger and take appropriate measures to help relieve your pups skin irritation.

Generally, dogs shouldnt itch for more than several minutes to about a day after a bath. A few things you can do to help prevent itching are to bathe your dog correctly and use the right shampoo for his needs. Even when you use a product like oatmeal, your dog can still itch after a bath. Thats because there may be underlying allergies or skin parasites that the shampoo wont resolve. If the itching persists or if you see adverse reactions like allergies or skin changes, call your vet for help.