Tiny paws, sweet eyes, adorable yips, and playful personality; is there anything cuter than a puppy?
While there’s no doubt about it, puppies are some of the sweetest creatures on the planet, being the parent of a puppy is a big responsibility. In fact, many might agree that puppies require almost as much care and supervision as babies! As your little fur-balls pack leader, you are responsible for meeting all of your puppy’s needs, just like his own canine mother would do. It’s also important that you know how to deal with any issues that may arise. Just like children, puppies can experience a variety of problems. Fortunately, the majority of puppy woes aren’t dangerous, but they can be troublesome, and one of the most common issues that pups experience is severe itching. There are several reasons why a puppy might be itchy. Some of the most common causes of puppy itches include:
- Dry skin
- Food allergies
- Fleas
- Boredom
- Stress
- Anxiety
Obviously, the best way to combat the itching is to treat the cause. Schedule an appointment with your vet to pinpoint the root of all the itching. Depending on what you are told, here are some remedies that can help to ease that incessant scratching and offer your fur-baby the relief that he is so desperately seeking.
Dry Skin
If your pup has dry skin, try bathing him with a high quality puppy shampoo, like Earthbath Ultra-Mild Wild Cherry Puppy Shampoo. It’s pH balanced for a puppies delicate skin, it’s tear-free, soap-free, and contains natural cleansers, as well as aloe vera, so it will sooth his delicate skin and can help to alleviate all of that itching.
Food Allergies
If it’s believed that food allergies are the cause of the itching, try switching to a specially formulate dog food, such as a grain free dog food or a limited ingredient dog food for allergies from a reputable dog food brand.
Flea Treatment
If it is determined that your pup does, in fact, have fleas, you can apply a flea treatment for dogs; however, do make sure that you speak to your vet first, as you want to make sure you are using a treatment that is considered safe for puppies. If you’d rather go the natural route, you could try using essential oils for dog fleas instead.
Boredom
Believe it or not, dogs can actually get in the habit of scratching themselves when they are bored. If that’s the case, make sure you provide your furry friend plenty of opportunities for entertainment. Offer him plenty of puppy toys, puppy teething toys, interactive dog toys, automatic fetch machines; and of course, take him on plenty of walks.
Stress and Anxiety
Dogs of all ages can suffer from stress and anxiety, but puppies are particularly prone. Trying to figure out the world around them can be hard to do; plus, they can often feel dejected when they are left at home alone. Constant itching is one of the hallmark signs of puppy stress and anxiety. Using a CBD oil for dogs may be able to help alleviate the problem.
