German Shepherds are known to be more likely to have allergies than other breeds. But allergy is more often called atopy in dogs. Many dog owners don’t realize that when their dog scratches over and over again, it’s kind of like when you sneeze over and over again.
In other words, whereas allergies cause your nose to run and your throat to itch, allergies cause dogs’ skin to itch excessively. However, dogs can’t itch and scratch as well as you can. Instead of scratching, you may notice your German Shepherd rubbing, licking, biting, or pawing at the itch.
Because of atopy, some parts of your dog’s skin are more likely to itch. Some of these places are the paws, the ears, the folds of skin, the belly, and the area around the tail.
Different Allergens Can Make Different Parts of Your Dog’s Body Itch
For example, Frito feet are caused by a type of bacteria that invades a dog’s paw pads in between the toes and makes the dog smell like corn chips.
Atopy of the skin is often easy to treat, but only after you’ve found the exact trigger that’s causing it. Between the ages of one and three, German Shepherd owners are most likely to see their dogs suddenly start to lick, bite, rub, paw, or scratch at places. This is when your dog is most likely to show signs of atopy, but it can happen at any time.
German Shepherd Always Itching? Here Are Some Quick Fixes.
1. Change What They Eat!
As we’ve already said, a food allergy could be one reason why your German Shepherd is itchy. There are many different kinds of sensitive and hypoallergenic dog food. These have been made in a way that makes allergic reactions less likely as much as possible. This is a cheap way to try to stop your dog from being itchy, and it’s a good first step.
Your dog’s diet is probably not the only reason why they are itchy, but it can make other problems much worse. By reducing the number of things their body has to deal with, you are likely to make them feel less itchy.
On the other hand, your dog may be itchy if they are not getting the right food. They may not get enough vitamins, carbs, proteins, or fats in their diet. Your vet will also know this from the blood test.
When your dog isn’t getting enough food, it can mess up the layers of skin that protect it. This can also make you feel itchy. To keep your dog healthy and happy, you must feed them the right food.
2. Incorporate supplements
In addition to the supplements we’ve already talked about, you may also want to give your dog omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements. These can assist to decrease inflammation on your dog’s skin, which might be the source of their irritation. This will also help improve the quality of their coat, making it shiny and soft.
We suggest using a mix of oils, like salmon and hemp. This is not likely to cause an allergic reaction, and it will work great to make the coat and skin healthy. To give it to them, you just need to pour a little oil on top of their kibble when they eat. This will help keep your German Shepherd from getting sick or itchy during the winter.
3. Switch Out Their Shampoo
There are many kinds of medicated shampoo that are great for treating dogs that are itchy. These will help calm their irritated skin and make it feel less itchy. They are very easy to use and not too expensive to buy.
Coal tar is something that should be in your shampoo. This is often used to treat eczema and psoriasis because it is very soothing on skin that has been broken or irritated. It is also a very good way to treat dandruff and fur that is too oily.
You can buy shampoos made of coal tar for both people and dogs. Use a shampoo made for dogs because the pH of a shampoo made for humans is likely to irritate your dog’s skin.
You shouldn’t wash your dog too often, because that can cause problems as well. If you wash your dog too much, you can remove the natural oils from their fur and skin. This can make the skin itch even more and cause more problems.
It’s a good idea to give them a bath every three to four months, or more often if your vet says so. You should always give your dog two thorough rinses to make sure that all of the shampoos are gone.
4. Use Moisturizer
There are many sprays and creams that can be used to treat your German Shepherd’s dry skin. These help keep their skin moist, which makes it less itchy and irritated. Sprays are easy to use throughout the day, and they won’t cause you much trouble.
Look for sprays and creams that have Vitamin E and aloe vera in them. Both of these have a lot of moisture and will help your dog a lot. Apply a lot to the areas that look the worst. These sprays are made in a lab to have the same effects as a trip to the vet, but you can use them at home.
Use an ointment or a thicker cream for better results on areas that are really itchy and hurt. This can also be put on small cuts and sores to make them feel better right away.
