What can you do to relieve your itchy dog’s skin problems?

In this blog post, I’d like to discuss the common issue of chronic skin allergies in dogs and how topical probiotics can provide relief and improve their skin health.

There are topical probiotic based products available that represent a comprehensive solution for your itchy dog.

Combining probiotic care products with pet-safe cleaning items help to ensure long-term relief and reduce exposure to environmental allergens.

3 Steps to consider:

1. Wash the fur with a probiotic pet shampoo – cleanse skin and fur, protect skin by restoring the skin sebum layer

2. Spray the fur and irritated areas of the skin with a topical probiotic – helping the skin to protect itself from bio allergens, such as mold, plant pollen, dust mites.

3. Clean your floors and surfaces in your home with probiotic, hypoallergenic cleaning products, which reduce the influence of allergenic triggers from the surfaces your dog gets in contact with all the time.

Understanding Itchy Dogs

Many dogs suffer from atopic allergies, which are often triggered by environmental factors like pollen, dust mites, molds, and household chemicals. Unfortunately, dogs can’t avoid these irritants, making it challenging to relieve their discomfort. Atopic allergies are a prevalent and persistent issue in dogs, often developing early in life and being influenced by genetics and breed.

Challenges in Treating an Itchy Dog’s Skin

Treating itchy dogs presents unique challenges, as they can’t communicate their discomfort or understand what causes it. Numerous conventional therapies, including antihistamines, steroids, medicated shampoos, antibiotics, and antifungals, primarily address symptom relief rather than addressing the underlying cause or minimizing exposure to the allergens that provoke or worsen the issue.

Identifying Dog Skin Allergy Symptoms

Common symptoms of dog skin allergies include:

During consultations we see very often these typical signs and symptoms, which can be so disturbing to a pet’s well being and disruptive to a healthy sleep for both, the pet and their humans:

Itching
Scratching
Chewing (especially their paws)
Scraping against furniture or carpet
Rashes on the underbelly
Redness
Ear infections
Hair loss
Scabs
Dry and flaky skin
Dandruff
Increased pigmentation of skin
Unpleasant, yeasty odors

Skin Microbiome and Disease

A balanced and diverse skin microbiome is crucial for skin health and immunity. Disrupted and imbalanced skin microbiomes can lead to recurring bacterial and yeast infections. Unfortunately, traditional treatments often further disrupt the skin microbiome, leading to repeated flare-ups and extensive treatment costs. This study published in August 2023 by M Barthe at al [1] investigates the potential of a non-medicinal topical probiotic bacteria in promoting skin wound healing in dogs. Their findings suggest the potential beneficial effects of the probiotic-based topical cocktail (PPP) on wound healing.

The Solution? – Try Topical Probiotics

A canine atopic allergy protocol may consist essentially of four microbiome supporting, natural care and cleaning products, each rich in a diversity of beneficial probiotics. These probiotics work safely to:

1. Prevent and limit exposure to environmental triggers.
2. Soothe and alleviate allergy symptoms.
3. Promote a healthier skin barrier and skin microbiome.
4. Foster a healthier microbiome within the environment of your home.

With topical probiotics, you will be able to offer your itchy dog much-needed relief and improve their overall skin health, ensuring a more comfortable and healthier life for your furry family members. You can use these products combined with complementary treatment, such as veterinary acupuncture to help regeneration of small, self injured areas of the skin.

Probiotic products from Ingenious Probiotics for itchy dog skin are extensively researched and developed by veterinarians and microbiologists. They are non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and suitable for sensitive skin. These products are free from phthalates, parabens, GMOs, and other harmful chemicals. Additionally, they are PETA-certified as vegan and cruelty-free.

References: 

[1] Barthe, M.; Gillot, L.; Perdigon, L.; Jacobs, A.; Schoonbroodt, G.; Mauhin, P.; Bouhajja, E.; Osman-Ponchet, H. Topical Probiotic Formulation Promotes Rapid Healing in Dog Keratinocyte Cells: A Promising Approach for Wound Management. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 12360. Read study here.

Photo credits

Shih Tzu lying on back
Image by Fran • @mallorcadogphotography from Pixabay.com

Itchy Dog’s Skin Model
Image by Mirko Sajkov at pixabay.com