Why is my dog so itchy in spring? An Aussie guide
The jacarandas are out, the grass is growing faster than you can mow it, and at 2am you can hear it again: lick, lick, scratch. Spring is lovely for us. For a lot of Aussie dogs it's the itchiest time of the year.
Itch is rarely one simple thing. It usually comes down to four main suspects, and the spot your dog keeps going at is often the best clue to which one it is.
The four usual suspects
1. Pollens and grasses
RSPCA Queensland explains that most allergic skin disease in dogs comes from airborne particles like pollens and grasses. That's why so many dogs flare up when everything starts growing again, then settle down later in the year.
2. Fleas
Flea allergy is one of the most common skin problems in pets. For an allergic dog, a single bite can set off days of itching, so you don't need to see a swarm of fleas for them to be the problem. Fleas also like it warm and humid, which is exactly what spring and summer bring.
3. Things they touch
Some dogs react to what they roll in. A contact allergy shows up where there's little fur, like the paws and belly. One Aussie plant is a well-known culprit (more on that below).
4. Food
Food allergies are less common than the others, but they do happen. There's no blood or hair test that reliably finds the trigger, so vets use an elimination diet instead. More on that further down.
Where they scratch tells you a lot
| What you see | Often points to |
|---|---|
| Red bumps at the base of the tail, on the belly or inside the back legs | Fleas |
| Itchy red skin on the paws and belly, where the fur is thin | Something they touch, like a plant |
| Worse every spring and summer, calmer in winter | Pollens and grasses |
| Itchy all year round, whatever the season | Worth asking your vet about food |
This is a guide to start the conversation with your vet, not a diagnosis. Many itchy dogs have more than one cause at the same time.
Check for fleas in one minute
- Comb near the base of the tail and along the back, ideally with a fine flea comb, over a sheet of white paper towel.
- Look for tiny black specks. That's flea dirt, and you'll often find it before you ever see a flea.
- Dampen the paper. If the specks smudge reddish-brown, it's digested blood. Your dog has fleas, even if you can't spot one.
Most of the flea life cycle happens off the dog, in bedding, carpet and the yard. So the University of Sydney's vet hospital recommends treating every pet in the house, washing bedding and vacuuming often, and keeping up flea prevention all year round in Australia, not just in summer.
Meet the backyard plant to watch
Wandering trad (also called wandering jew, Tradescantia fluminensis) is a creeping groundcover with soft stems, shiny oval dark-green leaves and small white flowers. It loves damp, shady spots under trees and along fences, and it's listed as a major environmental weed.
The Queensland Government notes that it causes dermatitis in dogs that roll in it. If your dog's belly and paws are red and you have this plant in the yard, pull it out, roots and all. It regrows from any little piece of stem left behind.
What you can do at home
- Rinse or wipe paws and belly after walks on long grass. For contact allergies, keeping the trigger off the skin is the main way to prevent flare-ups.
- Wash their bedding and vacuum more often in spring, to cut down on pollen, dust and flea eggs in the house.
- Bathe with a mild dog shampoo when your vet suggests it. Regular baths are part of the international guidelines for itchy, allergic dogs.
- Keep an itch diary. Note the bad days, where you walked and what they ate. Patterns show up quickly and help your vet a lot.
When to see the vet
Book in if you see
- broken, raw or oozing skin, or a hot, wet patch (a hot spot)
- hair loss or bald patches
- smelly or red ears, or lots of head shaking
- scratching that keeps your dog, or you, up at night
Vets have effective medicines for allergic itch these days, and the right one depends on the cause. If food might be involved, your vet may suggest an elimination diet: one food your dog has never had before, and nothing else, for at least six to eight weeks. A review of the research found that eight weeks is long enough to settle more than 9 out of 10 dogs with a food allergy. Shorter trials can miss it.
Where omega-3s fit
The fats in fish oil (omega-3s, EPA and DHA) become part of the skin's cell walls. That's also why they're slow: it takes several weeks before they can make any difference, so they won't calm a flare that's happening today. The international guidelines for allergic dogs list them as something that may help with long-term care, next to good skin care and avoiding triggers. In one well-run trial, dogs on an essential fatty acid supplement needed about half as much steroid medicine to stay comfortable.
So they can be a helpful part of the routine. They won't replace the vet, flea control or a cool rinse after a romp in the grass.
The bottom line
Look at where they scratch, check for fleas properly, have a look at what's growing along the fence line, and keep notes. With the cause pinned down, most itchy dogs can get through spring a lot more comfortably.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Always talk to your vet about your own dog.
Sources
- RSPCA Queensland. Itchy pets.
- RSPCA Australia. Understanding fleas and their impact on companion animals.
- University of Sydney Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Fleas in dogs.
- University of Minnesota. Module 7: Fleas.
- Business Queensland. Wandering trad.
- Olivry T et al. Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2015 updated guidelines from the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA). BMC Veterinary Research, 2015.
- Olivry T, Mueller RS, Prélaud P. Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (1): duration of elimination diets. BMC Veterinary Research, 2015.
- Olivry T et al. Interventions for atopic dermatitis in dogs: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Veterinary Dermatology, 2010.
