The itchy scratchies, it’s no fun being a dog with sensitive skin. Dogs love a good scratch behind the ears from their human but feeling itchy 24/7 can be downright uncomfortable. If you find that your dog is constantly itching and scratching, it may be indicative of some skin sensitivities or allergies. Not to worry though! There are a number of things you can do to help relieve your dog’s persistent itch, one of those things is switching up their diet.
Sensitive skin can be caused by a multitude of factors, some of the most common include:
Skin sensitivity can even be a result of a combination of these different factors. Unfortunately, combination sensitivities can make it difficult to narrow down the exact trigger.
If your dog has sensitive skin you may notice them constantly itching or licking their fur. Their skin will also be irritated, observable by red patches, swelling, heat, and dry, flaky patches. If parasites are involved, you may even see some red bumps, lumps or spots.
It’s important to note that when there is an allergen involved, there may be a genetic component to their skin sensitivity. Certain breeds like Bulldogs, Designer dogs (like doodles), and German Shepherds are more susceptible to developing sensitivities simply from genetics. Yeast infections can also be triggered by allergies, but require a different approach to treatment prescribed by your vet or potentially at home with these yeast infection remedies.
A healthy diet does wonders for every dog’s overall health and well being. This is especially true for those canines with sensitive skin.
For dogs with food allergies or sensitivities, consider switching them to a hypoallergenic diet. Hypoallergenic diets contain limited ingredients, are usually grain free and utilize alternative protein sources like duck, bison, hydrolyzed protein or venison. When exposed to these ingredients, an allergic dog’s immune system will not recognize the diet as a threat and is less likely to attack it. At Kabo we have our own in house hypoallergenic diet. Designed for dogs with food sensitivities, Kabo’s Delicious Duck Kibble uses duck as a tasty novel protein, swaps lentils and chickpeas in place of grains and soy and contains only whole, fresh ingredients with no additives.
As a result of their consistent scratching, your dog’s skin may be irritated and inflamed. What's a better solution than feeding your dog food that helps to reduce inflammation? Antioxidant nutrients are found in a multitude of superfoods like turmeric, blueberries, cinnamon and green, leafy vegetables.
It’s also important to be aware of additives that cause inflammation. These are usually ingredients that are fillers or preservatives that hold no nutritional value anyway. Some examples of inflammatory additives are BHT/BHA, ethoxyquin, refined carbohydrates, artificial color and artificial flavours.
At Kabo we fill our fresh food and kibble with as many antioxidants as we can. Some of our favourites are cranberries, pumpkin, carrots, and broccoli! We also add flaxseed, chia seed, and fish oil to our meals. These ingredients have a healthy dose of omega 3 fatty acids, which have been proven to maintain healthy skin and make fur full, soft and shiny!
If your dog has sensitive skin, check out some of these options to help relieve their itch!
