An occasional itch may be quite normal, but it should never interrupt activities or cause hair loss or skin damage. It also should not be often enough that it is bothersome to the owner.

Yes. Frequent or constant scratching, licking, biting, scooting, and/or rubbing are most often signs of an allergic skin disease. Common allergic skin disease in dogs occurs in response to fleas, food, or environmental allergens such as pollens, molds, or dust mites. In fact, many people may not realize that dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies and irritation just like we do.

Although an occasional itch may be normal, it can often be difficult to distinguish between an occasional itch and one that occurs often enough to indicate something more serious. That’s why it’s important to rely on your dog’s body language—or your own instinct. A good rule of thumb is if your dog’s itching is disruptive to you and your dog’s life or damages your dog’s skin, chances are there may be an underlying medical problem and you should talk to your veterinarian.

It’s important to get answers early—especially since continual scratching and itching can lead to additional problems, including secondary skin infections. Talk to your veterinarian about safe and effective solutions.

If your dog is scratching, licking, or biting the same area over and over again, the skin can become damaged, red, and develop sores. Their itching could be a result of an underlying condition, such as allergic dermatitis. Treating the source of the itch will reduce the scratching behavior and give the skin time to heal. That’s why it is important to treat the cause of itch early.

There are safe and effective prescription medicines available that provide relief of your dog’s allergic itch, so they can get back to feeling better. Click here to learn more about an oral treatment. There’s also the option of an injectable treatment that lasts 4 to 8 weeks to provide longer relief for dogs. Click here to learn more.

While it’s common for pet owners to try home remedies and over-the-counter medicine first, these treatments rarely provide relief. This causes frustration and disappointment and sometimes side effects, like excessive drowsiness with antihistamines.¹² Steroids can have undesirable side effects such as excessive drinking and panting, as well as frequent urination which can cause “accidents.”⁹