Is your dog constantly itching and scratching? Have you noticed any redness, flaky skin, or scabs while brushing? If so, he or she could be suffering from a skin disease called atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis, also called allergic dermatitis, is the most common cause of itching in dogs. Without treatment, it can be incredibly stressful for both you and your pet. The good news is that there are simple ways to relieve your pet’s symptoms and stress. Regular care can even help prevent crusty scabs or sores from forming.
What Causes Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs?
Atopic dermatitis generally presents as red, inflamed, itchy skin, as seen on this Pit Bull.
Canine atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease. In simple terms, it causes your dog’s immune system to overreact to allergens. Even normally harmless allergens like dust, house mites, and grass can cause problems. Because atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease, it won’t ever disappear, and symptoms will flare up periodically.
The skin works as an outer layer of protection against allergens. But when your dog experiences dermatitis, the skin breaks down. Excessive scratching and skin injuries can trigger more severe reactions. Sadly, the body’s natural immune response makes things even worse.
What can cause a flare up?
A number of substances can cause an allergic reaction in your dog. Some of them persist all year long, like mold, dust mites, and house dust. Others are more potent at certain times of the year, such as pollen. Unfortunately, with so many potential environmental allergens as well as food allergies which can trigger dermatitis, you may only be able to pinpoint the culprit(s) through allergy testing with your vet.
Breeds genetically predisposed to atopic dermatitis
Since atopic dermatitis can be inherited from a dog’s parents, some breeds are more likely to develop this allergic skin disease at some point in their lives, including:
- Golden and Labrador Retrievers
- Pit Bulls
- German Shepherds
- English Bulldogs
- Boxers
- Pugs
- Irish Setters
- Dalmatians
- West Highland White Terriers
- Wirehair Fox Terriers
- Boston Terriers
- Miniature Schnauzers
Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs
This crusty, inflamed patch on a Great Dane’s leg is an atopic dermatitis flare up.
Symptoms generally start between one and five years of age. In some cases, symptoms may start off mild and remain unnoticed. Remember: Dogs will not “grow out” out of allergies. The only way to stop the discomfort is through treatment.
Here are a few of the most common clinical signs your dog may be suffering from atopic dermatitis:
- Constantly itching, scratching, biting
- Skin appears red or inflamed
- Frequent ear infections
- Frequent skin infections
- Runny-nose or eyes
- Gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea or mucus in stool
Is it atopic dermatitis or a flea allergy?
Atopic dermatitis and a flea allergy can present similarly, and sometimes even occur together (of course, keeping your dog on flea prevention consistently can prevent confusion over itching). However, with a flea allergy, itching is generally localized to the dog’s rump, tail, groin, and thighs. Atopic dermatitis can occur anywhere on the dog’s body, but most commonly appears on:
- Paws
- Face (especially the muzzle)
- Neck
- Ears
- Armpits
- Front legs and wrists
How to Remedy Your Dog’s Atopic Dermatitis
There are all sorts of treatments for atopic dermatitis: colloidal oatmeal baths, prescription medications, essential oils, medicated shampoos, anti-inflammatory drugs — some dogs even undergo allergen specific immunotherapy.
We hear from people again and again that have tried everything with no lasting results or relief for their dog — until they try our all-natural products, that is. Skin Soother and Wrinkle Balm are both specially formulated with unique proprieties to treat dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis, as well as many other skin conditions.
Wrinkle Balm is designed to be gentle enough to use on the face and other sensitive areas, while Skin Soother is a much stronger formula to combat tougher issues in less sensitive regions. Combined with products like our Skin and Coat Supplement chews and Itchy Dog Shampoo, we’ve got a full arsenal of natural solutions for your dog’s atopic dermatitis!
Which product is right for my dog?
For long term skin health and control of allergic reactions, we recommend giving your dog daily Skin and Coat Supplement chews. Our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is also great for daily maintenance of atopic dermatitis and many other skin conditions—it’s packed with essential fatty acids and nutrients to help heal skin lesions and prevent them in the first place.
For more intense healing directly on the itchy areas caused by a flare up, try one of our balms:
Skin Soother: best for crusty, red, rashy skin
Skin Soother is a one-of-a-kind organic healing balm used to treat everything from rashes and burns to itchy, irritated skin. The magic is all thanks to the anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties packed inside. These carefully sourced ingredients work together to treat the underlying cause and promote a faster recovery with reduced visibility of scarring. Plus, the balm creates a layer of protection that helps keep out allergens.
Skin Soother can provide soothing relief for your dog’s atopic dermatitis and is best used on your dog’s armpits, legs and ankles, paws, and neck. It’s also an effective solution to hot spots, bacterial infections, dry skin, interdigital cysts, and much more!
Wrinkle Balm: best for sensitive areas
Wrinkle Balm is a gentler balm formula used to treat skin irritations impacting your dog’s most sensitive areas, including his or her face. While incredibly soothing and gentle, Wrinkle Balm is still strong enough to prevent and alleviate bacteria, crusty buildup, and environmental allergens.
Thanks to the gentle strength of Wrinkle Balm, it can be applied to your dog’s face folds, ears, genitals, and lips to soothe and treat issues without creating further irritation.
Real Results for Atopic Dermatitis
Ever since I moved into a more wooded area my dog has had red, inflamed, itchy skin. It became so bad that he began to bleed from scratching. I took him to his vet and they said it could be Atopic Dermatitis and had two options: give him a $50 pill every month or $150 injection. I decided to decline both and look up alternative ways instead of forcing steroids on him.
Skin Soother has been a BLESSING. My pup no longer has inflamed itchy skin and his fur is beginning to grow back! I will forever be a customer! — Paige and her Boxer mix, Nash
I went to the vet multiple times for Sadie’s dermatitis. Her skin kept getting more and more worse and became infected multiple times. We spent almost $2000 over 3 vet visits during a 3 month period and still her skin was still not fixed. We decided to try the Skin Soother, and within 3 days we saw a massive improvement—within a week her skin was completely clear! It’s been 3 months and her skin is still clear and doing great!
I would recommend this product to anyone having skin issues to give it a try! It’s all natural, very affordable, and easy to use! My dog would love when I put it on her! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! — Lauren and her Great Dane, Sadie
how can i order the balm
Hi, Julieta! You can order Skin Soother by using this link.
What is best for a labradors itchy ears?
We recommend Wrinkle Balm for treatment of ear issues. It’s safe to apply on the underside of the ear, but we advise avoiding applying the balm inside the ear canal. For inner ear infections, you will want to look into an aqueous formula / product.
My dog just turned 7 in January onever had an issue with allergies/ skin problems before 2 months before her bday. I have been to vet too many times! Nothing is helping. Changed food, she got cytopoint shot it worked for 3 days. I seen your products & I purchased the paw balm & skin protector, as soon as I put it on she licks it off😞.I have put a humane soft pillow collar on her & she’s miserable, as soon as I take it off so she can eat, go out for walk, etc she licks it off! Any suggestions? I feel like I wasted $120.
Hi, Kerri! Our apologies for the delayed reply to your blog comment. It looks like you sent us an email as well, and we replied with some suggestions on distracting your pup, to avoid excessive licking. Have you had any success with those methods? We hope your pup is feeling better!
Mys small terrier mixed dog has all the symptoms for atopy dermatitis. What should i try?
Give our Skin & Coat Essentials bundle a shot, and your pup will thank you for the relief!
I purchased the paw soother for my pup. My question is, will he get sick if he continues to lick his feet after this is rubbed on?
Our balms are 100% all-natural, and no harm will come to your pup if a bit of the balm is ingested from licking.
The key to deterring any excessive licking after the application is a positive distraction. A tasty gnawer, a Kong filled with peanut butter, a favorite toy, or even waiting until your pup falls asleep can all keep their mind off the balm. It takes only about 10-15 minutes for full absorption, so you won’t need to distract for too long!
My dog Cody suffers from allergies and his abdomen and under arms are red and flaky with some scabbing. I ordered the skin soother and used it for the first time tonight. He did not resist me applying the stick and hasn’t once tried to lick it off! He is sleeping at my feet right now! I can’t wait to see what his belly looks like in the a.m. fingers crossed!!
Thanks for trusting us with Cody’s wellness, Debbie! We’re sure Skin Soother will bring him some relief.
Will it work on my cat?
Hi, Tammy! Some of our customers have found success using our balms on all types of animals, including cats.
We do recommend caution if using Skin Soother, though, as this balm has a higher concentration of essential oils. That can sometimes cause a negative reaction in certain felines.
I just wanted to add to the list of dogs that are prone to atopic dermatitis. My two most recent breeds I have are pit bulls and both have horrible allergies and are constantly scratching and biting their paws. I asked my vet and she confirmed it’s very common for Pit Bulls to have Atopic Derm. I just ordered your trial pack and look forward to my dogs healing 🙂
Would the wrinkle one be good for my dog? He has red inflamed skin on his lower back/butt area that he just won’t stop digging at .
Wrinkle Balm is a great choice to help your pup! It’s formulated specifically for areas that are sensitive — tail pocket, face, ears, etc. Give it a shot!
Can they be used on furuncles between the toes
Yes, absolutely!!
My dog is about a year old and he has this little patch to the left above his tail, and we can’t determine if it’s demtritis or mange. Anyone know any possible way to self diagnose it?
discusses how to treat dog allergies including flea allergy dermatitis, atopy, contact allergies. There are natural solutions to treating pet allergies such as using essential fatty acids.
Interesting article! This is the best info to heal the dog’s skin dermatitis. I really like this article so much. Thanks a lot for sharing.
My Frenchie is in a right pickle. Started severely after C section. Kept rubbing and scooting her belly on the floor to get relief from the itch. I think she is allergic to something possibly a flea bite, although protected against fleas it doesn’t stop the devils biting the dog in order to die or become sterile. Vet prescribed meds and a medicated bath and said she didn’t have scabies or parasites on a scrape investigation. Her skin is turning black as a result of this, can you advise which one would be more appropriate please?
Oh dear, sounds like quite the pickle indeed! You will want our Itchy Pup Combo kit. It includes our Spruce Up Pup shampoo bar for full body treatment and Skin Soother for spot treatment.
You are treating the infection on the skin. But how do you treat it internally? Do you have a medicine to take or a shampoo?
Hi my jack Russell constantly licks and pulls the fur from his feet, which product will be best for him please
Hi, Karen. Sounds like your pup could possibly have an allergy of some sort. You might want to start with the Paw Soother. If that doesn’t solve the issue entirely, you could try the Skin Soother as well.
Will my dog have to wear a cone when I apply either of these products to his paws or hind end? I imagine that until the itching is relieved, he will continue to lick, or he may lick out of obsessive habit. Are these products harmful if ingested?
Hi Patricia,
All our products are completely pet safe and ok to ingest, though we do recommend using distractions to keep your dog from licking off the balm. You can find them on the FAQ page our website: https://naturaldogcompany.com/frequently-asked-questions/
My bully had dermatitis around her face, ears, vag, and in between her toes…. would you recommend one over the other or do I need one for her face and the other for her body?
Hi Victoria,
Poor darling, that must be very uncomfortable. We recommend doing a full body treatment by washing with our all-natural Spruce Up Pup shampoo. Then you can use Skin Soother for spot treatment on the more troublesome areas. Wrinkle Balm is great for dermatitis but a tad milder than Skin Soother, so better off using WWrinkle Balm around the face and vaginal tissues.
Hi. My german shephard pupoy(5months) has a rash on a few spots on his body including underarms knees and tail. It’s red and raised and scabs over. I feed him and apply coconut oil and apply thyme solution. I’m not a fan of medications. I cured his puppy mainge with natural remedies but this is getting more bothersome to him I have special shampoo too This product looks promising. What do you think? I’m thinking the soother may be the right stuff. Can you advise.
Hi Lori,
Sorry to hear about your puppy’s skin condition! We recommend doing a full body treatment by washing with our all-natural Spruce Up Pup shampoo. Then you can use Skin Soother for spot treatment on the more troublesome areas. You can rest assured that our products are 100% natural and significantly more effective than just coconut oil!
Will the skin balm be safe to use around my dogs mouth, like if he lacks his mouth?
I’m concerned because he has dermatitis on upper and lower area of mouth.
Thank you,
Jill FRIDENMAKER
YES, the Skin Soother is 100% natural and completely safe to ingest. It is the ideal product for using to treat dermatitis so do give it a try and keep us updated on your dog’s progress!!
My dog had a patch on his head that looked kind of like hives or maybe pimples it scabbed over and it was about the size of a quarter I took him to the vet and they recommended neo-predef powder and that has not helped at all. My dog, Cain, seem to get irritated with the bumbs and scratched it and the whole top surface came right off and I went back to the vet several times and they just keep giving us different things to try. Do you think this would help my dog? Sorry if I seem a bit confusing I’m just very worried for him. I would appreciate it if you could help me out maybe by email?
Yes, Wrinkle Balm should help! For more troublesome areas you may need to increase potency to Skin Soother. We recommend starting with Wrinkle Balm because it is a more gentle formula and better suited for pups with sensitive skin.
Hi! Is the wrinkle balm OK to use right around the eye? Dog has allergies, keeps scratching at them and they’re scabbed up and irritated :/. Thanks!
Yes! We specially designed Wrinkle Balm to be gentle enough to use on sensitive areas like around the face and near the eyes.
Our pug is 9 years old. The creases above her nose is constantly moist. Our vet diagnosed her with dermatitis she is on steroids but is not improving will your cream help?
Yes! Our Wrinkle Balm is specifically designed to be used in creases around the face and other areas to help prevent and treat dermatitis. It has natural anti fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that work great as a preventative AND treatment against infections, irritation and buildup.