Why Is My Dog Itchy? How to Identify and Treat the Problem
Posted - May 12, 2025
By Carol Bryant, Professional Pet Blogger
Why is my dog itchy? If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, you are not alone. Skin conditions and itchiness are among the top reasons pet parents visit the veterinarian (1). Since the skin is your dog’s largest organ, it’s important to figure out the source of the itch to treat it.
Constantly scratching, biting, and licking can impede your dog’s comfort and lead to other health problems (open sores, infection, etc.) Occasional itching is generally normal, but something more serious could happen when your dog is persistently scratching.
Here’s how to identify what makes your dog so itchy and what to do about it.
Itchy Dogs: Common Causes
Allergies
Dogs can be allergic to any number of things, just like people. Some common allergens include dust, mold spores, foods (i.e., chicken or beef), medications, and parasites. When your dog’s immune system is hypersensitive, an allergy may occur.
Our guide to changing seasons and itchy pets discusses things your dog may be allergic to in the cooler months. Since our dogs can’t tell us what itches or when they feel uncomfortable, pet parents must pay close attention to their dog’s behavior and physical symptoms.
Parasites
Insects and parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites can irritate your dog’s skin. Even if you can’t see the offending insects, bites can trigger discomfort and itchiness for days to weeks.
In addition to using a safe flea and tick preventative, inspect your dog’s skin regularly. If you travel with your dog, there may be other parasites to watch for. These include sand fleas, chiggers or harvest mites, mosquitoes, black flies, and hookworms.
Underlying Health Issues
When your dog’s hormones are imbalanced, many conditions can occur. Hypothyroidism slows a dog’s metabolism, leading to dry, flaky skin.
Autoimmune disorders like lupus can lead to skin abnormalities and itchiness. Cushing’s Disease can thin the skin and reduce its ability to retain moisture due to increased cortisol levels.
Always talk to your veterinarian if your dog’s itchiness and discomfort are ongoing, especially with other symptoms.
Dry Skin
Dry skin in dogs can result from environmental, dietary, or other health-related issues. Dry heat in winter is a factor, as cold weather reduces natural skin oils, causing dryness.
Traveling with pets on airplanes, in a car, or to different climates may trigger dry and itchy skin. Using harsh shampoos can make the problem worse. Fortunately, ZYMOX has products to help dry skin and more, which we will discuss in the next section.
Improper Diet
A low-quality dog food may not have the proper nutrients to support your dog’s body. If fatty acids are lacking, which is crucial for healthy skin, your dog may show signs of itching and dry skin.
Pay attention to how much water your dog drinks year-round, especially in cooler months. Inadequate water intake can contribute to dry, itchy skin.
Pro Tip: Here’s how to encourage your pet to drink enough water.
How to Treat Your Itchy Dog
Like people, each dog is different. Some dogs respond to over-the-counter topical treatments; others respond to the right shampoo and conditioner to control the itch. Here are our top recommendations for treating your itchy dog:
Invest in a humidifier: Adding moisture to the air may help reduce your dog’s itchiness.
Use products designed to relieve the itch and promote healing: Calm, soothe, and support your dog’s skin with skin care products, including ZYMOX Topical Spray with hydrocortisone 0.5%, ZYMOX Topical Cream with hydrocortisone 0.5%.
Hydrate and feed a high-quality diet: Make sure your dog eats a diet that contains the essential nutrients and vitamins and contains a high-quality protein source as the first ingredient. Always look for real meat and not meat meal.
Brush your dog regularly: By brushing your dog, you move the oils through the skin and help to stimulate hair follicles.
Bathe your dog with the right products: Not all shampoos and conditioners are the same. Use products designed to address sensitive, dry, itchy skin, like ZYMOX Advanced Enzymatic Shampoo, followed by ZYMOX Advanced Enzymatic Conditioner.
Keep ears clean and treat ear infections: If your dog scratches at their ears, it could be an ear infection or dirty ears. Keep ears clean with ZYMOX Enzymatic Ear Cleanser and Advanced Enzymatic Ear Wipes.
Wash your dog’s bedding regularly. Launder it using an unscented detergent designed for sensitive skin.
Control environmental allergies: Wipe paws and coat after walks and outdoor play sessions.
Consult with your veterinarian or a dermatologist: Always talk with your veterinarian about ongoing itchiness. A veterinary dermatologist specializes in treating skin conditions in pets.
Dr. Lindsey Butzer, a Florida veterinarian, uses and recommends ZYMOX products to her patients. In a video on her YouTube page, she shows pet parents how to use ZYMOX’s hydrocortisone spray to alleviate inflamed skin, redness, swelling, and heat.
She recommends spraying and soaking your pet’s skin on the affected areas two times a day for one week, as seen here:
