My Itchy Dog

**dukedogsmom** · 12-17-2011, 11:59 AM

Since moving north to the cold, Dasher has become rather itchy. I'm feeding him fish oil and that's improved his skin. Its no longer flaking. However, he still has sensitive spots. Even when we're just petting him, he wants to scratch. Know anything else I can be doing? Don't suggest lotion. Too hard to lotion a hairy dog. I've tried.

**Freedom** · 12-17-2011, 12:10 PM

LOL, no I wouldn't try to lotion a dog, either!

The most common skin issue is allergies. Grain free food helps, as most of the allergies are to grains. Did you change food when you moved up?

Another common issue for skin is protein itch. Protein in the food may be too high. Many grain free foods are 40% protein, and that is too much for my dogs. I stick to about 28% protein and the itching stopped.

Next is laundry detergent. Have you changed what you are using? My Sugar nearly scratched herself into a bald bloody mess before someone asked me if I use Tide, a detergent many pets AND PEOPLE are allergic to. This was after she'd been living here 4 years with no problems! I switched to a 7th Generation natural detergent, buy it at Whole Foods market, and that solved the problem. I did almost 60 loads of laundry in 2 weeks, doing all the pet beds, the sofa throw, our bedding right down to the mattress pads and on up, including the pillows, and then both our summer and winter duds (this happened in September, so we were right at he switching point).

Finally, he could find the indoors with heat on too drying. I list this last as it is rarely the issue, but seeing as you moved, it is a possibility. Can you add a humidifier to the rooms you use most?

Just some ideas, things to try, see what works for your boy.

**Karen** · 12-17-2011, 12:14 PM

It may just be the drier air, if nothing else has changed in term of diet, etc. a humidifer, as Sandie mentioned may help him, and you humans as well!

**robinh** · 12-17-2011, 04:05 PM

Dry air can definitely make a difference to their skin. It can get really dry in our house too with the furnace running. Like Karen said, if you can run a humidifier it might help.

**dukedogsmom** · 12-17-2011, 07:14 PM

Dry air is probably it. My skin has been a lot drier. However, he's changed foods several times. He quit eating what I was feeding him when he got here. Hadn't thought about the protein thing. I've been feeding him Proplan turkey and beef canned food. He can't have any dry since his operation. I still haven't found a job so can't buy a humidifier right now. Should I give him a little more fish oil?