Are Fleas The Only Thing That Makes Dogs Itch?

While fleas are definitely one of the major reasons dog itch, there are many other problems that can make your dog exhibit the same behavior. Mange is a common reason for dog itching. But so are dog allergies.

We all know fleas make our dogs itch and scratch like crazy, and there are many effective ways to deal with any flea problem, although it is best for your dog to go as natural as possible. Mange is another well known reason, caused by mites - a parasite that burrow into your dog's skin, and causes intense dog itching, just like flea bites.

But many people do not realize that dogs can have allergies, just like humans. But instead of congestion and runny noses and itchy eyes, dog get itchy skin, ear and digestive problems. And one of the most common reasons for allergies in dogs is food.

Food allergies in dogs is a fast rising reason for all the constant dog itching. Either your dog's immune system is stressed out and under-nourished from the current dog food, or your dog is having a reaction to one or more ingredients in the dog food. Either way, a switch to a good hypoallergenic dog food may help relieve a lot of your dog's itching.

Many commercial dog foods on the market use low quality by-products in their food. This just does not provide the adequate nutrition your dog needs, and the immune system suffers. This creates an overburdened immune system that becomes overly sensitive, attacking normal substances and creating allergy-like symptoms.

Or perhaps your dog is allergic to, or has an intolerance to, a certain food ingredient or artificial ingredient (such as preservatives, colorings, or flavorings). Again, switching to a hypoallergenic dog food allows your dog to try completely new ingredients, that are high quality, and no artificial ingredients. This alone may be enough to stop your dog's itching.

When your dog has itching problems, it could very well be fleas. But if you don't see any evidence of fleas on your dog, you may want to start thinking about their current dog food. Switching to a higher quality dog food with completely new ingredients may be just what your dog needs.