What to do if your dog keeps scratching itself?

Your dog constantly scratching itself may be due to skin allergies, wounds healing, not bathing for a long time or bathing too frequently, parasite infections, or skin diseases. If it's a wound healing, you should put an Elizabethan collar on your dog to prevent it from scratching the wound. If your dog has a parasite infection, you can treat it with internal and external deworming medications. However, if it's a skin allergy or disease, you should take your dog to the pet hospital as soon as possible to check and treat accordingly.

Skin Allergies

If your dog's skin is sensitive, it can easily develop a constant itching sensation due to allergies, such as pollen allergies, food allergies, and drug allergies. Therefore, dog owners should pay attention to keeping the living environment clean and feed their dogs mainly dog food. Give your dog fewer alternative foods to reduce the chance of contact with allergens.

Wounds Healing

If your dog has suffered a wound in the past, constant scratching may be due to the wound healing and the dog feeling itchy. In this case, it's recommended to put an Elizabethan collar on your dog to prevent it from scratching the wound and causing a secondary infection.

Not Bathing for a Long Time or Bathing Too Frequently

If the dog hasn't had a bath for a long time or bathes too frequently, it can cause skin irritation and lead to constant scratching. Moreover, frequent bathing or using human shampoo can disrupt the acid-base balance of the dog's skin, also causing itching.

Therefore, dog owners should arrange reasonable bathing times for their dogs, neither too long nor too frequent. It's generally recommended to give your dog a bath once a week in summer and twice a week in winter. When bathing, choose a dog-specific shampoo, and dry your dog's fur promptly after washing.

Parasite Infections

The most common cause of constant scratching in dogs is parasite infections, such as fleas. When fleas bite, dogs feel extremely itchy, causing them to scratch or even bite the itchy area. Check your dog's fur and skin for black particles or lumps, bumps, and redness, and purchase external deworming medications to treat the parasites. To prevent parasite infections, dog owners should also regularly deworm their dogs.

Skin Diseases

If your dog has a fungal skin infection or allergic dermatitis, it can also exhibit constant scratching, along with severe hair loss, skin redness, and dandruff. In this case, it's advised to take your dog to the hospital for targeted treatment to prevent the onset of other diseases.