Most of us do not pay much attention when our dogs scratches it ears or belly as we think that it is just relieving an itch, just like how we do. If your dog is scratching and licking itself most of the time, it may be suffering from some allergy that can be caused by a variety of factors.
Here is a small list of possible causes for your dogs incessant scratching and licking:
Fleas, ticks and other types of parasites are some of the most common causes for your dogs itching and licking. The bites of these parasites causes great discomfort for your dog and if left untreated, may lead to serious healthy problems like anemia. There are many ways to control your dogs flea problem. For starters you could start giving your dog a good bath with anti-flea shampoo at least once a week. There are also many other products such as dog collars and dry shampoo hat can be very effective in controlling parasites.
Allergies are also another common cause of itching on your dogs. Just like human allergies, it is pretty difficult to pin point and find out what our dogs are allergic to. Airborne particles, foods and even certain household chemicals can cause allergies among dogs.
To prevent such problems, you should keep your home as clean as possible. Although many pet owners feed their dogs with commercial pet foods, home cooked meals are the best for dogs as they are much additive and preservative-free. A healthy and wholesome home cooked diet will keep your dogs healthy and keep allergies at bay.
Environmental allergens also cause allergies among dogs. If you dogs are allergic to pollen and mold, you will notice that their scratching and itching usually intensifies when they are outdoors. Besides keeping the dogs indoors, there is little that we can do about this form of seasonal allergy.
The best way to prevent all forms of allergies is to keep our dogs clean and by feeding them a balanced diet. If your dogs allergic reactions do not improve over time despite all your efforts, you should bring your dog to the vet as soon as you can.