Dogs scratch; it’s what they do. However, there is a point at which scratching becomes too much scratching. If your dog is scratching itself all throughout the day, something is awry.
Dogs scratch themselves for a number of reasons. Whereas some have fleas and ticks, others quite simply have dry skin.
How can you stop excessive dog scratching in its tracks? Following these 3 grooming tips is a good start.
Dealing With Dog Scratching
The key to ensuring your dog is comfortable in its own skin is to keep it clean and moisturized. You can do so by following the tips reviewed below.
1. Use Sensitive Skin Shampoo
The most important thing to do for dogs with itchy skin is to utilize a specialized sensitive skin shampoo. These shampoos are void of chemicals which are known to cause inflammation and itchiness.
Most sensitive skin shampoos are made from natural ingredients. These ingredients include everything from tea tree oil, to sunflower oil, to oatmeal, and more.
It’s recommended that you bathe your dog with this shampoo around once a month. Should you bathe your dog more than once a month, you could remove necessary oils from your dog’s skin, causing the skin to become dry and irritated once again.
It might also be a good idea to utilize a conditioner on your dog. This will help to keep your dog’s fur moisturized and comfortable.
2. Routinely Check For Fleas
Few things in this world can make a dog itch quite like fleas. These tiny parasites make their way into dogs’ manes from just about everywhere. However, they are much more common outside.
If your dog gets fleas, and these fleas are not quickly removed, he or she is is going to be itching like crazy in no time. The longer you allow the problem to persist, the more severe it will become. Existing fleas will lay eggs, allowing new fleas to hatch and feed off of your beloved pet.
This is why it’s vitally important to check your dog for fleas on a regular basis. At the very least, you should be checking every week.
To check for fleas, place your dog atop a white sheet. After your dog is on the sheet, run a brush deeply through your dog’s fur. If fleas appear on the sheet after you have run the brush, your dog has a flea problem.
3. Brush Often
This last tip is tied in with what we just discussed about fleas. You must brush your dog on a regular basis!
Brushing your dog’s fur with a specialized dog brush will not only help to keep fleas at bay, it will allow the natural oils on your dog’s mane to be distributed. This will moisturize the skin, and prevent it from becoming dry.
If your dog has long hair, you need to brush it around every week. If it has short hair, it can usually be accommodated by a bi-weekly brush.
No Time To Groom Your Dog Yourself?
Don’t have time to groom your dog yourself? Still clueless as to how you can prevent dog scratching? A professional dog groomer is exactly what you need.
Looking for a professional dog groomer in Torrance, California or its surrounding areas? If so, we here at Lucky Dawg Pet Services are the people to see.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
